Open Chronicles A Wizard Wanted for Murder [Elbion]

[The Wight Knight]

The burning. It was back. The hand that grasped his sword felt as though a raging fire was spreading throughout it. His fingers loosened one after the other until the Wight Knight could do nothing but leave his sword at his side. He was tempted to rub his fingers through his gauntlets, but that would be a sign of weakness.

The man had used magic on him. He was extended one hand out toward him, no doubt a means of forcing the knight to release his weapon. After the burning subsided, and he was still clueless as to how he was able to feel any sort of sensation, he was overcome with anger.

Magic had taken everything from him: his home, his love, and then, his life. For him to be so easily overpowered by such a force was beyond frustrating. The Wight Knight was a powerful man. He knew he was. But he felt so absolutely helpless in the face of magic. He could only dream of defeating the witch that cursed him, but he hadn't an inkling of an idea towards how to break through the simplest of spells.

"It's in my understanding that a boy was murdered by the hands of this college," the Wight Knight said, "Is magic often a bringer of death in this city?"

 

[Kara Orin]

Kara gave a silent response to Nayden with a nod of her head. Before she would make any moves, she would look over to Nayden to see if the keyrings he took were visible. He would make a note about the keys she could see if they were.

While the Wight Knight stood before Nayden and the rest within the hall, the path was wide enough for Kara and those from the City to just walk around. The College was not really built with having multiple pathways in mind to reach everything. The only other way would be an almost fifteen-minute detour.

Motioning to the farthest wall from the Wight Knight, Kara looked back and told them, “This way, please.”

The Official would then hug the wall as he moved forward. The Templars, while unarmed still formidable fighters, would act as human shields for the Official. Kara would thus be the closest to the Wight Knight as the group attempts to just walk around him.

If the Wight Knight did not act to impede them, Kara and the group would continue their trek forward and escape line of sight with Nayden.

---

“This Steward will guide the way,” the Steward said as he guided Elise and her Dreadlord escort through the Palace.

The guard with the Steward continued to follow them as a matter of procedure.

They would pass by several people within the well decorated Palace. Some standing in the hallway having a quick discussion, some on their way to something else. They would all be people working for the City’s government.

Despite it being where the Doge lived, the Palace also served as the seat of government for the City. After all, it was never a guarantee the same family would keep the Palace after the death of the incumbent Doge. Another family just might win the election. In effect, the Palace was owned by the Merchant’s Council rather than property of the Doge’s family estate.

Eventually, they would enter the Council Mage’s office. Several shelves of books lined the room’s walls. Two large windows on the opposite side of the room as the entrance allowed for natural light to pour in.

A hooded man sat at a desk on the far side writing on a piece of paper. An obviously male shape. His back was to the door.

“Mage Venali,” the Steward began, “Allow me to present the Baroness of the South, First Born of House Virak, and her Dreadlord Mage. It is their wish to assist in bringing closure to the Wiscard murder.”

Venali lowered his hood as he turned around. He stood up and gave Elise a formal Elbion bow.

“It's a pleasure to meet the Baroness and company,” Venali told her with a smile, “I’m Council Mage Venali, and I’m glad to hear help has arrived.”

Despite being the Council Mage, a position requiring considerable skill and experience, Venali had flowing blonde hair and a smooth, youthful face. Though, this was to be expected due to the presence of his long, elven ears…

 

[Nayden Kiers]

Nayden smiles as Kara led the guards and Official away before addressing the knight, “The boy was supposedly killed by one of the other Professors, not the College.” He tells the Knight firmly, “None of the College has anything else to do with the incident, though I am sure a great many wish they were there to stop such an act.”

The Professor thinks hard on his other question, “Magic as a whole is not a prime reason for everyone’s demise. Here in Elbion magic is incredibly common, but murders with it, just as any other murder is not unheard of. There are the Templars and Guards who are trained to deal with the mages who do step out of line with their magic. It is such a daily part of life here, that even we here in the College do what we can to assist in the case of one of our own causing harm or distress.”

He explains to the Wright quickly, “Magic is not bad in itself, it is the user who makes it evil.”

 

[Elise Virak]

An elf? Utterly disgusting.

Elise managed to hide her distaste for the creature that was standing in front of her, offering a patronizing smile instead. There was no curtsy or bow, mostly because if she were to offer such thing to an Elf she would immediately have to bathe herself in sat.

"We are more than happy to offer our aid." As much as she hated the likes of these creatures, there would be benefit to working with this one.

Glancing briefly towards Her Dreadlord she motioned for him to step up.

"May I ask what evidence has presented itself so far?" Elise began. "My Companion here is something of an expert in the...violent aspect of magics."

The Dreadlord stepped up besides Elise, bowing his head to the Council mage.

"I am Tirian Blackborn, more than happy to make your acquaintance, Council Mage."​

 

[The Wight Knight]

As the group of what appeared to be Elbion officials passed by him, the Wight Knight froze. He waited for them to attack, only to be surprised when they didn't. The girl in the front of the group led them down the hallway. The Wight Knight would have turned to see if they were simply waiting for an attack from behind, but he didn't want to lose sight on the man in front of him.

"Magic is not bad in itself," the man had told him.

The Wight Knight had trouble agreeing. How could such a practice have any sort of redeeming qualities in it when it could be used for such horrible destruction. Magic took everything from him and he wasn't even around to see it happen. He couldn't even fathom what it was the witch had done. Had she simply put him to sleep until the world had aged to the point that his home was no more? Had she killed him and then destroyed his kingdom? Maybe she was keeping his love hostage.

Magic was nothing but a tool used to control the minds and bodies of others. It was only a matter of time and skill before each magician realized it.

"I'm looking for someone," the Wight Knight told the man, "and I need to learn about magic before I can find her."

 

[Kara Orin]

And with that, Kara and those from the City continued down the hallway toward the laboratories. Kara would occasionally glance back at the Wight Knight and Nayden. Yet since there was no violence, she just continued.

Eventually, Kara and the group turned a corner and could no longer be seen by the Wight Knight and Nayden.

---

“A pleasure,” Venali said to Tirian.

The Steward departed, yet the guard remained and would be available if needed.

Venali turned around and grabbed a little journal of his own.

“For evidence, I examined the scene and body,” he told Elise as he flipped through the pages.

Stopping at some notes, Venali then told them, “And I determined that boy’s body had been damaged by magic just prior to his death.”

Venali’s fingers traced the words in his journal. He tapped on the pages and concluded with, “And specifically blood magic.”

 

[Elise Virak]

Blood magic?

Elise wondered for a moment if she'd had too much wine one night, but quickly dismissed the thought. That hadn't happened since that one night in Oban with the sisters.

This was the work of another Blood Mage. "Oh dear."

The Baroness said as she raised a hand to her mouth in feigned concern.

"How vile." The Dreadlord besides her nodded in agreement. Blood magic was ostensibly banned even in Vel Anir, though of course House Virak made liberal use of the practice in their own way.

"Was he used as a sacrifice himself, or the targeted?"​

There was a stark difference between the two.

 

[Kara Orin]

“I honestly can’t say for certain,” Venali replied, “Maybe sacrifice?”

Turning to a page in his journal, Venali described the condition of the boy’s body, “His face was… gone. Skin ripped from it. His veins could be seen through the skin, colored with a dark red.”

Closing the journal, Venali told Tirian, “I had my suspicions on the scene, but I was certain it was blood magic once the coroner reported that his body contained no blood.”

Setting the journal down, Venali then asked, “I’ve always heard Dreadlords learn different magic than what’s taught at the College. Is blood magic one of those things?”

 

[Nayden Kiers]

Nayden sighs thinking, “I don’t know this woman you’re looking for. I can scry but I don’t know who she is so that doesn’t help.”

He’d look up at the Knight, “If you’re looking for a teacher, why no look outside the college? Since if you want schooling here you’re gonna need to submit and application and all that. Now if you excuse me I have some where I need to get.” The half-elf takes a few steps back and starts to walk around the Knight giving him a slight bow.

 

[Elise Virak]

"We do not learn Blood Magic, no. Such things are forbidden even in Vel Anir."​

Elise had long ago learned to stop laughing at such statements. As a child it had always seemed rather comical. The fact that her entire family were blood mages was deeply ironic whenever these situations came up.

"How Dreadful." She chose instead to comment.

"Indeed Baroness. Though we do not learn such techniques, it is deeply studied at the Academy. Know thy enemy and such things."​

The Dreadlord continued on quickly.

