"Maybe it is the location they want then? We should get a map and look at what surrounds this area. And we should get an old map and see what may have been here before."
Appario finds nothing of interest in the vampire's sleeping area. In order to gain access to the room behind the door that seems to be boarded up on the inside, Appario would either need to break down the door or walls by force, or find some other way to gain entrance.
Appario sighs at the thought of needing to do physical and potentially dirtifying labor, but gets to it.
"Maddok, some help getting to the other side of this? It's been boarded up for some reason, and we need to figure out why."
Appario will begin to unboard, smash, pry, and dig.
Strength check
Strength check
Strength check
Strength check
Strength check
Strength check
Despite coming close to breaking through on one occasion, the door and whatever holds it closed on the opposite side withstands Appario's many attempts.
Maddok joins in the smashing.
With his first mighty attempt, Maddok is able to break through the boards keeping the door closed from within. The door flies open, splinters of wood spraying in all directions.
The shelves in the storage room beyond are filled with items; jewelry, silverware, fine crystal goblets, and all sorts of expensive decor and art objects. In addition, several paintings are stacked against one wall. Upon further inspection, the silverware is clearly marked with the Mhartis crest, and some of the paintings are labeled with the names of Mhartis ancestors, suggesting that the items haphazardly stored here are the items missing from the main building.
Appario grins as Maddok opens the door with his first attempt.
"Well...that was easy once I loosened it for you. Thanks, Maddok."
Appario will take a moment to peer inside before walking in and appraising some of the objects.
"Now, the question is whether the Mhartis stored these or the vampire was pilfering from the household. I suppose it could be either. Now that we've sent the guards away and dispatched the vampire, I suppose we are now somewhat responsible for the safety of these goods."
Appario opens up his ledger and begins a quick inventory of the items therein.
"If we are done here, if one of you," Appario looks at Yahirma, "...might go back to the Mhartis and explain what we've found and the need for some additional guards to man this room, I would be appreciative. I'll wait here until they come to take custody of their possessions. I can't imagine someone would come in now and steal from them, but I'd like to be sure."
"However, if there are more areas of exploration, we can re-board up this area temporarily."
"It seems like the vampire was not here for wealth. There is something else they wanted."
"If we are being observed it would not be wise to leave you alone", Maddok says. "Xerath, can you stay with Appario to guard the Mhartis's wealth while we going to retrieve the family?"
"I can. Though I'd rather stay here alone to be honest. In fact, you should take Appario with you. I'll be fine."
"Livia", Maddok calls out. "Can you stay here with Xerath while we retrieve the Mhartis?"
Appario looks up from this inventorying.
"Oh, I'll stay. I haven't had a chance to do a good inventory in a while. And some of this stuff is pretty nice."
Appario carefully holds up a vase and spin it around, trying to estimate its value.
I wonder if they will be interested in the Church's Protection Services. Sure would be bad if 'accidents' happened to all this stuff.
"You can do inventory later. You should help them break the news to the Mhartis about their property. I will make sure nothing happens to it."
Appario looks at Xerath.
"What? How does that make any sense at all? How would I know if anything was missing if I did't have an inventory of it beforehand? Appario asks, wondering if the newcomer was being intentionally dense or had other motives for wanting to be alone with the uncatagorized merchandise.
Appario waves to the rest of the party.
"You guys go...what could possibly go wrong? If some of you want to stay, that's fine too. My priority is making sure these goods are secure."
"I meant the news about the vampires..." "Idiot." "Forget it. I'm going to find a room to meditate. Away from you." Xerath walks out, looking for Livia to follow.
Content that the goods will be cared for, Maddok leaves to report to the Mhartis (assumedly with Yahirma and Derek in tow).
***
During the next hour or so, Appario's ledger fills up with value assessments. Making a quick calculation, he estimates that the total value of the objects in this room amounts to about 3,500 gp.
Yahirma's eyes dance back and forth between Xerath and Appario as they exchange veiled accusations until her eyes are crossed. With Xerath's departure, however brief, she accompanies Maddok to speak with the Mhartis family.
