Three months ago a deafening boom echoed across the sleepy town of Whispering Winds, shaking loose snow from the trees and scaring away the local wildlife. A pillar of black smoke rose above the ancient Ghyss Estate, home of Dr. Jerred Ghyss and his nephew Redlow Winski, as many fires fed on the now decimated dwelling.
Lady Silverbrook was the first on the scene, having journeyed to commune with the nearby Mother Tree. She discovered a dark-haired man dressed in a black robe standing at the edge of the destruction. According to Silverbrook, the man asked how she “liked his handiwork”, and when asked about Lord. Winski's whereabouts he stated how “lazy his brother was” and that he was “probably lying around here somewhere.”
Silverbrook found Redlow behind a ruined wall, spilling his life-blood onto the charred floor. He looked like he had been beaten severely, and she states that the 'fingers of both hands had been severed clean off, and that his cut out tongue lay beside him.' As she wove her healing magics to no avail, Lord Winski passed beyond the veil in her arms. Dr. Ghyss lay deeper into the ruin, having already succumbed to mortal injuries.
Where once a statue of Redlow Winski stood, now a statue of the dark robed man holding a cleaver loomed amid the ruin.
The man in black seen by Lady Silverbrook, was none other then Relk, Redlow Winski's half-brother. Relk is a self-proclaimed waiter and gourmet chef of dubious reputation. The relationship between Redlow and Relk has been strained for many years, with Relk threatening his brother's life on multiple occasions.
The explosion was initially investigated by Justicar Ra'Dian Fl'Gith of the High Council. He investigated the scene with Goldberry, widow of Redlow Winski, and the prime suspect Relk. Relk proclaimed his innocence, explaining away the disaster and death as a result of Dr. Ghyss conducting reckless experiments with blackrock. Erring on the side of caution, Justicar Fl'Gith chose to have Relk arrested for the crime while the investigation continued.
A day later, the citizenry of Britannia elected Ra'Dian as their new Chancellor, and the case was turned over to the Justicar Pro tem, Illidan. With the prime suspect in jail, the new Justicar began to investigate the case in earnest so Justice could take its due course.
It was soon discovered that one Frederick Corvair has posted a message regarding the procurement of a fuse on the bulletin board in the Nameless Rune Library. A warrant for Frederick's arrest was issued and he was soon incarcerated. It was also learned that Relk had purchased a keg of greater explosion potion at a shop in Tokuno after being directed there by a monk in Che'el d'Orbb.
An overlooked piece of evidence found by Lady Goldberry, whom apparently no one had thought to interview, was a letter from the Britain Bank to Dr. Ghyss. There had apparently been an unauthorized withdrawal of 6,000 gold from the Ghyss family account by Relk. This withdrawal was several days before the explosion and may have been for the purchase of a keg of greater explosion potion.
The investigation quickly turned towards the blast pattern of the explosion and its cause. Illidan determined that the epicenter of the blast had been located in the wine cellar, and that there were telltale signs of blackrock in the debris.
Two journals were found by Illidan in the rubble, penned by the late Dr. Ghyss. The first was an older journal concerning Relk's 'return to life', Dr. Ghyss's fascination with the necromantic arts, and musings on how life on our world may have been helped to regain a foothold after the legendary Zog destroyed it by casting Armageddon.
The second journal held far more tantalizing insight into Dr. Ghyss's potential for obsessive experimentation with dangerous substances. Namely, blackrock. Dr. Ghyss had recently been given a large chunk of the stone to study, but had chosen to hide it in the estate's wine cellar until the time was right...
Many weeks passed as Relk rotted in jail. He chose to pass the time by poking fun at his jailers, and the Grand Marshal Polynikes. Relk even went so far as to write his captors valentines and a recipe on how to cook Polynikes. Eventually Relk was questioned by the Grand Marshal about his involvement with the explosion. Relk stated that Frederick Corvair was innocent of the charges against him, which incidentally were a ruse conceived of by the High Council to provide Relk with a potential confidant and confessor who would then turn states evidence; and that he had intended to blow up the Ghyss Estate, however, Dr. Ghyss had conveniently beaten him to it...
At this point the Justicar believed Relk innocent, but was holding him over for trial to ensure the public's faith in the legal system. However, strangers to our land were about to throw an ethical monkey wrench into the works.
