Christ Church College

It was a wonder, for a moment Khalid had forgotten just how wonderous the discovery of a new Arcana was.  He could spend hours pouring over this book but his eyelids were already drooping and he could feel himself slipping.  Gathering his things in one last burst of energy he makes his way towards his dorm in the Christ Church grounds.  Slipping through the door he lazily tosses his things to the side, taking care only for the grimoire, falls on his bed, and sleeps deeply after a long productive day.

(Continued from Churchill Hospital) Merric arrives back at his dorm and onto his computer. He begins writing an email to Professor Cragg. Dear Prof. Cragg, I finished my investigation with Mr. Caudill at Churchill Hospital, and am happy to report significant progress in my mission. I would like to set up a meeting as soon as possible so I may be able to relay my findings. Best Regards, Merric Grimm He sits back in his chair going through the notes he took to try and compile them into a coherent report while he waits to hear back from the professor.

45 minutes later, Professor Cragg sends Merric a brief reply. Hello Merric, come by office this afternoon around three and you can give me an update. Best, SC

Finishing his report he notices a new message from the professor. Perfect timing. Guess I have some time to study before I head over there.  He begins studying for his medical classes while he can. He looks at the time and sees it's getting close to his meeting. He packs up his notes, cleans himself up, and heads toward Prof. Cragg's office. He knocks on the door exactly at 3 PM and cracks the door open, "Hello? Professor Cragg?"

"Yes, Merric, come in," Stephanie replies, barely looking away from her computer. "Take a seat."

Merric enters the room and settles into the chair before the Professor's desk. "Hello Professor Cragg, I appreciate you seeing me on such short notice." He begins pulling out his notebook and the water bottle containing Matthew to explain everything he's done to the professor. "I've made significant progress in my investigation after visiting the site of the murder and visiting the body at the hospital." So excited to talk about his accomplishments he doesn't give much room for Prof. Cragg to respond as he points to his water bottles, "Th ghost of the victim was still wandering around the school grounds and was not able to speak, so I was able to hold him in this water bottle here and later influence the water bottle so that it could act as a radar for the murderer. I'm quite proud of this one," he points to the cap of the water bottle to show his work,  "you can see the glyph I was able to etch into the plastic cap, I'm very happy I was able to get it accurate enough on the fly so the spell could work." He leaves the bottle on the desk and opens his notebook, "Once I was able to meet Daxon at the hospital, did you know he call himself a nightmare child? Anyway, he was quite nice and led me to the morgue, and from there I was able to see through the victim's eyes at the moment of death and was able to capture the murderer and what I believe was an accident."   He takes a breather as he's flipping through his notes, "Oh yeah there was this weird compulsion thing that happened and I was wondering if you had or knew a mage specializing in mental compulsions?"

The professor pauses briefly as she processes this onslaught of information. "'Weird compulsion thing'? Specifics, Merric. What happened?"

A little deflated from her reaction to his explanation, he begins to answer her, "Well, after I cast my spell on the corpse Daxon and I were walking by the attendant in the morgue he acted strange. Daxon asked him for files on the body and his response was like a glitched robot. He repeated the same phrase three times in a row, like he got stuck in a loop. Daxon quickly grabbed me by the arm and hurried us to the elevator. He thought it was strange and wanted to get away from it as far as possible. Based on what I saw it seemed like compulsion but I don't know from who or what. "  He pauses to see Prof Cragg's reaction to the information, "Do you have any thoughts on it?"

"Changelings are wary of the uncanny," Stephanie explains with a wry smile, "and who can blame them, given the nature of their existence? If I had to guess, I'd say that the most likely explanation is that the Circle got to that attendant. You say that the murder was an accident? Elaborate."

