[MATURE WARNING] He Rises as the Vines Fall

[firegirl7894523 247]

OOC DISCLAIMER:

 

The below story mentions material that is not suited for younger audiences, and contains elements such as murder, kidnapping, and battles. If your sensitive to such, I would suggest you skip Part One. Story is rated PG-13. 

Contains massive spoilers for the case itself.

 

PART ONE, THE CRIME SCENE

 

Spoiler

 

Carsandra entered the house along with two other people, an Ascended High Elf and a Voidal Construct. They split up, each looking around the house for clues. Descending the stairs, she would come face to face with a small, Dark Elf child. Half of her face and body burned, she sat among a large pile of mulch, holding papers and charcoal. She looked up at the three of them, eyes widening.

 

“It’s ok, let me speak with her.” The Ascended whispered to the two, they nodded, stepping back while the Ascended sat down near the little Dark Elf. The Voidal Construct went down the right hall, toward the kitchen and dining room, and she walked down the left hall, were the bedrooms where.

 

Inside the first door lay the babies, all of their limbs missing, their toros’s were on the floor. Their tiny bodies pooling guts and blood. The air reeked, and the fireplace near the bodies was almost destroyed, whole chunks of brick on the floor.

 

Inside the second door lay the eldest child, their limbs and head missing as well. This time only their fingers and torso were left, the blood reeked, staining the entire room a crimson.

 

The next door was the main bedroom, inside the bed was ripped in half, and Quillian’s right arm lay on the bed, along with bits of her gown. In the bedroom right across from that was the babies crib, where the rest of Quillian’s body was located. Again only the torso remained, however inside the room was purple sap, and oddly enough, chewed up plum leaves. The murder weapon, a saber, lay deep inside Quillian’s torso.

 

She heard Nin exit the house, she went over to stand by the Voidal Construct.

 

“There’s hardly any evidence,” it said with a frown, though she could not see it due to it’s plating, “The only clues we have are her, the plum leaves, and the purple sap. Maybe you can ask her a few questions, and convince her to leave. I’m big, and scary, and I glow.”

 

She chuckled softly, but she nodded, entering the little room with the Dark Elf. She sat down, and the gaze that the little girl gave was heartbreaking. Carsandra did her best to smile, and finally the little girl drew a Dire Wolf and a phoenix, underneath that, she wrote ‘DID YOU FIND THEM?’

 

Carsandra paused, looking at Doryn “She said there was pets in the house”, she looked back at the girl, “No, we didn’t find any pets.”

 

She sniffed, turning the page and drawing Harven. She then pointed at the mulch, at which Carsandra understood. She nodded, sighing deeply. “So that’s the remains of him?”

 

The girl nodded, writing on her paper ‘PROMISE ME YOU’LL FIND HIS KILLER?’

 

Carsandra’s face softened, she nodded. “I promise.”

 

The girl nodded, rising, to which she did too, and they both exited the room. The girl dragged herself up the stairs, feet heavy, leaning on the staff. Once she was gone, the Voidal Construct picked up the bronze gauntlet. “This will be useful.” Was all it said, before it left too, and she followed.  

 

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A day later, another Wood Elf and her arrived at the blocked off crime area. He sighed deeply, “What is it this time..”

 

“It’s a murder, a lot of them.” She smiled grimly, knowing the horrors that awaited in the house. He simply nodded, the white haired Mali entering the house. He paused, taking in all the clues while Carsandra stood outside, waiting. Forty-five minutes passed, and he finally exited. He took a big breath, sitting on the stairs taking out a canteen, and taking a swig.

 

“So..?” She asked tentatively.

 

“Well, the gauntlet would have been very useful.” He said, sighing. “The only thing I don’t get, the claw marks, it cannot be a Daemon, they have malfire.”

 

“Quillian is a Fearl.” She offered, to which he shook his head. “Well then, several Druids are Fearls.”

 

That made him pause, he drank again. “Tell me more about the family?”

