"The Year Of Red Tears" or "Regicide In The Kingdom Of Naroda"

Summary

During the year 713 A.S., several unusual deaths occurred in The Kingdom of Naroda, specifically in the capital city of Stoneheim. Taken individually, each seemed to be a tragic yet ordinary demise. However, when looked at as a group, a troubling pattern soon emerged. It appeared that only members of the royal family had died. King Rordan Brennus, instructed Archbishop Mannix, to use his great network of Inquisitors, Justices, and Investigators to determine what was happening. The archbishop appointed the task to Koring Hart.
Over several months, Koring Hart conducted many interviews, collected evidence, and ceaselessly investigated the tragedies. Despite the lack of evidence of foul play, he believed that the royal family was being deliberately targeted, but could not determine who or what was behind the deaths. Although a few potential suspects were investigated, they also met an untimely demise. Regardless of his best efforts, precautions, and warnings, he was unable to prevent the remaining members of the royal family from being killed. Before the year was over, all members of the royal family had died.
In the last month, a week of mourning was called for by the archbishop and the populace looked to him to provide leadership and stability. At the end of the month, the archbishop assumed the throne with a new title of “The Holy King, Mannix of Naroda”.
During several of the royal funerals, high winds blew dust from the Red Rock Quarry over to the royal cemetery. As the dust landed on the tears of the people, it colored them a deep reddish hue. This image has been immortalized on the memory of the people and has led to the naming of this tragic year as “The Year of Red Tears”.

Victims

With the exception of the queen, all others died during the year 713 A.S.

..Name..	Age At Death	Gender	.Race.	Relation	Location Of Body	Cause of Death	Evidence
Queen Alva Windsong Brennus	35	Female	Half-Elf	Second wife of King Brennus	North Road through the elven border lands.	Murdered by bandits 13 years prior.	Discarded and broken weapons were of the elven design that The Black Leaf Bandits use.
Treasa Brennus	18	Female	Human	Daughter of King Brennus	Eastern Apple Orchard	Killed by wild animals.	Torn clothes and the body had several long jagged cuts, scratch marks, and bites.
Wilmar Landebert	7	Male	Human	Kings Nephew (Kings sisters son)	Western Sun Field	Poison	Stomach contents show that several colorful berries were eaten along with white monkshood.
Alanna Brennus	26	Female	Human	Daughter of King Brennus. Twin sister of Alain.	Red Rock Ravine	Blunt force trauma to head and body consistent with a fall and tumble.	Several broken bones and bruises, including the skull.
Alain Brennus	26	Female	Human	Daughter of King Brennus. Twin sister of Alanna.	Red Rock Ravine	Blunt force trauma to head and body consistent with a fall and tumble.	Several broken bones and bruises, including the skull.
Hild Landebert	23	Female	Human	Kings Niece (Kings sisters daughter)	Just below Green Rock Rapids in Red River.	Drowning	Lungs were full of water, as well as several cuts and bruises from hitting river rocks.
Wassa Landebert	46	Female	Human	Kings sister	Landebert Mansion	Broken neck	Broken neck and several bones associated with falling from a great height.
Murna Brennus	22	Female	Human	Daughter of King Brennus.	Shagbark Forest	Killed by wild animals.	Torn clothes and the body had several long jagged cuts, scratch marks, and bites.
Finnan Brennus	17	Male	Human	Kings Nephew (Kings brothers son)	At the base of a great oak tree near Mallard Marsh.	Broken neck	Broken neck consistent with falling from a tall tree.
Nola Brennus	20	Female	Human	Daughter of King Brennus.	Red Rooster Rock	Killed by wild animals.	Torn clothes and the body had several long jagged cuts, scratch marks, and bites.
Carob Nijak	37	Male	Human	Kings very distant cousin. Consulting wizard to the royal family.	At the intersection of Main Street and Guard Street.	Mauled to death by wild animals.	Violent gashes, bites, cuts, and torn throat. Scorched fingertips. Pieces of a broken wand.
Keelan Brennus	41	Male	Human	Kings brother.	Laying on the floor, in his home library, locked from the inside.	Unknown.	Several papers scattered on the floor, a broken tea set, a dagger, a knife prick to his right index finger, and the word "Varulv" written in his own blood and handwriting.
King Rordan Brennus	68	Male	Human	King of Naroda	In the kings throne room.	Heart Attack.	Wide eyes, flushed skin, look of surprise and fear still on his face. Internal exam corroborates heart attack.
Peri Brennus	13	Female	Half-Elf (technically 1/4)	Daughter of King Brennus.	Silvershore Lake	Assumed drowned.	No body was ever recovered. Witnesses saw her rowing from shore, but found the boat floating, with nothing except some of her clothes, neatly folded, and necklace left behind.

