Thalia--In Castle Nylana, A One-Shot

The Guard

The Guard has minimal access to the castle--they can get in no further than the castle barracks and battlements. If Thalia tries to speak with them, they will be friendly, and open to a simple persuasion attempt to help take the city back. Being either caught or revealing herself, she will be brought to General Adul Anameras. If caught, she will meet the general in the dungeon, or if she reveals herself, in the general's quarters.

The Guard has been separate from the main bulk of the castle for three years, though Adul has been in contact with Queen Nyanath (the elf queen) for most of that time. Adul does not know what has been going on there, except that Nyanath assures her they have adequate protection. The castle staff, including cooks and cleaners, has been inside the castle for as long, without any contact with anyone outside the castle itself. The estimated staff is around 40 people, and as far as Adul has been able to tell, none of them are native to Nylana, or at the very least they seem to have no family in the city.

The Castle

The castle is eerily quiet. The halls and rooms are empty, and aside from lit candles and lanterns, any signs of life are dusty, as though they were dropped months or years ago in the middle of things. The age of the abandonment varies from room to room. 

The royalty quarters are the only place of interest. There is a single maid standing outside the royal chambers, but her skin is ashen, and her hair gray, frayed, and lifeless. She attacks Thalia on sight.

The room on the right is Thalia's mother's room, Queen Lealla, the left Queen Nyanath's, and the Center King Jamus's.

In Lealla's room, her corpse lays on the bed, slightly shriveled, as if mummifying rapidly. She has been laid out peacefully, and there is a hole through her chest over her heart, about the size of a large coin. In her hands is a dagger with an inscription on the blade that reads "For Thalia". (This blade is the blade of Lealla and when held by a mortal has an incorporeal blade, and when held by a ghost or elemental, has a physical blade).

Nyanath's room is ransacked. There are letters everywhere, mostly discussing discoveries about the cult of Kathelia. One letter is left neatly on the nightstand, unopened, and addressed to Joehva from Jamus. It mentions discusses his fear for her, as she has already given her soul up, that he cannot save her as he is saving the rest of the family.

Jamus's room is empty. No furniture, no rugs, no carpet. A secret passage through the fireplace is wide open, and leads down steep steps to a dungeon-like place. There is a chamber at the bottom, lit by a  single torch, and the shade of Kasadek guards it.

Through the chamber, there is another outfitted as an infirmary. A girl lies in the bed, with green hair, and firm, yet supple, blue skin, similar to a ripe grape. After a moment, Thalia recognizes her as Hannavel Nylana.

As for the orb, it is a Liad seed, and thanks to the spells Kasadek placed on her, rather than a new Liad growing and feeding off her body, she will become a Liad in 1d12 (9) days.