The Fall of House Pancrazio Chapter Two

[JMaytr]

Slowly the group makes its way towards the tomb of Luisa Pancrazio. As the crypt comes into view it becomes shockingly obvious that that there has been no disturbance to the stone door of the crypt, nor are there fresh tracks leaving from the building. The flowers adorning the front of the crypt are still fresh. Vibrant yellow and purple veined bouquets bunched together. The sight is serene and beautiful.

[ewancummins]

Tristan walks around the tomb, looking closely at the stones.
'''Well...it doesn't look like anyone's been through the door. Y'all think there might be a tunnel inside? We did find that tunnel in the greenhouse, and we don't yet know where it leads...''

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Then by all means, take me there swiftly, good sir," Harold says with asperity. Rather than getting into the coach, though, he clambers up to sit next to Emilio. "I might have to speak to the master after milady Phebe has been settled," he notes sourly, clutching the platinum coins so hard that his knuckles turn white - and then stuffs them into his pocket. "Please make haste - and tell me all that has befallen at the manor while I was out. I've had a bad feeling all night."

[Lord Skybolt]

Well hope I don't have to goes through some constricted dirty tunnel just to find what's really going on . I just hate going on wild goose chases even more though . Tahl thinking as he woders around the tomb for any sign's of a desecration of the tomb .

[JMaytr]

Emilio moves over, allowing Harold to sit next to him. He then goes on to spin a tale of unimaginable horror. He tells Harold of the appearance of the "Luisa thing" and the death of poor Mariabella.

"Master Roderigo has sent the others to the church of Ezra to investigate Luisa's tomb. My instructions were to bring you to the manor, though I could take you to the church. I imagine Sir Julian and lord Goran have arrived either there or the graveyard by now."

The carriage makes its way swiftly back towards Pancrazio manor, though the fork towards the church and the graveyard was still ahead.

[Irving the Meek]

Tuke swallows hard, then nods as the others leave him alone with the unconscious priest. He looks around nervously at the tombs, imagining horrors jumping out from behind every headstone. Why on earth did the priest just collapse like this?

Suddenly, a thought occurs to him. He sniffs the air, then starts searching the area methodically for the strange white flower Luisa loved so much. He quickly rifles the priest's pockets. Then, taking a deep breath and working up his courage, he smells the priest's breath, to see if he can detect the addictive blossom's odor.(1)

(1) Search check, taking 20, result 20.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"To the manorhouse please, good sir," Harold says, eyes squinting a little against the sun. The ageing scholar hugs his quarterstaff against himself as if for security. "I must see how Miss Phebe is," he adds in a bleak tone of voice. "Not to mention, I must speak with my dear employer soon ..."

[Irving the Meek]

The priest's breath smells of nothing more than peanuts and the morning, much to Tuke's disgust. The little white flower grows in abundance along the roadside, but in the morning light it hardly looks sinister. "White tea". That's what that flower goes into. Tuke remembers Magenta drinking a pale tea from a cup marked with those flowers at a party once; the ladies in attendance were terribly witty and giddy, as he recalled. Maybe this flower is just yet another drug or poison that the Borcans drink, and nothing more sinister than that., the little fool wonders. So far, it's the only connection we have, though.

Finally - and with an expertise suggestive of some practice - Tuke rifles through the priest's pockets. He finds a small money bag, a handful of peanuts, and a small, slender ivory statuette of Ezra. Hmm. Probably blessed. And there's a glint to the priest's brooch... but no. He carefully puts the wand and moneybag back where he found them. After all, I shouldn't take what isn't mine, Tuke thinks as he snacks on the peanuts.

[PathOfDreams]

Goran follows the group towards the crypt with a noticable reluctance. The reluctance however is overcome as he is after all in his element out here in the wild. At the notice of the tracks he bends to inspect them further, allowing the others to continue without him. (1)

"I am going to find the origin of these tracks, after, I will join again with Tuke as to not leave him there alone" He drops to a knee. "Call my name into the morning sky if you need to alert me"

With the vial of holy water in his grasp, he slips it into his belt pouch and begins his search. Goran methodically draws a longsword in anticipation of any evils he may encounter.

(1) tracking feat, maybe search check i guess, result 10. attempt to follow tracks as far as possible to determine type and direction. request added modifier due to previous weather conditions.

[JMaytr]

It is quickly clear to Goran that the origin of the day old tracks are from the funeral attendants the previous day. There are none around the crypt fresher, save what the party is currently making. The outside of the crypt offers no answers to the group...

[Griselda]

On getting a single glance of Magenta's state, Agna quickly averts her eyes. She remembers how the woman touched her earlier; this has the potential to get worse. She sets the tray down at the first likely place, trying to look just about anywhere.

She flushes involuntarily to hear Magenta's very blatant talk, which gives just about everything to the imagination. Lady Luisa surely would have been livid to hear her granddaughter talking like "a trull in a barracks" as she once upbraided another maid who had let her tongue loosen too much in front of an 11-year-old Agna.

Agna starts to consider the dresses in the wardrobe, moving them only by the hangers, as she was taught (1). Part of her wants to get the job done as quick as possible so she can leave, but something feels very disquieting to be asked a task not normally part of her routine. She pauses in her search, turning her head only slightly to stare at one of the hinges on the wardrobe door. "What could I know about choosing dresses, madame? My choice has only ever been what is clean and mended."

Hearing Mariabella spoken of so disrespectfully after last night's events suddenly raises an unfamiliar anger in Agna. Maybe it's the locket, maybe it's the stress of the night and little sleep, but she does not want to let the remark slide. She still does not turn fully, but straightens her back and, with her heart starting to hammer in amazement, states politely (but firmly), "Mariabella was murdered last night. Until a new cook is engaged, Emilio and I shall have to make do."



(1)Spot check = 1d20+7=26

[RocEter]

Tristan walks around the tomb, looking closely at the stones.
'''Well...it doesn't look like anyone's been through the door. Y'all think there might be a tunnel inside? We did find that tunnel in the greenhouse, and we don't yet know where it leads...''

Julian looks at Tristan

"That is most excellent point Tristan. Cover me while open the door to the crypt. Lets make sure there is no tunnel in here." Julian says.

Julian moves to the stone door tries to push up the door.

[JMaytr]

As the door to the crypt opens, Julian is assailed with the smell of roses. several large bouquets of purple and white strained flowers adorn the interior of the crypt. Surrounded by stone candle holders lies a mahogany casket. The coffin is closed and it appears that the first layer of dust has fallen upon the box.

[ewancummins]

Tristan has a flintlock pistol in his right hand and his enchanted torch held aloft in his left. He shifts position a bit so as to illuminate as large a section of the tomb's interior as he may. From his position covering Julian, he scans the crypt, hoping to spot anything out of the ordinary.

[PathOfDreams]

It is apparent that Goran does not intend to return to wait with the tiny fool as he enters the crypt behind Julian and Tristan. Goran catches the waft of natures perfection in the floral arrangment and draws it long and slow into his lungs, his exhale equally deliberate.

With longsword in his grip, he slowly passes by Tristan to investigate the outer reaches of the illumination cast by his torch. (1) Sweat begins to slowly glide his brow as the humidity of the crypt weighs down on him without the breeze from outside.

"I do not like this, perhaps we speed this along, eh?" he declares to those in the crypt.

(1) Search check. result 19