Thadeus’s paralysis loosens by degrees. First his fingers flex around Peacebringer’s handle, then his arm rises, the blue glow steadying as his muscles answer him.
Erzsebet Báthory
You resist more strongly than I expected. That weapon will not save Elizabeth from what she is meant to become.
Erzsebet stands beneath the blood-red moon while Elizabeth strains against her shackles. The vast ballroom keeps them separated by rows of marble statues and crimson carpet.
Erzsebet Báthory
Elizabeth’s vampiric power lies dormant, waiting for the proper awakening. I will weaponize her blood and ignite another world war, until humanity destroys itself.
Elizabeth Bathory
Thadeus, do not attack carelessly. She has bound the transformation to my pain. If you strike her recklessly, she could trigger it.
The alchemical laboratory remains far below, with Elias, Marcus, and Sally unable to intervene. No footsteps reach the ballroom, leaving Thadeus alone between Erzsebet and Elizabeth.
Erzsebet Báthory
Come, then. Free her if you can, while preserving the humanity you claim to protect.
✓ Quest Accepted
Prevent Elizabeth’s transformation
“Thadeus transforms Peacebringer into its original chain whip form. Erzsebet cackles, then disappears. Her voice echoes in the ballroom, "Very cute. Why we don't test your resolve. How about this?" A light explodes. One of the marble statues shakes, then cracks at its base. As it does, the human shape of the statue stands up and slowly walks towards Thadeus. Thadeus runs to it, swinging Peacebringer. The strike hits its left arm, damaging the marble. The statue takes a lumbering swing at Thadeus, who quickly jumps right to avoid cleanly.”
SUCCESS (Superb Strength, rolled -1)
Peacebringer reshapes into its original chain whip, blue light running along each heavy link. Erzsebet’s laughter fills the ballroom as her body vanishes beneath the blood-red moon.
Erzsebet Báthory
Very cute. Why don't we test your resolve. How about this?
A white light explodes beside the marble statues. One human-shaped figure, a towering genderless stone construct with a broad, rough marble body and a blank chiseled face, shudders, cracks racing through its base, then rises with grinding stone and lurches toward Thadeus.
Elizabeth Bathory
Thadeus, stay mobile! Do not let it pin you against the wall!
Thadeus charges the advancing statue and swings Peacebringer in a hard horizontal arc. The chain strikes its left arm, breaking away a slab of marble and exposing fractured stone beneath.
The statue answers with a lumbering sweep. Thadeus jumps sharply to his right, and the massive fist passes cleanly through the space he occupied, scattering chips across the carpet.
Erzsebet Báthory
Yes. That is the resolve I wanted to see.
“Thadeus takes another swing with Peacebringer, this time cracking it forward at the statue's chest. The statue uses its good arm to catch the tip of Peacebringer before it strikes. As it does, Thadeus swings Peacebringer upwards, scorching the statues's hand.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -2)
Thadeus snaps Peacebringer forward at the statue’s chest. The chain stretches taut, its glowing tip driving toward the cracked marble torso.
The construct catches the chain’s tip in its good hand. Marble fingers clamp down, stopping the strike with a thunderous impact that echoes beneath the glass ceiling.
Thadeus redirects the tension instead of yielding. He wrenches Peacebringer upward, dragging the glowing links across the statue’s palm.
Blue fire scorches the construct’s hand. Cracks burst across its fingers, and a slab of heated marble breaks loose as the statue recoils.
The violent pull jolts Thadeus’s injured shoulder, sending a sharp pain through his arm, but Peacebringer tears free and coils back into his grip.
Elizabeth Bathory
Good. Keep moving, Thadeus. Its strength is greatest when you let it hold you in place.
Erzsebet Báthory
You burn stone and call it victory? Every wound you inflict only teaches my servant how you fight.
Director's note
Elizabeth is struggling harder against her shackles, but cannot break free.
