Anastacia leaves the trackers to their work and sets out to find Anitov (the acolyte). She want's to know the status on finding the dead watchman's next of kin.
After hearing Anitov's report, Anastacia enters the city, there are still some folks who require healing. As she makes her rounds, Anastacia asks about anyone acting strangely, perhaps uncharacteristically nervous or morose.
"Sorry madam, he was an immigrant. We think he has family in Sandpoint, but none locally."
The people are on edge, the diseases, combined with the general unrest, and now the death of the watchman has the populace upset and ready to pop.
With the trackers on thier way, Natalie wants to ask around the area for any infomation about the murder.
The plus 10 helps the dog pick the trail back up for a bit. It leads to the inn & merchant area, before it is lost again.
"The Kobolds did it! I saw them! There was a whole squad of them! Faded into the shadows when they was done!"
"It were the damn lizard things, I saw one, big bully frog thing wanderin' around yesterday with a nasty lizard, lickin' it's lips and lookin at kids like they was snacks!"
"I think it was the centaurs! They could pass for horses at night, wouldn't know you was dealin with one until it took it's disguise off!"
"It were probably a werewolf! The Lord has one for a pet! I heard the guards talkin' about it! I bet he took him out for a hunt last night!"
"There were a wolf pack in town last night, I saw one! He got 'et by wolves! Big black ones!"
Anastacia works among the people, lending what aid she can. She is distracted by the brutal werewolf attack. It is a major problem after all. Too much of a problem. Anastacia knows enough to realize that the cause must be dealt with, not the symptoms. The cleric heads for the stables, where she has Avalanche saddled. A ride in the country would help to clear her mind.
Anastacia rides out, away from town, toward the high ground. As she rides, a nagging thought finally rises to the top of her mind. There was only one person it could really be, this werewolf. And it is a werewolf. That elf fellow. Corbin, no it was Corwin. He had faced the werewolf, the night it was captured. Clearly he had been bitten by the beast in the scuffle.
Avalanche wheels in a tight turn as Anastacia heads back toward town at a brisk canter. Was the elf staying at Oleg's? It was a place to start.
Catching up with Rowan and Gorruum Natalie shares what she has heard. "Rowan, eyewitnesses are not very consistent, I hope you maybe have something to help shed som light. The most likely stories I've heard is that a band of kobolds, a centaur or a pack of wolfs have attacked the guardsman. I also heard stories of a werewolf attacking, but unless we have a second in town, I've ruled that out since he has been in the cell all night."
When Anastacia returns to town and asks about Corwin, Svetlanya nods. "Oh, the elf. Yes, I've met him. He was staying at the Inn the last time I checked, the new one, not the trading post. Nobody stays at the trading post anymore. We got rid of the stables and turned them into storage. And we're remodeling the old rooms into a bigger shop."
Rowan stops to consider the possibilities. "The trail has been fairly consistent so I doubt that it's a band of kobolds. A pack of wolves wouldn't do this either. A centaur... possibly but I think another werewolf is the most likely suspect." Looking around at his surroundings, he takes an educated guess as to where the suspect may have went. "Let's head to the north gate and see if we can pick up the trail from there. If the murderer left the city that's the closest exit. Thanks for the assistance, Lady Saratov."
"Well you are most welcome Rowan, but I'm only doing my job." Natalie pauses for a moment and then asks "If you suspect another werewolf, might I ask if anyone from your party was bitten by our prisoner when you captured him?
"Go outside? Yes? Look for trail?" Even though more investigation might be a wise course, Gorruum seems very eager to go look for the werewolf.
Instead of going straight to the new inn, Anastacia decides to find the other investigators. Perhaps they were able to follow the tracks. At any rate, it would be good to have some backup, if Corwin did turn out to be the werewolf.
Anastacia heads back toward she had seen Ikit, Gorruum, Rowan, and Natalie last, asking the townsfolk if they have seen the bogard, as she goes. He is not someone that would be easily forgotten.
Fhârn wasn't much for tracking - so instead he remained behind at the scene. Pacing back and forth he considered his, and by extension the kingdoms, options to gain clarity in this gruesome case.
Hmm. That might help a little bit! Retrieving a vial from his component pouch he scrapes some of the dried blood into it. Then he heads out to the church/shrine of Pharasma to wait for Anastacia's return.
"Now that you mention it... I believe Corwin may have been bitten during the battle. I was casting lightning bolts from the inn's window so I can't be certain." Rowan frowns as he recalls the night in question. "Is that how the lycanthropy spreads? I must admit that I don't know much about the creatures."
