NM Part 6

The group stands in the town church, having just witnessed the last moments of the resident Deacon and found a simple gold band inscribed with a love message to Marissa Turner. Perhaps a key to one of the stories the book eluded to?

Alba crouches down by the bones of the holy man, ears pinned back against her skull. "...Who holds the book," she says, apparently unwilling to raise her voice overmuch in this place of peace, "What tales did it say lay within?"

Ka'Len looks at the coffer for a few moments and then he pours the gold ring out into his hand. The man looks over towards Marduke and tilts his head quietly before glancing towards Alba while he walks back over to where the viera kneels wordlessly.

Sebastion, after his moment of mourning(?) for the Deacon, turned and started inspecting the church, casually examining the various features here and there. He's not particularly wordy for actual conversation. "I think we should go to that place with the evil aura," he mentions, idly, "The one we passed on the way here."

Remi, after having calmed down again some, perhaps starting to get used to random ghosts popping up, watches for a moment as Alba inspects the body and then tries to take a peek at the ring. At Sebastion's suggestion then though, he headtilts at the man, and asks, "Um, why? Think it has something to do with the ring and stuff?"

Marduke is still kneeling by the priest after offering his prayer. He is already pulling up the book as Alba mentions it and shakes his head, "There is nothing written in it so far." Eyes looking back to the dead body, "I think there may be a warning here. The one who killed him. A apperation like that may still be around here, not wanting what was done undone. Be on guard."

"Warning, trail-marker, aid," Alba says sourly, rising from her crouch and brushing nonexistent dust from her legs. A glance is thrown at Sebastion, the Viera's brow furrowing. "Father Antlion wishes for us to follow his trail to our deaths. There is little need to speed his supper more than we must. The holy man, he spoke of this deed done to preserve the purity of family. Know we, which family this may be? The man's, or the woman's?"

Ka'Len looks down at the ring in his hand quietly before murmuring, "Marisa Turner was the girl's name, least acording to the ring.. Perhaps we can find a record of where she lived and take the ring to her home?" He looks up and back and forth then. "Perhaps?"

"A protective father, maybe, trying to shield his daughter, like is common in storie like that," Sebastion suggests, since the party is on a theme with the wedding band and whichever side doesn't want the other 'dirtying the bloodline.' "Tch. 'Nobility,'" he complains, tiredly, grimacing at the whole thought.

Remi hmms and seems to think for a moment, letting his eyes wander around the church as he does so, though not really looking for anything. Glancing back to the others then though, he shrugs, and pipes back up, "I think Ka'len's idea is good. Find her family's home and stuff. Or maybe wherever she... Died. And return the ring to her that way."

Marduke hmms as he stands up now, "Or a son wanting to marry a woman he loves. It may be prudent to check the town hall next, see if we can find any records left, should be a census section if it is intact." He offers with a shrug of his shoulders, "Yet first before we leave we should look around a bit more see if there is anything else here to find for now. I have a feeling we will be revisting a lot of places.

Bob floats about until the name turner is uttered "Ooo The Turners, now there's a name that'll chill to the bone. Turners were one of the ruling families of the Valley along with the Marlons. Matron Belinda was as nasty and bitter an old bat as they come. The Turner mansion is on the east side of town, so we gotta head back to the intersection."

Alba's eyebrow twitches up at Bob's interjection. "...Well," she murmurs, drawing in a breath and bouncing the bright mythril dagger in her hand, "it would seem that the great hall is not necessary. Shall we, then, go to see what there is to see in this great house?"

Ka'Len gives a nod to Marduke's idea and takes a few brief moments to look around a bit more, the ring pocketed for now. Finding nothing though he murmurs, "Alright, lets get moving. We don't want to waste the daylight here." The young man passes by Sebastion and murmurs lowly, "they're just like anyone else, but they have money and prestige so they seem all the worse for their crimes. Some are pretty bad though, agreed." The young nobleman sighs then and continues past to exit the building, checking the street before he steps out.

Sebastion flashes a look of mild interest to Ka'Len's words, but only offers a shrug in reply, at first. And then, commenting somewhat afterward, "I was from a noble family once. I might be biased against nobility as a whole because of it," with good humor in his voice, even if he still seems bitter. He turns to follow the others, getting his sword ready again.

Remi follows after the others as well, glancing at Bob for a moment, seeming unsure of what to think of the skull, but staying quiet about it. And as he steps outside, to follow everyone to the mansion, he suddenly remembers that he's carrying that violin he took from the pawnshop... Blinking down at it.

