Mirabella, Lady of Arcues, now Lady of Veridian's Hold was struggling to understand everything that was written in the books on her desk. Which, even though it was made of solid oak seemed to be having trouble keeping it's slender legs straight under all the weight. She had spent the last couple of weeks digging through the records kept by the Hold, and few things made sense in her opinion. Though the previous scribes had tried to explain how Reginald had decided to prioritize the layout of the records. She rubbed her nose in frustration at the clear lack lack of concern the records showed to financial issues and resources. Had he just powered through everything to secure the Mana Well at all costs? Or were there things that she wasn't be told? She could see his desperation to get the job done affecting his perception on what was going on around him, but it still seemed so odd. Like the stone used for making the Hold, where did it all come from? She could find no ledgers about the resource being quarried nearby or purchase records for it. The Seneschal even paused when asked the question, and several times opened his mouth to answer the question. Then, got a strained look on his face before going quiet.
Then there was this record of a wall and battle being held to defend the Dungeon from a rebel invasion. Yet, there was no physical evidence of the wall, and several of the guards who were stationed at the wall and claimed to have fought in the battle. Couldn't find any traces of the construction where it should have been located. Though there was clear evidence of fighting and even a crude station with stone and wood in it. Yet, where could a massive wall have gone, and why did half the people not remember and the other half look confused that it was gone? She was starting to expect that the rebels had used some powerful magic to confuse the minds of everyone here since her own guards didn't have any issues seeing the same problems she did. Yet, what kind of magic could have such long lasting effects on the mind? It was one of the few rarest types of magic, and the few spells she had heard off used odd rune patterns found in Faerun ruins or relics.
For now she had decided to put all the mysteries on the back table, and start off clear and fresh. Before she could handle more rebels she needed to send a token force and aid to Lolacal and check on the other surrounding settlements. Then put the slaves to work getting some proper plumbing setup in the keep before she grew tired with walking down the stairs to take a bath. In fact, most things could wait until she got the ability to take a nice hot bath in her own rooms. Reginald might have been fine with bathing with his men or slaves, but she wasn't a barbarian like he had been sometimes. Her eyes narrowed for a brief second as she considered her own thoughts. Why would she put baths and plumbing ahead of securing resources and fulfilling her obligations again?
"It's important to keep a good public face on, and that, at least for me, requires hot baths and plumbing is the best start to that." She said into her vanity mirror, before narrowing her eyes again. Quickly she flicked her fingers into sharp figures in the air, trailing white light from their tips, to create an array of runes in rings.
"Detect Magic." She said softly, focusing hard on the runes spinning around her fingers. Then, they exploded throughout the room causing it to glow faintly blue, before fading away back to the normal colors. Only herself remained glowing blue that slowly changed to green. So, somewhere, and somehow she had been cursed or enchanted with magic. She might be a touch vain, but she wouldn't have neglected her duties just for a hot bath, and plumbing would take time to implement. Time that was clearly valuable if the direction of the magic was to waste it. This could also explain the odd issues with Reginald's records. Then her guards burst into the room, each of them glowing green now.
"My lady, magic has been cast upon the keep and all within have begun to glow." The first guard said, his voice coming out altered by his heavy metal armor.
"Be at ease," Mirabella said with a sigh, "Gather everyone in the square, there is something important we need to speak on. It seems enchantment is afoot." Her words stopped the guards from finishing their kneel, which was fine because only slaves and servants should kneel in such times of need. Action was far more important.
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"Note, anyone who doesn't glow with green light, even if it is a light of a different color, and keep an eye out for anything that is also glowing. If it can be moved bring it to the square with you. No go!" She shouted, knowing that the spell would last only a few more minutes at most. The men spun around in sync to dash back out the doors, and Mirabella looked around the room and through the large windows carefully. Magic could be subtle and bizarre sometimes, and usually that meant an Artifact or Relic from the old Empire. Which wouldn't surprise her considering the rebels were always found hiding in those old sites. They seemed to have an answer to most of the defenses and traps found in them. Which was the main reason they weren't being constantly studied, and still had items after all these years.
Finding nothing of note, she made her way through upper floors while informing the staff to search, and looking through the more restricted places herself. She only had to recast the spell twice before the Keep was searched, and they made their way to the square. While she had been searching carefully, it had been an easy task to put together an address to the people in the Holding about the situation. She also had a faint hope that they had found something else in the Hold that might give them an lead on what magic was being used here. Or, if they were very lucky, the source of the magic itself. Something affecting this many people for such a long time would have to be a powerful source of mana, and thus would glow at least purple in color if not orange. Such was the scale of magical effects; white, blue, green, yellow, purple, orange, and rainbow. There was also red that was seen in blood magic and some curses, but she didn't think that applied here.
The platform was surrounded in guards that parted a way for her the moment she was seen coming from the Keep, and she could see the nervous faces of the people in the crowd surrounding the guards and the square. A few items had been put on the stage, but they were hard to see clearly from a distance for normal people. Though she was able to use her [Perception] skill to focus on each piece. However, it quickly became clear they were just some of the simple enchanted items her people had brought with from the capital; a pair of enchanted bracers, an amulet of mind, a few swords with a sharpness enchantment, etc. The only one that stood out was a statue of a shapeless thing with six gems where one might think a head would sit. It only gave off a yellowish glow so it couldn't be the source of the odd effects, though she would have it looked at by her mages. Stepping onto the stage she looked out at all the people in the crowd, and the Captain approached her with smooth steps before going down onto one knee with a flourish.
"My Lady, we have done as you have asked, and all await your words." He said, using his skills to ensure that all could hear his words.
"You have done well my Knight." She responded to the ritual of the performance. Few understood the elaborate dance that nobility had to endure to maintain their power. A combination of words and gestures all done with timing and subtle skill usage. Walking to the center of the stage she raised her hands to activate [Performance] and [Center of Attention]. The former would smooth out any issues with her words and let others understand them as if she was one of them. The latter would keep them focused on her and prevent misunderstandings. It was a core set of anyone with a Charisma based class, but especially of her Grand Noble class.
"People of Veridian's Hold, the light upon your person is a curse brought upon us by the rebels who attacked you here long ago. It will dull your mind and make you want to help them, and feel pity for them. I, Lady Mirabella of Arcues, will break this foul magic from the land, and give succor to all who suffer from it," She paused to build the tension and gauge the response so far, it was looking good, "All will be asked to keep a firm hold on their minds, and report ANY suspicious behaviors from Anyone. This is to keep us safe, and all will be treated with diligence and detail. Stay fast your heart and souls, and we will break the rebel's hold and claim our rewards." With her speech finished she ended the use of her skills since they were mana intensive, and made her way back to the Captain.
"Return all the items save the statue to their owners. Have the mages look into that odd piece, it intrigues me. I will expect a report with dinner." She said in an even tone, before heading back inside.