Thadeus and Elias return through the opening in Pastor Whitcombe’s office, with Peacebringer secured in its pen form. Whitcombe follows, carrying the parish records.
They descend the hidden stairwell. At the bottom, dozens of newly lit torches stretch along the corridor, illuminating old stonework before the passage disappears into shadow.
Pastor Whitcombe
This must be the route William Thorne and Erzsebet Báthory took more than a century ago. I never knew it existed beneath the church.
Whitcombe steps onto the corridor, keeping one hand near the wall for balance. Elias studies the torch brackets and worn floor while the air carries a faint mineral chill.
Elias
The stonework is older than the parish records. If William used this passage, he may have left something behind.
They begin walking beneath the steady torchlight. Their footsteps echo softly, joining a second rhythm somewhere near the far end of the corridor.
Pastor Whitcombe
Did you hear that? Someone, or something, is walking ahead of us.
✓ Quest Accepted
Resolve the approaching presence in the corridor
“Thadeus and Elias walk briskly towards the end of the corridor. They see an opening on the left side of the corridor about 20 feet ahead. From the opening, a tall shadow comes through, covering the wall opposite of the entrance. Elias hears a faint voice, but doesn't recognize it. Thadeus grabs the vial of holy water the pastor give him earlier and tosses it to Elias, "Get ready to use it." Elias nods in agreement.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +2)
Thadeus and Elias walk briskly beneath the torchlight, with Pastor Whitcombe following close behind. Twenty feet ahead, an opening breaks the corridor’s left wall.
A tall shadow emerges through the opening and spreads across the opposite stonework, its shape distorted by the flames. Elias hears a faint voice but cannot recognize the words.
Thadeus Jovanović
Get ready to use it.
Thadeus reaches for the consecrated-water vial Pastor Whitcombe gave him and tosses it across the corridor. Elias catches it securely before it can strike the stone.
Elias
Understood.
Elias nods and keeps the vial raised in his hand, positioning himself beside Pastor Whitcombe while watching the opening and the shifting shadow.
Pastor Whitcombe
That voice is not familiar to me either. Whatever waits there, we should not assume it belongs to the church.
“As Thadeus is about to draw out Peacebringer, the shadow disappears, and the hallway goes quiet. Elias cautiously looks into the corridor's opening, then peers back to Thadeus, waving him over. Thadeus looks into the opening, and sees a stone room, with a heavy iron door at the far end. On the face of the door is a small window with iron bars in between. Looking through the window of the door shows more stone. When Thadeus attempts to open the iron door, it doesn't budge. Thadeus looks into the window of the door, to see the path beyond the door has long since caved in. Thadeus looks to the pastor, "Didn't you mention something about a key that William was given but couldn't be found? I wonder if this is what it was for."”
SUCCESS (Superb Strength, rolled +3)
As Thadeus reaches for Peacebringer, the shadow vanishes. The corridor falls silent, leaving only torchfire and the fading echo of footsteps.
Elias
Wait.
Elias peers through the left-hand opening, then looks back and beckons. Thadeus joins him, revealing a stone room and a heavy iron door beyond.
The door’s barred window shows only more stone. Thadeus tests the handle; it resists, then yields beneath his strength with a grinding cry.
Beyond it, the passage has collapsed long ago. In the threshold, however, a narrow metal plate bears William Thorne’s initials and a recessed key-shaped impression.
Thadeus Jovanović
Didn't you mention a key William was given but couldn't be found? I wonder if this is what it was for.
Pastor Whitcombe
Yes. And if this mark is his, the key was not meant for the church above. It was meant to seal, or open, whatever lay beyond this passage.
“As Thadeus turns around to start heading back towards the corridor, the shadow Elias saw earlier jumps in front of the three men. From the shadow, a form takes shape. A ghostly figure appears in front of them, one of dapper looks, dressed in suit attire from the 1920's. Thadeus and Elias look at each other in recognition, then Thadeus looks at the pale apparition of William Thorne, smiling at Thadeus, Elias and the pastor.”
SUCCESS (Good Perception, rolled +2)
Thadeus turns from the sealed threshold toward the corridor. The shadow surges across the torchlit stones and gathers into a pale, sharply dressed man in 1920s formal attire.
The apparition of William Thorne stands before them, translucent edges wavering like smoke. His polished shoes do not quite touch the floor, and his smile holds no immediate hostility.
Thadeus and Elias exchange a brief look of recognition. Pastor Whitcombe stiffens behind them, clutching the parish records as the ghost’s attention settles on all three men.
William Thorne
You have come farther than I expected. The church still keeps its old doors, it seems.
Pastor Whitcombe
William Thorne? You were recorded as dead more than a century ago.
William Thorne
Dead, yes. Forgotten, no. And neither was the woman I brought beneath these stones.
The torches flutter without wind. William’s smile fades as he looks toward the metal plate bearing his initials, then returns his gaze to Thadeus and Elias.
“Thadeus lowers his hands, showing no resistance to the ghost. "William Thorne. My friends and I have learned a great deal about you." William scoffs, "You merely think you've learned much about me. Why are you here?" Thadeus replies, "Your wife is after your daughter, and we need to find out why." William looks somber, "Elizabeth...sweet Elizabeth..."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +2)
Thadeus Jovanović
William Thorne. My friends and I have learned a great deal about you.
William Thorne
You merely think you've learned much about me. Why are you here?
Thadeus Jovanović
Your wife is after your daughter, and we need to find out why.
William Thorne
Elizabeth... sweet Elizabeth. Erzsebet does not seek forgiveness. She believes my daughter is the vessel she was denied.
William’s translucent face tightens with grief. The torches dim, and his gaze fixes on the sealed threshold as though he can see the years beyond it.
William Thorne
The ritual beneath this church failed because Elizabeth survived and escaped. Erzsebet has pursued her ever since, believing Elizabeth’s blood can open Castle Proserpina and restore what was lost.
William Thorne
I hid the route and erased our marriage from the parish records to keep Erzsebet from finding the key. But she knows Elizabeth lives now, and the castle is calling her home.
Quest Complete
Uncover the purpose of the hidden stairwell
Skill Upgrade: Investigation Superb→Legendary
Thadeus Jovanović leaves Hidden Stairwell Corridor behind and arrives at Castle Proserpina.
“Thadeus goes pale, realization hitting him, "Erzsebet must've realized we've arrived by now. Oh my god, Marcus and Sally are in danger. Elias, we've got to leave, NOW!" William holds his hand out, interrupting with, "Erzsebet will already have them captured, or worse. You must go to Castle Proserpina and take the hidden entrance near the garden maze. That is your only opportunity to save your friends and my daughter."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +0)
Castle Proserpina rises beyond a rain-dark garden, its jagged towers cutting through low clouds. Thadeus and Elias stand at the maze’s outer gate, breath visible in the cold air.
Elias
This place was not on any map. The walls look older than the records, but the stone is freshly wet.
The garden maze spreads before them in precise, overgrown corridors. From above, its hedges would form an arrow, but at ground level every path appears deliberately misleading.
Thadeus Jovanović
The hidden entrance is somewhere beyond this maze.
Elias
There. The central path points toward the castle, but this broken hedge angles away from it. William’s clue must be marking the entrance.
They follow the angled passage and find a circular stone basin beneath tangled ivy. Its dry center bears the same key-shaped impression as the plate beneath St. Mary and All Saints.
A low vibration travels through the garden. Somewhere inside the castle, a bell tolls once, and a woman’s voice carries faintly through the rain, calling Elizabeth’s name.
Quest Complete
Reach Castle Proserpina
Skill Upgrade: Psychology Great→Superb