 

“From what I know, Harven lived in The Mother Grove, he’s a well respected popular Druid. I don’t know much about him aside from that. Quillian I know a lot more about. She was married to a Druid called Toren, he was murdered.”

 

“When?” He asked.

 

“Eeeehh...six years ago?”

 

“How, and by who?”

 

“Nobody knows, his body was found in The Dominion and he grew into a tree.”

 

The Wood Elf grumped.

 

“Well, then around two years after Toren’s death, she lost his children.”

 

“How?”

 

“Nobody knows either, they just mysteriously died as well. Then The Dominion launched their Anti-Mage, Anti-Spook slogan, Quillian was accused of being a Dark Mage, and she was burned alive and banished from The Dominion. I know a couple years before Toren’s death, she was apart of the group that beat up Artimec and disowned him from the family.”

 

“So only he as a motive?” He asked, to which she nodded. He finally stretched, standing up. “Here’s the thing, the claw marks on the wall I at first thought were a Daemon, but there’s no malfire. It cannot be Quillian because the claw marks suggest that the Fearl who was apart of the group who came into the house, dragged his claws against the wall, suggesting he took great pleasure in doing this. Secondly, I know there’s more than one person, I suspect there’s three, because plum leaves are used for addictions. Here’s what I think happened.”

 

“It’s early morning, and three people arrive at the house. Two unknown people, and one Fearl. They are all hired assassins. One of the people chews plum leaves, and either as the rapier or the gauntlet. I’m still not sure of the second person, but they have the rapier or the gauntlet. Then there’s the Fearl. They bust down the doors. All three of them enter at the same time.”

 

“To which Quillian comes up to investigate, and is jumped by the intruders, and she knows she’s outnumbered, so she flees to the main area.”

 

“Yes, that was when the Fearl went down the right stairway, dragging it’s claws along the wall to inspire fear. The two others go down the left stairway, and deliver more wounds to Quillian. She flees to the babies room, to protect them.”

 

“That’s when the plum chewing person found Harven hiding in the room, they killed Harven in the smaller room, because Harven was hiding to go flee and get help. It didn’t work, and Harven was killed. The plum person spit on Harven’s corpse, then joined his buddy to kill Quillian.”

 

“Then when Quillian was killed, the plum guy also spit on her corpse. The Fearl meanwhile took care of the babies, by snatched them and gutting them, and taking their heads. The Fearl dragged them to a separate room, where one of the others killed the eldest child. Once everybody was dead, they lopped off the body parts, took the heads of all of them, and for good measure, captured the phoenix, they are VERY rare, and they sell for quite a lot of mina.”

 

“So then their job done, they took Quillian’s head, the eldest child’s head, and the babies heads and left the house. The Fearl stayed behind and wrecked the entire house, and then left as well. The only thing I don’t get is the purple sap?”

 

The Wood Elf took another swig of his drink. “That’s easy, the purple sap comes from the purple tree. They might have offered Quillian a chance to live if she drank the purple sap, but she must of refused, and they killed her.”

 

“But the purple stuff only works if a person is by a purple tree, and there’s no purple trees in Sutica. Why the Nether would they offer her a chance to save herself then? Seems stupid.”

 

At which, the elder Wood Elf shrugged. “Regardless, we can come to these conclusions. Three people. One chews plum leaves. One is unknown. One is a Fearl. Either the plum leaf person or the unknown one had either the bronze gauntlet or the rapier. They were hired assassins. The Fearl had a personal vendetta against the entire family. The plum leaf guy and the other guy did not. They took the heads as proof that they killed the family, and took the pet as a way to earn a lot of extra mina.”

 

She scratched her chin, “What about the Dire Wolf?”

 

“Either the Fearl ate him or he’s missing in action.” He responded. She nodded, “Is that all you can glean?”

He nodded, rising and paddling off. “I’ll be busy with another thing, some magic ring. So you’re on your own, as I’m off tomorrow to investigate this ring.”

