Funky Dunky Undead (part 2) by Aldrich | World Anvil
7th Ariel, 1358

Funky Dunky Undead (part 2)

by Aldrich Runecarver

Mirielle and I found Trevor's barn and began investigating inside. After lighting the interior, we found 10 fully boarded up stalls inside. 9 were empty, and one was shut up tight with a padlock on the front. Searching further we found the far end of the barn was furnished like a living space, with luxurious arm chairs and table, a set of dressers, and a fireplace with a mantelpiece. There was a portrait on the mantel of an elderly man and woman, who resembled Trevor enough to be relatives. On the table was a small chest, and opening it we found key inside. On a hunch we tried the key in the padlock to the stable stall, and it opened.
 
Dru joined us at that point. Divine sense did not pick up anything inside the stable, but instead registered two undead behind us. Dru's detect magic spell also picked up some sort of dark energy, and the key that opened the padlock suddenly disappeared. The chest we found the key in slammed shut and the fireplace roared to life with blue fire.
 
Sensing the two entities were still in the room, I tried to talk to them. Not getting a response I decided to try to make myself appear as friendly as possible and went to sit in the chair to the left of the fireplace. As soon as I sat down three goblets appeared, two on the table and one on the mantel, and I could see the cushions on the chair opposite me depress as if an unseen body had just taken as seat. I felt a sharp touch along my cheek as if it had been stroked by someone's fingernail or a claw. The doors all slammed shut and an icy wind blew through the building. (Mirielle told me later that at that moment she saw the interior of the building shift in appearance from a wooden barn to a stone corridor lined with locked doors.)
 
Finally our hosts appeared, a man and woman, both dressed in elegant black, both with pale skin and long silver hair. The man introduced himself as Damon Lovelock; the woman was his wife Lilith. They were the parents of Jillia and Camilla, and were not happy that we had ended their daughters' lives. In total they had seven daughters before those two died, and apparently the wife seemed particularly obsessed with replacing those two and completing the group of seven again. They mentioned that they have been watching us since we were children, and they have "plans" for us. They also told us that they have been fighting against the Splinters, and decided to turn one of their own against them. Damon brought out Sibil, skin pale like theirs, dressed in black, and unresponsive to our presence. She was a replacement for one of their daughters, and they want Mirielle as the second. Arrogance and sadism were rolling off of these two in waves, and we had all three had about as much as we could take. Dru nearly challenged them, but was able to restrain himself. Mirielle recoiled from Damon's touch and sounded like she was about to try to take his head off by herself. I tried to unsettle the vampiric couple by bringing up the details of their daughters' deaths, but I think I may have overplayed my hand. They told us of their plans for Mirielle and gave us a choice: stand back and allow it to happen or die as hunted beasts. I foolishly informed them that they would have to kill me if they tried to turn Mirielle, and Dru echoed the sentiment. Rather than attack us right there, however, they informed us that they would be following us and hunt us when they were ready. They then left, taking the still silent Sibil with them.
 
Mirielle fell unconscious as they left, whether from a spell of theirs or some other influence I don't know. She seemed unharmed, and I did not find any of the black veins I had seen on Sibil when she fell sick in Wolfrest. We carried her out of the stable, and after retrieving Zarruk from Trevor's house we returned to Honeyreach and Egert's home.
 
We are left with more questions now than answers, but one thing is very clear. We have made some very powerful enemies who want us all very dead.