Thadeus rises from the couch, and the room hits him like a weight. The glow from the grimoire blurs. His knees fold, and the house drops away.
He is falling into a stone corridor, dead night pressing in from every side. Torches burn low along the walls, and cold iron hangs in the air.
Far ahead stands a pale woman in red and black, elegant and still, blood-red gems catching the firelight. She holds a faded photograph close to her chest.
Thadeus Jovanović
This is the same corridor from the dream. The walls feel familiar.
Thadeus steps closer. The torchlight crawls across the stone, and the woman does not look up, only tightens her grip on the photo.
At the end of the hall, a pale shape lingers near the darkness, watching the house from beyond the dream, as if the corridor and the window are the same gaze.
Erzsebet Báthory
Not yet.
✓ Quest Accepted
Learn the pale woman's identity
“Thadeus rises to his feet and watches the woman carefully. He walks close enough to her to see the photo. It's a faded photo of Elizabeth Bathory when she was a little girl. Thadeus thinks, "What is this vision?" The woman starts to walk down the corridor, and Thadeus follows, not giving away his presence.”
SUCCESS (Good Perception, rolled -1)
Thadeus steadies himself and slips after her, silent as the torchlight stutters along the stone. The photograph swings just enough for him to catch it, a faded little girl with Elizabeth Bathory’s face staring back through time.
Thadeus Jovanović
What is this vision?
The Pale Woman starts walking again, red skirts whispering over the floor, and Thadeus shadows her pace without a sound. The corridor bends ahead, but the picture is already burned into his mind.
The child in the photo is unmistakable, and the dream’s silence tightens around that truth. Somewhere beyond the torches, the darkness keeps watching.
Elizabeth’s face in the photograph is small, unguarded, and old with memory even as a child. The Pale Woman keeps moving, not turning back.
Thadeus follows into the next stretch of the corridor, the answer now visible in his head even if the woman gives him none. The passage darkens ahead, as if waiting for what he does next.
Quest Complete
Learn the pale woman's identity
“The Pale Woman is approached by a figure. It's the Tall Figure from the attack on the street. He approaches her and kneels, "I have returned with news, Erzsebet Báthory." The pale woman waves her hand, "You do not need to call me by my full name everything you see me, what is it, Creature?" He responds, "Elizabeth is not alone, like you expected. Her work with the Revenants has ceased." Erzsebet looks furious, "What do you mean, ceased?"”
SUCCESS (Legendary Reasoning, rolled -2)
The corridor darkens at the bend, and the Tall Figure steps into view from the shadows, metal spikes catching torchlight as he lowers to one knee before the Pale Woman.
The Tall Figure
I have returned with news, Erzsebet Báthory.
The Pale Woman lifts a hand, dismissive and sharp, her fingers still pinning the faded photograph close.
Erzsebet Báthory
You do not need to call me that every time you see me. What is it, Creature?
The Tall Figure
Elizabeth is not alone, like you expected. Her work with the Revenants has ceased.
Erzsebet Báthory
What do you mean, ceased?
The answer lands badly. Erzsebet’s hand tightens on the photograph, and the Tall Figure’s bowed posture goes still, as if he has spent something just to bring her this news.
“Before Thadeus can hear any more of their discussion, he hears a faint voice in the distance. Someone is calling him. It becomes louder and clearer. Elizabeth is calling him, sounding panicked. When he understands, he wakes back up in his living room, fully stretched out on the couch, with Elizabeth leaning down towards. "Are you okay, Thadeus? I called you for to join me, but you didn't answer. I found you on the floor. I thought something happened to you." Thadeus looks up to Elizabeth, "I promise I'm okay, I just had quite the lucid dream." Elizabeth looks at him curiously, but Thadeus just looks up and smiles, which relaxes Elizabeth slightly.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +1)
A voice cuts through the dream like it is calling from another room, then another life. The corridor dims, the stone walls stretching away as if they are being pulled under water.
Thadeus jerks awake on the couch, the living room back in place around him, battered and familiar. Elizabeth leans over him, worry softening into relief as she sees his eyes open.
Elizabeth Bathory
Thadeus, are you all right? I called for you to come join me, but you would not answer. I found you on the floor, and I thought something had happened.
Thadeus Jovanović
I promise I am okay. I just had quite the lucid dream.
Elizabeth studies him for a beat, searching his face for cracks that are not there. Thadeus only smiles up at her, steady and unhurried, and her shoulders ease a little.
Elizabeth Bathory
Lucid dream, or something else. He is calm now. That has to be enough for the moment.
The room stays quiet, the damaged home holding its breath around them, while Elizabeth waits to see whether he wants to tell her more.