"It's a small chance but yes, we'll explore outside the city. Maybe if we're lucky we may rediscover the trail."
Frowning as he learns the man's fate, "I would imagine she is held in the jail, given the man is dead, but I don't know with any certainty. There's likely little to be done except allow the court to go about its business. As to the attic, I don't believe it is currently in use. Perhaps it was in use for storage for a time? Domitian will know, but if you would like to make use of it you are welcome to it."
Riding up to the site of the murder, fully armed and armored, Wilhelm apologizes to Fhârn, "I am sorry I could not be here sooner. There was a representative from that confounded Pornos trade family. They are pressing us to deal with bandits on the Brevoy side of the border and don't want to hear that we can do nothing about it. I assume the others are seeing to other matters?"
Dismounting, the baron kneels in the dirt, looking at the site. Sighing, he shakes his head, "Damn but it seems we will not see a moment's peace. I don't suppose you know what those tracks are?"
"I think I head local stories about that was how the victims turned. If we don't find the trail again. Do you think we should go and check on Corwin just in case?" Natalie says while following close behind Rowan and Gorruum.
Gorruum is eager to get outside the town for a little while and joins Rowan and Natalie outside while Fharn remains behind. The boggard seems to drink in the fresh air and eagerly helps Rowan to try to find a trail.
Rowan, Gorruum, and anyone else with them, find the gate and move out into the wilderness to the north of town. A now more heavily traveled dirt road leads north through mixed grasslands and forest copse. They spend a few hours looking, but find no tracks or smells.
Anastacia heads over to the inn, and finds that Corwyn was here, but left about an hour ago, looking pale.
Wilhelm and Fharn are at the intersection, when a guardsman trots up. "Sir, I was told you were here." He approaches Wilhelm. "We have an issue sir. We have an Elf at the guard house, insisting we lock him up. He says he was the wild animal that attacked Guardsman Wallacher. But he can't answer any questions about it, has no apparent knowledge of how it happened. We can't lock up someone without proof of a crime, except on your authority..."
Natalie smiles at Gorruum's enthusiasm. "It's good to be outside of the town again right Gorruum!"
After some time Natalie seems to be a little down that they are stuck here. "Seems we've struck luck out here... Ah my feets are hurting... Are you two ready to head back? Otherwise I just go back and report we couldn't follow or find any tracks once we left the town.
Gorruum looks crestfallen at not finding any tracks. At last he nods to Natalie, "No tracks today. Back to town. Maybe Wilhelm, Fharn find more."
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"Yes, let's head back. It's possible that he hasn't left town yet." Smiling at Gorruum, he adds "Cheer up friend, we'll find the werewolf and be off to new adventures soon enough. My lady, I recommend more practical boots if your feet are already aching. I can also prepare a salve for blisters if you have any bothering you."
"Thanks Rowan, but I just havn't really had a chance to sit down since I jumped out of bed this morning. There has been quite a few things to deal with. I apreciate the offer but I just need to get my legs up and relax a little."
Wilhelm blinks in surprise as the guard announces that an elf has turned himself over for the murder. He gives a sidelong glance to Fhârn, eyebrow raised, before returning his attention to the soldier. "Very good. I'm glad you raised this to my attention. Lord Uðrrúna and I will go see about this business at the guardhouse. I would like you to alert the rest of the council and ask them to meet me there. They are doubtless out and about tracking down leads on this business. Find another guard or two and alert my steward and the various councilor's stewards. Start to spread the word around the guard as well, if you would, to direct them to the guardhouse. If they don't find me there, they should report to my villa where I will be discussing the matter. What is your name, guardsman? It's a terrible tragedy what happened to Guardsman Wallacher and I regret I didn't have the chance to make his acquaintance. Do you know if he has family here in the city?"
"What do you make of this, Fhârn? Do you have some idea who this elf might be and why he claims to have committed the murder? It's a rare murderer who flees to confess rather then to safety."
"Hmm." Fhârn mumbles back. "I *thought* this full-moon murder was related to the captured were. And since that one remained safely sealed away, I thought it would be our missing hunter Corwen. Now he is not a foolish man - so I would guess he assumed the same."
Fhârn pauses for a sigh and walks silently a few paces. "But - we must be sure that this is indeed the case. Perhaps he will have proof or at least good leads, but it didn't sound as if he arrived cowered in blood and gore."
"I would think the guard would have mentioned if he was so covered. But we are agreed that we must be sure that we have the right man lest there are further deaths." Wilhelm continues to guide Triumph along the town's streets towards the jail.
Various people around town are summoned to the local jail (or gaol).