"Along the way, I would like to find the one guardsman who I sent running for a church. Derek, would you happen to know of the nearest and most likely location?"
Yahirma will make polite inquiries at the church of Asmodeus as to whether or not they admitted a guardsman meeting our description. If the man can be found, Yahirma will offer to escort him back to the Mhartis estate.
The four-story temple dominates the nearby buildings, and the constant blood-red glow of its crystalline skylight gives the structure a sinister look. The pentagram of Asmodeus features prominently on the massive front doors.
An impeccably dressed man, wearing multilayered black-and-red robes, opens the door once Yahirma knocks, and listens politely to her inquiry. "A man bringing such a note did come here. No signs of enchantment were found, and he was sent on his way."
As the group approaches the church, Derek muses a little.
"A fine example of Egorian sculpture, favoured by the Asmodeus church, which in turn have led it to gaining widespread fame all over Cheliax."
"The people who supported such art previous to the rise of house Thrune saw a rise to prominence as they were seen to have been particularly devout even BEFORE the rise of Asmodeus as the national religion."
"Ironiclly, more than a few of them were not that devout, they merely enjoyed the interplay between black and red as well as the combination of humble and ostentatious."
Say what you will about Asmodeus, but his priests do know what they are about.
Not much good being a priest otherwise.
Got to please the "big man" as it were.
"Right...now what? We've done some good I shouldn't wonder, but it has been very...inconclusive.
I don't like mysteries...I tell a lie, I do like them, love them in fact. But we haven't actually SOLVED it yet."
Appario continues to happily inventory and catalog awaiting the return of the Mhartis.
Uncomfortable in the den of evil, Maddok nods his thanks for the priest's time and urges Yahirma back outside.
"With the vampire slain, would his hold have been broken?"
"Normally I would say yes, a compulsion like that is rarely permanent, and even if the compulsion itself remained, the creature giving the command is dead..."
Derek strokes his beard for a moment, walking in silence.
"However...there is the master vampire to consider, for all we know, he may be able to assume control of the guard through his previous link to his spawn."
Derek shakes his head for a moment.
"Sorry big brother, I cannot reassure you."
"It would do little good to chase him across the city now. We just have to pray that the link was broken and he returned to normal."
"Let's alert the Mhartis."
***
You arrive at the Ciucci manor to find it much like it was before. Upon knocking on the door of the wing housing the Mhartis family, only a few moments pass before the door is opened. A man immaculately dressed in the uniform of an ordinary officer in the dottari stands in the doorway. "Hello?"
The man bears a striking resemblance to the other male members of the Mhartis family, making it likely that this is the son that wasn't present on your previous visit; the oldest son Lodros.
Upon being recognized as a visitor if not as a welcome guest, Yahirma does what she can to bring the resident up to speed. "We are a few of the freelance troubleshooters who inquired about and received commission to purge your ancestral home of its haunting presence. I am Yahirma, and these two gentlemen are Maddok and Derek," she says with motion to her two companions. "We wished to report on the present condition of the grounds and the family's retainers. Is this a good time to speak with you or any other representative of the household?"
Appario continues to happily inventory and catalog awaiting the return of the Mhartis.
I've been locked out of posting for the better part of 36 hours due to the Paizo outage. Here's hoping this post sticks.
Maddok simply nods and observes as Yahirma makes her introductions.
The man nods. "Certainly. Do come inside." He steps aside, holding the door open until all three have entered. "I trust everything went well?"
***
"Well, we have a story to tell indeed, but it will be up to your side to decide if it is good news or not.
You must decide if we have lived up to our deal."
The man frowns. "A story to tell? So you found evidence of this curse, then? I had thought.. No matter. You better come upstairs and tell my father what you found."
He leads Derek, Maddok, and Yahirma up the stairs to the room they met the family in earlier. The elder Mhartis sits at the table, as before. He looks surprised at seeing them. "Back so soon? Does that mean there was no curse?"
Lodros finds chairs for the group, if they wish to sit.
