2020-11-16 Ghost Hunting: Fishing for Knowledge

Ghost Hunting: Fishing for Knowledge

Participants: Lydon Arconeos

Storyteller: Arconeos

Location: North Beach, Santa Monica

Date and Time: January 23, 2022

Summary: Two dead meet to express interests while fishing.

Mood Music: https:https://youtu.be/d1NPKuN-FtE

Tonight the beach is calm and quiet. Surpisingly very little foot traffic on the North end. In the Shadowlands a calm breeze washes in from the Tempest. Soft moans and cries of dispair can be heard in the distance. The dead seem to avoid this place but one mysterious figure stands at the edge of the water. He casts a line from a rod and reel in hand and waits quietly....

It's not uncommon to see large white vans in LA. Nor is it particularly uncommon to see them arrive with a number of college aged figures who pile out from the back of the van. Though, when those figures seem to be carrying cases of equipment together, one of which is a German man in a dark trenchcoat with a few strange baubles dangling from the belt that holds the trench coat in place. An unmoving windchime and a dream catcher.

The German seems to not be working terribly, while the rest of the figures begin to set up camera and what looks to be ghost hunting equipment. "Hey boss, where do you want the EMF... ?" One of the busier looking figures asks, Lydon waving a hand at them absently, apparently not caring as he moves around the beach. And as soon as Arconeos is within fifty feet? The otherwise unmoving windchime rings, and he stops walking. A moment later, his eyes settle onto Arconeos, apparently able to see the ghost. <English>

Arcaneos begins realing in the line and once it reaches its destination he straps the pole to his back. He is quiet for a long moment. Almost as if concentrating on something distant. Not long after his head turns and looks directly at you. He remains quiet, but his head tilts a bit in curiousity of something.

"Curious." Lydon remarks, sweeping a gaze over the ghost for a moment, and then out towards the water. "Bring the camera over here. And that EMF." He calls out, over his shoulder towards the rest of the crew, who's just getting things really in place, now needing to uproot their efforts. "I want to see if any of that drivel has any value." He decides, and then turns back towards Arc. "I can see you... But can the equipment... ?" He questions, and his gaze remains on Arc as though looking for an answer. <English>

Arconeos begins to walk closer slowly amd cautiously. At one point you can see his lips move but only silence... He gains a stronger look of concentration as he now stands within ten feet of you. He is tall, almost as if his body stretched.

All the while, the windchime on Lydon's belt blows in the wind, chiming and ringing at the presence of Arconeos. Though, the wind only seems to be blowing for the chime and the chime alone. It's not windy out. Tilting his head thoughtfully at the wraith, both of his hands stuff into his pockets and he begins to walk around, circling him. Even still, a camera is arranged nearby to record the interaction, and then a second. One of the figures brings a handheld EMF, even. All of the figures are living, except Lydon, it seems.

The equipment begins to similar chime, alerting the crew to the presence of the wraith that while they can't see... Lydon is cautiously inspecting. "Now... Just to deduce more proper communication... Very curious..." He mentions, drawing a small notepad out of his pocket and scribbling some notes into one of the pages. <English>

Arconeos stands still but as you circle him you hear gurgling and then an older deep voice. It is distant in your ears. ?It has been a long time since I have garnished so much attention... Who are you and what do you want??

"So long... So long since you've gained such attentions, ghost... A shame, really. Fishing though? In my unlife... I've yet to go fishing..." The German offers, peeling his gaze briefly out towards the sea, and then back at Arconeos. All of the crew behind him seems to have fallen into dead silence, despite the ringing of the equipment and the windchime. "You may call me Lukas. What I want... Is simple. Assistance, in manifesting my talents for interacting with your type. Perhaps... If there is a relic of importance to you, so I may learn to summon you, I would be curious to obtain it." He assures openly. "Though, I admit, my knowledge of your type is limited. Such fetters... Hold power over you, yes? Precious relics to be safeguarded, perhaps?" <English>

Arconeos turns and begins walking down the beach. ?Come.. Let your friends stay behind while we speak..?

Easily, a hand lifts and waves the rest of the crew to be dismissed, Lydon not turning to look at them as he orders. "Stay." He commands, and the crew looks a bit distressed, but begins to arrange the equipment while the German follows after Arconeos. "Night I know your name, wraith?" He questions curiously, the hand returning to his pocket. "If I'm to ever summon you, I'll need it for such things. In return, I can perhaps assist in recovering your fetters? I hardly know what wraiths desire of." <English>

Arconeos stops but doesnt turn around. He lowers his head and shakes it a little. ?You are young for your kind. I can tell.. You may call me Arconeos.? He pauses a moment. ?Tell me, why are you interested in such things??

