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 Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 7:52 am
Going to the old Ruzicka estate was something that Sariza had put off from the start. As soon as she’d learned of her noble lineage the option to see the old manse had always been there, but she’d made excuses. At first there had been the wedding, then the boys, the assassins…The lands themselves had been divided out among neighboring nobles so that no one family gained too much from their fall or so she’d been led to believe. Now she wasn’t so sure. Still, no one had taken over the old home and riding up to its border was…beyond haunting.
The sands had taken over what was once a luscious, impeccable courtyard. All the statuary was damaged, as was much of the mansion itself. What areas weren’t outright destroyed had been set ablaze, though it did little to the structures stone exterior. Damage like this could only come about by years of repressed rage and grief, something that she could hardly fault their attackers for. Still, in their blind anger innocent lives had been lost and that left her heart sick.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 8:09 am
[Sabra via Discord]
They were finally here.
After going through so much the pair had gathered so many pieces, conquered so many trials and now they were at one of the final missing pieces of this puzzle. Faisal only hoped that they would have On'os on their side today and that visiting this estate would prove worthwhile. It surely was a painful experience and the swordsman could only imagine what Sariza was feeling now that she was finally seeing her family's home, her inheritance. Unlike other young nobles who had dared to visit the manor upon learning about its state and hearing ghost stories about the family who once resided there Faisal had actually avoided the area. He had done many things with his brother that were mischievous but his grandmother had always gotten so upset whenever the Ruzicka estate was mentioned that neither of them dared to cross this line. Now that he knew more everything made sense. Why would his grandmother want her children in a place that had once held dear friends? It was a smear upon their memory to see the estate in such condition.
"The outside is...rough." Admitted Faisal as he glanced over the scorched building, his expression solemn as he studied the structure. It was not surprising that others would whisper about the place being haunted with how intimidating the empty skeleton looked in the desert sands. Once he could imagine an oasis, a garden thriving there when it was well maintained with the aqueducts running smoothly, but now it was just barren. "The inner rooms should still be secured with most just taking out their feelings on the outer walls."
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 8:20 am
Evidence of vagrants passing through and sleeping in its shell were all over. Signs of individual fires, abandoned cups and a few other personal items…At least someone was using it. And yet, as impassive as she was trying to be, the sight only made Sariza more upset. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. How many servants had lost their lives just trying to escape? How many soldiers, cooks, maids, family members…? She knew her parents had died, but there had to be others. She could practically feel the spirits calling to her the closer she got to the estate.
Sariza nodded. “Hopefully whatever thieves came in after were kind enough to leave us some clues.” She reached up to give Uovu’s head a pat. “Stay close, girl; let us know if you see anything.” The janarim gave a snort chuff and moved on, supposedly to find shade. Now that she didn’t have anything to do with her hands Sariza started twisting her fingers around one another. “…Is it…shameful that I don’t want to go in?”
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 9:09 am
[Sabra via Discord]
"I think books were the least of their concerns so the study should be decent, I hope." Admitted Faisal with a slight wince as he noticed more debris around the estate. Had someone even been living here with a herd of Quhar at one point? It was so shameful. Usually he was not one to act like other proud nobles but something about this whole scene truly bothered him. How quickly your neighbors turned upon you when dealing with these politics. It was a frustrating tightrope that he felt pressured to walk more now that he was taking over as head of his own family from his grandmother who had led them for so many years. Balance everything or fall and drag down so many others with you. The very thought made his stomach twist.
"It's understandable fi you don't want to go in." Corrected Faisal with a small smile towards Sariza as her words took him away from his own tangle of thoughts and emotions. "I would suggest that I can go in alone, but that also doesn't feel right. Do you need a moment before we go further?" It surely was a lot to take in, especially for Sariza. If things had not fallen apart, if someone hadn't destroyed her family then this would have been her home. How different her life and possibly their lives together, if that had even still been possible, would have been in that case. (edited)
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 9:10 am
[3/10]
“No, I think I can handle it. I’ve got you.” She gave him a soft, half smile and did her best to quell her anxiety. “I have to handle it. They deserve that much.” At one point this all might have been hers if they hadn’t had a son. A sprawling estate, just like the one that Faisal had grown up in, with vassals coming to her with questions and summons to court…Would they have even been married? She would have known him so much younger, but that might not have meant much. She would have been different, had other connections and their little family wouldn’t exist.
