"Looks like blood to me." Father Grimburrow comments.
"That was my thought as well." Menan carefully inspects the wrists for evidence of slit wrist(s).
The arms are fine, but a closer inspection reveals something under the clothes.
Faerveren would really like some alone time with that duke. But with all eyes on the corpse she busies herself elsewhere.
Checking on the statues, the stone coffins, the walls, if there is something else of interest.
Faerveren finds, the scheme from above repeats here. One of the walls has some interesting crannies. And one of the statues on a coffin without name plate seems to be not properly connected to the stone.
"This looks like a stab wound to the heart. Look here."
"Please help me replace the lid. What we seek is not here. This coffin should remain undisturbed."
Together the group closes the coffin again and makes sure the statue isn't facing the wall.
"Let us return tomorrow with oil and wrench. That should get us through the door."
Menan smiles and nods his head in agreement. He looks to everyone and says "Shall we?" He motions to the exit.
"Add a hammer to that list."
"I don't think we're done yet. I bet there is another mechanism hidden here." Faerveren states, pointing to the hints she found. "Shall we try if something moves here?"
"Yes." Menan helps Fae search for something that moves.
Arawyn joins the search.
The statue can be turned on its heel, so to say, and beneath the base a lock mechanism is revealed, and something glowing with bluish white light underneath.
Faerveren jumps on the stone box, kneels down and enthusiastically starts working on that for a while. Then the enthusiasm yields to frustration and cursing.
"Well, that's not going to open. I'm that close" she tells with her finger and thumb showing how close she is "but it always evades the last moment."
Menan casts detect magic on the mechanism and glowing light.
"Careful. I detect transmutation just below the lock."
"You got magic to make this easier?"
"No. Not prepared for that sort of thing. You?"
"No. We could ask Norm. He is very inspiring."
"Before we waste another day, let me try to help."
Father Grimburrow grabs his holy symbol. "If you allow, I will bestow you with divine insight for this task."
As Faerveren agrees, Father Grimburrow cast a spell on her.
Faerveren gives it another try.
Fiddling around with the intricate mechanical defense mechanism, Faerveren finally manages to overcome it. The magical glow intensifies and the grinding of metal on metal and stone on stone is heard.
Slowly the wall next to the coffin lowers, until there is an open passage into the vault. Stale air comes out of it.
The room is lined with treasure chests to the left and right and a marble pedestal at the front which has an old tome lying on it.
The chests are not locked. Five of the six chests only contain a carpet depicting a guardian dog at their bottom. The sixth chest is of the same making, but is filled to about half an inch with silver and copper coins.
The tome contains the family tree of the 'of Seacrest' family in written form. It also contains two documents.
As contract partner for this deal is named a Jacob Littlesworth.
The contract is signed by the duke, the representative of the church of abadar and Jacob Littlesworth.
The contract is dated on the 16th of Calistril in the year 4671AR
With my wife dead and no heir of age to take over my throne yet, my belongings shall be divided in this way:
A ten gold shall be given each month to the orphanage to make the life of the kids there less miserable.
A hundred gold shall be given to the House of Flame per month to care for and educate my ill begotten son.
These payments and the rest of my wealth, be it the castle, the coin, the horses and cattle shall be handed to a seneschal. He shall administer everything until my son is old enough to take over the throne in our family’s name.
The only one in this town I trust with this is the elven scholar and advocate Pinlas Variel, so I name him seneschal effective on the day of my death.
Signed
Duke Fallon of Seacrest
On the 25th of Arodus 4665AR
Menan takes the documents. "It appears the duke has quite a bit of coin deposited at the church of abadar. His son should still be alive and somewhere around 60 years of age. Do any of you know of this younger Fallon? I plan to carry out his last wishes."
"I know someone I could ask. I would be surprised if she didn't know that son."
"How are you related to this Pinlas Variel? And shouldn't he be still alive? Or is he one from the grave plate?"
"If you are referring to that witch in the House of Flame, I do not trust her. Perhaps I can speak with someone in charge of education there. And I am not sneaking in some side entrance. Grandfather's brother. He is no longer with us. Perhaps the church of Abadar has the information we need."
Faerveren snorts on Menan's suggestion there would be someone in charge of education. Putting her own schooling to good use she does a rough estimation of the numbers. "So you'd throw about 3000 gold at the orphanage and the rest at the House of Flame? Or what is the plan here?"
"Locate the heir for starters."
Looking into the chest with the coins Persephone inquires "What are the rates of those working on the execution of the will."
"It is determined by the seneschal."
"Well, that guy is dead." Persephone states the obvious. "From the perspective of the dead duke you are the seneschal. So for taking these coins your decision is good enough. As for taking the coins from the church of Abadar we'll see."
"Faerveren, are you now able to open and close this chamber at will? If so, I would like to leave the coin here for now. And, it is my intention to carry out his wishes as opposed to lining our purses. I am sure we will end up with what is fair."
"I can close it as long as the spell works. Without that you'd need the proper key."
"It's one thing to work mostly for free or at low rates for some guys who are treated unjust. But working for free for a dead guy who doesn't need the money any more?"
"Here is the chance to have him pay for the service up front. Because you won't get him to pay an invoice later, in case life gives a s~%* about fair in this case too."
"This starts to get the special charm of a grave robbing." Father Grimburrow intervenes.
"This vault is well build and hidden. As long as the 'hidden' part stays true. Because if you know about it, then a simple pickaxe will get you into it."
"I'd like to take the book with the family history of the duke and add it to my archive in the chapel. It is of no use here anyway."
"I do not trust this lock. Okay, let's take the coin with us. I look forward to finishing this business."
The coins are heavy.
Persephone grabs the chest. "Where to? Also the chapel? We can also bring it to my house, but I do not guarantee for the content."
"Let's begin with the Temple of Abadar."
It is late afternoon already, but the temple of Abadar is still open. To be accurate, it is open at all hours but not for business.
As the group approaches with the chest, the book and the papers in tow, they are greeted as always by Archibald. "Good afternoon Sirs and Madams. How can I help you?"
"I am the seneschal of the estate of the late Duke Fallon. It is my understanding that he has wealth on deposit here. I would like to confirm that but my primary goal is to locate his son who is his heir. Is there anyone here that could garner that information for me?"
"I'll see to it." Archibald replies and leaves his post to find someone.
He returns shortly thereafter. "Please follow me." Archibald leads past the clerks and into a large representative office/shrine room.
Menan and Arawyn recognize the priest from last Sunday's service. There is a mural depicting the first vault. And a large massive wooden conference table for up to two dozen people.
"Welcome. Please take a seat. How can I help you?"
"I would like to take care of some old business. I am acting seneschal of the Fallon estate. I would like to confirm that his deposit is still here but my primary concern is locating the past Duke's son so that I may carry out the duke's final wishes. Do you know the whereabouts of his son?"
If questioned, Menan will produce the paperwork.
After it is established that Menan is claiming to act on behalf of the deceased Fallon Duke of Seacrest, and Menan showed the documents his claims are based on the priest excuses himself to check something.
After he is back, he states "The documents you brought look legitimate. Someone would have to double-check the testament, that it is no forgery. But I assume this will cause no problems."
"There is the issue though, that you are not the person named as Seneschal in this testament."
"As for a son, we know nothing about any potential heir. I assume it was kept a secret by the duke on purpose. But the testament suggests that someone at the House of Flame would know."
"May I know how you came to be in possession of these documents?"