 

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PART TWO, GATHERING HELP

 

Spoiler

 

Carsandra walked to The Mother Circle, her staff came to a rest as she reached the large root gates. It was nighttime, the twilight long left as nature overtook The Mother Grove. Only the bugs were out this late, every animal having gone to bed. She waited, sighing. “Druids and their motto ‘Patience is a virtue’. Pah! I have a case to solve!” Only five minutes passed, and a Dark Elf Druid made its way down the steps. The Dark Elf was old, white hair and a female. The Druid looked through the root gate at Carsandra.

 

“State your name and business here.” Oddly enough, the Dark Elf words were humming, she could guess that the Druid was either very skilled in Druidism, or just did that out of habit.

 

“Carsandra Ivydale, I’m here to discuss the incident around Quillian’s family, and the funeral arrangements.”

 

The Druid blinked slowly, looking at Carsandra with the most neutral expression. Finally, she spoke, “The Mother Grove is already handling the incident, we don’t need your help. And, we will make the funeral arrangements, if they are dead.”

 

That reeled Carsandra for a moment, why did this Druid refuse her help? This didn’t help her views that most, if all not Druids were stuck up snobs who guarded nature like an overbearing parent. She huffed, “Van’ayala then.”

 

“Van’ayala.” The Druid spoke, not moving an inch. It was then she realized that the Druid would not move until she did, then, she turned, making her way back down the path, feeling her stare prickle the nape of her neck. She muttered to herself, walking to The Dominion. “Fine! If you won’t help me, then I’ll do this myself, with, or without your help.” She traveled to The Dominion, reaching The Sparrow Grove. She entered the sunlight library, browsing through the herbal section. “Herbal treatments...herbal flowers..medic stuff...Void be! There’s nothing on it!” She swears, sighing. “I need more information...something that only a select few would know of.” She strokes her chin, thinking deeply.

 

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Entered the tavern in Holm, she ran into the Ascended. She leaned forward to his ear, “I found more information on the case.”

 

Instantly his eyes sparkled, “Really? Sit down!” She was ushered to a seat, and she plopped down. She started explaining the case, when he interrupted her, raising a hand to stop her. “So none of the people are corrupted?”

 

“No?” She answered, a brow furrowing.

 

“Then I’m sorry, but I can’t get involved. Aerial frowns on Ascended interfering with mortal affairs.”

 

Her jaw clenched, she took a deep breath. “Right, leave me alone to work on the case. Great.” She irritability rose, glaring at him.

 

“Wait..wait.” He sighed, rising to stop her from leaving, “I hate to see you upset, look...just this...just this once, I’ll help. JUST THIS ONCE.”

 

Her visage slowly calmed, “Nin, you don’t have to break an oath for a case.”

 

“It’s not an oath, per say. She just frowns on it, and I hate seeing Her get upset.” He sniffed, to which she rolled her eyes.

 

“So, are you going to help me, or not?”

 

“Yes, I am.” He answered.

 

“Great, then we need to head to The Dominion right away, interview people and interview the main suspect.”

 

“I actually need to leave soon, sorry.” He gave a sheepish smile, she sighed.

 

“Right, I will interview the suspects then.”

 

She entered the Sparrow Grove for the second time that day, heading for the library. She had just entered when a Dark Elf, male, entered the room as well.

 

“Llo’, llir!” He cheerfully exclaimed, “Are you a Druid?”

 

She shook her head, “No sorry, I’m quite the opposite. Who are you looking for?”

 

“The short Archdruid.”

 

She thinks for a moment, “She’s not here, she’s in The Mother Circle.”

 

“I know that, I’m three tasks away from my Grand Task.” He said proudly, “My task isn’t reflective on the circles.”

 

“Well, do you know any usage for plum leaves?” She inquired.

 

“I just started Dedicancy, sorry.”

 

She sighed, nodding, but paddling out. “Right well, sorry to waste your time. Van’ayla.”