She couldn’t imagine a world without their sons, and yet the cost…
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Sariza led the way up to the front steps. Thankfully – as odd as it was to say – the front door had been broken ages ago and while she’d had to climb over some wood it was easy enough to get in. The interior wasn’t much better, but by that point the shock of it’s disrepair was already starting to settle. “Where should we look first? Do you think the study would be on the upper floor or ground level?”
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 4:56 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Faisal was proud of Sariza and rested a hand on her shoulder in support before moving forward towards what was once her family's manor. While Sariza went on ahead, Faisal's boot struck against an old board and the rest of the frame splintered away as he too pushed through into the main hall. It would have been a grand entrance at one point with the family banners hanging down the columns that decorated the long hallway, the spiraling stairs towards the second level of the manor now covered by broken stones and ripped pieces of fabric. Sariza's question gave him pause. "If it was my home then I would assume upstairs since my mother has a whole tower of books, but I'm not so certain here."
His gaze surveyed the hallway, his bearing almost relaxed even though the very sight of the destruction made his stomach turn into a knot. "The kitchens and dining halls would be down that way while I could imagine that the family had entertainment towards the right where the gardens used to be...most families situate their guests on the wings farthest away from the kitchens to avoid interactions with the servants. So I would assume the family would be on the west wing with a study nearby, it's just a question of if it was on the main level or the second level." If either of her parents were the studious type then perhaps they could have kept it closer to their main chambers. If it was on the second level then they would have to be careful because of the condition of the floors. There was no telling how sturdy the supports were, especially when he already saw some cracks along the stone walls and the broken stairs.
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Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2022 5:26 pm
[4/10]
“We could always investigate the west wing and if we don’t find it, we can head upstairs?” There was a possibility that there might even be a servant’s staircase that would save them sometime. If it were still intact, that is. The main staircase itself didn’t seem in too grand of disrepair, though they would have to be careful around the debris.
Taking the lead, she walked down the sandy hallway with a morbid sense of curiosity. Sariza had often wondered what it might look like but seeing the manse up close suggested so many questions. What rooms did her parents spend the most time in? What were their hobbies? What sort of gatherings would they have had? Or would they have any at all?
While there were several rooms on the main floor of the west wing Sariza didn’t see any evidence of a study. They were mostly spaces she assumed were reserved for visiting family members, if the effects left behind were anything to go off. Of course anything of value had been taken, but there were books still on the end tables and –
Sariza jumped back with a surprised shriek. She’d been looking around one of the guest rooms and found two bodies. One was still in bed, little more than a skeleton with hair sprouting from their skull and the other looked as if it had tumbled onto the ground. Whether they had been trying to escape or to fight she couldn’t tell.
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2022 1:13 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Faisal nodded. It was a good idea and they could always check out the other wing later. It wasn't as if anyone was going to be here other than maybe some reckless teens and Faisal had men surrounding the estate, most hiding from sight, just in case anyone else wanted to appear today. Faisal was browsing through a pile of faded parchment, tucked neatly into a box whenever he heard thr shriek. "Sariza?!" Faisal moved with lightning speed before pulling Sariza back against him, his gaze widening as he finally saw the source of her distress. "Squatters?" He offered with a grimace. Wouldn't someone have come to clean out the estate after the attack? It was so strange to see bodies here and the sight nearly made Faisal retch. Out of all the things he had expected to find today this was not exactly at the top of his list.
"I don't see anything...for identification purposes." He managed slowly as he glanced over the bodies once more. Just tattered remains of what appeared to be modest materials clung to the skeletal bodies. Faisal frowned before grabbing an old blanket and lifting it to cover them. "I can ask our men to bury them later." He offered quietly, taking a moment to gingerly pick up the worn books. "Maybe we can read over these in the next room?" If there were more bodies to be found....well it would be easy enough to assume they were in some sort of horror story.
