Dec 12, 2022 4:34 pm
OOC:
Taking notes and summarizing the story so far as I review the game to prepare the last scene :DSummary
Be sure to read and follow the guidelines for our forums.
You all found a strange letter inviting you to your grandmother's Ceremony and made way back to the Manor, the ancient building that watched over a small backwater Town which grew out of an important trade route. Due to the Rookwoods' status and influence, the Town as been unaffected by war or plague for as far as anyone can remember, helping it maintain its relevance as a trading post and resting place surprisingly unchallenged over the ages.
Dec 12, 2022 4:35 pm
Day 0 - Evening
Elias Rookwood, groomed by Roderick and his idealized version of the Rookwoods, decided to join the King's army, a gesture of loyalty to the new order that he expected would regain the honor and influence the Rookwoods had lost. He makes his preparation to leave the military encampment and ride towards the Riverlight Manor, where he hopes to pick up his sister Claire. Elias quickly makes his way, arriving just after a storm starts. He is greeted by the Riverlight's Butler, showed the way to the drawing room and offered tea to warm up from the cold and a place to stay the night and wait for the storm to pass.
Claire Rookwood, nerdy and dark teenager sister, she was sent to Riverlight Manor by her grandfather Roderick to become a proper Lady. Even though she disliked most of it, she took opportunity to move away from the family and her brother's smothering affection. It was there that she got the letter, which she assumed was from her grandfather. With her 16th birthday approaching and with no intention of finding a suitable husband for now, she once again takes the opportunity to leave, though she struggles to remember anything about her grandmother. As she is talking to her only friend Alice, a maid interrupts to let her know her brother Elias as arrived to pick her, just as she suspected he would.
The two siblings talk about they lives at Riverlight and the adventure in the army for a while before the subject returns to their grandmother, which none of them seems to remember very clearly. At some point they notice Alice eavesdropping on them and Claire introduces her brother Elias to her friend. Tired of his travels, Elias retires to rest. He and Claire leave to the manor as soon as the sun rises the next day without waiting for Duke Riverlight's return...
Roderick Rookwood, the tyrannical grandfather of another generation was the first to make it to the Manor. He muses over the letter, trying to read the truth hidden in it. Could it be from his long dead sister? What would they be celebrating? Her cursed, dark soul? His attention turns to his living family. Meeting them always ended in dispute, and he was not looking forward to it. Roderick, curious about this strange invitation asks his loyal servant Gunther about it. The man, confused, can only say that he got orders from Caretaker to prepare for the family's arrival. Roderick retires deep into the library to notice some of the books missing, though he manages to remember he took some of the missing books to his own study. As he sits down thinking about this Ceremony, he notices some movement in the graveyard, but makes nothing of it except... his sister's statue seems to have been moves. For the first time, he thinks about the chainyard having been trespassed. Probably some youth from the local Town, he assumes. Nothing a couple of bad-tempered mastiffs won't solve...
Roderick stands to check the chains themselves. They have clearly been broken, thought Roderick cannot tell how. It looks like the links somehow detached from each other without breaking, like one of those cheap tricks from some street magician. Roderick decides to inspect this strange intrusion in daylight and returns to the Manor.
Elias Rookwood, groomed by Roderick and his idealized version of the Rookwoods, decided to join the King's army, a gesture of loyalty to the new order that he expected would regain the honor and influence the Rookwoods had lost. He makes his preparation to leave the military encampment and ride towards the Riverlight Manor, where he hopes to pick up his sister Claire. Elias quickly makes his way, arriving just after a storm starts. He is greeted by the Riverlight's Butler, showed the way to the drawing room and offered tea to warm up from the cold and a place to stay the night and wait for the storm to pass.
Claire Rookwood, nerdy and dark teenager sister, she was sent to Riverlight Manor by her grandfather Roderick to become a proper Lady. Even though she disliked most of it, she took opportunity to move away from the family and her brother's smothering affection. It was there that she got the letter, which she assumed was from her grandfather. With her 16th birthday approaching and with no intention of finding a suitable husband for now, she once again takes the opportunity to leave, though she struggles to remember anything about her grandmother. As she is talking to her only friend Alice, a maid interrupts to let her know her brother Elias as arrived to pick her, just as she suspected he would.
