Professor Severus Snape's Seminar, Act 23 (RPG, edited by Rand Palmer) | Семинар профессора Северуса Снейпа: Ролевая игра, Действие ХХIII

Professor Severus Snape who escaped again

He is Coming to You Soon...

Role-Playing Game "Professor Severus Snape's Seminar", Act 23
Ролевая игра "Семинар профессора Снейпа, Действие XХIII

(Compiled, edited and translated by Rand Palmer. Played in the Classroom
Собрано, переведено и отредактировано Rand'ом Palmer'ом. Играется в Подземельях)

Эпилог: Заклинания Tрисмегиста
Epilogue: The Spells of Trismegistus

***

03.05.2002 – 03:31:53

From Albus Dumbledore to Uriel Ollivander

Dear Uriel,

I have still to thank you, old boy, for giving me a hand in this strange and dark situation which we have recently faced. Without your prompt aid, what would have become of us I cannot say.

...And on a related note: I gave some thought to these recent events, and came to the conclusion that the following (apparently rather trivial, I admit) coincidence deserves to be studied in some depth. No doubt, you will not fail to see that, while one of Severus Snape's old wands had contained a certain number of Karl Ingrekt's eyelashes, this very Karl Ingrekt was also the manufacturer of the two very enigmatic daggers with which for the last several days our time was so fully occupied. I know that some time ago you went at great lengths to learn whatever there was to learn about him, and I must confess my knowledge of this dark wizard is nowhere as profound as yours. Can it be, then, that what I am drawing your attention to is not, after all, a coincidence? I am also rather perplexed by the role of a certain Herr Wolfgang Olabrio Land in this entangled affair. I am quite positive as to the nature of this man; moreover, this is not the first time I encounter him, but what he had to do with Severus remains yet to be ascertained.

I am hoping for a swift resolution of this matter; and believe me, my dear fellow, to be

Very faithfully yours,

Albus Dumbledore

03.05.2002 – 07:05:30

Uriel Ollivander to Albus Dumbledore

Albus, my good man,

I trust you are doing well. Yes, the other night's endeavour proved to be rather wearisome, but all's well that ends well—assuming, of course, that this has ended.

As for Karl Ingrekt, also known as The Geiermann and The Steel Duke, he was a Jack of all trades—a skilful silversmith, an experienced jeweler, reputedly a dexterous swordsman, and above all a cunning and powerful Wizard. He made many an artefact I would love to lay my hands on, but alas! They are long gone—destroyed, stored in top-security vaults, or else scattered among simple folk that know naught about magic. Only a few articles of his craftsmanship survive, and some of those I list below for your convenience.

1. The Elend Wrimm and The Regenbogen Wrimm. These are the daggers you were referring to in your letter (what the word Wrimm means, nobody knows). The Elend Wrimm is the dagger of Grief, endowed with tremendous Dark Power; it was designed by Ingrekt with a specific purpose in mind. That purpose was what Ingrekt in his manuscripts called Victoria Ultima, the Final Victory. He planned to slay the Chrystal Unicorn and to ensnare its essence inside the dagger (probably this he called Wrimm—soul-prison, but I am not sure of that). Being a wickedly clever man, however, he made also a little loophole: The Regenbogen Wrimm, the dagger of Rainbow. Nobody really knows how to wield this other dagger, and it seems to me critical that the two must not be separated. At least, everything I was able to gather from the writings of Ingrekt suggests that the Regenbogen Wrimm has the potency to reverse the capture of the essence done by the Elend Wrimm.

2. The Durchgangenwasser. This is the so-called Passage Water—where it is spilled, a tunnel through the Nitheratun opens. The description makes it sound trivial, but how he created it is quite an enigma, considering that the only significant theory of Nitheratun was advanced in our own times by O'Railey.

3. The Hurrfervost. A meaningless letter jumble, that's what most researchers think the name is—and the name refers, of course, to his wand. Ah, yes… Polished box-tree, square section, and ten eyelashes of its creator. Very powerful, and fond of bending its master's mind towards uncanny things. This was Severus' old wand. It was also equipped with what Karl Ingrekt called "the last token of affection"—should it ever break, meaning that the owner was dead, the killer got a wandful of the Gordur Bane. You know, of course, this rather ancient spell: painless by itself, it simply sits inside and waits until you do something good, or, for that matter, even touch something good. And when you do, it explodes and tears a hole through you to the Nitheratun.

4. The Staff of Reginald Hoodwinkle. This isn't really Ingrekt's creation. This he presumably took from one of his enemies during the first days of the final siege of his castle in Buda, and had still the time to do some minor modifications to the staff. Originally it was a broom, and it is hard to say what exactly it is now. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that it is a very efficient implement of destruction.

