Morning arrives without incident, though you'd be hard pressed to tell it was daylight given the oppressive gloom of the Shudderwood.
Jones seeks out Estovion or Belik.
"If at all possible, we would like to request access to the private library. We believe that it contains a book with information that is vital to our mission."
"I will pass along your request to Master Lozarov." Belik replies.
Darius seeks out the 'Werewolf Hunter' noble, Duristan to see how he is doing and overall condition for the upcoming hunt this night. There was SOMETHING he had to do while waiting for the owner of this establishment to give a response back.
On your way to seek out Duristan you are intercepted by another nobleman, who waves the bloody reservation you arrived with in your face.
"Under what circumstance did you come to possess this?" he demands.
Darius' face scrunches into a sneer at the incredulous and entitled way in which the noble got in his way and spoke. He narrows his eyes and says in a unnervingly calm and merciless tone. " That? From a cocoon of web weaving spider-like beasts and their queen that towered this establishment, that I systematically slaughtered and had their entire nest burned to the ground. Does it seem important to you? I made sure not to have it opened. "
"It's my seal. I sent this invitation to a friend of mine, but he never showed up here at the Lodge."
"Did you find his body as well? Or just the letter?"
Darius seems to make a face as one would trying to remember a non-important fact, " Well.. it was the most recent body so I assume it was his I suppose. The letter was attached to them. Likely captured, dragged away by those Ettercaps and systematically used to feed their queen "
He sighs.
"I apologize for being so rude. I had to know. I'll let you get back to what you were doing. I have funeral arrangements to make, it seems." he wanders back towards his room slowly, eyes downcast.
Darius finds Duristan not long after, sitting at a table in the Great Hall eating breakfast.
His eyes light up when he catches sight of his new idol.
"Hello!"
Darius makes a note of which room that is for later pushing past the incident to Duristan. The man would need time to grieve.
" Good Morning Duristan, you seem quite excited for this day. I hope you garnered proper rest for the events that are to happen this night. I must ask before we depart, your knowledge of Werewolves and more importantly, your fascination with Hunting them. "
"What exactly do you mean?"
" I mean that I have researched more knowledge and have a plethora of that already but need to gauge your own knowledge and justification so that I may teach you proper methods or not. Unless you rather do things YOUR way again. Who knows YOU might teach me a thing or two I don't know. I am not Infallible.. just close to it. "
"I know what werewolves are capable of, if that's what you're asking. They have three different forms, and are not readily distinguishable from normal creatures of their type in their human and wolf forms. They're stronger and hardier than normal people, and have enhanced senses. They often hunt in packs. Their bite transfers the curse to their victim, who will transform at the full moon unless something is done."
"Or if you're warded, like I am."
"As for why...? They're a challenging prey."
Sledge steps into the room, taking a deep sniff as he tracks down breakfast.
"Duristan, that's a terrible reason to hunt a diseased individual."
"'Diseased individual'? Don't be naive. This isn't a case Filth Fever, this is a curse that drives its bearer to kill people once a month, and changes their mindset to make them ENJOY IT so they do it more. Killing werewolves is a public service."
" Duristan is not wrong, those afflicted with Lycanthropy of the werewolf variety are not simply 'diseased' they are killers. Now where he may be wrong is the fact that some who are naturally born do not necessarily have the same ideal though they tend to be regardless. These are Natural born Lycathropes.. ones who try and spread their afflicted kind like a plague. Those afflicted can of course be cured but the window is quite small and even worse it is hard to tell who is infected until such a time as their transformation. "
Darius sneers, " However, it pains me to say there might be a few clans that are... helpful... in my research of this land at least there is ONE clan than might e beneficial for our purposes.. We might not wish to slay THAT particular group until need be. As for your position Duristan, I cannot fault you for hunting them down though I do advise you practice caution. Killing ONE might be easy enough, but I need not remind you Wolves hunt in packs. You are never certain one of their clansmen might e a trusted person even in this very Lodge. "
"Hah" says Z announcing her entrance and nudging Darius in the ribs as she passes.
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"'Killing werewolves is a public service."
"And that's the good reason. Knew it was in there somewhere."
Darius raises a brow and squirms a bit at her touch nudging her back a it harder. " Did you find something amusing? Lycanthropy is no joke, the ways of healing it generally cause just as much suffering without higher magicks.. and even then may not e cured. Some die in the process. "
"You're talking about the Prince's Wolves? They're the only werewolf tribe nearby that's not wholly evil. I've never actually encountered them, but by all accounts they fight their instincts quite admirably."
