No tellin' what the lass was 'bout, but I am hopin' the questioning gets us some info. As to the thoughts of the maniac, who knows?
Korgan holds up his hands. "Don't look at me, I just got here."
After getting a description of the escaped assailant, the Constables move on leaving your group alone not a soul is in sight.
Kensington speaks up addressing Morgan, "You've a rather strange manner of dressing friend. In all the chaos you just appeared! Where do you hail from?"
"Yeah, I'm as surprised as you are," Korgan answers. "I've been traveling since I was crawling, so I couldn't really tell you my original ethnicity. I've spent a bit of time in Varisia and Osirion, though; know of them?"
Speak sense man, this is Paridon. There isn't any places like that here - we've been cut off for some time. I've not heard anything like what you speak, the very large and imposing man dressed in some sort of uniform great coat says.
That said, there is a lot of strange folks appearing these days - there was this midget until recently then he just walked into the mist and we never saw him again. I'm Lieutenant Dunstan Gossington-Gorth, pleased to meet any man who can help us with this mess.
Marco steps up next to Dunstan, gives the newcomer the once over, then sticks out his hand.
I am Marco Andrezi, please t'meet ya. Someone's been murderin' the lassies here in Blackchapel, and our little group 'ere has stumbled upon him...or it...a couple o' times. Even wounded it a few times. We're aimin' to put an end to it. We could really use the help.
Kensignton considers Korgan's response, "I've not heard of these places. Then I've never gone to the mainland for more than skirmishes on the coast. As Dunstan said, the mists often cut us off so my visits there have been few and far between".
He turns to Derrick, "What does the Divinity know of this my friend? This is now two people in as many days who claim to be from...elsewhere"
Derrick shakes his head. "Sadly, I can't say I know of this. I've never heard of Var-issia, or anyplace else these travelers speak of. Perhaps the Apex will know more; I'll speak with the Brothers tomorrow, and search the libraries for anything I can learn."
Kensignton smiles, "It looks like your mystery will begin to unravel itself tomorrow Korgan. In the meantime, I believe that we should continue to track this killer, if he will not rest than neither should we!"
The Chimes at Midnight
Once again you spend the evening searching for the killer. Your confidence is much greater now that you have confronted and wounded him.
For now, you skip the meeting with Wyatt back at the pub, believing that every second on the streets count.
As the night grows longer fewer and fewer people are on the streets. Still there is no sign of the killer.
At midnight, the city clock sounds the hour, its echoes muffled by the fog. As the last peal of the bell dies away, you hear the sound of running footsteps and gasping sobs.
As the figure clears the mist, she is quite familiar to you, it is Felicia Sweet, the woman whose home you entered earlier this evening in the hope of establishing a lead on the identity of the killer.
Her coat is open, her hair disheveled. Her arms stretch out before her reaching towards you, her hands are smeared with red, and tears streak her face.
"Oh Sandra, Sandra's been killed. I only left her for a moment!" she begins to wail and you are not even sure if she recognizes any of you so distraught she has becomes by this latest murder...
Where is she, woman!?
Where is she, woman!?
Marco's voice snaps her out of it, "She is this way".
She leads you to the front door of a meeting hall, the Mist obscures the name at the top of the door. Inside the sounds of voices can be heard, ironically, pledging to be vigilant against this killer in their midst...
"Um, hi," Korgan says, trying to sound confident as he addresses this newest batch of strangers. "We're... here to help...?"
As Korgan opens his mouth the vigilance committee opens the door to find the horror standing on their doorstep.
Korgan's statement is drown out by the cries of anguish or anger from the crowd within that surges outward around the bloody mess that is Sandra.
Some located there take Felicia away as she is obviously shaken others shout out random questions at you all as if expecting you to have the answers.
Soon enough the Constables come along, late as usual it seems. They questions witnesses but leave you alone now that they are beginning to get to know you. One of the Constables is from the group that you encountered earlier in the evening.
"Gentlemen, take a look around will you? Perhaps you will find something we will not..." he seems genuinely interested in having your help. He turns away from you as a wagon rolls up to the scene and a few men get out, including Mort, to take the body away from this location.
Medicine
Perception
Investigation
Although Derrick is unable to get a good look at the body before the crowds move in, his keen eyes are able to pick up many other clues around the scene...
Derrick spots a number of clues as he walks the area near where the murder has taken place.
A drunk in an alleyway confirms that several minutes before the screaming hubub he heard the clattering of wheels, like a carriage down the alley across from where he was sleeping off a strong buzz.
As your group heads down the alleyway, you spot a small piece of cloth impaled on a metal fence in great disrepair that may have been used at one time to close off the alley. The cloth smells of blood.
Derrick quickly surveys the area, speaking with a nearby possible witness and looking for physical clues. Gathering the party at the fence, he nods. "Sounds like this is the trail of the monster. I myself am ill-used to tracking others; my observations tend to be by the moment, not over distance and time. Still, best we give chase?"
