July 3rd, 1888 - ? Swallowbury District

Edric Umbridge Fletcher Langley Conall MacKay Thomas Tilcott Timothy Ainsworth Theodoric Jameshill Benjamin Turner Somersby Fudge

When the train pulls into the station, the conductor announces, "Stay sharp out there. It's like it knows."

And perhaps it does. The locusts have settled but crunch ominously underfoot if you step on them, the fog is thicker than ever, and there is something eerie going on. Group C is sent to a checkpoint in the Swallowbury District, and some sort of humidity is setting in when they arrive at the tiny marker in the middle of the Swallowbury street.

With no apparent intervention from around them, Group C must decide: do they head further into the Swallowbury district, or towards the outskirts?

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Fletcher stepped out of the train, wincing at the crunching sound as he stepped on some of the locusts. It was disgusting, really. But his mood was already soured. He'd enlisted in the expedition mainly to see Eavan, to make sure she was okay. But then he'd found out she'd also enlisted in it.

He stepped away from the train, making sure others could gather around so that everyone could decide what they were doing. He'd wait for someone else to take the lead for the time being.

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BEE-utiful Set!

Thomas wasn’t entirely sure why he’d chosen to go on this… expedition. ‘Nor was he certain he actually wanted to. As the train approached Irvingly, there was a distinct and obvious shift in the atmosphere. He’d brought along with him his wand and a few odd trinkets just incase. A small knife, some small rolls of bread, and his broom was strapped to his back. His thinking was if he was able to find a way to use magic, maybe his broom would work and he’d fly above the fog. His sponsor wasn’t enthused but Thomas reasoned he wanted to prove himself as more than just some quidditch player.

Once off the train, Thomas watched it leave and then proceeded with the group toward the checkpoint. Suddenly getting very humid, Thomas wiped his forehead and turned to the group.

“Are we… going further? I, erm, I say we run in and just figure out what’s happenin'.” He said nervously.

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Edric had been very pleased to learn that no women had been sorted into their group—it meant that, unlike the poor gentlemen in some of the other groups, he would have no feminine hysterics to handle while they were searching for the source of the fog. Less fortunate, perhaps, was the inclusion of the two Hogwarts-aged members of the expedition and his unfamiliarity with any of the other members of his group (apart from the young Jameshill, who he hoped would be at least somewhat useful without a working wand.)

The first gentleman to speak had few words of sense to offer; Edric shot him a look.

"That's the best way to ensure that we'll all get separated," he rebutted dryly. "I say we head towards the outskirts; it's probably the area in Swallowbury that's been searched the least." It was his best guess with the scant information he had to base his decision off of.

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— set by MJ! —

Benjamin's feet had chilled considerably as the lad had actually taken the train to Irvingly, though he was feeling a surge of relief at the realization that Somersby was not only in this too, but in this literally with him. That the Ravenclaws would, further, be under the purview of the head auror was further reassuring, and the comparably young wizard was no longer convinced he had made a terrible, terrible mistake. Ill-advised, possibly, but that was to be expected of anyone raised by a mother convinced they would die at any turn.

(Coincidentally, his mother had been decidedly un-thrilled by his decision to partake.)

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Umbridge seemed happy to take the lead, but in spite of his natural follower tendencies, Ben could not help but speak up—"Mightn't it be most...efficient to trace the path of the fog, like one might a sickness or a deer?" the bespectacled boy offered. Nervously, he cast a glance in Somersby's direction for reassurance.

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— graphics by mj ❤ —

Theo had felt great about volunteering for the fog-busting mission. It was a chance for glory, to show people he was a good auror, and also to save people from the nightmare that was the fog he supposed. He'd brought with him a pocketknife which he thought was very resourceful of him. His confidence died an abrupt and violent death, however, when he found out he had been placed in a group with his superior. Now he felt like he was under observation, that Umbridge would be evaluating his every move and deciding whether he deserved to be an auror.

"I agree with Mr. Umbridge," he announced staunchly once they were all gathered in Swallowbury. He was too antsy to know what his own logic would have suggested at that moment, all that mattered now was seeming confident and good at his job. That said, he had had his wand drawn since he'd gotten off the train, albeit out of habit rather than genuine stupidity.

