Kunâ A

Kunâ A (Pr. "Woman A") is the preserved remains of a young woman who had died in 1632 AN. The remains were discovered in an unlabeled storage container at Raynor's Keep, which were uncovered in 1719 AN and immediately became the subject of a secretive investigation over the following two years. While her name and origin remain unknown, forensic analysis confirmed her participation as Pseudo-Elwynn in the Konungstekja of 1632 and immediate death thereafter, triggering an intense debate within the Ministry of Rites as to its legal implications vis-a-vis the marriage contract between Kaiseress Noor and King Noah of Elwynn.

In 1726, Raynor's Keep released the final report on the investigation. In the end, it was discovered that Kunâ A was Thóra Njálsdóttir of the House of Erindi (born 11.XV.1614, daughter and maternal granddaughter of Storish/Froyalanish nobleman and civil servant Njáll Hámundarson of the House of Erindi (born in 1595). Njáll was close to King Noah, working in the secretariat of the King's Court, but managed to escape during the Auspicious Occasion to Stormark. His whereabouts since are unknown.

Discovery in 1719

The freezer containing Kunâ A was found in the Autumn of 1719 AN, when maintenance workers, who were attempting to trace the pathway of a utility trunk, broke through a false wall in a storage room located in the sub-basement of the Halls of Vivantia, the apartments for the Imperial Consort. This is located on the south end of the Imperial Apartments complex.

Within the concealed alcove was a large and ornate mobile shrine dedicated to The Lady Divine Elwynn, depicted in the illegal Froyalanish artistic style. During its removal, the shrine was found to be plugged into a utility outlet. Once cut, it was wheeled out to the Dirâsat-an-Nûr, for the Novices to take turns desecrating it. Upon its destruction, it was found that the mobile shrine contained within it a freezer, whose serial number dated its manufacture to the reign of Kaiseress Noor. Opening it revealed the iced over remains of Kunâ A, who was thereafter relocated to The Kelb for forensic analysis out of sight.

Provenance before 1719

Under what circumstances Kunâ A reached Shirekeep is unclear. Following the death of Kaiseress Noor, the Halls of Vivantia continued to be inhabited by King Noah of Elwynn for another year, until Kyle Kilynn stepped down from the Stewardship in favor of Liv Dravot, who immediately ordered the closing of the Imperial Apartments and evicted all its inhabitants. King Noah subsequently continued to lobby the Imperial Court for opportunities to direct the pedagogy and reign of his stepgrandson, Ayreon IV all the way up until the Auspicious Occasion.

Following that event, the Imperial Apartments complex was, in whole or in part, used as a storage facility, an annex for the imperial government's sprawling bureaucracy, a residence for visiting state dignitaries, a barracks, a hospital during the White Plague, temporary housing for dislocated denizens during the early years of the Kalirion Fracture, and so on. In 1717 AN, the Imperial Apartments were cleared out and a major renovation was initiated with the intent of having Prince Rubin and his family move into Raynor's Keep and become ever more involved in imperial governance at the top level.

As part of this renovation process, workers went back to the as-builts for the entire complex and identified a room in the sub-basement that appeared on the blueprints but not in reality, eventually leading to the discovery of Kunâ A.

Analysis of the Remains

General Analysis

The coroner reported that the remains belonged to a woman of about 20 years of age at the time of her death. She was 188 centimetres tall, with a slim body but with pronounced breasts. She was blue-eyed and her hair, which was kept long, was blond.

The external examination revealed a well-preserved body. External damage consistent with the cryopreservation process was observed, including discolouration, tissue fragmentation, and ice crystal formation. In addition, visible ligature marks were noted around the victim's neck. Evidence of sexual activity, including semen in the vaginal cavity, remained present despite the cryopreservation process.

The internal examination began with the heart. The heart displayed signs of cryopreservation, with ice crystal formation present. No significant abnormalities or signs of cardiovascular disease were observed. The lungs show evidence of cryopreservation, with ice crystal formation present. No significant abnormalities or signs of respiratory distress or disease were observed. The gastrointestinal tract displayed no abnormalities or signs of trauma. The presence of semen in the vaginal cavity suggested sexual activity prior to death (and possibly also afterwards). No signs of forced entry were observed, despite the cryopreservation process. The brain and spinal cord showed signs of cryopreservation, with ice crystal formation present. Breasts were enlarged and engorged with milk with no signs of a recent pregnancy. No gross abnormalities were detected.

The cause of death was determined to be asphyxia due to manual strangulation, consistent with the ligature marks observed on the victim's neck. The presence of semen in the vaginal cavity supported the occurrence of sexual activity prior to (and possibly also after) death, despite the cryopreservation process. The combined effects of the hallucinogenic drugs, opioids, and asphyxiation contributed to the victim's demise.

