The companions rush to the vats and begin to overturn the large metal drums. Pools of moderate wax pour out. A thin young blond Karpadian woman emerged from the 1st vat, she was pale and struggled to find her breath. "*cough*thank...*cough*
Inspired by the discovery, the heroes continued, racing against time. Several of the vats revealed the desiccated remains of unfortunate people - one in particular was a child sized corpse.
Dario helps the woman to her feet. "My dear, take all the time you need. But hopefully you can help us understand what's been going on. What happened that you ended up in the vat?"
"I don't quite know..." she said while scrapping wax that was quickly congealing. "I was sneaking out to meet with my lover near the manor...and then something froze me in space. That last thing I saw was the Chandler...and bam, I was put in here."
Lluvia looked grim as she had to realize that they were only able to save one of the people in the vats alive. Nothing of all this made any sense at all and there did not seem to be any good lead. Nevertheless, she was glad that at least this human woman could be saved.
The elf in grey and brown picked up her equipment which she had left at the entrance, took off her cloak. She put the cloak softly around the woman's shoulders and handed the her the water skin from her backpack.
"This nightmare is over for you now, we shall bring you home. I am Lluvia; we are here to help. Does anyone have anything to eat for her?" remarked Lluvia. "It is curious that you have been captured while sneaking in the dark, though. On the other hand that made it simple to capture you without the kidnapper being observed themselves." It might have been Ilquis who had "frozen her in space", but it seemed unlikely that Ilquis brought her here if that was the case. She wondered "I wonder whether you were a target of opportunity or your captor knew where to find you."
Lluvia reached her hand out to help her up. "Can you stand and walk?"
"I can barely...but if you can get me back to my lover, things should go well." she said. "By the way, my name is Irini. We will need to go to the manor."
Moving over to help her stand, "My name is Krasimir."
"What's at the manor, Irini? Is that where your boyfriend is?" Dario wipes off some of the wax from Irini. "We'll go with you. We need to tell the Baron what's been happening."
Lluvia listens to the argument and she is starting to wonder who that 'lover' of her is. It would be highly indiscreet to ask, though. An elf just doesn't do that.
The stealthy woman isn't quite ready to leave yet. "The mystery of this place is a puzzle we must solve, yet all the pieces may be elude our grasp if we leave early." Ilquis was still free, after all and who knows what other parties we involved in all this. Things did not add up yet.
She started moving slowly through the large room looking for clues. Every few steps she would halt and take the time to examine every detail, regardless how unimportant it appeared at first glance.
Lluvia finds in her search what seemed to be a collection of various supplies needed for candle making. Something seemed rather off about one particular box labelled - "paraffin". After a cursory glance, she discovered that the lid had been partially opened revealing a sizable amount of wealth inside.
Aside from bundles of male and female clothing, you found - two sets of studded lather armor, an intricate chain shirt, 4 daggers, a well crafted short sword and a composite short bow. Tucked away within a small sack was a wax encrusted potion.
Lluvia did note that the pair of boiling hot vats towards the back of the workroom floor were propped against a cellar door - probably established as a trap against interlopers. Ilquis kept no journals or notes but he had been rather busy in his work. You assumed that he had used at least 5 people in his experiments.
Llucia was quite surprised when she found all that gear. "Have a look at this, I believe it might be magic" she lined up the weapons and armor in front of the box and had a closer look at the vials and the chain shirt.
"Anyway, we may leave now." With that the elf goes over to the traps at the cellar door and disables them.
Hawk, who's been silently puzzling over this wealth of odd information, steps up at Lluvia's words. He casts a spell and examines the goods she has laid out.
"Interesting little stash he has there." Dario nods to Hawk who seems to be examining the items. "But we had best get Irini to the manor. We need to speak to the Baron about this as well."
"We should get her there then, shouldn't we."
"That does seem to be the easiest course of action remaining." Prae says, observing just about everything in the room.
"Let's see if those weapons and armor are magical, take what we feel is necessary, and then depart as soon as we can."
"The bottle is the only magic I see. Appears to be a curative potion." While the group divvies up the items, Hawk puts on his pack, ready to move out.
Having defeated the wicked fey's plans, Ilquis had no choice but to retreat. In his stead, the party had uncovered a nefarious plot, much of Karpad's community had been sacrificed in the fey's cruel experiment. With one lone survivor in their company, the party returns once more to the manor.
The party ascends upon that hill that overlooked much of the Barony. They could see that braziers of voluminous size marked much of the community's perimeter, basking the countryside in a warm glow. Though most shadows were extinguished, a dark brooding feeling had nestled within the hearts of the citizens.
