An expected guest, a strange party, a terrible realization...
Summary[]
Arthur enters Castle Kerringford and meets his fellow guests: Barnabas, Gerard, Langward, and Friar Horbrooke. They accept his presence as the assumed Prince Warin of Aravel. Eventually, he also meets his host Lord Evrard, who has invited them all to witness the power of the Blackstone. Shortly after Arthur’s arrival, Langward is murdered by an unknown party, which causes the remaining guests to conduct a murder investigation.
Synopsis[]
Arthur coughs up blood as they continue into the castle, eventually finding two strangers in a common room. After Arthur mistakes him as Lord Evrard, it becomes clear neither men know their host. The stranger introduces himself as Barnabas of Ballechey after Arthur introduces himself as Warin of Aravel. The other stranger introduces himself as Gerard de Vendhuile. Barnabas has been here for nearly a week, and has yet to meet Lord Evrard.
They are joined by the two remaining guests: Friar Horbrooke and Langward Ardene. Though Horbrooke disbelieves Barnabas, Barnabas claims that doors around the castle are often kept locked. Between them, it is revealed that Gerard arrived yesterday, Langward that morning, and Horbrooke only a few hours earlier than Arthur.
Langward is concerned by his cough, and Arthur explains that the journey was difficult. Horbrooke sympathizes that he also got turned around in Goatswood.
In conversation, Barnabas explains that a table is kept stocked with food and a kitchen lies at the end of the hallway. Bedrooms are down another hall; he’s already claimed the largest. There is an extensive library to keep him occupied, but ‘the witch’ isn’t a talker. ‘The witch’ is a woman guarding a door who does not speak or move. She is the only servant they have seen. Barnabas suspects she is also blind.
John explains the layout of the castle: the hall they traversed through led to the chambers and a stairwell, but the way up would have been locked and the way down would have led to the witch. The room they’re in connects to the first hallway and a second hallway, which leads to the kitchen, a library, some closets, a chapel, and a garderobe.
They approach Barnabas and avoid his questions about Aravel. Barnabas explains that he’s heard their host moving above them, but nobody in the room knows what he looks like. However, Barnabas believes Evrard knows all of them well, as that they all (Evrard included) are seeing answers. He asks if Arthur has seen “the cracks”.
The friar interjects and derides Barnabas for his assumptions. As Barnabas claims that the friar has already found his, Evrard and the witch enter.
Evrard has a well-manicured jet black beard that ends at a point, short, modern-looking hair, blue-gray eyes, and dark circles. The woman has a blindfold around her eyes but navigates easily. She is introduced as Alia Showl, meant to maintain a certain amount of decorum, respect, and safety. Evrard reveals that he has brought them here to seek answers and gives a brief overview of everyone’s accomplishments.
Friar Dorian Horbrooke is a polymath, philosopher, scientist, theologian, and friar. He uses empirical methods on ancient texts, with some considering him a wizard. His alias is “Dr. Horribilis”.
Prince Warin of Aravel is aristocratic, captivating, and clever. Able to fit into nearly every social situation, he is beloved by his people. Versatile in any social situation, he is described as charismatic and ambitious.
Gerard de Vandhuile is an impressive architect and artist, and dreams of cities devoted to singular purposes.
Langward Ardene is a physician and surgeon, with medical texts that will become standard for future physicians. He works with diseases, plagues, and their spread, but also studies in the more esoteric: worlds beyond their own.
Barnabas of Bellechey is an astronomer and an alchemist with visions of “the cracks”.
Evrard explains that he has the Blackstone, which the Order of the Fallen Star (which Langward is apart of) has sought for a long while. This is why Evrard has sought them out: because these accomplished people deserve to witness its power and receive its gifts. Tomorrow, he will show them the stone. Alia, who is dismissed back to her post, is there to stand guard.
He invites Barnabas to the study. Langward storms off, upset at the Order not receiving the Blackstone, and Gerard follows him. Arthur heads towards his room. The friar catches up with him, claiming that he does not want to be alone. His room is next to Warin’s.
