After several days of fruitless searching, you return to Saringallow in hopes of finding better leads to the Sarini Estate than Nixa's imperfect recollections. Once word reaches the mayor, Sandra Trinelli, that you are trying to find the estate, she sends you a summons.
Although it’s covered in a layer of files and paperwork that indicate its official nature, this office is also eminently comfortable, with its plush carpet, velvet-lined oaken furniture, and ornate serving carts bearing colorful fruit and fine drinks. The soothing smell of sage and apple blossoms floats on a warm breeze wafting through the large, open picture window.
At the center of the room, behind a solid and polished wooden desk, sits Mayor Sandra Trinelli, her long fingers folded together in thought. Her face is solemn as she surveys her visitors. “Thank you for your quick attention to my request,” she begins, motioning to the oversized chairs in front of her. “As you can imagine, it involves a delicate task that promises results of great significance to our beleaguered population. Let me explain.
“The history of this town, I’m afraid, is written in blood. More than a century ago, the family that founded Saringallow committed heinous crimes against the hard-working folks who toiled on their behalf. When all was said and done, these nobles—the Sarinis—kidnapped and murdered many local children. They were hanged for their crimes, but the bodies of the youths were never found, and our families still suffer those tragic memories today. After all of these years, they’ve
never had closure, and our town has never been the same.
“However, not long ago, while I was searching the town archives, I discovered a few old letters that seem to indicate that these evil nobles kept records of their victims and diabolical rituals. Finding these documents would go a long way toward healing the deep wounds the
Sarinis inflicted on our poor people.
“Unfortunately, the evidence is presumably stored in the Sarinis old, walled estate, which is located some distance from Saringallow
proper. Around here, superstitions regarding the Sarini family still run deep, and the good men and women of our town watch--bless their hearts--are reluctant to help. There’s no proof, however, that any of
the rumors about the Sarini Estate are real, so I’d like to hire you help me solve this matter. Please, if you will, bring me any records of these terrible crimes that exist. Once you do, I believe our town will
finally begin to heal. I trust that you are capable, and I hope that a reward of 100 gold pieces will be enough to persuade you to help.”
|
Faust nods his head in greeting at their reoccurring sponsor and claims the chair at the head of the table, his back straight as a board. With an air of regality he listens silently and with intent as the mayor speaks.
"A wretched tale, no doubt. While a peasant's blathering is generally unfounded or steeped in demeaning superstitions, the torturous nature of Saringallow's past with the Sarinis certainly makes it plausible for some residual effects at their estate," he explains. It certainly wouldn't be the first time I've had to delve into an estate with a horrific past. What dark works did these people pursue? Diabolism is rewarding enough, but tends to lead to... more insidious practices as well. Absentmindedly, his hand moves to the amulet in the shape of tentacles constricting an orb around his neck.
He pours himself a goblet of wine and takes a sip before continuing. "My esteemed colleague does have a point, there is occasionally a fleck of gold in the muck. The rumors, if you please. Additionally, a map or the best directions you have are all that I require to begin," he concludes.
________
|
Shalendra takes a seat next to Takumi. She shakes her head sadly as she hears what the good Mayor is askng them to do. "It's always the young who suffer the evils of the adults. We'll do our best to find the documents you need. What can you tell us about the rumors? I can assume they suggest the place is haunted. Do they suggest it haunted by the victims or the perpetrators?"
“This tragedy has had several generations to generate rumors, but they’re all nonsense, as far as I’m concerned. Some say the estate is haunted by the spirits of the victims," the mayor answers Shalendra. Other rumors say the estate has collapsed under its own weight, and still others believe diabolic powers still lurk within and plot against us. Given what the town suffered, can you blame them for projecting their fears into that hated place?”
|
A broad shouldered, well armed merfolk with horns and icy pale blue skin smiles and nods, her wayfinder proudly displayed.
"Yes, I have heard of the problems, and given my heritage Sorrina Westyr thought I might be of particular help here."
Abyssia rolls her eyes up at her horns in casse anybody didn't understand what she was talking about.
|
|
A plain looking elf knocks and then steps into the room, "hello, I believe I was sent to assist with this matter? I couldn't help but overhear talk of rumors."
