Turiik nods his head in answer to Lazarus' question. He adjusts the weight of his pack on his shoulders and follows. He pauses a moment to wave at Magda before stepping out of her store.
"Hello, Ma'am. What would you like to have today? Most of my pies have just been bought out, but I still have muffins, rolls, and all sorts of sandwiches I can make you with fluffy potato bread."
Immediately upon hearing the word sandwich, Silence perks up and begins to look around the room. He flaps his wings and hoots softly.
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Meadow rolls her eyes at the owl. "Really?" She sighs and turns to the baker. "One small sandwich for my starving friend please. Not a lot of bread though. He'll just end up making a big mess of crumbs all over the place."
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The young woman eyes grow larger as she processes how adorable the gnome is. "Well, I do have one plum pie with a cracked crust that I didn't want to put in the bakery window. I was saving it for my own lunch, but you can have it!"
She also sells you a bunch of sandwiches -- one with not too much bread for Silence -- that your team can eat while walking up the hill to the manor. They are delicious.
"I'm Bel. Pleased to meet you! Now, go kick the curse!" Bel waves to you as you head up the hill, eating your sandwiches and pie.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
"Ah, you're here. Good." A gaunt woman with a sharply receding hairline greets you at the door and welcomes you inside. "I'm Liro Traventhal," she says with a small bow of her head, "and I activated the beacon that brought you here."
“Thank you for coming,” Liro says, holding out her arm to collect coats and bags. “Lorres Manor has a troubling history, but it contains a great many historic works of art. In order to get the rest of the Council to agree to having curse breakers come, I had to sell them on the idea that it could become a museum and our chief tourist attraction."
She pauses, closing her eyes as if to block out some personal pain, and then returns to being a brisk and no-nonsense business woman. "It's not a bad idea, actually... Though some restoration will be necessary, the hall of mirrors should be spectacular, and the solarium on the second floor was apparently lovely. Though, who knows how it's been transformed by time. Regardless, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.”
“Pleased to meet you, Liro. I’m Tarcog and this is Amvolwatt.” He gestures toward the dragon.
“We have heard that people have gone missing. What can you tell us about that?”
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Seeing the works of art, Dr. Lazarus forgets his manners momentarily (it apparently doesn't take much), and he stands gawking at the paintings on the walls. "Ah yes, madam, Dr. Lazarus here. Renowned forens... ah ... I don't expect you care about my credentials. No, I thought not."
After another scan of the room, he says in a solemn voice, "Lady Magda at the Musty Raven mentioned that your daughter is one of the missing children?" After her response, he quickly adds "Rest assured dear lady, that we'll do everything in our power to remove the curse. And determine what happened to those who disappeared." The Doctor pours himself some brandy and offers a cup to Liro.
Assuming Liro is composed enough to continue answering questions, "What can you tell us about the cursed Lady of the Harvest?" He stands ready with his writing pad out.
"During the building of this manor, nearly a dozen of the workers either died or disappeared. After that, for the past hundred years there have been stories of people going missing," she swallows, twisting her coat in her hands, "most recently... three children who went there on a dare. That... was five years ago."
She bites her lip, and then says in response to Dr. Lazarus, "Yes, one of them was my own daughter, Kiri. There were also Lars and Soka, two of her best friends. They were eleven when they disappeared."
Liro looks at Dr. Lazarus. "Lady of the Harvest was painted by master portraitist Elsen Moonkeep nearly 500 years ago. It was his last known work, and changed hands many times before Count Lorres purchased it, approximately one hundred years ago." Liro takes a deep breath, and then continues. "It's rumored to move around a bit. On its own."
As everyone is chatting in the vestibule, everyone but Turiik notices a streak of blood on the doorframe leading into the foyer.
"Maybe it's a haunted painting rather than a curse," Turiik proposes.
Pointing at the doorway to the foyer, Tarcog asks “Have there been any animals making their lairs in the building?”
