Case 0046412

## Case Summary

Case #0046412 involved the assault of Dextri High School student Daniel "Danny" Tristan on 09/19/3861, with the official police report filed 09/21/3861. Inexplicable burns to the face and neck of Tristan warranted investigation by a DHD; the case was accordingly assigned to DHD-4 under Captain Aidan.

Following two days of investigation, DHD-4 engaged with and defeated an anomalous hostile magical entity unintentionally spawned by Tristan on 09/19/3861. The affected area--Mara Point in Paeden Park--has been cleared by the EPD and reopened to the public. Tristan has been conscripted as a magic user and taken under the supervision of the Elyrium government. His sister, Lucille Tristan, has been charged with withholding evidence and perjury.

**Victim:** Daniel Tristan

**Perpetrator:** Daniel Tristan

**Accomplices:** Lucille Tristan, Penny Fortuna

**Witnesses:** Missy Kent, Matthew Ike, Dale Christianson

**Resolution:** DHD-4, with the assistance of Tobi Otogiri (DHD-1) and Arin Nasir

**Charges Filed:**

* Missy Kent, withholding evidence and perjury
* Lucille Tristan, withholding evidence and perjury
* Daniel Tristan, illegal use of magic, endangerment of the public, withholding evidence, perjury

## Detailed Report

DHD-4 was assigned Case #0046412 on 09/21/3861. Investigation began with the follow-up interrogation of the victim, Daniel Tristan. DHD-4 visited Tristan in the hospital where he was accompanied by his sister, Lucille "Lucy" Tristan. Both individuals claimed innocence and ignorance of the assailant's identity, though Lucy Tristan indicated her suspicion of some students who had been bullying Daniel (Missy Kent, Matthew Ike, and Dale Christianson--who also happened to be the nearest witnesses of the crime). DHD-4 proceeded to perform another sweep of the crime scene, where they found hateful graffiti marked on the memorial of Elizabeth Mara in addition to a replica of the Ebony Syndicate's bracelet calling card (later confirmed to be a plant by Jessica Chan to lend credibility to the Test of Courage). Notably, they also uncovered a small metal jewelry box containing a large but crude garnet. These items were turned over to Xingqiu Lee for analysis, who remarked evidence of their use as spell components.

On the afternoon of 09/21/3861, DHD-4 visited Dextri High School to pursue various leads, the first being the Occult Club captained by Chiaki Nanami. Discussions with her resulted in the discovery of a book titled "A Compendium of Necromantic Conjurations" which had been inexplicably dirtied, to the surprise of Nanami. Nanami also revealed her suspicion of Jessica Chan, a student who had recently been expelled from the club due to unauthorized support and propagation of the so-called "Test of Courage" that Tristan had been attempting on the night of his injury. DHD-4 followed up with Chan, who admitted to fabricating the "Test of Courage" practice that had become so popular among Dextri High students. They then spoke with Missy Kent, who requested the presence of a lawyer.

Later that night, DHD-4 conscripted the assistance of Sho Nakamura, EPD Eligos' resident consult detective and the Truth Devil, in interrogating Missy Kent. With Nakamura's help, DHD-4 uncovered video evidence withheld by Kent which detailed the aftermath of the assault: it showed Tristan, covered in burns, screaming as he emerged from thick mist at Mara Point. The video in addition to voluntary testimony by Matthew Ike demonstrated Kent and her associates' direct involvement in threatening Tristan to undertake the Test of Courage in the first place. Kent was charged with withholding evidence and perjury, while her classmates Ike and Christianson remain uncharged.

DHD-4 proceeded to bug several points of interest, including the Compendium--which they returned to the Dextri High Occult Club

At 1:30am on 09/22/3861, DHD-4 proceeded to undertake the alleged Test of Courage themselves in order to determine its credibility. As Agent Jay Dee approached Mara Point according to the parameters of the Test, only to find Occult Club member Penny Fortuna already present. The area became surrounded by a mist from which tangible forms emerged and began to drag Fortuna away. DHD-4 engaged the threat; Agents Star and Thunderoak dealt a blow to the enemy before Star sustained critical damage. The division retreated and Star was brought to the hospital, at which point Captain Aidan informed the team that Daniel Tristan had sustained injuries remarkably similar to those dealt to the hostile presence.

Fortuna and the Tristan siblings were questioned once again, at which point Daniel Tristan confessed that he was responsible for the presence at Mara Point. He had stolen the Compendium and jewelry box from his sister, who had borrowed the Compendium from her friend Penny of the Occult Club. In his desperation to gain revenge upon his bullies, Daniel decided to at least try to summon something during the Test of Courage in order to frighten them. He attests that he did not intend any harm--nor did he believe the spell would work. Because Tristan is an inexperienced caster, the spell quickly fell out of his control and manifestations of his sorrow, anger, and fear came to haunt the area and damage anyone they found threatening. These entities obeyed the rules of the Test of Courage due to Daniel's own belief in it, and further would only attack individuals that violated the rules of the Test or which they felt to be a danger.

With the help of Magic Specialist Arin Nasir, DHD-4 determined that Daniel Tristan had failed to properly cast Summon Shadowspawn. Rather than conjure one entity under his control, three manifestations of his emotions appeared and resisted his will. Furthermore, these entities were inexplicably subject to a bond with Tristan akin to Tether Essence. The result was that while the summons must be defeated in order to reduce them to a state where they may be controlled by Tristan, any damage dealt to them would also damage Tristan, and any healing applied to Tristan would also heal the entities. Thus, DHD-4 recruited the assistance of DHD-1's Tobi Otogiri, a necromancer capable of applying necromantic healing which would not be transferred to the hostiles.

## Resolution

With the assistance of Otogiri and Nasir, DHD-4 engaged with the entities on the night of 09/22/3861. Though there were several complications during the operation, DHD-4 was able to defeat the hostiles and clear Mara Point of further danger. Once weakened, the energy of the summons returned to Tristan, who emerged from the aftermath alive though extremely injured.

Mara Point has been confirmed to be free of any hostile presence and has been reopened to the public. Daniel Tristan has been taken into government custody and will be recruited into the EPD once he completes his government-provided education. Several charges were filed: all charged students were given the sentence of community service. Due to his reckless behavior during the encounter, Otto Thunderoak was put on probation.

Case #0046412 has been marked closed.

## Open Items

It is still not understood how Daniel Tristan was able to cast a spell, as he lacks the Mage Gene and further denies the formation of a Devil Pact.

## Meta Trivia

* Elizabeth "Bess" Mara was the original suspicion of the smokey anomaly in the park.
* Tobi Otogiri left the scene of the fight around 2:00 am in order to go on a date, which nobody questioned. It went well, though.