Coroner

"A long shadow approached Jakl's bent back. He lifted himself from the grisly scene as languid as an old buzzard.

"Inspector Court... " the Coroner spoke, a chill expression of resignation shared between them, "Let me see."

The Inspector stepped away as Coroner LaCross approached the corpse and continued the investigation.

"Time of Death: 25:42, last night... over a day ago... Rate of decay... advanced, Stage Three." the Coroner examined the corpse eyes. Blonde streaks of hair obscure the Coroner's face as the words of a spell were exchanged between Coroner LaCross and the corpse. The Inspector turned his back when unsettling noises and squelches upset his stomach.

The Coroner was finished moments later, a sound of peeling, snapping rubber gloves alarmed the Inspector. "You're not going to like this, Jakl..."

— the investigation of Ms. Nala Heid, case file #1018d

Coroners are special investigators of deaths, mundane or unusual. They are proficient medical examiners trained to use their expansive knowledge of forensics, anatomies, and mystical arts to help understand the reasons and causes behind murders and abnormalities of death. Casters of Domimancy, Necromancy, and Restomancy spells, Coroners are able to solve complex riddles about the nature of life and death, earning them the nicknames, "Death Riddlers."

Career

Qualifications

A Coroner is required to have medical and magical licenses granted after testing and apprenticing under another Coroner for atleast 2 years or more. Coroners practice in the magical arts of Domimancy, Necromancy, and Restomancy. They learn medical techniques efficient for field forensics and autopsies.

Career Progression

A Coroner is expected to have attended a Primary School and be of the age of 18 or more before considered for acceptance as a candidate, Colleges accept candidates at the end of every Summer; they spend their first year in preliminary programs designed to test their mettle for the field, including autopsies and dissections. Most students decide here whether to pursue the career.

After their candidacy, an apprentice continues classes for 2 more years. A Coroner accepts an apprentice and is paid by the College. They are tested during this time and if the apprentice passes all exams, earns the approval of the Coroners, and has the drive to follow the career, they earn their Coroner's Credentials, a permit that allows a Coroner special permissions when providing aid or investigating death.

Payment & Reimbursement

Coroners apply for a standard credential, which allows them to practice in the field as a retainer or for an agency, such as a Hospital- the most common place to find groups of Coroners. Officers and Inspectors also retain Coroners for their services. In the field, Coroners help Medics transport bodies for the Hospital, supporting severely wounded who may not live before administered aid.

Coroners may also receive an applied credential after 2 years or more with their standard credential. If they are successful in their practice, they may become Freelance Coroners. Able to accept higher paying, higher risk jobs, these Coroners act of their own agency or in special divisions. The Freelance Coroner may act as a hired retainer for wealthy individuals or families who want to have autopsies performed for their own reasons (to learn a killer's name, method of death, a secret known only to the individual, etc.)

Coroners are given bonuses in the form of hazard pay. The agency or individual is charged for any material components consumed during the examination, as well as the type of service provided. Agencies have their own rates while a Freelance Coroner may charge their own rates. Funding and donations are another means by which Coroners are able to accrue an income at their gruesome tasks.

Other Benefits

Coroners, especially those with applied credentials, have agency to operate in matters of death exploration. Whether they observe a crime scene or perform certain death rites, these practitioners of Life & Death magic are able to provide important insights and services. They are given special permissions to operate depending upon the country they are practicing in at the time.

Perception

Purpose

"What took you so long?" asked Coroner LaCross.

Puzzled, the Inspector recoiled a moment before he answered, "She was found this evening. I had other business this morning, Caven. Stop wasting my time," The Inspector stepped forward to examine the Coroner's work. Jakl noticed the slender hand of Ms. Nala Heid pointing towards an endtable.

"That business this morning, did it have anything to do with the thugs found dead outside Treasure House Trevanon?" Caven's green eyes peered through the Inspector. He turned his back on the Coroner, as he approached the end table.

"As if our morning could get any more complicated," Coroner LaCross said, "Let's get her back to my Mortuary. Oh, I suspect you'll want to bring what's in that drawer with us."

Inspector Court pulled the handle to the wooden drawer. Inside, he found a small, bloodied knife. "That doesn't make any sense. Nala wasn't stabbed with a knife..." The Inspector pondered for a moment.

"Be careful with the tip. It's poisoned." Coroner LaCross returned with the medics.

— the investigation of Ms. Nala Heid, case file #1018e

Coroners are trained not only to handle the corpses of the dead but they also heal afflictions that cause Undeath. The spells and techniques that they learn make them capable of dealing with the Source of Undeath. Coroners are retained when suspicions of Necromancy or signs of Undeath are apparent in wounds or corpses. There are restrictions on the Laws and practices of Necromancy, and if it is determined that this kind of magic was used on an individual, it can help prevent the spread of Undeath or other diseases and maladies.