Irini looked around hastily, as if she was on the guard for something. At her suggestion, she calls the party to follow her towards the rear of the manor. After a series of raps upon a glass pane, a fetchling man dressed in work clothes greeted her with a big embrace and long kiss.
"Oh Gavril! I'm so glad to see you!"
"Irini, my love! You're back! Your absence was a day without the glorious moon. I felt as if my life was extinguished!"
The lovers couldn't let go of eachother before Gavril could finally calm down.
"You...I can't ...even begin to fathom how you come to find Irini. She had been missing for nearly a week. My station and...well..race forbids me from leaving the Baron but look, you rescued my love!"
Lluvia smiles warmly as she saw the re-united couple and lowers her eyes as they kiss. "I am glad to see you two happy. We should give you some space. Ca..." She interrupted herself with a glance to Praetorix and nod to the couple.
"Anyway" she turned to her companions, "I don't think we have defeated the disease yet... We could talk to the father about your findings at the chanelier's body, Prae, or have a closer look at plague victims." As always she spoke soft and considerate, but there was hardly noticeable undercurrent of worry in her voice. The tallowthroat might well be of necromantic origin and the father responsible.
Professor Westone smiles at the reunion, but then frowns at Gavril's words. "Wait, you work for the Baron? I thought he threw out all the fletchlings. Doesn't he believe the fletchlings are the cause of the disease?"
Nodding along with Lluvias request. "That would be very helpful in solving this."
Gavril looks at the scholarly looking fellow. "Well, he did except for me for some reason."
An awkward moment passed before the hounds man continued. "I suppose because of this fellow." Gavril pointed to a black mastiff that whined and pawed at its cage. "You see, I'm the keeper of the Baron's prized hound, Ioziff. Strange name for a dog though. If you ask me, there's something sentimental about that. The hound gave a quick yelp before chasing his tail. Gavril continued his conversation with Dario. "Aye he does but for some reason, the Baron more or less imprisoned me here. Though, I am afforded security at the cost of secrecy."
Irini didn't see any reason to talk outside of the manor where the encroaching cold clamored at any opportunity.
Gavril took a seat with his lover while Ioziff the dog waited in his kennel. "Zaitherin, I see this must be the group you were talking about. I'm glad to see both kayal and hrethgir working together. "
"Our love is a bit of an oddity here. Kayal or fetchlings as the locals call it are maligned with evil and darkness because of their features. Gavril treats me like no other suitor."
Lluvia listened thoroughly to the words that were spoken, and even though she wanted leave the couple their well privacy, they were in desperate need of a lead.
She rubbed her temples trying to see through all this, but there did not seem to be a connection. "Did you ever here of Ilquis before that happened? Or did you ever hear of a Lord of the Light? I don't think that's a reference to Sarenrae... possibly a fairy prince."
"Yes, Gavril. We found Irini involved in some strange ritual of a creature of light in the chandlery. Do you know anything about that? Perhaps we should speak to the Baron again. Is he still as agitated and rude as he was earlier?"
Gavril was quite confused at Lluvia's question. "Ilquis? Haven't heard of him before."
Irini piped up and replayed the events so that her lover would understand. After which, Gavril looks upon the party. "Well, in either case, is this Ilquis no longer a problem? It's strange for someone to call himself a Lord of the Light given that...well...Nidal is a shadowy country. This is Zon Kuthon's domain after all."
The hound seemed to give a small yelp when Dario mentioned baron. Gavril gave a wry smile and continued. "I know not any religious ceremonies and their such. However, the Baron has been...rather quite. I suppose he's either found the brandy or that the Baroness had talked to him. I'm not quite sure."
Lluvia did not respond to the religious remarks, but her green eyes were resting on those of Gravil with curiosity, not unfriendly, but intense. No, Ilquis had indeed not been a friend of the state, nor did she think was responsible for tallowthroat, not immediately, but he was a foul creature and his purpose and allegiances remained yet unclear. It did not help that he escaped.
The elf raised her eyebrow on the notion of the baroness. The elven woman had not even realized that the baron was married. She did not really know whether it would do any good, but she wanted to have a word with the baroness. Maybe she was more helpful and devote than her husband. "... and a conversation with the baroness would quiet the baron?" She remarked, gently implying a question with a slightly angled head.
"Then we should very much like to speak with the baroness first, unofficially." The games of power in such a court were delicate, she might talk more freely if the conversation was off the record. "Could you discretely relay a message?"
Dario nods. "That's not a bad idea. If the Baron is sensitive to certain issues, perhaps his wife could shed some light on things. Do you think she would be willing to meet with us?"
"This Ilquis killed several over villagers with this ritual, including the chandler, I think. Has anyone been missing these people?"