"From what you describe I would say he was indeed the sacrifice. I would guess for some sort of spell. 'Storing' the energies of a blood sacrifice is difficult for long periods of time."​

Again, Elise's face did not change.

 

[Kara Orin]

If the Wight Knight did not stop Nayden, the professor would find the laboratory that Hudd normally taught from. The door sat open. Within the room, Kara and those from the City could be seen. Hudd would be absent.

The Official rummaged through a drawer with Hudd’s name on it.

---

“I see,” Venali replied with a hand on his chin.

“Unfortunately, I don’t know what spell the sacrifice was for,” Venali continued, “The only thing we found out of place was the boy’s body.”

Then with a clap of his hands, Venali informed them, “At least, we have reason to believe we know the culprit, or some accomplice. A professor of the College. If he can be arrested, his confession should answer what he did."

 

[The Wight Knight]

"I'm not looking for a teacher," the Wight Knight said, raising his voice as the man walked past him.

He turned to face the wizard and his all too confident demeanor. He was just another thing to remind him of his vulnerability. The way he acted as though he could easily overpower him was enraging, though the Wight Knight knew it was probably true. Perhaps he should look into finding a teacher. He had no desire to learn magic, but knowing how to defend himself from it couldn't hurt.

Ultimately, he had to come to an agreement with the man. He didn't know where else to start looking.

"If I aid you in finding the murderer," he started, "Will you help me track a curse?"

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OOC: I'm really, really sorry for the late reply. I got caught up with some college stuff.

 

[Nayden Kiers]

"A curse?" Nayden turns toward the knight thinking. "You will need to ask the Offical on that matter. He is the representative of the city. I, however, don't mind if you join the investigation, as long as you keep your mouth shut about what we learn and what it is about."

Nayden walks down the hall motioning to the knight was his gargoyles following. Once they reach the room he'd look at the others looking through the other professor's drawers. He would go to assist them and head to his own drawer.

Taking out a crystal and setting it in the middle of a stone tablet then drawing runes in the circle with a piece of chalk, he'd then start to chant the words of a scrying spell to scry on the Professor they were after.

 

[Elise Virak]

"Why do you believe it was this man?" Elise asked curiously.

She had no authority here to arrest anyone, but she could apply some political pressure if it helped. A part of her doubted that a Professor of the College would be foolish enough to use a noble as a sacrifice in the same city as himself, but one never knew.

The Dreadlord looked expectantly, as if he wondered the same.

"There may be something I can do to see the results of the spell cast."

He also quickly offered, Elise glancing at him with an unreadable expression before she turned back to face Venali.

Back in Vel Anir an investigation like this would have been handled by the Inquisition. An arm of the Dreadlords. The men and women of the Inquisition were fierce investigators and cruel questioners. She had seen them force a man to flay himself once. An effective method to gather the truth of who'd murdered a Dreadlord.

She thought about calling on one of them to assist in this, though quickly dismissed the thought.

 

[Kara Orin]

After some time, Professor Nayden reappeared at the labs.

“Is everything alright, Professor?” Kara would ask after his arrival. Today marked a time when there were a lot more armored men within the College than normal…

“Some notes on… body strengthening magic?” the Official muttered. He looked over papers procured from Hudd’s drawers. His brain full of statecraft and legal writ made Hudd's writing indecipherable.

The Templars stood ready at the door. If the Wight Knight had followed, they would immediately turn their attention to the strange entity.

When she noticed Nayden beginning to scrying spell, Kara questioned, “Professor?"

The scrying spell would be successful. Nayden would see a glimpse of Hudd looking over a list of names. He pulled upon his gray hair in frustration. The room was dark with no natural light. Just a single magelight hovering near Hudd. Yet with that much light, one could see a plethora of books surrounding Hudd.

---

Venali replied to why he believed Hudd was the culprit with, “Eyewitness testimony is clear he was at the estate at the time of murder and tutored the boy.”

The door to the room quickly opened. The Steward looked over and waved a butler to the room with a plate with several cups of coffee. Sugar cubes and whole whip cream were available as sweeteners. The butler would offer a cup to Elise first, then her Dreadlord entourage, and finally Venali.

Upon hearing the Dreadlord’s offer, Venali inquisitively asked, “I’d be interested in that. What would you need to do this?”

Elise Virak Nayden Kiers The Wight Knight