The ninth installment of the Murders at Karlov Manor story picks up with Proft accusing Trostani of having orchestrated all of the murders. Naturally, everyone including Trostani is shocked, and many present in the room begin to protest the accusation.
“I know she was responsible. What I’m still missing is a large portion of the why. Why now? Why betray the trust Ravnica has put in her, allowing Vitu-Ghazi to become the repository of our history, putting the original Guildpact into her keeping? Why, during this period of rebuilding, when decapitating the guilds could very easily cause them to collapse completely? I have not always been the biggest advocate of the guild system, even as I’ve both benefited from and suffered under it, but I recognize that it is essential to a healthy, stable city, and we need both those things to be true if we’re to recover after the invasion.”
Detective Proft
Cim and Ses, two of the dryads composing Trostani, begin to scold Proft for his actions against the trio, but they soon realize that their third sister, Oba, was silent. Proft again pushes for a confession, this time focusing on Oba, to which she replies “they deserved it.”
With her sisters staring on in disbelief, Oba proceeds to go on a tirade. She curses the leadership of Ravnica, blaming various guild leaders for the suffering she had to feel on the behalf of the plane. She states that during the Phyrexian invasion, Krenko stole supplies and sold it back to the citizens at a premium, causing many to perish. Turning to Vannifar, Oba exclaims that she was a hypocrite, and that she wanted her guildmate, Zegana, dead, because she was obsessed with studying the effects of Phyrexian oil. Lastly, she turns to Kaya and tells her that Teysa was working with the Phyrexians and intended to take control of the plane after the fall.
“I witnessed countless examples of cruelty, cowardice, weakness, all in need of nature’s righteous judgment. The streets of Ravnica ran with the blood of the guilty long before I started hunting larger prey. You only noticed when I targeted people you cared about. The ones you considered important enough to grieve. And I’m not done yet.”
Oba
After Oba finishes, Vannifar is the first to speak, confirming that Zegana was indeed experimenting with Phyrexian oil, but for the sake of trying to find a cure for Phyresis, not for her own interests. Likewise, Etrata speaks up on behalf of Teysa, stating that it was true that Teysa was communicating with Phyrexia, going as far as to earn their trust and learn their language, but for the sake of relaying information back to Ravnica’s resistance. She had been working closely with the Dimir to plot against Phyrexia. Oba’s anger and pain had clouded her understanding of the situations at hand and now it was too late.
Before the dryad can speak more, Aurelia moves to arrest her. Rather than giving up and turning herself in, Oba goes on the offensive. She starts by separating herself from her sisters, and then proceeds to use the Vitu-Ghazi itself against those around her. Vines and branches spring from all directions, aiming to restrict all present. Making use of her ethereal form, Kaya stays out of Oba’s grasp, and frantically tries to cut the other leadership free. She manages to free Yarus of the Gruul, who rushes to attack Oba with a large branch. The centaur lets out a yell before attacking, which gives Tolsimir a heads up, and the elf jumps in front of his guildleader, taking the blow. In retaliation, Oba forms a wooden spear and drives it toward Yarus, only for it to be intercepted by Etrata, who crumples to the ground.
Kaya moves to free Ezrim and Kellan, but even her phasing cannot keep up with the foliage assault, and is soon restrained along with Kellan. Oba’s rage continues to grow and twist the Vitu-Ghazi until both Kaya and Kellan are restrained high above the ground. In one motion, Kaya is pulled back down into the chaos below, while Kellan is thrown high into the air.
During his freefall, Kellan notices Judith escaped, and is rushing toward the front of the property, only to be intercepted by Massacre Girl, who produces a knife and stabs Judith. Kellan, then closes his eyes in anticipation of falling to his death, only to realize he is being supported by fae magic.
Read the ninth installment in full from Wizards of the Coast.