"Katrine and her lover were the victims? Thorn, maybe you want to question the father later?" Barek chuckles briefly, but stops. "Eh, this isn't a laughing matter. Let's go see the sawmill. Then maybe we can go question Ven and the bodyguard."
Reluctantly sitting down as her companions attempt to assuage her, Mirela shakes her head as she realizes the optics of the situation "Desna save me, you don't think I had anything to do with this, do you Sheriff? I-I, no... I mean, the only time I've been alone the last few days was when I was in Magnimar shopping." Though thoroughly unnerved, Mirela appears confident that at least her alibi is solid.
Sinking her head between her hands, Mirela is clearly all too upset to think logically about the murder "Ohhh, why is my life always complicated? This isn't fair, poor Katrine... I didn't know her, but nobody should end up like that." Choking back a sob, Mirela reaches for her tea and takes a sip before setting the glass down unsatisfactorily "I need something a lot stiffer than this tea."
Glancing over at Barek, a shaken Mirela appears a little more resolved "Yes, let's go and try to figure this out... the sooner the better."
Tunder nods at Mirela's decision to stay and solve this mystery. He goes to retrieve his weapons. "In times like these its good to have Rumilda and Iona right at hand."
The Sandpoint Lumber Mill stands on the shore of the Turandurok River (area 25 on Sandpoint Map on Campaign Tab). A sizable crowd has gathered outside by the time you arrive and groups of nervous looking town guards stand at the mill's entrances.
The guards have been warned of your coming by Sheriff Hemlock and stand aside, with a salute and sideways glance at Mirela -- the story of the bloody letter having already spread this far.
The mill is a well-built wooden structure with very thick walls. The roof is of wooden shingles; the doors of simple timber and usually unlocked. The mill machinery has been disengaged. Timber is delivered to the mill via small pier that extends out into the Turandurok River.
The mill's interior is coated with sawdust strewn with footprints and splashes of blood. The lingering and faint scent of decay in the air is curious, almost as if an animal had died in the room, and its remains allowed to ripen. The bodies have not been dead long enough to emit the odor themselves.
Katrine Vinder's mangled remains lie on the mill's lower floor amid heaps of bloodstained firewood. She looks to have been killed instantly when she fell into the log-splitter. A pale-faced and understandably upset guard stands watch nearby. The log splitter itself is powered by a waterwheel and consists of a chute in the floor with rotating saw blades the cut logs as they are fed in. This powerful cutting tool appears to have done it's job well on the body of the precocious Katrine as little of her remains whole.
While much more of Banny Harker's body remains intact, it has been horribly desecrated. The poor man has been affixed to the wall by several hooks normally used to hang machinery. The body is mutilated, the face carved away and lower jaw missing entirely. His bare chest is defaced (no pun intended) as well, bearing a strange rune shaped like a seven-pointed star. The body is only identifiable by the raven tattoo across his lower abdomen.
Lastly, a handaxe lies embedded in the floor near the log splitter as if dropped there. The handle is covered with bloody finger-prints. What looks like chunks of flesh and bone cake the blade.
Grabbing her gear, a quietly distraught Mirela leaves with others towards the Lumber Mill. Along the way, the still wide eyed and shocked young varisian says little, lost in thought and keeping to herself.
Walking past the guards, Mirela tries to ignore that additional attention she received, in an attempt to ameliorate any suspicion they might harbor against her at this point.
Clearly upset by the scene in the Lumber Mill, Mirela merely holds her hand over her mouth in horror. "My god, this is the thing of nightmares." Distracted, Mirela appears of little use in forensically analyzing what happened here not too long ago.
Moving on quickly as possible past Katrine's body, Mirela stops and looks at the horrible visage of poor Harker. Recognizing instantly the mark carved into his chest, Mirela whispers so only nearby friends can hear her, dread apparent in her tone "The mark, it's the same as the medallion..." Her mind suddenly cluing to the fact that she was wearing the very same symbol carved into Harker's chest around her neck, Mirela quickly and quietly hides the medallion she acquired on Thistletop.
After hiding the medallion as quietly as possible, Mirela puts her hand on her forehead as though trying to assuage a headache "This just keeps getting worse, and worse." Her mind racing, it occurred to Mirela that if this all got out, she would very quickly go from hero to pariah.
