CISLUNAR DHASANT: THE CITY OF GARGOYLES

To the Exalt Earl-Uxor Elianora Raventree Quartus, greetings:

My investigation into your husband's death appears to have drawn to a close; there is little more I can do within the purview of the law. However, I am sure you'll find my discoveries interesting. Given the nature of the evidence I've uncovered, I herewith tender my report and withdraw from the case, pending further inquiry on your part, or external pressure to reopen the investigation.
Several neutral witnesses testified that the duellist Montmorency engaged Lord Tirnan in conversation several yards away from the Raventree Mercentile and Shipping offices in the Markets. One witness claimed that Montmorency had shown Lord Tirnan some sort of document. The conversation became heated, and within a minute or two Lord Tirnan drew his sword, snapping its peace knots. Montmorency claims he was struck in the upper left arm by Lord Tirnan's first blow, which, he claims, slowed his subsequent draw and threw off his defense. He managed to untie his own peace knot and draw. The two immediately engaged. Montmorency claims he was afraid of injuring Lord Tirnan, and intended only to disarm his opponent. However, the injury to his upper arm caused him to miss his attempt to bind Lord Tirnan's blade, bringing the point home in Lord Tirnan's heart as his unchecked momentum carried him forward.
I consulted with the lords justice, the master of the autopsy, and several prominent duellists. There is no way to disprove Montmorency's story; no skilled swordsman was on hand to adjudicate the duel, and the injuries both to Montmorency and to Lord Tirnan apparently fit the story÷although whether they were deliberate or accidental is impossible to reconstruct. Sieur Montmorency was aquitted of charged under the First PlaintöAssault on Nobility, on the grounds of self-defense, primarily supported by eyewitness account and his own testimony.
I sought out the swordsman and questioned him myself. Montmorency had little to add to the statement he made before the courts. He did admit that Lord Tirnan had not attacked entirely without provocation (unfortunately, he still attacked first, and Montmorency is still clear of any charge of assault). Attached you will find the letter he gave to me, which he said he had shown Lord Tirnan prior to the attack. He would not tell me who gave him the letter, and there is no way I can lawfully compel him to speak. I have removed certain seals and ribbons from the outer letter for reasons I am sure you will understand.
If you have further inquiries, please feel free to call on me either in my offices in the Ministry of Justice, or at home (PS24, Chevalier & Forgotten, the Hill).

Sincerely,

Llewellyn Finster
Earl, House Jhansczil
Special Investigator

I discovered your leter and since I have read it, I know only one thing, which is that I love you infinitely, as you alone are able to be loved, as I alone am able to love. Your lines have stirred my soul as the tempest stirs the ocean; its waves shoot up to the stars÷and why not÷since a star has come down to it.
Have you never wept inside? Here I am, dry-eyed, and I feel the tears trickle one by one in my heart. I shudder with fear, and my soul struggles, as if you tear itself violently away from the body's embrace.
You understand all my being.
Everything of the good, the noble, and the ideal in me will belong to you! I want to fan the divine spark in myself, this spark that has flickered and nearly vanished under the weight of my master's hand, until it has become a flame consecrated to you. I now know what love is, and in me a joyful voice resounds. You are right÷love is the spiritual abandon that one makes to another. One exchanges a soul for a soul. Give me your soul! No one else can offer me this gift that I ask from you÷and I do not want it from another, since I can abandon myself to no one but you.
Yes, I can finally admit it. What a child I was to doubt it÷to sin against the mysterious miracle that fulfills itself in us! Now I understand with a terrifying lucidity; we belong to each other for eternity÷Etienne, I tremble at this! This is the most sublime thought I've ever had: to be yours for eternity, without cease÷without end! This, indeed, is the aim of my life, this is why I have come into the world! To be the object of your inspiration, to bind you indissolubly to me, you pure and fiery spirit! That is grand÷that is divine!
Each sensation, each breath is for you. I am insensitive to everything outside of you. If this state is as infinite as the passion that created it, then I am vanquished!
To live or die÷what does it matter?

With all my soul,

Your Elianora

re: Lord Tirnan's death

Official Records

Human, 19, 6'2", slender, short red-blonde hair, blue eyes, usually cleanshaven. Born in Cislunar and left at Foundling's Hospital, BH67, Northgate, Mutegrief St. Adopted by Sieur Zorin Last, YL17, Dockside, in shipping & trade. No records of public school attendance, no criminal record, until age 16. First duel, age 16, with duellist Pantier Blithe; both arrested for disturbing the peace etc. Subsequent duels rumored but no criminal charges ever brought to bear. Licensed with two others (Cinsault Tauler, Fiaschi Thevenin) as the mercenary company Darkling Steel, on Dawnstalk 12, 849. No known political affiliations.