Not entirely sure what she means by "The Circle" he dismisses his questions and answers, "Well, once I cast my spell I saw through the eyes of the victim a few moments before his death. It looks like he was dancing at some kind of party, with a dark-skinned young woman. The woman appears to be a vampire as she attacked his neck, assumedly to feed, I guess she took too much and he began to pass out and die from the draining. However, in the last moments, I saw the woman's facial reaction to him dying and it seemed like she was in shock, as if she didn't want him to die." He begins flipping through his notebook pages to find the picture of the woman he sketched, "My guess was that it was an accident on the vampire's part, but murder is still murder. Here, I was able to make a sketch of what the woman looked like. I think I captured her likeness pretty well." He passes over his sketched image to the professor looking to see what she thought of it and the information he told her.

"That's good, very good," Stephanie comments as she examines the sketch. "I don't know this face, but, if we need to track her down, then it shouldn't be difficult now that we have an image of her likeness. Perhaps she's a careless neophyte." The professor pauses to think. "Can you confirm that hypothesis? If you can rule out any risk posed by this anomalous incident, then the Diamond will have no further cause for concern and the matter is closed."  

Shame she didn't recognize the face, could've made this much easier , "I can't confirm that theory unless I knew the intention of the vampire. I'd have to ask her myself, but even then she could lie, and manipulating the truth out of someone is not in my magical toolbox, without screaming at least."  He'd rather not resort to violence but it might be necessary depending on the situation. "My gut tells me that my hypothesis is correct from being in Matthew's shoes at the moment but I have no evidence to prove it."  He glances back at his sketch and ponders, "Is there some kind of scrying ability that we could use to find the vampire with this sketch?"

Stephanie regards Merric critically. "You are a student of the Space arcanum, are you not? Surely you're familiar with its applications?"

He thinks for a moment, "Hmm. I've never thought of using it like that. Although I'm hardly an expert at it, I've mostly only used it to locate objects, like lost items and such. I never really considered a person an object per se, but I could give it a try."  He grabs his notebook back and scribbles down notes on applications of Space Arcanum and looks back to the professor, "D...Did you want me to try it now?"

"What?" Stephanie asks in surprise.  "No, Merric. Just track her down and keep up the good work. Do you need anything else?"

A little embarrassed Merric responds, "O...Oh right."  He thinks back to what he's written down, "There was one thing that stuck out that I didn't fully understand. You said that something called the Circle had a hand in the manipulation at the hospital. What is this Circle? I feel like I've made myself known to them for investigating the body so I want to know more about them."

" Oh ," Stephanie replies, quickly setting down the cup of coffee that she has started to take a sip from, "of course. I'm sorry, Merric, I forgot that you haven't been in Oxford that long. The Circle of the Crone is the vampire covenant that controls Brasenose College. They have a vested interest in making any official investigation into Matthew Wiggins's death go away."

He rapidly notes down information in his journal, Circle of the Crone = Brasenose , "No worries, Professor. The first week and all. It's a chaotic time to track minor things like that. Can you tell me any of the capabilities of the Circle? Something I should be aware of? They seem to be good at mental manipulation."  He readies his pen to write down every last word of the Professor.

"Perhaps," Stephanie muses, "or perhaps they simple sent an overzealous Ventrue to see to the matter. The Circle of the Crone practice a form of blood magic that they call Crúac . The effects are varied, but always invoked via a ritual of some kind."

Merric unfazed by the sound of blood magic maintains his inquisitive look as he scribbles down further details into his notes. "I see, it could've been an outside hire. Still, their reach and abilities seem vast and dangerous. I'll make sure to be more cautious, and more meticulous in my observations   going further ."  He closes his book and places it in his jacket pocket, "I think that's all the information I need for now. I will probably take my leave and then divine the location of the vampire woman. When I do find her location I assume I shouldn't engage. Should I keep a distance and track her routine?"

"Yes, exactly," the professor agrees with a smile of approval. "Gather intelligence and confirm that she isn't involved in anything more untoward than usual for a vampire and we can consider this case closed."

