Ars Magica 5e, Rhine Tribunal, 1220

[ArghMark]

The baron looks at you with a beady eye for a moment. You can see the effects of the gift working on him with so many mages near. You see him struggle for a moment internally, before relaxing.

'Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. You'd better hear the story.'

The baron begins to tell you a strange story about an odd family curse. Every time a new child is born to a member of the Baron's family, whether in the castle or elsewhere, an odd sleeping curse bewitches the castle. From the moment the sun goes down, each member of the castle sleeps, and evil looking women come from the forest and steal their energy from their mouths and put it in little bottles. Every day for a week each member of the castle grows more exhausted until someone dies; generally the old, or the weak. It doesn't matter if they flee, the curse haunts them wherever they go. When a member of the castle dies, whether villain or knight, the curse stops until the next birth.

The Baron sighs wearily. 'It happened first in my fathers time, when he was Baron. He rebuilt this castle on the old ruin. One day my brother was wandering the castle and heard singing from beneath the floor, beautiful singing. Trying to find it, he found an old, bricked up passage below. Apparently, something happened; when my brother returned from the passage, the curse followed him.'

 

[Shayuri]

Ilshana listens to the tale, then plucks at some of the strings that don't seem to fit into the narrative.

"It's a terrible thing to live at the mercy of creatures from beyond," she says with some genuine sympathy. "But our little guide here..." she ruffles the boy's hair, "isn't asleep. And neither are you, my Lord. Are you two the only ones exempt from this curse? And has anyone ventured back to that passageway your brother found?"

 

[Yair]

Leo ponders the situation. From his position, slightly behind Ilshana, he addresses the baron in a sombre tone. "Another thing - how did your brother knew it was his encounter that led to the curse? How do you know the curse is related to him going down that corridor? Did someone tell him this?"

 

[ArghMark]

The baron Bromser looks a little confused.

'Well... The curse didn't happen in memory before my brother went down that passage, and he himself told me that it must be his fault. He went off to crusade for his sins.

The curse doesn't affect those who don't live in the castle, so I suppose the boy is safe enough.

As for going back, no. My father bricked up the passage after my Brother told him that demons and curses were there. I shouldn't think anything would be in there that could make it better.

I have asked priests to bless this place and have holy relics in our chapel. What else can be done?'

 

[Shayuri]

"But what of you?" Ilshana persists. "Why does it pass over you?"

 

[ArghMark]

'I... I don't know, exactly. It used to affect me, especially when I was younger. You see, I was the youngest child of my family, and my three other brothers are dead.

But when I was but a little child, my brother saw my plight and the plight of the other children and elderly. He went on Crusade, asking that God grant his blood relief from the curse. God must have seen his good deeds in the Holy land, for the curse was lifted, though my brother did not return. But alas, my son is affected. Every day, he weakens. My family line is cursed; if the young babies are the ones that die, my direct line ends with me. My cousins and the like live, but..'

He sighs, and shakes his head. 'But that is a long story. Come inside, and tell me of yourselves. I will pour you something myself, if you can help me.'

The baron guides you in through his castle, and you find yourself in the great hall. A number of dogs, rats, and even people are fast asleep here. Taking you to the head of the table, the Baron pushes a snoring knight off the table and makes room enough for the mages, though he basically ignores the grogs.

 

[Yair]

Hearing the baron's religious explanations, Leo nonchalantly bursts into heresy. "There are other gods, and other priests. Let us see if they will be more willing to remove this curse."

When the baron suggests they all come inside, Leo again interjects. "With every night, the curse tightens. Perhaps we could instead explore the site where your father barricaded the passage, to make our work as swift as possible". He somehow makes it sound less like a request, as if the thought that his suggestion will not be followed never entered his mind.

OOC: Sorry, Leo can be a bit of a jerk and a hassle, especially in front of religious mundanes...

 

[Walking Dad]

Thomas stays in the background, breathing sharply at Leo's outburst.

 

[Shayuri]

Ever so slightly Ilshana winces, then quickly steps into the awkward silence following Leo's outburst to try to smooth things over.

"What my companion means, my Lord, is that the spirit that haunts you may be something old, that has been buried since the days before the church of Rome ever set foot in these lands. If the blessings and relics of God are not working, there may be older rites that will prove effective. These men with me are sages and scholars, and with study will be able to glean what will work."

She smiles and adds, "Though a life spent in musty dusty places, reading tomes and learning ancient lore has not gifted them with social graces. Please forgive them that."

 

[Strahd_Von_Zarovich]

Gorgamesh

Once we are inside, we cannot know if the curse will not affect us or our companions
Gorgamesh refer to their grogs, as he speak from the shadows in the corner.
I agree with Leo, we should avoid the castle and search for the barricade.

OOC – I remind you my dear friends that I’ll resume posting next week.