Helena

Helena

Captain of Dawn
Character Profile
Profile
1753628322866.webp​

Beneath the grounds of Astenvale Monestary, below the Great Halls, a map is unfurled across great table. A work of extraordinary cartography. Made with a living ink, that, if coaxed by magicked hand, could retrace and reform as the boundaries and borders of the territories shifted. It marked the known conflict lines betwixt Rodhan and Hvithelm. The borders of Murtohovi, Rosthall, Grennfelt and Lekander surround. Figurines of each Lord's forces there upon the requisite field. As was a pale coin, upon which a chrysanthemum was carved.

In the near distance, Knights duty bound to the goings on of this innermost room tended seeing pools, wrote missives, and ran reports as others updated the grand map of Khurun, muralled across the span of the eastern wall. Small markers that glowed with shroud were shifted by long reaching tools that carefully traced across the illustrated plane. Each marker represented the last known position of knights afield. Each color, a status. Blue, in rest. Green, on the move. Yellow, in action. Red, in peril. Black, missing in action.

They were like stars, too few against the wide expanse about them.

A new piece of parchment finds its way to the Sanctum of Operations.
 

Art Credit:  altar cave by zeok choo

Attachments

  • 1753628195668.webp
    1753628195668.webp
    263.6 KB · Views: 1
PROGRESS REPORT​

FILED by Scribe Ann-Stina
on 30th Miersoldat, 349 EoD

Knight Sworn Aarno Latva reports in from the field via seeingstone, transcribed message follows

​
Aarno Latva, Knight Sworn
To the Sanctums
on — 29th Miersoldat

Much has happened, so I’ll endeavour to be brief for the sake of this field report —

The situation that brought us — Syrs Lóthlindor, Faramund & myself — here has been resolved and immediate threat to the town of Urbos neutralized — at least according to our compounded knowledge as we speak. What we discovered upon arrival were multiple anomalies of Shroud origin, borne of a local weaver’s reckless, if well-intentioned, casting which — that resulted in a corrupted guardian spirit. This cause and its effects have all been now cleared and only consequences remain.

This includes injuries, as sustained in direct engagement with the spirit by my two fellow Sworn. Both are stable and looking to make a full recovery, aided by a healer um — Syr Lóthlindor's cousin Davina, who also — the details are a little —

It was a lot. I'll file about that later, properly— {barely audible, trails off}

Anyway, at present they are yet several days away from being fit enough for the road, so— We’ve decided to remain here on site until they’ve both sufficiently regained their strength for the ride home.

End report.


Notes:
Report lacks follow up — marked INCOMPLETE






AFTER-ACTION REPORT​

Filed by Aarno Latva, Knight Sworn
on 25th Hochtar, 350 EoD

DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS​

Happened upon a Blighted creature enroute from scheduled leave with Syr Lóthlindor. Thing crept up on us while at camp, a patch of woodland on the East side of the road leading South-West from Astenvale, six miles from the village of Orren. The being was slain, but disposal as per usual procedure failed — myself was devoid of primary means as provided by Syr Josai, for which I admit personal error and great regret, and the surrounding itself was insufficient in proper kindling to support the secondary approach of burning. The thing itself wouldn’t catch, no matter what I could think to do in the dead of night.

Whomever we encountered since on the road leading up were warned off the site.

End report,

Aarno Latva
Knight Sworn of Dusk
 
Field Notation: Anomalous Shroud Disturbance
Compiled by Knight Pursuant Valtais​

The notation was compiled following receipt of an independent report, describing unusual interference with active weavings in the Astenvale forest. What follows is a faithful record of observations.

Half a day's walk due East of the monastery, into the woods. You will smell it before you see it and when you smell it, stop walking and assess your surroundings before you continue. The glade will be visible through the treeline. You will not mistake it for anything else.

The lower quarter of page has severe water damage and is illegible. The text continue on the other side.​

The Shroud in the vicinity of the site is damaged. I use this word with full awareness of its inadequacy. Damaged implies something that was struck or worn or degraded by ordinary process. What has occurred here does not resemble any of those things. But the Shroud has ceased to function in any recognizable way within the glade. The Shroud here has been disordered, that is the word this attestant would prefer.

