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Post by Barnak Pengryffin on Mar 21, 2007 21:37:06 GMT 10
Barnak looked at the student who had just spoken with an expression almost approaching acceptance. He wondered when Emerindyls had begun advocating genocide.
The image of the young bodies strewn about had been gory, and the alien scene of wizards being powerless in the face of inferior beings made him uncomfortable somewhere deep inside, but the idea that innocent people were being sacrificed didn't really get through to him. More to the point, he hadn't thought of it that way at all. It wasn't something Barnak really cared about.
He raised his hand and spoke. "Do they pick on younger people due to their relative inexperience? Or is there some property of younger blood that makes it more attractive to their predators?"
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Post by Elouise Sullivan on Mar 23, 2007 14:44:04 GMT 10
“I don’t think they choose their victims,” Elouise piped up when she heard Barnak’s question. She would of course allow the teacher to correct her if she was wrong but she continued all the same, “It’s more due to the fact that they can only sing to younger people, younger people often hear sounds and pitch that older people don’t hear,”
“At least that is what I gathered anyway, is that the case Professor, or is their something more?’ Elouise spoke knowing that if she ever had to look at the image again it would be too soon; it was a rather disgusting picture and one that had brought tears to her eyes when she looked upon it.
“They capture the children for other predators at least, so I don’t imagine they are picky about their victims, I suppose younger people are just easier to catch, or is it possible for other to be able to hear the song as well Professor?” she asked as she looked up from the Barnak to the Professor again. She was liking Erklings less and less with every passing moment though she thought this might not be the aim the teacher was trying to come to.
“In what way are Australian Erklings different, Professor?”
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Post by Lady Sylvia Saphricorn on Mar 29, 2007 1:25:47 GMT 10
Lady Saphricorn smiled, albeit sadly, at the Emerindyl student who asked the question that was asked every year when she broached the subject of Erklings, while usually the topic was not as thoroughly studied as it would be this year, mainly because it not only taught students of some of the not so friendly animals and also provided the life lesson that not all things were categorically black and white, good and evil. The chance that some had been available for the lesson was just pure luck of the draw.
“Well Mr Zander, it is a understandable question as to why we do not just, eradicate..” Lady Saphricorn tried not to flinch at the idea of doing that to any of her beloved animals. “Would that not make us on the same level? While it is true the European variety of the species are more renown for their vicious attacks, if we were to lower their numbers, wouldn’t the remaining come back with a vengence, for revenge? Intimidation works both ways, something to think about.”
A whimpering sound from one of the Erklings made her look at then, she knew these ones were pretty much harmless, all the students would leave with were mild headaches and maybe a scratch mark or two, nothing of serious concern. As she looked at the little creatures with elf like creatures that looked like they were made out of wood, with their leaves hanging of the branches that spouted from their bodies but mostly from their heads, making them, in the right light look like miniature chubby trees with a face and arms and legs, although some of their leaves and branches looked a little charred from their encounter with the phoenix. Turning her attention back to her students, she noticed some thoughtful looks on their faces, obviously thinking about her previous question she had put forth to them.
“As far have studies have shown on this particular area, Mr Pengryffin, a child’s relative naivety and sense of blind curiosity makes them among the perfect choice of candidates. At your ages now, would any of you blindly follow a bodiless voice into a thick fog, expecting come out of it unscathed? Erklings are cunning and will play that tactic to assure their own survival. There have been no conclusive findings about any properties of a childs blood being anymore of a benefit to them than that of an adult.” Lady Saphricorn answered, while she had done some research on the Australian breed of Erklings there were many a difference between the breeds, but nothing more so than the individual species habits.
“Miss Snape was quite right in her conclusions about children being somewhat of an easier target than more mature aged people. All tests that have been conducted on people who have heard but not lured by the song show that even if you have heard the song as a young child, it can somewhat haunt your memory, and have shown to have some side affects on a persons mental and magical capabilities.”
As much as she hated the topic of the death and depressing factors of the topic, it was best that they were fully informed to what creatures were out there. The good and the nasty.
