Relic Hunters (Season 7): A Brief History Of Cedric

As the Relic Hunters seem answers within the home of Grey Leader Howlet, a slight trance overtakes their resident demonologist, Cedric . On a physical level, the young man is resting against the side of Grey Leader Howlet’s tent, the day starting to wind into the night as the shadows creep from their abodes, and the eyes of Cedric take on a solid dull grey. His vestments and body radiate a soft glow with similar illumination to a small candle. In the world of the mind, this demonologist finds himself in a library of immense proportion. Book shelves extend into the endless upper regions of this library as books float, fly, and arrange themselves in patterns currently unknown. On the floor surrounding Cedric is an oak table with two chairs on opposite sides of each other similar to an interrogation room.
Looking around the room, Cedric shifts his body upwards and onto his feet, watching the books gracefully organize themselves. He'd look over to the bleak looking table, taking a seat and looking over at the wonders in this mental library.
A black tome, about one foot wide and 2 feet long, slams onto the table seemingly from no where. On the cover, imbedded into the leather in a beautiful array of blue and gray, is a crow leering over the tome’s title. Scavenging Fools: An Era Of Arrogance says the title in bold white letters.
"You know, on one hand, this book could be a trick by something.... but on the other, it is knowledge..." He'd flip the book over, checking if there was anything on the other side, examining the material of the cover and then looking at the side of the book to see if the pages inside were plain paper or something else.(edited)
The cover feels of a soft leather but as he traces his fingers over the tome, thoroughly examining it, there is a bit of glitter remaining upon his fingers. There appears to be nothing on the other side except for another crow whose body is turned sideways in order to see the full form of the bird. The pages are fresh as if made only seconds ago.
"Eh, what's the worst that could happen?" he said, cracking open the book to it's cover page.
The cover page repeats the title but at the very bottom is the name of the author. Written by Oghma is written in a very plain cursive penmanship which is far superior to any writing Cedric has seen prior.
Cedric closes the book, looking back at the title. "Oh. I don't have a good feeling about this one." He'd flip it back open, going to the next page.
As Cedric turns to the next page, a table of contents is revealed. The book has five chapters in total. Chapter 1: Madness begets Madness, Chapter 2: A Murder of Crowes, Chapter 3: In Line With The Father, Chapter 4: A Nest Of Insolence , but it is Chapter 5 that is most peculiar due to the fact that it has no title.
"Let's start from the beginning, Chapter 1". He'd flip it over to that page.
Chapter 1: Madness Begets Madness
This chapter is a long analysis detailing the crimes of one Vincent Von Torbren and the many dealings he has participated in to seize complete control over his family. From exiling family members, lying to those who would have no reason to doubt, and the numerous premeditated acts of evil which he has committed over his years of life. The reasoning for this, verbatim, is that “The pettiness of mortals. In the cur, Vincent, I see clearly one of the greatest flaws and most admirable strength. Determination. Nourished by his own narcissism yet fermented most repulsively in the power his very blood endows Vincent is a paragon for the epithet, Monster. It is because of his madness that many, if not all who share his blood, has zealous in whatever cause they find themselves attached to in the moment. I am horrified but, as is my nature, intrigued. Perhaps I shall make an example of this House. A glimmer of hope to kindle whatever benevolence swells within the stinking carcasses they call hearts.”
Cedric silently looks over the first chapter, looking around to see if there were any writing tool he could possibly use.
Upon the desk is only the tome at first, but as Cedric looks he finds an inkwell and quill readily available underneath his chair.
Cedric would take the inkwell, using the quill to start marking the pages and writing notes in the margin, going over an re-reading Chapter 1 while doing this. Once he did this and checked his work, he’d move on to Chapter 2.
Chapter 2: A Murder of Crowes
This chapter, much longer than the first, accounts for how, where, and why several of the Von Torbren family have followed in line with Vincent whether they desired too or not. For one reason or another, the Von Torbren line has made the lives of many hell. Their narcissism, arrogance, and disregard for most is shocking to the point of disgust. In it, the dealing of Vincent of extended to using a family member as a test subject. The member of the family went through several experiments which involved raw magic, crystals, and many hours of Vincent enjoying the family members torment. As Oghma says,” The rapid degradation of Vincent’s character has finally reached a climax as he turns his own nephew into a living conduit for raw magic. The purpose of which was to give Vincent a larger capacity for magic while bypassing the many years required to do such. Perhaps for the best, the nephew escaped and through interactions with Mask and Lathander has achieved a more primal aspect of magic which Vincent had no idea was ever possible. However, having a subject escape is no reason to stop work. Most likely, he will abduct more of his family and replicate the experiments. He will dispel any suspicion of their investigation by labeling them traitors, runaways, or slander their names until the city accepts it as truth. All the while, he is seen as perhaps the only benevolent Von Torbren. I will watch him more closely. Those who guard their knowledge, especially if said knowledge is of a darker kind, will become terrors to society. My followers, at least those in power, are starting to sway underneath his flattery and prospective discoveries. I shall wait a bit longer. Perhaps there can be blessings in this murder of crowes.”
