Zaitherin nods.
"I agree. Let's head back to join our new companions, and see if we can help correct this issue."
She stands, and offers a slight bow, then extends her hand in friendship.
"I will correct this for you. Just take care of our people."
Armed with the knowledge about Tallowthroat, Karpad's nascent disease, Praetorix and Dario Wetstone made they way to meet with their companions, Delyn and Zaitherin who had spent their time learning about the fetchling's situation.
Sequestered upon a hilltop over looking the Barony stood the Boroi's Manor, an impressive structure dating back to the founding of Karpad. The manor shares an octagonal shape with topiary and gardens stretching from its flanks. Great bonfires bathe the domicile in warm amber light that seems to vanquish any shadows from the property. Beyond the bonfires stood the entrance to the manor – an ornate mahogany door covered in cracks and splinters.
The walk to the Barony is filled with Dario's observations of the Kuthonite temple. He seemed quite excited to have seen the inside and some of the practices in person. "It was incredible! The pain the people went through for their faith was extraordinary. And Father Miklos is as Kuthonite as they come, yes, Prae? But he seemed to know the purpose for the pain and in this case, he was doing the best he could to treat the tallowthroat."
He glances at the others. "The fetchlings could be the source of the disease. Their expulsion from the Barony seems the forerunner to spread of it. Tracking diseases and their cause would be an interesting topic for research. Perhaps I should write Professor Garen after this is all over. He would be quite interested in this occurrence."
"There is no way that the Fetchlings of this city are responsible!" Zaitherin replies heatedly. "They are victims, pure and simple. Maybe the Baron wants them gone. Maybe the humans are racist pigs, but I can tell you, I looked into their eyes. They did not do this. The Baron knows what's happening. He has to, because no one else does."
Dario shrugs. "Maybe. But if we are to get to the bottom of this, then we have to be open to the idea that the Fetchlings have some role in this. We have to at least consider all the possibilities. I think you're right though that the next answer lies with the Baron. Let's see what he knows."
"We shall reserve judgement until proof is found. I was not there, I can not believe the fetchlings are innocent based on your word alone."
Prae says calmly, his voice not betraying any emotion.
"Now, let's go visit this 'Baron' and see what he has to say for himself."
The party discussed among themselves in great length about the information they had learned about Karpad’s plight. Satisfied with their findings, it was Dario Westone who summoned attention from the Manor via an ornate hound like door knocker. After three loud raps, the door had opened and an elderly looking man stood before the party. He was a stern man of average height dressed in a suit of blacks and purples and old age has caused his once-proud face to crease with worry lines.
The party discussed among themselves in great length about the information they had learned about Karpad’s plight. Satisfied with their findings, it was Dario Westone who summoned attention from the Manor via an ornate hound like door knocker. After three loud raps, the door had opened and an elderly looking man stood before the party. He was a stern man of average height dressed in a suit of blacks and purples and old age has caused his once-proud face to crease with worry lines.
”Greetings…outlanders” he said while sizing the party. He couldn’t stop staring at Zaitherin for she seemed different than the other fetchlings. "I am Laeurentiu, majordomo of the Baroi estate. You’ve come at a bad time. The Baron has no interest in the trifles of peasants. Unless you have business with either the Master or the Lady, then please leave.” His had rested on the door should he need to deny entry.
Laurentiu seemed rather wary of the presence of outsiders. Their strangeness, weapons, and outside ideals were a greater poison than Karpad’s blight.
Prae calmly endures the mistake of identity and the following disrespect before quietly unraveling his spiked chain to hang down from his hands, and holding his unholy symbol out with the other hand.
"While I may not want to have business with the 'Master', the Umbral Court certainly does. Get the Baron and let him know Inquisitor Davonte is here on behalf of the Court."
"The Baron has no interest in his people? That's typically when the peasants begin to arm themselves and call for his head... We would like to help advert such an event. Disease knows no boundaries. If this continues, it will strike the Barony eventually."