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A little while later, she was wandering The Dominion when she spotted a familiar figure. It was now or never. She walked up to her, “Ma’am?”

 

The Sparrow Grove Archdruid turned her head to look at her, “Hrm?”

 

“I wanted to gift a basket of soap to the Druids at the Grove, but all I found was a Dedicant. Do you know any around here?”

 

“I am the Archdruid of The Sparrow Grove.” The elder Mali responded simply.

 

“Oh! Can I give you this then?”

 

“Yes, Aspects bless you for the gift.” She said, to which Carsandra inwardly laughed at.

 

“I wanted to ask, I was planning on making a new line of soap, do you know if it would fit with plums or plum leaves?” She white-lied, looking at the Mali.

 

“I do not.”

 

“Thanks anyway.” She nodded, paddling off.

 

She ran into the Ascended again, who was looking at one of the Virriam. “That guy’s new.” He whispered, to which she simply shook her head with a bit of laughter. They traveled to the tavern and sat down near the bar, talking in low tones. “Any intel?” He asked.

 

“I went inside the Grove library and found nothing, there was no Druids aside a Dark Elf Dedicant. I ran into The Archdruid but she either didn’t know anything, or lied when I convertly asked her about the matter.”

 

“Disappointing.” Was all he said, as he looked to the bottle of wine, which almost instantly vibrated, moving over to the bar counter on it’s own, setting down in front of them. “What did I get?” he asked, as the cork unstopped itself.

 

She reached forward and grabbed the bottle, sniffing it. “Wine.”

 

He looked impressed. “Wow, you must have a great sense of smell.”

 

“Years working in a bar will do that to you.” She chuckled, taking a sip, then pouring a glass for him.

 

“Ewwwww! Germs!” He said, wrinkling his nose in disgust.

 

She burst out laughing, “You fight corrupted beings beyond twisted repair and you’re worried about germs?!”

 

“I was kidding.” He gave a smile and a wink, to which she groaned. After awhile of chatting, his head lowered at the bar and he fell asleep. To which she gave a small smile, giving his head a peck, before exiting the tavern. She saw the former Wood Elven king, recognizing him, she paddled over.

 

“Hi Sir, would you like some soap?” She offered, to which he smiled.

 

“One can be too clean, Miss.” As he was saying that, The King and his brother walked up as well, standing by her. She turned, “Want some soap?” To which, both the High King and his brother ignored her, they spoke to the former King, of the battles they fought in, and The Red Cloak organization. As they spoke, she noticed the High King’s yellow corena’s. She struggled to not react to the new evidence she had, and adding to her fear, she felt the prime suspect step close behind her. Her panic slightly grew, only aided when two Druids stepped to his side, she could hear them whispering. She then saw the Archmage step to the square, seeing her chance, she quickly made her way over to him.

 

“Sarrion! Would you like some soap?”

 

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PART THREE, THE LETTER

Spoiler

 

In the very early morning, while the sun had still risen over the horizon by quite a fair distance, she sat in the nearly empty square. Most of the citizens were sleeping, however, she was wide awake...almost. She sipped her morning coffee, writing a letter to the elder Mali.

 

Dear Blank,

 

As I expected, The Mother Grove doesn't want my help still with the case. Since you were working on the magic ring, I was extremely worried I have to solve the case all on my own, with no help. However much to my shock, I managed to make an Ascended, my friend, break one of his vows and help me on the case. Me and him sat in the Inn and talked for awhile, then he went to bed.

Then I saw the former prince of the Dominion. While I was speaking to him, the current King and his brother approached. They discussed at length the different battles. While they were talking, our prime suspect came up as well. I noticed that the High King was a Fearl, and he also wears armor, is good with a rapier, AND is a Druid under the prime suspect. After my observation,  I noticed the prime suspect was an awful TOO close to comfort for my liking. Two ladies joined by his side, which he began whispering. To be clear, the prime suspect loathes me, so him being near me as zero sense.