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:13 pm
[5/10]
Sariza had seen a great many things in her years, and while normally a body wouldn't be the thing to tip her off this was a little much. As soon as she felt Faisal behind her the Oban turned and buried her face in his chest, her shaky breathing doing it's best to calm her. Were even the vagrants doomed to die in this place?!
She clutched the material of his top and took a moment to compose herself before pulling away. "We can bring them with us, but I'd rather not stop until we've found the study." I don't think I can handle being in this place longer than we have to be.
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2022 4:53 pm
[Sabra via Discord]
Faisal held Sariza as she buried her face in his chest, his breathing collected as he tried to remain calm for both of them. Something about this whole place just felt cursed and it did not settle well with him either. Was this truly going to be her family's legacy? Just a ruined manor filled with death and despair? The very thought made him sick to his stomach.
I refuse. They would get through this somehow and recover Sariza's past. Even if the building surrounding them could not be restored to its former glory they would break this curse that someone placed and brought back to haunt Sariza again. "Agreed." He nodded as he grabbed the books, tucking them beneath and arm before helping to guide Sariza away from the room. Faisal gave one last look back towards the bed area, the blanket only partially hiding the corpses beneath, but continued on towards the stairs. Hopefully the upstairs would not be as abysmal as the main level was. "We'll take the servant's stairs." After seeing the remains that Sariza found in the one bedroom, Faisal decided that he would be the one to take the lead. He would much rather find new surprises that leaving that to his already shaken companion. "Just hang onto the railing and keep two steps behind me." That way even if he fell then at least Sariza would have plenty of warning as they turned towards the slim staircase that disappeared into the shadows. It at least was solid stone like the main stairs and thankfully there were no more surprises as they emerged down another hallway, this one with columns and archways that held large windows that allowed in dim sunlight, dust and cobwebs covering what used to be silk draperies and the like.
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2022 5:17 pm
[6/10]
"...The boys can never come here." She was firm in that. As unsure as she was about being here herself Sariza was absolutely adamant that her sons never see this place. Why should they? Once all of this was over this estate could be taken care of away from their eyes and they wouldn't have to feel the same sense of foreboding that she did. Rarely did she did forceful with Faisal, but in this she would fight it if need be.
Unlike her husband, Sariza couldn't look back at the corpses. As glad as she was for his help she just...didn't have it in her today. She followed along behind him easily and kept an eye out for any living being near them.
For a moment, as they climbed the servants staircase, she couldn't see him. She resisted the urge to forego his warning and rush ahead, but the anxiety was clear when she emerged at the top. Sariza moved closer to him, reaching out to grasp the edge of his tunic between her forefinger and thumb. "I think that room there, the last on the right, is the master suite. So one of the rooms next to it should be the study."
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 8:33 am
It was their history...Faisal opened his mouth but closing it again and just giving a firm nod. He could not blame Sariza for wanting to keep the boys away from this cursed place. Right now it was the least of his worries since they still had to investigate and get out safely. The longer they roamed these desolate halls the more Faisal felt like something was slowly creeping up on him, tendrils of souls reaching for them from the shadows to drag them into whatever cursed hell this place had become. He could almost believe that Sariza's grandfather had indeed cursed the family for betraying his beliefs, opting to destroy his own lineage over allowing them to become so weak and open to the new world that the once powerful, controlling Oba had embraced.
Thankfully such thoughts stumbled to a halt once Sariza joined him again, the light touch to his tunic bringing Faisal back to reality. "Understood." He nodded before pushing through, making certain to keep Sariza next to him as they traveled past other abandoned rooms and towards the main suite. "Look for anything of note. I would hope to find a journal perhaps with any personal musings. Ledgers of income, seeing if anyone made trades towards the end that stand out or requests like that."
As much as Faisal hated separating from Sariza in this place it was best if they covered the rooms quickly before they lost daylight. Slowly he removed her hand from his tunic, giving her fingers a light squeeze before moving towards the door of the master suite. The doors resisted but after some forceful nudging they finally swung open with a loud creak. A large bed, torn curtains hanging from the canopy, large windows with cracks, dust covered furniture and the like littered the corners of the room. There was a desk in the corner and more importantly another door that Faisal noticed hidden beneath one of the swaying draperies. Maybe? If they preferred to keep their study connected that would make sense.