Meadow rushes to investigate the blood. "There's blood on the doorframe. Someone might be in trouble inside. "
The blood is fairly fresh. It's only about twenty-four hours old instead of a century.
Meanwhile, Liro shakes her head. "I have no idea, but an animal lair is certainly possible."
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Hearing about Liro's daughter, Dr. Lazarus reassures her, "A terrible ordeal indeed. We'll uncover the truth, Madam."
When Liro mentions the artist, Elsen Moonkeep, Dr. Lazarus gives a knowing look. "Ahh yes, Moonkeep's portraits are legendary."
Upon seeing the streak of blood, the Doctor becomes hyper alert. "Madam, are you injured? This blood..." He indicates the streak and studies it. Assuming Liro's unharmed, he adds, "It's definitely fresh. Within 24 hours."
Turiik breaks away from the conversation with Liro to follow Meadow. "It could be an animal bringing in prey, but I suspect it is not," he says as he bends near to inspect the blood she found.
“Hopefully one of you knows how to track?”
Turiik nods, "I do."
Turiik remembers that indeed Elsen Moonkeep was one of the most renowned artists of the Enthronement period. He was a half-elf who traveled throughout the Inner Sea doing portraits of common folk as much as of nobility. The Lady's Harvest was indeed his last known work. History is unclear what happened to him after that, but there is speculation that his last patron murdered him after Elsen had an affair with the man's wife.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
You all head into the foyer, including Liro. At the center of this spacious foyer is a grand staircase lined with beautifully carved banisters, all covered in a thick layer of dust. To the north of the stairs hangs a painting draped with a drop cloth, completely obscuring what lies underneath. “Here it is,” Liro says as she walks toward the shrouded painting. “Lady of the Harvest was painted by Elsen Moonkeep around the year 4224 AR. It had over a dozen owners before it wound up Count Lorres's collection. He acquired it specifically to be the centerpiece of his new home.” Liro removes the drop cloth, revealing a painting of a lush wheat field. A dour-looking woman stands just off-center on the canvas, wearing a heavily starched veil and staring straight out at the viewer.
"Doesn't that field look--"
Before Liro can finish, the air seems to hum before the painting erupts in a blinding light. After a few moments, the light fades, and both Liro and the painting are nowhere to be found.
★ ---- ★ ---- ★ ---- ★
Tarcog blinks a few times to try and clear his sight.
“What just happened to Liro and the painting?”
He looks around for the woman.
Amvolwatt helps Tarcog search for any clues.
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"I read about Elsen Moonkeep a few months ago," Turiik says softly as he looks at the canvass covered painting. "He's a portrait painter known for painting both common folk as well as the wealthy. The appendix speculates that he was murdered by his last patron."
He blinks several times as the revealed painting erupts in blinding light. His hair shifts rapidly between black and white in a short period of time before settling on black. "What just didn't happen?" He scrunches up his face and rubs the side of his head. "That's what I meant." He blinks and again, looking a bit confused. "Why can I say what I mean?"
He growls in frustration before looking pleadingly at the others.
Searching high and low in the room, no one can find a trace of either Liro or the painting, though its dropcloth is still on the floor. Ceilings on the first floor arch up to 10 feet high, and most floors are made of once-stunning white marble that has since become dull and covered in dust. Cobwebs fill the house, and a pervasive smell of dust fills the entire building. Given this amount of dust, it should be very easy to track.
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"It seems, friend Turuk,
your words, they do twist,
and reverse your meaning.
In truth, I'd be pissed."
Meadow's eyes go wide and she clasps both hands over her mouth.
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Jayma looks a little startled by the disappearance of the painting and Liro. "Did anyone see what happened to... uh, the head of the City Council? Did the painting grab her before disappearing? That's what it looked like to me." She pauses a second in confusion, then shakes her head. "That would definitely explain all the disappearances. I wonder where the painting got to? I'm guessing it's still in the manor somewhere. We better go look for it."