A little proud of his correct assumption, he nods in agreement,  "Understood. I'll be off to investigate then."  He picks up his belongings and leaves the professor's office and returns to his dorm. He locates his books and notes on Space Arcana and begins to search for the correct rituals and incantations for the spell he would need.

General information on the space arcanum is plentiful in the Christ Church library. However, in order to actually trial a new rote, a grimoire is necessary. These are typically held by professors, or secured in special collections.

After realizing these expansive books on Arcana are not what he fully needs, he decides it's time to use special means. He returns to his and opens the bottom chest drawer of his desk. He removes all the loose papers and notebooks filling the drawer and revealing the plain floor of the container. He looks around to make sure no one is around and reaches for a ballpoint pen in the cup on his desk and removes the tip and ink line from the metal casing. He takes the tip and places the plastic end and pokes into a small hole in the floor of the drawer and lifts the floor of the drawer up to reveal a large tome on the true floor of the drawer.      He picks up the tome to reveal an aged book filled with varying page sizes and bookmarks poking out the edges, all wrapped in a stitched leather cover and a metal clasp holding it shut. He removes the tiny key from his necklace to unlock the heavy tome and begins to scour its pages for knowledge. Passing through illustrations of ancient maps, supernatural anatomy, pressed flora, blood-stained glyphs, and incomprehensible text, Merric finds the section he is looking for. He sees in the center of the page a large circular glyph, recognizing it as the ancient symbol for the Space Arcana, he notices the text on the edges of the page begin to move across the vellum and reveal the scrying spell he's searching for. Well, I guess I should give it a shot. Merric's chanting drones on for hours as the letters on the page shift into more words after every breath. His menacing aura compressed and contained around the book, inky black shadows begin to cover the page and pulsatingly grow in mass. The shadows being to rise off the page and form an eye-like sphere looming over the tome. As the spell finishes the text creates a frame-like border around the page and the glyphs begin to take the form of moving images on the page like a movie no different than Casablanca. Merric's right eye is engulfed by darkness as the shadowy grim eye of death hovering over the tome takes over his vision and peers into the life of this vampire in vivid detail, unbeknownst to her.

At first, all that Merric sees is black - an obsidian mirror reflecting the void. Then a pinpoint of light breaks the inky surface, followed by another and another, until a perfectly ordinary residential street dissolves into view. The girl from the mage's vision of Matthew's death is stood talking with a man who has a striking resemblance to her. Talking with them is a stocky, bearded man with a receding hairline and an eastern European accent. The house number reads three hundred and fifty five.

Holding in his excitement from his investigations coming to fruition he closely observes the surroundings of his target. With his notebook on the side, he writes down the house number, and the characteristics of the people she is talking to, and notices off in the corner a bus stop with a street name next to it, 'Howard Street East' . "Now we're getting somewhere"  He quickly goes to his computer to send an email to Prof Cragg. Dear Prof. Cragg, I've found her location, I'm fairly certain it is her current residence. How would you like me to proceed with the investigation? Sincerely, Merric Grimm As he continues to watch the conversation outside he learns valuable information. The man who looks similar to the woman is her older brother named Gabriel, and the Eastern European man is named Andrei. Maybe Andrei is a close friend, a roommate, maybe even a lover . Andrei seems to refer to her as 'pui'. I wonder if this is a pet name or a shortened form of her name.  With all this information he's gathered on her, he still can't believe that the most basic information, her name, is still unknown to him.

Not long later, Merric receives a short but clear email back from Professor Cragg. Continue as discussed. Confirm that she isn't a threat to the Diamond.

