WHITE COMET DOSSIER: 'VINDACUS'

[Xarkly 17299]

ISSUED BY

ON THIS 5th DAY OF GRONNA & DROBA OF 559 E.S.

 

Spoiler

 

 

The alleged Shadowspawn known as ‘Vindacus’ has been the subject of Canon inquisition on two occasions - once, in the distant past, and again, in the very recent future. For, long ago, the hunt for Vindacus served as the inaugural hunt for my lord Caius Primus - newly risen to the Throne of St. Daniel - and I. In the past few days, news has since broken that Vindacus has been slain, many decades later.

 

Through my duties as both Commandant in service to the Pontifical Courts of Justice, and as a vestigial servant of my lord Caius Primus, I now declassify this dossier as all findings of the White Comet in relation to he who was called Vindacus. 

 

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I. THE ‘FUNNYBONES’ INCIDENT - 521 E.S. | 1968 A.H.

 

The Church’s inquisition into Vindacus was triggered by another Shadowspawn. 

 

It was the very eve following the inauguration of Caius Primus as High Pontiff, and a warning bell tolled through the streets of Whitespire. In the company of the High Pontiff himself, Frantzisko of Albarosa (the future High Pontiff Deunoro I), Bishop Jean, and the retainers of the St. Jude, we beset an Undead by the name of ‘Funnybones’ - a creature of pure bone, capable of detaching his skull - outside the city tavern, and vanquished him. 

 

While the Undead, true to its nature, would eschew true death, its slaying did hold an unexpected boon - for, upon its body, I uncovered a series of letters between an individual named ‘Reynard’ and a counterpart who styled himself as ‘Okhaust’. Within this report, I exhibit copies of these letters below:

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

At the time, our inquisition was unaware that ‘Funnybones’ was not the Shadowspawn that appeared to be corresponding with ‘Okhaust’. It is now believed that ‘Funnybones’ was, instead, either a courier or minion to the correspondent ‘Reynard’ - it was only in later years, through subsequent White Comet operations against the necromancer coven of Murkwater, that this ‘Reynard’ was the Gravelord Kryndomere (now slain), a Greater Shadowspawn targeted by the White Comet in its earlier campaigns, and whose mortal name was ‘Reynard Delmar’. This conclusion was later cemented when Vindacus referred to his correspondent as a ‘lich’. 

 

The events of the Funnybone Incident were chronicled by the late Caius Primus in his first Field Chronicle. 

 

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II. THE SHIRE TOWER - 521 E.S. | 1968 A.H. 

 

One of the letters obtained from the remains of Funnybones listed a specific meeting location within the Halfling Shire, and so that is where the High Pontiff and I rode forthwith, in the company of Ser Gerard of the Order of St. Jude. 

 

The meeting spot was one that did not blend seamlessly with the quaint and idyllic Halfling boroughs. This place was a stone tower, and signposted as the ‘Southern Fortress of the Shire’. While a mere two storeys in height, the tower entrance was remarkably well-secured; as this was in stark contrast with Halflings customs (who, seemingly, adhere to the cultural practice of leaving no door unbarred), local Halflings expressed both distrust and disdain for the individual who inhabited this tower - ‘Vindacus’. 

 

During this initial expedition, we were yet unaware that ‘Vindacus’ and ‘Okhaust’ were one and the same. Instead, we anticipated that ‘Vindacus’ may be either the host, master, or servant of ‘Okhaust’. As it happened, we were soon weaned off that notion when it became clear no locals knew anyone by the name of ‘Okhaust’ - the figure who lived in the oddly-secured tower was known to all as ‘Vindacus’. Furthermore, he was not a Halfling. To this day, his exact relationship with the Shire remains unknown. 

 

Permission from the Halfling Sheriff was obtained to breach Vindacus’ tower.

 

The Light, however, did not oblige us, and the reinforced doors rebuked our advance. At the time, there seemed to be no one inside. Yet, by the will of Caius Primus, we resolved to besiege the fortress - either to entrap Vindacus upon his return, or succeed at a later infiltration. While I rode to return to the Holy See to obtain tools with which we might pry open the doors, a figure within the tower emerged while Caius Primus and Ser Gerard yet stood vigil. 

