The dome of the room is magnificently decorated with paintings of the Dawnmother, her great golden sun radiating brilliant rays through the sky, seeking to bring truth to the shadows. Across the round room from the door sits the elder council; seven men and women of varying races around a table that curves inward toward the center of the room, giving the appearance of the elders circling the defendent like prey.
On the far left of the table, a draconian with golden scales smiles at the group, long singular whiskers trailing down from above his lips. Next to him sits a halfling woman with white hair and wrinkles, adjusting her spectacles to look at the party curiously. Beside her, a male dark elf leans back in his chair, eyes closed and brow furrowed. In the center sits an elderly half-giant in a fine suit, keen eyes trained on Amadeo almost from the moment he walks in. On his left, a younger human lady with piercing blue eyes watches from under a hijab, hands folded and her chin resting along the top of them. Next to her, a dwarf man strokes his thick beard, narrowing his eyes upon seeing Tyrion. And lastly, a high elf sips from her tea cup, looking down upon Amadeo and Tyrion with no small amount of disdain.
"Young Master Ravenwood. So you really are back home." The elderly half-giant begins, leaning forward. "I must say, I'm quite surprised to see you here."
"I think we all are." The halfling woman chimes in. "But not the least bit unglad. Welcome back, young wizard."
"Thank you, Elder Kabira-" He bows his head to each of them in turn. "-and Elder Penny. I apologize for approaching without an appointment."
"Nonsense, Amadeo." The human woman smiles, gesturing warmly to the room at large. "We are delighted to see you."
"Elder Azeen." He bows again, holding his hands behind his back. One finger extends for the party to see as he walks forward, stepping into the center of the room. Around his feet, the floor flickers to life with brilliant green light, the previously nearly invisible circle now glowing.
Amadeo's eyes go white for a moment before he lets go, the elven woman raising an eyebrow curiously. Kabira turns to her, and she shrugs. "He chose to let his guard down." She utters simply, arms folding.
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"Meaning you have something you wish not to hide, Young Master Ravenwood...What is it you wish to tell us?" Kabira's keen eyes lock onto the wizard.
Amadeo raises a hand, the burnt leather journal held up for all to see. "I'm here to tell you why Mercy Warren was murdered."
The council is silent, though the dark elf seems to rouse from his thoughts and sits up. He eyes the journal and narrows his eyes. "Hmmm...I assume it's got something to do with that book?"
"Correct, Elder Faldis. This journal belongs to the person who was so jealous, so full of spite, that they led the town to murder an innocent woman and doomed us all to the wrath of an angry ghost." Amadeo clutches the book tightly, gritting his teeth. "What's more, I know who that very person is." His eyes scan across the council. Some have looks of dull surprise, though he notes the halfling, dark elf, and the dragonborn seem more concerned. The human, on the other hand, while perfectly serene in her expression, has a bead of sweat running down the side of her face.
"Is there something wrong, Elder Azeen?" Amadeo's eyes stop on her, honing in as he takes a step forward.
"No, nothing at all. That journal just looked familiar, that's all." Her eyes shift from under the hijab, hands clasped together more tightly.
"It should. It is yours, to be fair." The room grows deathly quiet, the wizard taking another step that echoes about the room with all the gravitas of a king passing judgement. "You were Mercy Warren's apprentice, and you coveted the ointment she used to retain her youth. But when she wouldn't share it with you and your own formula failed, you decided to take drastic action." He moves toward the left side of the table, holding the journal out to the halfling.
"That's quite an accusation, young man." Kabira rises from his seat, placing both hands on the table and looking over at the wizard with a glare. Amadeo doesn't even face him before returning to the center of the room.
Penny takes the book and opens it. As her eyes flash across the page at high speed, the dark elf Faldis reads over her shoulder. After a few minutes, Kabira clears his throat. "What does it say?"
Penny removes her glasses, setting the book down and taking a deep breath. Faldis lifts the journal, patting his halfling counterpart on her head as tears fill her eyes. As he begins to read aloud, the attention of the room falls on him with one exception. Amadeo watches as with every passage the dark elf speaks, Azeen's placid face begins to crack, her teeth grinding together and her hands forming into fists.