Stone Alcove

[sweetpinkpixie]

Dank and distinctly unfriendly, this dungeon-like pass would most certainly scare any guilty party witless as they make there way to the courtrooms. However, to the average Ministry employed witch or wizard who passes by it is nothing more than a stone cobbled corridor with one unique feature.

A stone alcove.

While previously a feature easily dismissed and more often used as a hiding place for Ministry-wide 'Assassin' games, this alcove is now covered in intricate rune work. But why? Crack the code and perhaps you will find out.

[Samia]

Missa was there. It didn't help that she had been late today, and was only walking in when she heard the message - but didn't think twice before showing up at the Alcove. It was honestly all that she needed to forget all about the awful day she had already had at the University.

Goldwasser. Finally. How long had they been waiting for this?

Wand at the ready, she backed her Department Head and Hirase almost immediately as they fended off the bats, before quickly adding a firm "Ready, sir" to announce her presence too.

[Bazinga]

As if the universe started to sense that Alana Potter was starting to feel like she belonged in the wizarding world it threw something to prove to her she had no business being there. Today it was bats and people pulling wands to protect. She screamed and ducked being of no help she moved back a bit and just watched as the others come around the corner.

Then there was that name, that blasted awful name and all the things he had said to her and how his words were still haunting her. She backed up a bit more and lowered her head in defeat. "I.. I'm not much help, so I can.. I mean I want to.. I'll just stay out of the way."

She knew without magic she had no way of really helping and in the end it really proved that monsters point.

[kayquilz]

IT WAS TIME TO FIGHT.

Armed with his wand and determination, Scott Ferguson had gotten the message and was here SOOOO fast. Goldwasser?!??!!? Was it finally his time for demise?! Scottie sure hoped so. The idea of the man(?) had plagued his waking minutes a lot these past few years, and he would do whatever it took to see Goldwasser's end through.

There were a LOT of them here for backup, Scottie noted, and he wasn't sorry about that. The more they had, the better. The screeching of bats were...was, scary. He didn't particularly enjoy bats, either.

[sweetpinkpixie]

Let's...not discuss how this full grown man in front of him was the offspring of his former pupils and ALSO older than his own children. The man was likely to break out in a rash if he mulled the thought over too long - which he certainly did not.

Airey simply nodded as the pair spoke and shared was little anecdotes they could regarding the situation. With very little to go off of, he was just about to suggest they fetch Jake when all of a sudden a swarm of bats erupted from the opening in the alcove and, unfortunately, during his own fussing to retrieve his own wand from his enchanted breast pocket...the Mysteries Head was KO'd by one of his own with a stray Stupefy square to the middle of his unusually large forehead.

Eyes crossed and seeing a lot more than bats fluttering around his head, Airey toppled over to the floor juuuuuuuuuuuuuust shy of the trail of blood that lead through the corridor and down into the darkness. He vaguely heard something about Goldwasser and a patronus...but before the astronomer could make heads or tails of it all, he was out cold and with his cheek smushed up against Alana's foot.

[The Announcer]

A bright flash of light from Pendgraon’s spell was the only warning before more bats filled the alcove. They shrieked and circled, clearly upset that they had been ousted from their homes.

Clearly something else had happened down in the lair. Perhaps it wasn't safe to enter anymore? But then again, with a vampire somewhere in the darkness was it ever really safe?

[Bazinga]

This was ridiculous, she hated feeling helpless when all she wanted to do was help and show that she could stand up to everything, but spells being sent in different directions and bats proved she wasn't capable to be on their level. Before she knew it Mr. Flamesteed was on the ground. ][b] "Mr. Flamesteed, Mr. Flamesteed."[b/] She bent down and shook his shoulder. She had seen this spell before that he was hit with so she thought maybe he would be fine, but the panic in her was making her not think as clearly. Her brother spoke of him, she remembered.

Before she could do anything else she saw light from the door and more bats. Wondering if something more evil was coming Alana shielded Mr. Flamsteed in case something else came at him while he was defenseless.

"I think we need to get out of here."

[littledhampir]

Indigo had trailed after the group following the blood, more out of curiosity than anything else. There was clearly some sort of background that he was missing, being newer to the ministry. And he wasn't exactly sure how helpful he would be if it came down to a fight with whatever had left the blood trail. So he was a bit slower than the others. They had already gone through a door when he arrived, and he hesitated before following. This was not exactly what he had signed up for when he applied for the job.