 

In his Field Chronicle, Caius Primus recounts,

 

“We found a man in plate livery. He was a brute, silent and masked. Villorik’s investigation into the necromancer has prior taught us this as a sign associated with a Ghoul-Guard. Necromancers tend to surround themselves with such men. I have learned that this man was called Handil later on, an Adunian. This one was a crafty foe, utilizing traps and spears to thwart our advances. Though we were forced to retreat, we vowed to return with greater force”.

 

So it was that Vindacus’ tower endured our initial inquisition. In the weeks that followed, various Ordermen ventured out to this tower again, but it became clear the doors had been treated with a fell magic, for they would not permit our advance. Furthermore, the tower itself seemed entirely abandoned - this is of little surprise, for it is practice among the Shadowspawn to flee a den upon which the Light’s radiance shines.

 

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III. THE KOVACHEV INFILTRATION - 534 E.S. | 1981 A.H. 

By 534 E.S., it was relatively assured that Vindacus had abandoned his lair in the Shire; not only had his man Handil witnessed a direct attack on it by Caius Primus and Ser Gerard, but numerous failed attempts to infiltrate by various inquisitors clearly rendered the place ill-suited for covert Shadowspawn activities. All the same, the Light would not abide indifference towards a stone yet unturned. 

 

The one success of note compelled from this notion was a result of the efforts of Fyodor Kovachev, and his kinsmen. 

 

The Carnatian banner had recently settled in the Kingdom of Haense under the writ of King Ivan VIII, but it was the will of both the Haeseni King and my lord Caius Primus that these men undergo penance; for, in the Covenant War, they had set aflame a Canonist temple within Petra. The task of assigning this penance fell to me, and the act I demanded of them was to breach Vindacus’ fort, and uncover what remained within. 

 

Compelled by the Light’s mercy, Lord Fyodor succeeded.

 

As expected, there spanned a complex underground complex beneath Vindacus’ fort - a near-universal trait among all servants of the Shadow. This complex was, naturally, well-defended, and Lord Fyodor’s company faced an abundance of iron-barred doors and even a loaded cannon, waiting for an intruder. In their good fortune, there was no Shadowspawn present to man the cannon, and, in any case, the powder appeared to have gone unchanged for some time and had grown damp. 

 

Alas, there was little of true intrigue unveiled within the tower by Lord Fyodor. Ample experience with the Shadow leads me to the belief that there may exist a hidden door within the complex that leads to a deeper-still part of the tower - in most Shadowspawn dens, these hidden areas contain their ritual sites and places of worship of the Shadow. In any case, the effort expended to breach any deeper portion of the tower was, by now, considered moot, for it seemed likely beyond belief that Vindacus had resettled elsewhere.

 

So it was that the matter of Vindacus languished in obscurity for many years, until long after the death of my lord Caius.

 

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IV. THE IVORII INCIDENT - 558 E.S. | 2005 A.H.

 

The investigation into Vindacus had gone cold since 534 E.S.; the man in question had never been seen, and therefore could not be recognised, while his servant Handil had likewise escaped the inquisitive gaze of the Church. 

 

In the intervening years before this tale reached its unexpected end, the White Comet unveiled the identity of Vindacus’ correspondent ‘Reynard’ as ‘Reynard Delmar’ - the mortal name of the lich known as the Gravelord Kryndomere, leader of the Murkwater Coven. It transpired that he appeared to have some business dealings with Vindacus, but the extent or nature of these yet eschews us. 

 

It was, however, in 558 E.S. that an Orderman by the name of Vincenzo approached me within the Temple of Lemon Hill. He claimed he recognised my name from Caius Primus’ Field Chronicle, and that he had been instructed by one of the Canon Judges to reopen the case into Vindacus -- for he had been found.