Darius gives what some might consider a genuine smile at the showing Duristan had made. He nods in the man's direction. " Rightly so, these Prince's Wolves also oppose a force that we ourselves do and is likely one to speak to. Though the issue now being finding them and settling the overabundance of werewolf problem in this area. Perhaps we will become lucky and meet them instead of the more vicious clans in this area. You impress me Duristan. "
He looks to the man once more, " I have to ask what you have fore preparation Duristan and on another topic.. how well acquainted are you with the OTHER persons in this Lodge? "
"Most of my weaponry is silvered, and I have crates full of silvered wolf traps I was planning to use to set up a perimeter around whatever camp we might make. It has worked fairly well in the past. My hirelings are not incredibly skilled, but they can hold their own against the standard werewolf who doesn't make the best use of his enhanced abilities."
"I know most of the others well enough. Anyone who's anyone, anyway. Is there anyone in particular you wanted to know more about?"
" That's good, at LEAST that is needed to survive such beasts though luckily for you we have many ways of dealing with them ourselves that will bolster you even IF the creatures decide to be particularly cunning. As far as person's How much do you know of Delgros or Ivanja? They seem to get particularly special treatment outside of the norm. "
The flames in Z's arms start to elongate slightly, before they begin to crawl out of the cracks in her flesh and conceal to form a small flaming sphere.
Once formed it lazily rolls along her arms and the back of her shoulders.
"I think you know what I find amusing Darius."
"I feel like I should almost sit this little adventure out and do some reading. I'd hate to make all of Duristan's preparation feel meaningless."
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"Delgros is just the huntmaster. The other nobles love the man. He's 'feral' and 'courageous', and takes them on dangerous hunts to find and slay exotic beasts. As such, he enjoys a few privileges most of the other Lodge staff do not."
"Madame Ivanja is a Varisian, and the mistress of the Lodge's whores." he says frankly.
"Or 'courtesans' as she prefers. She's a powerful woman in her own right, with ties to the Violet Widow, Cortaud's most exclusive, exotic, and infamous brothel. Between the distinction of her girls being high class, well trained, and as discrete as they come and Madame Ivanja's own talent as a true fortune teller, she holds a lot of sway over the Lodge's many satisfied customers. Which is, basically, all the men and some of the women too."
"I've sampled the fruits of her girl Niama myself. The Madame's reputation for only hiring the best is more than just hype." he smiles.
" There is nothing to read in the library , at least the public library when it comes to you. Unlike the rest I stood awake all night as to minimize wasting time. We have requested to use the private library however, we might find something there. I know this curse is important to you. "
Darius scratches his chin.
" As to your statement of amusement.. from what I know of you its seems to be testing my patience and fire.. varying quantities of both. "
Jones sits quietly through the conversation, but perks up when Zin manifests her Flaming Sphere.
"Ah! Just the thing I needed!"
He quickly takes out his rapier, pours a silver blanch on it, then holds it over the flame as it rests on Zin's shoulders.
"Thank you, Zin!" he says cheerily.
"Jones, aren't you supposed to let the blanches bind in normal-humidity air?"
Sledge shrugs. "Whatever."
"So, what's the plan? Track down the Prince's?"
"I was under the impression we were going to hunt those wolves that killed the stag tonight."
" Hrmph, Delgros said he had killed the Stag not Wolves.. though Im not too sure. Otherwise why would there be tracks around there? I have no issue with your current plan now that we are prepared for it more or less and full on resources. "
"I didn't kill it. I had been tracking it for a while for one of the hunts I take the Lodge guests on. Safe, controlled sorts of things. Got out here to find it again earlier and it had been ripped apart like this. Those little pansies went screaming back to the Lodge so I followed to make sure they got back already. You know the rest, pretty much."
"Hm. That's not what I heard from Delgros. Anyhow, do you have any preparations to make yourself?"
"Actually...do you guys have Scar Wards?"
Darius vaguely recalls something about them maybe protecting people from lycanthropy somehow.
Jones fills in the blank: True Scar Wards are magical, and have a chance of allowing even a person with the weakest constitution fight off the Curse of Lycanthropy when bitten. Although, as they are indistinguishable from real scar wards without magical senses, many con artists make a living selling fake scar wards to gullible aristocrats and wealthy merchants.
Darius casts detect magic on Duristan.
Duristan's Sword, Shield, Bow, Belt, Ring, Amulet, and shoulder radiate magic.
" Where did you get your.. Scar? "
"One of my hirelings is a witch, she did it for me. It kid of hurts, it IS a literal scar, so she carves a rune into your skin with a knife, but she says it's a foolproof protection against lycanthropy."
" Well I don't have one but the Ral'Algul family is particularly resistant to such things more than most. If I am worried about such a thing I'll just focus on not being bit. Duristan I however must warn you in advance. Some of my methods may alarm you and I do not wish for you to become confused or otherwise misconstrue my intent. I am sure you have heard of the phrase ' To fight Fire with Fire? ' "
"Well, the offer is open to anyone who wants to try it. And yes, I have...why?"
" I also ask if you have heard of transmutation magic that alters your appearance? Much like druid circles and their ability to take the shape of animals similar to that of Lycan? I myself have a concoction that boosts my senses and overall physical might.. but apparently the form is.. close to that of which we hunt. Know that I am still very much myself. "