Why am I still here? I felt safer in Korvosa for Desna's sake.
Survival: includes +2 for tracking
Perception:
Heal:
Tunder walks past the watchmen and begins to look at the scene. "They probably ruined any traces." he complains. But he is an expert tracker and he is able to determine that there was a life or death struggle hear no more than a few hours ago. "Which is basically what the sheriff told us. But this is odd." Tunder makes a stinky nose face. "One of them was barefoot and he stunk of rotten meat. Not stunk, reeked of it if the scent is still here."
"Hang on. I remember hearing the mill running last night. That's not unusual, but it's unsettling to think we heard Katrine being cut apart." He shakes his head.
"So one of the killers smelled like rotting meat, Tunder? What the hell does that even mean? An undead? Or a butcher who's been around rotting meat a lot?"
"Yes."
Skill check gamut, IC post coming shortly.
Know local
Survival
Perception
Know arcana
Heal
Selena keeps outside of the lumber mill as she indicate until the rest of them have had a chance to look around inside. She takes the opportunity to walk around the three sides not bordered by water and to look at those gather around. After a few minutes have passed she cautiously enters into the building to listen to what the others are discussing.
As much as she tries to listen to the others he eyes wander around the gristly scene. It seemed that her precautions were somewhat justified as Tunder explains the tracks he found and how they relate to what they are seeing.the explanation does little to calm her churning stomach. To make matters worse she couldn't help but notice as Tunder talks about the bodies that what appear like claw marks are scene on the body. Not wishing to interrupt she waits until there is a lull in the talking.
With her hand covering her mouth and nose Selena points with her other hand. Between short quick breathes she manages to get out, I think there are claw marks on the left arm just above the elbow there. I can smell it from here. That scent you are talking about like decaying meat. Excuse me, one minute.
Selena moves away from the body towards a cleaner corner of the room. Ripping a piece of her cloak she quickly ties it around her face to muffle the smell as it seems to be stuck in her nose and can't seem to get it out. To further help herself out she casts prestidigitation on the cloak remnant to make it smell more like a spring bouquet.
Still breathing a bit ragged but better than she was moments ago, Sorry about that. I thought I was going to lose my stomach.
"No need to apologize, Selena. This is a gruesome scene. And it seems like we have a monstrous murderer, not just some mundane psychopath." Barek looks to where Selena is pointing out the claw marks. "Something with some vicious strength."
Barek goes over to look at the handaxe embedded in the ground. He doesn't touch the axe, but tries get close to examine it. "Some bloody fingerprints here. Is there a way we can figure out whose these are?"
Selena looks for a clean log to sit on so she doesn't have to stand any longer. The rag with the flower smell is helping but the sight still is nauseating. White faced she nods to Barek her appreciation at his understanding. I gulping a little think that you might be able to compare them to Banny's hand to see if they are his. If not then it is the murderers.
Giving a little involuntary shake Selena recants what they know thus far. He/she came at night and surprised the 2 here. A fight brokeout and these 2 were killed. The attacker has claws but can wield a weapon to produce the star shape on the body unless the attacker had an animal with him/her. There is a stench about the room and the footprints and the claw marks.
Tunder, were there any other footprints made by an animal that you could find either here or outside of the lumber mill? That would explain the claw marks, and possibly the stench if it is a carnivore following its master. As you say though Barek it could be an undead creature. Have any of you ran across any before I joined you?
Mirela is easily able to hide the medallion under her tunic before anyone else is aware or can make the connection. She is quite taken aback by the turn of events, and walks around a bit dazed not quite taking it all in.
Selena watches the crowd, letting the others go in first, but she sees nothing suspicious or unusual besides the interested gawkers and gossips, looking for any tidbits on the latest tragedy in town. She soon goes into the mill to look over the scene for herself.
As Barek leans down to examine the handprints on the axe, he can see smears of what look like rotten flesh and fragments of bone caked on the blade. The smell emanating from the blade is horrific, worse than that of the footprints or claw wounds.
Tunder also goes to inspect the hand ax, but the chunks of flesh and bone on the blade rather than the hand grip like Barek asked.
Perception: +2 v goblin or underground
"I will check outside as well, after this."