“The physical difference between the two breeds are obvious when you see them side by side...” Lady Saphricorn waved her wand and an image of the English version of the Erkling rotated slowly on the spot. “As you can see the Australian breed is slightly shorter in stature, a lighter colour wood, a fuller and greener looking foliage and slightly chubbier. The English variety are a much darker wood, have more branches protruding from the head region, a more yellow looking leaf and a harsher facial features.”
“Where the attitude difference between them, the Australian breed are more troublemakers, they lure children out into a fog but leaves them alone merely disorientated and confused, the European, the vicious and cunning lure children out and well, you have seen the aftermath. That is the main difference between the two, one is mere annoyance while the other is an killer.”
“Now as I am asked every year, do I know the song? This part of the childhood myth is true, but I will recite it for those of you who are not familiar with it” With that and clearing her throat, Sylvia Saphricorn said the words that were some of the most haunting known in the wizarding world, to its children anyway.
“Who rides so late through the windy night?
It's a father with a child;
He holds his son in his arms,
To keep the boy so close and warm.
"My son, why hide your face in fear?"
Father, don't you see the Erkling?
The Erkling's Crown and flowing Robe?
"My son, it's just a wisp of fog."
"O, you dear child, come along with me!
Such a lovely game we'll play!
Fragrant flowers the shores abound,
My mother's made you a Golden Gown ."
Father, father, do you not hear
What the Erkling has promised me ?
"Be quiet, my child, be still;
'Tis but the dry leaves rustling."
"Won't you come along with me, fine boy?
My girls will tend your keeping.
The Daughters dance such lullabies,
'Twill sing you off to sleeping."
O father, father, why can't you see
The Erkling's daughters dark and gay?
"My son, my son, there's no one there
But Willow trees twisted and grey."
"I love you, boy; your charming face;
But if you're not willing, then I'll use force."
Father, father, he's grabbing me!
The Erkling is hurting me!
The father shudders and rides so fast,
He holds his moaning child.
To the courtyard swiftly his horse has sped,
But in his arms . . . the child was dead.”
Repressing a shudder as the image she showed the class before came to her mind. Feeling the need to press on she merely asked “Now any more questions before we move onto helping these Erklings out?”
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Post by Elouise Sullivan on Mar 29, 2007 11:13:46 GMT 10
Elouise listened to the song the professor sung and it sent shivers down her spine. She had heard a couple of variations in her life, but this one, was one she was not wholly aware of. It was quite different in fact, but the ending was the same. The child died. She found this to be curious, in most other songs the child was taken by the erklling through song, but in this one the child died while still in his fathers arms.
“Would that mean, Professor?” she asked as she raised her hand nearly forgetting class etiquette but not enough to actually be rude. “Does that mean that an erkling can kill without actually causing physical harm, I mean I know they seem to have the mental power to be able to make people … well children, do things they don’t want to do, but if that song is correct, this means an Erkling can harm you mentally with only its words…”
“Is that right Professor, am do I misunderstand?”
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Post by Lady Sylvia Saphricorn on Mar 30, 2007 0:40:00 GMT 10
"No you are quite spot on, Miss Snape, there have been a few, but still some cases in the past that have shown a child, and even someone of a higher age of say that of eleven years old who have been affected by seductive song of the Erklings" Lady Saphricorn answered knowing what it would not bring any confort to her students knowing this, nor would it further endear them any to the injured Erklings.
"There was a rather nasty Erkling attack last year in Cornwall. A young boy at the age of eight was found in his bed, which he had not left nor had he left the room from the time of the previous night when he went to bed. He had complained to his parents of a voice that would sing to him this one song, eventually from what had started out as once or twice a day had become more frequent," She said, taking another deep breath trying to ignore the chills she had gotten and still got when she remembered the imagine she was of the boy laying lifeless in his bed with blood coming from his ears, nose, mouth and even some blood tear traces, all which had long since dried. It still gave her the chills.