Hmm. How can I get in contact with her without being put at risk?  After a few minutes of strategizing he comes up with a plan. He grabs a paper and an envelope and begins to write a letter. Hello, Sorry about being so mysterious. I promise I mean you no harm. I know what you are and who you are. I also know what happened that night with Matthew and the quad. I just want to help clear the air. Here's my number ##########. Please reach out as soon as you can before things get worse for you. Sincerely, M.G. Ok, I think that should do it. I hope she doesn't see me as a threat. That would be dangerous. Just to be safe. I'll deliver it during the day, maybe that eastern-european man will be there and I can convince him I'm a friend of hers. Merric signs off the front of the envelope, "From a friend of yours and Matthews"

The next morning in between classes Merric takes a trip to Cowley... (Cowley)

(continued from Cowley) Returning home from his interview with a vampire. He throws his bag on his desk and falls into his chair letting out a sigh of relief as he avoided getting himself killed. He takes a moment to think about what he just did and his facial expression sours as he thinks about what will happen to his new vampire friend. He pulls out his notebook and goes to his computer. I've got to email the Professor about all this .  Dear Prof. Cragg, Hi, Prof. Cragg. It's me Merric, I'm back and I'm alive and well. I have much to report about the Brasenose situation and I could do it over email but I think in-person would be better. When your available for me to come in, please let me know. Sincerely,  Merric Grimm And send. Now we wait to see if she gets back to me by tonight . He stands back from his chair and plops onto his bed as he tries to recuperate his social energy from tonight. He holds his phone in his hand waiting to see if anyone reaches back to him.

A few minutes later Merric's phone begins to buzz with an incoming call from Stephanie Cragg.

Quickly sitting up from his bed he goes to answer the phone. He nervously answers the unexpected call,  "Uh, H-hello? Professor Cragg?"  He heads over to his desk, phone in ear, to pull out his notes as he expects the reasoning for this call.

"Good to hear your voice, Grimm. Meeting a vampire alone in her own haven... that was reckless. Was it worth it?"

Thinking back on what he did realizing how he could've died tonight humbles him. He responds, "Yeah it was reckless. I do think it was worth it. I learned about what happened that night and about our mysterious murderer."  Merric rambles on explaining what happened tonight and what he's learned so far. he ends his monologue with his concerns, "... So that leads us up to now. I'm worried about the fate of my new vampire contact, I'm also concerned about this mysterious Stryx that has shown up. I'm also trying to get in contact with the mage to hear his story and see what has been going on under the nose of the college."  He takes a breath, "What are your thoughts on the matter?"

There's a pause on the phone before the professor replies. "The appearance of a strix is rare and seldom beneficial... where are you right now, Merric? You seem quite concerned for this vampire. Perhaps we should discuss the topic in person?"

Surprised and impressed by the composed response of the professor in light of all the information he spewed onto her, he responds, "I'm in my dorm at the moment. I think discussing it in person would be best. I can meet you in your office?"

"Yes, I think that that would be for the best," Stephanie tells Merric delicately. "See you soon, Grimm."

"Sounds good, I'll be there soon." He hangs up the phone. That felt a little strange. She seemed very calm at all this. Maybe she's just wary of the line or someone else listening in. I should get ready to leave.  He packs his notes and gets ready to leave.  He approaches the professor's door and knocks. "Hello, professor. It's Merric. May I come in"

Previous Message Hey, is this Akil? I got your number from our mutual friend Raziel. I'm a mage like yourself and would like to meet up and chat. Especially about what happened last week. Let me know when you're available to meet up Akil sighed, watching his cursor blink as he put the finishing touches on his report.  Exhausted he checks his phone, a meager attempt at procrastination, but finds himself surprised at a new message.  He responds, albeit late: Seems my number keeps getting out there.  If you're really a mage then I'd appreciate you stick to my Shadow Name, Khalid.  I'm free just about anytime since I've just finished up my last big project for a while.  I'd prefer to meet in Christ Church, it'll be nice to meet a fellow mage in about as deep as I am.

