A cockerel in the distance announced the dawn of a new day, yet Lady Rompington would have slept all the more soundly were it not for the forceful rousing of her chambermaid.
"Milady! Milady! Do wake up!"
The urgent tone began to filter through the haze of the Lady's hangover and she pried open one gummy eye.
"Tilda," she scolded, "what have I told you about waking me so early? Surely none of the guests are yet awake." As her eye focused on the Tilda she took in the pale face and fearful eyes...
"What is the matter?" Lady Rompington asked, rousing naked from her thick covers. Beside her one....no two....make that three men still slumbered, apparently it had been a very good night.
"Murder!" Tilda gasped, clutching the hem of her dress, "murder most horrid milady!"
***
"The house has been sealed," Gunter, Sergeant-at-Arms informed the Lady. "The guards have roused the remaining guests and ushered them back into the ballroom."
"The Wizard?"
"Willing enough when we showed him the null stone milady." Lady Rompington's face no longer showed the mirth of last night, the black she now wore casting a very different view of her character.
"Are you sure it was one of them, it could have been someone else, perhaps someone gained entry?" Even as she said it, the Lady knew what the response was going to be.
"No milady. As per standing orders the ballroom and guest suites were sealed by the normal arcane wards for your own protection during the night. The have not been breached, and if anyone wanted to leave they would have to alert a guard. One of your guests was the guilty party." The Lady sighed before starting to walk towards the balcony that overlooked the hall,
"Where is the body?"
"Where it was found milady. We are hoping the sight will perhaps stir the guilty party."
***
A very grim sight met the guests as those that had gone to bed last night were ushered under armed guard, those that had slumped at the table stirred by rough hands. For a moment they were hard placed to see what all the full was about, that was until focused on the main dish. What had been a monstrous bird the night before, was now the mangled remains of a naked man. His arms had been savagely dislocated and tied back to his bent feet. In his mouth an apple had been forced and for those brave enough to look at the fear, it appeared stuffing was part of the course. From a hole in the man's side intestines had been pulled and tied in a festive knot over this back, however the most damming evidence was the twin holes in the man's neck. Finally in the spilled blood was written "
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me......
"My Sergeant-at-arms, a man of many campaigns informs me that such bites coupled with the strength required to carry out the below results in only one creature," the Lady spoke to the aghast guests, "a vampire." She paused for a moment to let it sink in.
"As most of you know, my home is well protected, and the guest wing was sealed firmly last night. Therefore I can only conclude that there is a vampire amongst you. Many of you will no doubt be wondering why you are all still here. It is simple. Many years ago my family destroyed the beasts in this land and we took a vow never to let any them survive, at any cost. I cannot, I will not release the seals on this house until I am sure we have captured the vampire and destroyed it.
But the beasts are clever, and detecting them is nearly impossible as most of the myths are false. Therefore the only way to sure way to do this is by the process of elimination. I give you all the power to call out those who you believe to be a vampire. Once per day the person who has the most suspicion will forfeit their life and Sigmar willing we will kill the vampire before too many innocents perish. However I will make it clear, if all must die to stop this animal from being released.....so be it.
Now much of the morning as passed. I suggest you all think and act swiftly, and be warned. Those who try and hide in the shadows, who do not speak, who refuse to help in locating the beast.....such actions will be looked upon most severely......."
[mod]The day has started and Erelim / Harland has been found dead, killed by a vampire!
You may all now start voting. As usual please vote at the
end of your post, making sure you put the text in
bold, example:
Vote: Erelim / Harland
The day will end on Thurs evening - if there has been enough votes. If this is not long enough because of Xmas, it can be extended until Sat (please post in the OOC thread advising of this).
Good luck!
[/mod]
