postmortem
A survivor of the Second Kinslaying conducts an examination on four Fëanorian corpses and makes some interesting discoveries. Or, in which part-maia Dior is eldritch and terrifying, Nimloth refuses to go down without a fight, and the conspicuous absence of Celebrimbor is pretty much a character in itself.
characters: curufin, curufin’s wife, celegorm, caranthir
warnings: lots of description of corpses and wounds, self-harm
1.2k words
To whom it may concern,
Here follows my report on the bodies of the four invading Fëanorians discovered in the throne room of the palace of Menegroth following the ruin of Doriath, alongside the bodies of the King and Queen, which I have reported on separately. I expect much more information to come to light within the coming days concerning the identification of these four individuals, and I hope that my early findings will be found useful in this endeavour. I have chosen to undertake this task in order that those who remain of the Iathrim may gain a greater understanding of our enemies to help protect the remainder of our people. Once this task is complete, the corpses will be laid in unmarked graves, and I hope then to join my kin at the Mouth of Sirion.
Long live the line of Elu Thingol!
Istuieth Sadriel, scholar of the court of King Dior.
Note: Bodies are listed in order of their physical distance from the King, with the closest listed first.
Male 1
Physical description: This is the body of a male adult Noldo. The body is of a tall Noldo, at 7’3’’, who was in healthy physical condition before death. Male 1 was well developed and well nourished with a heavy muscular build. Male 1 is light skinned with silver hair and brown eyes.
Cause of death: Death certainly occurred as a result of complete severing of the head from the body. Male 1 would have died almost instantaneously. As the other bodies in the throne room, including the King and Queen, were found intact, matching the head to the body was a simple task. The condition of the wounds to the neck suggest that rather than having been severed by a blade, decapitation occurred due to the head having been physically torn from the neck.
Distinguishing marks: Tattoo around left bicep marks this Elf as a member of the hunting-train of Oromë. This is obscured, seemingly intentionally, by several healed scars that appeared to have been self-inflicted with a blade. Tattoo of a large hound on right forearm. Large healed scar bisecting stomach lengthways consistent with wounds inflicted by a tusked beast, such as a boar. Several healed scars across the torso resembling bites from a large canine animal.
Personal effects: large animal tooth braided into hair. Silver and white ribbons braided into hair. Steel alloy hunting knife strapped to right forearm. Steel dagger in left boot.
Male 2
Physical description: This is the body of a male adult Noldo, of thin build and measuring at an average Noldor height of 7’0’’. Male 2 has light brown skin with black hair and brown eyes.
Cause of death: a single stab wound severing a major artery near the groin caused Male 2 to suffer catastrophic blood loss resulting in rapid unconsciousness and death. The unusual positioning of the wound suggests that Male 2 was killed standing over King Dior, who stabbed upwards with his sword (likely the sword of Male 3, see below) as he lay dying and hit this artery potentially by pure luck (see my notes on the condition of the body of King Dior).
Distinguishing marks: A large birth-mark resembling a red wine stain covers most of the left side of the face. Male 2 has a large number of freckles all over the body, especially concentrated on the face and lower arms. Significant scarring from burns on back.
Personal effects: A silver-alloy Edanic style ring, appearing around one hundred years of age, on the fifth finger of the right hand. Ruby-encrusted steel dagger, likely of Dwarven make, in right boot.
Female 1
Physical description: This is the body of a tall female adult Noldo, measuring 7’2’’, of lean muscular build. Female 1 has light skin, black hair and black eyes.
Cause of death: Female 1 has been pierced through the upper torso through a gap in her breastplate with a hunting spear belonging to the Queen. The spear enters Female 1’s chest through the front on the right hand side, becoming lodged within her torso. Judging by the position of the spear and the large volume of blood surrounding this body, including blood from the mouth, it is likely that the spear pierced through Female 1’s right lung, resulting in rapid major exsanguination and difficulty in carrying out respiration that caused her to lose consciousness. Cause of death is judged to be loss of blood resulting from this wound.
The location of Female 1 is worth noting. The smearing of a large amount of blood across the ground suggests Female 1 was initially wounded close to the Queen towards the back of the throne room where the largest amount of her blood is concentrated, and then proceeded to walk and then to crawl towards the front of the room (inferred due to bloodied footprints followed by handprints matching the size of Female 1’s feet and hands) eventually collapsing across the body of Male 3.
Distinguishing marks: Stretch marks on the lower stomach and breasts suggest that this woman has previously given birth. Healed burn scars on both forearms.
Personal effects: A golden ring with a ruby inset on the fourth finger of the right hand identical to that found on Male 3. Steel short sword in belt, which appears to have been newly forged. A pencil drawing on parchment of a young elf boy, found folded in the left breast pocket of the tunic.
Male 3
Physical description: This is the body of a male adult Noldo, of lean muscular build and slightly shorter than average at 6’9’’. Male 3 has light brown skin, black hair and grey eyes.
Cause of death: Male 3’s most significant wound is a wound to the throat, cutting the carotid artery and leading to major high pressure blood loss. This was likely the fatal injury to this Elf, as he could not have survived losing such a high volume of blood without almost immediate medical attention. The wound itself is significant, as it resembles something closer to a bite than an injury caused by a blade. Male 3 has several small wounds caused by a blade, likely his own sword as our King was unarmed at the time of the ambush. However, none of these wounds would have been significant enough to cause Male 3’s death, as he was protected by body armour and as such they did not reach any major arteries. Claw marks on his arms and hands.
Note: several wounds look closer to those inflicted by an animal than an Elf. Must investigate further.
Distinguishing marks: Male 3’s hands are heavily calloused, suggesting a lot of time spent doing manual labour. This would also account for the body type. There are also a number of small burn scars on the hands- perhaps an involvement in some type of smithing? Large healed scar on neck. Large healed burn scars on forearms.
Personal effects: A golden ring with a ruby inset on the fourth finger of the right hand identical to that found on Female 1. Two steel daggers, apparently newly forged, on belt. A child-size iron ring forged somewhat unprofessionally, worn with a leather band around the neck and tucked underneath Male 3’s armour.