Friar Horbrooke is a sheepish man with thin lips, docile eyes, brown robes, and elaborately tied shoes. He takes offense at being called by a wizard, claiming that he is a man of god. Horbrooke is annoyed when Arthur says he follows no god, and dislikes the nickname ‘Doctor Horribilis’.
However, they have all heard of the Blackstone except for Barnabas, and he doubts they can share the Blackstone’s power. Leaving Arthur, he goes to his room.
Arthur enters his room and admits to John that he’s feeling rough. Together, they hypothesize that they were all brought here to be tested for worthiness. Their conversation is interrupted by Barnabas crying murder.
Though he attempts to fetch the friar, he does not respond and they head to the common room. Arthur wants to touch the corpse to understand what happened, to John’s shock. When they reach the common room, Barnabas questions Arthur for his alibi. Evrard and Gerard are present, but Langward is missing.
After a moment, a sweaty Horbrooke enters the room and claims that he was sleeping, despite his shoes still being intricately tied.
Barnabas reveals that Langward has been killed in the chapel and Gerard is responsible. Evrard and Barnabas were in the study and started to walk to the common room, where they discovered a sweaty Gerard standing outside the chapel. The three men discovered the corpse together, his throat slit from behind.
Gerard denies his guilt and states that they were both members of the Order; as such, he went to Langward to potentially work together and claim the Blackstone. For proof, Gerard produces a ring of the Order. When Horbrooke reveals that this could have been taken from Langward, they all agree to head to the chapel and examine the body for a ring.
As they discuss alibis, Gerard also reveals that he saw Warin enter his room and Horbrooke leave his room.
John and Arthur agree that trying to push through the group to touch the body is too risky. Instead, Arthur hides his own Order ring in a metal bowl before they leave. They are surprised by Barnabas, who asks about Arthur’s actions. Arthur evades.
Barnabas says that he believes he can trust Arthur, and Arthur remarks that his drunkenness might impact his judgment. He asks for Arthur to be on his side. Arthur does not, and when he asks if Barnabas killed Langward, Barnabas says that he was with Evrard.
In the chapel, John describes the murder scene: Langward was kneeling when his throat was slit. The corpse’s face is contorted in pain and the surroundings are soaked by a great deal of blood. Horbrooke examines the body and finds no ring, causing everyone else in the room to believe Gerard is the murderer. Gerard wants to search for the murder weapon, where it is revealed that nearly everyone but the friar has a dagger.
Though Arthur insists they turn out their pockets, they do not and instead return to the common room. As he does, Arthur taunts Barnabas about his drunkenness and violent nature. Eventually, this causes Barnabas to attack Arthur. Arthur intentionally overturns the metal bowl, spilling the ring, and then accuses Barnabas of having had it in his pocket.
Further argument breaks out, which Arthur calms by insisting they treat this case rationally.
Evrard then returns, not having joined the others. He asks if Arthur is a decent man, to which Arthur responds in the affirmative.
Then, Evrard talks of the castle: about the god that was worshiped here, about its existence beyond the stars, about his father’s yearning to see this god. His wish was eventually granted. When his father witnessed this, he sat up with a grin on his face and tore his jaw off his own head.
As he explains, Alia levitates Langward’s body towards the chambers.
Evrard explains that while none of the people here are decent, they worship as he does: all some alien deity, though none share the same allegiance. He does not care who killed Langward, nor any of his guests. All he needs is one person alive tomorrow to witness the Blackstone: whether that is the murderer, the sole survivor, or anyone else.
After insuring that his door cannot be opened, he turns to leave. Before he does, he admits that Barnabas was not with him when Langward was killed.
Votes[]
- Chapter 236: Friar Horbrooke [35] / Gerard de Vendhuile [40] / Barnabas of Ballechey [116] / Langward Ardene [98]
- Chapter 237: Give Evrard the Ring [39] / Keep the Ring [263]
- Chapter 238: Wait for the Friar [123] / Head to the Common Room [185]
- Chapter 239: Attempt to Touch the Body [128] / Ditch the Ring [183]
- Chapter 240: No vote.