 

Remarkably, Vindacus did not veil himself with a fake name nor hide in a faraway pagan hovel. He openly used his name, and had endeared himself to the newly-settled Ivorii people upon the mountain where the Magehold of Hohkmat once stood. So it was that Vincenzo bid me assist him, and I obliged; we rode to the Ivorii stronghold, where Vincenzo promptly identified Vindacus on account of his stature, and later his sickly, corrupted visage.

 

Vincenzo performed the rites of vindication upon Vindacus as the man kvetched and complained, but it yielded nothing. We of insight into the workings of the Shadow, however, know that tests of vindication unveil only a select echelon of weaker Shadowspawn. It was my proposal that we take Vindcaus to his old tower within the Halfling Shire, and assess whether he carried upon him keys to the heavy doors. 

 

We did so, and my suspicions proved apt.

 

Vindcaus did possess the keys to the tower, though this was not a fact he tried to hide. He identified it as his former abode, and so it was confirmed that this Vindacus was indeed the very same that Caius Primus and I had once hunted many years earlier. Vindacus, however, pleaded innocence; he claimed that he had corresponded with the ‘lich’ - a critical confirmation of Reynard’s true identity - in order to trick him. When pressed for particulars, Vindacus claimed that he sought to manipulate Gravelord Kryndomere for ‘treasure’ - particularly, Boomsteel. It was only when further confronted by me that Vindacus hastily added he sought to slay Kryndomere, too. 

 

These words were of little conviction, but Vindacus claimed there existed a journal within his tower that would verify his alibi. Uncooperative as he was, Vindacus would only permit Vincenzo into the tower with him to retrieve the journal, but Vincenzo vouched that he was willing to undertake the risk. In some surprise, Vincenzo did emerge unscathed with Vindacus a few moments later, but the journal was no longer in the tower. Vindacus pleaded that his ally, a man with the familiar name of Handil, could vouch for him, though.

 

My own time at the Shire drew short, for I had to depart, and so it was that called upon Vincenzo to deliver his verdict. Vincenzo resolved that Vindacus may have been tricked by the Shadowspawn, and sought to seek out Handil to verify his account. At this stage, I could stay in the Shire no longer, and left. 

 

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It is with regret that I did not slay Vindacus in the Shire on that day.

 

Alas, the passage of decades since the initial inquisition had dulled my memory to the particulars of his dealings, and it was only upon my return to the White Comet Chapter House that I reviewed the contents of this dossier, and became assured of Vindacus’ guilt. Alas, the Light had already anointed a more fitting champion in the form of the Petrine brigade, who stood steadfast against threats made by fellow Canonists who sought to defend Vindacus. 

 

The Light’s will, and that of Caius Primus, is finally done. 

 

I say unto the Canon Judges that, as Pontifical Commandment, I am assured that Vindacus was an ally or customer of the Murkwater Coven of Necromancers, who was both aware and indifferent to their true nature as servants of the Shadow and enemies of the Light. I am further assured that Vindacus himself may be a breed of Shadowspawn, on account of his extreme longevity (it had been vouched by Vincenzo that Vindacus had lived through the fall of Oren) and openly corrupted appearance. The exact manner of Shadowspawn he may be, however, is unknown, but this secondary assurance is moot given his blatant dealings with Necromancers.

 

 

 

LIGHT PRESERVE & PREVAIL,

Pontifical Commandant

 

 

 

[lemonke 6014]

A former student of Kryndomere frowned upon hearing the name of her old and foolish master. No matter; a grin was displayed across her accursed lips, yellowish teeth put in plain sight her delight. Funnybone. Ironic. She would retreat into the shadows, possibly preparing additional schemes. Leaving only a comment to her minions "Villorik, hmm? An ancient foe of the Delmar. One day, I wish to fight him. To see how strong is the might of god's faith that brought trouble to my failure of a master."

[MunaZaldrizoti 8037]

"A shadowpawn...endeared itself to the Ivorii?" The Lady Palatine's brows lofted, as she perused the Patriarch's dossier within the Karodur. Her ward, Erika, was sat at the other side of her palatial desk, assisting the Bihar with her letters. "Perhaps these men ought direct their prayers and heroism inward, da? It is fortunate our Patriarch got there, when he did."