Interviews with Peers

Montmorency is an up-and-coming younr duellist with excellent prospects. His peers consider him quick, skillful, and possessed of the casual finesse that is indispensible to a professional "blade." He does not seem to be interested in fighting other duellists as a rule, and must be ridden rather heavily, or actively threatened, before he will draw without being paid. However, once he does draw, he is a formidable foe. There has been some speculation as to who taught him to fight, but he will not reveal where or from whom he was trained. Some claim his fighting style is similar to that of the late duellist Parnassas Keen, with that tell-tale drop of his blade-tip at the end of each extension manuever, but as Keen was killed over 10 years ago, it is unlikely that he learned from the master himself. His registry with two other duellists as a mercenary unit is an obvious ruse to allow each to bear arms within city limits, but since no criminal charges have been brought against any of the three, there is no legal way to rescind his license.
Montmorency continues to live with his adoptive father, Zorin Last, in Dockside. However, he often spends nights at other duellists' houses or in taverns and inns, and is not easily found. He is admired by his peers but perhaps not actually liked. Montmorency is quiet and standoffish, with brittle manners and a sharp tongue. There is some speculation that he doesn't get along well with his father, and one duellist even suggested that in his cups, Montmorency has made allusions that Last used to beat him. Given the nature of the duelling community, however, the air of mystery around Montmorency has only added to his allure. The other two members of Darkling Steel appear to be his closest friends. They do not share his reputation and seem to be middling swordsmen; however, there does not appear to be any rivalry between them and they sometimes drink and gamble together.
Montmorency uses a fine Amcathra duelling rapier and parrying dagger set, made about six years ago. He dresses simply but elegantly, typically in tight-fitting trousers, a loose white silk shirt with lace collar and sleeves, and a heavily embroidered waistcoat and coat which he doffs before fighting (he did not, in fact, remove these garments before his duel with Lord Tirnan). His right ear is pierced with a small diamond, but he affects no other jewelry. He does not bank with any of the city's financial services÷at least, not under his own name, unless he has an arrangement with the owners to keep his records private÷unlikely. He is not affiliated with any political or social group and does not belong to any guild.

Personal Interview

I found Montmorency in the Rose & Locket (GC59, Parkside, Valerian & The Promenade), where he usually waits for employment, and talked to him for over an hour. He seemed displeased to have to repeat his story again, but in the end did so without much urging. He revealed the letter and tld me somewhat more than he had told the original Board of Inquiry, once I had bought him several drinks and he learned more about who I was and the unofficial nature of my inquiries. He had been sent a love-letter, opened and signed by Lady Elianora, two weeks before Tirnan's death. Assuming, based on the signature and seals, that the person who had sent him the note was Lord Tirnan ("many of my clients prefer the subtle approach"), he arranged to discreetly contact the lord in order to discuss the details of the job. To his surprise, Tirnan took the letter and seemed shocked and upset that anyone would even suggest that Lady Elianora was cheating him. He called the letter a rank forgery. Montmorency was slightly piqued that he had misjudged his client's identity, but finally shrugged and left, letting Lord Tirnan keep the missive. He apparently decided that if his client wasn't going to identify himself more clearly, he wouldn't worry about having made the mistake.
Two days before Tirnan's death, Montmorency again received a letter, and again decided to approach Lord Tirnan, doing so on the day Lord Tirnan died. This time, however, he says that Lord Tirnan seemed distracted, perhaps worried by something, and flew into a rage at the sight of the letter. Montmorency reports that he had hardly said anything÷just pulled the letter out and showed it÷when Tirnan erupted. Surprised by the noble's violent reaction, Montmorency failed to defend himself in time, and was injured in the arm. He then drew, intending to disarm Lord Tirnan, but his injury prevented him from making a successful binding manuever and instead he accidentally pierced Lord Tirnan through the heart.
Montmorency claims that he has no idea who sent him the letters. Each letter was left for him at the Rose & Locket. I questioned the owners and all the barkeeps. Each letter had been found around twilight, bound in grey parchment and addressed to "Montmorency" in black ink, sealed with plain black wax and ribbon, on the bar counter. Nobody had been seen dropping the letter off; it seemed to appear of its own accord, although the evening barkeeps admit that the crowds are usually larger at this time and thus is could have been surrepetitiously left by a customer without their noticing. However, I do not rule out the possibility of either (1) a magically hidden messenger÷invisible, for example÷or (2) magical conveyance of the missive itself÷via magical post. Montmorency gave me the last letter, but had already discarded the outer wrapping. He claims that there were no distinguishing marks on the outer letter, and that the use of dark, blank ribbons and seals is not uncommon for a private message from a client to a duellist.
Montmorency sent me the letter the day after this interview.