"It seems fairly empty in here if you want to look through everything." He called out towards Sariza before moving towards the draperies to check the outline of the door. His fingers pressed against the rough frame, the forgotten wood there creaking in protest and the sight of a bronze keyhole caught his attention. There had been a skeleton key, something his grandmother had acquired a long time ago but had been prevented from using since she could not visit the estate at the time. Her sickness had lingered for so many years that she had been unable to do anything for Sariza's parents, something which had bothered her for years. Now though as Faisal held the skeleton key in his hand he could only hope that it would unlock something that could help their daughter now.
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 12:39 pm
Stepping into the master suite seemed almost anti-climatic after the shock that had come from the guest rooms. Any personal effects had long ago been stolen, as were any tapestries of note and the furniture that remained was in such disrepair that couldn't imagine a noble family using it. Still, she ran her fingers atop a large vanity table beside the bed and looked on into the mirror. Surprising it wasn't cracked, just dirty, and she tried to imagine what the woman who used it must have looked like. Was she short? Tall? Thin or pudgy? The only things that Sariza knew of her mother was that she had a soft spot for flowers and a part of her was glad that trait had carried over.
When Faisal spoke she looked over toward him with a light, "hmm?" before leaving the vanity. A hidden study? "There has to be something in here; who else would have been able to get in to destroy the evidence?" Sariza lifted the key and took a deep breath. Her father wanted nothing more than to erase the curse of their blood and with any luck whatever he left behind would do just that.
Twisting the key into the keyhole, the Oban gently pushed the heavy door open and revealed the room beyond. It was a intimate room with less than half the space of any found on Faisal's estate. Still, it looked as untouched as the day they left it and there was even a glass sitting atop the desk with cold liquor inside. Warm, thick cushions encapsulated a few chairs, but the most impressive part were the notes.
A map of Oba was spread out atop the desk with carved wooden figures marking the the noble houses. Some were knocked over, others were turned at odd angles, and some were painted different colors than the rest. "Gods blood, they were busy."
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 1:43 pm
"It appears so." Faisal let out a whistle as he took in the whole display. "Whatever I thought before was a simple struggle for power may have been a bit more complicated?" He mused as he surveyed the noble houses, his fingers trailing over the maps. "Merzguard is even here and they lost power after the Oban war." He noted one of the knocked over houses that had the symbol of a zure with the sun blazing behind its spread wings. He had studied that one in the history books since the family legacy was gone before he had even been born, the royals rooting out those who had opposed them in the war quickly and efficiently. Some houses had remained but the heirs had been replaced accordingly to ensure loyalty to the new crown.
"Here's hoping the notes give us a bit more to go on." He managed as he continued studying the houses, trying to figure out exactly why they were in certain positions. The fallen ones were fairly easy but the odd angles and the colors confused him. What was being studied to create such a display of the noble houses? It had to be connected with the war's aftermath, right? Why else would some of the extinguished houses be here and toppled over like this?
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 2:14 pm
"This symbol here-" She pointed to a smaller piece with the symbol of a starfish carved into it's side. "-is the symbol of the rebel leader, Tirza. She freed thousands of slaves during the war before she was executed." What did it all mean? What did Merzguard and Tirza have to do with any of this? It seemed like every time they gained their footing another cliff was placed in their way. This went so much deeper than she ever could have imagined.
As Faisal studied the map, Sariza moved around to the desk drawers. Countless papaers were categorized within, and while they would need to be looked at they weren't nearly as promised as a leather bound journal she found in the bottom drawer. "Faisal, I found Kubaroka's journal." My father's last words. His hand writing was as neat and pristine as one would imagine a nobles to be, but hurried; as if he never got enough time to truly express his thoughts. "Look, here; my grandfather went to another of his private meetings with the head of the Soiley family. They met one every three months and no more, not even at parties. Kubaroka says that he once called out to Soiley at an event in his childhood and his father had him beat for it."
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