Outside checks
Perception: +2 v goblin or underground
Survival: includes tracking bonus
As Barek inspects the axe, the smell of the rotting flesh on the blade overwhelms him and he can barely heave himself over to the corner before he begins retching. After a long few seconds, the big fighter struggles to his feet, but his face clearly shows he's still affected by the smell. The man's face actually seems to be turning green. "I think...that's the most disgusting thing I've ever smelled."
He hurries over to the door for some fresh air, but calls back to the group inside. "The fingerprints on the axe are small. Likely not Harker's. I didn't see any claw marks on it, so maybe not our murderer's. He didn't seem to need an axe. Maybe Katrine's? Maybe she was able to defend herself before she died."
Outside the mill, the crowds and guards have trampled any sign of approach from the landward side. Heading out onto the lumber pier, Tunder searches for any clues. His search reveals that a barefoot human man clambered up from the mud under the lumber pier, crossed over to the mill, and then scaled the wall to an upper-floor window.
He can show the muddy footprints all the way, including up the wall and on the window jamb.
Approaching Thorn and embracing him, the young Varisian seems to be a mixture of uncharacteristic humility and joy "It's good to have you back Thorn." After a moment, the usual playful wit starts to resurface as she takes a step back "Tunder is right though, don't you go dying on us anymore." With a wink and a laugh, Mirela takes a few steps backwards and turns on her heels "Well, while we're in the big city, I think I'm going to go do some shopping." Before reaching the exit, Mirela stops at the door and looks over her shoulder "I'll be back in a few hours... don't leave without me."
His grin stays just as large with so many of his companions around him, he responds more solemnly at Mirela, "I don't plan on it any time soon, only the fates know what is in store for us." He winks back at her.
Once she returns to the Jewel of Varisia he approaches her and in a tipsy demeanor compliments her, "Boy do those gems shimmer and shine, though nothing compared to your beauty."
_____
He is worse for wear than the others staying quiet and nursing a glass of milk and bread when the sheriff comes to looking for the group. This of course has been after his near fall down the stairs and a large breakfast that still has not cleared his head.
He tries to stand when Miri gets startled, but stays sitting as he is still not completely over the hang over.
He squints his eyes at Berak's comment, he groans out, "As if I did not have enough trouble with the man, though knowing how protective of his daughters he is, I doubt he would even hurt one when in a temper."
_____
At the mill:
"The odor of rotten meat seems likely that we are dealing with an undead." He simply says holding the corner of his new cloak to his face.
Not taking a closer look at the handaxe... from Barek's reaction.
Seldon stays rooted to the floor as he enters the chamber, eyes fixed on the grisly scene before him and grey eyes beginning to well up.
"That... that symbol, and these claw marks." the elf says gravely, lowering his voice so that only the party may here. "They almost make me suspect Nualia's involvement. We left too many questions unanswered at Thistletop... but I saw her head taken myself. Only the most powerful of necromancy could have raised her, but we don't know if she was acting alone or under the influence of another..." the elf mutters, solemnly. He remembers the stack of papers in Nualia's chamber, silently cursing his foolishness. "What do you make of this, Tunder? Thorn?"
Know: nature
Fort
Tunder will point out the footprints outside the mill.
Know religion for undead generalities
Selena follows the others outside and looks thankful for the change of scene and fresh air even if it means walking through the mud. Once outside tunder shows her the tracks that prove that there was no animal involved. Keeping her voice low so not to let others hear, Well that settles that. So much for it being an animal that did this. It does appear that something undead did this. The question was why here, why now, and was it purposely done? Some undead are mindless unless controlled by another. The ritualized carving though mAkes it seem like this was purposeful. Wouldn't you agree Seldon?
"Yes, though I've never known undead to make ritual sacrifices..." he says, absentmindedly, staring across the river and still quite obviously affected by the scene in the mill. "If the tracks lead to the river I expect we can follow them no further. Should we chase up another of these leads?"
"Yes, I think we have uncovered all we can at this site. I think we don't need to question Ven, though I will want to check in on him and Shayliss. Let us go tell the sheriff of our findings and speak with Ibor Horn." Thorn says feeling relieved to be away from the grisly sight.
Forgot to mention that Selena would cast detect magic on the area as well to see if the are any magical auras present and attempt to identify them.