I do not think, therefore, that Snape's wand could possibly bear any relationship to the daggers other than their common maker. Though I have to acknowledge, old boy, that I kept in little touch with the recent research on Ingrekt's tools, still I think that, if all of them were somehow collected by the same owner, or moreover, suddenly disappeared, it would have been known widely.

Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance to you, Dumbledore.

Yours,

Uriel Ollivander

03.05.2002 – 07:32:59

Upon receiving the owl, unties the letter from her leg. Then feeds the owl a little cookie and reads the letter, very hastily, muttering to himself in the process:

Very well, so when Severus' wand broke, Voldemort got a charge of the Gordur Bane. And when he touched "something good" (the disaster of these generalities!), the Bane, presumably, tore him apart—or else, why the unusually lengthy silence? All fits very nicely. But come to think of it, certainly it doesn't. First, Voldemort was already half-empty (when Severus escaped through him after Ron and Harry). Second, what good could there possibly be about the fake scrolls? Clearly nothing. But most importantly, why the chanting; why the Elemental Laws and the Fourteen dry Willows?

Nay, we must look deeper than that...

Headmaster Dumbledore

03.05.2002 – 07:35:30

Minerva, can I have a word with you, please?

Albus Dumbledore

03.05.2002 – 07:38:54

Yes, Albus.

Minerva McGonagall

03.05.2002 – 07:42:54

Pray, Minerva, what do you know about Trismegistus' Seven Elemental Spells and Talle's Curse of Fourteen Dry Willows?

Not that I am fully ignorant, but having another opinion never hurts.

Dumbledore

03.05.2002 – 07:58:50

Why, Albus, I shouldn't think I know anything you don't.

Talle's Curse is known also as the Weeping of All Trees. This Talle picked from old Druidic magic, and it is supposedly a procedure by which all "unfaithful to the path of Moon are condemned and brought to their knees before the throne of Willeadmoore". Although one is tempted to think that it refers to all the mischief-makers, in fact it is only directed against those who "fake great truths". Sounds most ambiguous, I know.

And the Elemental Laws are, if you wish, an elaborate and intricate way of saying, "arise the Seven and see to it that nothing is amiss in your domains". The Seven Elementals are the Stone, the Fire, the Water, the Earth, the Air, the Sun and the Moon. This is a very ambitious spell. Initially it was devised as means of awakening the Elementals powerful enough to embrace the whole of Earth, but ultimately even Trismegistus' powers proved insufficient.

This is essentially everything I know, Albus.

Minerva McGonagall

03.05.2002 – 08:06:10

Thinks for a while, and suddenly his eyes start gleaming eerily.

Well, Minerva, let us see now if we can look into this closer together.

Suppose—just suppose for now—that two parties at once uttered first the Talle's Curse, and then the Laws of Trismegistus, but that one party had true scriptures and the other fakes, copies. What would happen then?

And, do you know of any reason why one man alone shouldn't read these texts?

Albus Dumbledore

03.05.2002 – 08:10:52

No, Albus, I am not aware of any such requirement. I suggest that we proceed together to the Restricted Section, if it is urgent.

Minerva

03.05.2002 – 08:11:44

Most urgent, my dear girl.

Albus Dumbledore and Minerva McGonagall (proceed together to the Restricted Section)

03.05.2002 – 08:13:53

Here's the book we need, Dumbledore. But wait—it is in Russian! Why would that be? And, look, it seems to lack certain vowels.

Minerva McGonagall–

03.05.2002 – 08:14:25

Indeed. Hum... Most peculiar. Well, let us see what I can make of it. I can read Russian.

Dumbledore

03.05.2002 – 08:22:41

Reads aloud:

Г-рм-с Трисм-гист, мудр-ц и волш-бник, указал так, и буд-т пос-му:

Indeed, an utterly peculiar book!

Вызывающий Эл-м-н Талл-й да встан-т спиною и лицом к Солнцу (буд-т оно трижды славно, во имя Вилл-адмор!)

Вызывающий да встан-т обруку с н-худшим ч-м он, и с дополняющим -го.

Вызывающий обратится вначал-...

Well, it seems that what follows is merely a description of the ritual. Notice the curious omission of the letter "e"—it appears that whoever wrote this book perceived it to be the sacred Solar letter. Anyway, the passage at least explains why a companion is necessary.

Now, I need to think... Wait, Minerva, do not go.

Albus Dumbledore

03.05.2002 – 08:31:41

Ah, I think I see the mystery quite clearly now!

Observe, first, that the author refers both to the Druidic Willeadmoore and to Talle, although in a rather unexpected way: Elemen-Talle. It is therefore clear to me why the Talle's Curse had to be read first, and only then would one proceed to the writings of Trismegistus. Second, the author says, "with your back and face turned to the Sun"—this is clearly possible only when there is no Sun, that is at night.