Intimidate vs Laurenteiu (DC 15) ---Success!
The Majordomo's hand relaxes as he eyes the chain of Praetorix's station combined with the words of the scholarly looking person.
"Umbral Court, hmph," he said with a curt snap. "I am certain that the nature of the Council would have you travel quite a distance to see my lord less they rather snoop in another's fares. Nidal is wrought with problems and Karpad is the least of their concern. Though, you could bargain my foolishness to gain access but do know this, none take the name of the Umbral Court for their privilege for the shadows know and see all. If you must, come in and please keep your...hands to yourself."
The majordomo ushered the party inside the manor with the exception of Zaitherin.
"Miss, you must wait outside. The Baron has specifically instructed that all fetchlings are prevented entrance to the manor. I do this as a courtesy. Please do not make me repeat myself." Laurentiu had snapped the attention the sentry, a pair of armored guards bearing Baroi regalia and halberds. "The rest of you, please follow me to the study."
Prae responds to the majordomo calmly.
"The Court has interests in all corners of Nidal. Do not question their wisdom, as it is infinite."
He looks back at the elf, having already stepped inside of the building.
"We have all been subject to discrimination, elf. We have work to do." he says, turning back towards the inside of the mansion.
Zaitherin looks upset at the treatment, but this reaction isn't unexpected. She sticks the end of her blade in the ground, crosses her arms, and takes a wide stance.
"...fine. Here I shall wait. Just get to the truth of the matter."
Dario looks back and forth from Prae to Zaitherin. He shrugs his shoulders, but gives the fetchling a sympathetic look. "We'll try to figure out what's been going on. But it seems best right now if we don't antagonize the Baron."
"My thanks, my friend."
Turning to the others, she continues.
"Do what you can, and find the truth."
Laurentiu moved with a quick pace despite being venerable and old. Just as they had within the Temple of Zon Kuthon, Dario and Prae were on their own again trying to learn more about the current situation. After several winding hallways, the pair had stopped before a pair of ornate doors with brass mastiff door handles. A heavy sigh escaped Laurentieu as he attempted to open the room. Locked.
”In here you’ll find the Master. He has taken to…privacy within the study. Even my own advances lack the strength to rouse the Master from his stupor.”
Zaitherin was left to her devices in part to the Baron’s paranoia. While Delyn offered comradeship a brief moment had escaped before something caught their attention – a dog barking nearby…
Dario frowns. "That sounds like something in wrong. Perhaps we can offer the Baron our services. Knowing that the Unbral Court is interested in his troubles could help."
The Professor knocks lightly on the door. "Baron? May we have a moment of your time?"
A moment goes by since the professor gently rapped on the door before a uneasy voice answers.
”Not now...Laurenteiu, I am busy!”
The majordomo could barely suppress an eye roll.
”My Baron, that was not I sir. Surely by now you'd recognize my call.” Laurenteiu cleared his throat and leaned towards the door like he was getting ready to deliver a provocation. ”You have several guests. They wish to speak with you.”
Silence continues and the Majordomo blinks slowly at the party.
”The Baron can be...difficult. If you will excuse me...” he said before slamming the knocker in three loud raps. ”MY BARON. YOU WILL NOT KEEP YOUR GUESTS WAITING.”
The sound of something screeching came beyond the door followed by heavy panting and the crashing of books, presumably.
= = = = = = =
Delyn's elven ears picked up the sound of a peculiar dog barking not far away, possibly from within the Manor. While carefully walking in a counter clockwise motion from the manor's entrance, Delyn eventually found the rear of the estate where an ornate wooden door stood between a pair of stained glass windows revealed the silhouette of a slender like man with a large black dog. The dog's barks seem to grow with intensity as Delyn came closer. The man didn't seem to notice the ranger's presence.
”Shhh...shhhh...Ioziff. Be a good pup. You may cheer the Baron if you behave.”
Prae steps up to the closed door after the outburst and following sounds, and knocked quietly at it.
