A letter To the Bishop of Dune found on a Dead Messenger Bird

To His Divine Eminence Moon Bishop Hunal
Two Moons Path
City Of Dune, Reapers March

Your Grace,

As Was Requested, Dar'athad has Investigated The Rumours of the Paladin Ser Krynger Battlecat. According to the original Report as was Written by Captain Kade of the Sren'ja Guard, Ser Battlecat allegedly tortured a prisoner through the use of Divine Fire without the consent of the Guard captain. This one has learned That there is much more and worse things to the story.....

Your Grace, Dar'athad has interviews no less then 20 citizens of sren'ja Village, ranging from lowly peasants all the way up to the Guard Captain himself. Through these investigation its seems that Ser Battlecat has indeed Violated his oath and vow of Compassion and mercy to a restrained enemy, This testimony This one received from the victim herself, Arquen a Dark Brotherhood Puppet, who suffered several and severe burns from Ser Battlecats Repeated use of Divine Fire, and was left to rot in the cell after he decided she served a better use as bait to lure her co-conspirators out into the open. The Attending physician Calomels Report that this khajiit has also enclosed, outlines the severity of the Burns and the agonizing pain the prisoner was left in as well as Further Torment Ser Battlecat visited on her using his Authority and influence as a Paladin to deny her basic care and amenities. Additionally, Dar'athad interviewed a One Eleleana, A Female Khajiit, who Dar'athad has been informed Ser Battlecat Looks at as an assumed daughter, Was once a Vampire that Ser Battlecat Knowingly and willingly Aided and abetted instead of carrying out his Sacred Oath to slay evil wherever and whenever he should find it. Through Ser Battlecats in ability to slay her, went through great lengths to research and track down an ancient ritual to cure her of her vampirism by the blessing of Arkay.

Throughout the entire investigation your grace, Dara'athad found that many of the townsfolk refused to speak out against the Wayward knight. This one Speculates it was out of fear or admiration of the Fallen Paladin and it is this ones gut feeling it is the former rather then the latter. Several Members of the town guard whom Dar'athad Interviewed were incredibly unhelpful. People such as Guard John Wolf, Sarena Swiftclaw, Afer the intolerable, bbigeargo, and Lucrezia Nightblade refused to speak out against this Plate Armoured Psychopath for this khajiit believes they have some sort of admiration for his underhanded tactics and immoral abuses of power. Also your Grace Dar'athad has Learned that the protection of Both Vampires and Werewolves within the town is commonplace and many of these Fel creatures of Oblivion walk freely among the populace of the town alongside Criminals, Dark Brotherhood Conspirators, Skooma Dealers, and other such ilk.

It is this ones Recommendation Bishop that Ser Battlecat be stripped of his rank and title, excommunicated from the Faith and put to death for his multiple sins and blasphemies by hanging in the town square. It is also this ones opinion that the day of the paladin and other such ancient and archaic knightly orders have no place in the moder and enlightened society we find ourselves in today. Individuals such as these wield such power and autonomy and are not made to answer for their abuses and as we have seen Absolute power corrupts my Lord Bishop, and these people wield it in excess. Further My Lord It is this ones recommendation that additional Inquires be held into the The town of Sren'ja's leadership for their allowance of fel creatures to move amongst them unimpeded and other gross abuses of power and corruption.

Please My Lord Bishop, Dar'Athad Implores you, Allow me the honour of removing this Wayward Fallen Knight, for he is a Blight on the face and soul of our people and a reminder of the backwards traditions of an unenlightened and weary world we need to leave behind if we are to succeed in securing a future for our people.

May the Moons Light and Guide your Path,
Dar'athad Moonstorm
Temple Assassin

Khai picked up the lifeless form of a messenger bird. Sylvaswift's plan to poison the Temple snoop's birds worked without hitch. Kalistia's wand of finding enabled the young ranger to find the bird quickly and retrieve the message before it fell into other hands that his employer did not want it to. He took the bird and the message to the outskirts of Twin Tails camp at Willowgrove where the black Khajiit was currently staying.

Sylvaswift removed the message secured to the bird's foot and gave the body back to Khai to dispose of, and read the letter quietly. After some moments, he growled in displeasure.

"I need more information before I act. Find out what Arquen was arrested for and why she was treated in such a manner. Something is not right."

Khai nodded and departed immediately.'