Social Status

While the Coroner is honored as a medical professional, the myths that surround them tends to unnerve some people. Death, and the spirits thereof, are said to follow the Coroner. The subjects of superstition and rumor by ignorant individuals, the Coroner's practice may often affect their social lives.

History

The Coroner as a profession has become a more recent tradition. While there have always been those who examined death and performed forensics, the Coroners collected this information for thousands of years, accumulating techniques from around the World for understanding the nature of death. They not only learn from a medical perspective the nature of Life and Death, but they also understand the Meta-Physical relationship of those forces. Schools and colleges offer classes and lectures on this well-respected profession, marking its place in history as a reputable medical career.

Coroner's have formed a universal College known as the Coroner's Society. This organization aids Coroners by perfoming registrations, specializing in Coroner's studies, administering Coroner's Credentials, and providing resources to practicing Coroners. The Coroner's Society was founded after the profession was recognized by the Sovereignty and the Society was codified as a Guild before it became a respectable College.

Operations

Workplace

"The family of the deceased called." Inspector Court entered the stark white Mortuary, its sterile confines ordered to the Coroner's specific preferences. The Inspector put his PAD into the folds of his overcoat.

Caven made himself comfortable, removing his lab coat, but Ms. Nala Heid was no longer in the examination room. "Good thing Elves never sleep, right Jakl? You're curious. That blade we found? Death Adder's venom. Illegal, you know? It has certain properties that make my job difficult," Caven chortled into his labcoat as it leapt from his hands and fell in its orderly place on the coatrack.

"I got another corpse in today. Special kind. Bit of a celebrity." Caven smiled like the cat that ate the bird.

Inspector Court was shocked; he asked, "Wait. You took the Worlds case?" Caven nodded. The Inspector solemnly continued, "Is there a connection?"

In the stillness of the Mortuary, with all of his tools and implements, the Coroner Caven LaCross looked as noble as an Elven Lord in his House as he held the chart to his chest. "Let's find out, Jakl."

— the investigation of Ms. Nala Heid, case file #1018f

Coroners who work as Freelance Coroners, or those who form small Guilds, are able to own a Mortuary. Inside, a Coroner is licensed to practice their investigative techniques in private. They are able to store and accumulate tools, equipment, and resources necessary for their tasks. Mortuaries include several waiting and examination rooms, cold storage for corpses, and rooms to keep records or supplies. A Mortuary is audited frequently by the Coroner's Society or other entities that regulate the actions of Coroners.

Provided Services

Coroners are able to provide the following services at standard rates and fees:

Forensics & Autopsy
Coroner is trained in the study of death. Able to discern cause and time of death, afflictions, or diseases.

Death Preparation
Corpses expired beyond their ability to revive are prepared by preferred funerary rites.

Complete Revival
If a Coroner has the skills and the corpse meets proper conditions, Coroners bring the dead back to Life.

Medical Knowledge
Coroners are able to apply advanced medical techniques and Restomancy magic to prevent Death.

Death Riddler
Coroners learn techniques to speak with the Dead using Necromancy or Domimancy.

Undeath & Exorcisms
Coroners remove evil spirits. They learn spells to fight the Undead and Sources of Undeath.

Dangers & Hazards

Coroner's run into problems when they have to deal with evil Necromancers, shades and cadavers of the Undead, and the mysteries of Death. As such, Coroners are often offered hazard pay and other incentives.

Alternative Names

"Death/ Corpse Riddler"

Type

Medical

Demand

Moderate High Demand

Legality

Some countries and nations may have their own Laws about the role of a Coroner in death investigations; practicing Coroners must be aware of a country's Laws before pursuing an open case.

Coroner LaCross pulled the sliding table from the Mortuary wall. Upon the shelf was a giant man with an unmistakable red tattoo on his face. Inspector Court stammered, "That's... that's the..."

Caven smiled, "Yes. World League Champion Gons. Dead. In my Mortuary."

Inspector Court frowned, "What is he doing here?" Caven slid the shelf bearing the cadaver into the recess. The Coroner approached a wooden door in the back of the room. As the Coroner opened the door, he turned to the Inspector.

"It's only fortunate that we got Ms. Nala Heid here when we did. Why don't you ask for yourself?" Caven opened the door, "Another day and we might've been too late." The Inspector almost dropped his hat!

"Nala!" The small woman behind the door turned to meet the confounded Inspector's gaze, "You poisoned the Champion?" Her alarm was followed by tears of acknowledgement. "Y- you'll need to explain this!"

Coroner Caven LaCross turned to the chart as he was about to leave the room. "My invoice will be on your table in the morning, Inspector. Nice doing business with you, Jakl."

— the stunning conclusion of the curious case of Ms. Nala Heid, case file #1018g, closed