"I don't think you understand, Baron. We will be getting in, one way or another, to ask you a few questions. Opening the door and letting us in would make all of this much easier....on you."
Dario looks at Laurenteiu alarmed. "Has the Baron always been this...disagreeable? My goodness, to keep guests waiting like this is at least mildly rude. Has he always been solitary? And what does he mean precious time left? Is he sick?"
Zaitherin follows Delyn over to the man, and makes a motion to silence. She ducks down behind the door, and motions for Delyn to go in.
Prae Intimidate 30 vs Baron (DC 14 Will...) success!
The room went silent for a moment as the Baron listened to Prae's words. It seemed as if the Baron was adamant about his position until the scraping of wood continued once again. It seemed as if a creature was boring its nails upon the wooden floor. A click followed by a door opening revealed a man of average height draped in muted colors. The Baron Stepan Baroi stood before the party.
"Easier on me, hm?" he said rather sourly. "Time is precious. "
In an absent minded way, he walked towards his desk and slumped within an arm chair. The Baron's study was a musty room littered with books, decanters of wine and lamps that vanquished any shadows within the room.
"Speak." said the Baron as he nervously clutched a stained goblet.
- - - -
Before Delyn or Zaitherin could begin their approach, the door of the Manor's rear entrance opened. A fetchling dressed in servants clothing stood before them. His hair was combed neatly back.
"I'll have you know the Baron doesn't take kindly to trespassers. State your business or the dog shall." Their was an immense black mastiff that stared at the pair within the doorway. A terrible bark escaped the hound.
Zaitherin, unsure of if she'd been seen, keeps still and silent.
"Please don't let the dog smell me...' She winces inwardly.
The Hound Keeper stared blankly at Delyn allowing a mask of hatred pour upon his face.
"I am in the Baron's staff, outlander. Say what you will to Lucien Groy, that racist bloated pig has no power here!" The mastiff began sniffing the air and shown in interest towards Delyn's companion. It began to whine a bit before nudging forward before its movements were impeded by a large metal chain. "Ioziff senses something about your friend..."
In a mere moment, the Hounds Keeper attitude shifted towards curiousity. "Pray tell fellow Kayal, have I not seen you before? Do my eyes play a trick on me? What news of the outside world do you bring?"
At this point, the hounds keeper attention has shifted instead to Zaitherin who seemed blundered at the fetchling's inquiry.
Dario glances at Prae for the Umbral Court's word. However, the Professor decides to speak on behalf of the townspeople outside. "Baron, sir. I am Professor Dario Westone, a religious scholar. This is my traveling companion, Praetorix, a member of the Umbral Court. We come to you concerned about the state of affairs in your town. There is sickness and near hysteria out there. I'm sure you can call for healers and even hedge witches to help cure the diseases. Is there a reason you haven't? Are you afflicted yourself? You mentioned you haven't much time left."
Zaitherin stands, and bows low.
"You hound is most astute, cousin. In truth, yes, I am a stranger to this city. I serve as a warrior of the Faith Militant of Gorum, and the Lord in Iron saw fit to send me here. I had no idea why I was chosen among my peers, but that has now been made clear now."
She moves through the relevant cultural pleasantries, and recounts a fairly mundane existence, for a soldier of the God of War, anyway.
"And that is how I ended up here. The citizens have been either incredibly hateful, or very welcoming. Either way, I intend to serve the City and my Lord by solving this crisis."
"I, personally, think you are hiding something, dear Baron. While I am here to determine what is happening in this...place, I have been instructed to aid the people of Karpad to the best of my ability. And to do that, we need your cooperation."
"Now, why don't you tell us what's going on here?"
”Umbral Court, bah! As if they'd care about occurences here. They're only concerned in taxes and more recruits for their shadow magic ” said the Baron as he casually swayed a goblet with his hand.