Upon arrival, they find Corwyn, looking haggard with dark circles under his eyes and ragged clothing that looks like he got it out of a dump on, arguing loudly with a sergeant. "BY the gods, you moron! I swear to by the gods I will find you tonight and rip you limb from limb if you don't put me in a strong cell, away from the other werewolf! I've done it once, I'll do it again you simpering idiot!"
The sergeant, looking like he's about to burst a blood vessel in his forehead, screams back. "Listen to me you homeless piece of scum! I'm not putting you in jail for a crime you can't tell me how you did! You moron, we aren't a free room and board here! I'll tell you like I tell the rest of the homeless bums! Unless His Lordship himself comes down here and says you can stay in the jail, you're not going in unless you commit a real crime! And stealing a loaf of bread ain't a real crime! It's only worth lashes you fool!"
There is a loaf of bread on the ground, it looks stomped on.
Meeting Wilhelm and the others outside the jailhouse "My lord, from the sound of your message and the fact that we stuck out finding tracks outside town, it looks like my theory on the murder is not..."
Disrupted by the yelling inside Natalie stops to listen what it's about. "Sounds like we arrived just on time, better get inside."
"Dear sergeant I would calm down or that vein is gonna burst. I think the young man might be telling the truth, but we would very much like to hear his story to better understand it all. Would you please tell us what happened Corwin?"
Gorruum joins the others at the gaol. "Elf wants to be locked up?" He finds the whole idea very amusing.
Wilhelm nods his greeting to Natalie, but it cut off by shouting before he can reply. Scowling, he joins Natalie, nodding to the sergeant, "Lady Saratov is correct and I would like to hear him out. I understand that this is unusual, sergeant, but I appreciate your attention to your duty. Having someone seek me out was the best thing that could be done and I commend you for your diligence. After Corwyn has shared his story, I would like to hear from you as well."
Wilhelm nods in an aside to Gorruum, "Yes, it would seem he does. If he's right, then he is being selfless and trying to protect others."
Corwyn growls, figuratively, at the guard, but then turns to Wilhelm. "Sorry, milord. But this..." He says something highly inappropriate in elf. "Anyway, as I tried to tell this... guardsman. I had a headache last night, and drank it away at the inn. I had rather gruesome dreams, blood, body parts... I was back in that village we found. When I woke up, I was naked, in the fountain they built in the central square, hugging a mermaid.. or a platypus, I'm not sure what sculptor you hired for that fountain, but I'd have him horsewhipped if I were you and then break his hands repeatedly until he took up something useful, like being a village idiot." Corwyn pauses, and looks at the guardsman, as if to imply there may be an abundance of people Wilhelm should do that to. "I had to take charity clothes from a tent-city person to get back to the inn, but I never arrived. I heard stories of the attack, and remembered our prisoner had similar tales, and that he'd bitten me."
Huh. I've always though it was supposed to be a selkie ... Fhârn makes a mental note to dig up the paperwork about the fountain once he has a little bit more time. But for now, that mystery wasn't the most pressing. Hmm. His description does fit our suspiciouns. But it *could* also be the product of heavy drinking... *Could*.
"Your worry aligns with ours, I fear. We must of course determine if that is truly the case or not, but now our search for a cure grows even more urgent. Do you remember anything of your dreams? Especially if there were any other persons in it?"
Corwyn waves his hand angrily. "If I did I would have told you. Just nightmares of blood."
"He got it, fools. I tell you kill me. On your heads, others die." The were-wolf prisoner calls out from his cell.
"Oy! You shut your face, wolf man!" The guardsman calls out angrily.
"If we could have slain you before you bitten him, we would. Sadly time travel is a few steps above our current ability." Fhârn shoots back at the man in the cell. A crueller man might have suggested to defang him... he thinks softly to himself. Turning back to the most recent were he ponders the case a bit more.
"Hmm. Completely nude? No strings of cloth stuck in your teeth or under your nails or anything? Or any telltale wounds... ?"
"No, nothing. But the water was tainted. It could have been blood, or mud, or just tainted from people peeing in it. It wasn't clear."
"Hmm. A shame - it could have helped us determine if there was other victims. And indeed if you truly are the were - or if this is some bizarre mischief of the gods..."
Fhârn trails off and sighs.
"Anastacia might be able to shred some light on a few details when she arrive - and a good bit more if she can ask her Godess."
Natalie listens while Fharn and Corwyn talks, thinking about the stuff which is said before she adds "I really don't like to say this, but I think we have no other choice right now then to lock our friend here up for the rest of the full moon cycle."
