The Quest for Dawn

Chapter 15: An Impromptu Soiree

It was a particularly frigid late autumn afternoon when Theomin Corthanor was out on promenade in the Manorborn district. The lane in which his family's ancestral villa was situated was usually quiet and out of the way of the main thoroughfare, tucked high in the upper slopes of in the upper city of Baldur's Gate. Well, it was usually quiet. Over the spring and summer there arose such a clamor of work on the long defunct manor. Its lord had long ago left for the isle of Theomin's kin—Evermeet—never to return. It had been kept under the stewardship of the city, in the unlikely event that it would be claimed by other Ancunín ancestors. It had been a stain in the neighborhood for two centuries.

Then, by some strange twist of fate, the unlikely had happened; the manor was claimed and being restored, by none other than the old lord's son. He had been thought dead and buried over two centuries ago, with his name whispered like a ghost over that time. Common folk who claimed to have met him, claiming the name 'Astarion' and even describing the mysteriously unique visage of the high elf. The same elf that Theomin had witnessed standing on the dais during the victory celebrations in the spring, with a pretty little moon elf-maid linked to his arm, and an enigmatic staff carried in his hand. Blind.

Theomin had to laugh, the derision rising up easily at the thought. A long dead name, now risen up to an exalted title of 'Hero', a vampire spawn—if one were to believe the rumors—and now presenting with a rare affliction; a handicap, really. It was simply too curious to resist, and the young elven lord walked the short distance down the lane from his home to the newly restored gates of House Ancunín. The tawny bronze of his skin glistened as he reached out to help himself inside the gardens of the estate, walking with a dignified gait down the restored white stone paths. He paused his approach, his copper eyes scanning the blue roses flourishing in the center of the roundabout—a rare breed of rose that only came from one place. He resisted the curl in his lip, and made his way up the marble steps to the door.

The bronze knocker on the large gilded entrance was also resplendent with a moon elven touch. It was in the shape of a moonflower—because of course, it was—blooming, and inlaid with silver wire in the veins of delicately curled petals.

It was a bold move, as Theomin had yet to be introduced by an associate, as social convention dictated. But he trusted in the name of his own family—who had not abandoned their posts and holdings for centuries—and his position in society could hardly be matched by another of his station. When he lifted the knocker, he felt a small vibration emanated from it; like a gentle hum of a song. Moon elves, he thought again. The heft of the knocker fell three times, and echoed with a more expected, material thud. The smile he carried on his face was polite and practiced as he waited for an answer to his call.

A young half-elven footman answered. Theomin could see the footman was surprised at this unexpected visit, especially from one dressed as impeccably as himself. But the footman's expression morphed back into an air of placid professionalism. The high elven nobleman smoothed his black hair, and gave his most polite apologies.

"Ah! Good afternoon. Lord Theomin Corthanor coming to call," he said with a dignified bow of his head, discreetly scanning the gleaming white foyer beyond the footman.

Theomin's presence in the renovated Ancunín manor stood out amidst the harmonious décor. His entrance, marked by the privilege of his lineage, carried the expectation of deference that high society so often demands. Despite his gracious manner, Theomin's actions hinted at an ulterior motive beyond mere neighborliness.

His copper-sharp gaze didn't miss a thing—the richness of the decor, the subtle scent of wood polish, and the quiet orderliness of the household. He carefully gathered every detail, assembling a mosaic of information to form an opinion of the legendary Lord Ancunín.