Investigation into Auxil: Interim ReportEdmund settles down to write his report. He had been concerned but not overly worried about the recent strange events around Cove. Now he had dug deeper he was worried, deeply worried. With his hand trembling slightly he sets quill to parchmentTo Exploring Officer Eason
Sir. Here is my report on my investigations so far. I had planned to complete my enquiries before reporting but I hope that reporting now will encourage others to come forward with information. Futhermore I believe Cove to be in great danger and hope that I may convince others of the need for action!
Thus far I have completed the following:
Examined and summarised the army reports
Checked the Archives in the library
Conducted interviews with Kurt and Hrothgar
Summary of Army ReportsDay 1: Delcarakdur apprehends a criminal who has assaulted him. Prisoner gives his name as George. Hrothgar reconises a sketch of the prisoner as a man who was talking of paying homage to a deity called Auxil
Day 2: Bayne and Junior Redfield arrest a man who attacked them. He has a mask sewn onto his face. This man is later identified as Regnier.
Day 3: Nicholi, Althalus and Kurt come across the mutilated corpses of Covian citizens along with a warning note.
Later the same day Thomas Sendrich is attacked by a masked man whilst on watch at the prison. No-one escapes but a prisoner is found gashed and bruised.
Day 5: Delcarakdur reports finding Redgar, Chaffers and Vincent Redfield badley shaken after an encounter with a being clothed entirely in red.
Day 6: The following Event was not reported in the army log. I report it now as I was there.
After attacking Delcarakdur the man known as Regnier was taken into custody. We had just got him into the cells when some-one dressed entirely in Black descended the stairs. I do not know what happened after this as I must have fallen asleep. When I awoke the figure in black (The Black Wizard?) and the prisoner Regnier were gone.
( Note to Exploring Officer Eason: My deepest apologies sir. I did not report this in the army log as I was afraid I would be punished for sleeping on duty. )
Day 7: Adrain Starspan reports seeing a man who was talking of Auxil a “new deity over Cove”. This man later murders Martyn Ravnthorn by throwing the injured man from the barracks roof. The murderer is later identified, by Kurt, as Regnier.
Day 8: Dermott Eason reports on a patrol to the Orc fort. Shortly after hearing a huge cheer and shouting from the Orcs a person or being, dressed entirely in red appears and vanquishes them.
Interviews ConductedKurt:
Kurt found the warning note now on display in the barracks. He considers the stories of The Black Wizard as a bluff to scare us into submission.
Hrothgar:
Told me that tales of The Black Wizard were part of Covian folklore, not being a native Covian I was unaware of this so will check in the library archives for information. He seems to give the tales of the Black Wizard a little more credance than Kurt. He also revealed:
* The Black Wizard is always present in or around Cove. He may sleep or be awakened.
* He goes by many names among them: Talib Idil, Bazilius and Auxil. This suggests that the Black Wizard and Auxil are one and the same.
* He is a powerful Mage able to level mountains and defeat huge armies single handed.
* It has been many years since he was last vanquished but Hrothgar does not believe him slain.
* He was last defeated with the help of an Elven Warrior Priest (Note to self: Notes are unclear here. On whose side was the Priest?)
Legend from LibraryNow realising The Black Wizard as part of Covian legend I searched the library and came across this dusty tome…..
So the Orcs worship him! This perhaps explains the experience reported by Dermott
Here are my thoughts thus far:
The main protagonists appear to be:
* Auxil: A Deity
* The being in red: Possibly Auxil or one of his powerful acolytes
* The Black Wizard: According to Hrothgar may also be Auxil but the Warning note spoke of “Auxil and The Black Wizard” as separate beings.
* Regnier: A servant of Auxil and the Black Wizard.
* George: Probably a false name. This may be Regnier before a mask was sewn to his face. He was only seen on that first day.
From Dermott Eason’s report and the Tome found in the archive there is clearly Orc involvement but as the army of Auxil, The Being in Red or Black Wizard not as the main power.
Further interviews to conduct:
* Hrothgar: Need to clarify, did the Elven Warrior Priest Hrothgar speak of fight with or against The Black Wizard?
* Delcarakdur: What does he remember of the day of Regnier’s imprisonment and how did Regnier break free? He was leading the patrol when the Red Being emerged. What else can he tell me?
* Thomas Sendrich: Who was the battered and bruised prisoner after the masked man’s (presumably Regnier’s) visit.
* Adrian: What else can he tell me about the day of Martyn Ravnthorn’s death?
* Bayne: Details of what Regnier said about the Black Wizard
* Dermott Eason: The appearance of the Red Being at the Orc Fort.
I will submit my final report when I have conducted these enquiries
Signed
Edmund Rufus, Watchman
Author