Taking a seat, Derek strokes his previously so fine moustache.
"A curse no, not as one normally thinks of a curse. A problem? Yes, and a pretty significant one."
Taking a moment to compose himself, Derek leans forward.
"Keep in mind that what we tell you now CAN be collaborated and verified, so please do not be too shocked if the details might sound a little farfetched."
"We have discovered the cause of your problem, but not as of yet the "why".
The "how" is easy enough. You suffered from a vampire.
Most of the guards that were lost have been found and can be take back into service, but the servants were most likely used for...food."
"One of our associates is currently making an inventory of the goods we have recovered from the grounds; it shall be delivered onto you as soon as it is compiled.
Further questions as to the nature of the vampire should be directed to milady Yahirma as she is most likely to be able to answer them to satisfaction."
Appario catalogs and then double checks his work.
What a fine day this has been.
The old man looks shocked and distressed at the news. "A vampire? Our servants were used for.." He swallows, not able to stomach finishing the sentence. "How could this happen and none of us knew?"
"Vampires posses great cunning and strong hypnotic powers.
First they undoubtedly scouted out this area well, trusting the fact that nights in Westcrowns does not see much activity."
"Second the most likely nabbed one servant, one that might not be overly missed, but someone that had enough insight into the household to help tell things like guard schedules, the number of servants/guards employed and such..."
"After that, it was most likely simple, just pick off one and one as they pleased until there was no choice but to abandon the buildings and move away."
"By being subtle like so, they did not risk exposure and the "curse" found root."
He nods in horrified understanding as Derek explains the vampire's likely mode of operation, yet his features also reveal confusion. "But why did it target us? You mentioned goods being recovered.. could simple theft be its motivation?"
***
"We have reason to believe the vampires may be in league a few noble houses, houses that swear allegiance to a certain Council", Maddok explains.
"This Council counts the Drovenges among their members..."
Derek nods sagely at Maddoks comment, inwardly cursing himself for forgetting that detail.
"Yes, the goods appeared to be removed for convenience sake, so it is more likely that they simply wished to limit the power of whatever houses could stand in the way of this councils rise to power."
Derek muses for a moment before speaking again.
"If you are trying to take over the power of a city, what would you need to cripple first if at all possible?
The force of order of course and this is true no matter if it is an open takeover, or a subtle shadowy kind."
Suddenly, a thought strikes him and he frowns.
"Perhaps the Hellknights absence of late is not ENTIRELY off their own choice?
Even if I doubt they would admit it if asked."
The elder Mhartis grimaces, turning his head away momentarily. "The Council.. I thought it might fade away now that Vassindio has died and Eirtein has vanished from sight."
His features harden, and he turns to his oldest son. "Lodros, go and see if there's anything you can do at the estate. And take your nosy young brother with you." Lodros nods, takes a step towards the nearest bedroom door and pulls his adolescent brother out from behind it, then bows to the assembled group and leaves with his brother in tow.
Once they have left, the elder man turns his attention back to the group. "Why do you believe this vampire works for the Council?"
***
Just as Appario finishes triple-checking the inventory, both he and Xerath hears a voice from outside. "Hello?"
Appario curses as the interruption almost causes him to mis-tabulate a column.
Appario puts his quill behind his ear as we walks out to see who is calling.
"Back here! One moment!" Appario goes to look at the owner of that voice.
Xerath's meditation is interrupted by the voice. "Who is here? Show yourself and make no sudden moves."
Maddok's brow furrows as he struggles finding a place to start.
"It is a complicated matter but it's become known to us that the vampires stalking Westcrown's streets serve a vampire master and that this master has some sort of connection or alliance to the Council."
"What do you know about the Drovenges and the Council?"
The voice calls back in response to Xerath's inquiry. "My name is Lodros Mhartis. What about your own?"
As Appario comes outside, he sees a man wearing a dottari officer's uniform, accompanied by a teenage boy. Appario recognizes the boy from the previous day's visit to the current Mhartis abode, and the man bears a strong resemblance to the other Mhartis men, making his claim likely.