Based on the circumstances and autopsy findings, the manner of death was classified as homicide. The cryopreservation process had caused external damage and preserved certain substances, allowing for their detection during the autopsy.

Toxicological Analysis

The toxicological analysis detected the presence of high levels of hallucinogenic and opioid drugs in the victim's system, consistent with that of the so-called Idunn's Apple drug cocktail. This allowed the contents of the victim's stomach to be identified as the partially digested remains of a substantial number of Idunn's Apples. Toxicologist's conclusion is that, had the victim not died of asphyxiation, she would have died from overdose.

The examination also detected the presence of Metoclopramide and Domperidone, drugs used for inducing lactation, as well as high levels of Prolactin, a hormone that stimulates milk production.

Genetic Analysis

Genetic analysis performed on the victim identified a genetic profile consistent with the Froyalanish population with no markers of outbreeding with the local Eastern Benacian population, recent genetic affinity with Njáll Hámundarson (likely father and maternal grandfather), and an overall inbreeding coefficient of 44%.

Genetic analysis performed on the semen identified the genetic profile of Noah Hallbjörnsson Esposito, a known individual. No other genetic profiles were identified among the semen.

Material Analysis

The rope found wrapped around the victim's left wrist, made from wool rubbed with chalk to produce a dazzling white, matches the ligature marks on the body. Marks on the neck have trace amounts of chalk. Chalk samples from the neck and the rope are consistent with one another and with chalk sourced from Tintagel, then a Storish stronghold in Northern Menelmacar.

Pollen samples from the victim's stomach are consistent with a northern Elwynnese summer, the time of year and region in which the Konungstekja was held.

Identification

Film footage of the Konungstekja of 1632 was procured from the Defence Against Anomalous Phenomena, Division XI (Occult Research). Facial recognition, as well as comparing the cult ritual activity with markings left on the victim's body, allowed for a positive identification with the so-called "Goddess Elwynn" participant.

Further examination by a DAAP field unit indicated that the victim's remains indicate a bathymetric resonance consistent with a superimposition event taking place in mid 1632 AN. DAAP declined to provide further details as to this aspect of their analysis, but declared the remains safe.

Time of Death

There are multiple lines of evidence to indicate that the victim died either during or immediately after the completion of the Konungstekja of 1632.

• The mass of Idunn's Apples was sufficient to kill the victim, but the toxicological analysis is consistent with someone who has merely reached a state of ego loss.
• Ante-mortem bruise marks, consistent with film footage, had insufficient time to fully develop before death.
• Pollen sample confirms the region and time period immediately prior to death, i.e. northern Elwynn in mid-summer.
• Cause of death was ruled to be asphyxia due to manual strangulation. Film footage of the Konungstekja was carefully edited during the Consummation ritual itself, after which Pseudo-Elwynn is seen with a chalk-white cord wrapped tightly around her neck and coiled around her body (consistent with ligature marks). The surviving codices for the Konungstekja ritual are notably vague about the actions which take place during the Consummation. Notably, during the climax of the Chant of the Hjartardýrlafðir, which takes place during the Consummation as the priestesses praise the king's ability to pleasure the goddess, the text credits the newly crowned king's masterful hand with enabling the goddess's orgasms to reach never before experienced heights.
• The film footage cuts directly from the climax of the Consummation to the beginning of the Hegira ritual. In the codices, the ritual describes the goddess as limp thereafter, having been utterly spent from the king's conquest. During the footage of the Hegira, Pseudo-Elwynn is seen being carried by Noah from the Lady's Ford to Araxion Castle.
• The rope found on the body, which matches film footage of the Konungstekja, has been identified as the likely implement of homicide.

Legal Implications

Following the Auspicious Occasion in 1651, Shirerithian authorities had reanalysed the marriage between Kaiseress Noor and King Noah of Elwynn, and annulled it in 1656 for reason that Noah was already married to Pseudo-Elwynn by way of the Konungstekja ceremony. It was believed in 1651 that the same Pseudo-Elwynn that Noah had married in 1632 was still alive. With the discovery of Kunâ A, and the determination that she had died immediately after the Konungstekja caused the Ministry of Rites to reassess the legal situation.

If Noah, indeed, had married Kunâ A in a legally recognized marriage during the Konungstekja, and she had died immediately thereafter, then Noah's condition at the same of marriage with Noor would be one of a widower, allowing him to marry her and have the marriage recognized under Shirerithian law. In 1656, the Shirerithian judex system determined that Noah had remained married with Pseudo-Elwynn from 1631 and onwards, in the absence of contrary evidence. Now, in 1719, it became likely that that judgment would have to be set aside, as all evidence indicated that Kunâ A had died prior to Noah's marriage with Noor.

This was a highly controversial turn of events, and the Ministry of Rites was uncomfortable dealing with it. In the end, the matter ended up with the Kaiseress Salome herself, who had to adjudge and declare the legal status.