Chapter 46: Prime Suspect
(Emeric's notes are a messy collection of half-baked thoughts written on scraps of paper. Only one seems to stand out.)
There's something about that Lowtown foundry where Mharen's trail ended. I've got a strange feeling about it.
Lowtown-9:31 Dragon
In Darktown, the gang met a Templar named Emeric who was investigating the disappearance of a female Circle mage named Mharen. Emeric suspects that the Mharen's absence, as well as another woman named Ninette de Carrac were connected. The gang had followed the Templar's notes and it led them to the warehouse district in Lowtown. Once inside they were attacked by abominations and demons. Once they were taken care of, they searched for the missing women until they found them in the back room of the warehouse. "And there's our missing women…or what's left of them" Fenris said.
"Uh…Maker… I think I'm going to be sick" Bethany said grimly.
"Emeric will want to see this, and I should bring the ring to Ghyslain. It might belong to Ninette"
The Gallows
"You might want to see this…" Ericks said. "This was left in the foundry you mentioned in your notes. I was also attacked by shades"
The Templar sighed. "Human bones…then there is no chance of finding Mharen alive…or the others"
"I saw someone leaving the scene, but we had demons to deal with"
"It was more than I accomplished"
"People have been slow to react, but this need official support" Aveline said. "I will vouch for you to the viscount"
"My thanks, serah"
Now
Emeric was waiting in the courtyard of the Gallows looking out for the gang. "Serah Hawke" he said. "Nice to see you finally made it"
"Aveline says you need my help again?"
The old Templar nodded. "Indeed, I've spend the past few years continuing my investigation into the murders of Ninette, Mharen, and the other women" he said. "I believe I finally have a suspecr, a man called Gascard DuPuis"
"Really? That's his name?" Ericks asked amused.
"It's Orleasian, I believe he is descended from nobility" Emeric said. "When I became convinced of his guilt, I went to the city guard and demanded that they do something"
"Ah yes, I heard about that little mess from Avi" the rogue said. "She's very pissed about having to kiss a bunch of asses when nothing showed up"
"I know, I too was reprimanded also. The Knight-Commander has forbid me from continuing my investigation" the Templar said. "But she didn't say I couldn't seek outside help" Emeric had reached the end of his rope investigating this incident on his own, he hoped Ericks and his connections would be enough to put an end to this investigation. Since the beginning Emeric have been facing a up-hill battle, the Templars believed the missing women was a matter for the city guards. But the city guards were no help either; they rejected evidence and dismissed the murders as isolated incidents. These women died in a horrific manner and no one cared about them.
"Tell me about this DuPuis" Ericks said. "What makes you think he's involved?"
"He's a reclusive nobleman who's rarely seen outside his estate in Hightown" Emeric said. "He knew two of the women and made inquiries about the others"
"It cannot be a coincidence"
"I'll see what I can do"
"Thank you, I've faced nothing but ridicule. To hear someone say that is…encouraging" the Templar said. "Go to DuPuis's estate after nightfall; figure out what he's hiding. If he's innocent, find evidence to prove me wrong" He crossed his arms. "It's just that simple"
Hightown-Night
"Demons…how did I know the day would end with demons?" Ericks asked dryly. When the gang goes to search DuPuis' estate, they were attacked by shades, giving credibility to Emeric's suspicions. Merrill filled the room with lightning, frying the demons around them while Ericks and Fenris took down the stragglers while Varric covered them. Once the gang was done with the demons, they moved to find evidence for Emeric. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary despite the demons appearing everywhere. Ericks picked up a note in the central room and read it.
Gascard,
Thank you kindly for your last shipment. It arrived in almost perfect condition. The requested payment is on its way. Please use the artifact with care. The creatures can be difficult to control, even for an experienced mage.
A pleasure doing business,
Your friend
"Oh Gascard likes ancient artifacts, just like me" Merrill said.
"Him and half of Hightown, Daisy. Not really the evidence we're looking for" Varric said.
"Keep looking" The gang kept searching the estate; they headed upstairs towards the study where they were attacked by more shades. Merrill slammed her staff on the ground and a chain of lighting flowed through the demons while Fenris cuts through the shades in a single sweeping arc. Ericks ducked up the demon's blows and quickly struck its back with daggers. Varric finished them off with a hail of arrows, clearing the room. There was another note on the table in front of the fireplace.
Messere DuPuis,
This is in regards to your inquiry into missing mages. I would like to remind you that the duty of seeking out missing mages, if there were any to begin with, would fall to the templars of Starkhaven, not a minor nobleman from Kirkwall.
I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that the Circle of the Magi, as a whole, does not welcome casual inquiries about the mages in its care.
Thank you,
First Enchanter Raddick
"He's been in contact with the First Enchanter of Starkhaven" Ericks said. "He's looking for missing mages"
"Maybe Gascard was looking for help from another mage" The gang continued deeper into the mansion, where they quickly found themselves all turned around and lost. This estate was larger than they thought…almost like a maze. They entered into another room where they found vials of blood on a table. "Bottles of blood…that's never a good sign"
"I think these have been used in blood magic" Merrill said.
Fenris snorted. "But of course…it's not a matter of if a mage resorts to blood magic; it's a matter of when" Somehow the gang made it through that maze of hallways and made it back to the main room where they went up the stairs. There they found a letter written by the Knight-Commander herself.
Messere DuPuis,
Please accept my humble apologies for recent events. The templar, Emeric, has been reprimanded for his wrongful accusations and for arousing suspicions within the city guard that led to the raid on your estate. I will see that he is restrained in future.
