Somewhat shell-shocked from their recent contact with the undead, the adventurers stepped out of the church crypts into the light of the busy streets. It seemed like whatever business remained unfinished from the morning would be conducted directly in the city's alleys instead of the off-limits marketplace, and peddlers were quick to get their stalls up and running at every corned and under every arched door - sometimes much to the door owner's dismay. It seemed that not even blatant violence could dampen the Imperial's passion for commerce. Coin and wares were the lifeblood of those streets, each trade a prayer to Zenithar, and each bargain a cry for hope against the looming threat of terror. The City Watch and Legion seemed to have doubled its effort; every available guard had been called into service, some still sleepy from last night's shift. They patrolled the avenues in groups of four, keeping a watchful eye over every balcony, rooftop, or hidden cranny.

It took the investigators a good half hour to reach the castle gates via the busy streets and the eerily empty marketplace. Their letters from the Mage's Guild opened the way into the castle's main hall, a monumental room supported by impossibly high columns. Elite guards in shiny plate armor stood watch over the place as chamberlains and scribes directed the staff and visitors. After a short while, the party was led onto the first floor into a small yet cozy library. An elderly dignitary in a black and gold surcoat bid them welcome and ordered refreshements.

"Glad to welcome the envoys of the Mage's Guild here. My name is Matteo Ferretini, and I am the Duke's personal secretary. How may I be of assistance?"
This message was last updated by the GM at 15:40, Sat 10 Apr 2021.

Winnk chowed down on the meats and cheeses and was even hungry enough to put a few vegetables into his mouth.

"Hello Mr. Ferretini, I am investigator Slornga, and this is our chief mage, Murms, that's Kraelix, personal envoy of Her Eminence herself (winnk winks at Matteo at that) and this is Miss Izada, we are here for the archives and any other assistance you can provide. Of course this is officially regarding this morning's incident, and unofficially I believe that their is a plot against the entire Empire. Please."

He bows slightly, in Redguard fashion, and gestures for Matteo to lead the way to the archives. "I'd love to explain more but can you assure me we are out of prying ears?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:29, Wed 31 Mar 2021.

Kraelix nodded his head as he was introduced. The extra bit after his name was a bit interesting, but he was getting a feel for Winnk's methods of communication, and thus was not surprised.

Ferretini sat down in a cushioned chair, inviting his interlocutors to do the same with a polite gesture. He grabbed a silver cup and poured wine for himself and the guests, then motioned the guards to leave.

"This is a secure location, Master Slornga. Headmistress Decourcis was in here just this morning, discussing the nature of this investigation with Their Highnesses. Rest assure that the Duke and Duchess treat this matter with the outmost attention, and have instructed me to assist you in any way I can. Now, about the archives, I believe it would be faster if you just told me what it is you're looking for, and I will do my very best to provide you with the most complete information I can find."

  Chief mage Murms pinches the bridge of her nose until it resets her eyebrows and she can converse again.

  "Good to meet you, mister Ferretini. He's a little jumpy—" she tilts her head toward Winnk with a wry expression. "He's had a more confusing day than has already been going on. We've reason to be concerned this attack was cover for more serious crimes elsewhere, and one might involve legitimacy of a title. We think the tax records may give us clues to who would have motive for it."

Matteo Ferretini lifted an eyebrow in an expression of polite surprise. He opened his mouth, closed it again, rearranged his felt cap and stood up to pick a voluminous tome bound in splendid red leather. The book had at least a thousand pages, and the elder squinted noticeably when lifting it from the shelves to the small table, which creaked under the weight.

"Mistress... Murms, was it? This is a bound record of taxes, levies and official transations of Leyawiin from the year before last, taken as and example. There are many more like this, and extracting any meaningful information from this mountain of paperwork without an in-depth knowledge of Imperial and Leyawiin law is going to be a tedious endeavour. Now, I don't know how much time you have on your hands, but I doubt you plan on becoming an archivist here at the castle. As I might have mentioned before, I am here to assist you, and being privy to the Court I understand the principles of discretion. I believe we can all save precious time if you, like they say it in the streets, give it to me straight."

Winnk took another look at his notes, "Forgive me, Matteo, I was joking with you. Her name isn't Murms, I actually don't know what her name is." Stuffs some chicken into his mouth.

"Now, to cut to the chase, we found that a pendant was stolen from a body in an Arvenius noble family sarcophagus. Priestess Zoya didn't know who exactly the sarcophagus belonged to, but we are tryna narrow that down. I won't lie to you, archivist, I'm much better at pointing arrows than pointing fingers, so this may all well be a waste of everyone's time."

  "Thank you, Inspector Slornga," she responds with no small strain in her voice.  Then she turns back to Matteo and the object lesson of the book, her expression contrite.

  "I take your point, Librarian.  It's Murmur, by the way.  Like the soft voice.  So as he said, yes: an Arvenius ancestral seal was taken and nothing else.  It may have some value to an unscrupulous collector, of course, but the thief left all the other grave goods untouched.  Someone wanted that seal, very specifically"

Crossing his legs, the ducal steward  placed the tax ledger on the floor besides him, his gaze fixed at the ceiling in a look of intense concentration. His fingers gently tapped his lower lip while he reached for the wine and took a pensive sip.

"The Arvenius bloodline is powerful and respectable, and over time they have amassed quite the collection of trinkets alongside their sizeable wealth. As far as I am informed, much of their valuables are stored in bank safes or at their estate outside of the city. A portion of their artifacts can be found even here, in the private vaults - a traditional display of trust and fealty by the noble families to the Duke. But a noteworthy item that would have been buried with one of the elders?"

Ferretini stood up with a wince, his left hand resting on his lower back, and made his way to the library's door, where he called for a servant and gave a few brief orders. A few minutes passed, and the valet returned with a dusty, damaged tome with cracked cover. Ferretini perused it for a moment before opening it on the table for everyone to see. The page figured a charcoal drawing of a regal man in a warrior's attire, displaying a large pendant depicting a sword in a diamond, point down. The artist had attempted to give the bauble a bright glow.

"The accompanying passage mentions that Tertius Arvenius, the current title holder's great-grandfather, had struck a pact with a Daedra known as Meridia in his lifetime, in exchange for might over the vampire clan that plagued his lands. His pendant, which symbolized the bond, apparently stopped shedding light as the man died, and accompanied him to the grave. This might be what was taken from the crypt. As to its significance, I can only express conjecture."

The steward closed the tome and pushed it gently across the table towards Murmur.
"There might be more of interest in this volume. Feel free to borrow it, though I do respectfully beg that you be mindful of its age and fragility."
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:49, Wed 07 Apr 2021.