A moment paused as he took a long sip, savoring the earthy and aromatic undertones of his wine. ”Karpad faces a problem that even I can't solve. A plague seemingly from no where strikes my citizens, rending pandemonium among human and fetchling. As their beneficial lord, I had no choice but to choose the right action and remove what I felt was the problem – the fetchlings, from the manor. What else happens is just a matter of circumstance really.”
A slight breeze was the only respite that gave Praetorix and Dario from the room's musk. Pages flipped and letters were scattered, adding further to the mess. ”I have someone tending to the Tallowthroat from within the Chandlery not far from the Temple. Though I must ask, why are you so invested in Karpad. I've nothing to offer you.”
- - -
The Hound Master smiled briefly before giving a curt nod. If this human is within your companionship, then you're not like the fellows here in Karpad. Please, come in” he said while ushering the pair inside the kennel. ”I am Gavril, but among the Kayal, I am a friend. Pray tell, have you met other fetchlings while staying here?” Gavril seemed to be in better spirits as opposed to earlier.
”And you...” he said while looking the ranger ”Why have you come to Karpad? There is only shadows and misery here.”
"I am Zaitherin, of the family of Someras. I am quite pleased to make your acquaintance, Gavril. And yes, we actually just came from speaking with a few others of our kind, though they were surprisingly tight-lipped. They...seem scared."
She walks in behind Delyn, and extends her hand in friendship.
"Baron, please. We're here to help if we can. Why do you think the fetchlings are the cause of this? Did the plague start here where they were working?" The Professor cranes his neck around to see if he can read the titles of the books on the Baron's desk or any of the pages there.
It seems that the kennel is well off further adding suspicion that the manor life and the barony are different. There used to be more cages but a single occupied cage lies to the South East containing a rather large mastiff whose fur was abysmally black. It seemed as if you were staring into the void.
As for details, the kennel seemed like a well stocked room. You wouldn't believe that the Baron could mount a defense.
"That much doesn't surprise me. Kayal lack the privileges a common citizen possesses."
Gavril found a spot on a nearby stool and ushered the outsiders to join him nearby. When ready, he leans in with a hushed voice."Has anything happened in my absence?
- - - -
Amid the mess within the study one book stands out. Bound in leather and velvet, the book has a pale moon embossed on its cover. Stepan seemed to interact with it last...
Dario tried his best to be diplomatic in his approach with the Baron to which he answered if briefly. "Professor, I am not a man of details." he said while placing his drink down. "The contagion happened when one of my staff was found dead. Never before have I witnessed something so barbaric. It only seemed fitting that the fetchlings were responsible. After all, they're the ones touched by the shadows."
Dario gets the feeling that seems to be a topic of woe towards the Baron.
"Indeed, that is the case. Unfortunately, many are coming to resent your presence here. Although it is fair to say the Baron's generosity is not helping, I grow concerned they are of the belief that you may be complicit. Is that the take on the situation you go as well, Delyn?"
She turns to look at her companion, hoping she read the situation wrong.
"May I see the dead staff members' body? I would like to examine it for signs of the disease." Prae says bluntly, not caring to use any niceties.
"Or have you already disposed of it?"
"Hmm. Yes, Prae makes a good point. Perhaps we can see the body that started all this."
Gavril's face grew pale when Zaitherin and Delyn stated their opinion. The houndskeeper took a moment of silence to collect his thoughts. Had he played into the Baron's plan? Had he betrayed his race by his station? To this effect, Gavril needed to make a change and this was his opportunity.
"I certainly didn't mean for my station to be one of privelige. Of the manor, I am the sole person who can handle the Baron's mastiff, Iozef. The job supplies me with coin and a chance to provide for my people...but your words, they hurt. Am I wrong for being here? I am bound by duty to my liege and by coin to aid my people! How cruel a man must be twisted!"
The mastiff seemed to whine and slump towards the recesses of its cage.
