The vrain

Daemedran Academy Sealed Records – Vrain Autopsy

Excerpts from the examination of a deceased specimen of the previously unknown vrain species

The examination took place in the village of Vincena in the Arezzan territory of Sabbré after the assassination of a high-ranking Sabbran official by the subject. The subject was injured during the incident and was later trapped and killed by a local farming family in the aforementioned village.

Persons present during examination:

Lady S xxxxx, xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx and xxxx Priestess of the Devout of Tahmay

S ige A rutula, Daemedran Academy scholar specializing in the study of siska and other cryptic races

Commander A rgus P rela, Sabbran Military Intelligence

T ess G ardelin, Daemedran Academy scholar specializing in multi-racial anatomy

G order, local farmer and former Arvairian citizen

F ellis, Imperial Scribe

Record Begins

G – Well, there it is. Kept it cool and bug-free best I could, still stinks a little though.

TG – Fascinating, it most certainly isn’t siska.

SA – Hmm, it has begun to decompose though. I suppose that can’t be helped given the timeframe. You did the best you could my good man.

AP – If my people had been permitted to take custody of the body we could have kept it pristine.

SA – Hmph, if your people had taken custody of this specimen I doubt we’d ever have been told of its existence.

TG – Indeed, we should be thankful G order reported this find directly to the consulate

G – *shrugs* Ehh, knew a few learned types back when I lived in the Vale. Figured the Academy would offer a hefty reward for somethin’ as strange as this.

AP – It may have served a recent immigrant such as yourself much better to ingratiate yourself to your new lord.

SA – Typical Sabbran centrism and self-importance. This matter concerns the entire Empire, if not the world!

S – Enough. Get to work.

*SA and TG begin their examination*

SA – Its garb is relatively simple but well crafted. Thick leather, steel fastenings, some kind of fabric resembling linen. It appears more functional than decorative. There are a few subtle flairs though. It doesn’t appear to serve the purpose of modesty, similarly to siska or thirapsi clothing.

AP – That mark looks like a crest of some kind.

SA – Yes, though I can’t say what it denotes. Military rank? The signet of the tailor? A personal touch of little significance? Hmm, its placement on the clasp could mean it’s a badge of some kind.

AP – Given its actions prior to being slain, I would guess its purpose here to be assassination or espionage.

S – Spies and assassins don’t usually carry symbols they can be identified by.

SA – Freelance and state-sanctioned assassins no. But you forget the Brotherhood of the Shadowed Soul, Humanity’s Hand, I could go on.

S – Those are cults. Fanatical organizations.

SA – Indeed.

TG – Whatever it did for a day job, I can tell you that it was most certainly an aggressive carnivore.

G – I coulda told you that. My sons said the thing fought like a demon, bit at’em, slashed with its claws…

S – Elaborate, T ess.

TG – Its teeth are similar to other meat-eating reptiles, every single one is pointed and serrated on the back edge. The fore limbs are strong with claws made for grasping prey. And this talon on the foot, I can’t imagine a use other than as a killing tool. No doubt its organs will prove similar to other carnivorous lizards as well.

S – Can you speculate on its intelligence?

AP – The thing infiltrated a heavily guarded compound and killed seven experienced soldiers before anyone even knew it was there.

SA – A big cat or fenris could accomplish a similar feat. 

AP – A cat couldn’t swing a sword with enough skill to out-duel a pair of Praetors. Besides, you already commented on its clothes.

SA - The clothes may have been crafted and given to it by another race. You said it had a sword?

G – Got it right here.

SA – Vicious looking thing. More like a sickle than a sword.

TG – It resembles the toe-claw.

SA – It does, brilliant! Suggesting that it may have been forged in the image of the more, erm, traditional weapon.

S – Those look like feathers on its forearm and skull. They almost resemble the crest on a thirapsi. Could this be a related race?

SA – It’s possible… though thirapsi are only superficially similar to reptiles in most regards. Honestly I couldn’t say. T ess ?

TG – Hmm, no I doubt they’re closely related. Speaking to the feathers, Thirapsi feathers aren’t so… robust. They’re more like frilly fur. These… if I didn’t know better I’d say they came from a bird. And its hide, odd, I didn’t notice at first, it’s so – oh – oh my.

S – What?

TG – You may want to examine this yourself, my Lady. Pantheonic magic can confirm it faster than my eyes and fingers.

*At this juncture Lady S hiryu lays a hand on the deceased creature and appears to be spellcasting, after a moment she recoils*

TG – I was right then.

S – G order , did any of your sons fall ill after fighting this thing? Have they been acting strangely?

G – Uh, no, they’re all fine.

SA – What am I missing here?

TG – A certain quality of the flesh…

SA – Ah, disturbing.

S – G order , Commander P rela , I must ask you to leave us.

AP – I think not, my superiors were promised full disclosure-

S – I’m well aware Commander, but I have complicated, time-sensitive spells to cast and want as few distractions as possible. Leave. Now.

G – Ma’am.

AP – I expect to be informed of the results.

*At this juncture G order and Commander P rela leave the root cellar.* 

S – You should go too, F ellis. 

Record ends