The townhome was amazingly quiet tonight. With the case closed, Theo had the whole day to play with the kids until they collapsed into exhausted sleep. Without having to worry about the kids or the cooking, Sylvie had been able to rest easy.

Now, Theo sat next to his cooling mug of tea, reading an article for what must have been the fifth time. Of all the papers in James’ file, it was this one he couldn’t make sense of.

Between the missing details and outright lies, some things were clear.

Three years ago, James had killed her commanding officer and ran for her life. Two years ago, she had been captured again and hauled back towards the city for execution. Two weeks later-

CLAIRISSE JAMES ESCAPES CUSTODY, 5 DEAD, PRIEST MISSING

Many were relieved to hear that disgraced tracer Clarisse James had been taken into custody two weeks ago. After a few years of increasingly questionable behavior, James turned on her superior officer while in pursuit of an insurgent. The entire team witnessed her burn the superior officer alive, but were unable to pursue, as James and the officer were the team’s sole combat casters.

James, experienced in tracking criminals, was able to make it to the Ollen border before capture. The brave team intended to bring James, along with two other criminals, to the capital for trial. The party had also hired Priestess River Avairda, who was protecting the party from caliga as she traveled to meet her fiance, Duke Austus Nale at the capitol.

Monday, an Artoan man came across five bodies at an abandoned campsite. He alerted the local military branch, who were able to identify the dead bodies as the three men who had taken James into custody and the two other criminals they had apprehended. James and Priestess Avairda were not found among the dead, and it was later confirmed that casting had been used. 

It is currently believed James was aided by a third party, as she had been placed in caster suppression cuffs and was known to attend parties frequented by other questionable persons. Nearby patrols are searching for James but, as she has kidnapped a priest, are unable to follow her across defiled land. A tracer also believes the priest was wounded in the attack. The tracing team has followed an unstable, fluctuating trail. For an experienced priest, this suggests she is in need of urgent care.

If you have any information, please contact the authorities. Do not pursue this suspect. James is to be assumed willing and able to kill both civilians and her hostage. Please report any sighting to the nearest military outpost.