Scene 3: The Ceremony

"Well," Claire says, looking uncertainly after the strange caretaker. "I guess we can have a shared funeral for grandfather and his sister tonight. That might be nice. But I have my own clothes. I don't need him to find me something to wear."

"I fear he means that you will be taking over as head of the family Claire. Hard to tell with the man being exceedingly cryptic though. Still, better you than me."

"Me?" Claire asks. "But I haven't even finished my education. If anything, it should be Elias! He has experience leading people from the military. That makes him more qualified than any of us. I think."

"Well, this is all conjecture of course, but the caretaker isn't looking for a fancy dress for Elias. Regardless we need more answers, and there are far too many loose threads to tug on right now."

As Nathaniel mentions the need to find more about what is going on, he remembers the strange words from the Caretaker. He found Gunther "inanimated" and "collapsed". Not the sort of words people usually use to describe a state where you would abandon someone like he did. Curious, he decides to check what the Caretaker really meant. He walks out into the graveyard but something stops him as he is about to step through the door.

Alexander gives Nathaniel a wry smile. "Yes, we'd better put that medical degree of yours to the test, cousin! What has become of poor Gunther?" The smile disappears as Nathaniel seems lost in thought.

Nathaniel stops and the door and stares off into the distance, as one does when they are lost in thought.

Instead of stopping him, Nathaniel's memories of last night events only make him surer that they should check the location during daylight to figure out what really happened in there. As he searches the area, he notices the black cat again, quietly standing by a grave which has been damaged by some sort of clawed animal. Though the full name is unreadable, Nathaniel can estimate from the birth date he would have been born to the same generation as Roderick's, and from the epitaph you can make out "loving brother", suggesting it was a man.

However, what catches his eyes is Gunther. The poor man fell into an open grave, collapsing like a lifeless doll. With your medical training, you immediately notice the absence of any evidence of blood or major wounds. This is surprising since you'd expect such a body in such twisted state to be the result of violent trauma.

"Any idea what happened to the poor man, Cousin?" As he waits for Nathaniel's answer, Alexander crouches, reaches out to the cat, and makes a clicking noise with his tongue.

"Well, right now all I have is ideas. But that rarely helps anyone. We need solid information, and that seems very difficult to get in this place."

"How ironic, I spend my days trying to keep people out of the grave." Nathaniel says, as he hops down for a closer inspection of Gunther's body

Nathaniel finishes his assessment of the corpse then climbs out of the pit. As he climbs it appears as if his arms strecth a bit to reach the last few inches. The dirt and unflattering smell follow him, and he starts to dust himself off as he starts talking. "Alright, based on my study of the corpse, along with the Caretakers rather,uh, cryptic wording, I believe Gunthers life, or life force, may have been tied to the Old Man somehow. When one ceased to be, well, uhm, so did the other." He starts pacing the area while he thinks.

"That begs the question: Was Gunther already passed and revivified somehow? Was he ever alive? Claire, can you ask the Caretaker if any other staff fell ill or started acting strangely after your gradfathers petrification? Alexander, do have a look and see whose name is on the headstone of Gunthers impromptu grave."

"I can speak to him again," Claire agrees. "But he makes me nervous. I'd prefer not to go alone. Elias, would you mind coming with me? Just in case he acts weird again?"
If Elias agrees, Claire will go look for the Caretaker again.