Cedric keeps writing down his notes on the side, now with a smile on his face as he read through the pages, proving his personal innocent, while slightly dismayed at the realities of the Von Tobrens. He'd specifically outline the sentences supporting the false accusations and experimentations by Vincent which he had been accused of performing. He'd then flip to the next chapter.
Chapter 3: In Line With The Father
The third chapter in this series of cruelty picks up a in the year 592 3e. In this time, it is told that Vincent has been heavily working on replicating his nephew. Through a combination of necromancy, transmutation, evocation, and conjugation Vincent had successfully created a clone of his nephew. However, the clone devolved into a viscous primordial slime after only a few hours of life. This failure prompted the tedious process of creating a stable clone, which occurred in a reasonable amount of time, and subsequently the continuation of Vincent’s previous work. Many clones perished due to them developing some unforeseen abnormalities such as missing an eye, having glowing hair, a bat like tumor growing on their shoulders, and sometimes spontaneously exploding if exposed to a large amount of heat. There was one however that caught Oghma’s eye. The god of knowledge explores and develops his idea for the clone when he writes,” A clone of Vincent’s creation shows promise. A blank slate with an impressionable mind. It seems very likely to succeed its “father”. It has a similar grasp of the arcane and could be used to bring the secrets of House Crowe to the light. I shall implant in Vincent’s mind my ideas and shape them to be his own. This shall work if everything goes according to plan.” Oghma picks up a few months later in the same year and writes,” The clone follows in the same steps as its family. I am lenient with it as most of my followers are not overly religious but this creature is irksome at best. Like Vincent and his father he hides his major discoveries to himself, writes only a few books to satisfy his peers, and refuses to explore. I would not have much problem with this if he did more than study and keep to himself. My followers are to spread knowledge freely. Despite my efforts of subtly guiding the clone it still defies me. Yet it has the audacity to invoke my name and others whenever it suits it. I must ponder on a way to bring it under my reigns once more. Perhaps a brush with death and a quest shall do the trick.” A picture of Cedric rests on the very last page of the chapter along side another man who looks like him. A very disfigures man with a bat companion and several physical abnormalities hobbling towards the entrance of Freeport.
"Oh. I've been played, haven't I?" He'd slouch in his chair, slowly reading over the chapter again and again, checking over his body for any marks, specifically on his shoulders. "If there is another Cedric, then how do I not remember them? Was my memory altered? Am I truly the false? And if so.... how much time do I have left?" He'd flip to the next chapter. "And, Oghma, if you're listening, is this an intervention? Why are you revealing this to me now of all times?"
As Cedric flips to the next page a gentle gust of wind blows against the back of his neck before a heavy book slams into the back of his head followed by ten more books that bombard Cedric from various angles including his forehead. After the last book slams into the side of Cedric’s head each of the books fly onto the table and arrange themselves in a straight row. Overcoming Anxiety for the Anxious, How to make long lasting relationships, How to Praise a God Correctly, The Mysteries of Respect, The Gifted Servant, A Hopeless Hero, Research and Reverence, Sharing is Caring: A Recollection of Charity, Finding your Purpose, and DRIVE: The Power of The Mind are the names of each book from left to right. The large tome Cedric had been reading was pushed to the other side of the table by the new books.(edited)
Cedric gets bombed with the various tombs and novels as he waves his hands around, screaming "I GET IT, I GET IT!". He'd crack over the Overcoming Anxiety for the Anxious book, beginning to quickly close-read it.
The other nine books organize themselves into a neat stack to Cedric’s left as the tome shifts to Cedric’s right, seemingly eager to be read again once Cedric finishes Overcoming Anxiety For The Anxious .
“Alright, I’ve done this before. It’s cram time.” Cedric starts to quickly take the books, reading through the contents as he’d write notes in the margins on the subjects, paying specific attention to A Hopeless Hero, a Gifted Servant, Research and Reverence, The Mysteries of Respect-and how to Praise a God correctly.
After reading through the stack of books they all levitate into a small bag with a small note on the front which says,” Reread Weekly.” All that’s on the table are the ink well, which seems to still be full, the quill used to write, and the only reading material left is the tome which has now set itself in front of Cedric with a white bookmark wedged in between one of its pages.
Cedric flips to the white bookmark...
The bookmark picks up at chapter 4 and has your initials written on it.