"Nobility are like anybody else, can do great good, and can do great evil. The only real difference is that nobility commonly has the researches to make the acts bigger then the average person." Marduke offers shrugging his shoulders as he also takes a quick look around but turns to head out, "We best be on our way." A glance to Bob and a shake of his head, "I wonder what we will find at the manor." A touch of a frown on his face.

Heading back onto the streets the group heads towards the intersection, passing the Drooling Marlboro once again and the aura of hate that radiates from the structure. They find themselves once again at the Y intersection with the town hall standing before them. The streets are quiet, even the wind seems to have died off completely leaving the stillness of death to the town.

Alba glances askance at the menacing tavern, eyes narrowing. "Soon," she murmurs under her breath. "Soon enough we shall see the face that lurks behind such a vile place..." Her shoulders shake, briefly, as though a grand joke only just occurred to her, but mirth is shaken off in little time. "To the manor, then..." Glancing at either fork of the Y, she lifts her dagger to point down the eastward-traveling path. "This way."

Ka'Len's eyes trail after the place and then flick to Alba before he shudders a little. "I don't look forward to it.." he admits and trails after her, sticking to Remi's side while glancing at the violin that he got his hands on quietly.

Sebastion offers only an incredulous stare in Marduke's direction toward his words, and a heavy sigh as they progress onward. He spares more time looking at the Drooling Marlboro, regarding it with a cold gaze, hand tightening on the sword. He is, like usual, largely silent during their walk, simply trailing along and keeping an eye out for any odd sights in the fog.

Remi sees Ka'Len look at the violin as he walks next to him, and he holds it up some for the other lad to get a better look. Stage-whispering to him meanwhile, "Alba took the dagger, so I figured it couldn't hurt grabbing this either... Prolly was a mistake, with our luck, but we'll see... It's pretty, but I'll throw it away the moment I have to." And then pauses as they come to the intersection, peeking along each path, and then nodding at Alba as she points east.

Marduke seems to pretty much ignore the inn, glancing to the others and raising his eyebrows a moment. A shrug offered as he moves on, "Each thing in its rightful time." A stop at the intersection and frowns a bit, "Hmm." eyes glancing around with a frown and shakes his head, "Anybody else feel something is off, more so then normal for this place." A glance to Remi, "Personally I wouldn't mind a little music, but later." Shrugging his shoulders.

The trip into the city's east side is quiet. The streets seem cleaner, the cobblestones maintained as the group passes several shops as well as the sherrif's office and the Armory. At the end of the road stands the Turner Estate, the gate partially open. The manor stands in stark contrast to the rest of the city as the lawn is overgrown and weeds sprout from cracks in the stonework, the dead trees like skeletal hands reaching into the sky. The manorhouse itself is a massive building of two stories, the windows shuttered but not boarded over.

Alba shakes her free hand, catching a small ivory charm in the shape of an Adamantoise's shell between two fingers. "Tell me what is normal," she says over her shoulder, "and then perhaps I shall be capable of judging if it is not. Ware this place... Such evil-seeming grounds suggests its inhabitants are of like mind."

Ka'Len stops before the gate and looks ahead before he whispers, "suddenly I don't want to go in..." A hand rubs at his cheek a little before he murmurs quietly, "don't get seperated in there..." to everyone. He looks at Alba and then nods wordlessly before slowly pressing forward, one hand gripping and releasing the pommel of his sheathed sword.

Sebastion regards the manor that they've arrived to with raised brows. He doesn't seem as intimidated. He lets out a snorting noise, like he had just barely managed to stifle bursting into laughter at the sight of it. Seems he has greeeat disapproval of nobility, regardless of their conversation. "It's ... ugly," he mentions, as if it comforted him instead of frightened him. "On our guard, then," he agrees with Alba and Ka'Len, "I'll guard the rear of the group," he reminds.

Remi stands with Ka'Len infront of the gate, peering up somewhat nervously at the creepy looking manor. And at Ka'Len's warning, he nodnods in strong agreement, adding, "... Don't lean against any walls and stuff. In stories, if you do that in places like this, you always end up in some secret tunnel while the others aren't looking, and then the ghosts or killer gets you." And he bites his lip some, not answering Marduke's question about things feeling worse, but judging by his expression, he probably agrees there too. Or atleast the manor makes him feel like it's true.

Marduke just shakes his head eyes looking over the Manor with a frown, "Keep distance from the tree's." Is all he offers as he steps along keeping with the party and hmming a moment and glancing at the book to see if anything has shown up yet and shakes his head. "Still nothing." frowning all the more.

