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[center][sub]Interacting with: [color=6ecff6]Lord Coswain[/color] [@PrinceAlexus], [color=goldenrod] Aliseth[/color] [@Dark Light], and [color=f49ac2]Marquess Raunefeldt[/color] [@Dezuel][/sub][/center]

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[color=19CACA][i]This fucking guy... [/i][/color]

Katherine groaned internally as [i]the Marquess[/i] monologued for what felt like an eternity. Clearly he was an Aurelian, as he threw accusations of participating in a sacrificial ritual, and as he compared the group to apes and rats. Though generally known for her patience, Katherine found that this particular nobleman was wearing it particularly thin. 

The cold wind bit at her cheeks as she rose in place and looked to Aliseth as he spoke, shaking her head in response before speaking to him quietly.

[color=19CACA]“Little bothers a person when they’ve endured the torment I have.”[/color]

Memories of kneeling above her mother’s corpse flickered into her mind, a sickly green glow radiating from her own hands as she was forced to perform a ritual of resurrection. The pain, the anguish and the exhaustion all flooded her mind for a moment, then vanished as quickly as it had come. Katherine looked down at the corpse once more before balling her fists and extinguishing the shadow magic she had been holding in wait. 

Turning to Ayel, the priestess stared him down with her admittedly non-threatening brown eyes. 

[color=19CACA]“Listen to Lord Coswain, [i]Marquess[/i].”[/color] She spat Ayel’s title as if it was poison.

[color=19CACA]“Why don’t you make yourself useful and fetch more of the guards, Aurelian. Surely you know that this wasn’t us.”[/color] She motioned between herself and Adonis, still unsure what to make of Aliseth. [color=19CACA]“And lower your hand, we don’t want to have to make a mess of things now would we?”[/color] Her face held a smile as she spoke but her tone was all but happy. 

It might have even came across as [i]vaguely[/i] threatening.

[color=19CACA][i]My Lady, please recognize the restraint I am demonstrating with this Marquess. My patience wears thin with the intolerant and snooty noble, but I will continue to hold myself back as long as he poses no threat. If he does, lend me your fury to put this Aurelian in his place.[/i][/color]

Katherine’s attention turned away from Ayel and back to the gore before them, and she began walking the scene with inquisitive eyes. She examined the faceless head, using her shadow magic to turn it side to side in place of her hands. [color=19CACA][i]These look like claw marks or... teeth.[/i][/color] Katherine tilted her head, looking to the body. [color=19CACA][i]The head was taken off cleanly, not like the face. This was done with a blade.[/i][/color] She looked up to Aliseth, then to Adonis, holding his gaze for a moment. It was difficult to tell in the dark, but in her eyes you could see [i]concern.[/i]

[color=19CACA][i]It’s a shame there are so many others here. I could find the murderer with a few simple questions to the corpse, but there would be no hearing the end of it from the local guards and... the Marquess. No. I can’t yet call on the dead for information. Perhaps once the rest of the guards arrive and document what information they need, I can convince them to let me take the body for this man’s final rites.[/i][/color]

[color=19CACA]“My lord, from what I have seen, this man’s head was taken with a blade. In contrast, his face seems to have been torn off by claws or teeth. Like an animal, almost.”[/color] Her voice was confident with a hint of worry. Katherine stepped closer to Adonis, her eyes wearily glancing to Ayel. She stopped right next to Adonis and whispered in hushed tones.

[color=19CACA]“I know not who did this, and I do not try to command you. But I think it would be wise to bring this... mystery man—the one in guard’s armor—into custody until we know more. That man’s head was taken with a sword, I have no doubt.”[/color]
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