If my current observation is correct, then I believe my original hypothesis may be correct. The prime suspect was the one who sent out the assassination, and to my current guess,  The High King of the Dominion, was the Fearl in the party. Because remember I told you the time the family beat up the prime suspect? The High King must of sided with the prime suspect and held a grudge against Quillian all these years later.

From,

Carsandra

 

She sent the letter off, to which she got a reply shortly after.

Dear Carsandra,

 

I believe you may be correct about your assumptions. I cannot help you as I am working on the magic ring and will be off on an adventure to find the source of the magic around the ring. My advice, stay in The Dominion and scout out the territory, listen around yourself to the rumors and the gossip. But please be careful, and don’t get yourself into any trouble. If you do get in trouble, come find me right away.
 

From,

 

Blank

 

That afternoon, she entered Sutica, and the Princess of Sutica stood waiting for her. Instantly the Princess whispered, “So what have you found?”

 

She launched into the story and the evidence, and when she was finished, the Princess frowned, thinking for a moment. “I don’t think the prime suspect would send a hit list after Quillian and Harven, even with this evidence. If you’d like, you can ask the prime suspect and the High King yourself, though, you're likely to just get banished.”

 

She shook her head, “I don’t want to get banished again. I hope I helped, even a little bit.”

 

“Thank you for coming to me nothing-the-less.” The Princess nodded, walking off. She also nodded, sighing and walking around to the crime area. Where she met the Princess and a High Elf, Druid. The Druid’s eyes were red from crying, and his tone was icy. She left them to talk among themselves, but she heard his parting words.

 

“Why are they bothering with an investigation if they think they faked their deaths?!”

 

The midnight hour had arrived, and a large mass of people were around the gates. There where many voices, and the General, the Dark Elf grabbed Carsandra. “The Dominion didn’t do it.” He was not happy.

 

“I didn’t say they did it.” She defended herself.

 

“That’s not what I heard.” He glared at her, like she was an animal.

 

“Suspicion and ‘you did it’ are two different things.” She retorted.

 

“All who are coming into the house, follow me!” The Princess shouted, the General let her go, scowling. He moved to follow the group, along with her, and many others. They reached the house, and as Carsandra moved to follow the group in, The Princess stopped her.

 

“I’m sorry, your not allowed in unless your a Blood Eagle, a Druid, or working on the case. Don’t argue with me.” She said, very firmly.

 

Hurt laced through her like icy knives, she made a promise! She couldn’t just break it, she had an oath to keep! All she could do was stand their, mouth opened and flabbergasted. The Princess turned, letting in a Blood Eagle, two Druids, a Halen’oor gaurd, and a halfling inside. Then she shut the door in her face, heading to the house. Carsandra’s hand tightened around her staff, fury overwhelming her. She turned, hearing the whisper from somebody, “I bet Quavinir did it, he makes the gauntlets.” She continued to push through the crowd, only for somebody to halt her.

 

“Do you anything about this?” The red haired elf asked.

 

“No, I don’t.” She answered flatly.

 

“Oh, I don’t know anything either.” His voice sounded surprisingly neutral. He stepped to the side, to which she continued out, then finally breaking into a run and away from Sutica, tears leaking from her face.

 

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PART FOUR, THE CONCLUSION

 

Spoiler

 

She woke up the next morning, remembering overhearing the Ascended’s words “It wasn’t a Fearl, it was an Undead.” She looked over to the lying figure of her father, who was sleeping, she smiled, giving his forehead a soft kiss before carefully getting up, and teleporting to Sutica. Once there, she wrote a letter again to the elder Mali.

 

Dear Blank,

 

The Princess as refused for me to get involved with the case anymore, they sent an Ascended in and she determined it was in fact not a Fearl, but a member of the undead. Also, The Dominion General is pretty pissed I would have suspicion against the High King and the former prime suspect.

 

From,

 

Carsandra.

 

A short letter would return.