It is impossible to preform weaving in any predictable manner in the area.

Remainder of page is illegible, the ink has blurred and dissolved by what appears to be a watery and bloody liquid.​
 
URGENT & IMMEDIATE REQUEST FOR AID​

FILED by Scribe Sazia Remonde
on 12th Hochtar, 352 EoD

Syr Osytha, Knight Sworn of Dusk, reports in from the field via seeingstone; transcribed message follows


Osytha, Knight Sworn of Dusk,
To the Sanctums
on — eve of Hochtar 12th, 352

Reporting from resettlement convoy, current position: approximately fifty miles south-by-south-west of Astenvale Monastery, on road north of Drommagh.

Convoy attacked by a strigoaică shortly after midnight. Several civilians possibly MIA, one confirmed fatality, one additional casualty left unresponsive. Syr Faramund wounded in action, but remains stable and operational. Syrs Evelyn and Conroy currently securing camp perimeter. Assailant has withdrawn and remains at large.

Urgently requesting assistance for surviving casualty, name: Lilia. Aged six. Strigoaică expected to target her again tomorrow night. Syr Faramund and I will attempt to transport Lilia to Astenvale Monastery by sundown. Please ready secure facilities and medical assistance to receive patient immediately upon arrival.

Repeat: enemy is strigoaică, highly dangerous. Recommend liasing with Knight Master Syr Tomas Grimstone regarding countermeasures.

{Preceding transmission repeated once over}

End report.
 
Last edited:

AFTER-ACTION REPORT​

Filed by Osytha, Knight Sworn
on 17th Griham, 351 EoD

DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS​

Arrived in Hyldesdale morning of Akozith 9th, under the false identity of ‘Brycen’, a travelling merchant, as provided for operational purposes. Syr Kenneth kept in reserve at the northern border, deployment pending on pre-determined contingencies. Established contact with target, one Gilles Despeter, reeve of Hyldesdale, around 2200. Extortion attempts began as predicted, and I transferred into target’s possession all armonium-marked coinage as provided by the Sanctum of Operations. Target was dissatisfied with the goods provided and initiated hostilities, resulting in his death.

Situation may be considered resolved in a sub-optimal manner. Operation has failed to remove Gilles Dispenser as Reeve through the preferred means of legal recourse, and foul play is almost certain to be suspected in the matter of his disappearance. However, there are no witnesses to the altercation, popular opinion of the target is so low that cooperation with law enforcement is highly unlikely amongst the general populace, and covert body transport/disposal procedures were not compromised. Lastly, marked funds have been returned in whole to the order’s possession.

Remainder of report now covers an unrelated matter as discovered proceeding the events listed above.

During transport of target to a knucker-hole for disposal, I encountered a man likewise in the process of moving the butchered remains of two local shepherds (Aisley and Serone) who had been impoverished by Despenser’s extortions. The man, whom I later identified as Rois Sinclair, can be described as: slightly over 6’ tall, strong build, and possibly Suldazan lineage. Hair and eye colour unknown due to the monochromatic effects of owlseye, which I had administered in order to navigate through forest cover. However, Sinclair’s irises are distinct in that they luminesce. Additionally, Sinclair wears head bandages inscribed with a form of warding seal, a repeating circular pattern. Subsequent investigation revealed that Mr Sinclair is colloquially known as ‘the Crocodile Butcher’ or ‘Mr Crocodile’. ‘Crocs’ was not favourably received. Mr Sinclair is the proprietor of ‘the Sinclair Meat Market’, a travelling butchery business.

A mutual confrontation between Mr Sinclair and myself ensued, in which he revealed he engages in cannibalism, and further, a large portion of his business venture involves the trading of human flesh and body parts. Mr Sinclair further posited that the deceased individuals had reached out to him first, claiming foreknowledge of their demise, and requesting his help in disposing of their bodies in the absence of necessary funds, or close friends and family, to facilitate cremation. Mr Sinclair provided me with their written request as further proof, then an ultimatum: to enter his custody and return to his camp with him, and in exchange, I would be released unharmed once he had concluded some undisclosed business with me. As I wished to understand Mr Sinclair’s operations better, and since there remained an option for non-violent recourse, I agreed to his terms.