Luckily more people began to arrive shortly, and Indigo stepped to the side to let them take the lead. His eyes glanced over the runes that had opened the door. That may actually be somewhat part of his job description actually. But...it seemed like the secret had already been discovered anyway. More and more people arrived, some he recognized and some he did not. One of them being his own department head. He moved a little closer, perhaps to try to explain the extent of what he knew? It didn't matter, because there were bats flying out of the door. And as he ducked to avoid them running into his face, a stray stunning spell hit Mr. Flamsteed. At least, he was pretty sure it was a stunning spell. He waved his wand over the man. "Ennervate." Hopefully that would help.

[Felixir]

Good, good. Plenty to hand. And the bats themselves seemed (seemed) no more harmful than regular bats - Jake had half expected all kinds of nefariousness about them - so they could just forge straight on. Now, there was not only Penelope and himself here from Level Two, but Kevin, Missa, and Scott. Not to mention, anyone here from another department who fancied taking down Goldwasser with them. All hands on deck was right.

Except Airey was... yikes.

"Look after him," Jake said sharply, though Potter and the young man already seemed to be doing so. "Clear the way, in case anyone needs to make a quick exit, but don't leave this doorway uncovered." In case Goldwasser... well. Just don't block it, and don't leave it totally unattended. That was all. As for the rest of them, whoever was joining, "Let's go. Keep your wits about you." Went without saying. Saying it anyway.

And, despite the holy racket the bats were making, despite the fact the situation may have become all the more dire given all the signs, Jake threw up a precautionary shield charm and pushed onwards through the alcove doorway.

Or, at least, as far down the path as he would be able to get.

[AlwaysSnapesGirl]

The bats were annoying but not a big problem. And then Jake had arrived, and so had Kevin and Missa and Scott. And then Flamsteed was struck by a stray Stupefy. Friendly fire. People ought to be more careful when aiming. Merlin. But at least Alana and Indigo Rousseau were tending to him.

Penelope wanted to do more to help there, but she had another job to do. There was no way she was letting Goldwasser get away, no matter what happened. And so, after sending another quick Stupefy at the new set of disgruntled bats, she brought up her own shield charm and followed Jake into the passageway.

[kayquilz]

There was mass chaos, it seemed, and no other way to describe it. Spells were flying, Flamsteed had gone down, and his MLE head was going into the fray. Scottie saw Penelope following Mr. Upstead, and so, Scottie was following too.

Also, STUPID BATS. Scottie aimed a fist at one, attempting to PUNCH IT as he ran behind Penelope. His wand was AT THE READY.

GOLDWASSER, COMING FOR YOU.

[DuckyLinJi]

While he had been occupied with shooting spell after spell to fend off another bat attack, Kevin had failed to notice that Airey Flamsteed had been struck by a stray Stupefy spell. It wasn't until the colony of bats were either removed or had repositioned their attack on a different target that he noticed his old Head of Gryffindor House down on the ground encircled by Potter and Rousseau who was already attempting to Ennervate the man.

There was a brief moment of hesitance on Kevin's part. On one hand, he felt that he should help get the injured back to safety while at the same time guarding the entrance to the liar. But another part of him knew that he had to follow his own Department Head. If what Carter had said in his Patronus message that Bain had been the one behind the attacks, then this was personal! If Bain had been the one who had abducted, interrogated and then left him for near-dead under a darn football table then he liked to be there when he got apprehended!

Waving a shield charm around himself, Kevin hurried after Upstead, Grimm and Ferguson.

[Uncle Moose]

Saul wasn't too far off from the group of Aurors his boss, Jake Upstead had with him. He stopped a few feet back as he watched bats spill out of the entrance and the spells being tossed at them, and Airey getting taken down by a stupefy spell.

No time to check on the Mysteries foreHead. Going after Bain Goldwasser felt personal. As personal as getting locked up, and then forced out of his job to be in hiding can be. There was also the matter of poor Milo, who went missing at the same time he had, and according to some as in inferi during the battle at Hogwarts. That was a terrible night, while he escaped thanks to Scott. Milo was never found. Saul had some avenging to do.

the IUMO Chief Inspector went in behind the Aurors, wand out and ready.

[Nordic Witch]

SPOILER!!: Airey, Alana, Indigo and announcer

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Eyes crossed and seeing a lot more than bats fluttering around his head, Airey toppled over to the floor juuuuuuuuuuuuuust shy of the trail of blood that lead through the corridor and down into the darkness. He vaguely heard something about Goldwasser and a patronus...but before the astronomer could make heads or tails of it all, he was out cold and with his cheek smushed up against Alana's foot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazinga

This was ridiculous, she hated feeling helpless when all she wanted to do was help and show that she could stand up to everything, but spells being sent in different directions and bats proved she wasn't capable to be on their level. Before she knew it Mr. Flamesteed was on the ground."Mr. Flamesteed, Mr. Flamesteed." She bent down and shook his shoulder. She had seen this spell before that he was hit with so she thought maybe he would be fine, but the panic in her was making her not think as clearly. Her brother spoke of him, she remembered.