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The following 2 users Like Theodoric Jameshill's post:2 users Like Theodoric Jameshill's post
   Aldous Crouch, Edric Umbridge

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In volunteering for this venture Somersby had made what was probably the most important decision of his adult life (all three and a half months of it) albeit likely a foolish one. It wasn't only that his best friend was out there risking his life, but Somersby begun to worry about the fog. What with all the families retreating to the resort to take refuge instead of enjoying a nice vacation and all. It simply made sense to go. He got good marks in school, was one of the best students in his year, and knew quite a bit about creatures - it was a venture where he might actually be able to contribute something! That was until he saw who was in their team. Ben was great, but the other six men who formed the expedition gave Somersby the impression of being baby-sat rather than actually being of assistance and it chafed at him. That was until they got off the train.

The fog was worse that Somersby had imagined, the smell clogged his nose and the light barely existed. The words shouted at them as they crunched onto the ground did nothing to dispel the sense of foreboding that came with the fog. He hadn't realized it was this bad.

They reached the outskirts of their destination when the broom dude made a comment about running in and out. It rather defeated the point of the whole expedition. Then the head auror (Somersby made a point of reading the Daily Prophet daily) had suggested the outskirts. Somersby would have nodded and followed that Benjamin not spoken up. He nodded, adding, "If it came from the center of town following it from here to where it expanded might be a good way to track it." As much as Somersby didn't want to rock the boat Ben's logic was too sound not to follow and if these ministry blokes thought that Ben and himself were only school kids of no help, well then, he determined they would prove them wrong. Besides if they tracked the expansion it meant going along the outskirts which made it a reasonable compromise.

The following 1 user Likes Somersby Fudge's post:1 user Likes Somersby Fudge's post
   Aldous Crouch

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Made by magic (MJ) <3

Edric was as surprised by the kid's willingness to disagree with him as he was Jameshill's unwillingness to do just that. There were definitely flaws in both alternatives, but that was to be expected when heading into the unknown.

"That would be wise," he started, his eyes flickering between everyone in the group, "—if we knew that the source of the fog was static. Like a device of some experimental, fog-dispersing device. We do have reason to believe a person—rather than a thing—might be responsible."

And the other groups would undoubtedly be searching for a something rather than a someone, so why should they not try a different approach? (Though, admittedly, the prospect of engaging a suspect with two Hogwarts-aged children in close vicinity was enough to make him feel uneasy.)

"I still say we head towards the outskirts."

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— set by MJ! —

Judging by the earlier introductions, some of these men might be Ministry big shots. Some were schoolboys. They were all decidedly younger than him, though, and apparently more interested in going back and forth discussing strategies without much progress, so Conall was thus far not impressed.

Ignoring them for the most part while they debated, Conall wiped the beads of sweat already forming on his brow with the back of his hand and then turned his attentions to the locusts, seeing one stir from the ground and scooping it up to inspect it, wondering whether they were ordinary creatures or some magical counterpart. He would not have expected to see them in the highlands of Scotland, and especially not out of nowhere... How the fog had conjured them up was still a mystery.

His patience with the group soon frayed, and he hadn't yet seen anything change in this Swallowbury street, besides the humidity. Hmph. "Doesn't matter which way we start," Conall said dryly, "but I doubt we'll find much standing here all day." If they didn't find anything one way, they'd have to go a different way. It wasn't hard.

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The following 2 users Like Conall MacKay's post:2 users Like Conall MacKay's post
   Alfred Clearwater, February Umbridge

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Fuck. He was an ass. Fletcher was now very unsure of whether they should tell Eavan's father about what was happening between them and he'd only been around the man for a few minutes. If the man did find out he'd been snogging his daughter unchaperoned in her back garden, he'd likely end up with his head on a pike.

"Mr. Umbridge is right," he ended up saying, finally, "There's really no knowing where the true source is from but if I'm not mistaken it came in from the outskirts initially. We'd be better off heading that way to see if the source is there. Something is likely to be hidden there far more than it's likely for it to be in the center of town."

