The unfamiliar mark reaches the manor doors. Before it can touch the iron, horns thunder from within the forecourt, and a blood-red standard unfurls above the gatehouse.
The Herald
Lady Seraphine. The western banners have been summoned. Lord Vaelcaryn rides for the border before moonset. House Orsavel has crossed the disputed marches.
Seraphine Vaelcaryn
My father is being called to war now? While the oath has only just been restored?
The Herald offers her a second sealed writ. Its black wax bears the same unfamiliar mark that darkened the command, and the symbol pulses toward the manor doors.
The Herald
There is more. The inner wards have failed, and the household wardkeeper is missing. Lord Vaelcaryn ordered the breach contained before he departs. He named you his acting hand.
Seraphine looks from the war standard to Nocturne's scorched, fractured gauntlet. The summons offers no authority over him, but the estate's crisis and the dragon's restored claim now converge beneath one roof. His gauntlets will need the blacksmith's hands before their magic can be trusted again.
✓ Quest Accepted
Resolve the estate's ward breach
✓ Quest Accepted
Learn who sent the marked writs
“Well, seems like you have your work cut out for you. *I say with a sly grin* I'll help around until your father's back. He still owes me my paycheck anyways. I can find whoever is inside, but in exchange I am going to need a small something from you, young miss Seraphine. *I say while pointing at one of my fangs, my eyes taking in a soft crimson hue as I do so.* One drop of blood is all I need to make up for the loss of my left gauntlet.”
SUCCESS (Great Willpower, rolled -1)
Nocturne
Well, seems you have your work cut out for you. I’ll help contain the breach until your father returns. He still owes me my pay, after all. I can find whoever is inside, but I’ll need a small something from you, young miss Seraphine.
Nocturne points to one fang. His eyes kindle a soft crimson, and the fractured mithril gauntlet gives a brittle metallic tick.
Nocturne
One drop of blood is all I need to make up for the loss of my left gauntlet.
Seraphine Vaelcaryn
A strange fee. Yet you offer aid when my house is failing. Very well, one drop, freely given.
She presses a thumb against a signet edge and lets a single red bead gather. When she holds it out, the unfamiliar mark on the writ flares toward her hand, then gutters dark.
The Herald
Lady Seraphine, that mark answered the blood. If you enter the manor, it may answer again.
Seraphine Vaelcaryn
Then let it witness this bargain. Take the drop, Nocturne, and help me find my missing wardkeeper.
“*I lick the blood from Seraphine's finger and the crimson glow in my irises grows tenfold.* I can see people running on the second floor of the manor! *I say while taking out my grimiore and launching a volley of ice spikes at the intruders, my hand pointing at the windows of one of the dark, unlit manor hallways that are too dark to see into by any normal human.* Let the guards know they're heading to the right wing of the manor!”
SUCCESS (Great Magic, rolled +2)
Nocturne leans in and takes the offered drop from Seraphine's finger. Crimson brilliance surges through his irises, and the manor's darkness opens before his sight.
Nocturne
People are running on the second floor. They are already inside the inner sanctum.
His grimoire snaps open. With one pointed hand, Nocturne sends a volley of ice spikes through the unlit right-wing windows, their pale flight revealing fleeing silhouettes within.
The spikes burst across the inner hall and lock the passage in glittering frost, hemming the intruders away from the central stair.
Seraphine Vaelcaryn
The sanctum? They crossed every ward and reached the heart of the house?
The Herald
By the inner stair! Gods preserve us, the breach is within the manor. Guards, to the right wing! Seal the ward chamber!
The Herald's cry races through the forecourt. Inside, boots answer from several corridors as the frost holds the intruders in place, while the unfamiliar mark darkens toward the manor doors.
Seraphine Vaelcaryn
Nocturne, can you keep that passage sealed while I reach the ward chamber?
“I already have, young miss. No need to get you undergarments in a twist. *I say with a chuckle.* Though I wish they weren't so far inside. If they were a little but closer, I could use illusory magic chase the little devils out.”
Nocturne
I already have, young miss. No need to get your undergarments in a twist. Though I wish they were closer. I could use illusion magic to chase them out.
Seraphine Vaelcaryn
Then keep the passage sealed, Nocturne. I will not mistake your humor for indifference, nor your aid for a promise to remain.
Her answer carries a reluctant smile beneath the urgency, while the frost holds and the guards converge within.
“*I run inside and return with several people who appear to be wearing a cloaked uniform of some kind.* From what I can tell, these 4 are assassins. Probably were sent to take you as ransom while your father was away. *I bite down on the neck of one of the assassins and using the blood to perform a ritual that turns the one I bit into my lackey.* It is basic vampiric necromancy. The same was used on me a few months back, but unlike me. This unlucky bastard can't kill me before he fully turns. *I say while keeping my grip tight on the transforming assassin.*”
SUCCESS (Great Magic, rolled +0)
Therefore, Nocturne bursts from the manor with four cloaked captives, driving them across the moonlit forecourt as the frostbound passage holds behind him.
Their uniforms bear no house colors. Their faces are concealed, but their blades and binding cords mark them as trained infiltrators.
Nocturne
From what I can tell, these four are assassins, likely sent to take you as ransom while your father is away.
Nocturne seizes one captive and bends to the assassin's neck. The bite is swift and concealed by his cloak, while a thin crimson radiance gathers beneath the vampire's scorched gauntlet.
Nocturne
This is basic vampiric necromancy. He cannot kill me before the turning is complete.
The captive's resistance ebbs. Dark veins of magic trace the ritual's circle, and his eyes open with a newly obedient, blood-bright stare. The other three recoil against their bonds.
Seraphine Vaelcaryn
Ransom, then. That means someone expected the manor to fall quiet, and knew exactly when to strike.
Behind her, the unfamiliar mark on the black-wax writ darkens toward the manor doors. The frost shudders, but does not break.
“He's all yours. *I say once the transformation is complete.*”
The crimson radiance settles beneath Nocturne's scorched gauntlet. The captive's breathing steadies, and the blood-bright stare fixes obediently upon him as the transformation reaches completion.
Nocturne
He's all yours.
Nocturne releases the newly turned assassin. He rises unsteadily, still bound, while the other three captives watch him with rigid, frightened silence.
Seraphine Vaelcaryn
You have made him your servant, then. Will he answer plainly about who sent them?
Assassin
I will answer what I know. We came under orders from a masked patron bearing the black mark.
At the manor doors, the unfamiliar symbol flares in answer. Within, the frost cracks across the right-wing passage, and distant guards shout that the ward chamber is opening.
Seraphine Vaelcaryn
Then this was never only a ransom attempt. Nocturne, keep them contained. I am going to the ward chamber before that mark claims the house.