Active - (Ryken) A Hellish Inheritance (2024)

Location: Gasparo's Mercantile Agency, Ryken
Time: Morning
saxon | Azusa
Uasal | Nox
Gaius Danius Griinia | Izuru
Elias Wren | Kite
Maverick Six | Marcus

Guiseppe Gasparo
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As Nox asked the merchant if he had observed her blade, he nodded, before answering. "Indeed. Not only your blade, but also the weapon of choice carried by your companions. With that, I was able to make an assumption about overall capabilities and decide if these artifacts could be useful or not." With that, it could become more clear of why he had spent the extra moment in the waiting room, before leading the group into the personal vault. The rods, upon being picked up, would shift and change, morphing into the weapon of choice that each one was used to, be it a melee weapon, ranged or catalyst. And, while the shape of the rods would have an uncanny similarity with the weapons they were already carrying, they would lack more defining details. The holder would instinctively know the difference between their own weapon and the rod. When not being held, their shape returned to being a plain wooden rod.

Next, turning to Marcus, Guiseppe expanded on it. "These are called 'Chimeric Conduits'. You can use them exactly as you would use your own equipment, and I would advise you all to do so. Still, of course, the choice of using it fall upon each one of you." The tone of his voice was one of advice first and foremost, still giving all the present the autonomy to use it or not, first looking at the armored humanoid and then at each one of the other adventurers.

Next, Guiseppe would turn towards Azusa, appearing to try and think about anything that he could have left out. "That is all what is necessary. I asked my secretary to arrange us a wagon for our trip to the manor. It should already be waiting for us outside the agency. Shall we go?" Guiseppe asked, offering a small smile and walking over to the entrance of the vault, the old man waited for the group to exit it, before closing it once more. He would guide them all the way up the stairs and then towards the front of the agency, but not before grabbing a curious lamp which was behind the front desk. In the streets of Ryken, the spacious covered wagon was already waiting for them. The wagon itself had a separation from its driver and the passengers.

The merchant was the first one to step into it, taking a seat near the separation with the driver. When all were aboard it, the horse-drawn wagon would begin to move, towards one of the exits of Ryken. During the trip, which took about one hour, Guiseppe kept silent with the lamp being positioned right at his side. With his legs crossed, his left hand held his golden pocket watch, its faceplate remaining closed.

Location: Outskirts of Ryken
Time: Morning

Eventually, the covered wagon came to a full stop. Waiting the to exit the vehicle first, the merchant was the last one who stepped out of it. In the outskirts stood the expansive manor, surrounded by tall, brick walls in a white color. While the walls themselves were slightly worn down by time at their upmost parts, there were no visible crevices in them. At the very front, the steel gates which gave entrance to the courtyard were closed. Guiseppe walked up to it, placing the lamp he was carrying on the ground. Sticking his hand inside his coat, he fished a key ring from it, which contained two keys.

Sticking one of them into the gate's keyhole, the old man would turn it, unlocking the front gate and opening it up. Grabbing the lamp once more, he would be the first to enter the courtyard, waiting the rest of the group to enter it as well, before locking the gate behind them. Looking at the group, he commented. "If anything manages to slip up past us, best to not let it leave the estate. Although I find it unlikely, considering all present." He mused, with a small smile on his lips.

The courtyard itself was rather an oddity: while outside the walls, there was plenty of green scenery, in the courtyard itself the ground was barren. Dried plants could be seen here and there. Not even weeds could be seen on it. Following that, the manor would stand right in front of the group. The exterior itself was well-kept, strangely so. It had this curious, cold beauty to it, betraying nothing of rot underneath. Already having the unused key ready in his hand, Guiseppe began making his way towards the front of the manor, walking up the three stone steps that gave access to the imposing black, wooden door.

Repeating the same process of the front gate, he placed the key in the keyhole, before turning and unlocking it, but leaving it unopened for now. For a moment, he seemed to concentrate, looking right at the closed door. Nodding a few times, he looked satisfied with whatever he had just done. Enough to turn the knob of the door and enter it first, holding the lamp, which now had an artificial white hue to it.

As soon as the door was open, there was a pungent, strong smell of mold and fungi. The odor was strong enough to make it whatever sense of smell difficult to discern. Even those with [Heightened Senses Smell] it was almost impossible to catch nuances on it, however, there was a slight different smell, of something rotten, coming from the kitchen. In addition, from the same direction, there was a slight sound of shuffling, akin to a feather-light step. Furthermore, the light in the interior was very poor, the sun which reigned supreme outside didn't reach the manor's interior in all its glory. From up the stairs, towards the bedroom, a faint wailing could be heard if one tried to sharpen their senses to its very limits. Under the stairs, there was a strong metallic door that lead towards the basem*nt. While one could try to break the door, Guiseppe would certainly not be happy with the manor being damaged.

Turning towards the group, Guiseppe would ask them in a low tone. "Where should we go first?"