"But alas, I can make amends. Allow me to help you." Gavril stood up and began pacing around the room while recanting his story. "I suspect the first moment that calamity struck was when my kin, Sergyev had finished his rounds in the courtyard. He noticed that several of the staff can started to develop waxen complexions and bitter attitudes. Several days later, Iorek, the other houndskeeper was found dead in a pool of blood that the Baron fired the entire staff save for Laurenteiu and myself."
- - - -
"It is gone, like my hope for this situation" said the Baron dryly. "Your prattle ceases to amuse me. Should you wish to continue your rapport, please do it with someone interested. I have given you my time and now comes action. I must excuse myself so that I can continue to fight this contagion."
Laurenteiu had made his exit some time ago leaving the pair of strangers within the Baron's employ. A sharp breeze coursed from the window, bounding through the study tossing papers and further adding to the mess before leaving the room with a sharp slam. When the papers receded, the pair noticed that a particular velvet book had spun open revealing a selection of ink-like shapes upon each page.
Ignoring the Baron's rude words, Prae immediately heads over to the book that fluttered open, pushing past the Baron if need be.
"And what have we here?"
"Prae, please! The Baron is entitled to his privacy." Dario glances at the various books and at the pages. "Though, the good Baron seems to be researching shadows? What are these shapes, Baron? Perhaps a learned man like myself can help with your understanding. If this is important to the town's health, I'll do all I can."
Zaitherin waits patiently for Gavril to finish.
"Frankly, I think they are just scared. However, I will be sure to pass along how helpful you've been. Can you elaborate a bit more on the condition of Iorek? Did he display any of the symptoms of this Tallowthroat? Or was it more like a murder?"
” Shapes, huh?” said the Baron as he turned his head slightly. ”You needn't concern yourself with that. There are more problems such as what those beasts will do! The shadows...the will take us all away.”
He seemed to prattle away about shadows but as Prae continued to examine the book, his eyes widened. ”Those fetchlings, they're the ones who brought this calamity. Their proclivity to the plane of shadows is a mortal bridge, one where a coil of death can bring a contagion. Their sickly eyes, their mute colors and to think they dwelt within Karpad's borders leeching off the good folk.”
Any words to the Umbral Agent didn't seem to be recognized. Instead, the Baron slowly rose from his chair and approached the only man who had been trying to talk to him – the Professor.
”Never mind about Iorek, he is dead. What matters now are the shadows! Can you count them, Professor? They're always watching and ready but even here, they cannot get me! Light removes their cover, their safety.” Placing two sweaty hands upon Dario, the Baron's eyes met and he continued. ”You've seen it, haven't you, Professor. You understand full well what we're dealing with here!”
- - - -
Gavril's body slumpt as he recalled the events that marked his coworker's death. ”Iorek's body was left in pieces. It seemed as if there was a violent explosion. We could only identify him from the iconic apron he wore.”
Even the fetchling's face began to pale. ”It doesn't make sense. The Baron has no known enemies. If there was any threat to the Barony, the guards would have apprehended the suspect.”
Dario pulls away slightly from the Baron. The man was really beginning to worry him. "I suppose it's possible a shadow sickness has infested the fetchlings. But why are they not affected? Their connection to the shadow world? Hmm, a possibility." The Professor looks into the Baron's eyes to see if there's any sanity left.
"You mentioned a man in the chandlery is working the disease. May we speak to him? Perhaps he's learned something."
"They're ALL LINKED!" said the Baron as he stretched his hands in the air as if whisping away tendrils of smoke. "Their sickly pale flesh, their flickering glowing eyes. They're unnatural and I'm willing to bet its because they've been plotting this entire time!"
The Baron worked himself into a feverish sweat causing droplets upon the carpet.
"But soon that will all be gone! Argus will take care of the issue. He has a cure in the works. But don't bother him. He is busy working within the Chandlery to the south of here. And pretty soon, all my problems will be gone." The Baron had wiped his brow, rubbed his palms together and moved towards the edge of the room.
Deep in thought, Zaitherin ponders her next move.
"Delyn, what do you make of all this"?