Miscellaneous Interviews

The master of the autopsy reports that the wounds on Montmorency's body and Lord Tirnan's body fit Montmorency's description of the duel. The lords justice allowed me to review the court records: the witnesses also more or less corraborate Montmorency's story, although of course they could not hear the details of what was discussed, and none was a trained duellist. However, I do not believe that any of the witnesses were paid off or coerced to lie to the court. I talked to several duellists and all agreed that Montmorency's explanation could in fact be valid; a hampered binding manuever could result in a heart wound÷but there is no way to tell if that was in fact what happened. In general, they seemed to feel that Montmorency wasn't likely to (1) voluntarily take a wound to his sword arm, with all of the risks that would entail to a professional swordsman, or (2) lie about making a mistake in a duel, since it implies a certain amount of sloppiness on his part as a professional.
Nobody volunteered that they had seen the other letter Montmorency had supposedly given to Tirnan÷I don't feel that it is appropriate to ask outright, at this point.

Personal Notes

Montmorency doesn't seem like a liar; he's a bit arrogant (or impatient, giving him an air of arrogance?), but he wasn't afraid to meet my eyes when I questioned him. He sent the letter promptly after I suggested that I would like to examine it, and does not want it back. Nevertheless÷if he lied, I must question (1) the provenance of the letter, (2) whether or not there were actually instructions or a name attached to the letter, (3) whether or not Montmorency actually intended to kill Lord Tirnan. Could he have meant simply to wound him? Scar him? Who might have benefited from this?
Some other questions that occur to me after rereading his history, etc: What does Montmorency spend his money on? Who trained him? What about his father, Last? ÷ Or are these all peripheral questions, unrelated to Tirnan's death?
Could Montmorency have been pressed into killing Tirnan? Since he would be unlikely to want this mistake on his duelling record, he would almost have had to have been pressured somehow.
Who benefits from Tirnan's death? (Assuming Tirnan was, indeed, meant to die.)
Most obviously, his younger brother Luscan and his wife Elianora (his children are too young to be suspects). Luscan would replace him as the heir apparent to House Raventree. Elianora would inherit his money, his share of the business, and be able to see her children displace Luscan when they came of age. Both Luscan and Elianora's presences are accounted for on the evenings the letters appeared, but that means little.
Why would Elianora implicate herself, though? Luscan has the most obvious reason to want Tirnan dead. But is it too obvious? Could he be so stupid÷and if so, does it mesh with the subtlety of the overall setup? Could Luscan's wife be masterminding her husband's rise in the organization?
Tirnan's sisters have no obvious reason to benefit from his death; their husbands are neither involved in Raventree Mercantile & Shipping, nor stand to benefit politically from ther brother-in-law's death. As far as I know, Tirnan had good relations with all of his sisters and their families. His father has no apparent reason to have had Tirnan killed÷ in fact, he would have a great deal of reason to keep his most likely heir alive. His mother, the same. Elianora's family doesn't seem to have had any grudge against Tirnan; in fact, they seemed to like him. He had few enemies÷he has had a few arguments with Faermeth Don, but Don isn't likely to have had him killed (and if he had, not by such mundane means as a mere duellist!). Ditto Black Alaric, whom I haven't even seen in Cislunar for three years. I find it unlikely that Tirnan would have taken a lover who might be implicated in this, but must keep the possibility open.
Most of the houses who were nominal rivals to Tirnan's business interests in fact are socially or politically allied with House Raventree÷Helmfast, Irlingstar, Stormweather, Ulbrinter, Wavesilver, and Zulpair. According to the portmaster's records, many have bought Raventree ships over the years. Dezlentyr, Lanngolyn, and Margaster are neutral÷too large to really benefit (but check; perhaps one was trying to buy Raventree's shipwright business out?). House Thann doesn't get along well with House Raventree, but it seems too small to benefit from Tirnan's death÷the total collapse of Raventree shipping and trade, perhaps, but not one man's death.
Montmorency claims he had never met Tirnan before, and has never met any of the rest of the House Raventree family; he has seen them at public functions, however. He knows little about Raventree Mercantile & Shipping and would not comment about the extent to which he knows other noble houses÷mentioned that he had fought for some of them in the past.
I compared the handwriting on the letter Montmorency gave me to handwriting on an invitation from Lady Elianora Raventree sent a few years ago. If the letter is a forgery, it is an excellent one. There are slight discrepancies, but none that couldn't be attributed to either (1) the caution that most people take in writing an invitation, or (2) the emotional state the author of the letter seemed to be experiencing. The parchment and ink are unremarkable. It seems odd that she would have attached her own seals to this letter if it were genuine. The handwriting does not match Tirnan's, Montmorency's, or that of any other member of Tirnan's or Elianora's family. (Note to Angeli÷need samples from servants?) Even if the handwriting is hers, this does not necessarily mean Elianora had her husband killed. It might implicate "Etienne," however, or "Etienne"'s spouse, lover, rival, etc. Perhaps a third party was hoping Tirnan might hire Montmorency to kill Etienne÷ or Elianora?
At this point, must talk to Elianora about letter. Question÷should I push to reopen the investigation into Tirnan's death? Was it really accidental? ÷Ask Oder to question Montmorency under a spell?÷(must get templars' permission). Even if Tirnan's death really was an accident, should this case be pursued further on the grounds that somebody intended murder÷either of Tirnan or his wife, or Etienne? Two of these three may still be potential victims.