From my observations, Sinclair’s Meat Market comprises two large wagons, possibly environmentally-controlled, in which produce is stored, and which are transported by a team of mules; five small-moderate tents for housing staff; a single larger tent belonging to Mr Sinclair; and transportable butchery paraphernalia, including a bench capable of supporting a human body. I met only one member of his staff, a young elven female who goes by ‘Feliene’, blue eyes, blonde hair, slight build. Nice girl.

Once we arrived, Mr Sinclair took ownership of the target’s remains and processed them. He answered my questions about his business, stating that:
  • Beside selling humanoid flesh for consumption, cadavers and body parts are also sought after for sexual purposes, for research by medical institutions, and as spellcraft components,
  • While Mr Sinclair may attempt to goad others into attacking him so he can claim self-defence, he refrains from murder (technically speaking),
  • The standard disposal procedure for unsold parts involves a combination of cremation, crushing, and discarding bones piecemeal as they travel, in locations they consider discreet, and
  • Mr Sinclair has merged with a Shroud Fiend; Feliene earlier indicated this by claiming: “If you tell anyone about us, he’s going to turn into a big monster and eat you all up.” So, I guess I have that to look forward to.

Over the entirety of our interactions, Mr Sinclair expressed considerable animosity toward the equestrian class; he appears to have had severely detrimental experiences as a result of governmental policy, and also at the hands of those tasked with enforcing it. As such, he especially does not like ‘knights’. What that term means to him exactly, isn’t clear, but he doesn’t seem too concerned with understanding chivalric minutiae.

Toward the end of our discussions, I was dared to try a piece of his supper, positively identified as human flesh. This was not presented as a condition of my release nor guarantee of my wellbeing. It is difficult to describe: in flavour, it resembled pork closely enough to be passed off as such if one is unfamiliar with the difference, while the texture is more reminiscent of tender beef. However, I did not confirm which part of the body the flesh came from, and as with any meat, one should expect significant variation between different cuts. I did not get the recipe.

Mr Sinclair insisted I depart at this point.

Overall, I made several additional or supplementary observations to those mentioned above:
  • Rois Sinclair has a pathological aversion to falsehoods. He lies about nothing, and in fact, doesn’t seem to feel the need to lie about or hide anything. This has three main implications:
  • First, that while he may try very hard to give the impression that he is issuing a threat, he does not actually directly make ones he won’t follow up on, e.g.: although he claimed that I would be more convenient dead than I was alive, he never stated an intent to make it so. I believe this is a ‘technicality’ he exploits in order to provoke aggression, and consequently, justify the subsequent killing as ‘self-defense’. However, so long as Mr Sinclair only offers vague or indirect threats such as these, I don’t believe he will initiate violent action.
  • Second, and as such, it is possible that Mr Sinclair is able to source sufficient material for his business venture without actively killing for it himself. He offers a body disposal service which does not require the significant investment of constructing a pyre, and avoids the ignominy of other, inadequate measures. Suppliers might even be provided financial compensation, though, this will need to verified. The main concern is whether his demand for cadavers encourages third parties to kill on his behalf, which will need qualifying and/or quantifying.
  • Third, Mr Sinclair can be trusted to deliver on his promises, pending that other parties uphold their end of them as well. He kept his word to let me go, despite my being a knight, having seen deeper into his operations, and him fully expecting that I would be making this report. Similarly, the most fruitful approach with Rois Sinclair may likewise require complete honesty. For example: if one is in a position to either disclose their membership to the order as a knight, or lie and say otherwise, I would recommend the former option when it comes to Mr Sinclair. In my experience, he responded most favourably whenever I was being both direct and truthful in my replies.
  • His melding with an as-yet unidentified Shroud Fiend appears to have left his human personality largely intact and in control. Exactly how easily and how often the fiend usurps his body, I cannot say, but it’s handled well enough that he can maintain his business. Further: how much of this is a matter of dominance over the entity and how much comes down to appeasement may be worth further investigation. Whatever the case, the risk posed by this entity — while not entirely negated — appears to be significantly mitigated by Mr Sinclair’s countermeasures.

