Realms of Dread IC, Chapter One

[ewancummins]

"One blow. That's still quite a feat even with a two-hander. Would any citizens or guards have access to implements like those during the attack?" Archedius stiffens up a bit,

" I mean no offense, Watch-Captain, but is it possible that these people were beheaded for fear of them rising as walking dead by guards or militia? I've had to do such things myself when I was a soldier."

Archedius scratches under his eye with his thumb nonchalantly with a slightly audible sniff. He squeezes Rardi's shoulder, but the gesture is subdued.

''I don't believe any large axes or swords were issued to militia. Some of the Purple Dragons may carry such weapons, but most do not. As for the motivation behind all this- your guess is as good as mine. ''

[VAN]

Inovidil thinks which monster would have cut the head of a man, obviously one that doesn't want to be recognized or one that knows what will happen if these people turn to vampires. To her mind came 2 kind of monsters that could have cut the heads in order to not be recognized, illithids and vampires. Those who would have cut them to prevent turn to vampires were for sure clerics and wizards that have that knowledge. The evoker decided to speak about that with the others once out of the office. She has just 2 questions to ask Captain Rask.

"Have you checked if there were strange footprints around or that was impossible due to all confusion with the fire etc? And another thing, were the bodies burnt or there was a wound straight to their heart?"

[Ken of Ghastria]

Blaise takes it all in. He doesn't know of Lord Ildool, but obviously he's a person of importance. He says, almost absent-mindedly, "Well, it's also possible that the decapitation was simply a means to an end. That is, maybe whoever did this needed the heads, which unfortunately results in death. Sorry, did that sound callous? I tend to babble sometimes." He looks at his companions, enthusiasm growing in his eyes. "There's likely a connection between the seven: occupation, intellect.... Let's look!"

[BigBadQDaddy]

Alain exhales and gulps, as if he regrets what he is about to ask. "Capitan Rask, Where are the bodies now?"

[ewancummins]

Watch-Captain Rask answers Ino first:


''No unusual tracks were found, Inovidil. As you say, it's quite possible there were tracks or clues of some sort, now effaced by the traffic, smoke, and confusion of the last week. I can provide a guide to take you to the spots where three of the bodies were found, but the reports don't give the exact locations for the other four. My reports don't mention any unusual wounds other than the decapitations. ''


When asked about the final disposition and identities of the bodies, he has this to say:

''Let me see, incinerated, incinerated....yes, they were all burnt and buried outside the city walls. We cannot afford to have mounds of the dead laying about. The potential for noxious vapours to arise is much too strong, and a plague is the last thing we need here in Marsember. ''

'Unfortunately, no one was able to identify the bodies. The clerics might have been able to do so by means of magic, but they've been far too busy attending to the needs of the living to do much more for the dead than to perform abreviated funerary rites over the burial trenches ''


Rask reviews his notes for a moment before adding-


'' There's a note appended to one of the reports. Six of the headless bodies were disposed of by the usual crews, but one was not. The magus Delthrin took an interest in the courtesan who washed up yesterday morning. He volunteered to take her to the fires himself, according to the official report from the officer on scene. ''

[steveflam]

"Then let us pay a visit ta this magus Delthrin. As fer clerical magics, I'd like ta be able ta see the other 6 if at all possible. Yer priests might be busy.. but as I'm goin ta investigate I ain't busy enough to perform some spells that kin git us some important info from them dead bodies."

Rardi pauses, frowning. "Why's a mage want a dead body? Dun Necromancers usally like them dead bodies, Inovidil? I mean I dun think ye would want a dead body, would ye?"

[VAN]

Inovidil nods:

"Exactly Rardi."

Turning to Rask she asks:

" What do you know about this wizard Captain Rask? Where does he live and do you trust him? Also you siad that he volunteered to take the body to fires himself, but are you sure if he actually did it?"