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The following 1 user Likes Fletcher Langley's post:1 user Likes Fletcher Langley's post
   February Umbridge

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BEE-utiful Set!

Thomas stayed quiet and listened to the people talking. They seemed to know what was going on and he was quickly overruled, it seemed. His idea made sense but he’d go with the crowd. He did not like this one bit. So, instead of disagreeing, Thomas shrugged and walked past the group – toward where he’d presumed the outskirts were to be – speaking as he passed Mr. Umbridge, “Let’s go then, I don’t wanna get eaten by bugs by standin’ around.”

Truth be told, he was terrified. Why on earth had he even signed up to this? Thomas inhaled and slowed a little before stopping altogether – turning to the group and waiting for them incase they followed.

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Timothy was not really one for excessive talking so he let the Ministry blokes and others have it out about where they would start. He was starting to get irritated as they seemed unable to make up their damn minds. Was it some sort of device that had done all this? And if so, he was positively dying to get his hands on it. He just hoped that wouldn't be literal but it wouldn't be the first time he had almost accidentally gotten himself killed in the name of science. "I suppose we're in agreement to start on the outskirts, then," Timothy stated as he followed after some bloke that he vaguely recognized as being one of those Quidditch playing people, wanting to do something other than just stand around with locusts underfoot.

  

Edric Umbridge Fletcher Langley Conall MacKay Thomas Tilcott Timothy Ainsworth Theodoric Jameshill Benjamin Turner Somersby Fudge

The men head off towards the outskirts and the humidity increases. They've about reached the point where Swallowbury becomes woods when thunder booms in the sky above the district. Rain isn't falling, yet.

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The next 'prompt' post will be after either 48 hours have passed from the time of posting (9:30 PM EST on July 6th) or after every member of the party has posted one time if this occurs before that deadline. Please remember that you must post within 72 hours to continue participating. :)

  

---

Are your characters stuck in the smalltalk loop?
Does your imagination feel like it just can't perform as it used to?
Mid-thread crisis getting you down?
Unable to get that post up?
Is your relationship suffering because of your inability to satisfy your partner?
SUFFER NO MORE!
With a little intervention from The Suggestionizer your RP life could be back on track in no time!

--> Click here for more details <--

Known side-effects include: chronic ridiculousness, immense satisfaction, itching, uncontrollable laughter, burning, deep regret, despair, shock, horror, incidental dismemberment, joy, and death. Use at your own risk!

Edric could feel sweat droplets forming on his forehead, but made no comment. The summer months were always bad, and he wasn't familiar enough with the outskirts of Swallowbury (or even Hogsmeade, given that most of his time spent there was on work-related matters) to know whether or not the climate was usually this awful.

There was, however, something a little off about the sound of the thunder. Maybe it lingered a little too long, or maybe the grumbling seemed more alive than something caused by regular weather patterns.

He eyed the other men. "I don't suppose any of you brought your mothers' frilly parasols?" he joked quietly as they approached what seemed to be the forest's edge.

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— set by MJ! —

"They aren't exactly waterproof, sir," Theo replied, realizing a moment too late that he had not only tried to correct his boss, but that it had been an attempt at humor and now he looked like a prize idiot. Merlin's beard, why weren't there fog monsters who could drag him away from his embarrassment by the ankles?

"It got hot very quickly, what do you suppose it means?" He blurted out a touch manically, trying to distract from his blunder if the fog monsters weren't going to do it for him. "Besides inclement weather, of course."

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The following 3 users Like Theodoric Jameshill's post:3 users Like Theodoric Jameshill's post
   Benjamin Turner, Edric Umbridge, Elias Grimstone

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Fletcher did actually have a small umbrella in his pack. He lived in London after all but just because there was thunder didn't mean there was going to be rain. The humidity didn't help though. But again, who knew what could really happen. The fog wasn't exactly natural after all.

"That's what we're trying to figure out," he said as they walked along, "No one knows what any of this all means." He was growing more irritable by the minute and an oblivious kid didn't help matters.

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The following 1 user Likes Fletcher Langley's post:1 user Likes Fletcher Langley's post
   Elladora Black

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BEE-utiful Set!