"The boy had started to complain that the voice sang to him now all day, its voice becoming that much louder than when it started, and it became worse when he slept because he dreamed. So at their wits end, his parents activated a monitoring charm through an orb along with sound when that night they too heard that familiar seductive song, but then didn't realise until morning when it was to late."
Looking at her students, she mointored their reactions to the story she had just told them. A old friend of her's had been called over to help with finding the possible answer to what had happened and when she had told Lady Saphricorn of the Erkling's involvement...She had shed a tear for the family and the poor lost boy.
"That is one of the few cases that are known as to the mental hold that Erklings are capable of over children. Most of the people who have suffered the grip of the Erkling's mental control are sadly usually driven insane by the song."
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Post by Barnak Pengryffin on Apr 2, 2007 22:13:24 GMT 10
"Professor?" Barnak raised his hand, and waited for the teacher's eyes to meet his. The idea of a creature spending so long hiding out in a single child's bedroom seemed awfully premeditated to him; and it seemed like a good lot of effort for very little benefit reaped. Any creature willing to do so much work for so little reward sounded worthwhile knowing about, to him.
"Do these Erklings ever act on behalf of another? Do they obey orders? Or are they less intelligent than that, and are only following what their instinct tells them, no matter how long it takes them to acheive their goal?"
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Post by Jay Rastan on Apr 2, 2007 23:07:51 GMT 10
Jay turned his head to look at the boy who had just asked Lady Saphricorn about whether or not it was possible to control or give them guidence. Given what they had been told and seen today about them, and it seemed Jay was now at the front of the group since everyone seemed to keep taking steps back when they heard another horrible fact about the creatures.
He couldn't help but wonder if the other boy was looking for tips or soemthing. Maybe it was just the way the boy said it or something, a curious tone without any malice, that was what made Jay wonder. Knowledge was a dangerous thing in the wrong hands.
Although he too was curious. Going over in his head the situation the professor had just told them off, it appeared that after a while the Erkling didn't even need to be close to use its song, that after such a long amount of exposure over a period of time, their conscience took over the job of it all. It was a sickening thought to think of one's mind turning against themself.
'Why haven't they all banded together and taken over England?' Jay couldn't help but think, surely if they wiped out the children there would be no future generations therefore the current would die out or be taken care of. Maybe regardless of how dangerous they were, they just weren't very smart.
It was with that slightly dark line of thoughts, Jay tuned back into the lesson and awaited Lady Saphricorn's answer.
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Post by Finnias Mark on Apr 5, 2007 22:57:58 GMT 10
Finnias started laughing as he heard the thoughts of the seventh year Saphricorn whom seemed to have a mind so structured that it did not seem it would be necessary to bring such questions to the point of the classes knowledge. Finnias was one so luckily blessed by the ability to see such thoughts without the owner of them projecting said thoughts.
“Well that’s because if they presented such a major threat, then they would be wiped out by wizard-kind,” Finnias said to him in an undertone that was not loud enough for everyone to here. He was rather close to Jay and so only the few people between them might have heard him.
“I heard they can be controlled,” he said out loud in response to the Ruberagon boy’s question. He looked from Barnak to the Professor to see whether she would have any point of his announcement to clarify or elaborate upon.
“I heard it takes a very powerful witch… or wizard, to be able to control a European Erkling,” he said as he remained where he sat looking at the injured Erkling’s. They might as well have been kittens for all he cared. He had seen a European Erkling and it did not look like these twiggy little walking plants.
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Post by Barnak Pengryffin on Apr 7, 2007 21:27:33 GMT 10
Barnak tried to conceal the flash of hope that crossed his face at the Ameraid boy's words. He looked over at the tiny, writhing creatures and, while not instantly endeared to them, he felt suddenly motivated to be the one healing their wounds.
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Post by Lady Sylvia Saphricorn on Apr 15, 2007 2:18:51 GMT 10
Lady Saphricorn was more that a little perturbed by the laughing Ameraid boy, she saw nothing funny about the creatures, their way of survival or the dark nature the discussion seemed to have turned. ’Just what is Amberly teaching her students, I must wonder’ Sylvia thought to herself.
