Shadow Event Log

[shnpc]

WHO: Everyone, affected and not
TONE: Ranging from paranoid to angry
RATING: PG to PG-13
WHEN: After the memorial on October 31st through November 2nd.
WHERE: Hogwarts
WHAT: Those who have passed too near to a certain goblet may find themselves haunted by whispers of their unconscious insecurities. From themselves.
STATUS: ONGOING
NOTE: Details for the event are here, feel free to use the log for the whole event

Comments

[wwistful]

[Murdoc is a little taken aback at both the raised voice and the grab at his arm. His first reaction is to take a small step back, raising a curious eyebrow at the boy before schooling his face into something more concerned.

Something had seemed very offputting. People were acting uncommonly strange and emotional. It hadn't been long since there had been an incident at the school camp. Dark magic had begun to manipulate students and he had felt it there. The Ministry could try to cover it all up, but this was a little too perfect.

He stops that train of thought, wondering if he's jumping to conclusions. He needs to find out more before he does something here.]

That's a very serious allegation, Holmes! What lead you to that conclusion?

[He asks the question, but he's fairly certain he can see it already. The uneasiness in the school is hard to miss, particularly when it's grabbing at your arm.]

[3potionproblem]

[Sherlock squared his shoulders, ready to go into as detailed a description as possible while trying to figure out how to make it as far from a personal account as possible.]

Something happened at the memorial. A curse, some sort of jinx, I don't know, but something is causing... I'm seeing things. No, not things, a thing. It's.. me but it's not. And it talks. And I know it sounds crazy but I'm not the only one. I can't see any others but I can see the symptoms because I know what they're hearing. These phantoms looks like us, sound like us, but they seem to exist to point out flaws and insecurities. Paranoia, depression, a sense of dejection--you can see it, can't you? If you know it's out there you can see them all.

At first I thought it was just all in my head but someone else could see and hear my own phantom. He could interact with it! But even students who seem sensitive to their presence don't see them all. It's selective on a level I've never heard of in any book.

[wwistful]

[Murdoc listens intently, nodding every so often. Everything Sherlock says is familiar to him, the voices and paranoia. It couldn't be anything but dark magic, not when it seemed to be linked with the memorial. With everything he'd seen and heard about about the camp and from studying the campsite, it seemed far too convenient.

So he remains just a little suspicious, glancing about him after Sherlock stops talking to make sure that nobody is here to drop in on their private conversation. He takes a step closer, keeping his voice lowered.]

Just between you and I, I don't know any sort of jinx or curse on the lighter side of magic that could ever have such a strong impact on such a large number of students. In fact, one could relate such events back to the camp earlier this year.

Were you present for that, Holmes? Students experienced violent mood swings, it was all very surreal. Not something one would blame entirely on the behaviour of students. Though the ministry seems to imply it.

[He doesn't want to say it outright. It's risky for him to speak about it at all. For him to discuss it with a student is an entirely different level of inappropriate. Right now, it's far too urgent for it to matter much.]

[3potionproblem]

No, sir. I was away at home over the summer. I am familiar with the stories, though.

[He ruffled the hair at the back of his skull. He’d had his suspicions of dark magic but it was quite an accusation and not one he thought anyone would be quick to make in the current climate. But the professor had hinted at it more than adequately. There was danger here as much as there was inconvenience and dissatisfaction.]

What defensive spell is appropriate? How do we get it to stop?

[wwistful]

Do you see why they may be connected? Suspicious. Isn't it.

[Murdoc shifts his weight, silently considering all the defensive spells that could be applied in such a situation.]

If it is indeed Dark Magic, it is a kind I've never been faced with in all of my years. I doubt any sort of cheering charm or potion would combat it. Unfortunately, curses that impact the mind have little in the way of preventative magic to aid them.

I'd say our best bet at this stage is the Headmaster.

[3potionproblem]

Right, yes. Good.

[He pauses oddly, head tilted as though listening to something else before glaring and dismissing it with a subtle shake of his head.]

Sooner would be better.

[wwistful]

[Murdoc doesn't miss that pause, he narrows his eyes and observes in a critical manner before speaking up.]

I can't imagine it will help much at this point, nor is it anything you don't know, but dark magic based on mental manipulation will take every chance it can to over come you. You need to keep in mind that it is indeed a curse and that you must remain alert should it try to take more control. Just keep that in mind.

[He nods down at Sherlock, raising an eyebrow at him.] Would you like to accompany me or shall I leave you to it?

[3potionproblem]

He'll want to speak to you, surely. Validation of my observations would be best as well to not waste any time. I'm not certain anything can be done about the spread of the issue but those affected will need some sort of remedy as quickly as possible.

[Thought he wanted Professor Donoghue to accompany him, Sherlock was not one to follow. He took the lead towards the Headmaster's office.]

[wwistful]

You make a good point, yes. Then the headmaster is our best option.

[He rolls his eyes a little as Sherlock takes the lead, but he trails after him with little hesitation.] Now we can only hope he's there.

[3potionproblem]

Where else would he be? Rather a quick escape if he left right after the memorial when all this started.

[wwistful]

Do you know much about the Headmaster? He tends to disappear at the darndest times. He's quite a busy man, there are many places he could be.

[3potionproblem]

How inconvenient. What shall we do if he is not in, in that case?

[wwistful]

I am afraid our next step down would be the High Inquisitor. I'm almost certain he would be displeased with finding that we'd gone to Dumbledore first.

[3potionproblem]

And we do not need him assuming that further intervention from him is needed in the running of the school due to uncertain attendance from the Headmaster. Oh, this is marvelous. If he's not here, I say our next course of action is simply to deal with it ourselves. These things can't possibly stay for long and the only damage they can cause is embarrassment and suicide. We should do fine in the short term.

[wwistful]

No, we do not. However we cannot fend it off forever, I imagine he'll have somethin' to say about it when the time comes. Particularly if we involve ourselves too heavily.

Perhaps we should consider short term actions, then. Calming potions and charms could potentially ease troubled, though they'll do little in the long run. Most Dark magic is fear based afterall, it thrives off such paranoia.

[3potionproblem]

[Sherlock scowled a little]

Honestly, it's more paranoid about my behavior than I am. Hyper critical I would say. I wouldn't advise giving any sort of depressant to students with shades. Stimulants might prove better.

[wwistful]

Interesting. I've never heard of such a thing, I don't believe I've got any written knowledge of it, at the very least.

Do you have any bright ideas, Holmes? Any particular substance in mind?
[He's totally not using this as a chance to mentor, not at all.]