Scene 3: The Ceremony

The Caretaker looks up surprised and shouts something unintelligible as he waves his hands. Alexander gets the feeling that the man means to come up to meet them... or maybe they should go down. It's not clear at that distance, but the Caretaker looks distressed.

You all go down and meet the Caretaker by the main entrance. He looks very stress about something "Have you seen master Roderick? Is he alright?" he asks immediately "Something happened in town and ... I fear master Roderick may nor be with us any longer "

"In town?" The caretaker asks himself. "Oh yes, that one doesn't look good at all. Oh no it does not, I tell you. Worse in a very long time for the Rookwoods." He starts with a dire tone, casually dropping the actual news "The Knights of the Sacred Congregation, they are burning the Tarhallows' girl. Witchcraft apparently." He looks around the Manor, taking in the Estate before explaining the problem. "It seems she has been talking with Gunther and someone saw master Roderick with some suspicious women in the graveyard... of all places! Doesn't look good at all. Not good to have the Knights digging around. Not good at all, not at a time like this."

The Caretaker looks at Claire for a moment after saying that. He looks at the portraits around the entrance, taking a longer look at one particular painting of a family woman "Did the master's time already arrive? I found Gunther inanimate and I suspected as much". To Claire's surprise, not only he seems to be expecting the unbelievable, he also mentions something may have simultaneous happened to Gunther, Roderick's old and loyal servant.

"Well, the Tarhallows' is a sweet girl, but it's not my business. I asked master Elias to go into town and try to manage that problem. His good standing with the King's military might prove useful" The man's attitude has always been a bit disquieting, but given the news, you just can't shake the feeling that something very wrong is going on.

"Oh Gunther? Poor man. Found him collapsed inside that grave he was trying to fill again. However ..." his voice suddenly becomes so serious, it almost feels like an echo in endless darkness "... if master Roderick is not here with us, then he can't lead the family. One of you must take up the mantle. Today."