Gavril saw that there was truth in Lluvia's words. "That would be a wise decision. I could relay a message." The houndskeeper rose while Irini released her embrace.
Gavril gave a wry smile. "The Baroness...is more amicable than her partner."
The black mastiff gave a small whine as its handler walked past. Irini was left in the room with the adventurers. She looked upon the scholarly looking fellow and tried to best answer his question. "I'm not entirely sure."
There were a few strange things going on in the village. That hardly anyone knew what was going on with their neighbours was one of them.
The elf waited silently for Gavril's return.
[fast forward to later]
Gavril returns with a confident look. "The Baroness has agreed to see you. I should let you know that Laurenteui will forbid a private meeting so he will be in attendance. He will come shortly to fetch the lot of you. I ask that you please inform the Baroness of what has happened. Perhaps she can shed light upon Karpad's darkness."
Lluvia nodded. "I will provide her highness gratefully with a detailed report."
Some moments pass before Laurenteiu appears before the party and summons them before the Baroness of Karpa, Lady Anya Baroi. The Baroness was a middle aged human woman who bore the office of her station with reknown elegance and civility. She wore a black lattice dress of indigo and black interlocking patterns that ran the length of her body. Where her arms were exposed, raised red lines bore the intricate Karpadian scarification that symbolized her dedication towards the midnight lord. Her amber eyes gazed upon the party as she encouraged them to take a seat within the parlor. Laurentieu shuffled nearby with a caraffe of an old vintage and treats. The Baroness seemed more able minded than her partner and started the conversation.
"Greetings. I am Lady Anya, Baroness of Karpad, wife of Stepan Baroi, Magister of Records and most importantly, the head of this manor until my husband recovers from his condition."
She nodded in toe as the adventurers introduced themselves.
"You must forgive my lack of appearance earlier. I had concerned myself with my newborn son. The matters of a mother will always come first." At her signal, Laurentieu prepared a glass while the Lady casually talked about the information Gavril had shared earlier. "I understand that there was something you wanted to share with me personally. Now is the time to speak up."
Lluvia courtsies gracefully to the baroness as she enters the room and waits until she has introduced herself. "I am grateful that you grant us an audience, and would like to congratulate you to your son." Twelve years ago Lluvia herself was looking forward to having a child, until her husband was murdered when their embassy was caught in a net of intrigues in Absalom. "I am faithul he will be as strong, healthy and a grace to his house as is his mother."
She made a small pause to sorte her words as she sorted her words and indicated that she would be coming to business. "As you probably know we are adventurers who gathered to find the secret behind the strange disease which is haunting the village, which does not seem to have a natural cause. Alone, the trail we have been pursuing so far has been mislead. On your husband's advice, we tried to make contact with the chandelier, as she seems to have been busy with counter measures to the disease.
What we found however, was different entirely. A fey-creature by the name of Ilquis was experimenting on humans from the village, possessing them mentally and sacrificing them in blood rituals to his own ends. He claimed to be a servant of an entitiy he referred to as 'Lord of Light' and had opened a portal that seemingly opened a passageway to the first world. As cruel and descpicable as his experiments were, he did not seem to be responsible for the disease that haunts this village, the tallowthroat, even though the candles from the chandlerie would have been a proper means to spread the disease. It came to a conflict with Ilquis when we refused to provide ourself as subjects for his experiments and tried to save the poor villagers he was experimenting on, in the process of which he was forced to retreat.
Apart from an obsessive devotion to said 'Lord of the Light' he did give an clue as to the intent and prupose of his experiments. We found the chandelier dead. Ilquis did seem to have murdered her, she may have succumbed to the disease, however, Ilquis did not seem unhappy with the loss and did not seem to have helped her. We also found a number of villagers who succumbed to his experiments.
What we would like to know is whether you can tell us anything about Ilquis, whether you ever heard of a Lord of Light before - I doubt that's a reference to Sarenrae - and what whether you are aware of any necromancers within the barony, other than Father Miklos, who must be versed in necromancy as Priest of the Prince of Darkness. There are strong indicators that the tallowthroat may be necromantic in nature. Also, are you aware of any similar events in the history of this village? I am very sorry to burden you with so much sorrow in what should be a time of joy for you, your highness."
Lluvia's tone is humble, not loud but clear. She seems to be well versed with courtly protocol and demeanor. Every now and then she builds in a pause as she speaks to give the baroness the opportunity to oask questions and continues only when the lady shows no sign of objection.
Hawk nods, agreeing with Lluvia's summation of events and watching the Baroness closely for her reaction.
Pleased that someone takes up the talking since the Baroness unintentionally punched him in the feels mixed with the uncomfortable feeling he has being a devotee of Shylen in this town. That one speaks quiet well.