Princess Pile Drinking Games

by GaPJaxie

Siren Song Side Stories: Going Home

University of Van Hoover, School of Medicine
OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL INVESTIGATOR
 

Decedent Name: CHAIN LINK
Decedent Race: Earth Pony
Date Report Issued: 55th, Summer, 1045 CE
Place pronounced: Scene
County pronounced: Van Hoover
 
Decedent Date of Birth: Unknown
Date death pronounced: 50th, Summer, 1045 CE
Time death pronounced: 1:00 PM
 
Cause of Death: Heart Failure
Manner of Death: Natural
 
Date of Injury: 48th, Summer, 1045 CE (Estimated)
Place of Injury: Decedents Dwelling, West Seaflight Road, Maypony
 
Autopsy performed by: Gentle Passing, MD
 
Death certificate signed by: Gentle Passing, MD. Go Softly, PHD, ACA.
Deputy Medical Investigator: Pale Steed, MD.
 

Report:

Deceased was first examined by a coroner on the 50th day of summer in response to a request by officers of the Maypony police department for a formal investigation of what they deemed a probable death due to supernatural causes. First coroners on the scene were myself and Go Softly, arcane matters investigator. We arrived at the deceased’s residence by late evening on the 50th, the body having been discovered by officers late the previous night.
 
The deceased had not been moved by officers prior to our arrival, and was visible inside his residence, sprawled over the kitchen table with legs extended (see attached drawing). After Go Softly’s unicorn magic detected no immediate danger, I began my examination.
 
Initial examination of the body revealed a number of deformities which were the cause of the officer’s initial concern. The deceased (identified as Chain Link by officers on the scene), had visibly impacted ribs, with three distinct points of concave barrel formation. Deformed areas were surrounded by large bulges in the skin, tentatively identified on the scene as cancerous. Each point of impact was also adorned with a tattoo depicting, respectively: a crate and a set of tools, a number of abstract mathematical symbols, and a violin.
 
Go Softly proceeded to investigate the body for any lingering traces of magic (See attached ACA report). Initial report was negative. Further investigation of the body revealed the early onset of autolysis. Time of death was therefore estimated as two to three days prior. Officers identified a newspaper found with the subject (subsequently removed as evidence), dated two days prior. Time-of-death estimate was therefore made for the 48th of summer, likely no later than mid-morning. After consultation with Go Softly, I recommended that the body be removed to the morgue for autopsy.
 
Findings of autopsy, conducted later that day (see attached autopsy report), are summarized below:
1)   Deceased suffered no gross physical trauma prior to death.
2)   Growths on deceased’s barrel were confirmed to be cancerous in nature.
3)   Bruising found along subjects right jawline, chin, cheek, shoulder, and neck, were determined to be consistent with an impact on the kitchen table at the angle found on the scene.
4)   Callouses were found on the deceased’s left shoulder, determined to be caused by repeated abrasion.
5)   Stomach and intestines were free of particulate matter, suggesting deceased had not eaten in between five and seven days.
6)   Deceased was determined to be dehydrated at time of death.
7)  Deceased was determined to have numerous minor fractures in all four legs. Pattern of fractures suggests repetitive stress injury.
8)   Deceased possessed four significant scars on the right flank and leg, consistent with improperly treated puncture wounds. Width and depth of injury suggests stab wounds. Age of scars could not be determined.
9) Five of the deceased’s front teeth were fake. Upon consultation with Knee Biter, DMD (see attached dental report), replacement was determined to have been restorative. Damage to upper and lower jaw suggests teeth were forcibly dislocated by blunt impact.
10) Examination of remains by Go Softly further found no evidence of an immediately arcane cause of death (see attached ACA report). However, the possibility of an arcane root cause in his condition could not be ruled out.
 
At the request of the coroner’s office, further investigation into the deceased was conducted by the Maypony police department into the state of Chain Link’s health prior to his death (see attached special report). From this investigation, a number of key facts were obtained.
 