Dear Carsandra,

 

Then it is the necromancy groups doing this. This is very strange, as most of the groups have laid low for quite awhile. It does not make sense for the second most powerful necromancer to do all of this. The Quillian family is not worth to them anything special. Why go through the trouble of targeting them? I think it is something else.

 

From,

 

Blank

 

She sent off a letter back.

 

Dear Blank,

 

If it’s not a necromancy group, then what group would have such a vendetta against the family? If not a Fearl, not The Dominion, and not The Mother Grove, who would it have been? And what about the Ghoul?

 

From,

 

Carsandra.

 

A letter returned.

 

Dear Carsandra,

 

I believe it is the Iblee’s Cult, they want to revive HIM, with enough sacrifices. They gain power from each kill, and have been stalking the roads as of recently to gain power. If it is the Ilbee’s Cult, then we are way over our heads. I suggest you drop out of the case, for your own safety. Do not get involved in Ilbee’s Cultists, they will make your life a living Nether. Let the Blood Eagles and The Mother Grove handle the case.

 

From,

 

Blank

 

She nodded slowly, a deep sigh echoing from her chest. Her promise filled, to find the killer. She folded the letter, rising once more. She had only one last mission, to find the little girl.

 

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Many Elven days later, she finally found the little girl. When she said hello, the shy, half burned face of the Dark Elf instantly scuttled away. A High Elf stood by.

 

“I fulfilled your promise.” She stated to the disfigured Dark Elf.

 

She frowned, looking to the High Elf and making a series of hand gestures. He looked at Carsandra, “What promise?”

 

“She asked me to find the killers.”

 

Suddenly the Dark Elf looked very interested.

 

“I originally thought that Artimec Cam’eroon was the one who hired the assassins, and that King Karin that carried it out. The claw marks, the plum leaves, and the purple sap. However an Ascended at a later date came to me and said that the claw marks were not Fearl, they were Undead. No necromancy group would go after them, so the only conclusion I can make is that the Ilbee’s Cult killed them.”

 

The Dark Elf went silent, to which Carsandra coughed. “I will get ready for the funeral.”

 

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Two Elven days later, a giant slooze came to attack the city of Sutica. People screamed as many were wounded, the giant slooze taking down many brave guards and citizens. It was defeated however finally by a Dark Elf warrior, the giant slooze would be slain. No victory cheers came, as the price of the victory was great. Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from the Halfling Hill.

 

“I HAvE CaPTuRED NiN. BRiNG 5 ACSEnDeD, AnY MoRe aNd He DiES.” The dark figure grinned, while an Ascended roared in fury and began chasing after the dark figure, which quickly vanished.

 

Later on, Carsandra sat next next to the wounded, tired from casting and mundane healing. A hawk landed near the bed, carrying a letter.

Dear Carsandra,

 

Please keep this the closest secret you have ever kept in your life. I trust you above all else, do you know anything about the case of Quillian’s murder?

 

From,

 

Blank

 

To which she responded.

 

Dear Blank,

 

I have no idea the status of the case, as I dropped out mid-way. Sutica has already finished the investigation to my knowledge. I’m sorry I can’t provide more.

 

From,

 

Carsandra

 

A letter returned, this one very short.

 

Dear Carsandra,

 

Do not worry about the case, aont’aherm don’t aver, ame ito narne.

 

From,

 

Blank

 

Carsandra slowly closed her eyes, exhaling. She folded the letter twice, then set it beside her. The man in front of her was now sleeping, his chest rising and falling. She nods to nobody, saying out loud in the empty Clinic,

 

“I will keep your secret, I promise.”

 

 

Special thanks to,

 

Torky_Tom and Keefy for doing this murder mystery.

 

Everybody who I interacted with along with the case, which would be LeoRabbit, The_Tri, The Lady With Kittens, Whiteknight_19, nepir, Niv, LeoWarrior, etc.

Maramonk and TheDragon for streaming the event.

 

 

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.