The Gilded Table is busy with repairs. Security personnel mount reinforced window locks, cameras, motion sensors, and monitored alarms across the house, their tools clicking over the scars left by the riot.
Upstairs, Marla directs two installers toward the damaged windows. Fresh framing covers the breaks, but thin seams still show where the house's old defenses were torn open.
Marla Brewer
Thadeus. Hey.
She smiles and waves, then turns back to the installers, checking that every upstairs lock meets the frame without a gap.
Thadeus continues into his office and settles into the leather chair. Castle Proserpina fills the computer monitor, its impossible silhouette marked near London.
On the desk, the Belmont Family Grimoire opens by itself. The glowing emblem from its cover shines across the monitor, and a faint blue line appears along the weakened wall before fading beneath the new alarm wiring. The house is secured, but not restored. The emblem pulses once more, pointing toward the castle.
✓ Quest Accepted
Find Castle Proserpina’s secret
“Thadeus stares intently at the monitor, looking for something unique to stand out, when he is surprised by two arms resting on his shoulders. He looks up to see Elizabeth, smiling warmly at him. "Hey you," Elizabeth says softly, "Find anything interesting?" Thadeus initially shakes his head no, but something catches his eye on the screen. He points to the monitor, noticing a large headstone, appearing to be at a center of a small garden maze. He looks up at Elizabeth, "We didn't see that before did we?" Elizabeth shakes her head, "No, that definitely wasn't there before." Thadeus zooms in on the headstone, faded from age, but can see one word clearly, THORNE.”
SUCCESS (Good Investigation, rolled +1)
The castle image sharpens under Thadeus Jovanović's scrutiny. Stone paths, clipped hedges, and a small garden maze emerge from the blur.
Two arms settle across Thadeus Jovanović's shoulders from behind. A familiar presence leans into the office light.
Elizabeth Bathory
Hey you. Find anything interesting?
Thadeus Jovanović shakes his head, then stops. At the maze's center, a large headstone interrupts the geometric paths.
Thadeus Jovanović
We didn't see that before, did we?
Elizabeth Bathory
No. That definitely wasn't there before.
Thadeus Jovanović zooms in. The stone is faded nearly blank, but one word survives the age and blur: THORNE.
The newly exposed name sits inside the castle's grounds, beside a narrow path that vanishes beneath the alarm diagram. The Grimoire's emblem gives one cold pulse.
“Thadeus opens the Grimoire and flips to the chapter titled Bloodlines. The chapter covers the events of two men chasing Erzsebet Bathory throughout Europe. There's a small footnote that Thadeus didn't recall seeing before, until now. It mentions an aristocrat giving shelter to someone called the "Blood Countess". There's also a picture next to the footnote. Thadeus thinks, "I know that wasn't there before." The image is of a tall, dapper man in attire matching someone of wealth in the 1900's. Below the image is the name William Thorne. Elizabeth remarks, "Marcus certainly looks like his ancestor."”
SUCCESS (Good Investigation, rolled -2)
Thadeus Jovanović opens the Belmont Family Grimoire and turns to the chapter titled Bloodlines. The pages settle beneath the cold glow of the emblem.
The chapter recounts two men pursuing Erzsebet Báthory across Europe. A narrow footnote catches Thadeus Jovanović's attention, describing an aristocrat who sheltered someone called the Blood Countess.
Beside the footnote, an old portrait shows a tall, dapper man dressed like a wealthy aristocrat of the early 1900s. Beneath it, fresh lettering identifies him as William Thorne.
Thadeus Jovanović
I know that wasn't there before.
As Thadeus Jovanović traces the caption, a sharp paper edge cuts his fingertip. One bright drop lands beside William Thorne's name, and the Grimoire's emblem flickers.
Elizabeth Bathory
Marcus certainly looks like his ancestor.
The image remains clear, but the blood-darkened footnote now carries a second line in cramped handwriting: Shelter leaves a door unguarded.
Director's note
The security staff are still working in the background, with Marla directing them to areas she notices that need attention
“As they consider the meaning behind the footnote, Thadeus and Elizabeth hear knocking from behind them. They see Marcus Thorne open the front door. Thadeus gets up to greet him. He and Marcus shake hands, Thadeus noting Marcus's hand is still cold to the touch. Marcus looks at Thadeus, his face friendlier than previous interactions, "So, are we ready to travel to London?" Thadeus smiles back, "Just about. As you can see, Marla has taken over the place. She'll stay here to keep an eye on the house. Do you have everything you need?" Marcus motions to his dark brown satchel, "I pack pretty light, but yes, I've got what I'll need."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -2)
The warning hangs over the open Grimoire when three firm knocks strike the reinforced front door. Upstairs, tools stop clattering for one uneasy second.
The door opens. Marcus Thorne stands on the threshold with a dark brown satchel in hand, his expression more welcoming than before.
Thadeus rises from the desk and crosses to greet him. Their handshake is brief, but Marcus's hand feels unnaturally cold against his palm.
Thadeus Jovanović
So, are we ready to travel to London? Just about. Marla has taken over the place and will stay here to watch the house. Do you have everything you need?
Marcus Thorne
I pack pretty light, but yes. I've got what I'll need.
Marcus motions to the satchel. Behind him, the front-door sensor chirps twice, then goes silent. A security worker calls from the hall that this entrance still has no working alarm coverage.
The journey is organized, but the confirmed gap leaves the household exposed before anyone can leave for London.
Director's note
The security staff are still working in the background, with Marla directing them to areas she notices that need attention
“As they consider the meaning behind the footnote, Thadeus and Elizabeth hear knocking from behind them. They see Marcus Thorne open the front door. Thadeus gets up to greet him. He and Marcus shake hands, Thadeus noting Marcus's hand is still cold to the touch. Marcus looks at Thadeus, his face friendlier than previous interactions, "So, are we ready to travel to London?" Thadeus smiles back, "Just about. As you can see, Marla has taken over the place. She'll stay here to keep an eye on the house. Do you have everything you need?" Marcus motions to his dark brown satchel, "I pack pretty light, but yes, I've got what I'll need."”
Marcus lowers the satchel beside the entry bench as the security worker resumes calling measurements from the hall. Elizabeth closes the Grimoire, its glowing emblem still visible between her fingers. The London plan is ready, but the unfinished entrance remains exposed.
“Elizabeth walks over to Marcus and begins exchanging small talk, mostly about what he knows of his ancestors, William Thorne. Thadeus excuses himself back to his office to look at the computer monitor again. Castle Proserpina stares back at him. His eyes focus back to that headstone. As he does, he notices something about headstone and the garden maze. The maze creates a silhouette that looks like an arrow, pointing to the side of the castle. He can't see anything specific, but he's certain the arrow is pointing to an entrance, or at the very least, a secret waiting for him.”
SUCCESS (Good Investigation, rolled -1)
Elizabeth Bathory
What did William Thorne leave behind about the castle, beyond the records your family concealed?
Marcus Thorne
Fragments. He presented himself as a protector, but his private notes suggest he feared what the castle sheltered.
Thadeus Jovanović
I am going to review the castle image again.
Elizabeth and Marcus continue their quiet exchange near the entryway while Thadeus returns to the office monitor. The security staff keep working beyond them, guided upstairs by Marla.
Castle Proserpina fills the screen. Thadeus fixes his attention on the THORNE headstone, then traces the surrounding garden maze with his eyes.
The hedges are not merely enclosing the garden. Seen from above, their full arrangement forms a subtle arrow, a shape easy to miss among the paths. Its point aims at the castle’s side, where the image reveals no visible entrance, only the promise of one hidden beyond the stonework.