Thadeus emerges from the black passage into an ancient royal bedroom, its carved canopy, faded tapestries, and dustless furniture preserved beneath the castle’s unnatural silence.
His wound remains eased but not healed. The broken ankh ring rests in one hand while Peacebringer, disguised as a pen, stays ready in the other.
At the room’s center, Erzsebet Báthory grips two small stone pedestals rising from the floor. Her open eyes stare beyond the walls, fixed on something no one else can see.
Thadeus Jovanović
She has not noticed me.
The pedestals hum faintly beneath her hands. Thin black veins of light creep across their bases, joining beneath the carpet like roots seeking one another.
Erzsebet Báthory
The door is almost open. Soon, my daughter will remember what she truly is.
Erzsebet’s voice is distant, addressed to someone beyond the room. Thadeus stands within striking distance, while Elizabeth, Elias, Marcus, Sally, and William remain behind in the tower route.
✓ Quest Accepted
Defeat Erzsebet Báthory
“Could Thadeus destroy the pedestals before Erzsebet notices?”
YES, BUT (Even, rolled 43)
The black veins flare beneath the carpet. Before Erzsebet can turn, Peacebringer snaps from pen to crimson chain, striking both pedestals in a single sweeping arc.
Stone explodes beneath Erzsebet’s hands. The humming stops, the joined darkness fractures, and the unseen pressure beyond the room releases with a shriek through the walls.
Erzsebet Báthory
No. You ignorant, meddling brute. Do you understand what you have destroyed?
The backlash races through the broken ring in Thadeus’s hand. Its remaining metal splits apart, and a sharp fragment cuts deeply across his palm before clattering onto the carpet.
Erzsebet Báthory
You have severed the first threshold, but the castle is already awake. It knows your name now.
The bedroom lurches. Tapestries tear from the walls, dustless furniture slides toward the shattered pedestals, and distant stone doors slam one after another.
Erzsebet Báthory
You wanted to face me alone. Then stand, guardian. Let us see whether your protection survives the collapse.
Director's note
The room is starting to shake, due to the destruction of the pedestals
“"Erzsebet looks more fragile than she did before," Thadeus thinks. Before she can react, he swings Peacebringer directly at Erzsebet's mid-section. She attempts to evade, but her hip is grazed by the swing, catching and tearing her dress. She stumbles backwards, but remains on her feet, still looking a little dazed.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Strength, rolled +0)
Thadeus Jovanović
She looks more fragile than she did before.
Before Erzsebet can react, Thadeus swings Peacebringer in a hard horizontal arc toward her midsection. The shaking bedroom groans around them.
Erzsebet twists aside, but the crimson chain catches her hip. It tears through her dress and drives her backward across the carpet.
Erzsebet Báthory
You dare strike me while my castle tears itself apart?
She stumbles, one hand catching the edge of a sliding table. Despite the impact, she remains upright, visibly dazed as dust spills from the trembling ceiling.
Erzsebet Báthory
You have mistaken disorientation for weakness.
The broken pedestals spit black sparks across the floor. Erzsebet steadies herself and fixes Thadeus with a furious, unblinking stare as the bedroom continues to buckle.
“Thadeus remains unfazed, swinging Peacebringer again, this time fully connecting with Erzsebet's side. The strike tosses her to the ground. Erzsebet is on her side, holding herself up with one hand, but the vampire is clearly losing her strength. She stares at Thadeus with a combination of anger and fear.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Strength, rolled +3)
Thadeus swings Peacebringer again without hesitation. The crimson chain slams fully into Erzsebet’s side, lifting her from the carpet and hurling her across the shaking bedroom.
Erzsebet crashes beside the shattered pedestals and lands on her side, one hand braced against the floor. Her strength is visibly failing as black sparks gutter around her.
Erzsebet Báthory
You insolent guardian. You think brute force can defeat what this castle has already begun?
The impact splits the carpet beneath her, exposing a narrow stone stair descending into darkness. Cold air rises from it, carrying the metallic scent of old blood.
Erzsebet Báthory
No... not that passage. You must not reach the foundation.
Her anger falters into fear. Erzsebet reaches toward the stair, but her arm trembles and collapses. Above them, the canopy tears loose as the bedroom lurches again.
Erzsebet Báthory
Stay away from there, Thadeus. If you descend, you will learn what I was protecting you from.
Director's note
Erzsebet is prone on the ground, still holding herself up with one hand
“Thadeus scoffs, "Give it up, Erzsebet. You had a chance to redeem yourself, with your daughter, and you instead tried to destroy her. Your fate is sealed." Erzsebet, covered in her own blood, laughs, "Foolish human, you won't be able to escape, and neither will any of your friends. You've destroyed the heart of the castle. They'll never find their way out." Thadeus grins, "That's where you're wrong. William is helping them escape." Erzsebet eyes go wide, "William? Could it be..." Thadeus states, "Your late husband. You want to hear something extraordinary? He convinced Elizabeth to not hate you, for all of the destruction and evil you've committed. He still had it within his spirit to love you."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -2)
Director's note
Erzsebet is prone on the ground, still holding herself up with one hand
“Thadeus scoffs, "Give it up, Erzsebet. You had a chance to redeem yourself, with your daughter, and you instead tried to destroy her. Your fate is sealed." Erzsebet, covered in her own blood, laughs, "Foolish human, you won't be able to escape, and neither will any of your friends. You've destroyed the heart of the castle. They'll never find their way out." Thadeus grins, "That's where you're wrong. William is helping them escape." Erzsebet eyes go wide, "William? Could it be..." Thadeus states, "Your late husband. You want to hear something extraordinary? He convinced Elizabeth to not hate you, for all of the destruction and evil you've committed. He still had it within his spirit to love you."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled +0)
Thadeus Jovanović
Give it up, Erzsebet. You had a chance to redeem yourself with your daughter, but you chose to destroy her. Your fate is sealed.
