"Good. I suggest you familiarize yourself with what you can and can't do while in this form. You could change back in a similar way, but it is much harder to change into human form. Especially during or close to a full moon. If you get bored you can try to get into your cat-girl form." Merileth suggests.
"But for now you're coming along to meet the noble who graced you with this ability. No jumping at people though." She leads the way to the fine bedroom where she left Graydon.
Graydon is already decent and presentable, waiting in an armchair. He is startled and jumps up moving behind the armchair as Merileth enters with a panther. "What is this?!" he demands to know, cold sweat showing on his forehead.
Persephone can smell the fear in this man and it turns her on. She instinctively lowers herself and tenses up.
Merileth flicks the cat on the nose. "Bad cat. Down." She makes sure Persephone snaps out of it before turning to Graydon again.
"That's the girl you attacked at the last full moon. As you seem to have a hard time remembering what happens to you on full moons, I thought I'd show you." She let's that sink in. "You saw what happened to that cute little bunny in your cell. If you're not careful to be here in time, on full moons or don't take your situation seriously, that could be one of your loved ones."
"If you want I can lead you out now. Just one more thing. If on the council there is a discussion about the position of Dearil, Duke of Seacrest, I like you to know that I'd really appreciate him to be welcomed among the nobles of Abadon."
"Now follow me." Merileth shows Graydon out via his personal secret entrance of the temple.
Graydon is uncomfortable with this situation. But who likes being confronted with their failures. Therefore he is more than happy to leave as it is offered. He gives the panther a wide berth on his way out.
It is like a heavy chain falling off him as he hurries away from the temple. But he knows he is only free for about a month. Then it will befall him again.
Persephone lays down as told, but as Merileth and the noble leave her alone, she jumps to action. A whole new world opens up to her with the newfound scent ability. She investigates the room. Some smells of this noble, but most of it smells of that obnoxious perfume in the washing detergent. She never noticed how pungent it is, while she washed the sheets. But there is also the smell of the down in the pillows. It makes her want to jump the pillows. So what. she thinks and wrestles with the bed sheets, biting into the pillows.
The door opens again and Merileth stands in it. "You're having fun?"
"Don't tear the sheets, don't claw the carpet or the wall. And when you're done clean the room. You know how it's done. I'll leave you out when you're finished." Merileth closes the door from outside.
Killjoy. echoes through her mind. She wouldn't mind if anyone else would have said it. Who cares what those humans want. But that elf has an authority over her that is concerning. Or is it a good thing? At least she hasn't killed the noble with a bite in the neck, despite him deserving that. But it is good, that she hasn't killed him, or is it?
Persephone needs to concentrate. Check what I can and can not do in this awesome form. she reminds herself.
So she goes through her magic abilities. All spells have complex phrases to be told. Which doesn't work in cat shape. Also somatic components don't work well with paws. She could call her bear skeleton companion, which needs neither of those though. This is disappointing.
As the room and the limits given by Merileth make it rather pointless to be a cat, she tries to get back into human form.
Persephone actually finds the way, but she also finds that not all doors open for her, that the elf simply pushes open.
It takes her a very long time - compared to how easy it was to become a cat - to get back to her human form. It is a strange feeling to be in that body again.
She shakes it off and starts the cleaning to get her thoughts off this. She changes all sheets and stows away the dirty ones together with the washing utensils from the noble.
Once everything is done, she tries to find her way to the entrance she always comes in. Can't be that hard, after all the times she walked that way.
"You're done? I'll let you out then." Merileth tells, as she appears only moments later. "Don't do anything stupid with your new powers. Don't turn in the city, if you don't want to create a bloodbath." Merileth lectures.
But she feels compelled to add "If you do create a bloodbath, leave no witnesses and none wounded." All that with this expression as if it was a purely theoretical problem that one could discuss without emotional involvement.
Menan shows the contract to father Grimburrow. "Your thoughts, father?"
After he looks at the Marinelli signature.
Father Grimburrow comes back the next day to check on Lady Eleanor. As Menan intercepts him, he takes a look at the paper. "It is hard to tell what is the problem with that. As you found it next to the deceased, it is probably related somehow, but your guess is as good as mine."
"Well it is certainly not a coincidence. It does seem like a a fair and legitimate agreement. Arawyn and I will be around as much as possible for a while. If there is anything we can do that we are not, please do not hesitate. Your being here for Lady Eleanor is greatly appreciated."
Menan and Arawyn check in on Eleanor before they leave for a while.
"Lady Eleanor, is there anything we can do for you before we head to town? Is there anything we can get you?"
