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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 30, 2020 20:59:28 GMT
"Victor Rosecroft..." Herneiros said to himself in stunned introspection. "I have surviving family. Such a strange thought."
He looked up at Ceutinde. "You have accomplished more in a minute of dialogue than I have since I arrived in Bastion. Though I know we're already friends, I am now truly in your debt. Thank you."
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Post by Ceutinde on Oct 1, 2020 6:05:31 GMT
She gave a somewhat-embarassed smile to his effusive thanks. "It was nothing. Give me a little while and what information you have, and I'll see what I can really dig up on the Rosecroft family fortune. And if you insist on talking about debts, go downstairs, spend some money, and tip well, and we'll be well on the way to square."
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Oct 11, 2020 4:29:34 GMT
******
Justine and Silvia returned as quickly as they could and Justine led her up to Ceutinde’s room. She knocked vigorously, praying that her friend was in.
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Post by Ceutinde on Oct 11, 2020 10:06:35 GMT
"If that's Justine, hang on just a moment," Ceutinde called from the bedroom, while she stood up and went around the room, turning mirrors around or placing smaller ones face-down. That finished, she finally opened the door. "And Silvia! What a lovely surprise. Come in, come in. Is something wrong?"
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Post by Silvia Raizer on Oct 11, 2020 10:13:45 GMT
"Yes, I think so." Silvia's expression was grim as she entered the room. "I think we've discovered a necromancer, or something of that nature. Honestly, I was happy living in this city before we went off on our expedition but lately, everything seems weirder and more disturbing than I knew. I always believed that I understood the underbelly of society to some extent, but obviously not."
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Post by Ceutinde on Oct 11, 2020 10:41:22 GMT
"Slow down. Have a seat." She gestured toward a couch and pair of chairs near an unlit fireplace at one end of the bedroom. "And start from the beginning." She tugged on a rope near the door to summon an attendant. "Tea? Something stronger?"
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Post by Silvia Raizer on Oct 11, 2020 12:36:00 GMT
"Brandy would be lovely, thank you." Silvia carefully took off her weapons and set them close to her chair before sitting down. "It was a strange experience, but I think Justine had best tell the beginning of it. It's her story."
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Oct 11, 2020 14:14:24 GMT
Justine rushed in and hugged Ceutinde gratefully before sinking down exhausted on one of the plush chairs. She covered her eyes with the back of her hand. “Tea, please. I feel a need for a clear head.”
She nodded to Silvia. “I don’t think it was necromancy, not entirely. I met a necromancer and she was...she had a lot of bones but I don’t think she would have done anything like...like what we saw.” She didn’t continue until the attendants brought whatever they were meant to bring, looking around the room as though any shadow could hold something awful. It was definitely a good thing the mirrors had been turned.
As Justine took a long sip of tea, she began to tell the story, starting with how they had broken into the Magistrate Aurelion’s house just outside the city and how they had found the odd trophy room and the octopus mask that had felt...warm. And calamitous. “Bad things have happened and I know there are more..” She shivered as she moves on to the trapdoor and the tunnel beneath the troll and took several deep, shaking sips of the tea.
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Post by Silvia Raizer on Oct 11, 2020 14:39:31 GMT
"I thought there might be some kind of cult involved," Silvia remarked. "Perhaps the leader wears the mask, or a priest, even."
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Post by Ceutinde on Oct 11, 2020 14:56:05 GMT
The attendants brought the tea and brandy. Ceutinde, sitting in the couch opposite them, opted for a bit of both, pouring just a touch of the spirit in her tea. As Justine came to a pause, she reached across the low table between them and gave the other women a comforting pat on the knee.
"You poor dears. That all sounds dreadful. Most 'cults' are just excuses for nobles to get drunk and have an orgy - I should know, occasionally we host them. But this sounds as though it might be the real thing. Any information as to other participants, besides the Magistrate?"
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Oct 11, 2020 15:31:59 GMT
“There was a woman later but she didn’t seem to be a participant and more like a...some kind of servant. She spoke as though there were a voice compelling her...” Justine shook her head. “Silvia, show her the necklace from the tunnel.” To Ceutinde, she added, “there’s a network of tunnels under the whole compound probably. Connecting to the places he doesn’t want seen.”
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Post by Silvia Raizer on Oct 11, 2020 15:38:39 GMT
Silvia removed the necklace from her shirt and rested it carefully on the table. "It was just sitting there conveniently. I'm assuming it's enchanted in some way."
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Post by Ceutinde on Oct 11, 2020 15:48:28 GMT
"Intriguing." Ceutinde picked up the necklace and inspected it. (Detect Magic)
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Post by The Forgotten God on Oct 11, 2020 15:53:26 GMT
The necklace radiates a fairly high amount of enchantment, augmentation, and a bit of mind magic as well. It’s a curious combination that you’d usually see at a hospital or some sort; she had once had a blanket that was used to cover up people suffering from severe trauma. The ways it could be combined were nearly endless though.
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Post by Ceutinde on Oct 11, 2020 16:10:02 GMT
"Very intriguing. Enchantment, augmentation, and mind magic. I've seen the combination before, but it could do all kinds of things. Given its provenance, probably not particularly benevolent things, but who's to say? Likely too dangerous to have it properly appraised in the city, but might be a mage in Edysse that can take a look at it." She set it back down on the table.
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