Erzsebet remains prone beside the shattered pedestals, holding herself up with one bloodied hand as the bedroom shudders around her. Blood darkens her torn dress.
Erzsebet Báthory
Foolish human. You will not escape, and neither will your friends. You destroyed the heart of the castle. They will never find their way out.
Thadeus Jovanović
That's where you're wrong. William is helping them escape.
Erzsebet Báthory
William? Could it be...
Thadeus Jovanović
Your late husband. He convinced Elizabeth not to hate you, despite all the destruction and evil you committed. He still had it within his spirit to love you.
Erzsebet’s eyes widen. For one suspended moment, fury gives way to disbelief, then grief. Beneath the shaking canopy, her hand slips against the stone, and she lowers her gaze.
“The floor shudders below Thadeus. In the distance, he can see a portion of the castle's outer wall fall away. Thadeus looks back to Erzsebet, asking, "How could you leave your daughter behind, and think you use her as a puppet?" Erzsebet feigns anger, replying with, "She's a vampire! She is support to slaughter and feed on humans, not become friends with them." Thadeus feels his blood boil, and begins to swing Peacebringer again. Erzsebet holds her hands up in a futile attempt to protect herself. Thadeus stops his swing, then says to her, "She's more human than you know. She's the best of both worlds. Give me one good reason not to destroy you, monster." Thadeus stares at Erzsebet, waiting for a response.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -3)
The floor bucks beneath Thadeus. Beyond the bedroom, a section of Castle Proserpina’s outer wall tears away and crashes into the storm-dark grounds.
Thadeus Jovanović
How could you leave your daughter behind and think you could use her as a puppet?
Erzsebet Báthory
She is a vampire! She is supposed to slaughter and feed on humans, not become friends with them.
Blood rises hot in Thadeus’s palm as he swings Peacebringer. Erzsebet remains prone beside the shattered pedestals, lifting both hands in a futile attempt to shield herself.
Thadeus Jovanović
She’s more human than you know. She’s the best of both worlds. Give me one good reason not to destroy you, monster.
Thadeus arrests the crimson chain inches from Erzsebet’s face. The sudden stop tears his wounded palm open again, and blood spatters the fractured carpet.
Erzsebet Báthory
Because I am the only one who knows what she is becoming. I abandoned her to keep that power dormant, then sought to command it before someone worse could claim her. I failed her, but I will not pretend I am harmless.
“Thadeus concentrates his energy on Peacebringer, changing its form into a long metal stake. He kneels down next to Erzsebet, aiming Peacebringer at her chest. Thadeus says, "If that were true, you could've told her that back in the US. Everything you've done with her was to serve your own ends." Thadeus holds Peacebringer steady, waiting for one more response from Erzsebet. Her eyes showing fear and defeat.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -1)
Peacebringer contracts from a crimson chain into a long metal stake, its point steady as Thadeus kneels beside Erzsebet on the fractured carpet.
The bedroom shudders around them. Erzsebet remains prone, bracing herself with one hand while dust falls from the torn canopy and broken walls.
Thadeus Jovanović
If that were true, you could've told her that back in the US. Everything you've done with her was to serve your own ends.
Thadeus holds the stake against Erzsebet’s chest without striking. Her eyes track the point, fear and defeat replacing the fury that had carried her through the castle.
Erzsebet Báthory
You are right about my ends. I wanted her power, and I wanted control. But I was also afraid of what would claim her if I failed.
Erzsebet Báthory
That does not absolve me. It only explains why I became the monster she deserved to fear.
The stake remains poised over her heart as the floor bucks again. Erzsebet does not reach for Thadeus or the weapon; she lowers her gaze and waits.
“Thadeus states one final statement to Erzsebet, "You failed your daughter when you forgot to love her." Thadeus then plunges Peacebringer into Erzsebet's chest. She gasps, blood beginning to pool out of the wound, then out of her mouth. Erzsebet, reaches her hand up towards Thadeus, "Please, tell Elizabeth...I'm sorry...and William...I...I...love..." Erzsebet's hand drops to the floor, then her body goes limp. Thadeus pulls Peacebringer out of Erzsebet, the weapon glowing bright blue once again.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Strength, rolled +1)
Thadeus Jovanović
You failed your daughter when you forgot to love her.
Thadeus drives Peacebringer into Erzsebet’s chest. The metal stake pierces her heart, and her body convulses against the fractured carpet as the bedroom shakes around them.
Erzsebet Báthory
Please, tell Elizabeth... I’m sorry... and William... I... I... love...
Blood pools around the wound and spills from Erzsebet’s mouth. She reaches weakly toward Thadeus, fingers trembling beneath the falling dust, then her hand drops flat against the floor.
Erzsebet’s body goes limp. The last tension leaves her face, and the ancient vampire lies still beside the shattered pedestals while the castle groans through another violent tremor.
Thadeus pulls Peacebringer free. The weapon contracts in his grasp, then flares bright blue, washing the collapsing bedroom in cold light as black veins fade beneath the carpet.
Quest Complete
Defeat Erzsebet Báthory
Skill Upgrade: Security Fair→Good