Chapter 4: A Nest of Insolence
Oghma starts of the chapter my prefacing,” Though I am never one to value worship I do hope in high esteem at least a modicum of respect, but as of late I notice the intent of my followers being perverted. Recently, after a failure and brush with death, the clone has been ostracized by his family in faith and exiled from his home. Vincent, though a genius in many ways, is hindered by that which he does not understand like all mortals. He does not see that by removing the clone from his care that he relinquishes it to my care entirely though this was my plan from the start. I could continue to fuel his pride and let him ride the highs of his accomplishments in spite of his failures, but humility is my favorite teacher and his own creation shall be his undoing. Whether it be a product of how environment, a smear on his lineage, or a disciple of mine I see great potential in this clone. If only he realized it himself. He limits himself to demonology and the occult yet is blind to all other aspects or this world. I guided his soul towards they scroll and map yet he still is not moved to pursue it. Perhaps this quest shall be an awakening for him. Begrudgingly I’ve found most of my efforts to be towards grooming this creature against my better judgment, but like those in House Fortuna I must be patient and wait upon my investment. Though it does not stop me from wishing to throw a book at this boy.” It is at this time that Cedric notices new words starting to appear as he reads as a faint glittering radiance etches itself into the pages, filling Cedric with the comfort of solitude and a wealth of knowledge that was once so easily at his finger tips. The single letters join to write,”Even now, as he sits here engulfed in his own stories I still feel him being able to change. With much on his shoulders and more to come, this journey shall be his path to absolution. Keep the balance of the world. If you are to research the Nine Hells and the Abyss you should also look towards the Shadowfell. Go forth. I shall be watching. The last chapter is for you.”
Cedric turns to the next chapter, taking the ink and quill as he'd put down the title. "Chapter 5: A New Lineage & Legacy". Beginning to write down his thoughts, Cedric would begin writing the draft for his own chapter... "It becomes clear to me as this session in both my own and Oghma's psyche closes that the proverbial wool's cloth has been over my head since my very creation, a pitiful manifestation of another, stronger man, being used by others for their own goals, my destiny selected and programmed out for me both by the cosmic forces of this world, and my "family" which brought me into existence. I wonder now if the manifestations of demons and devils I chose to chase were more real than me, for they possess a soul, while I may possess nothing at all. Maybe that is why I chased these creatures, my subconscious wanting to understand what I may be most closely related to. I may only wonder know how much time I can stay on this plane, before my body, mind and soul begin to dissipate to where they rightfully belong. The family name which has been driving me for all this time has been proven to be nothing but falsehoods and pain, both to those inside and outside it's grasp. My entire life vision taken and torn to shreds, leaving nothing but a ticking bomb who's time is limited in this world, to do his master's work. However, with the time I have remaining in this world, I wish to establish a new legacy, a new lineage, born not on the foundation of greed and pride, but one born on charity and humility, one without a master, and though it will never wash the stains of the Von Tobren, it shall pave a way for the future. In my remaining time, I shall do my master, Oghma's will, despite their manipulations to bring my cursed existence about, and to finish my work, both personal, and with my new companions. That is my promise, to all those who listen to my woes."
As the young man writes into reality a new chapter in his life, the tome on which he writes transforms itself. Blue flames engulf the cover of the tome as the ink within the ink well shifts from black to a dark grey which is still visible but has a more unique appearance than the dull black ink from before. The cover and back of the tome seem to be consumed in a purifying light while the bookmark hums with divine energy before his very eyes.
Cedric finishes his own chapter, moving the bookmark to the start of Chapter 6, closing the tomb and taking a deep breath. "Oghma, my lord, I am ready."
As the tome closes, the cover has changed. The crow changes and shifts, it’s blackened feathers catching fire as it squawks loudly before being consumed by the fire, and from the ashes rises a phoenix whose light blue feathers sparkle as light shines upon it. The phoenix grows larger and soon it takes up the entire page, complexity obscuring the original title. A new one burns itself into existence as the phoenix’s white eyes flare up and stare straight at Cedric. As the flames die down and settle into the cover of the tome, the new title reveals itself and below it the name of the new author.
Vide. Locum. Expandit.
Authored by Cedric in collaboration with Oghma
Cedric takes the tomb, moving over to find a pedestal to put it on.
A pedestal appears right behind Cedric, made of solid limestone carved into a formal design worthy of presentation in any museum or exhibit. The bag which carried the stack of books now float beside him as an eager companion.
Cedric carefully places the blessed tomb on the pedestal, looking over to floating bag. "I'm ready to accept my fate."
The bag nudges Cedric, and as it slings itself over his shoulder Cedric awakens sleeping on a comfy bed inside of a small hut that is made for people who visit the Strigiformes. Jacob Greenheart rests peacefully in the bed next to Cedric and the bag rests comfortably against his hip.