In conclusion: there is no easy means of quantifying the risk and harm factors posed by the Sinclair Meat Market and its proprietor. Some level of either is undeniable, but may be low enough to be considered inactionable. The business might even offer services the order would deem beneficial; Mr Sinclair has already proven cooperative enough in my dealings with him despite his ingrained distrust of our profession, and he aided me with the disposal of Gilles Despeter. He may continue being amenable if approached (carefully) in the future for similar services, or even additional ones. Cadaver dissections are highly valuable in teaching anatomy and could be useful for those advancing in the Pursuit of Life, while the Pursuit of Death can always find a use for such body parts.

I strongly advise that we focus on building up our intelligence around Rois Sinclair and his enterprise, particularly their impacts, before we make any decisions on taking action against him. As it stands, he is well-funded, employs at least one weaver, has made mention of his staff’s significant combat readiness, and himself has the capabilities of a Shroud Fiend at his disposal. I believe an assault on Rois Sinclair would yield unacceptable casualties on our side in addition to significant collateral damage, and for completely unknown gains, particularly since said Shroud Fiend is already rendered close to neutralised.

Mr Sinclair indirectly extended an invitation for me to visit him again in a month’s time at Munas Kuvak. As I have already established some kind of rapport with Crocs, I would like to volunteer myself to make this appointment and continue investigating the Sinclair business.


End report,

Osytha
Knight Sworn of Dusk
 
"Captain Selene, have you read that report from Knight Sworn Osytha?"

Syr Haadi stood at attention before her. In his hands were bundled several outstanding articles which Selene had been strategically ignoring.

"Hm?" Selene sat in the high-backed armchair which rest in a dusty corner of her dark office. The chair had once been blue, but the flocked patterns of flying nightingales had faded over time to a glossy grey. She had a book in her lap and a glass of wine set atop a large stack of more books at her side. She flipped the page idly. "That thick one tied with the twine? I asked Maelie to summarize it for me."

"Please read it now." The papers were plopped atop her open book. Haadi loomed, and Selene knew she would not know peace until the task was completed in his presence. Taking a sip a wine, she held each page up and read through, line by line. By the last page her hand was shaking, an imperceptible quiver that wobbled the edge of the paper. She looked up at Haadi, dark eyes glinting.

"Find me a clean sheet of vellum."

MISSION DIRECTIVE. SANCTUM OF DUSK.
Mission:

"Must I name the directive?" Selene lifted the pen from the page, and looked up at her assistant.

"Yes," Syr Haadi's response was strained. His long, slender tail flicked behind him in annoyance. "In case it needs to be referenced in other documents."

Mission: Out to Market
Priority: Classified
Operatives: Syr Osytha of Hræfn Leah, authorized to operate agens sola.

Accept Mr. Sinclair's invitation.

I am not interested in the nature of Mr. Sinclair's business: it is his buyers who concern me. Continue to investigate his routes of distribution and those who purchase his wares. Amongst their rank, we may find ties to the Sightless, whose seers require a logistically impractical amount of fresh flesh for their cruel experiments. If it is found that Mr Sinclair has been supplying our enemies, report back immediately.

And Osytha, some more personal advice: do not be fooled by Mr. Sinclair's generosity. Perhaps he believes his enterprise to be a noble pursuit, perhaps he has been truthful about how he conducts business. But make no mistake, this fiend sows suffering wherever it goes. Those who purchase flesh are criminals, necromancers, deviants, and cursemongers. It is their patronage which he benefits from.

I have walked the Meat Markets of Cindersend. I have seen the old holding cells at the base of the Broken Tower, and I have spoken to those amalgams left behind by failed experiments, piecemeal souls beholden to the echoes of lives not their own. I have wept in the places where Death lingers, and I know its scent, soaked even now into these pages that you write to me upon.

Forgive me, Osytha of Dusk, for I send you back into the dragon's den.

End Report.

-- Selene of Dusk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom