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sweetpinkpixie · 06-03-2021, 04:43 AM

A bit like an amphitheater, the Death Chamber is rectangular, symmetrical and stone. The immediate walking surface is actually the first step of many toward the sunken center of the room. In keeping with the Greco-Roman arrangement of the space, marble is used throughout including the dais at the center of the sunken space upon which sits an old looking arch that looks as if it could crumble at any moment. Hanging loosely from the arch is a veil tattered and so worn that it's black colour appeared shades of bone, green and blue at times. Voices of those passed into the great beyond can sometimes be heard in faint whispers by those to whom they were close in their corruptible states....but impossible to properly converse with.

For a room that boasts such a grim field of study, there are actually not a great deal of things in the sparsely decorated room that could cause severe damage to a person. There is only one but it happens to be one that no one comes back from.

After the Third Wizarding War and inspired by the efforts of Unspeakable Jane Howard, a pristine and sterile laboratory was constructed around the topmost platform of the chamber's amphitheater structure. With a subtle curve to it's shape, the laboratory is an exclusive to the Death Chamber Alchemists and boasts the most elite equipment known to the wizarding world. All other Unspeakables must receive explicit permission from the department head before entering or else risk their hands turning bright red and turned to a flimsy gummy consistency.

Helios Sunrider · 12-14-2021, 06:57 AM

If Damian lived a hundred years, and a hundred years after that, he would not be half as wise as Jane Howard. Being clever got him this far, and being tricky got him into the Ministry of Magic. "You are right." She always seemed to be. She could turn trauma into strength. A true alchemist.

"We'll persevere." The hand on his arm seemed to send a jolt of positive energy through him. "Nothing lives in darkness forever. The sun rises. Even if we have to hoist it up above the horizon with our own hands."

Damian let a moments silence linger between them. A thousand words living and dying on his tongue without any escaping. Until. "I would ask about this experiment of yours that has taken you so close to the edge, but privacy is one of the few luxuries that we are afforded here." He spoke more out of concern than curiosity.

*MadAlice* · 12-14-2021, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helios Sunrider

Damian let a moments silence linger between them. A thousand words living and dying on his tongue without any escaping. Until. "I would ask about this experiment of yours that has taken you so close to the edge, but privacy is one of the few luxuries that we are afforded here." He spoke more out of concern than curiosity.

Jane relaxed a bit as Damian seemed to return to normal (or at least what passed as normal for her sometimes unpredictable colleague). "Oh, it's not a particular secret--it's just the next phase after the healing elixir I was working on during all the ... unpleasantness at the Ministry a few years ago." Jane paused to think about that for a minute, and was glad again that she had been working on that elixir just when Airey Flamsteed needed it. "It's just the decay of the old in preparation for new life and growth. But it can be rather...difficult. The Dark Night of the Soul,' some call it. It's not overwhelming, not when you are expecting it. And curiously," she went on, getting enthused about her work again, "getting attacked and being half-conscious in the hospital all that time seems to have jump-started the whole thing a bit. Even though I lost my previous work because of the attack, I now seem to know exactly what needs to be done now to get on with it. That is," she said, pausing to give Damian a look directly in his eyes, "That is, of course, if nothing interferes with it again." And with that, she glanced over to where Damian had concealed the book he'd come in with, then back again. That thing imprisoned in the Death Chamber had better not disturb her experiments.

Helios Sunrider · 12-18-2021, 09:09 AM

"Hey.." He had met her gaze with a roguish grin. "Hey, you must be mistaking me for someone that causes trouble." Damian should probably be offended that Jane didn't entirely trust him with his work in the chamber, but he didn't mind a chance to prove himself. He knew that he could be unpredictable, and how that made people uncomfortable. "I really tried my best to care for your lab while you were gone. I hardly know my mortar from my pestle, but the chamber didn't explode... If that was possible." The wizard was rather proud of how well he took care of the place during Jane's convalescence.

"And as for the book, remember: It's only dangerous if you read it. And there's nothing in there that I could ever want." Damian punctuated this by pointing at himself, and then moving the finger in her direction. "But an alchemist? The possibility of living forever? To bring back the dead? Even when it's done with the most noble of intentions, it all ends in horror." He could go from joking to serious at the drop of a hat.

"But, I trust you even more than I trust myself. So, there's nowhere safer in the world." With that finger he turned on her, Damian gave her nose a little boop.

*MadAlice* · 12-18-2021, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helios Sunrider

"Hey.." He had met her gaze with a roguish grin. "Hey, you must be mistaking me for someone that causes trouble."

Jane smiled a little ruefully at that. No, she was not mistaken about that at all, she feared.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helios Sunrider

"I really tried my best to care for your lab while you were gone. I hardly know my mortar from my pestle, but the chamber didn't explode... If that was possible." The wizard was rather proud of how well he took care of the place during Jane's convalescence.

Jane lost the smile at that and said in all seriousness, "No, you did an excellent job, and I can't thank you enough. It would have taken forever to get the smell of the fumes out of here and I'm not sure what effect it would have had on...that," and she gave a nod of her head toward the Curtain below them. "That was all I had hoped for--the experiment itself was bound to be useless when I didn't return in time. But I think I've nearly caught up on it now," she finished brightly. Really, it was amazing how the insights gained from a near-death experience helped out at this stage of the Work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helios Sunrider

"And as for the book, remember: It's only dangerous if you read it. And there's nothing in there that I could ever want." Damian punctuated this by pointing at himself, and then moving the finger in her direction. "But an alchemist? The possibility of living forever? To bring back the dead? Even when it's done with the most noble of intentions, it all ends in horror." He could go from joking to serious at the drop of a hat.

"But, I trust you even more than I trust myself. So, there's nowhere safer in the world." With that finger he turned on her, Damian gave her nose a little boop.

Jane took a step back in surprise, not quite sure where this was going. To get back her bearings, she returned to her ever-reliable standby in awkward situations, intellectual discussion. And really, if he was serious, then he didn't understant Alchemy at all. "I assume you're joking, but you must know that the goal of the Work is not to live forever, but only long enough to complete the Work itself, which can take several lifetimes. Just as the goal of turning lead into gold is in order to afford the supplies, and to give to those in need. Many pursue the Art out of greed or fear of death, but those persons never succeed." She paused here, musing on his last statement--surely he didn't believe alchemists brought the dead back to life; that was impossible, and she chose to ignore it.

"And I promise not to try to read the book. I wasn't particularly afraid of danger, only of--what people in the '60s used to refer to as 'bad vibrations.'"

Helios Sunrider · 12-28-2021, 04:46 AM

"I know a few things about bad vibrations. I once had this cursed guitar that--" Damian began excitedly, though he cut himself off before he could get far into his fantastical, and long winded, story.

"Instead of another tale, how about I share something actually useful?" Dangling his wand loosely between his thumb and index finger, he struck it gently against his chest while saying "Interi vibratus." Like a tuning fork, the wand vibrated with a low, steady hum. "Isn't that neat? Everything vibrates, and this lets you hear it." He added, waving the wand around a bit, as if conducting music. "It helps identify cursed objects, and getting a read on someone's general mood." He was full of surprises.

*MadAlice* · 12-28-2021, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helios Sunrider

"I know a few things about bad vibrations. I once had this cursed guitar that--" Damian began excitedly, though he cut himself off before he could get far into his fantastical, and long winded, story.

"Instead of another tale, how about I share something actually useful?" Dangling his wand loosely between his thumb and index finger, he struck it gently against his chest while saying "Interi vibratus." Like a tuning fork, the wand vibrated with a low, steady hum. "Isn't that neat? Everything vibrates, and this lets you hear it." He added, waving the wand around a bit, as if conducting music. "It helps identify cursed objects, and getting a read on someone's general mood." He was full of surprises.

Jane was startled as Damian began another tale about a ... did he say cursed guitar? Did everything this man came into contact with bear a curse? But before she could become too caught up in that, he had abruptly changed subjects and was now talking about vibrations and waving his wand about. Hmm...Jane wondered if this could really detect cursed objects? If it could really affect moods, it should soon begin to note that she was still a little irritable about Damian bringing in a cursed book, which was apparently not the first such object brought to the Death Chamber, without any prior warning. She wasn't usually so prickly, but she had lost nearly a year already because of her attack last year and was determined not to have to repeat this phase of her work yet a third time. Airey Flamsteed had indicated that this laboratory he'd had installed in a corner of the Death Chamber would be a quiet and isolated place to work, but he had apparently not spent that much time with Damian Pendragon. "Don't wave it so wildly," she warned, worried now that this new spell itself might upset the delicate atmosphere.

Helios Sunrider · 01-08-2022, 07:22 PM

"Sorry.." Damian said, not needing his spell to pick up on the vibes Jane was giving off. "My mind has been all abuzz lately." In a magical world of endless possibilities, how could it not? "Trying to turn all this nervous energy into something positive."

The urge to ramble, and spin an anecdote off into a long-winded story, was strong with him. But, instead, he only spoke a simple statement. "I have some theories about this chamber." Holding his hands up in surrender, he added. "But that can wait. I should let you get back to work." The wizard knew how important her work was. To her, and the larger wizarding world. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty for taking up her time with his prattling on.

*MadAlice* · 01-12-2022, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helios Sunrider

"Sorry.." Damian said, not needing his spell to pick up on the vibes Jane was giving off. "My mind has been all abuzz lately." In a magical world of endless possibilities, how could it not? "Trying to turn all this nervous energy into something positive."

The urge to ramble, and spin an anecdote off into a long-winded story, was strong with him. But, instead, he only spoke a simple statement. "I have some theories about this chamber." Holding his hands up in surrender, he added. "But that can wait. I should let you get back to work." The wizard knew how important her work was. To her, and the larger wizarding world. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty for taking up her time with his prattling on.

Jane lifted from her chest what appeared to be a pocket watch, but one that gave off a magical aura, and consulted it gravely. "Yes, I'm afraid I'm going to have to return to the lab area, my solution is just about ready for the next step. But let's have tea later and you can tell me about your theories." Anything to do with the Death Chamber would be of interest to Jane.

She turned and walked back up the steps to the sectioned off area in one section of the top level that had been turned into a laboratory for her. Just before she disappeared around the partition, she turned and called over her shoulder, "And Damian--try not to let your emotions override your judgement out there." And she gave one of her enigmatic smiles before returning to her work.

*MadAlice* · 08-05-2022, 09:02 PM

Jane Howard was standing before the small potions laboratory set up at the top of the Death Chamber staring blankly at her current experiments. The Chamber seemed strangely empty and hollow, the atmosphere disturbing. Her colleagues, Damian Pendragon and David Truebridge were strangely missing. Odd--she hadn't seen them in days; where could they have gone?

After rather a long time, Jane picked up a large flask of water, held it over the tabletop, and proceeded to douse everything in sight with water, causing a plume of black, oily smoke to rise up from her cauldron, filling the Chamber with an unpleasant pungent odor. Then Jane opened her mouth and emitted an impossibly loud, high, squealing SCREEEEECH!!! which filled the Chamber and even seemed to stir the curtains on the Dais down below in the center.

Then Jane dropped the flask, which shattered on the stone floor, and wandered erratically out of the door...

*MadAlice* · 09-11-2023, 07:51 PM

Jane Howard, Department of Mysteries alchemist, lowered the flame on her Bain-Marie, and spent a few moments gazing fondly at the dark, somewhat gelatinous mass inside. "Patience, all will be completed in due course," she murmured gently, but whether to the experiment or to herself was hard to tell. Giving one final glance, to make sure nothing was amiss, she wiped her hands with a specially-charmed cleaning cloth (casting a cleaning charm this close to the experiment might cause undue magical reverberations). Then she straightened her hair and clothing and stepped away from her small laboratory area in the upper areas of the chamber and made her way out of the Death Chamber. It was high time she had a break, after all, and it didn't do to spend too much time under the influence of the chamber.

The experiment in the Bain Marie simmered softly, emitting a faint cloud of steam which began to expand and float down the stairs of the chamber, seeping into the cracks and crannies of the walls. When it reached one particular corner, it began to turn black in colour. Soon a billowing dark cloud of vapor was expanding in the Death Chamber.

Helios Sunrider · 09-20-2023, 01:53 AM

Smelling faintly of petrichor, with hair recently dried by the morning sun, Damian approached the entrance to the chamber in mud flecked shoes. It was a long morning after a long night, and he had promised himself that he would only come to the Ministry to grab breakfast before going home to his bed and blackout curtains. He was only a couple bites into his breakfast burrito when he heard a disembodied voice speaking in a dead tongue.