The elf you see is taller, but not exactly towering over an average human at exactly six feet. Her frame is thin and lithe, covered by simple clothing and few accoutrements. The clothing is obviously tailored to cover most of her skin, but not restrain movement. Visible under the shirt is a form fitting thick leather vest. Her dirty blonde hair is bound tightly into a bun with a few strands falling down and framing her long pointed ears. No makeup and a pale complexion mean she doesn’t stand out much. A single bow, full quiver and simple backpack are slung over her shoulders.
She introduces herself, "I am Maria Kuerlara and I have some recent experience investigating ruins." Maria quickly adds, "I have seen quite a few things in my days as well and hopefully can help figure out exactly what is lurking there. Bringing unknown things to light is one of my duties."
She looks at the Mayor, "how far is this estate, is it easy to find and are there possible dangers on the way?"
|
|
Taking a final sip of his wine before pouring another goblet full, he addresses Maria while watching the liquid flow. "I pray you were invited to this meeting, this is not merely a social occurrence. Who sent you here? And what 'unknown things' do you concern yourself with?" An intersection of interests would be useful in my research. Perhaps she has unique knowledge to extract.
“The estate is located about ten miles from town," the mayor answers, "Down a road almost no one travels except for foolhardy youths trying to prove themselves. Given its isolation, I would not be surprised if there weren’t a few dangers in or around the place. You’d do well to arm yourselves sufficiently before heading out.
“The estate is a large place, with two main stories and a basement, or so the old stories go, but we don’t have a map of the place in our archives. Given what horrors happened there, the townsfolk have always given the place a wide berth—no one here is greedy enough to covet the
murder-tainted valuables that hated family might have owned. Some things are more important than gold, you know. The Sarinis and everything tied to them are a blot on our existence."
|
|
Maria's eyes narrow slightly more than usual at the challenge, "of course I was invited, I'm assuming in the same manner as you, being referred by the society to provide assistance."
She quickly continues on assuming that settles the matter and answers the second question, "solving the cause behind myths, rumors, superstitions and the like. There is always a cause for things and I enjoy bringing reason to supposition."
Attempting to push a better image of herself out there she tries to smile while looking around the room thinking, maybe looking friendlier will help? Otherwise I'll just have to prove myself in the field as usual.
Maria turns to the Mayor, "thank you, I have no further questions." She checks her pack and weapons for the fourth time today, waiting for her allies to finish up any questions or preparations.
|
|
Faust nods contentedly and pulls up a chair, and a fresh glass of wine, for the newcomer. Not a wandering peasant, that's a good start. Thought I might have to see her out! "I too wish to solve myths, rumors, and superstitions, how fortuitous!" he says with a smirk. Preferably of the eldritch variety, but most don't take well to the realities of that fact.
"Fortunately for you, Mayor Trinelli, I carry no such misgivings about the estate or its contents. I shall make my preparations, determine the nature of these crimes against your people, and then return with what documents that exist. Sound like a deal?" he asks, raising his glass to her as he stands. Here is to hoping their dark plans were meticulously well kept!
________
"Quite," Sandra says in agreement with Faust. "You may want to start in the town hall's archives. We have quite a bit of information available about the time period in question. Find my assistant, Lupia Marietti. She’s a kind woman and will help you with whatever you need.”
|
Takumi bows gracefully to the mayor. "Thank you for your information. That was most helpful."
He then glides over to Maria, and similarly gives her a bow. "Most welcomed, Maria. This one is Takumi Kamizo, hailing from the elvish kingdom of Jinin far to the east."
The rest of the party notices that Takumi has reverted to his rather more formal mannerisms when they had first met him.
|
|
Maria's normally measured attitude breaks when they mention the archives, "ooooh that sounds like fun! Yes, we shall start there right away."
She stands up quickly and turns... face to face with Takumi. His formal bow and mannerisms bring her quickly back, "oh um... I'm sorry for my uh..."
She quickly returns the proper formal greeting, "thank you Takumi, I am Maria Kuerlara of Kyonin."
|
|
Shalendra gives the newcomer a smile. "It's nice to meet another elf on a mission. Don't mind Faust. He can be a little um, how do I put this enigmatic, but he's a good fellow."
