Enter Alyssa

[Iron Dragoon]

"Mmm... It'll have to be punished, but what form depends on the cause. I've also sent for the head of Necromancy. If he can communicate with Mickel's soul or figure out where it went, we might be able to commune with it and get a straight answer about who killed him. Which make this marvelously simple."

She sighs again. "Which means it'll be unlikely or blocked. In any case, how're you doing this fine and bloody morning? I assume you sent the page to me?"

[Anastasia]

"Mm-hm." A general agreement, "I came to collect dues from Mickel and found the door ajar. Unfortunate."

That's all he says as another enters. A half elf with asymmetrical features, the mark of chaos-blood to be sure, enters. He wears colorful red robes. Before you is Ule, head of Necromancy. He takes a long look at the scene before him, "Murder?" he asks briskly, going on over to the corpse.

[Iron Dragoon]

"Indeed. See if you can find out where his spirit went. If we can contact it, we may get an easy answer."

She turns back to Delaize, "That page made me consider turning today into a double homicide day. He came into my room unannounced. The only defense he offered was 'but he told me so!'" she mimics the boy in a whiney voice then snorts.

"I've instructed Lorathana to gather the practical applications instructors. Seems like this lot of novices needs common sense forced on them."

[Anastasia]

As Ule works, Regent Delaize adds in a quiet voice, "The boy was shaken. Do not think too poorly of him, I doubt he has seen battle and taken a life. To see this is a test for callow youth. He has potential, I oversee some of his training. He is merely inexperienced."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Mmm... He's yours to do with as you will. It's beyond petty for me to try to interfere on an individual level. I'll still have the instructors begin implementing stress training, then. It'll help in plenty of other ways. Regardless, the next one to burst into my rooms unannounced will be used as a javelin to see if I can make it to the sea from my balcony. Other than this mess, was there anything else you wanted to address? We're here and waiting on Ule. Might as well be efficient about it."

[Anastasia]

Delaize shakes his head, but it is not long regardless.

Ule finishes chanting a spell and frowns. "Impossible. Mickel's soul has been captured and bound. Likely it resides in an enchanted weapon or within a gemstone."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Figures. Whatever container it is will be enchanted to defy scrying, most likely. Altered aura is also likely... I wonder..."

She turns to Delaize, "Do you know if Mickel followed a god? We might be able to commune with whoever it was. I'll bet they're displeased his soul was stolen from them and might give us a name. It's unlikely that whoever this was can't simply teleport away, but have the ports and portals locked down. I doubt the diviners will be able to scry anything here, but they or one of the Abjurers might be able to pick up on the spell used and track it down. I wonder why Mickel, though... It'll be a grudge or related to recent work..."

[Anastasia]

"Mickel paid homage to Oghma," Delaize says, still gazing at the body. "The entire House of Creation more broadly."

Ule meanwhile shakes his head, "Unlikely. Competency means our foe is already gone."

[Iron Dragoon]

"Most likely, but they could try to be using mundane means. Teleports and plane shifts are harder to mask. They might be looking for a ship. It's a slim chance, but one that shouldn't be over looked. After all, it could also be an assassin with a magical item. Make it look like a mage, and slip out while we're questioning mages. It's a simple tactic, but one that could work. Ule, is there any trace of the soul capturing magic? Enough to identify if it was a cast spell or item?"

[Anastasia]

"None," Ule says. "Unusual. That magic leaves traces for a long time." His expression is unchanging, gaze focused intently on the body. "Magic concealment. Stealth."

"Which points to an assassin," Delaize agrees, "The actual killing was meant to be shocking. Poison or a simple dagger to the heart would suffice if death was merely the goal. This isn't merely a murder, it's a statement. None of you are safe from horror and you can't stop us."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa turns her back to Ule and steps closer to Delaize.

"I'm concerned that this may be related to the novice that tried to summon the succubus and Malcanthet. Might be a play to pressure us into the parlay. It looks like a bear, but the assassination style and the power to cover the magic involved... And capturing the soul? That's more than anything a normal assassin would do. That's toying with gods and driving for vengence."

[Anastasia]

"What novice did that?" Delaize murmurs quietly, stepping closer as well. "I had not heard that. What foolishness was that?"

[Iron Dragoon]

"Luras. Didn't bother asking for a last name. Was Michel in any sort of relationship? If this was a summoned succubus..."

She looks back over to Ule and the body, studying it in thought...

What do I gotta do to check for a summoning spell? Detect magic? Spellcraft?

[Anastasia]

Detect magic first.

"Luras. Of course it would be." Delaize says ever so softly "The only thing less appealing than his face is his personality. The one thing he was ever granted was magical talent, and he paid for it dearly."

Then a faint grunt follows, "Mickel was not in a relationship, but ah, if he was, we would be looking for an incubus, not a succubus."

[Iron Dragoon]

With a short word of magic, Alyssa casts Detect Magic, holding off on responding to Delaize."