The two siblings talk about they lives at Riverlight and the adventure in the army for a while before the subject returns to their grandmother, which none of them seems to remember very clearly. At some point they notice Alice eavesdropping on them and Claire introduces her brother Elias to her friend. Tired of his travels, Elias retires to rest. He and Claire leave to the manor as soon as the sun rises the next day without waiting for Duke Riverlight's return...
Roderick Rookwood, the tyrannical grandfather of another generation was the first to make it to the Manor. He muses over the letter, trying to read the truth hidden in it. Could it be from his long dead sister? What would they be celebrating? Her cursed, dark soul? His attention turns to his living family. Meeting them always ended in dispute, and he was not looking forward to it. Roderick, curious about this strange invitation asks his loyal servant Gunther about it. The man, confused, can only say that he got orders from Caretaker to prepare for the family's arrival. Roderick retires deep into the library to notice some of the books missing, though he manages to remember he took some of the missing books to his own study. As he sits down thinking about this Ceremony, he notices some movement in the graveyard, but makes nothing of it except... his sister's statue seems to have been moves. For the first time, he thinks about the chainyard having been trespassed. Probably some youth from the local Town, he assumes. Nothing a couple of bad-tempered mastiffs won't solve...
Roderick stands to check the chains themselves. They have clearly been broken, thought Roderick cannot tell how. It looks like the links somehow detached from each other without breaking, like one of those cheap tricks from some street magician. Roderick decides to inspect this strange intrusion in daylight and returns to the Manor.
CESN sent a note to Dr_B
Dec 12, 2022 4:35 pm
Day 1 - Morning
Alexander Rookwood, the rakish cousin who fell in disgrace after Annabelle disappearance, despised the idea of returning, but one look at the old letters from Claire changed his mind. Before making his way to the Manor, Alexander stopped at the local Tarhallows's tavern, "The Sentry's Rest". There Alexander tries to figure out if any of the other family members arrived and, perhaps, what happened with his grandmother. In a moment of quiet, Alexander looks around and sees his cousin Nathaniel walking outside. He rushes to meet a potential "ally" in the nest of "Rookwood vipers" only to be faced by a stunned local huntsman.
Nathaniel Rookwood, the adopted cousin who was never truly accepted, left to travel the world and study at the most renowned universities. In his small clinic, he sat wondering about "grandmother". A man such as Roderick would have married at some point, but why didn't he remember anything about her? Still unsure why he even kept trying to fit in, Nathaniel felt the family obligation to join the others in the Manor, a place he wasn't even sure he ever visited, or if his memories were just old stories told by his parents... Arriving in Town, Nathaniel decides to stop by the local Physician's guild house, offering his assistance while in town, though he later mentions to Alexander they the guild did not seem to inclined to accept his help. As he walks out he see Alexander talking to a confused local.
Both cousins return to the inn for a drink and to avoid entering the Rookwood den for as long as they could. They briefly mention how Alexander's "venture business" strained his already delicate relationship with Roderick and Elias. Trying to befriend the locals, Alexander offers a drink to everyone and approaches one of the customers, naturally blending in with the lower classes. It seems the locals haven't heard from their grandmother in a long time. However, they found how the Knights of the Sacred Congregation (inquisition) were in Town to put down rumors about some ungodly non-sense in the nearby forest.
As they continue chatting, the two cousins notice the waitress sneak out to talk with none other than Gunther, their grandfather's personal servant. They follow her but she excuses herself as soon as she notices them, returning back to the inn. Gunther recognizes them immediately, despite all the years. Immediately, Alexandre jumps on the opportunity to find more about Roderick's plans and, maybe, just maybe, gain Gunther's favor with his wits. With the help of Nathaniel they convince Gunther to talk about their grandmothers. Strangely, the man says they might have been too young to meet her, describing her as a sweet girl and Roderick's little sister who left. After that, Roderick doesn't speak much about her anymore. Gunther says her passing was the most unlucky and dreadful thing, her body was never found. He and Roderick arrived later that day as they have been away to deal with something related to the war (no wars in decades!). The family rarely spoke of about it so he is not sure what really happened.
Gunther also heard rumors about he woods... He looks nervous as he speaks about it. Apparently it's a giants wolf, but he is certain there's no way a wolf can be that big. He says the Knights of the Sacred Congregation are on a non-sense witch hunt and will not find anything, though their presence is driving people mad. The Reeve, the town's magistrate, even decided to hire some mercenaries to hunt such beast for some reason!