"Only six or seven decades old, yes. And two of those decades were among the living." Lydon assues Arconeos, stepping up besides him and then pausing as though to consider the question. "Knowledge of all kinds fosters power with my Clan." He decides, turning to face the wraith. "I'd admit that power is an interest. Though, I temper power with knowledge. At least, that is my goal, at any rate." He continues. "After all, the Giovanni shouldn't be the only ones with such knowledge. Long have the other Clans sought to steal our knowledge. It's only right and fair that we use such tactics in turn." <English>

Fog begins rolling in. You begin to hear the sloshing of water beneath creaking wood and find yourself on a small boat. Billions of stars overhead provide am eerie lumanesence. The smell of the sea becomes strong. Arconeos stands near you as before amd says, ?Power... A fools dream that leads to inevitable doom for those who seek it... Your kind seeks to control mortals, each other and now you wish me to tell you how to control the true dead..? He shakes his head. Words calm and deep. ?I am afraid I cannot do such a thing. I am sorry.?

Arcaneos hands you a fishing pole that was laying on the boat. ?Some things need to be left as they are...?

"Our kind has controlled your for centuries. The Giovanni, and the Cappadicians alike." Lydon informs dryly, reaching to secure the fishing pole as it is handed his way. "I don't intent to necessarily command, though having knowledge of how to do so would be useful, if the Giovanni were brazen and foolish enough to assault our Chantry." He assures, turning to face the water thoughtfully. "I understand, however, why you may feel reluctant to share your insights. I most assuredly would feel similarly, I'm sure." He considers, stealing a glance towards the ghost. "I can only assure that the knowledge would be used benevolently, and for my own defense." <English>

Arconeos nods a single slow time and casts the line from his own pole into the water. You hear a ?bloop?. He looks to you and says, ?The others you speak of have only controlled the weakest of the dead and hardly pose a threat to thise of us who are older. Where you are small in numbers, we are infinite... Power, control, lnowledge.. Even as you say for defense. I do not see a necessity.? He pauses. ?I do understand. But there are many things even the necromancers do not know or understand.?

Arconeos says "amd things they must never know..."

"The thing about threats, is that they are like cracks in windshields. It may appear small and irrelevant, but if you allow it to fester... It will grow an spiderweb until the entire windshield shatters." Lydon counters for the ghost, flicking his own fishing rod out to the sea as he appraises the situation. "And the Graverobbers are certainly no friends to my House. They will continue to threaten us, until they either grow and destroy us, or we destroy them." He decides, and pauses. "I am not asking for your greatest secrets. I am only asking that you provide me with some small knowledge, and I will in trade, aid your own endeavors. If wraiths have such things." <English>

Arconeos nods. ?Which is why the information must be controlled...? Stormclouds can be seen gathering in the distance, a beautiful sight. The rumbling faint. ?My time is approaching.? He thinks a moment and says, ?Perhaps there may be a solution to what you seek. We do have certain needs and goals, although I am past such things as fetters...?

There is a soft 'hm' sound that emits from the the German, Lydon seemingly focusing both on the conversation, and genuinely attempting to fish. "Well. That is true. I can understand the need for you to regulate such knowledge." A pause. "Very well, then. Tell me.. What needs and goals do you have, then?" <English>

Arconeos says "Perhaps abetter question is how much do you know? The true dead has a world of unimaginable depth..."

"Incomparison? Very, very little." Lydon admits for Arconeos, shaking his head lightly. "Even just this interaction... Is the depth of my power and knowledge. The Graverobbers wisely safeguard their knowledge from us, and foolishly attempt to levy your kind to spy and observe and steal that which does not belong to them." He explains. <English>

Arconeos gargles and spits up more water amd then says, ?I assure you I have done no such thing. Your words only prove what I say about your kind is correct...? He begins reeling in his line. ?There are certain dead that threaten even our existance and the most powerful of them seeks to destroy existance itself... I am sure you can understand the seriousness of such a thing..?

"I have not attempted such things, no. I do not immediately desire to, either. It would be a fools errand to directly and openly levy wraiths against the Giovanni. They are, after all, Necromancers." Lydon assures Arconeos, watching the water calmly, and then frowning at the expression of the dead that threaten existance. "I've not heard of such things before. These are wraiths, though, yes?" <English>

Arconeos stands and straps his rod and reel to his back. The wind is picking up and a light rain begins to fall. ?They were at one time. They have succomed to the power of Oblivion. Causing them to become something much worse..? A crash if thunder overhead and a bolt of lightning strikes near the boat. ?My time has come.. I will leave you with one word... Spectres...? Suddenly a massive wave crashes down from the darkess and consumes the boat.

You find yourself standing in the same spot on the beach. The night is quiet and calm. Arconeos is nowhere to be seen...