“It is quite possible for one to follow the orders of another Erkling or a powerful wizard or witch. Mr Finnas was correct in his answer to Mr Pengryffin’s question”
Lady Saphricorn gave the same young Ameraid a nod, she knew how they all seemed to need approval of doing or answering something correctly, it seemed to be a house flaw they all seemed to share but that was neither here nor there in today’s topic of Care of Magical Creatures.
“What I also need to add was that the only times in history that a human has been able to domesticate one of these creatures have been those of very strong magical protential. Dark magic protenial” Lady Saphricorn emphasised her last words as she looked over her students and sighed wearily, she would really need to do something pleasant after this lesson to balance the over emotions of the day, maybe a trip to the Saphricorn Plains would be in order.
“They would have to be raised to follow the commands from a extremely young age, maybe as early as a few hours after birth, it would require in a basic situation to dumb down their natural instincts of how to live and survive and over ride them with the intended functions. For once to do that would, safely to say be for dark purposes and intent so they would have to focus the attention of the Erkling on particular person.”
“It has never been researched, with good reason too, because it is a very dark act to even attempt such a thing, not to mention endangering your own life try such a thing, whether Erklings could be trained for a wider purpose than just to seduce on person with its song, not a family or a group.”
“And hopefully there will never be a reason for this to be found out.” She added as a after thought with what she could muster up as a comforting smiling, trying to make such a dark topic not quite so morbid but not taking away from the seriousness of the issue.
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Post by Jay Rastan on Apr 15, 2007 2:54:25 GMT 10
"You do know it's rude to read someone else's mind or listen to their thoughts without their permission, Finnas” Jay said, ignoring the boy’s laughing that Jay could presume that the other boy got form his musings with where exactly that. His.
Listening to his head of house talk about how it was possible for the creatures to be trained for the evil doings of people with warped minds, Jay couldn’t help but wonder how these twisted people got the power to do such evil things. Why not use their magical potential, as Lady Saphricorn has called it, for the good of the wizarding world, not to cause harm and kill others, why not cure some disease before it becomes an epidemic. This all just reminded of how right he had been moments before the right knowledge in the wrong hands could prove to be a lethal equation.
Looking at the Ameraid boy, Jay thought about what he said about how the creatures would just be wiped out, while it seemed all good in theory, the seventh year Saphricorn student could see a few flaws in it.
“But, hypothetically, the Erklings did band together cause a rain of terror, before going into hiding or perhaps just waiting and plotting another wave of attack, some wizards and witches would try to go out, and strike them down as you said, but everyone has to sleep some time right? And as soon as they let their guards down, they are very much vulnerable to being seduced by the song.” Jay said, using small hand movements and gestures to help put across his point. “Then well nothing, they would be lying dead somewhere, sure they may have been lucky to damage the erkling attack force but would it be worth it at the cost of their lives? I say live and let live, we leave them alone and they should leave us alone.”
Jay thought for a moment and gave a nod as if to pronounce his point even further in his own mind.
“And perhaps just make sure the English buggers cannot swim, just for good measure.”
With that last said Jay returned the whole of his attention to the class, well most of it anyway, some of it went to viewing his surrounds, both human and not. But one question niggled at the back of his mind, he didn’t know why but having it half answered and half left unknown was making his hand fidget, raising his hand he decided to bite the proverbial bullet.
“Lady Saphricorn, what happens to those who have been affected by the Erkling’s song over a large amount of time? I know you said some have been driven insane but as to what degree? Do they just mutter incoherently, or after they locked up?”
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Post by Andreas Mark on Apr 19, 2007 9:33:45 GMT 10
This question peaked Andreas’ interests. He would sit back and let his brother and the great buffoon of a Saphricorn fence with each other all afternoon, but he would more interested in finding out about these creatures. He had heard many stories about them in his youth and was eager to find out what exactly they were capable of. It would be true to understand that he thought the Saphricorn was asking a little more then would be healthily known by any one person, but then if Sylvia Saphricorn knew it, then perhaps it was beneficial to listen.
