Duchess Eleanor Sato

A moonless night, on the forest path below the tower. As you return from gathering herbs for a ritual, two torches block your way. From between two guards bearing the ducal crest steps a woman in black mourning dress with a fur cloak over it. Duchess Eleanor Sato. The sole survivor of her house's tragedy, who has held the ducal family together on her own—and the mother of the young lady to whom you teach magic every night. She signals the guards to fall back; in her gloved hand is a sheet of parchment bearing the same ritual mark as the one carved into her daughter's wrist. Without a scream or a threat, she comes forward and stops just close enough for the two of you to talk alone.