She stands thanks the mayor and is ready to head out to the archives. "It's so interesting how humans think a hunderdred or so years is a long time ago."
|
|
He gulps down the rest of his goblet with ease and pushes his chair in. "Peculiar, isn't it? How the specter of mortality clings to each of us differently and the resulting urgency with which we throw ourselves at life. This Lupia Marietti sounds like a human whelp if I ever heard one. Let's see how the specter's presence has shaped her," he says as he makes the way for the door.
________
A hall pierced by narrow windows connects the mayor's manor house to the archives. A young woman with brown hair pulled back in a bun sits at a desk. She looks up as the door opens and then stands eagerly once she realizes that she has new visitors.
"Greetings! I'm Lupia. I'm the town's archivist," she says. "How can I help you?"
|
|
"Come now Maria," Faust interjects as he clasps a hand around her shoulder. "Were you not paying attention? We have to be quick and to the point, Humans don't have a minute to waste, haha!"
After recovering his composure from what was likely a poorly received joke, he continues. "Your Mayor sent us to inquire after the Sarinis's estate as well as other events relevant to the time period. What do you have on the matter?"
________
"Yes, I can gather those records for you," she says with a smile. She heads into the halls of books and scrolls for several minutes and then returns with an arm load of ledgers and dusty leather scroll tubes. She sets them down on a central table. "If you have any specific topics, I'll do my best to bring you what we have on it."
Going through the records, you find an invoice for construction materials reveals that the construction of the main estate building began in 4426 AR, and a later bill indicates that a wall was built around the grounds in 4600 AR.
Another individual document indicates that the last legal owners of the Sarini Estate were the Baron Marcius Sarini and Baroness Sadira Sarini, who acquired joint ownership of the property in 4593 AR.
You also find records about settlers moving into this area date back to 4425 AR. However, all the documents from that time refer to the community
as “Sarini’s Hollow.”
|
|
Shalendra will stay in the library. "I can ask around for information after we've finished here."
She studies the documents, but can't see anything interesting about the building of the all. "It's a wall. At least we know there was one once."
She does better at finding out information about Sarini's Hollow. "Sarini's Hollow interesting name. Do you think they renamed it after themselves?"
"Can we have records on births and deaths during the time period when the children were going missing?"
|
|
"Did somebody mention a haunted mansion?" Inquires a cheerful young voice behind the others.
It turns out to belong to a slight, pretty young woman - well, she looks young in some ways, but it's almost like she's some kind of preserved fruit, simultaneously young and ancient - with a large scythe over her shoulder, and a bundle of leathery old skulls and a pair of wands at her side. As she moves closer, a more striking thing about her becomes noticeable: She's virtually colorless. She has a strangely attractive blue-and-lavender pox flecked sparsely across her face and arms, and a few visually dissonant spots of color amongst her equipment, but other than that, she's practically a charcoal drawing, nothing but shades of black, white, and grey - in fact, as she gets closer, it seems her very presence drains the color around her.
"My name's Lydia. Stillbourne. I've just started adventuring with the Society recently, but I've worked with the Dark Archives for years." She catches sight of the records. "Oh, let's see what we've got here...."
"It figures," Says a barely-audible voice. "We come for the haunted mansion...but we STAY for the ledgers and invoices."
Lydia whips her head around and flashes a furrow-browed look at the room behind her before burying herself in the records.
|
|
Maria jolts at the unexpected hand on her shoulder and then gives Faust a very questioning look at his comments. Is he making a joke? I'm not sure, but I hope so. When she has a second, she speaks quietly to the archivist, "I'm sorry about my companion, I think he was attempting to make a joke. My greatest apologies for any disrespect."
When the archivist asks about specifics, Maria adds, "oh yes, we are interested in any legends or further information about this estate." She points at the records they are perusing and her eyes go wide, "we hear it may be... haunted!"
When the newcomer wanders in she eyes her impatiently until Lydia announces her allegiances, "I guess I'm not the only one late to the party, welcome!"
