"The Ninth is intending to pursue Lyctorhood seriously," Gideon says, confidently. "If it turns out to be unattainable - or if the cost is too great - this is still an excellent opportunity to learn more about necromancy at a fundamental level, and network with the other Houses." Plus get the Emperor's attention to ask for intercession without exposing their soft bellies to everyone else. "We have been... Isolated for a long time, but we believe the Nine Houses would benefit from increased exchange and cooperation."

"An excellent answer. Thank you, Ninth. As for the Fifth, I doubt Lyctorhood is in the cards for us. However, the First House is a treasure trove of historical information and artifacts, which I am much more interested in."

     "We'd also like to keep Isaac and Jeannemary out of trouble," Magnus adds. "They're only fourteen."

...It's honestly kinda weird that they're that old. (Ellyn had already been Reverend Mother in all but name for four years by the time she was fourteen - she's only three years past that even now.) 

"They act... Young," she says diplomatically, because she has no other way to describe the - whatever it is. 

(Neither Ellyn nor Gideon ever acted like the Fourth do; even before Ellyn's parents died, they acted more like feral cats than how the children in her comics behave.)

...Also it was apparently a really good idea actually to not tell anyone outside the Ninth about Ellyn's parents. Gideon would've bitten Magnus for talking about keeping her out of trouble at fourteen; she would've stabbed him for actually trying. 

...She has a brief moment where she also feels very sorry for the Fourth, having to deal with this - whatever this is. 

...She isn't going to question the whatever this is, though, at least not to the Fifth's faces, especially not without talking it over with Ellyn first. 

"Magnus and I have tried to help them since their parents were killed on a deployment."

Definitely a good move to keep the deaths under wraps.

She just nods. 

"I suppose the Sixth stands between the Ninth and the Fifth, then. We'd like whatever we can find out about the Lyctoral trials, but our archives contain precious little from this time period." She gestures at the environment around them.

Nod, and - "Oh, while we're here - Fifth, you said my sword looked haunted?"

"Oh yes," Abigail nods. "Quite angrily so. Did you want me to take a closer look at it?"

"Whenever's a good time for you."

"We could start now, if you like. We'll need some candles, and a nice clear bit of floor..."

"If the Sixth doesn't mind."

"I've never seen an exorcism done before."

"Then now works."

Abigail beams. "All right then! Sixth, if you could go with Magnus to fetch the candles from our room. Ninth, help me clear a space to put that sword down and I'll start chalking the diagram."

She does so. 

Abigail works with practiced efficiency, laying out a multi-pointed array of symbols and squiggles around the sword. She asks for anything they know about the sword's history while she works, previous owners, notable slayings, historical battles it might have been involved in, anything of that nature.

She's used it since she was eight - it was pulled out of storage when she showed aptitude. She doesn't know its history before that. 

Ah, well, she's done worse with less.

When the others return with the candles ("Human tallow, you know, always the best for a summoning") she directs them to be placed in specific locations around where everyone will be standing. Then they all need ghost wards scratched on ("So nothing jumps in opportunistically"), and blood drawn for the libation. Abigail will contribute, and it'd be best if Gideon could as well, since she has the strongest connection to the sword.

Sure - she's familiar with this part of it at least. 

Then all that's left is to light the candles and take their places. Necros in front, here here and here, and cavs behind like- yes, like Magnus, thank you dear.

Everyone ready?

Sure. (She's missing the weight of the longsword, but at least she still has her chain and knives - for all the good it'll do against a spirit.)

(She's just as unhappy.)

She's ready. 

Let's see what's hiding in there.

The sooner this is over.

Then let's get this party started.

Abigail swirls the container of blood and pours it out by the sword while incanting. "Blood to wash away your sins. O revenant, you come in anger. You come alone. You come to a sword of the Ninth. I am a spirit-caller of the Fifth, named Abigail for my mothers, named Pent for my people. Come forth, you mournful ghost, and speak your woe. By blood old and blood new, I bid you come forth that we might pass you beyond the River where you belong." The candlelight flickers and whitens blueish as Abigail places her hands on the sword with a surge of necromantic power.

But no ghost appears in the circle. "Hm," Abigail muses. "Stubborn little bugger."