((Please give me a day of two to research this if you don't mind and I'll come back and post an update, if you are OK with this. Also feel free to edit/suggest how the birds died and come into Khai's possession - creative license was employed here LOL :D ))

OOC- i'm good with everything that just happened there! please proceed

Sylvaswift has interviewed :

Kade Thorkan - shown letter
Kath McGear - not shown letter
Bbigeargo - not shown letter
John Wolf - shown letter

I will report findings tomorrow.

I know one thing, I would suck as an investigator LOL

To do IC
- Need to chat to Do'zhar maybe.
- Need to sneak a peak at Cal's handwriting.

the attached physicans report is the original, and is written in calomels handwriting

Khai returned sometime later, empty handed. The reports of Arquen's arrest were unspecific and brief, there was nothing solid regarding her execution. He was able to find a report that mentioned her escape. He took note of the names involved and was able to give Sylvaswift some names regarding who he could talk to if required.

It was required and Sylvaswift proceeded to talk to several people beginning with the Guard Captain, Kade Thorkan.

Thorkan was dodgy, and avoided direct questions, leading into debate about what is murder and what is not. Sylvaswift took away from his interview. That the Captain would support him and Krynger, and in a moment of trust showed to him the letter he had procured. Kade did say that Ser Battlecat had agreed to come fully under his command and Kade trusted him to do so.

The next person he interviewed was Kath. The interview was short but incredibly tedious. No surprise there for the Black Cat; he was pleasantly surprised that Kath was willing to answer questions at all. He did not show him the letter. Kath stated more or less than unless Grynger agreed to come directly under his command he was dangerous. Sylvaswift noted this to ask the paladin later if he was willing to do this; Sylvaswift thought - not.

Sylvaswift also questioned Bbigeargo, this khajiit could have written a book about the issues he had against Krynger and almost had the black cat wondering if Krynger had a twin. What Bbigeargo relayed to him about Ser Battlecat's character was that he something of a bully. This began to sway Sylvaswift against the white khajiit considerably. He liked and respected Bbigeargo in every way. However he did learn that Do'Zhar was the guard present and more or less gave the order to Krynger to 'cure' Arquen of her evil ways. Krynger used that word exactly. He then proceeded to burn the victim with holy fire. However he did not kill them, but left them in a very badly burned conditioned that even to Sylvaswift seemed cruel. He had absolutely no problem with rightful execution, he did however have a huge problem with cruelty being a victim in the hands of a madman for many, many years.

John Wolf was present when Sylva talked to Gear. In an unusual display of trust on Sylva's part he showed John the letter. The blonde guard then suggested Sylvaswift learn if the handwriting of Calomel's letter was indeed written by her, as it was the only damning evidence that proved the incident even took placed. Having no body, or the victim themselves to testify. Considerable doubt could be waged toward Dar'athad's investigation. Without Calomel's testimony, it could be said that nothing occurred at all. It was a lucky thing that Sylvaswift valued Calomel as a person above Krynger at the end of his own investigation. Or Srenja might have been down one physician. The wolf strengthened Sylvaswift's original convictions that Arthad had a personal vendetta against Krynger, which had sparked Sylvaswift off on this quest in the first place.

Sylvaswift then instructed Khai to sneak into the medical centre and locate for him some proof of Calomel's handwriting, to match with the letter Arthad has included with his report to the Temple.

OOC:

1. Sylvaswift got to visit Calomel after getting Sumar to slice open his arm so he would need stitches. Before leaving he requested she write him a list of instructions for wound care. LOL

2. He had spoken to Krynger about a few of his private concerns after interviewing the others. They are now put to rest.

He forgot to ask Ser Krynger, why he left Arquen alive and not finish 'curing' her completely. Only the most important concern. *facepalm* (Sorry distracted by Sumar kissing Lu in chat at the time :roll: LOL)

ooc - arquenn was whispering to me he didnt want his character to die despite his foolish decisions to get caught by the angry mob so we had to leave it at super burned, the only thing i could think of to fix it was that krynger had a sudden inspiration to leave arqueen alive to use as bait and draw out any other dark brotherhood conspirators

Ok so Sylvaswift is happy with that answer. He was concerned Krynger was being necessarily cruel and his opinion of him coupled with Gear's testimony was swaying him toward not helping you. ( He objects to cruelty for the sake of it. His thoughts regarding torture are recorded in his Character Thread.)

Outcome = He is still fine with supporting Ser Battlecat against Dar'athad's vendetta.