[Kardika 1057]

Vindacus crumpled the missive in his hand

"Lies and slander"  he hissed

[Apricette 717]

2006 | With Fist Raised
✦• ──────── •✦• ──────── •✦

A languid sigh, hushed unto sleep-addled lips, as the kestrel brought of the penned missive, and it's dossier, unto the Lady-Regent's effects.

 

" I naught but lament I ne'er chanced time with the good Pontifical Commandant fore; his late Holiness' will, the true heart of our faith, yet lives, as long as ours yet beats. "

Caius' ordained vicaress, and holy dame, would bid a sharp breath, hinged, unto her lips, a quill wrest unto her digits, as they found the parchment of a newly drawn letter.

" Your Eminence, I am overjoyed to at last be spared a moment's respite from my duties, to chance the pleasure to pen yourse- "

 

Her speech would soon fade unto a gentle mumble, and therein, a lilting hymn, as words were penned & writ;

 

" -the Pétrine Laurel will be mobilized; we will see his late Holiness' will, alas, to conclusion, of that I avow. "

 

[HeyitsNano 1582]

"Remarkably, Vindacus did not veil himself with a fake name nor hide in a faraway pagan hovel. He openly used his name, and had endeared himself to the newly-settled Ivori people upon the mountain where the Magehold of Hohkmat once stood." 
Atticus Keen repeated to himself, shaking his head as he read it over.
"Perhaps... Tis because he is nay a necromancer." He sighed, twisting a pen in his hand as he rested back in his office. "Yet, as the Church decrees, so too do we affirm it."

[sapphic_spidy 1089]

An aging man with a history in this subject skims.

Sydney considers if he should tell them the bits that have gone under the radar.

 

He mutters to himself, debating writing it down. 

He remembers the night outside Caelia, when Ak'vei marched a vampire to be killed.

He remembers the vial, the expired blood.

He remembers the intent. 

 

But would saying this change anything? 

They have him for a much worse crime.

[Operator_Bugman 347]

An old man grumbled as he rotted away in his cave, awaiting for the day he was not rabid with rage to release himself once more. "HE gets a threat from the church and I hardly get acknowledged at all, why are my actions not treated with such importance? Do I have to kill a pontiff to get recognized?"

[sam33497 7356]

On 12/7/2024 at 9:13 PM, Operator_Bugman said:

Do I have to kill a pontiff to get recognized?

 

"Heh"

[Toudlou 156]

A lone blue devil's wandering had him happen across the crumpled missive, the information took about an hour to travel the Desolate plains of his psyche, and another day for it to bounce back to the front of his mind. That day he'd find himself watching a flock of birds picking through the fronds of wheat, "How did I get here?" he calls to them, no doubt going unanswered. He observes as a clay faced doll scares them off the property and the stray thought of the missive blips through his brain.

 

"Vindacus. . . where have I heard that name before?"

[_xMika 284]

On 12/7/2024 at 12:10 PM, lemonke said:

A former student of Kryndomere frowned upon hearing the name of her old and foolish master. No matter; a grin was displayed across her accursed lips, yellowish teeth put in plain sight her delight. Funnybone. Ironic. She would retreat into the shadows, possibly preparing additional schemes. Leaving only a comment to her minions "Villorik, hmm? An ancient foe of the Delmar. One day, I wish to fight him. To see how strong is the might of god's faith that brought trouble to my failure of a master."

A lone weaver dissected and read the missive piece by piece, and before long. A loud and lengthy cackle echoed and reverberated off the caverns he inhabited "How long has it been? Years? Decades, perhaps?" he spoke, his voice thick with nostalgia as if he was reminiscing though, the weaver's interest was cut short and with a flick of hand. He let the missive slide and fall into the heith-heidran pit beneath him "I'm sure the Delmar is rolling in his grave ay?" he mused to his accomplice before walking off.