[ewancummins]

''Delthrin is a necromancer. Everyone in town knows that. He makes no attempt to keep his profession a secret, however reculsive he may be. His creations have aided the city in the past. In fact, they were instrumental in saving whole blocks from the fires and pushing back the attackers, last week. He's never done anything to indicate he's anything but a loyal citizen. I cannot say what else he might or might not have done, and I do not know him well enough to give a personal opinion of the man.''

Rask pauses, clears his throat, and then adds-

''Of course, there are some people who dislike his activities, but we've never had any complaints against him that amounted to anything substantial. I advise you to question him respectfully, if you feel talking to him is necessary. He doesn't much like most guests, from what I have been told. The man is said to value his privacy. ''


Rask pulls a map from his desk and hands it to Ino-

''His home is marked on this map. Keep it, you may find it useful.''

[steveflam]

"Whut kinna person is he? He follow the law? He a good person? Ever have runins with tha law? You know whut I mean."

OOC Basically Rardi is asking his alignment LOL!

[BigBadQDaddy]

''Delthrin is a necromancer. Everyone in town knows that. He makes no attempt to keep his profession a secret, however reculsive he may be. His creations have aided the city in the past. In fact, they were instrumental in saving whole blocks from the fires and pushing back the attackers, last week. He's never done anything to indicate he's anything but a loyal citizen. I cannot say what else he might or might not have done, and I do not know him well enough to give a personal opinion of the man.''

The color drains from Alain's face as the watch captain recites what is commonly known about this wizard. The young author's mouth moves, but produce no words for a few moments before he gives up and shuts his mouth completely, still looking quite disturbed by the prospect of a known Necromancer operating within the city boundaries.
One thing about the watch captain's story struck an odd chord. One strange enough to make his stomach churn. If the necromancer was indeed reanimating corpses to use as manual labor for the city, then to what end would he have need of the corpse of a young, headless, female performer? No too ghastly. Perhaps she was a relative? Yes, that was more likely. A relative who got involved in the wrong circles. The kind of crowd that can get you your head cut off if you weren't careful.
Stomach churning aside, Alain thought about how he could turn this moment of creative inspiration into a work of short fiction. A thriller perhaps.

[VAN]

Inovidil sighs when heard that the necromancer's creation were actually help the city!

"Captain, how were these creations? Necromancers can have undead but can also do experiments in...humans...So, are you sure that were undead? And have you checked if Delthrin has indeed got the 7th beheaded body to fire?"

As the man hands her the map, Inovidil nods.

"Thank, will be very useful."

[ewancummins]

"Whut kinna person is he? He follow the law? He a good person? Ever have runins with tha law? You know whut I mean."

''He's never given the city any trouble. All complaints lodged against him - disturbing the peace, grave robbery, etc have proven to be baseless. The more...ahem, zealous followers of certain deities have harrassed him, and one at least one occasion we've had to arrest some priests and their followers for making trouble. I do hope that we are well shut of such uncalled-for agitation.''

Inovidil sighs when heard that the necromancer's creation were actually help the city!

"Captain, how were these creations? Necromancers can have undead but can also do experiments in...humans...So, are you sure that were undead? And have you checked if Delthrin has indeed got the 7th beheaded body to fire?"

'' Are they undead? I am not a wizard, but what else would I call a walking corpse? And yes, he uses human corpses for his work. ''

Rask inhales deeply, then exhales slowly,

''I don't know why he took the body, or even if he really burnt it. Perhaps you wish to investigate.''

[BigBadQDaddy]

Alain turns to Inovidil, "Perhaps we should."

[Ken of Ghastria]

"Yes," says Blaise. "I'd like to know why he chose a headless corpse when he had plenty of intact ones to choose from."

[VAN]

Inovdil taps her finger to her lips and says:

"Indeed! We will definitely pay a visit to Delthrin Captain and don't worry we will not cause you any troubles, we will just ask him a few questions."

Turning to Blaise says:

"You have a point Blaise and for sure this will be one of our questions, but I think necromancers have never enough bodies, so I guess if this one was in good condition...for a corpse...he definitely wanted to have it. We will see."