I have yet to figure out how to combat him, without bloodshed as he prefers it, but he may want this dealt with quickly. Another two options would be to approach the Bishop IC but he is an NPC LOL, or blackmail Dar'athad. He knows he was arrested in Sren'ja and can probably get hold of the reports. If he could find out more about this character and his traits he could use this agaist him or pursue Athad and try to catch him lure him into something more solid to black-mail him with.

Let me know how you want to play it.

Black mail is how Sylvaswift controls most of his power-base (officials, kings, politicians, diplomats) Knowledge = Power :D his greatest weapon.

An exact copy of this letter was sent to the Temple in Dune, whilst the original has been kept safely stored amongst Kade's other secreted records.



This letter has been wax sealed with the Honor Guard sigil in red wax.

To: His Divine Embrace, Moon Bishop Hunal
Two Moons Path
City of Dune, Reapers March

Your Grace,

Greetings your Grace, I am Kade Thorkan Guard Captain of the Village of S'ren Ja and write to you concerning one of your Paladins, Specifically Krynger Battlecat whom currently dwells within the city limits. Whilst a good individual to have around for both his skills and for the presence he has with many of our city. He has committed an act which under every form of law I am aware of is considered torture, however I lack the power to arrest and charge him for it.

Recently we captured a Brotherhood Assassin and had her held in a Jail cell to be processed, now naturally with most places the law is to execute them for their affiliation with the illicit Dark Brotherhood Cult and the possible Crimes that they have committed against the realms. However he and one of my officers took it upon themselves to attempt an execution without any proper authorization from myself or the Clan Mother. This execution was conducted poorly, sloppily and amounted to what I would consider torture. For the woman, assassin in question was as per the interview I had with them 'To be incinerated with Divine Fire' because both of them were unable to do the act any other way. To add to it I was informed Krynger didn't even treat the woman's severe wounds when the attempted execution failed and left her there.

Now the Guardsman in question whom allowed this to happen, proverbially turning a blind eye to it was put to Hard Labour and given a dressing down for his part in it as neither were given any order to carry out an execution on the woman. However Krynger we could not hold due to his affiliations and standing with the temple nor could we punish him for the act under our laws. I do not seek an overt or severe punishment for him but rather see more corrective measures be employed to avoid such incidents happen in the future. Such as obtaining an order or request for such an act before attempting to carry it out or being taught restraint. If a punishment is to be decreed by your order I do ask leniency be granted to him for he has done much for this town in helping us defend it from the troubles that have come up as well as helping the community in general.


May the Moons light your path and guard you on your Journey.
Kade Thorkan
Guard Captain of S'ren Ja
Honour Guard

Update @ 12 October

1. Spies have been sent out to dig up dirt on Dar'Athad (waiting on report backs))
2. Sylvaswift has obtained a copy of Calomel's handwriting (verify yes/no the above letter is not forged)
3. Sending in a spy (Sylvaswift) to Bishop Wathisface on general recon that may help Ser Battlecat's case.

((You decide success and outcome if you like.

I need to somehow counter Kade's initial letter - it was so long being posted >_< I had no idea that was the beginning of the investigation re Kryn - it seems Kade is a 2 faced prick :P

So this is an off-chance opportunity that he may dig something up on Dar'Athad but he may also find evidence against Kade - let the dice decide if he was successful.

1. Successful - Stealth
2. Successful - Break & Enter
3. Successful - Documents or something useful to him regarding anything.

I bow to the DICEMAN :)

Possible leads:

Sylvaswift overheard Elros saying : John & Korvos were attacked by Dar'Athad. Sylvaswift has sent his people ((who shall not be named for fear of being accused of recruiting)) out to search out information on this. He is awaiting reports.

UPDATE : 13/10

1. Spoken to Korvos and got some very interesting information against Dar'Athad. He also has a silver-dart, with blood on it. This allegedly was launched into Korvos neck at sometime, he grabbed it and threw it away. It was found under the bridge on the shore of SJ. Athad then attacked Korvos

Incident

He was raped badly

2. Two of Sylva's operatives so far have also dug up some useful information also to add to this.

3. New lead Calomel treated Korvos for his injuries inflicted by Dar'Athad in this attack



4. Sylvaswift is now re-thinking his course of action whereas he hoped to find leverage to use again Athad and control him for his own uses. He is now of a mind to

Description

remove offending bits as well.

((PS waiting on reply as to whether Sylvaswift was successful in his break and enter etc Please just post results here in this thread.))