Opening the door to the Manorhouse reveals a darkened interior with the shutters closed. The foyer is large, a marble floor with a large banistered staircase leading to the upper level. Doors on the left and right lead to other parts of the house. The decor is fancy, screaming of a life of liesure and wealth. As the group looks about they find a large portrait of a woman in a large powdered wig over the door they entered. The picture having a perptual scowl and heaviset body clad in a royal dress. The brooding image leering down at the group.

Alba lifts her eys to the portrait as it's pointed out, her upper lip curling in time with the lowering of her ears. "How pleasant," she mutters, the joints of her fingers popping as she tightens her grip on her dagger. "Were I to enter and leave this house under that woman's eyes all of a day, I think perhaps I might wish to murder holy men, ere long." Turning her back on the portrait, she places one foot on the grand stair, leaning forward to see if there's anything that can be gleaned up the upper levels from this vantage point.

Ka'Len looks up at the woman and then he mutters after a long moment. "Looks like my Aunt Petunia on my father's side.." He shudders a little bit before looking at Alba before looking up as well. "Let's try the bedrooms first, possibly the girl would have been locked in there to keep her from going after her love." His hand reaches into the pocket with the ring then and tightens around it.

For whatever reason, Sebastion finds a lot of humor in what Alba said, and gives a muffled "Heh!" at the comment. Seems he's taking whatever entertainment he can manage at this. As he's the last to enter the manor, he closes the door behind the group so nothing sneaks in behind them and catches them by surprise. "Let's try not to linger, then. I know some fairly pleasant holymen I'd prefer not to stab," he comments, feigning an aloof nature to the situation. He turns to start exploring the room, moving to one of the doors to the side to try and open and check inside; the one to the right, first.

Remi stays close to the others as they enter the mansion, his ears splayed as he looks around wide eyed, reacting to every little noise and creak coming from elsewhere in the house. As they pause at the painting then, he stares at it for a long time, locking his eyes with the painted woman's... And then starts stepping from side to side a few times, seeing if the painting's eyes end up following him, not trusting it one bit, "... That's creepy." Is all he says on the subject, before he manages to tear his attention away, and follows again to search the place.

Marduke glances to the portrait, then glances to Alba and gulps a moment, "I hope you don't get that urge soon." He offers with a glance around seeming more nervous of the crazy viera then he is of the house itself. A nod to Ka'Len, "sounds like a starting point." Glancing to Sebastion and looking a bit more nevous about everything. Moving to head towards the stairs to follow after the group commenting dryly to Remi, "Its typical to be honest. Woman was probably just as unbearable in life as she is in that picture."

[SCENE] For a brief moment while no one's gaze is focused on the painting it's face contorts and changes to that of the grinning clown. Eyes following the group's moment around the room. A brief chill in the air and sense of impending dread permeates the room, only to end abruptly the moment somone looks back at the painting and finds it normal once again. [SCENE]

Alba turns a smile upon Marduke... a smile in only the strictest sense of the word, more accurately a great showing of teeth. "This I hope as well," she replies. "It might be that I must run faster than you, one day. It would be a waste, if that day comes and you are not there to be outpa--" The rest of her sentence is cut off as the chill permeates the room, ears slamming back down on her head, eyes glimmering with fear and fury as they dart all about the foyer. "...Enough of this," she spits, "let us find this girl and be quit of this place."

As the group heads up the staircase they're greeted with carpeted floors and an open hallway. A great set of double-doors at the top of the stairs. And small doors further down the hall in each direction. The smaller doors seeming to be family bedrooms, most are neat and tidy except for one. The room belongs to a woman given the clothes and accessories, but it's been torn to pieces as though by an enraged beast. The mirror smashed, dresses ripped to shreds, even furniture overturned. A search of the floor ends at the double doors, while there are no obvious locks the doors simply refuse to open.

Ka'Len freezes in place halfway up the stairs while listening to Alba speek. As the feeling of dread overcomes him he does not look around, merely whispering, "don't want to see whatever it is making me feel that way." He, regardless of those words, turns his head ever so slightly and then jumps at Alba's statement before rushing up the stairs the rest of the way and only then looking back down over the foyer. He remains quiet as they search though, hand still gripping onto that ring tightly while looking around constantly.

