You Arrived And Trouble Followed Soon After

From the attic floor of the toy shop, descend down and out into the port, and run (or ride) westward, uphill through the main paved streets of Beauclair, ascending up and across the bridge, to the top of the hill and into the Palace grounds. Venture into the bailey, ascend some lavishly-carved steps to an exterior balcony, where Captain Damien isn’t too happy with the violence that has followed your arrival. Answer him as you wish regarding the case, wait until both Damien and the Duchess have finished offering inaccurate vampire-killing advice. Then disagree with Damien regarding the assembling of a battue to defeat the vampire. After schooling them on the types of vampire, you can optionally mention this is no common “monster,” and that you’re set to find and talk to Dettlaff.

You explain that Dettlaff is being blackmailed. You can optionally mention that an innocent woman’s been abducted and point out that the most important thing is to prevent further attacks. Before Damien can utter another ignorant comment, you show the Duchess the blackmailer’s notes, mentioning the wine stain. The ducal sommelier is immediately summoned. In Toussaint, as you might have gathered, wine is sacred.

Benoit the sommelier studies the parchment, and is able to tell the stain comes from a Sangreal; the 1269 vintage. The Duchess is taken aback, as this wine was produced at Castel Ravello exclusively for the ducal table! Ask about the wine if you wish, before you grudgingly agree to accompany the Duchess (and Damien) to the vineyard to get to the bottom of this outrage. Feel free to prepare for this journey before agreeing to leave.