If there are not any auras then she is ready to leave as well.
Tunder as well
Following Thorn's advice, the heroes go to brief the Sheriff on their findings. The Shoanti man listens and nods as you corroborate some of the things he noticed himself, and listens with more interest about the footprints.
"It seems I was right to bring you into the matter," he says grimly. "You have already uncovered clues I did not see. Well done. If you want to talk to Horn, he is in a holding cell below. But be gentle with the poor man, he's been through a lot in the last few hours, and I don't believe he's guilty of anything."
Heading downstairs to the holding cell, you find Ibor Horn pacing. He is a young handsome man, if a bit narrow faced. The man looks pale and his eyes are still wide with shock from what he found at the mill early in the day.
He continues pacing as you enter, not bothering to look at you. He mumbles incoherently under his breath and from time to time runs his hands through his disheveled dark hair furiously.
Without looking up, he says "don't know who you are, but I already told the Sheriff what I know. I don't know nothin' else. I need to get out of here, and get the mill runnin' again. Old Scarnetti's gonna have my eyes if I don't meet quota. Gotta go, gotta go. Can you let me out?"
[/ooc]
"No, child." Seldon says, gently. "I'm afraid that is for the Sheriff to decide, not us. But I doubt very much that he means to keep you much longer."
"Do you mind if I join you?" Seldon pauses and motions for the jailer to unlock the door, sitting beside the young man in the cell. He stares around the cell, smiling warmly at the agitated young man as he glances his way. But as they turn to the matter at hand his face turns grim. "You can't mean to return to that place tonight, surely. The mill won't be running for several days, and you look to me like you've seen enough blood for one evening. I daresay we all have..." he trails off, placing a hand on Ibor's shoulder.
"Ibor, we only need to ask you a few questions. I know that you'll be honest with me."
Selena lets the calm demeanor of Seldon settle the gentleman and remains outside of the jail for now until asked to come forward if needed. While she is waiting she jots down some of the notes of what they have found at the mill. If there is time, she plans on seeing if anyone local has any knowledge on undead and asking them about ritual performed by such.
Sheriff, do you know of anyone that knows about the undead. I figure I might ask them some questions to see if they could shed light onto what type of creature would be able to perform such a ritualistic carving if it is truly undead.
As Seldon speaks softly to the man and joins him in the cell, Horn stops his frantic pacing and begins to relax a bit. "Blood, yes. Lots of blood, so much..." he says begin to weep a bit.
He sighs wiping at his eyes and tries to answer your questions. "The mill...it has to shut down, doesn't it. Mr Scarnetti, Titus yes...He must be told. He owns the mill you see. He's been coming down on us hard, because the proceeds have been low. He was very angry yesterday. It was just an expression about eyes, I don't think he'd really hurt me. But he might hurt Banny if he finds out..."
He lowers his voice to a whisper that only Seldon can hear.
As Seldon asks if Ibor Horn is afraid for his own life, the man gives an involuntary shudder. "It's like the Chopper back again. Ain't no one safe...Maybe I am better off in here. I am afraid, everyone should be. That scene...it was horrible."
Hemlock listens to Selena's question. "Expert on undead? Reckon the only one here would be Father Zantus, maybe. We don't have much cause to tangle with undead here; or didn't before at least."
He strokes his chin thinking. "You could also ask the sage or Headmaster Gandethus? They're the smartest felllows in town. They may know something, but be warned, they have some crazy ideas of their own."
After the goblin interrogation before, Tunder is not inclined to help interrogate horn. He compares notes with Selena and goes with her to ask about the undead. "We should bring Thorn with us. He knows more than anyone I bet. Hehe." Bazinga!
Thorn follows his fellow elf standing on the other side of the bars, casually leaning against them. He hears Seldon doing a wonderful job settling Horn and asking great questions. Then he has one himself, "Does Banny have any enemies, you know people that he may have had trouble with, perhaps some con men? Or perhaps some disreputable friends of his?" Thinking to himself, Perhaps a connection between the murders."
Horn looks over at the elven warrior as he asks about Banny Harker's connection to con men. "I...I don't think so," he stammers. "Most of his free time was with Katrine. He'd even bring her to the mill for a midnight tryst, you know...I guess that's what happened last night." The man shakes his head sadly, his eyes still haunted and far away, "No, I don't think Banny was in with a bad crowd, but I guess I don't really know..."