Alexander Rookwood, the rakish cousin who fell in disgrace after Annabelle disappearance, despised the idea of returning, but one look at the old letters from Claire changed his mind. Before making his way to the Manor, Alexander stopped at the local Tarhallows's tavern, "The Sentry's Rest". There Alexander tries to figure out if any of the other family members arrived and, perhaps, what happened with his grandmother. In a moment of quiet, Alexander looks around and sees his cousin Nathaniel walking outside. He rushes to meet a potential "ally" in the nest of "Rookwood vipers" only to be faced by a stunned local huntsman.
Nathaniel Rookwood, the adopted cousin who was never truly accepted, left to travel the world and study at the most renowned universities. In his small clinic, he sat wondering about "grandmother". A man such as Roderick would have married at some point, but why didn't he remember anything about her? Still unsure why he even kept trying to fit in, Nathaniel felt the family obligation to join the others in the Manor, a place he wasn't even sure he ever visited, or if his memories were just old stories told by his parents... Arriving in Town, Nathaniel decides to stop by the local Physician's guild house, offering his assistance while in town, though he later mentions to Alexander they the guild did not seem to inclined to accept his help. As he walks out he see Alexander talking to a confused local.
Both cousins return to the inn for a drink and to avoid entering the Rookwood den for as long as they could. They briefly mention how Alexander's "venture business" strained his already delicate relationship with Roderick and Elias. Trying to befriend the locals, Alexander offers a drink to everyone and approaches one of the customers, naturally blending in with the lower classes. It seems the locals haven't heard from their grandmother in a long time. However, they found how the Knights of the Sacred Congregation (inquisition) were in Town to put down rumors about some ungodly non-sense in the nearby forest.
As they continue chatting, the two cousins notice the waitress sneak out to talk with none other than Gunther, their grandfather's personal servant. They follow her but she excuses herself as soon as she notices them, returning back to the inn. Gunther recognizes them immediately, despite all the years. Immediately, Alexandre jumps on the opportunity to find more about Roderick's plans and, maybe, just maybe, gain Gunther's favor with his wits. With the help of Nathaniel they convince Gunther to talk about their grandmothers. Strangely, the man says they might have been too young to meet her, describing her as a sweet girl and Roderick's little sister who left. After that, Roderick doesn't speak much about her anymore. Gunther says her passing was the most unlucky and dreadful thing, her body was never found. He and Roderick arrived later that day as they have been away to deal with something related to the war (no wars in decades!). The family rarely spoke of about it so he is not sure what really happened.
Gunther also heard rumors about he woods... He looks nervous as he speaks about it. Apparently it's a giants wolf, but he is certain there's no way a wolf can be that big. He says the Knights of the Sacred Congregation are on a non-sense witch hunt and will not find anything, though their presence is driving people mad. The Reeve, the town's magistrate, even decided to hire some mercenaries to hunt such beast for some reason!
CESN sent a note to crazybirdman
CESN sent a note to SavageBob
CESN sent a note to Dr_B
Dec 13, 2022 10:53 pm
day 1 - afternoon
Empty Manor
Roderick woke up late, the sun already high in the sky. He did not sleep well, plague by a strange nightmare. The feeling that something was watching him in the graveyard last night, a creature, an upright walking deer, stared at him from the freezing fog of the stormy night. He walks past a window, just in time to looks down from and see the carriage arrives carrying Elias and Claire. A good omen they arrived first he considers. As Claire casually talks to her brother, she notices the shadowy shape on the window and points it out to Elias. However, her brother is too late to see as the shape vanished in an instant. Whoever it was, it soon becomes clear that no one will be answering the door to take their luggage. As Elias knocks at the entrance, the door opens slightly on its own. Noticing it was unlocked, Claire rushes inside, hoping to find her grandfather who she is convinced she saw at the window. She is surprised that the Manor seems abandoned, no one greeting them. However, she is also excited and decides to take her luggage upstairs to her old room herself.
Elias watches his sister walk upstairs, but staying behind waiting for someone to greet him. When he finally gets tired of waiting, he unconsciously wanders towards the Rookwood hall of Arms. Elias finds himself in a small library filled with all manner of books based on the art of War. Taking his hand and tracing the back of the books Elias loses himself in the moment and picks a random volume to read again.