He stayed where he was, completely immobile and trying not to look too eager to find out what the answer was. It was not like he thrived on the pain of others, but the knowledge of such things enticed a sense of curiosity that could only be sated by the answer. He wanted to know it now even though moments ago he would have thought the Saphricorn was asking something of an inappropriate question.
’See how they strike out when you do something to them that they don’t understand, Finnias?’ Andeas sent the thought to his brother without even looking at him. He knew this was a vaguely directed thought and that any Ameraid’s in his direction would have heard it also, but then it was not actually a private though and so was not an issue, no one else would hear it, ’The theory of primitive peoples, if they cannot explain it, they do not like it’ he smiled after this thought, though remained completely silent outwardly as he waited for the teacher to respond to the Saphricorn.
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Post by Barnak Pengryffin on Apr 23, 2007 23:22:26 GMT 10
Barnak wasn't at all perturbed by the idea of hard work in order to see his will done - especially if he could get someone else to do it. Nor did he consider it a problem training a creature to attack a single person: there are always more creatures, after all. He mused as to how quickly these particular nasties could be bred, and whether it was more worth his while to find a more immediately promising tool.
He looked up when the arrogant Saphricorn boy in front of him asked yet another intriguing question, glancing as he did so with vague curiosity at the subtle smirks on the faces of two Ameraids who had also just been speaking.
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Post by Belle Carter on Apr 26, 2007 8:21:05 GMT 10
Belle sat and watched, taking in the knowledge that was flying around. She didnt like a lot of what was being said but did not feel it was her place to stop the discussion. She merely waited for the Professor to give them instruction. She knew that by the sounds of it, Erklings were not good creatures, though she did not like the thought of exterminating anything; she was one of those kids who used to tell people off for chasing ants with magnifying glasses.
At the same time though she was a little anxious about tending to the erklings wounds. If their cousins were so ghastly, what would these ones do to them while they cared for them? Animals rarely responded well to treatment; in her experience. She once had a dog who had its foot caught in a fence when it tried to climb over it. While trying to get its foot out the animal actually bit her. From that point forward she had always been wary about helping animals.
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Post by Lady Sylvia Saphricorn on Jun 21, 2007 0:30:52 GMT 10
Lady Saphricorn had notice that one of her very own students was paying less than their complete attention to her class but before she could comment or even answer the question that was posed to her by the said student, the end of class was upon them she discovered when she glanced at her wrist watch. And for once Sylvia was more than happy for the class to be ending and regardless of how much as she loved teaching and loved her students, she always found the topic of Erklings rather tiring and more than slightly bothering.
Even someone as pure-hearted as Sylvia Saphricorn would have caught the not even subtle undertones to the questions, remarks and voiced observations by her students. She was indeed very thankful that she had the next class off.
“Well, as Mister Rastan has asked a very interesting question, unfortunately there is not enough time for me to answer it in full detail so here is where your homework assignment comes in…”
She paused a moment to let the mock anguish groans of most of the students die down before she continued, all the while noticing a few less than friendly looks being thrown at the seventh year Saphricorn boy.
“…I want to know what you think could be possible outcomes of being under the enchantment of the Erkling for large amounts of time. And before you start thinking its going to be that simple, I want you to use your textbook and any reference books in the library to reinforce your theories. I am not fussed on the lay out of it, note form, bullet points or a two thousand word essay, as long as it is your own thoughts…and equals two thousand words.”
Lady Saphricorn looked at her students which most were still looking at her for further information or even perhaps a more substantial homework task and a few were writing down the homework task in their planners.
“Now off you go to your next class or wherever you need to be I have some hurt Erklings that need some tending to. Anyone who has a friend period are welcome to remain behind to watch or participate for extra credit.” Lady Saphricorn announced before turning to make her way over towards the small area that held the wounded creatures while her students departed or remained at their own disgression.
:: Thread Closed ::
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