Blitherby
Blitherby is the very self-important butler of the Glasserune family. He has served them for decades, training under his father, who trained under his grandfather, and so on. The families are intertwined throughout their history.
He has a bit of a superiority complex, preferring high elves to other races.
Highly organized, he runs much of the day to day work in Stoneblood Manor and arranging meetings for the high council.
What Is Blitherby Hiding?
The Baron's death was suspicious to say the least. The "family curse" is apparently real, and darker than imagined. Who took the family sword and why? Why are there abandoned and hidden temples under the castle? How will James choose between honoring his promise to his love and his father's promise to the Tanglewoods? Blitherby's strange almost-Shinze braid and the strange temples under the house make him a prime suspect--but what did he do?
Blitherby's letter was quite suspicious. Now that Elaine's relationship to James as his fiance has been revealed, how does that impact the baron's death? Should James honor this contract or follow his heart? The group agreed to speak to the Tanglewoods, but when they arrive in Thornyside, the Lord and Lady are gone, and they are told that Elaine is not herself, though they have yet to find her.
What Is The Corrupted Shinze Temple?
Blitherby's yellow braid had black beads, which is sacrilegious for any true follower of Shinze. This combined with the strange corrupted type of Shinze temple below the manor is strange.
What about those weird notes?
The series of temples found below Stoneblood Manor are full of strange symbols, ominous streaks of blood, and corruption. Not to mention the rift that opened when Nira dropped her blood on the crystal altar. Now that they all connect to the cemetery, how do they relate? James seemsa unaware of their existence, but could Blitherby be involved with the corrupt Shinze splinter sect under the manor?
How Did The Baron Die?
The Baron's death was suspicious to say the least. The "family curse" is apparently real, and darker than imagined. Who took the family sword and why? Why are there abandoned and hidden temples under the castle? How will James choose between honoring his promise to his love and his father's promise to the Tanglewoods? Blitherby's strange almost-Shinze braid and the strange temples under the house make him a prime suspect--but what did he do?
Stop James' Arranged Marriage
James has begged the group to help him stop his arranged marriage, which he was trying to do before his father died.
He asks them to swear on the Dumbraava, the heart of the forest, that they will not tell anyone what he says. Galia whispers to the group that local legend is taht if you break an oath on the heart of the forest, the fey will kill you in a horrible manner. Galia then swears, and Adalia follows her lead. Belladonna begins to walk out. Carindrina asks him to swear on the heart of the forest that the promise they make won't harm the people in this village. James agrees. Carindrina, Furus, Venus, and Midna all agree to swear. Galia goes to Belladonna, and begs her to help. Furus tries to help, telling her that if the fey come to kill her, it is her chance to stab their eyes out. Adalia shakes her head and says, if we don't break the oath, there isn't a problem. And the unlikliest of friends, Galia is the one who finally gets through to her, telling her that she can tell that Belladonna is an honest and noble person who would never break and oath she takes, if she doesn't feel comfortable ytaking the oath, the group will try to guide her towards decisions that will help the community. Galia explains that she made a promise not to force people to do things, so she is asking as someone who cares very much for the people of this town, if she would please help them. Belladonna agrees to come back and makes the oath.
James thanks them for taking the oath, and explains that his father had wanted him to marry the daughter of another noble family, The Tanglewoods. Her family follows Liguaquide and his family follows Shinze, which is how his family has operated for centuries, and now he knows thanks to information from Carindrina, that it is actually important for his family to be set up with that worship. However he doesn't love her, he loves someone else. He is worried that now that he knows this, he should end his relationship so that he doesn't inflict the curse on the town. His father hadn't made a decision when he died, they were going to talk about it in the morning, but in the morning he was dead.
Carindrina says she understands the need for secrecy. Adalia asks how involved Blitherby was involved. James explains that Blitherby is instrumental in organizing meetings between the families, as Tricreche is run as a council of the families and not a king, but Balvonier is the capital so Blitherby does organize many of the meetings. Adalia tells him they found a letter from Blitherby to Elaine Tanglewoos sayings "This was not in our agreement. Where did you put it?". James says he doesn't know why she would need aletter from Blitherby since her parents run the town, unless she was beginning to take over. They didn't have any agreements other than their engagement, which while it has been in motion for several years, wasn't officially announced.He asks when Blitherby mailed the letter. Adalia tells him that they knew the sword was missing. but initially he didn't tell Blitherby, he only told him just before he met the group. He has only seen Elaine a few times, but he didn't feel anything for her.
Furus asks him to clarify why it weighs so heavily on him. James said it wasn't weighing so heavily on him until his father died, and now he feels that he needs to follow through with his Father's final wishes, and now that he knows the religions and the promises are so important and tied to the curse. They also need to keep agreements with the other towns on the Roueda or the roads can be dangerous and peopel can go missing. Carindrina asks if he has made a promise to the Tanglewoods or the girl he loves. He says he has to the girl he loves. Cardrina says she understands that, but thinks he needs to honor his promise. He is unsure because if his father made the deal for him, he needs to honor it, and he knows that if he asked his love she would let him go for the safety of the town. Carindrina says she thinks honor comes from within. He asks if they will go talk to the Tanglewoods and ask them to release him from the engagement.
Find The Glasserune Sword
The Glasserune sword was found under a pit of flesh and bones in a partof the stoneblood dungeons long ago locked off, it led back into the mausoleum in the cemetary. It was very suspicious. After returning the sword to its sacred altar, the group worried they would not be able to get it back for the ceremony to bury Hanburn, but it worked out.