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...In the usually noisy and crowded "Empty Vein" tavern, it was quiet this evening. A dozen regulars, sipping various alcoholic drinks and eating local fare, weren't doing much for the innkeeper's pocket. And the local bards were singing some sad song.
- Have you heard what happened in Ice-patch? - asked a short, elderly man of sturdy build, shaking off the snow as he sat at a table in the corner of the tavern. There wasn't a single hair on his head; his round, wrinkled face was adorned with ore stains and a short but thick beard.
- You mean that mysterious blight? - replied a curly-haired youth with a question, taking a sip of ale from his mug. He inherited the golden color of his hair from a noble aristocrat, and the curls from his commoner mother.
- Yes, - confirmed the miner, looking suspiciously at a man at the next table whom he had never seen here before. - Cyke, pour me some strong ale!
- They say half the townspeople have perished from it; there is no cure, and healing magic doesn't help, - spoke a thin man, adjusting his black mustache and tapping bony fingers on the table.
- The alchemists are in a panic too, while the satyrs claim that everything is under control and the plague won't spread further, - added a plump old man indistinctly, gnawing the last bits of mutton from the ribs.
- They closed off the little town, and along with it all the mines and gold shafts. The plague might not spread, but their workers will flock to us to dig in our mines. You'll see, they'll start slacking off work. And they'll take some young, sturdy ice-dweller in my place.
- Aren't the borders closed? – asked the youth.
- Closed, except not with our fief, - answered the old man, licking his thick fingers.
- Why is that? – asked the thin one.
- Troll knows what's going on in those satyrs' heads. Rumors say that even Gray Father himself will visit us.
- I wonder why? To check if his whore sucks our lord off correctly? - said the miner, after which everyone burst out laughing like horses.
- I don't know what she does with him, but she's clung on tight, you got that right! - added the youth, triggering another wave of laughter.
- Of course you don't know, you've never been with a woman! – said the miner, once again making everyone at the table laugh except for the youth, who lowered his head and only managed a strained smile.
- Cyke, where is my ale?
- Get it yourself!
- Where is your waitress? - asked the miner, taking his ale.
- Let her go early so the ghosts wouldn't eat her on the way home.
- Heh, those are just fairy tales, there are no ghosts, - said the miner and was about to sit on a chair, when it suddenly vanished and the miner crashed to the floor, spilling all his ale on himself. Horse-like laughter erupted throughout the tavern. And the bards loudly sang a song about the Lord...
***
...Not far away in the mountains, above the city looms the old castle of the Seveseptimuses, built long ago by their ancestors, but still retaining its grim and majestic appearance. The Lord's bedroom is in the highest tower. It was Kohel's wish to be situated specifically there. He used to love looking out his window at the city and the sea. Now, he lies in his bed and stares into the void…
Fresh logs crackled in the fireplace. Beside Kohel lay a completely naked dark elf woman. She was reading some ancient book in a black binding. The huge old bed cast a shadow, from which emerged a tall dark elf in light plate armor with a sword on his back. Not at all surprised, the elf woman began to cover herself with the book, feigning embarrassment.
- Working? - asked the elf.
- No. Reading.
The elf approached the bed and looked at Kohel. Then he made some movement with his hand and a chair appeared from the shadow, upon which he sat. Drawing a dagger, he ran the blade across the lord's cheek. The cut vanished instantly. Not a single trace remained.
- It seems this is exactly what I think, - he uttered, looking at the black book.
- What is it?
- Did you read it or just look at the pictures?
- Read it.
- And what did you read?
- Some boring tales of a hermit. Nothing interesting. – she set the book aside, got out of bed and approached the fireplace to add some logs. At that moment, bursting through the door, a pair of guards rushed in with swords ready. But seeing the elf, they immediately put them back in their scabbards and stood at attention.
- Forgive us, Your Excellency. We did not know it was You. We heard an outside voice and decided someone had broken into the lord's bedroom with ill intentions. – uttered one of the guards, trying not to look at the elf woman.
- The door will have to be repaired.
The guards looked once more at the elf woman by the fireplace and left the room, after which a young warrior entered immediately, returning his swords to their scabbards.
- You are already here? And we are preparing to welcome you in the reception hall. – said Sir Tramus.
- I don't like entering through doors…
- Guests such as you do not visit us often. Do you know what happened to him? - asked Tramus, looking at Kohel.
- Do your mages not know?
- No, - answered Tramus, tensing slightly.
- Regrettable. In any case, I am just passing through, and I cannot help him in any way. But do not worry. Mages will soon arrive from the capital. They have already been informed and know what to do.
- Oh, excellent news, we shall receive them as befits. Please, let us proceed to the reception hall.
Heliel stood up from the chair and with obvious reluctance followed Sir Tramus. On the way, they were met by Karnor Seveseptimus.
- You are already here!
- Greetings, - replied Heliel with a smile.
- You saw, didn't you? – asked Karnor, looking up.
- I saw.
- He's been lying like that for three months. Doesn't eat, doesn't drink. Doesn't even shit! But he won't die either, Creator forgive me. What is this? Do you know?
- It would take too long to explain. So I will only say what I already told Tramus. Mages from the capital will arrive soon and solve the problem.
- Excellent news!
- Yes, excellent, you may be at peace...
City
Lord Kohel Seveseptimus. Young lord of the north-western feudal autonomous district of Seveseptim. Inherited the reins of power just under a year ago, when his father died under mysterious circumstances.