Kensington shakes his head, "Agreed, we should follow!"
Before anyone else can speak one of the Constables heads down the alleyway towards your group, "Inspector Logan wishes to speak with you. Please come with me".
Kensignton shakes his head, "We cannot dally, you all go back, I will do my best to follow this trail".
Derrick looks back for a moment, but he shakes his head and turns back to the trail. "No. We've wasted too much time speaking with constabulary and hoping the watch will do their job. Now we've a trail, we should follow it."
Aye, on the trail.
Marco bends low and begins to follow with the others.
As you head through the dark alleys and streets of Blackchapel, Marco spots a street rat who squeals that he did indeed see a man in a cloak pass by quickly in the direction you are all heading in.
Soon though in the mist shrouded streets, the trail is lost. Few are out tonight which reduces the chances of finding someone who has seen him...
"There must be something missing, some clue we've passed over..."
Im not very good at this sort of thing, Dunstan says poking at a pile of refuse.
Me neither, Dunstan. I'm usually the bloke hidin' from my enemies.
"Not my strong point either, I'm afraid."
"I'm basically making this up as I go along," Korgan says, shrugging.
Kensignton shrugs, "Perhaps we should head back to the Inspector and see what he has to say. After that, we can retrieve Wyatt and get some rest. In the morning we can figure out the riddle of where you came from Korgan and where out little Halfling friend disappeared to! I wonder if these events are somehow related, is perhaps this villain using the mists to his advantage?"
"Not a bad idea, Kensington... but this trail leads to the constabulary. A station, anyway. One of them must have seen him go by..." Derrick looks back. "If anyone wants to return to the Inspector, by all means, do so. But I'm going to follow this trail until it ends. Too many have met an ungracious end already."
Kensington nods, "Lead the way then Mr. Tramsen, we should stay together in light of the recent attempts upon our life. IN fact, let's hope that Wyatt has some information regarding this woman's motives in attacking me!"
Derrick leads the group to the station, as you open the doors you see one desk clerk on duty, one you have never seen before.
"Evenin', if ye're here ta' report tha' murder you're late. I know of it already and we Constables are doin' all we can ta' solve them".
"We're here following up on that, actually. The trail of the killer seems to have gone right past this office. Did any of the constables happen to see anything?"
He shakes his head, "I've been on duty th' whole night and I did na' see anybody.
Well, except for Inspector Logan".
Korgan raises an eyebrow. "So..." he says, "I guess that means we've narrowed the list of suspects down to two people. Mind if I do a quick, non-invasive divination on you?"
"Really, you think that you've solved a case we're all workin' on fer nights now? Cast away", the clerk smirks.
"Now now," Korgan says, "I didn't say 'solved', I said 'narrowed down'. Where's Inspector Logan? In the back?"
Korgan points to the door behind the clerk.
Marco checks his weapons to make sure they are easily accessible. He looks at Korgan.
Lead the way, friend. I have yer back.
The clerk shakes his head, "No he just stepped in and went into the back, to use the privy I guess. Asked me if I had anything to report and then moved on. Typical behavior for him.
He is probably at the crime scene now".
Oh well, we'd better run out and see him then, says Dunstan, giving Kensington a pat on the back.
Kensignton nods to Dunstan and begins to head out the door.
As he and Dunstan get outside,
After this fella, I guess.
"Alright, let's meet back with the Inspector then." Derrick turns to walk out, clearly angry with another trail gone cold.
Your group returns to the scene of the third crime in three nights. The crowd is still there blaming themselves for allowing it to happen by the murmurs you hear from the assembled people.
Felicia Sweet is nowhere to be seen.
Inspector Logan though is there speaking with four of his Constables he turns to regard you.
"I hear tell you have found some evidence of which way the murderer fled to?"
Derrick frowns at the inspector and speaks plainly. "The trail led right past a constables' station. How well-trained and loyal are your men, Inspector?"
Inspector Logan grimaces, "You men said yourself our villain may not be a normal man. It could be magic or some supernatural means that aided the villain in sneaking past the station.
I spent the day following leads on some suspects. Perhaps if we hurry we might be able to catch one of them with blood still on their hands. The six of you, myself, and four of my constables could split up and follow up on all three leads if you are interested".
Kensington and Dunstan shake their heads in disagreement.
"Who is the most likely suspect on your list Inspector?" asks Kensington. [b]"That is the one we should check and together. By itself, the killer was able to escape all of us lesser numbers seems unwise".
Dunstan chimes in, "On the way we should find Wyatt at your station as well, we could use his magic and healing skills".
Logan frowns, "I am the Inspector in Blackchapel while I am happy to have you all assist me, I won;t have you telling me how to conduct an investigation!"
"Hey, you're in charge," says Korgan. "Just tell me how I can be of the most help."
"I think that we should stick together as well Kensignton. This killer could be anywhere.. or anyone." Khalid says with more than a hint of suspicion in his voice.