“Fighting through the pain, Thadeus swings Peacebringer downwards, striking cleanly through the statue's right leg. The figure stands briefly, then collapses to the ground. Thadeus holds the ankh ring to his damaged shoulder, warmth covering it. The pain subsides, as Thadeus also notices the hairline crack of the ruby on the ring grows. Thadeus thinks, "I don't think the ring is going to do much more." Erzsebet's voice can be heard again, "You done well, but how about this?" There is a great rumble, as more of the statues in the room begin to shake.”
SUCCESS (Superb Strength, rolled +0)
Fighting through the pain in his shoulder, Thadeus whips Peacebringer downward. The glowing chain cuts cleanly through the construct’s right leg, splitting marble with a deafening crack.
The statue remains upright for one rigid moment, then collapses across the crimson carpet. Its broken torso strikes the floor, scattering white stone fragments between Thadeus and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth strains harder against the shackles, metal grinding against the marble wall. Thadeus presses the ankh ring to his damaged shoulder, and warmth spreads through the injury.
The pain subsides completely. Beneath his thumb, the ruby’s hairline crack lengthens across its surface, glowing faintly before settling into silence.
Thadeus Jovanović
I don't think the ring is going to do much more.
Erzsebet Báthory
You done well, but how about this?
A great rumble rolls through the ballroom. One by one, more marble statues begin to shake in their alcoves, cracks spreading through their bases as Elizabeth pulls helplessly against her restraints.
“Can Thadeus see a release mechanism for Elizabeth's shackles?”
YES (Even, rolled 39)
As the statues shudder in their alcoves, the blood-red light catches a narrow silver lever set into the marble wall beside Elizabeth’s restraints.
Elizabeth Bathory
There, beside my left shoulder. That lever controls the shackles, but I cannot reach it.
The release mechanism is plainly visible, recessed within a small panel beneath the carved stonework. A thin chain runs from it into the wall behind Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Bathory
I am trying to pull them apart, but they are tightening. If the statues awaken fully, I may lose what little room I have.
Elizabeth twists against the restraints with renewed force. The metal bites into the wall mounts, yet the shackles hold, leaving the lever just beyond her fingertips.
Erzsebet Báthory
You noticed the key. How encouraging. The question is whether you can reach it before my guardians reach you.
More cracks spread through the statues’ bases. The silver lever remains exposed beside Elizabeth, offering a clear means of release while the ballroom fills with grinding stone.
“Thadeus races over to the lever. As he reaches for it, he feels his coat tighten. He looks back to see another marble statue, an athletic figure from the Greco-Roman era, pull him back and toss him by his coat into a wall. Thadeus, a little dazed, stands up to see another half dozen marble statues of male and female variety stand between him and Elizabeth. He can't get to the lever without dealing with the creatures first.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +2)
Thadeus races across the crimson carpet toward the silver lever. As his hand reaches for it, his coat jerks tight, stopping him short.
He looks back as an athletic Greco-Roman marble statue, an adult male marble construct with a carved athletic build, weathered gray stone, a blank face, and draped stone garments grips his coat and hurls him across the ballroom. Thadeus crashes into the wall, dazed.
He pushes himself upright. Six more statues, male and female, adult marble constructs with sturdy builds, blank faces, and weathered pale stone bodies, have risen between him and Elizabeth, their blank faces turned toward him.
Elizabeth Bathory
Thadeus, please! I am still struggling, but these restraints will not break!
Peacebringer snaps into a glowing chain whip. Thadeus lashes the nearest statues aside, breaking limbs and clearing a narrow path through the marble formation.
The Greco-Roman guardian lunges again, but Thadeus slips past its grasp and reaches the wall beside Elizabeth. His fingers close around the silver lever.
He pulls the lever down. A sharp mechanism clicks within the marble, and Elizabeth’s shackles release, falling open as the statues grind toward them.
Quest Complete
Rescue Elizabeth
Attribute Upgrade: Strength Superb→Legendary