Features:
- open role
- zero voice
- cannot be killed
- cannot be infected
ND:
- none
Sylaella. First advisor to the Lord, appointed by the order. In reality, a spy for the Satranomicon. What exists between her and the Lord is not exactly known.
Features:
- cannot be blocked
- cannot be killed by physical attack
ND:
- protects player from infection/mental attack
Status: non-material/non-local
Heliel. Father of Shadows. Head of the island fortress "Star Shadow". Representative of the shadow caste in the High Council.
Features:
- cannot be blocked
- cannot be killed by physical attack
- kills Someone if they infect/kill him (but becomes infected himself)
- learns Tracker's nick if the latter checks him
ND:
- determines role of player who visited him at night (once every two nights)
- kills chosen player, leaves no clues (mental-physical attack; once every two nights)
Status: non-material/non-local
Karnor Seveseptimus Jr. Uncle of Lord Kohel. Cannot stand politics and diplomacy, therefore renounced the possibility of becoming lord in favor of military affairs. Commander-in-chief of the Seveseptim army. Great lover of drink and women.
Features:
- cannot be killed by physical attack
ND:
- takes chosen player into custody (blocks only physical attacks)
Status: material/local
Sir Tramus Tirven. Young warrior from a noble house. First vassal of Lord Kohel. His best friend and loyal battle comrade.
Features:
- cannot be killed by physical attack
ND:
- protects player from physical attack
Status: material/local
Isa
and
Oda. Popular city performers of folk songs and their own compositions. Often play in local taverns. Biological sisters.
Features:
- know each other, can communicate
- cannot be killed by mental attack
ND:
- block (blocks only mental attacks)
Status: material/local
Shadow. Main "attraction" of the local elite brothel. Women of her race are rarely forced to engage in such things, as they are not often born without the abilities inherent to her people.
ND:
- protects player if they are killed/infected – dies instead of them (the first player who sends a request for protection to the Mage Guild in private at the start of the night receives the protection of this role. Exception: Ghosts)
Status: material/non-local
Tracker. A person who earns a living by hunting and petty espionage. After the events in the Glacier, he headed east.
ND:
- checks one of player's statuses; dies when attempting to check Sylaella
Status: material/non-local
Healer. A mage practicing healing magic. Tries to help all those in need.
Features:
- cannot be killed by mental attack
- cannot be infected
ND:
- heals chosen player from death/infection
Status: material/local
Victory conditions: no Ghosts and Spreader remain.
Ghosts
Ghost of Magister Silachemius. Religious figure from the distant past. Disputes still rage among theologians of the official church regarding his only written work. Some believe it contains heretical views, others that it is an important part of religious culture with philosophical ideas essential for understanding life.
Features:
- cannot be infected
- cannot be killed by physical attack
- one-time protection from mental attack
- pierces Shadow's protection, kills her and the person she was protecting
- receives first two ND of the girl after her death
ND:
- kills chosen player, leaves no clues, ignores all external protections (physical or mental attack; once every three nights, starting from the second)
Status: non-material/non-local
Ghost of Lord Mirnor Seveseptimus. The deceased father of Kohel. Previous lord. Was a born ruler, a strict traditionalist. Experienced very strong influence from the official church, which was reflected in his politics.
Features:
- cannot be infected
- cannot be killed by physical attack
ND:
- kills chosen player, ignores protection (physical or mental attack)
- kills chosen player, ignores healing (physical or mental attack)
Status: non-material/local
Ghost of the girl. A raped and brutally murdered little girl who once lived in the city.
Features:
- cannot be infected
- cannot be killed by physical attack
- gains ability to kill if left alone
ND:
- tracks role, learns whom they will apply their ND to
- checks player status
- kills chosen player (physical or mental attack)
Status: non-material/local
Ghost of the knight. A warrior long vanished in battles of the past.
Features:
- cannot be blocked
- cannot be infected
- cannot be killed by physical attack
ND:
- kills chosen player (physical or mental attack)
Status: non-material/local
Victory conditions: no City remains (except Lord Kohel) and Spreader.
Spreader
Someone. It is not exactly known who he is or what goals he pursues. But after what happened in the northern capital, one thing is clear – he does not intend to stop. He will continue attempts to destabilize the situation throughout the entire northern region. Perhaps there are many like him and they have already begun to act in other parts of the continent.
Features:
- cannot be blocked
- one-time protection from physical attack
- cannot be killed by mental attack
- dies when attempting to kill Heliel
- can use two ND per night (check + kill/infect)
ND:
- infects chosen player
- kills chosen player (physical or mental attack)
- kills chosen player, leaves no clues (physical or mental attack; once every three nights)
- checks status of chosen player; when attempting to check Sylaella - loses protection and ability to check
Status: material/non-local
Victory conditions: no City remains (except Lord Kohel) and Ghosts.
ND Order:
1. Girl tracks (not displayed)
2. Heliel determines role (not displayed)/Kills.
3. Isa and Oda block.
4. Karnor blocks.
5. Sylaella protects (displayed if necessary).
6. Tramus protects.
7. Shadow protects (displayed as fact).
8. Tracker checks status.
9. Girl/Someone checks status (not displayed).
10. Ghost of Magister Silachemius kills.
11. Someone kills/infects.
12. Ghost of Lord Mirnor kills.
13. Ghost of the knight kills.
14. Healer heals (displayed if necessary)
Rules.
