Death of a Necromancer King
The Assassination of Edric I, King of Necros
There was so much blood! It soaked into the bed, dripped onto the floor, splattered against the headboard. I didn’t know there could be so much. I raced over to him. I wanted to save him, but… but there was nothing I could do. Someone had carved open his chest. I still see it when I close my eyes—the gaping hole where is heart should have been.
Timeline
- At roughly 6am on October 23, Lydia Smith found the body of Edric I, King of Necros, in the king's bedchamber. She alerted the guards who then initiated the investigation into the king's murder.
- At 8pm, Chad Donnelly, seneschal to the king, confessed to the crime and surrendered himself to the castle guard.
- A public trial was held on October 30, where Chad Donnelly was found guilty of assassination.
- At midnight on October 31, Chad Donnelly was executed by the Na'arin priests, undergoing the Ritual. May Na'arin have mercy on his soul.
Evidence
Little evidence was recovered from the scene of the crime. A small trail of blood droplets led to the servant's corridor. That along with the fact that no one passed the guards means that the murderer used and likely had prior knowledge of the castle's secret passages. The murder weapon was never recovered, though is believed to be a dagger based on defensive wounds found on the body during investigation.Trial
The public trial of Chad Donnelly was conducted quickly in order to prevent civil unrest and to allow Princess Marcella to quickly ascend to queen.Donnelly: I alone killed Edric. I was the only one close enough to the king to do so without being caught.
Magistrate: There is no possible way you killed him yourself. The king was much too powerful a necromancer. Who are your accomplices?
Donnelly: I acted alone.
{long pause}
Magistrate: Why did you do it?
Donnelly: The king was an evil man, cruel to his citizens as well as his own daughter. He drove our nation into the dirt with his wars and terrible economic decisions. He squandered immense amounts of gold while his people starved.
Magistrate: Princess Marcella will ascend the throne. She is a powerful necromancer, perhaps strong enough to have contested her father. Was she involved in the death of King Edric?
Donnelly: No.
Magistrate: Did she ask you to surrender yourself?
Donnelly: No.
- Excerpt of the trial transcript
Case Status
Publicly, the case was concluded with the trial and subsequent execution of Chad Donnelly.But despite the seneschal's testimony, which matched his answers during interrogation, the magistrate remained convinced that Chad Donnelly could not have acted alone and so left the case open.
Active investigation continued for little over a year after the murder, but was eventually dropped by investigators as little to no further evidence was recovered and no additional witnesses were found. Today, no one will touch the file.
Speculation
"Of course I know who done it, just as you do." The cook squinted at me. "But that's not something any of us is willing to admit."
I asked her if she grieved the king's death, and she shrugged.
"We're much better off now." The woman would say no more.
Case Summary
Crime: assassination, regicideVictim: King Edric I
Perpetrator: unknown
Status: cold case
Related Organizations
I would have loved to see the rumors finished but this article is quite nice. you layout the details quote well! you mention how the murder weapon was based on defensive wounds? id love to know more about how forensics works in your world. how did they come to that conclusion? great world thus far and when its done, do let me know!