Jayma looks a little confused and frowns in concern. Caught up in her thoughts, she seems not to notice the problems that the others are experiencing.
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"I am pissed," Turiik says, frowns, then continues. "I'm not concerned." He rolls his eyes. "Maybe I'm not getting pissed."
Noticing the oddities in the way that others are speaking, Tarcog asks “What sort of curse changes the way some people talk?”
“Does it only affect mammals?”
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As everyone is discussing, Dr. Lazarus raises his eyebrow and speaks in his native elven tongue to Meadow, "Meadow dear lass. Your rhyming's first class."
Knowing Jayma as well as he does, he speaks in their shared regional Osiriani dialect, "Alright there, Jayma? You seem ... off."
Then turning to Tarcog, he says in clear draconic, "Mighty dragons, what do you think is wrong with our colleagues?"
Finally, he looks strangely at Turiik, as if figuring out to reach the barbarian. He snaps his fingers knowingly and tries cyclopsian! "My dear boy. Why so upset?"
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Turiik looks at Lazarus, puzzled, and shrugs. "I understand completely," he says, frowns, and rolls his eyes. "Let's got through the left door. I mean left. Left." He stops trying and sighs.
As you all start to realize that your communication has been subtly (or not so subtly) messed with, you decide that the best thing to do is... investigate!
The bathroom is an ordinary bathroom. Sure, it has one hundred year old plumbing, but it must have been top of the line when built. The equipment seems mostly in order. The faucet gives out rusty water that turns clear the longer you leave it on.
Everyone but Jayma notices the bloodstain on the corner of the mirror.
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"There's no blood here," Turiik says while pointing at the fairly obvious bloodstain.
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Meadow also points out the bloodstain on the mirror.
"Once within the mansion dreary, we looked within the bathroom, leery,
Of many a strange and dreadful creature of bygone lore—
While I tiptoed, clearly sneaking, suddenly I spied it leaking,
On the mirror as I was peeking, peeking through the bathroom door.
“’Tis some bloodstain,” I muttered, “leaking past yon open door—
Only this and nothing more."
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Tarcog thinks a moment, then asks Dr. Lazarus in common “What other languages do you know?” He seems to still understand common, just can’t seem to speak it.
Turning to Turiik, he asks “Are you feeling compelled to always say the opposite of what you want? Is it only spoken communication?”
Then he asks the whole group “Has anyone ever heard of a curse that scrambles communication in this way?”
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“Does it only affect mammals?”
Silence preens his feathers enigmatically.
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Noticing the blood stains, Dr. Lazarus looks confused as Turiik points to blood, claiming it's not there. The Doctor gestures to the blood, and continues talking to him, animatedly, in Cyclopsian, "You're speaking gibberish, dear boy. The blood is right there."
Turning to Tarcog, Dr. Lazarus speaks calmly in Draconic, "Are you okay? You're asking a plethora of questions." Then, responding to the question asked of him, the Doctor responds in Draconic, " Ahh...I know many languages, my dear dragon. Too numerous to mention, and almost certainly a great deal more than you." Rubbing his chin, the Doctor continues in Draconic, "If I'm being honest, I'm most proud of my fluency in ancient Azlanti. Alas, very few remember it at all."
Dr. Lazarus doesn't really know why Tarcog is asking about communication problems, since he himself is speaking just fine. Nevertheless, he gives it some thought.
Turning to Tarcog, Dr. Lazarus speaks calmly in Draconic, "Are you okay? You're asking a plethora of questions." Then, responding to the question asked of him, the Doctor responds in Draconic, " Ahh...I know many languages, my dear dragon. Too numerous to mention, and almost certainly a great deal more than you." Rubbing his chin, the Doctor continues in Draconic, "If I'm being honest, I'm most proud of my fluency in ancient Azlanti. Alas, very few remember it at all."
