The Necromantic Office does not move quickly. Before condemning a criminal it requires three witnesses and long deliberations, but for most crimes within its purview there is only one penalty: the ever-winding worm.
This is a spell whose material component is the most perfectly-formed worm to be found within a thirteen day-old corpse. Following a lengthy ritual, a worm hatches and begins to wind through the heart of the victim as through a piece of over-ripe fruit. This is rather uncomfortable and death comes slowly so that the victim may yet survive through skillful surgery or subtle sorcery and death may also be averted by burning the corpse that the grave worm came from.
The Necromantic Office never announces its verdicts or gives the accused any chance to defend themselves, which does no favors to those who wonder if the worm has already begun to wind every time they feel a twinge in their chest.
Connection:
- Baron Herenghast (29.14.49) has been having chest pains and is panicking, thinking that an ever-winding worm is at work.
Hooks:
- Who has been condemned to the ever-winding worm?
- What is necessary to target the victim? Just saying their name? Line of sight? A bit of hair?
- Is there any oversight to make sure that the Office doesn’t worm the wrong person?
- What laws does the Office enforce?
- Does Baron Herenghast suffer from a worm or just poor diet?