Part 1 - Ice and Time

[HoneyDog]

"But what's to stop him from trying again?" asks Ellis. "And he might just transfer his attention to someone else, like Alexander's younger brother."

[SunlessNick]

"But what's to stop him from trying again?" asks Ellis. "And he might just transfer his attention to someone else, like Alexander's younger brother."

"That is a question which implies another. Why has he not tried before now? What has changed to give him this chance? Is there anything else you have observed?"

[HoneyDog]

Ellis shrugs.

“I just assumed it was the first time. Maybe he needed to acquire the knowledge or power from somewhere in order to make the attempt.”

[Mr. Handy]

"That is a good question," says Jacqueline. "I did some background research on him. I know he needs a blood descendant, but he had no legitimate heirs. His only known descendants are Alexander Senior's family. The man's been dead for about sixty years, so why would he wait until now? Or did he? Maybe he tried before. Or maybe he only recently found out about his descendants."

[SunlessNick]

"Both good answers," Isiah says. "I can attempt to craft wards for him and his brother, but I will need help from the two of you, since it is you who have come to stand as his protectors."

[HoneyDog]

"Of course" says Ellis. "What do you need?"

[Mr. Handy]

"I'll be glad to help too," says Jacqueline. "What do we need to do?"

[SunlessNick]

"I will need a few hairs from Alexander for his ward, and the same from his brother. That is to represent them, of course. Both will also need a hair from each of you, to represent protection in this world. I will add ingredients to represent protection in the next. However, when I begin working on them, the ghost will likely sense what I am doing. So I will also need you to stand guard - do what you can to prevent him from interfering - this too will lend weight to the ward's protection."

[HoneyDog]

Ellis nods.

"When do we begin?"

[Mr. Handy]

Jacqueline plucks two of her lovely hairs and hands them over. "I'm ready when you are," she says. "How do we prevent him from interfering? By talking to him? By praying? How do we stop a ghost?"

[SunlessNick]

Isiah takes the hairs with thanks.

"From what you've said, he will most likely try to take control of Alexander or his brother. Beyond that... prayer, trying to reach them so they can resist him, or simply distracting him. In any case, Alexander's bother must also be present before I can begin."

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you, that makes sense," says Jacqueline. "Alexander's brother would be at home now, unless he's already taken control of him. I think we should head over there now and do this tonight. We've already told his mother what happened, and I think she'd be open to any help you can provide."

[HoneyDog]

"Yes" says Ellis. "Let's return there now."

[SunlessNick]

"Very well," Isiah says. He stands up, revealing that he walks with a cane, and signals to Washington and Alexander to rejoin them. It being Alexander's house you're heading to, he leads the way. Washington gives every indication of wanting to talk to Jacqueline, but restrains himself, given the nature of the present mission. It's very late by the time you reach the Covingtons' apartment block, but you can see from outside that the lights are on.

In response, Alexander runs up the stairs to his mother's door. By the time you catch up, it's open and both mother and son are standing anxiously in the doorway.

"It's James," Charlotte says as you approach. "He's..."

She tails off, though you can hear the sounds of rummaging inside, and Jame's voice saying "Where are you? I need more paper!"

[Mr. Handy]

"We've found someone who can help," says Jacqueline, letting her in on what they discussed. "We're going to need a few of his hairs, but his...ancestor will try to stop us once he realizes what we're trying to do. We can try to bring James back to himself through prayer and by talking to him, reminding him of who he is and how much we love him."

[HoneyDog]

"I have a way to bring him out of it" Ellis says. "A sharp shock will wake him up."

[SunlessNick]

Charlotte says to Jacqueline, "The girls are with a neighbour. As soon as he got like this..."

[HoneyDog]

OOC,I was thinking of having Alexander or someone else approach James, as the spirit would recognise Ellis. It would be better to surprise him.

[Mr. Handy]

"Good thinking," says Jacqueline. "If we approach James and try to get through to him, we may be able to bring him back to himself."

[SunlessNick]

OOC,I was thinking of having Alexander or someone else approach James, as the spirit would recognise Ellis. It would be better to surprise him.

OOC,Sorry, I jumped the gun. I've scratched my last post.