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[rehandle]

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OurPowers contact available at: Dr. Stephen Strange (public/business)
Instagram/Twitter contact available at: strangemagic (personal/stealth account)
Implant contact available at: stephen.strange (meadowlark craus only)

Comments

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

Not really a request I'd make of someone brought here from a different galaxy entirely, but I'm willing to entertain the idea that might just be a personal quirk of mine.

[rehandle]

The other-dimensional transplant card only works with universe-natives, for the record. Did you want to meet or not?

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

Not all worlds have the same method of measuring time. Certainly not the same calendars.

One of the ghosts involved had some interesting knowledge to impart before she was put down a second time. The sort that involves ominous prophesies and a strange cult.

So you can continue your little games, or you can help get to the bottom of this rather than risk it becoming a much larger problem.

[rehandle]

Consider leading with cults and prophecies next time. Drop me your location and I'll open a doorway.

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

[At first his response would be limited to a single message that contained the exact longitude and latitude, or at least as close to it as local technology permitted. But he obviously thought better of it and would send another text a few moments later, just in case.]

If it helps, the nearest traffic lanes are "13th AVE N 800-900" and "Aleister Crowley BLVD 1500-1600"

I have no idea who that is or what any of it even means, but hopefully you've been on this world long enough to make sense of it.

[rehandle]

[ Both pieces of information are just as helpful as one another - the follow up gives him a visualisation and the latitude and longitude help him pinpoint the exact spot that he opens up a portal a few second later, burning amber cutting a circular hole big enough to walk through in the fabric of space. Through it can be seen an old study with floor to ceiling bookshelves full of aged books, an antique desk covered in open titles.

The host for this meeting is just out of sight, waiting for his guest by the grand window onto the manor's back balcony. Once he's through, Stephen turns to get a look at him, expression mild with professional distaste. ]

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

[It wasn't that Nox wasn't impressed by the portal, but he'd be keeping that fascination largely to himself. At least for the time being, anyway. There were more pressing concerns.

He didn't bother to arrive cloaked, given he had no reason to believe Strange would try to kill him (yet), but whatever trust he might have had was apparently limited: He still opted to arrive in his armored robes, helmet and all. Trusting Strange not to murder him on sight was one thing, but Nox had no reason to make it even easier for him.]

Remind me to exchange notes with you about that sometime. The phantom stride may be the stealthier of the two, but a fraction of the range.

[Not that he knew exactly how far he traveled, but considering the phantom stride was dangerous to use beyond 30 meters, he was pretty confident Strange's portals had a significant edge in that regard. Something he promptly demonstrated by quickly disappearing and reappearing closer to Strange, though he did make sure to emerge with a couple meters of space between himself and the sorcerer. Ideally it would prove to be enough breathing room that the man wouldn't interpret it as a sign he was about to be attacked, but Nox made sure his hands stayed both empty and visible. Just to be on the safe side.]

[rehandle]

[ Well, that's a look. Stephen's busy eyeballing his new guest with an expression that does little to hide his bemusement - he's seen costumes in his time, but this is really something. It's giving Ebony Maw: Halloween edition, and he's about to go out of his way to use any last shred of tact he might have to say something only mildly offensive in the interest of acquiring information when Nox goes from over there to over here and his jaw clacks shut again.

He doesn't, however, flinch.

Looking the suit's helmet in the eyes for a long second, Stephen then - blinks out of existence himself. When he speaks the next second he's stood over by the portal his guest just exited, closing it up with a wave of his hand.

Me too, champ. Let's get on with it, shall we? ]

You mentioned a ghost.

[ The building they're standing in is absolutely saturated with magic. Its walls are imbued with decades worth of magical experimentation by tens if not hundreds of teenaged magic-wielders, it's the home of a powerful sorcerer and a god-child, the site of a recent demonic possession. In the basement lurks a sprawling semi-sentient pocket dimension, hungry but tamed for the most part.

So Nox is right to come protected. But Stephen doesn't look like he intends on doing any harm just now, crossing over to his desk and gesturing for his company to take a seat he somehow doubts he'll be interested in before taking one himself. And in here, at least, the magical noise of the house is dampened slightly by a kind of mystical sound-proofing, spellwork cast flush to the walls to keep what happens in this room private from anyone outside of it. ]

Make yourself at home.

[ Dry: comfort doesn't look like one of Nox's priorities. ]

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

I did.

[Strange would be proven right in short order, as Nox elected to remain standing where he was. Comfort wasn't one of the aesthetics the Sith were known for, at least not normally. And Nox wasn't one of the exceptions.]

Without going into too much detail, I happen to be one of the rare few with a pull among ghosts. Something about my existence causes them to remember who they were before, and I'm uniquely suited to dealing with them as a result. Especially since most of them seem unusually drawn to me, once they're aware of my existence.

[The "for better or worse" was implied, and considering he sounded very much like he was just delivering a contact report--albeit an abridged one--Strange likely wouldn't need it spelled out for him. Which would be appropriate, given the entire story was less idle boasting and more Nox providing only what was necessary to explain how he came by the information he did.]

That was how I came across this particular ghost, among the others responsible for the incident at the last Confluence. When I tried to subdue her, I received a fragment of what I can only assume were her final moments. They involved a ritual of some sort.

While I may not be familiar with this world's sorcery, I'm more than capable of recognizing a ritual murder when I see one. I also know enough to know that any cult performing one on a world known for granting people strange powers while talkin about ushering in a new world isn't something that ends well.

But since I have no idea when this happened, who was involved, and what they were trying to accomplish, I was hoping you might be able to provide further insight. Ideally you'd recognize the ritual itself as well, so I know what sort of timetable is involved, but I'll take whatever help I can get. Learning anything beats knowing nothing.