Quoted By:
"What did I do?" you ask.
"The reason I asked you to keep your eyes peeled before our meeting is because I wanted you to see the Baron's hypocrisy. I am sure you have noticed by now that he is more talk than action."
"I noticed he was doing something very strange," you say. "He had somebody chained up in his manor. Is that part of what you wanted me to see?"
"Baron Vargas has deluded himself into believing that hope and happiness are the keys to Vallaki's salvation. If he can make everyone in Vallaki happy, he thinks that the town will somehow escape this cursed plane and return to the forgotten world whence it came. He stages one festival after another to bolster the spirits of the townsfolk, but most Vallakians consider these festivals to be meaningless.
"And he would torture and punish those of little hope or faith," you add. "I think I understand."
Lady Fiona nods. "You have actually done me a very large favor without even knowing."
You suddenly no longer feel nervous. "Wait, so... you wanted him dead? That's what you wanted my help with?"
"Oh, no, not precisely," she says, holding up her hands. "But I could not dare get rid of him myself, and now... you've solved that problem for me. Nobody suspects me, because it was not me who requested the killing. You've provided me with the ultimate shortcut, and I have taken advantage of it."
"I casted a spell on him," you say, "as I was leaving the manor. You should know. To keep his corpse from decomposing. Gentle Repose."
Her face goes white for a moment, but she quickly regains her composure. A weird reaction. "Oh, yes," she says. "I knew this. He has been resurrected by the town cleric, at the Church of St. Andral."
"He's alive, then?" you ask. You feel a sense of fear mixed with equal parts relief.
"Yes. But it's too late for his family. The night following the incident, servicemen loyal to me stepped in to make the necessary changes, and we covertly turned the townspeople to our side. Government of the town of Vallaki changed hands today under everybody's noses. Not even your friend Urwin is aware yet."
"Wait, so... are you the new Baron of Vallaki?"
"No," she admits.
"Then who is?"
"My family has been involved in too many scandals over Barovia's history. I work better from behind the curtain. Somebody else will be elected. Right now, the public believe the forces apprehending the Baron's family are revolting civillians. In fact, they are servicemen loyal to me."
You managed to save the Baron's life by casting a spell on his corpse, but he is imprisoned, and Vallaki has changed hands overnight thanks to a snap decision you made in the burgomaster's mansion. What an unlikely turn of events.
(cont.)