Now, once both parties read aloud Talle's Curse, one of them would be seen immediately as a party of wrongdoers—evidently the one that was reading the fake scrolls and also did not consist solely of the Summoner and his Companion. Once that great truth-faking was detected, the Elementals would know that these people have been brought, figuratively speaking, before the throne of Willeadmoore, and—since, I take it, the enemies of Willeadmoore are their greatest priority—would devour them the very instant proper Trismegistus' spells ended.

And do you know, Minerva, I think I know who the Elementals were, but I think it is a tad too early to voice my guesses.

Albus Dumbledore

03.05.2002 – 08:35:24

Albus, and what precisely is it that you understand so well now?

Minerva McGonagall (curiously)

03.05.2002 – 08:44:15

Minerva,

only that Lord Voldemort will, I am sure, find himself very busily occupied for weeks to come, if not forever. I can see now Severus' brilliant plan, although of course the poor chap could not possibly foresee how smoothly it all would work!

Voldemort knew all that we know now, but he, I believe, misinterpreted a few things. In his desire to bring closer our downfall, he sought to command the Elementals, to install darkness, and thus to please Willeadmoore, the moon god, him who shines in the night. But behold how the knowledge of trivia failed him! for Willeadmoore is not the Enemy of the Sun but merely his child, shining with Sun's reflected light. Voldemort's plan was his own peril, for not only did he use fake scriptures, but also wanted to secure son's help against his Father.

Where was Severus? has he escaped? I wonder...

Albus Dumbledore

03.05.2002 – 08:48:05

Albus, but you know, I am sure, of Severus'... troubled ancestry. You know that his lineage included, among others, Prince Vlad Tepes and some others with similar inclinations. Unless I am very much mistaken, this sort of folk would not be exactly Sun's greatest worshippers.

Minerva

03.05.2002 – 08:55:59

Yes, Minerva, yes... What you say is true. But let us reason contrariwise.

Vampires—and let us render to the things their proper names—are very much afraid of the Sun. So much so, in fact, that any speculations about vampires contending with sunlight are futile and meaningless; there is no battle, only obedience and surrender. On the other hand, they do worship Willeadmoore, or at least do so in a tacit manner by only appearing in moonlight. Any violence that arose because Sun was threatened, or Willeadmoore deceived, would therefore not harm them.

Or so, dear Minerva, I hope.

I think it is time we went to beds. Tomorrow may bring news. Good night, Minerva, and thank you for your truly immeasurable help.

Albus Dumbledore (retires to his study)–

03.05.2002 – 08:59:21

Good night, Albus.

Minerva McGonagall (leaves)

***

03.05.2002 – 21:48:51

Уважаемый Г-н Директор:

очень удивлюсь, если Вы получите это письмо, но долее не считаю себя вправе держать Вас в неведении о происходящем.

Я почти уверен в том, что, судя по тому, как закончилась Вальпургиева ночь, Вы и Mr Ollivander удачно провели сложнейший ритуал и не могли не выяснить те причины, по которым эти действия помогли нам в очередной раз сдержать Lord Voldemort.

Главная новость: Voldemort повержен. Временно или полностью – я не знаю... но по привычке предполагать худшее и по нашему общему опыту, предпочитаю думать, что это лишь передышка, не победа.

Были жертвы, и не все из них возможно перечислить. Погибло несколько Death Eaters, и, как я понимаю, M-r Lestrange благородно выполнил свое предназначение совместно с Viparantula – омерзительной креатурой, место которой в Аду. По моей просьбе Madame Hooch избавилась от этого исчадия, так что в Подземельях теперь уже почти не осталось ничего опасного.

Очень печально, но M-lle Delacour тоже пала жертвой несчастливого стечения обстоятельств. Однако ее гибель не была бесцельной: достанься она Вольдеморту, и никакие истинные рукописи не помогли бы нам остановить его.

Не в моей власти пока вернуться в Хогвартс, но полагаю, что если Ваше доверие к моим преподавательским способностям сохраняется на том же уровне, что и доверие к моей лояльности, смогу чуть позже наверстать упущенное в учебном процессе.

Ваш

S.Snape

...Но это же невозможно! Я снова забыл написать про птицу. Это совершенно дикая лесная сова, которая умирала от голода, так как у нее было сломано крыло. Даже и не знаю, как ее зовут. Починив ее, мне пришлось битый час объяснять ей, как доставляются письма, и я все же не уверен, что она Вас найдет. Теперь она здорова, но пока дика, как окружающие трансильванские леса. Пристройте ее, пожалуйста, в нашу совятню, если там есть вакансия.

Respectfully,

S.Snape (Potions Master)

Конец Первой Серии игры
(To be continued...)

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