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[Introduction]
[History] [Location] [Game
Aids]
Arcanities-Books and Antiques
Written by Kyla Ward (kylaw@zip.com.au)
Edited by Thom Marrion (xnbach@yahoo.com)
That's
what the sign read; elegant calligraphy in the light from the street
lamp. Even from across the road Dominic could see how the windows
were encroached upon by shelves of books. Books! He found his nose
twitching as if already scenting old leather and musty paper. Nothing
Marion had said suggested he couldn't have a little browse while
waiting for her. Books! His master had once exclaimed in mock
exasperation, a labyrinth disguised as a library could trap half the Order.
As he set foot on the steps he
was aware of something - not quite a sound nor yet a touch, but
nonetheless an irritation. But he continued across the threshold,
happily anticipating some rare or even some trivial discovery, of the
pleasing hours ahead when he took it back to the Shrine. Where all
concerns of dark magic and undead cults could be set aside, and his
most pressing problem be the adequacy of the index. A short interval
where logic could rule as in his student days, of calm, rational,
ordered study; calm, rational, ordered . . .
That was the moment he realized
these thoughts were not entirely his own.
The not-sound was ringing in
his ears, the not-touch was scratching the back of his neck. He
extended his senses to read the disturbance.
CALM. RATIONAL. ORDERED.
Instinctively he recoiled and
began drawing a shield around himself. But the essence wouldn't obey.
It was as if, as soon as he reached for it, his own, inner reserves
were dragged into the form of the imperatives beating at him in their
ceaseless rhythm. An involuntary cry escaped his lips. In the even
light, he saw the curious faces of other late night browsers peering
at him from amongst the shelves.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
"Calm down," said Marion. "It's not dangerous and it
gets no worse."
"What is this!"
"You're attracting
attention; it's not dangerous I tell you. You can't perform magic
here, neither can I. Nor can anyone pretty much; it's something about
the building."
"You wanted to get me
here, what is - "
"By the Three, pull
yourself together! I didn't ask you to come here as a joke! We're
meeting Aufrere."
"The Golden Death! But I
can't summon! We can't protect ourselves!"
"It's the only
circumstances under which he'd agree to come. We need his
information, Dominic." Her lips curved wryly. "Be
happy," she said. "If this place disrupts our powers, just
imagine what it's going to do a vampyre."
Arcanities
is an establishment dealing in esoteric books, mostly second-hand
and limited editions, and antiques with an occult connection. It has
a good reputation for tracking down customer requests. So good a
reputation, in fact, that it has acquired a set of customers who make
very particular requests. The second-hand books and the objects on
display in the gallery are the barest part of Arcanities' business,
although this is the only part of which the general public, the
casual employees, and the tax office are aware. For over a century
Arcanities has participated in the international black market for
stolen antiquities, ever since Mattias Wheldrake realized that a
modern-day "wizard" would pay a great deal for some obscure
item or information. Although they made him comfortably well off,
Mattias held nothing but contempt for these self-deluded "mystics."
In truth, Mattias and his
successors have all been blissfully unaware of the Gifted and of any
realm, infernal or divine, outside their business endeavors. A zone
of essence disruption has enabled them to handle genuine magical
texts and empowered objects in safety, as well as conduct successful
mercantile dealings with everything from Rosicrucians to vampyres.
This boon exacts a terrible price, however.
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