Seldon nods, understandingly, a sadness in his eyes. "You don't think Scarnetti might be connected, somehow? I can't exactly see an incident like this being good for business..." he muses, shaking his head. "Forgive me for thinking aloud. You have dwelt on this enough for one evening." Seldon rises to take his leave. "Courage, Ibor. This cloud will pass, and Desna will visit her faithful with good fortune. Do not dwell too long on your loss, for there are many stars in the night sky, and life goes on..."
Outside, Seldon frowns. "Turns out Banny has been taking more than his share, but this is certainly more than a monetary dispute. Darker forces are at work here. Could anything link this incident to the previous murders? You mentioned a sanitarium?"
Barek frowns at the mention of Titus Scarnetti. He sighs. "Leave Scarnetti to me. Maybe I'll be able to convince him to keep the mill closed for the time being. I doubt the killings are connected to Scarnetti. When he does things, it has more of a personal touch to it."
Right. And what will you need to offer him to convince him of that?
"What about the first murders? We should talk to those witnesses too to see if it's truly connected."
Yes, I agree that we should check in on the first survivor and see what we can find out there before we go approach anyone else. It is possible that there may be more clues there and we can determine what is exactly going on if there is a connection. After that I was thinking about gong to see Father Zantus or Gandethus about researching undead to see what may be capable of this.
Selena lets the others proceed though as they are still the heroes of Sandpoint and are known faces around here.
Still somewhat dumbfounded by the sour turn of events, Mirela hangs back somewhat silently. Listening closely, Miri nods at Seldon's inferences "This was definitely not about money."
With a shrug accompanied by a sigh, Mirela mumbles quietly "Off to previous murder then scene I suppose. How is it that such a small town as Sandpoint has known so much calamity? Is the whole town cursed? Mercy."
"Are you ready for me to release Horn? He doesn't seem to have been a part of this other than in the wrong place at the wrong time. Do you want to speak about the first murders now, or question Vin Vinder, who is also in custody down here? I am about to release him as well based on your theory of an undead. You can always find Vinder at his store if you need him later."
"If you want to discuss the first murders, let's go back upstairs to my office."
Selena remains silent and lets the others speak but if asked or called for a vote she is in favor of letting them go but with a possible guard for Horn so nothing happens to him in the middle of the night by the Scarnetti's.
Seldon winces at the thought of interrogating Vinder. "... perhaps it is best we leave him to his grief." he says, motioning upstairs. "By your leave, Sheriff."
"If he's here already, then we should at least see him. I doubt he knows anything, but at this stage, we can't rule anything out entirely."
"Let's see him. And I have no problem with letting Horn out. Unfortunately, Scarnetti may make jail safer for him though."
"Barek, I think it would be best if I spoke with him and the sheriff, I doubt Vin had anything to do with it, he cherished both of his daughters above all else." Thorn says with some resignation.
Thorn and the Sheriff move across the cell block to the last on that row, where a large and very angry Ven Vinder sits on a wooden bench. "YOU!" he all but screams when he sees Thorn. "You look different, older, maybe, but it's still you! What are doing here? You already attacked one of my daughters, are you involved with killing the other one?" He rushes forward at you, his fingers clenching and unclenching as if around your throat already.
In his anger, Vinder forgot he was chaiined to the floor, and when the chain pulls taut, he falls face forward, unable to catch himself with bound hands, he bloodies his own nose and chin.
"I accuse you!" he shouts pointing up at Thorn. "You and that bunch of deviants and jackals you run with. I heard about the letter. Once of your bunch was in on it, which means you all were. Sheriff, take them away lock them up, or Gods help me, I will kill them all myself!"
Vinder's face is snarled and purple with his rage, and a vein pulses in his neck and forehead dangerously.
"Well I suppose he hasn't settled down, sorry Vin I thought we had a better understanding than this, Barek he is all yours. Sheriff perhaps leaving him in there until he has calmed down and you have explained the situation to him." Thorn dismisses Vin's accusations and simply walks back down the cell block, out of the sheriff's office and outside.