Update 14/10

Rumor: A Contract is in the process being drawn up and once a signature is received, a hit will be going out on Dar'Athad. It is not intended that he not survive but if indeed this mercy is extended to him it will be at great cost... to his person. :paw2:

sorry for the delay ive been distracted with other things:

1. Spies have been sent out to dig up dirt on Dar'Athad (waiting on report backs))
Result: Dar'athads activities are a well guarded secret and your spies failed to bring back anything of merit

2. Sylvaswift has obtained a copy of Calomel's handwriting (verify yes/no the above letter is not forged)
Result: Success: Calomels handwriting is easy to obtain as she has written many reports regardin her patients and/or insturctions regarding prescriptions on how/when to take herbs

3. Sending in a spy (Sylvaswift) to Moon Bishop Hunal on general recon that may help Ser Battlecat's case.
Success: His Lordship is growing impatient waiting on Dar'athads reports and he is starting to hear rumours of Dar'athads candour with sren'ja and is growing concerned he may have been mistaken opening up the inquiring at Dar'athads request instead of just dismissing it as he usually does. It is well known Dar'athad has a long standing personal vendetta against Ser Battlecat and that can be used to convince the bishop that dar'athad is incapable of writing a non-bias'ed report

4. Bonus! - The Bishop has dispatched a messenger recalling Dar'athad to the Temple in Dune to account for the recent rumours of foul play and threatening the lives of the townsfolk of sren'ja. (short story of this exchange will be forth coming)

Correction:

1. They did IC get several witnesses and victims to talk. That was RPd out the other day.
2. There is a guard report also, a dart. That was RPd out also.

But if you have decided another course then fine.

oh i didnt know about all that, your rp stands

Sylva, Kade had no intention of being a 'two faced prick' but rather follow a protocol set in. This was started from a mentioning to Kryn that Kade was going to lodge something. I never wrote one (Had forgotten) And did for this cause it was needed. It had been made known from the start that Kade had been the one to lodge the complaint.

As for evidence against Kade, what kind?

Yea that is find Kade, I was just unaware and it changes the path quite a bit that Sylva would have taken. Remember Sylva (& I) only got involved when Athad turned up and started questioning, as Sylva likes Kryn he jumped into action to try and protect him. At no time did Kade tell Sylva this.

Sylvaswift has no hard evidence against Kade as he did not find THE letter when he broke into the Bishop's office.

Neither Sylva or I knew that Kade started this, from the letter Sylva found it was Calomel that started this.

IC Kade at no time told Sylva that he started this, he also avoided telling Sylvaswift about guards involved. He was less than helpful during his talk with him.

OOC I saw that it was Kade and OOC I wondered it Kade was being a 2-faced prick and decided that Sylva should look for some evidence. Obviously Sylva is totally unaware of this and so it had to be a random stab in the dark. As I know that Kade's stash of papers/files are locked away and extremely hard to access.

IC Sylvaswift is well aware of Kade's 'inconsistencys' as guard captain, IC he is furious at the mention of his name or anything to do with his guards .

...What inconsistencies? Also Kade actually told Sylva he had sent in the letter during Sylva's first questioning of him IC.

Reasons why Kade isn't open with sylva in allot of things is because he doesn't trust Sylva, has been given no reason to and feels to be fair threatened by him xD Which makes it difficult to work with someone like that.

Yep that is fair. But Kade has been inconsistent with handing out penalties :P which Sylva cant ignore unless they are just OOC errors and then I just annul his memory of them *muahhaha*

Yea maybe I forgot or was confused about the letter, anyway it doenst matter now anyway, as it is going a different direction :)

Yeah xD As for penalties its mostly been OOC stuff where I try and go by situation with this stuff x3. Hopefully when we have stuff more set down there'll be less inconsistency :D

Update:

Rumors through the underground crop up of a deadly Assassin known as Shadowfoot came into contact and potentially neutralized a Temple Assassin known as Dar'Athad, outcome is unknown of the encounter but it is said that the Temple Assassin lost the fight.

(I can give details on his underworld rumors and reputation if you'd like Sylva : 3 ))

A note was found from Dar'Athad's escape and is in possession of Shadowfoot.

This note has been opened with a broken seal on it.

His Eminence, Lord of the Moon Bishop Hunal, hallowed be his name has requested your presence in his private audience chamber, three days hence from when you've received this. He requires an update on your investigations and a full accounting of your actions in the Khajiit Hamlet.