The Ash tree
Roderick walks down a corridor and decides to stop, noticing the raven from yesterday was still on the same three. The bird flies to reveal the Caretaker walking deeper into the Manor's grounds. Considering the Caretaker was nowhere to be found thee night before and knowing very well the Manor has its old secrets and hidden passages, the idea that the tree could conceal a passage the Caretaker is using to get in and out starts to form in Roderick's suspicious mind. He sneaks out of the Manor after the servant. But before that, he stops by the tree, which at first seems to be smiling at him. He shakes the non-sense out of his mind and investigates the Ash Tree further, noticing a man-made structure, ancient stone steps eroded from centuries of use going deep under the tree. He also notices a strange symbol engraved at the end of the steps and, as he pushes further into the hollow he starts to feel the vein-like tendrils of dead wood tightening from all directions, like long, grotesque skeletal fingers intertwining in a deadly grip. The old man scrambles quickly backwards, falling backwards, just in time to see the living roots sealing the passage below the tree, relentlessly animated by a mysterious force. His suspicious of the Caretaker grow as it seems like the old man might know how to get through that passage. Standing up, Roderick finally focus on finding the Caretaker. Last night's storm left the grounds are still wet and soft, making it easy to track the man. To his surprise, he finds more tracks that could have possibly been done by one man. Perhaps, some are of his own making, from his last night's wanderings... perhaps some are from what he assumed had been only a nightmare... Roderick's thoughts are interrupted by the unexpected voices of someone talking nearby. Again, it seems the Caretaker will have to wait...
Empty Manor
Roderick woke up late, the sun already high in the sky. He did not sleep well, plague by a strange nightmare. The feeling that something was watching him in the graveyard last night, a creature, an upright walking deer, stared at him from the freezing fog of the stormy night. He walks past a window, just in time to looks down from and see the carriage arrives carrying Elias and Claire. A good omen they arrived first he considers. As Claire casually talks to her brother, she notices the shadowy shape on the window and points it out to Elias. However, her brother is too late to see as the shape vanished in an instant. Whoever it was, it soon becomes clear that no one will be answering the door to take their luggage. As Elias knocks at the entrance, the door opens slightly on its own. Noticing it was unlocked, Claire rushes inside, hoping to find her grandfather who she is convinced she saw at the window. She is surprised that the Manor seems abandoned, no one greeting them. However, she is also excited and decides to take her luggage upstairs to her old room herself.
Elias watches his sister walk upstairs, but staying behind waiting for someone to greet him. When he finally gets tired of waiting, he unconsciously wanders towards the Rookwood hall of Arms. Elias finds himself in a small library filled with all manner of books based on the art of War. Taking his hand and tracing the back of the books Elias loses himself in the moment and picks a random volume to read again.
The Ash tree
Roderick walks down a corridor and decides to stop, noticing the raven from yesterday was still on the same three. The bird flies to reveal the Caretaker walking deeper into the Manor's grounds. Considering the Caretaker was nowhere to be found thee night before and knowing very well the Manor has its old secrets and hidden passages, the idea that the tree could conceal a passage the Caretaker is using to get in and out starts to form in Roderick's suspicious mind. He sneaks out of the Manor after the servant. But before that, he stops by the tree, which at first seems to be smiling at him. He shakes the non-sense out of his mind and investigates the Ash Tree further, noticing a man-made structure, ancient stone steps eroded from centuries of use going deep under the tree. He also notices a strange symbol engraved at the end of the steps and, as he pushes further into the hollow he starts to feel the vein-like tendrils of dead wood tightening from all directions, like long, grotesque skeletal fingers intertwining in a deadly grip. The old man scrambles quickly backwards, falling backwards, just in time to see the living roots sealing the passage below the tree, relentlessly animated by a mysterious force. His suspicious of the Caretaker grow as it seems like the old man might know how to get through that passage. Standing up, Roderick finally focus on finding the Caretaker. Last night's storm left the grounds are still wet and soft, making it easy to track the man. To his surprise, he finds more tracks that could have possibly been done by one man. Perhaps, some are of his own making, from his last night's wanderings... perhaps some are from what he assumed had been only a nightmare... Roderick's thoughts are interrupted by the unexpected voices of someone talking nearby. Again, it seems the Caretaker will have to wait...
CESN sent a note to Dr_B
Dec 29, 2022 12:29 pm
OOC:
I'll pause this for now because my replacement laptop is last century slow :o I'll try to keep this up to date next year :D