Chapter 1 (Arc A): Investigation in the Library

Galadreel sits bolt upright when you speak into her mind. She turns to look at you, a smile creeping over her face as you work through your speech.

Please, please come in! I won't pretend to know what twist of the arcane gives you that delightful ability, but it is truly wonderful! Now, you mentioned something about a ritual? Come, sit sit. What have you found?

At first, when Marie-Louise leaps onto Galadreel's lap, she smiles and holds her arm open to catch the child's back. When you start speaking, however, her face goes a little funny. Even stranger when you mention Descargo's journal.

Why would you even pick his - C'thalet - this ritual is - oh my. she says, her voice full of concern. How exactly are you planning on fighting? Shouldn't you be at home still with your parents? This certainly describes ritualistic magic, but extremely dark rituals. Look here, it mentions needing to collect several materials that are rooted in pure evil. This statement - hmm. she seems to be fighting between the ritual magic in front of her and her confusion that a little girl is the one bringing her this information. She looks up at Uriel and Ci.

Were you two responsible for showing her that awful book? What were you thinking! I keep telling them that Descargo's works deserve to be in the restricted section for damn good reason. He was a vile wretch of a man!

She turns back to Marie-Louise. I'm afraid I won't be teaching you much about this spell. It is nefarious and rooted in pure evil. My class is about how to properly conduct rituals, for pleasant things, like detecting magic or speaking languages. I've heard the name C'thalet in my studies, but only ever as a mention with some horror. It's never been a positive thing, and if it needs this kind of magic to herald into the world, I'd prefer it stay wherever it is!

Galadreel's eyes widen just a bit at the change in Marie-Louise's tone. Well, I wouldn't want to be the one responsible for more deaths. I just - C'thalet is an ancient being, from everything I've been able to ever find out. Not like "around during the Mage Lords" ancient. More like, "around at the formation of the world" ancient. I can give you a slip to get the book for a few hours. Just - please don't let anything bad happen to it. There's no forgiving destruction of a book as old as that one. she says, sliding a sheet of parchment out of her desk drawer and inking a quick note.

Galadreel looks slightly taken aback as the little girl on her lap pats her on the face.

I - you are a very strange little girl. I don't know where, why, or how you came to do these 'dark things' you spoke about. It saddens me that so much dark could have happened in your life to drive you to this kind of research. If ever you wanted to learn more about ritual magic, proper casting of rituals, I'd be happy to take you as a student. I think that you'd make a fabulous student with your yearning to learn more. Please, just stay safe, whatever you do? she says, tears shimmering along the bottom of her eyes.

The three of you make your way back across campus, now somewhat less crowded as it seems many students have found their way into classrooms. When you walk back into the library, you see the same archivist standing behind the desk, fawning over her stacks of books.

The archivist looks like she's going to have an aneurysm when you sit down on the desk.

Young lady! You will not place your buttocks on my desk! Let me see that letter! she says sharply, taking the note from you, her eyes quickly flickering over it. Daft woman, Galadreel. She'll give a note out for any damn fool with a... Nevermind. You've got your permissions. Follow me, we'll go to the Restricted Section so you can do your reading. Insolent whelps. she says, grumbling the last bit under her breath. Melissa, if you could kindly watch the counter while I accompany this lot, I'd appreciate it. she says to a half-elf woman standing by a rolling cart full of books.

The elder woman moves out from behind the counter, hefting a ring full of keys. Well, let's go then.