In Draconic, Tarcog replies to Dr. Lazarus “Why aren’t you asking more questions? Isn’t investigation about asking questions and finding the answers to them?”
Throwing up his hands in frustration, he switches back to the common tongue to say “Why don’t you realize Dr. Lazarus that you’ve quit speaking in the language which all of us understand?”
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Quite amused, and still in Draconic, Dr. Lazarus answers Tarcog with a question, "My dear dragon, don't you know that investigation is more about finding clues than asking questions?" Continuing quickly, "You claim I'm not speaking in a language we all understand, but yet, are we not conversing right now? Do you not understand me?"
He smiles at Tarcog, enjoying the banter. "Can anyone participate in your amusing game of questions?" Dr. Lazarus is quite certain he proved his point, although he admittedly doesn't recall what the point was.
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Thurston's words directed at her startle her out of her introspection. "Why is he talking to me in Osiriani?". She frowns. Replying in kind, she says, "What are you saying, ... um, ... " She is visibly straining, but quickly gives up, and slumping slightly, sighs. "um, ... doctor". Looking up at the elf, she adds, "Why are we speaking Oririani? Is there something wrong? Do you not want the others to know something? I do not feel entirely myself."
Jayma points out the bloodstain she found in the bathroom. When Turiik claims not to see it, she frowns. "Can you not see it, dear ..., um? It's exactly where you're pointing."
The frown persists and deepens further when Meadow starts talking in rhyme. "What is wrong with everyone? Why are you all speaking so strangely?" When Tarcog mentions some sort of communication curse, she frowns even deeper before her face relaxes in relief. "Ah! Yes. That must be why. For a moment I thought I was going insane. I think you may have hit the nail on the head there, ..., um, mister small dragon.".
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"I'm compelled, it just comes out right," Turiik says, followed by a groan. "I'm doing it on purpose. Ah! This is so comforting."
Turning to Turiik, Tarcog says “Can you give us a thumbs up or thumbs down to indicate if you understood what Dr. Lazarus said to you?”
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Turiik gives Tarcog a thumbs up. "I understood everything he said."
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Dr. Lazarus calmly explains to Tarcog, in Draconic, "You're clearly understanding what I'm saying. Furthermore, dear boy, Turiik just confirmed that he also understands me. Jayma is a little confused and stuttering more than usual, but she is responding to me as well."
The old elf shrugs and continues in Draconic. "While we're acting a touch off, I don't see a serious communication problem."
Hearing Turiik groaning in frustration, Dr. Lazarus attempts to comfort him, in Cyclopsian since he's confident Turiik understands, "There there, dear boy. As long as we understand each other, things will be okay. You have nothing to worry about with the Doctor on the case." Still in Cyclopsian, Lazarus adds, "By the way, that WAS blood back there." He gives the barbarian a reassuring smile, proud to be the voice of reason.
Tarcog looks back and forth between Turiik and Dr. Lazarus.
After a moment’s indecision, he looks at Turiik and asks “Could you please translate what Dr. Lazarus just said to you, Turiik?”
Tarcog goes up and examines the mirror more closely, trying to determine if there is a way to open it or look behind it. He will also check for any handprints or other prints on it.
"Yes?" Turiik says. "Lazarus makes perfect sense to me." He groans. "We should stay here. There's probably nothing helpful elsewhere in this place."
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Back in the foyer, Dr. Lazarus examines the dropcloth that was previously covering the Lady of the Harvest and studies it for any clues. Then in the bathroom, along with Tarcog, he studies the new blood stain on the mirror.
After all this communication about ... communication, Dr. Lazarus looks around realizing Liro is still missing. Not trusting anyone's speech, he subconsciously reverts to his native elven tongue and implores, "I say, my colleagues, we must find Liro and the painting." He scans the group to ensure he's understood.
Not sure who Dr. Lazarus was talking to, Tarcog asks “Did anyone understand him?”