Sincerely yours,
Knight-Commander Meredith
"Clever. He stopped Emeric from investigating by getting Meredith on his side" Fenris said. "The Knight-Commander never knew she was assisting a blood mage"
"I would keep that to you, Broody; Meredith might take out her anger on the mages at the Gallows if she finds out" The gang continued into the next room where they found a chest full of women's clothing. Emeric's suspicions were getting more and more right by the minute.
"Hmm, perhaps they were taken off the murdered women"
"Those clothes are so fine! They must be very valuable" Merrill said. They then heard muffled sounds from the next room. "What was that?!" The gang ran out of the room and headed for the muffled sound. When they found the source they found a woman in fine clothing fearing for her life and a man with long brown hair holding a staff in his hand.
"Help me! Please! He's gone mad!" The man looked back and when he saw the gang, he had a look of confusion on his face.
"You're not…you're not him!" DuPuis said. "Shit…I…know what this looks like, but I didn't hurt her!"
"Yeah, the crying and the fear in the eyes really sell the not hurting part" Ericks said sarcastically.
DuPuis' eyes went wide. "No, I didn't mean…" he said. "Look…I don't know why you're here, but there's a killer out there, and I think he's playing us both" Ericks crossed his arms as his brow rose. "Just…just let me explain!"
"This I have to hear"
"Twenty silver if he says, 'It wasn't me! It was the one-armed man!'" Varric said dryly. DuPuis explained that several years ago his sister was murdered in a brutal way in Orlais. The chevaliers never caught the murderer and DuPuis mourned for years until recently. He had heard of several murders of women in Kirkwall, the women were all killed the same way. It starts with a bouquet of white lilies; the murderer sends them to each new victim. According to DuPuis, the woman with them, Alessa was going to be next.
"I took her so he'd have to come to me. I was finally going to face my sister's killer, but then you showed up…"
"He's lying! He hurt me!"
DuPuis kneeled down to face Alessa. "I've explained this! I need your blood to track you down if he took you. It was for your protection!" Ericks looked on the hand of Alessa; there was a large cut across the palm of her hand…enough to fill a single vial. If this man really was the murderer, he wouldn't care about the gang seeing him kill one of his victims…unless DuPuis was a very good actor and from the looks of his awkwardness, he wasn't. Alessa moved away from him and ran away.
"Let go of me!"
"She'll go straight to the city guard. They'll ruin everything"
"So say I believe you, who killed your sister?" Ericks asked.
"A powerful and experienced blood mage. I believe he uses the women for some ritual" DuPuis said. "His victims are attractive, healthy women with few social ties"
"Emeric believes you were the killer"
"I'm not, but I was trying to find the killer, just like him" he said. "Our paths crossed and he just assumed I was the murderer"
"Well kidnapping people does tend to make one look…guilty"
"I…suppose that's fair"
"So the blood magic, I got to ask…"
"Yes, I've used blood magic and lyrium to augment my powers" DuPuis said. "I'm not proud of it, but I had to. He took my sister from me"
Ericks sighed. "All this trouble when you could just went to the guards and tell them this"
"I don't want him arrested. This isn't about justice; I need to be the one to bleed him dry"
"That's…more than a bit creepy, you know" Merrill said disturbed.
"Besides, they probably wouldn't even hear me out"
"I could help you track down your sister's killer"
DuPuis shook his head and walked away. "No, I can manage on my own" he said. "I'm headed to Darktown. If you learn anything new about the killer, find me there"
"I've a score to settle with him" He walked out of the room.
"Hmm, I wonder how long he's been practicing that little speech in the mirror." Varric said. "DuPuis is over his head on this"
"I agree, let's head back to Emeric and tell him he's got the wrong person" The gang left the estate.
The Gallows
Early next morning the gang headed for the Gallows to meet with Emeric. "Aren't you Hawke?" Ericks looked to the side and a female Templar was walking towards them. "Emeric left not long ago. He said you'd arranged to meet tonight"
"Did I tell him that? I must have completely forgotten"
"Don't you remember sending this message?" Ericks took the letter and frowned. This was serious; the murderer had been watching them this whole time.
"I didn't send this"
"You didn't? Strange" the woman said. "Well, I don't know. Emeric's been acting strangely for months. It's probably just a misunderstanding"
"Yeah, a misunderstanding…" The gang left the Gallows, Emeric was in trouble.
Lowtown-Blind Alley
According to the letter, Emeric was told to meet Ericks in the Blind Alley in Lowtown. Blind Alley is the poorest area in the district, only being one step above Darktown. Here people are forgotten wretches that are preyed upon by the criminal element, hence why the neighborhood was called such a grim name. As the gang arrived in Blind Alley, they found it to be infested with shades and abominations. The gang made quick work of the demons and searched the alley for Emeric…they turned the corner and found him or rather his body.
"Shit…we're too late"
"Some mage sent that thing here to kill him. Why would anyone…" The gang turned and saw the same woman that they met earlier at the Gallows. She then gave a gasp. "Oh, Maker. The murders. Emeric was right…her was getting too close" she said. "He suspected a man named Gascard DuPuis. Did he do this?"
Ericks shook his head. "No, DuPuis is after this murderer too"
The woman sighed. "We should have believed Emeric. I thought he was trying for one last shot at glory" she said. "Whoever did this is a dangerous apostate that Meredith will want found. I will see to it personally"
"There's a woman named Alessa, a woman was with Gascard" Ericks said. "Tell the guard captain she might be in danger and use my name, we're friends"
"Will do, messere. Thank you for your help in this matter. If you learn anything more, please come to me" The Templar walked away and the gang went home, a new shadow lurked over Kirkwall…who was next? No one knew.
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