Suspects

..Name..	Age At Time	Gender	..Race..	Relation	Motivation
Finnan Landebert	17	Male	Human	Kings nephew. Keelan's son.	Heir to the royal throne.
Keelan Brennus	41	Male	Human	Kings brother.	Heir to the royal throne. Revenge for death of his son, Finnan.
Carob Nijak	37	Male	Human	Kings distant cousin. Consulting wizard to the royal family.	Distant heir to the royal throne.
Black Leaf Bandits	Various	Various	Elven	Blamed for the death of the kings second wife, Queen Alva Windsong Brennus.	Revenge for being blamed for the queens death. Just a continuation of the attacks on the regency.
Koring Hart	20	Male	Human	Head investigator into the mysterious deaths of the royal family.	To elevate his career and status by creating mysterious deaths that only he can solve.

Variations & Speculations About The Tragedy

Several rumors and variations of the tale exist today. Some variants have "The Holy King", Mannix, leading the search for the truth about the royal deaths. Others have him comforting and leading the people during this tragic time. One tale has a hidden demon possessed, sorcerer as the responsible force behind the deaths. Another claims that the ghost of the kings first wife, returned to exact vengeance upon her family. Some believe that this was the latest attempt by the neighboring elves to invade and take over the kingdom. Others say that all of the deaths were just unfortunate accidents and coincidences.

Cultural Reception

Some foreign cultures use this as a cautionary tale of the fates intervening on behalf of oppressed peoples. Others see this as the divine taking preference for their stewards rather than traditional hereditary kingship. The people of The Kingdom Of Naroda are torn between their love of the previous royal family and the new "Holy King", who claims to be ushering in a new period of safety and prosperity.

In Literature

Very few written works about King Brennus and his family remain today. Most were collected by the inquisitors and burned, for the good of the people, so that they don't have to be reminded of such tragic times. Possessing any such works is now considered a crime. Only verbal stories remain and they are only recited by the very foolish, very drunk, or those in direct defiance of the new king. One such popular poem called, 13 Tears, A Kingdom Strew, is occasionally told in the local taverns by a blind bard.

In Art

With the ascension of "The Holy King", Mannix, all past art involving the former regency has been confiscated either through monetary acquisitions or out right seizure. All mention of the past regime and its fate is now prohibited and considered treasonous. It has been rumored that the new king has the necklace of Peri Brennus on a shelf in his personal library.

Investigative Ledger Of Koring Hart

 (Click For Ledger)

thuja leather diary by by gildbookbinders

Date of First Recording

All investigations began and ended in the year 713 A.S. All written accounts of this time have been collected for further study by The Holy Inquisitors.

Date of Setting

713 A.S. Known as "The Year Of Red Tears" in the Kingdom Of Naroda.

13 Tears, A Kingdom Strew
13 years, a plan to brew.
13 sovereigns, set to rule.
13 hatreds, slowly grew.
13 loves, broken cruel.
13 bodies, cast askew.
13 souls, paid the due.
13 steps, taken anew.
To ascend the throne, before yule.

— First whispered by a blind bard in small local tavern in Stoneheim.

Collected Evidence

The Broken Wand Of Carob Nijak

broken pieces by dragondoodle

The Silver Dagger Of Keelan Brennus

Silver Knife by zguy1996

The Necklace Of Peri Brennus

wolf pendant by by SpiritOfOld

Inscribed on the back of the necklace are the words: “Quos semel dilexit interficere“