Eric D. said: "Sounds good, I'll be there soon." He hangs up the phone. That felt a little strange. She seemed very calm at all this. Maybe she's just wary of the line or someone else listening in. I should get ready to leave.  He packs his notes and gets ready to leave.  He approaches the professor's door and knocks. "Hello, professor. It's Merric. May I come in" As Merric stands before Professor Cragg's, door the feeling of vertigo takes him. His vision blurs and he sways as the light-headedness intensifies. Barely able to keep his eyes open, the young mage crumples to the floor fast asleep. When Merric comes to, he finds himself tucked under the white sheet of a hospital-type bed in the college infirmary. Stephanie Cragg is stood at the foot of the bed with her arms crossed and an unamused expression. Besides her stands a young man with close-cropped, pale brown hair and a neat goatee. "Are you with us, Grimm?" She demands curtly.

Merric comes to slowly opening his eyes, vision still blurry, with a slight pounding in his head. "W-what, what happened to me?"  As his vision focuses into clarity he sees the Professor and a strange man next to her, "Is that you, Professor Cragg? Where am I? Who is this man?"  As the questions pour into his mind his heart starts to race and adrenaline starts to pump as he processes the unknown as danger. His body begins to tense and shake as his mind tries its best to stay calm and assess the situation. He looks at the Professor and the strange man with a look of curiosity, and assessment as to whether they are friend or foe.

"Welcome back," Stephanie notes, before continuing,  "you're safe in the Christ Church infirmary. I said that you were reckless, Grimm, but I never took you for stupid . This is Dr Matthew Apps and you should thank him for ensuring that your mind is cleansed of vampiric influence. Just what were you thinking allowing her to feed on you?"

He releases a sigh as the tension that has been building up in his body begins to relax. He looks towards the man, "Thank you Dr. Matthew for your assistance."  He turns back to Prof Cragg trying to quickly come up with a believable answer in his head, "You're right it was reckless. I'm sorry for the inconvenience I've caused. All I can say was that it seemed right in the moment. Maybe she seduced me or maybe I was just worried that if I didn't comply something worse could happen."  He takes a pause, "I'm sorry for being so gung-ho and causing unneeded risk, I promise I won't do it again."  Trying to avoid the uncomfortable situation he tries to lighten the mood, "On the bright side, I've learned a great deal of information."

"Quite a collection of wild tales," Professor Cragg ruminates, seemingly satisfied with Merric's apology for now. "There's always a kernel of truth. The challenge is filtering the critical from the irrelevant... have you been able to identify this other mage?"

Merric nods submissively to the Professor's words, "You're right." He processes the question, "Actually..." He reaches into his pocket to pull out his phone and sees a notification on the screen. He checks and sees a message from the mysterious mage friend, Seems my number keeps getting out there.  If you're really a mage then I'd appreciate you stick to my Shadow Name, Khalid.  I'm free just about anytime since I've just finished up my last big project for a while.  I'd prefer to meet in Christ Church, it'll be nice to meet a fellow mage in about as deep as I am. He looks back to the professor, "Seems like he just messaged me back. I know I just said that I will not be reckless, but I'm going to attempt to meet up with him here in Christ Church. Is that alright?"  He looks towards the Professor's approval and possible suggestions before he replies to the message.

Professor Cragg nods in agreement. "Within these walls there is little enough that can go wrong. Try to ascertain if he is also under the vampire's influence. Perhaps she is more cunning than we have given her credit for."

A little giddy to get approval, "Very well."  He thinks for a moment and asks, "Mental manipulation is not my strong suit, as I'm sure you know. Is there an item or spell that could help me tell, or even signs in how they act that could tell me if they are under a vampire's influence?"

"A vampire's influence lingers like a stain on the soul," Professor Cragg explains. "As a disciple of Death, your mage sight should have little trouble spotting such a thing."

Merric eyes opened in realization to something that seemed so obvious but completely passed over him, "I had no idea, that makes so much sense."  He turns to plant his feet on the ground as he gets ready to leave the medical bed, "With that information, I suppose we should head back to your office so I can fill you in and then get ready to talk to that mage."

"Is there anything significant that you've left out?" Professor Cragg asks with an amused smile, not moving from where she stands at the foot of the bed.