Famous Tailor Dead In Fire

by Darcwulf, Staff Writer
Last Updated: Palast, Holmswelth 30, 2008

Gwynned - The charred body of a famous tailor has been found in the ruins of his fashion house, which went up in flames under mysterious circumstances.

The charred corpse of Marne Jovinus was found in the burnout ruins of his lavish store this week. A popular member of the upper classes and friend to the ordinary man, the tailor was the third son of Lord Jovinus and was known for genuinely enjoying steering the fashion of the empire. The warning alarms which had first sounded two hours after sunset the previous evening, continued to ring through the night. Although the local fire squad had rallied and was on scene in minutes, the fire had already taken too strong a hold and it was all they could do was prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.

"All that fabric that Jovinus kept in his store, the fine silks, satins and muslins turned the building into an absolute raging inferno," said Rusty Blackbird fire squad leader. "The heat was overwhelming, so intense that it melted the stone walls of the first floor down to slag. I haven't ever seen the like in some thirty-seven years of working the fire squad, though I heard tell of some horrifying stories about dragons whose flaming breath can do such. It's almost enough to make a man retire. Almost."

Members of the Gwynned watch summoned a pair of local white robes to use their magic to assist in dousing the fire and cooling what remained of the structure enough to enable a search. Even so it was still half a day before the combined forces were successful at this goal and authorities could safely enter the remains.

"We knew there was no hope of finding anyone alive if they had been in the store," said Stefano Emandys of the Gwynned city watch. "We found Jovinus's body under a partially collapsed roof in the cellar. We believe he was hiding from someone who ransacked his shop then set it a light." When asked what the evidence was that indicated arson, Emandys responded with the following. "I am under strict orders not to elaborate any further, until Archmage Hugh Khonlyn, the Emperor's counselor on magical affairs has examined the scene."

Rumours circulating throughout Gwynned say that that Jovinus had learnt something untoward about one of his peers and that he planned to go to the authorities, however it is unclear what if any of this is true. The remains of Marne Jovinus will be interred in his family's crypt later this week.

Famous Tailor Dead In Fire

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