Remi shivers, getting goosebumps, as he feels the sudden chill. And while glancing around nervously, his eyes fall back on the painting soon enough... Peering at it, though he's not seeing anything untoward. Following the others upstairs then, he peeks at Alba as she speaks like that, but doesn't really say anything on it, not wanting to attract her attention just now. And soon after he decides to take some action as they look around, reaching out to try one of the doors... Hrming as he finds it refusing to open. And getting the same thing on another nearby door he tries afterwards, "... What."

Marduke glances to Alba and smirks a moment, a touch of humor passing his face. "Well I hope if that day comes, you learn to fly. Cause that is what I would be doing in such a situation." How he doesn't say, and shivers a moment glancing around and shaking his head, "Lets hurry." Muttering and looking over the room that has been made a mess. Then another frown offered to the door that won't open, "Great, they won't open?" Glancing to Remi and frowning a bit. "We need to get past this door." The obvious of course, "ideas?"

"*Set this house aflame,*" is Alba's first response from behind gritted teeth. Stalking down the hallway, she gives the unresponsive doors a solid kick each. "If you seek ideas that might *help,* ask another." Marduke's amused reply earns him a brief, hot glare, before she storms back to the end of the hall, just in case anything with ill intent decides to do something about the intruders.

Ka'Len steps upto the double doors and places a hand upon them before he ponders and leans into the door. "Marisa? Miss Marisa Turner? Are you there? We've found the ring that was taken from you and we'd like to return it. Will you open the door for us?" It's a crazy thing to do, but well.. something must be holding those doors closed, right?

Sebastion approaches the pair of double doors, examining them with obvious curiosity. He reaches to put his hand against the door, and glances aside at Ka'Len. He furrows his brow at what he hears. He leans over to press his ear against one of the doors, trying to see if he can get any clues that way. "If the door does open," he says, "Maybe it would be better just not to open it. We have no idea what's on the other side..."

Remi stands well to the side when Alba kicks at the doors, and watches her stalk off to stand guard then, giving the others a brief glance and a silent shrug. He then starts studying the doors up close, looking for a mechanism or the like he might be able to manipulate or even pick. But not finding anything of note, at least right away, he instead ends up listening as Ka'Len tries talking to the woman's ghost, if she's actually there at all. Remarking to Seb meanwhile, "Don't think we have much choice, sadly..."

Marduke nods to Alba, "Burning it has crossed my mind as well." is all he offers with a sigh, "but I suspect that would not help us get out of here." A glance to Ka'Len and raises his eyebrows faintly and shakes his head slowly with a smirk. "Could try pressing the ring to the door as well." Pulling up the book and glancing at it for anything before putting it back away. "May have to try breaking it down to." Stepping back from the door just in case.

As the group inspects the door there seems to be no logical way that it's being held shut. Though as Ka'len calls out and mentions the ring there's a tremble that rocks the entire house and the wood of the door twists and contorts into the face of Belinda Turner. The gnarled visage shrieks at the party "Get out of my house! Take that damned ring and never return! GET OUT!" The final words carry a blast of pure evil behind them that rips through the air and threatens to hurl the party back down the staircase behind them.

Alba croaks as her back is slammed against the railing, arms rising to cover her face against the palpable blast of malevolence. Pushing forward, she snarls at the animated bust, charm released as she draws her second dagger. "YOUR HEAD IN MY MOUTH!" she screams over the ghostly fury.

Ka'Len lets out a little shriek that isn't at all manly and he dives out of the way of her blast. "Oh Terra it's Auntie Petunia all over again." He shudders a little to himself and looks around. Man he was just whispering to that door.. god. "Everyone alright? Uh we need to find a way in..."

Sebastion braces forward against the force of the blast, and seems unperturbed by the strength of it. His eyes squint, and the scarf is pulled taut, flapping back behind him with that old dusty Archadian cape he's prone to wearing. When it halts, he's got his sword raised toward the doors, and he's silent and as still as a statue. There's no way he can be any more tense than he is right now.

Remi's reaction to being startled like that is to instantly and perfectly cartwheel out of the way! Looking smooth enough to be some acrobatic act when he lightly lands back on his feet down the hall, and stands there wide eyed, pointing a flat palm at the door, flames licking along his hand as he just barely manages to stop himself from shooting a fireball right into that stupid door.

Marduke is a crumpled heap on the floor for a moment. yet he isn't down long and quickly moving back down to his feat, "Break the door down." He offers in a grim voice, "The wench will find we are not so easy to force out or as easy to shoot as a deacon." Already chanting as he holds out his free hand and his other retakes his staff. A few sparks of electrical energy forming along his arm as he prepares a very clear lightning spell to throw at the door. It may not work but the man sure is going to try!

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