Before she could do anything else she saw light from the door and more bats. Wondering if something more evil was coming Alana shielded Mr. Flamsteed in case something else came at him while he was defenseless.

"I think we need to get out of here."

Quote:

Originally Posted by littledhampir

He moved a little closer, perhaps to try to explain the extent of what he knew? It didn't matter, because there were bats flying out of the door. And as he ducked to avoid them running into his face, a stray stunning spell hit Mr. Flamsteed. At least, he was pretty sure it was a stunning spell. He waved his wand over the man. "Ennervate." Hopefully that would help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Announcer

A bright flash of light from Pendgraon’s spell was the only warning before more bats filled the alcove. They shrieked and circled, clearly upset that they had been ousted from their homes.

Clearly something else had happened down in the lair. Perhaps it wasn't safe to enter anymore? But then again, with a vampire somewhere in the darkness was it ever really safe?

"Stupefy!" Laurel casted around in quick succession as the bat's kept circling and shrieking over her and the others heads. The bats clearly were upset about being roused from their lair. Laurel was ducking out of a bats way when she saw how her boss Airey in front of her eyes sank to the floor against Alana's foot. He was out cold. It didn't cross Laurel's mind that one of her spells could have knocked Airey unconcious, but before she could say or do anything Alana was already trying to wake up Airey, but to no avail.

Several MLE employess grouped around Mr Upstead and prepared to follow him down in to the dark lair. Laurel wasn't going to come along. She was not trained for that kind of combat. Turning her attention to her boss she watched as a guy tried to wake him up with the ennervate spell. Hopefully that would do the trick? Heading over to Alana and Airey she agreed with the other woman's reasoning. "Yes, its probably best if we leave the alcove with haste and get more reinforcements. Shall we conjur up a stretcher for Mr Flamsteed? He will be defenceless down here alone."

[emjay]

It didn't take long for the situation to become chaotic and, quite frankly, annoying. Gunnar did not like being taken off guard and he also did not like being in control of a situation. Why on earth people thought firing off spell after spell at a colony of bats in a small and crowded space was a good idea was beyond him. He was stunned momentarily by the sudden appearance of the bat as well as the sheer foolishness of the group that had kept coming one after another and, unfortunately for him, he was not in charge here anyway. Having only been here a short time, he felt the need to respect the authority figures who were already present - one of whom was unsurprisingly on the floor and unconscious from a wayward spell. The other thankfully leading the charge, though Gunnar wasn't impressed with the way he, or any of them, were trying to handle the bat situation.

Sure, the swarming of bats was annoying, but they were just little creatures, probably under the command of... whoever was in that dark alcove. And did that lunkhead just punch one of them? Irritable now, Gunnar seriously questioned the mental capacity of some of these people. But it was probably a good thing that a creatures expert was here.

"Stop," he implored the woman who was continuing to cast stunning spells, even after Flamsteed was laying on the floor from one of those very spells. He cast Animalis Fidelis at the colony of bats to at least calm them down and turned towards Alana, tending to the Mysteries department head. "Is Mr. Flamsteed okay?" He kept his wand drawn out of vigilance and necessity, but he wasn't going anywhere just yet. Those aurors that just charged in were better trained to handle whatever was going on. But he could back things up as needed. Alana though, and Flamsteed, yeah maybe it was better if they headed back up.

[Bazinga]

So much was going on, so much chaos and she just kept looking round. Come on Flamsteed wake up, please wake up. She didn't know how to really protect him if some sort of magic came at them. She could always just get in front of him and she would if had to, but he needed to get up. Looking around when people were talking she just nodded. A stretcher sounded like a good idea, so did getting out of there.


She was already going to take care of him when the MLE started to do so and nodded, but spells were flying and people were talking in all directions. Alana just stayed near Flamsteed's head to shield him if needed. "Sir, sir, please... wake up." She shook him a bit. "Does anyone have smelling salts maybe?" Or did that spell work that someone just did?

Glancing at Gunnar she pleaded for some sort of guidance on what should be done next. "He is still out cold, I'm not sure what else to do."

[sweetpinkpixie]

At least his suit had been spared.

His threads really deserved so much more than to get bloodied up. He had already been through the war and had to witness some imposter sporting some of his favorite ties and three pieces, so just give the man this.

His head rolled slightly and a groan accompanied it, not entirely awake but stirring slightly. Enough that there was a hope he would wake up in another couple of clicks. His head was ringing a bit as well, but he had had worse migraines...or whatever it was that had his head feeling ten different layers of hellish at the moment. Another low groan and the department head's eyelids were fluttering and then slowly opening.

"...sweet solstice..."

He was getting too old for this.