Questioning of the deceased’s neighbors revealed that they were unaware of any past health problems. The deceased was, by universal description, in the habit of wearing a heavy jacket at all times. No neighbor of acquaintance could cite a single incident when he removed it.  While not conclusive, this does suggest that the deceased’s health problems had been present for some time, and that he took steps to conceal them.
 
When asked if there was anypony who might be able to confirm the state of Chain Link’s health prior to his arrival in Maypony, multiple neighbors and acquaintances confirmed that no such information was available. By mutual report, Chain Link moved into town five years ago, purchased his residence (a cottage at the edge of town) in cash, and never spoke about his life prior to his arrival. Neighbors reported that this was a source of considerable speculation and rumor, but with no actual evidence of any wrongdoing, did not seem worthy of police attention.
 
Deceased was generally described as affable or friendly, but was noted by neighbors as suffering from mood swings, particularly sudden bouts of anger or depression. After consultation with Head Shrink, MD, descriptions were determined to be too vague to make a meaningful assessment of possible psychiatric illness. While not conclusive, multiple neighbors did note that these incidents appeared to be growing more frequent over time.
 
A curious and unanticipated point emerging from the report was uncertainty as to the deceased’s age. Visual examination of the body suggested the deceased was in his early twenties, but reports from neighbors suggested figures as high as late thirties. Of particular note were insistence from multiple parties that he had looked much the same age upon his arrival five years ago (placing his actual age at a minimum of twenty-five). Deceased also, by mutual testimony, made first-person reference to events occurring more than ten years past.
 
The deceased was noted by neighbors as habitually drinking from a flask, despite a stated intolerance for alcohol. Police investigation of his residence did locate this flask, but it was determined to be empty.

Despite what, to an outside observer, appears to be considerable grounds for suspicion or ostracization, the deceased was evidently accepted by the community of Maypony and was considered active and welcome in civic life. This became relevant to the investigation when two correlations were discovered.
 
After statements from neighbors that the deceased taught violin to a number of local foals, the abrasion callouses on his left shoulder were determined to be consistent with the repeated bracing of a violin for extended periods.
 
Additionally, after statements from local sailors that the deceased was active in the marina and took small craft out into the harbor on a regular basis, the tools on his first tattoo were identified as longshorepony’s pikes. Stress injuries in the subject’s legs were then determined to be consistent with stress injuries suffered by longshoreponies and teamsters as a result of carrying heavy loads for extended periods. Extent of stress injuries suggests between eight and fifteen years of regular activity.
 
Finally, inquiries into relations and family members were negative. Neighbors did identify one of his older students, Feather Brain, as a possible source of information, stating that the deceased had always been more open with him than others, including making a gift of a sea-jacket to him before he left Maypony. Unfortunately, police were unable to locate Feather Brain.
 
While police investigation is ongoing, I deem the available information sufficient to asses a manner of death. Evidence suggests that the deceased died of natural causes, brought on by his obvious and extreme health problems. While an exact cause cannot be determined due to the extent of his injuries and the condition of the body, I find no evidence to suggest foul play. The deceased was clearly aware of his medical problems and took steps to conceal them. While it is possible or even likely that magic played some role in causing his condition, any such incident would have been years ago, and I deem his actual death to be mundane. In lieu of specific evidence, cause of death is assessed as heart failure.
 
 
ADDENDUM:
Additional police investigation located Feather Brain, currently residing in Canterlot. Feather Brain confirmed the coroner’s report, stating that the deformities were birth defects that had pained Chain Link from an early age. Deceased’s age was stated to be twenty-five.
 
By the request of the Canterlot Police Department, the investigation was briefly re-opened, and all materials and reports relevant to the investigation were formally reviewed. Feather Brain’s behavior during questioning was considered “highly evasive” by the on-duty officer, which paired with his sudden departure from Maypony shortly after Chain Link’s demise, was considered ground for further investigation.
 
Review of relevant materials revealed no substantive grounds to alter the initial coroner’s report, and by internal review, the initial assessment of heart failure was permitted to stand. Feather Brain was able to produce adequate evidence that he had been accepted on a merit scholarship in math at Canterlot University, for which he had departed ten days prior to Chain Link’s death. The Canterlot Police Department withdrew their request, and the matter was again closed.