Maria does not mention what she notices, but makes a note to ask Lydia about it later in private.
|
|
"Am I the only one who carries respect for punctuality?" Faust remarks dryly as the next latecomer arrives. He turns to look at her and is largely unimpressed, yet... Something is unsettling about this one. Her shadow invokes memories of one of those warped wretches in the ruins of that estate.
As she approaches the tomes, he hears the sounds and his eyes narrow, his hand coming to the hilt of his sword. His decrepit heart beats in a way it hasn't for decades. "You have a peculiar set of qualities surrounding you. Explain yourself. Quickly." he orders as he looks at her unnatural shadow. It can't be. Have the secrets of that wretched island spread beyond already?
________
|
|
Although his body relaxes, his hand doesn't come off of his sword. "It is. For your sake, I hope your answer is satisfactory," he mutters. I doubt the tolerance of the town is as forgiving as mine. She has until we leave. He backs away to give her and her shadow a wide berth, but doesn't turn his back to her.
He tilts his head to Shalendra. "I've been reminded of some dark memories is all. Can never be too safe," he explains. "If we have what we are here for, let's be on our way." Can't say I've ever wanted to be in the sunlight this much before...
________
gradually, that name was corrupted into Saringallow.
Lupia nods and heads back into the stacks while the two dhampir consider each other and the town they're in. The clerk returns with a smaller stack of ledgers. "Here is what we have on the missing people," she says before disappearing back into the stacks and pushing a wooden cart out with several large ledgers on it. "And here are the birth and death records."
You find that between the years 4600–4604 AR, many missing persons were reported.
Reports written by a watch captain of the time indicate that the bodies of a few missing people were found.
You notice that there are no records of executions or hangings in the death records.
|
|
Lydia raises an eyebrow while poring over the text detailing the estate's construction.
"This one's been tampered with! Somebody wanted to keep something hidden...!"
She turns her attention to the lurid details of the watch captain's reports.
|
|
Maria is pouring over the documents, ignoring most of the banter. This is still about half as crazy as the last time I worked with pathfinders...
She muses a bit, mostly to herself, "well that's pretty normal. Name changed in town from Sarini Gallows to Saringallow. Gallows must have been a big deal though."
Focusing on a few things and writing several notes, it looks like she is actually doing MATH! She speaks up, "definitely ordered more construction materials for the wall than they needed. Must have used that for something they wanted hidden."
She nods in agreement when Lydia points out the smudges, "nice catch, you have a good eye for research!"
"Can I help you find anything else or narrow your search?" Lupia offers.
|
|
"Judging by the captain's description, the bodies weren't just bled...they were bled...completely dry. Total exsanguination." Lydia breathes.
|
|
"The victims were between twelve and twenty years old, and more than half were female. It seems they needed women for something. The details in the reports of the bodies found suggests to you that they were killed in witch or diabolist rituals. And the bodies were drained of blood? I wonder if they were trying to feed something or summon something?"
"I hate it when witch's kill in their rituals. Gives us a bad name." she mutters almost to herself.
|
|
"It seems we all have some curious predilections. Personal history is such a peculiar phenomenon..." Fasut mutters to himself. "In my experience woman, especially young virgins, tend to feature prominently in sacrificial rituals." Even more reason to learn the extent of the Sarini family's madness.
"Have we sufficiently exhausted this little trove of local lore then?" Faust asks patiently. The scales of preparation and action require such a delicate balance.
________
"Certainly!" Lupia says energetically. She heads into the stacks and returns shortly with a single ledger and several loose pieces of parchment. "I thought you might like some of the records on the last nobles before the mayors took control as well."
The ledger contains a rather dull list of mayors, their uninspiring accomplishments, and dates of installment and retirement (or death).
Documents indicate that the Baroness Sarida Sarini was originally from Remesiana in Cheliax.
A deployment letter dated 4585 AR indicates that Marcius Sarini volunteered to serve in the Chelish army and trained to lead a special engineering unit.
A letter from a servant dated after Marcius’s return also indicates that the rising baron brought a young ward by the name of Luca back to his family’s estate in Saringallow.
"Here? No, I'm afraid not," Lupia answers Maria. "That House is well established in Cheliax."