She turns to Fharn "Your concerns is certainly needs investigating. As soon as we are done here I will have a look around town to see if I we have any other victims, mangled or bitten. Hopefully not!"
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Arriving at the scene on a tip from one of the guards, Dante dismounts and enters the prison.
"My lord. Anything I can help with?"
Wilhelm listens to the back and forth, mulling over how he wished to proceed. As Dante rides up, joining the group, Wilhelm nods to the general, saying, "At the moment we're trying to determine how to proceed with Master Corwyn here. He believes he turned into a werewolf and attacked Guardsman Wallacher last night. I'd like to investigate further, to ensure that there were no others attacked. If he attacked anyone but didn't kill them, then we have more troubles on our hands and we need to act quickly. Perhaps a squad or two can search through the areas between Corwyn's room at the inn and where he ended up? If they go door to door, asking if anyone was attacked recently, we can head off a very ugly problem. It will also hopefully confirm our suspicions."
To Corwyn, Wilhelm says, "I do think it prudent to see you held safely tonight, in case there is a problem. I commend you for being so selfless as to come forward with this. What was the last thing you recall? You were drinking at the inn, did you make it to your room? It would be best if you would guide us there and we can ask a few questions and do some searching. We'll be sure to have you back before sundown."
"The last I remember is going to my room, I think. I had a splitting headache all afternoon, and couldn't eat, so I drank. It seemed to help." Corwyn responds, rubbing his temples. "I have another now..."
The man in the cell huffs. "Be glad, when headaches go away, dreams get worse..."
"SHUT UP!" The guard master yells, banging on the cell door.
It's a 15 minute walk to the inn, and inside Corwyn's room, is found his items, including the shirt and pants he was wearing last night. The door has to be knocked open, as it's locked from the inside. The window is open.
A thorough search locates what looks like claw marks on the sill...
Gorruum joins everyone at the inn and looks at the window.
On the way to the Inn, Natalie listens around for anyone who might have been injured by Corwyn.
"I think we might have discovered why Corwyn was naked in the fountain." she says grinning.
Turning serious again she continues "It would seem judging from these, claw like marks that he would have turned here before heading out. I don't know how clever werewolfs generally are, but best case it might have taken him a short while to get out of here, reducing the time he had to attack others.
What do you think my lord?
With a lowered voice, tailored for Wilhelm's ears Dante says. "We could be looking at another pandemic here. We must stem the source, one way or another."
Anastacia finally catches up with the rest of the council. Working separately from Natalie, the cleric around among the townsfolk, trying to determine if anyone got bitten, by Corwyn.
"Heard of any strange bite wounds or animal attacks last night? Know of anyone who has?"
"Ikit no no like friends get sick sick. What Ikit do to help help?" he pipes up finally. All this talk of more people getting hurt was finally getting to him
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Wilhelm studies the scratched window sill with a frown, glancing at Corwyn as he listens to his companions. He shrugs to Natalie, "I'm no expert, but we'll need to quarantine anyone who we even suspect to have been bitten. I think we'll need a military squad to sift through residents of the area sooner rather then later. A curfew might also be required if we have reason to believe that others are bitten."
To Dante's whisper, Wilhelm remains silent a moment and his face pales. He looks the general in the eye, whispering his reply.
To Ikit, Wilhelm replies, "If you think can stop the spread of this vile curse, then that would be helpful, Ikit. If not, perhaps you can help us by looking over any wounds to differentiate between those caused by Corwyn in his... monstrous... state and those of other beasts."
"General, if you'd send for a detachment to help us in our search, let's see about finding any bitten. Also, we should see Corwyn back to a cell until we can determine how best to cure him. Do you have any thoughts on this, Anastacia? Fhârn?"
Natalie replies to Wilhelm "I think that would be the best course of action. Locking Corwyn in a cell for the rest of the full moon cycle and check on the town. One problem how do we handle this to avoid spreading to much panic?
I've already heard the townsfolk talk about you having a pet werewolf , that you took out for a hunting on the poor guardsman.
That would also be needed to address at some point." The last sentence Natalie says in slightly a lower voice.
Looking for something to do, but oblivious to the fact that he would probably make matters worse, Gorruum enthusiastically volunteers to help round people up for inspection.
Fhârn surveys the scene as best as he could, but left most of the actual searching to Munin's keener eyes. With a small chuckle he commented on the mess and the rumours surrounding it - "Well, at the very least it's not summoning demons this time. I'd mark that up as a slight improvement!"
Hmm. Maybe that Mephit ritual wasn't all that well timed ... Fhârn noted mentally with another small chuckle.