Syndar Tenebrae and Sinthia DeSule were those strangers, outworlders from the unknown facet of Verrerie. This facet was apparently created by the original Relk many years ago during a ritual to clone the Lady Kazola. This ritual had the 'side effect' of creating an entire facet based around this new Kazola. On this facet, once she had been drawn there, Kazola discovered a secret and was driven mad. She became the feared 'Green Witch' and wrought destruction upon her lands, eventually causing this Syndar to escape to our facet for help. The only way to save his facet was to get Relk to undo the original spell, and for that Relk had to be freed.
I know how fanciful this sounds dear reader, and how you might think this all an elaborate ruse on Relk's part to craft himself a plausible defense or escape incarceration; however, I was present at several events that proved the sincerity of Syndar's story.
Syndar talked the High Council into granting him an audience with Relk in the Yew Militia's jail. I accompanied Syndar along with Lady Kazola, Lord DaKaren, and Carde to witness the conversation. After many traded insults and prevarication by Relk, a Faustian deal was struck to release Relk into Syndar's custody. This deal required that all charges against Relk be dropped, he be freed from his cell, and that a tavern be provided to him on his home facet of Verrerie. Justicar Illidan, believing Relk innocent of the charges against him agreed to the release.
Two days later, outside the imposing Temple of Mondain in Felucca, the counter ritual to dispel the 'Green Witch' clone of Kazola that had been crafted by Lord DaKaren and Lady Silverbrook was cast. Relk, Syndar, and Sinthia all vanished once the spell was cast, presumably drawn back to their home facet.
This would appear to be the end of the case against Relk. Unfortunately, appearances can be deceiving. Two days after the ritual was cast, I received a package from an anonymous source who was apparently quite paranoid about winding up as an ingredient in one of Relk's dishes. Within the wrapping lay a journal, one written by Relk while he was in jail. The last entry held a disturbing, yet somewhat obvious, truth: Relk had lied. The unedited entry reads thus:
"Day 58 I can dispense with the innocent front. Today, my old friend Syndar suddenly appeared before my cell door! Imagine my surprise to see that he finally managed to track me down. As it turns out, he wasn't there for me after all. He came to me with a wild story about the Green Witch destroying our home facet. I can't say I'm surprised, after what the other Relk told me. Well! He asked for my help, of all things too. He wants me to undo the clone spell the other Relk cast on Kazola all those years ago. Of course I agreed. Under the condition that I would be released, all charges would be dropped, and I would be given my own tavern. After a long discussion between Polypikes, the Justicar, and Syndar, the good Justicar agreed to free me. As so I was. I write this in the Yew Inn stretched out on a wonderfully comfortable -real- bed. And now, I take great pride in writing that, I, Relk the Waiter, did indeed blow up the damned Ghyss estate. Oh, I walked right in that night, as they'd granted me permission to stay there again. So, yes, I walked right on in and dropped off an explosive keg in the wine cellar. Qua Qualoine.. or some such.. a man in the Spider City I met had directed me to the keg at the friendly shop in Tokuno, the owner of which didn't ask any questions. The fuse I'd obtained from Frederick Corvair upon a little coersion. As for those who thought Dr. Ghyss blew himself up in a freak accident. No. Laughable. Yes, there was a piece of blackrock in the wine cellar, but that only made the explosion all the larger. Later the evening, after the deed was done, I ran into Silverbrook, who of course realized what I'd done. Too bad for them no one seemed to ask her about it. I'd likely be dead by now if they had. Ah well! You live, you learn. To any reading this? Good riddance to Redlowwinski."
This journal entry has been verified as being written by the hand of Relk the Waiter by comparing it with his previous journal and the Intro to Evil Cooking book he wrote some years ago. The Justicar was visibly shaken when I showed him the journal, and he seemed quite unnerved at having been manipulated by Relk.
These events left a scar on our community. Was Justice served? Could it be? Relk's release was intended to save an entire facet; was the loss of two lives on ours an acceptable trade off?
Fortunately, these questions may be moot. A side effect of the spell to save Verrerie caused a change to our facet: Redlow and the Doctor were restored somehow. However, their perception of event differs greatly from ours. To them they never died, their house didn't explode, and their last name has always been DeSule. Only time will tell what other differences may emerge.
On a curious note, however, the menacing statue of Relk from the Ghyss Estate has reappeared in the House DeSule...
Those that wish to read Relk's journals for themselves may find them in my office on the 2nd floor of the L-shaped house at 66o 21'S 24o 36'W in Whispering Winds.
Martyna Z'muir, BNN
Britain Post Office as Martyna Z’muir, BRT
Carrier Pigeon #484-154-744
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