Hunger and sleep were distant memories when the unspeakable finally entered the Death Chamber. The dreadful voice beckoning him inside was more than just sleep deprived delirium. The black cloud at the bottom of the chamber, surrounding the vale in the center, reeked of pure malevolence. Whatever elixir or tincture that Jane had been brewing awakened something Damian had hoped to keep buried. A mortemist should know that what was dead and buried was not guaranteed to stay that way.

"Some right Barney Rubble down there." Damian often let his cockney accent slip when he was alone, shedding his more dignified airs. With no clue how to get out of this predicament, he would have to at least make an attempt to contain it. Having confiscated nearly every saltshaker from the food court, a circle was walked around the upper edge of the room, leaving a trail behind him. Discarding the final shaker when reaching back where he started, Damian had his wand out while uttering a protective spell.

There was a gnawing feeling that things were going to get worse before they got better.

*MadAlice* · 09-20-2023, 11:01 PM

Jane had allowed herself a half-hour's tea break and then returned to the Death Chamber to finish tidying up some things and make some final notes. She was humming under her breath as she closed the door, but cut herself off mid-phrase as she stopped in her tracks to survey the chaos inside. Can't go out for even a few minutes in this place... she muttered to herself. Looking down into the center of the Chamber she took note of the black cloud, which was emanating misery and despair even at distance. Oh no... What could have gone wrong? She was certain she'd done the experiment correctly, but it shouldn't be doing this.

Then she noticed her colleague up on the top ring of the Chamber, scattering some substance that looked a great deal like common table salt. Jane hoped that was all it was, because they really didn't need any more chemicals in here right now.

"Damian!" she whispered, moving a bit closer to him, but taking care to stay out of the way of whatever he was doing. "What's happened? My experiment should not have produced this effect."

Helios Sunrider · 09-26-2023, 01:37 AM

"That thing I told you wouldn't be a problem? It became a problem." Damian stated plainly after finishing his incantation. That would buy a little time. "This was supposed to be the safest place to hide that book. The vale was keeping it in a dormant state, but whatever you cooked up had some unforeseen side effects." He was nervously gesturing while he talked. The black fog was shaking his unflappable confidence.

"It-It's not just dark magic: It's anti-life. That thing can give the power to subjugate the living as well as the dead, and it might even reveal how to create dementors. Just thinking of it feels like a splinter in my minds eye." It wasn't just the fog; black lines, like veins or tree branches had begun to slowly stretch across the stone floor. The air felt thick and oppressive. If they listened closely, they could hear the whispers of forbidden knowledge, or was that all in their heads?

"We. I have to destroy it."

*MadAlice* · 09-30-2023, 04:14 AM

Jane looked perturbed for a moment as she listened to Damian. Yes, she'd urged caution way back when he said this wouldn't be a problem, because she knew what she was working on was tricky, but he'd seemed so assured about it, she had let herself be convinced.

"I've been working on the Black Phase for several years now--that's why I needed the lab set up in the Death Chamber, the vibrations in the Love Chamber lab were causing interference." Jane paused, unsure how much Damian knew about alchemy. "It's a very difficult phase--the term "Dark Night of the Soul" might sum it up. But I was very near to completing it--I'd managed to decay it all down in a sort of embryo state, ready for the Fermentation Stage. But if what you were storing in there does what you say, it is very bad. Because my experiment is the concentrated essence of depression and despair, and it sounds like your thing could exacerbate it." Jane had pulled out her wand and was using it to take readings on the black vapor, trying to nail down just what they were dealing with. She certainly wasn't going to leave Damian to try to fix this on his own. He might be an expert on dark objects, but he was no alchemist, and that was now part of what they had on their hands.

Helios Sunrider · 11-24-2023, 03:29 AM

Approaching the hall that lead to the locked and sealed door to the Death Chamber it sounded as if there was a heated argument accompanied by the sound of thrashing and crashing. Upon closer inspection, it appeared the sound was some classic British punk coming from an old tombstone shaped, wood cased radio. The one responsible for this racket was the infamous Damian Pendragon. He'd gone back to his roots over the holiday. Leather jackets and combat boots was who he was before being employed by the Ministry of Magic.

The Unspeakable's head was bobbing along with the music as he paced in front of the large, imposing door. Chains and runes had kept anyone from entering until Jane and Damian could sort out the dire situation brewing within.

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