#( FULLY losing my mind over this in the best way imaginable. hooting hollering rattling the bars of my cage etc. etc. )

[rhysdasiorarchive]

Rhys Dasior's Investigation Results: Portugal Councilman's Death

With Italian councilman Raphael De Luca's permission, Rhys Dasior and Seth Harper make plans on traveling to Portugal and Spain to investigate the murder sites. While the ashes are swept away, there's still enough evidence for the two of them to collect. Their ties to Krovs Castle and working directly for the council help open the doors into a proper investigation. Fortunately the staff within the councilman's home are loyal to their deceased employer and more than willing for thoroughness.

Here's what's found at the very first site in Portugal...

First, he and Seth speak to the local authorities who conducted their own investigation. None of them are witches so they only have their speculations from what they could find. They picked up fingerprints from the councilman, his assistant, the few staff members who lived and worked there regularly, and one other set of prints that wasn't in their system. It seemed the councilman had a guest right before he was killed, a young-looking boy with dark curly hair and brown eyes. They share a copy of the police sketch and Rhys and Seth head to the councilman's home while Seth comments that the dude in the picture almost looks familiar, though he can't quite place where. It bothers him the whole ride to the councilman's estate.

Immediately upon entering the property, there appears to be no signs of magical "foul play" recently used on the grounds. The councilman's assistant, a witch just shy of 100 years, explains that they've warded the councilman's home and shows Rhys and Seth the sigils embedded in all entry points to keep enemies out.

They ask the assistant about the councilman's last guest and show the sketch. The assistant confirms and provides similar details the authorities gave them –– the guest was a familiar demon named Roman Thomson. He arrived in their country about a month or two before the death seeking an audience with the councilman. Roman wanted to find his husband, Avery Thomson, and his trail led him here believing that the councilman might have an idea where to go next. They continue explaining that while the councilman had no idea where Avery was, he promised to do some digging on Roman's behalf in exchange for a few favors, such as hit jobs, spying for information, and even sexual-based. The assistant isn't fully aware of the details beyond that, however, they were present for the last conversation that happened the same day the councilman was killed. Roman came in a few hours before the councilman's death furious that the councilman's end of the bargain wasn't being held up. He threatened to kill him right before he stormed out.

The assistant shows them the sun ring they kept. Oddly enough, divination magic detects the protection charm appears still in tact. It's possible that a dark magic spell could have disrupted it just long enough to kill the poor councilman. Rhys holds it in his hands and sees nothing to confirm that suspicion as he searches through his psychometry.

A quick walk through the home retracing the councilman's steps that day shows nothing suspicious either. Not until they go outside to the actual scene of the crime. Rhys enters a trance, tapping into his clairvoyant abilities to observe the scene as if he'd been there...

He watches the councilman leave his home dressed in a finely tailored suit and smart phone in hand. His sun ring is there on his finger preventing him from bursting into flame as he walks across the courtyard towards the black car waiting to pick him up. No one else is around to see nor is the councilman focused enough when the passenger window of the limousine opens and a wooden stake shoots out, impaling the councilman's heart with professional-level accuracy. If Rhys is paying close enough at the time of the shot, he can hear the subtle pings and snaps of a mechanism launching the weapon, indicating a crossbow could have very well been used even though he doesn't see it from the angle he's standing at and the shadows in the car.

The councilman falls the ground with very little noise –– a sharp gasp and a thump of impact. There's no question he's dead... or as dead as a vampire can be. The attacker then leaves his card, dressed all in black and face covered by a hoodie, sunglasses, and a mask over his nose and mouth. Rhys also notes this figure seems distorted to further hide his face and he can detect the abjuration magic surrounding him. He doesn't know exactly what spell it is or if the killer is the caster himself or had it cast upon him.

He approaches the body and a gloved hand removes the sun ring from the fallen councilman's finger. It's then that the sun does its work in burning the body, the flames licking at that pale skin just as the killer removes his weapon, enters his car, and drives off. The timing is well-practiced. He's gone just as the councilman recovers from the stake in his heart only to suffer from burning alive. His screams of agony are what draw his home's servants although by the time they arrive it's far too late...

While Rhys was in his trance, Seth was focused on Roman and where he'd seen him before. Once the elder witch wakes, Seth explains how he remembered Roman's face as one of the newest slaves in the Undercroft directory. He'd been brought in right around the time the Portuguese and Spanish councilmen were reported dead. It might be worth questioning him when they return to the castle?

We'll see what they find next in Spain...

OOC INFO:

Please post these investigation notes to the dash to acknowledge receipt. Rhys and Seth's characters are the only ones who have this information and are free to interpret it and use it how they please –– if at all –– in threads. This post should be tagged #krovscastleplot as part of our plot drop regardless if it's actively used or not. You do not need to respond in character to this ask since this is OOC information for your character's benefit.

( received and acknowledged! thank you. <3 )