"I don't know. I don't think so." Eleanor replies.
"I'm good." Father Grimburrow replies to Menan.
"Lady Eleanor, we need to talk about the burial ceremony. I'm honored, that you called for me in this exceptional situation."
"But before we continue organizing the practical things to get Lord Vanderbuilt to his final resting place, you need to decide if you want this place to be on the old cemetery at the chapel of Pharasma, or if you'd prefer a grave on the cemetery of the temple of Abadar."
Lady Eleanor hesitates to answer.
"I'll stay with you through this. But if you decide you want a burial on the cemetery of Abadar, we need to include a priest of Abadar in that."
"Another consideration is the size of the funeral party. If there will be more than forty people it will get crowded at my chapel."
"I don't know. I don't feel like meeting a lot of people. Can we have a small ceremony at your cemetery?"
Menan and Arawyn have breakfast in the marketplace and then on horseback head over to see the watch captain.
"Good morning. What does my favorite visitor bring this time?"
Menan smiles as he recalls Officer Kasadie's sense of humor. "Good morning to you, officer. I am curious as to your level of interest in the ship that was destroyed shortly after leaving our docks."
"Personally I'm really curious what happened there, as it was rather spectacular. My office has a nice view over the sea and the guard towers offer an even better one. And I haven't seen something like that before." Kasadei replies.
"If you ask me in my official role, I can tell you that the title is 'City Watch Captain' and not 'some foreign ship out on the sea captain'."
"I understand the jurisdiction issue but I have already located some concerning facts that could affect your city in the same way the ship was affected. This why I believe some information gathering may be prudent. Are you familiar with the alchemical creation referred to as gunpowder?"
"No."
"Gunpowder is a rather exotic alchemical substance. It is not unheard of, but the handheld weapons that use it are loud, slow to reload and overall impractical. There are some large ships or city defenses where cannons are used instead of ballistae, but Abadon has no real defense for the city and therefore only a few have ever seen gunpowder in Abadon."
Menan gives her a moment to take that in and then continues "I am quite certain the gunpowder that destroyed the ship originated here. If this is true I believe this endeavor is a possible threat to the city and should be investigated to at least know how this came to be and what safety measures are in place if that is even possible with gunpowder. Your thoughts on this are important to me and my consideration of this develpment."
"How does this gunpowder look, and how does it work?"
"It is black in color and a powdery substance. A less than dangerous apperance. A mere spark will cause the entire lot however large to instantly explode. Small amounts are used in weapons to send projectiles much farther and faster than arrows with great force. These weapons pass projectiles through armor as if it was not there. Even more is used in the cannons for large projectiles. A cargo hold would destroy a ship, a building, maybe a city block. That is what apparently originated here."
"It is not hard to find out where it came from and where it should have gone to. I'll send someone to inquire with the companies at the docks."
"Have a good day and thank you for your service." Menan and Arawyn head over to the stables to see if they can take a lap or two on the race track.
Officer Casadei calls for a guard. "Check on the docks with Marinelli, what was on that ship that exploded and if there is more of it in any of the warehouses. If there is, inquire how they keep that from exploding too."
When they arrive a the estate, Arawyn seeks out Lady Adelaide __. "Did you hear? Do you know? Campbell..."
Menan heads for the entertainment of the forge.
"Campbell?" Lady Adeleide inquires.
"He passed away yesterday."
"Eleanor's husband? Oh, no, what happened?"
"Yes. Suicide."
"No!" Lady Adelaide calls out in consternation. "How? Why?"
"Hanged himself from a chandelier. Menan is working on why. He seems to have a lead."
"You got a new smithing project?"
"That's horrible. And so undignified! How could he. Poor Eleanor."
"Nothing new, Torbin. How is the current project coming along?"
"It really is. Yes, we are trying to be helpful to her in this trying time."
"Good idea. I'll send her some flowers and a card. Best, I do it right now. Excuse me."
Lady Adelaide leaves to find a maid and instruct her.
"It's half finished, but with tha race coming, I'm doing horse shoes all day. We got a dozen more horses in the stables for Sunday."
"Will you be making a wager come Sunday, Torbin?"
"No way. I might find some time to work on it, but there are still four days of work left."
"I had no idea so many horses would be involved. I will leave you to your labors. Let me know when you need the spell cast and I will oblige. Good day Torbin."
Menan mentions he would like to check in on the duke. Arawyn indicates she will remain in this area to check on Eleanor from time to time.
Menan heads out to see the duke on horseback.