The Fall of House Pancrazio Chapter Three

[JMaytr]

As Sebastian examines the painting he notices that the frame is held together with glue and has been treated with some kind of manufactured finish, staining the wood. The landscape in the portrait is lush and beautiful, but then Sebastian's eye catches something even more strange; the sky has two moons ans a sun peeking from behind painted clouds.

[RocEter]

Julian looks at Tristan and sheathes his sword, and lowers his shield arm.

"Yes it was some kind of ghost, no need to apologize Tristan, ghosts have that effect on people." he says, pausing for a moment when Tristan mentions the chest. " A chest you say? Let us have a look and see what it may hold."

Julian walks back to the room Tristan indicated.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"I wouldn't touch that thing," Harold suddenly says, eyes squinting as he first looks more closely at the lock, and then takes several steps back. "There is magic on the lock. Necromancy. I do not quite recognize the form of the spell ..."

[Varrus the Ethical]

"Clearly not a Borcan landscape" Sebastian muses to himself outloud. Steps away from the painting to the Ezran bible, reading some of his favorite passages before closing the book and exiting the ante room.

Sebastian steps out into the passage, walking towards the smell of the kitchen in hopes of a warm meal.

[Griselda]

Now aboard the carriage, Agna turns to Emilio:

"Let's go before Master Roderigo changes his mind, or Mistress makes him."

[PathOfDreams]

"Necromancy..." Goran mutters with contempt then continues. "...There seems to be no end to this dark sorcery in and around my family, its any wonder I left so many years ago." A long strained breath escapes him. "I'll not tamper with this lock then, not unless you can dissolve its dark enchantment."

Goran examines the chest with even more curiosity. Ever closer his eyes scan the cryptic chest for meaning in it's carvings.

(1) DM needs to roll WIS check.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Harold shakes his head, clearly disgusted with himself. "Too weak," he growls, berating himself. "Too blasted weak!" On his shoulder, the owl hoots softly, butting the side of the old man's head with her own, soft-feathered skull as if commiserating with him.

[ewancummins]

Overhearing the conversation, Tristan offers-

''I could try to shoot that lock off from a distance. Might damage the chest or maybe set off a trap of some kind, though. ''

[RocEter]

At the mentioning of shooting the lock off Julian looks at Tristan.

"Hold Tristan, lets not be so hasty as to shoot the lock off, it is obvious there is a key for the lock. It looks like a ring fits in the lock, Goran didn't Luisa have rings on her hands?" Julian asks Goran.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Harold frowns at Julian. "And just how would you be thinking to get your hands on a dead woman's rings?" he asks. "Granted I was not too close to the casket when the old mistress was buried, but weren't she put in the ground with her personal trinkets on her?"

[PathOfDreams]

Goran seems to be lost in the carvings and the lock when he finally pipes in, "I remember seeing a number of rings adorning grandmother's hands, from earlier today when Tristan and I lifted loose the lid of her resting place." Goran stands and turns to the others with a horrified look accross his face, "That could mean that Luisa was and possibly still is mixed up with this black sorcery!"

[ewancummins]

Tristan-
''Robbing a dead woman? I'm sure that's bad luck. Although....maybe if you took the rings, used one as a key- if that works- and put it back on Luisa's fingers afterward...Harold?''

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Harold glowers, but replies: "Better you get a trained thief or a locksmith on this, I'd say. Wax, to make an imprint of the lock, then cast it in iron to duplicate the key. Stealing something from the dead without clear need is foolish."

[ewancummins]

Harold glowers, but replies: "Better you get a trained thief or a locksmith on this, I'd say. Wax, to make an imprint of the lock, then cast it in iron to duplicate the key. Stealing something frim the dea without clear need is foolish."

''Yes, or I could try shooting it off, as I said. Maybe it's got some kind of hex on it that will prevent that, or do something nasty? Harold, can you tell if it's trapped?''

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"I cannot," Harold replies, shaking his head. "I can only tell that the spell on the dratted thing is necromantic in nature, and that is all."