Outside he shakes his head. He looks around to see if a guard is around and asks where the sanitarium is located.
Barek watches Thorn leave in frustration. He turns to Vin and his anger bursts out at the man, easily matching the man's own ire. The language is colorful and loud.
"Sit down and shut up, Vin! Now you're in the cell and we're out of it, so you're going to g~@#@@n listen. We had nothing to do with your daughter's death. Hell, we're going to try and figure out who did! That letter you know so much about is threatening one of us!"
"Besides, if you weren't such a pig-headed f~$*-tard with your head up your ass, maybe your daughter wouldn't have needed to be in the mill at the dead of night just to be with Harker. I wager that's the only time they could fine some peace with you around. So maybe instead of blaming everyone else, you need to take a f!+#ing look at yourself. And you have one more daughter left. I would think you'd want to take care of her after all this rather than provoke another fight!"
"Now, I know you're a useless t@!&, but if you really want to help bring justice to your daughter's killer, maybe you can f++%ing sit your ass down for a second to tell us what you know. Why would anyone want to kill Harker and Katrine? Right now I can only think of you as a suspect! So unless you want to live the rest of your life in that cell and leave Shayliss on her own, you need to start talking!"
Tunder flexes as Vin rants.
At the mention of the letter, Mirela falls silent and crosses her arms across her chest protectively. Moving behind Barek, the young Varisian only shakes her head in frustration at the accusation.
Great, news of the damnable letter has already begun to spread among town...
Selena moves over to Miri and gives her some nonverbal support that she knows that Miri is not responsible for what is going on. Instead of acknowledging the accusation with a verbal retort she tries to bring Miri out of the room with her and create some separation.
Once away from the man only then does Selena speak, The man is grieving and lashing out at anything. Do not listen to him or give it another thought. Instead let us focus on finding a solution to prove us right.
As Thorn exits with his tail between his legs, Barek shoulders into the cell block and lets loose an imposing tirade of language that sets Vinder in his place. The man's angry visage starts to break, and then tears begin running down his cheeks.
"They killed my baby!" he cries mournfully, all his anger replaced with sorrow. "They killed her, and I couldn't stop them. Stop them before they hurt someone else, damn you! Stop them!"
The rest is lost in uncontrollable sobbing from the big blustering man. Hemlock guides you out of the hall and back outside, where Thorn awaits.
"He is an angry man, no question, but I don't thnk he had any part in this murder, nor knows anything about it. Let him have face his grief in private."
Hemlock looks at the group sternly. "You want to hear about the first murders? I will tell you what I know."
He goes on to relate a horrific tale that makes the scene at the sawmill pale by comparison. Two days ago a patrol of guards along the Lost Coast road was assaulted by a deranged man near an abandoned barn south of town along Cougar Creek. The man was obviously sick and insane, his flesh fevered, his eyes wild, mouth frothing and clothing caked with blood. The guards subdued him, and when they checked inside the barn they discovered the mutilated bodies of three more men. All of the bodies were too disfigured to identify but one of them carried a piece of parchment.
Hemlock gives the party the parchment now which is quite bloodstained, but reads: "Messrs Mertwell, Hask and Tabe - A deal has come about that I need capital for. It involves property and gold, and though I am not at liberty to tell you the exact details, it will make us all rich. Come to Bradley's Barn on Cougar Creek tonight. We can meet there to discuss or future -- Your Lordship"
Hemlock believes the note identifies the corpses as Tareh Mortwell, Lener Hask, and Godwin Tabe, three notorious con men and swindlers known well to the Sheriff as local troublemakers. He personally kicked these men, and their shady con games and barely legal operations, out of Sandpoint, and isn't particularly surprised to see them murdered, it was only a matter of time before the swindled the wrong folks after all.
"But after the Sawmill murders, I began to see there was more to this than simple revenge. You see, all three men has the same strange marking carved into their chest as poor Banny Harker, that strange star symbol."
"You can go see the bodies for yourselves, they still lie in the basement of the Garrison, below the jail, keeping cool until the investigation is done. The insane man was identified as Grayst Sevilla, a local Varisian thug. He was sent out to Habe's Sanitorium sout of town. He's a bit off his rocker, and couldn't answer any of my questions. If you want to try, I'll send a letter of introduction for Dr Habe."