Celia Graves
Hold him steady, Maurice. I am drawing the curse out now. If it reaches Elianor, stop her gift before it takes root.
Celia’s deathly radiance tightens around the fallen contestant’s chest. The rigid body bows against the invisible strain, while Elianor stands just beyond reach, hands clenched to contain her healing power.
Elianor Vale
It is pulling toward me. I can feel my gift answering it, but I will not let it use me.
A blackened shadow rises from beneath the contestant’s ribs, stretching like smoke against Celia’s pale light. The sickroom lamps gutter, though no wind enters through the sealed windows.
Celia Graves
There. Do not breathe into it. Do not answer it. The curse has a second pulse, and it is not inside this man.
The shadow jerks toward Elianor, then snaps back as Celia seizes it in both hands. Beyond the sickroom walls, something beats once beneath stone, slow and deliberate.
Celia Graves
Maurice, keep him from moving. Elianor, seal your gift. Whatever commands this curse is awake beneath the estate.
✓ Quest Accepted
Identify the Baron's entourage member controlling the curse
“I hold the cursed contestant steady while Celia draws it out.”
FAILURE (Great Strength, rolled -1)
Maurice locks both arms around the fallen contestant’s shoulders and chest, pinning the rigid body as Celia’s radiance draws the shadow upward.
The contestant’s strength surges with unnatural timing. Maurice holds for a breath, then the body buckles sideways, dragging his grip toward the sealed floor.
Celia Graves
Release his chest. You are anchoring the curse through him. Hold his wrists instead, and let the body turn.
Maurice’s restraint fails to keep the contestant upright, but the forced turn exposes a thin black seam beneath the ribs, pulsing in time with the beat under the estate.
Elianor Vale
The seam is a path. If Celia follows it, she may reach the command without passing through my gift.
Celia Graves
Good. Maurice, keep his hands apart. I can draw along the path now, but not while his body is braced against it.
The curse no longer strains toward Elianor. It has been exposed as a route beneath the ribs, giving Celia another way to pull it free while Maurice changes his hold.
“I keep his wrists apart for Celia”
SUCCESS (Great Strength, rolled +0)
Maurice catches both wrists and forces them apart. The fallen contestant bucks once, wrenching Maurice’s shoulder and scraping his forearm against the stone, but the hands stay separated.
Celia Graves
Good. Hold them there. The path is open.
Celia’s pale radiance narrows from the black seam beneath the ribs toward the contestant’s divided wrists. The shadow recoils from Maurice’s grip, then stretches taut between Celia’s hands and the exposed route.
Elianor Vale
It is resisting him now. Maurice, do not let the hands meet.
The contestant’s fingers claw toward one another, but Maurice’s locked hold keeps the wrists wide. His bruised shoulder trembles under the sustained force.
Celia Graves
There. I have it. Keep still while I draw the command away from his living will.
Celia pulls along the black seam. The contestant’s body slackens beneath Maurice’s hands, while the pulse under the estate stutters and falls silent for one breath.
“I question the contestant while Celia holds the curse”
SUCCESS (Legendary Diplomacy, rolled -1)
The contestant’s slack body draws a ragged breath. Celia keeps the pale radiance threaded through the black seam, holding the curse taut while Maurice’s grip keeps the wrists apart.
Maurice Headsman
What do you remember? Tell me who placed this curse on you.
The contestant’s eyes flutter open. His gaze fixes on Maurice, terrified but lucid, while the shadow twists soundlessly between Celia’s hands.
Tavin Rusk
I am Tavin Rusk. The Baron’s physician marked me after the last bout. He said the mark would make me obedient.
Celia’s radiance tightens. The curse bucks toward the sealed floor, but the contestant’s answer has come clearly, naming the physician and the purpose behind the mark.
Celia Graves
You heard him. The physician is the hand that marked the living. We must hurry, I heard his currently attending to the Duchess. She is in danger.
The contestant’s wrists go slack beneath Maurice’s hands. Celia holds the curse away from his will, and its secret now lies exposed: the Baron’s physician placed the mark to enforce obedience.
Quest Complete
Identify the Baron's entourage member controlling the curse
Attribute Upgrade: Strength Great→Superb