"Seems like someone was staking out the mill from here. It's secluded, nearly invisible, and tracks are everywhere. This was certainly not an accident, someone must've been planning this for a while."
A handaxe is embedded in the floor near the log splitter, as if it had been dropped there.
The handle is covered with bloody finger-marks.** spoiler omitted **
"Ugh... sensitive elven nose.. get that thing away from me.."
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"This thing is either hiding in the swamp. The midden heap, the alchemists shop, or Dayo's laundry pile. Anywhere else and it would stick out like a sore boil. We should tell the sherriff we're most likely dealing with a human level intelligence monster stalking the town rather than an internal threat. Not likely to calm people down but it will at least get their paranoia aimed away from each other. A curfew might not be a bad idea. I should probably try to get a scroll of darkvision to help with the humans night vision problem. And to burn the bodies in case this is one of those contagious monsters."
Dayo unsheathes his sword.
"Eoghan, where do these tracks lead?"
"Let me have a look at that axe" Vy says
The horrid smell assaults Snowflake's senses, but he manages to keep his breakfast in. Except for the sample on the axe being really smelly, nothing stands out.
"Thank you, Eoghan. This helps."
Dayo will take out a square of white origami paper and sketch the best quality footprint.
You leave the mill behind. The guards start the gruesome work of cleaning upthe crime scene.
You make your way to the town hall. It takes a while for the mayor to see you, not having expected you. After about half an hour, you are lead into her office.
"Hello. It is good to see you again. What can I help you with?"
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"Sort of the other way around. Initial assessment is that the attacks are being carried out by a human level intelligence creature rather than a member of the town gone bad. Whatever it is, it reeks like month old fish innards. " He takes out some package wrapper with a quick sketch of the town on it. "Besides the swamp here, the midden heap here, the discard pile from the alchemists shop here, or maybe an airtight container there's nowhere in town for it to hide without being immediately sniffed out. " as a ratfolk with excellent smell, he's more familiar than he'd like to be with the areas of the town that could cover up that stench "We should also probably be burning the bodies in case its one f those contagious monsters. "
The Mayor blinks her eyes a few times. "Is this about the murders that happened? I know that Hemlock wanted to ask you to help him investigate it, but I'm not privy to the details. I figured Hemlock and you would work the case and then report to me. Can you start from the beginning? I dont know much more then that Ibor and Katrine were the victims."
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Justin respects the chain of command and would have gone to the sherrif, and let them deal with the mayor. Whoops.
Eoghan adds, "It seems like the perpetrator is humanoid, but not necessarily human (or Elven, or Dwarven, or whatever). The victim got ripped apart by claws that I hope no civilised being can ever mimic. Also, the thing received a hit from an axe and still managed to escape, without any trace of blood. So he's smart, strong, cruel, and possibly contagious." Eoghan ticks each point off on his fingers. "And worst of all, we have no idea what we're dealing with, and when, or if, it's going to strike again. Even worse, I have no idea if a curfew would work, because that thing climbed through a second-floor window to kill its prey. On the one hand, more people cooped up together could mean they can overpower the creature, but on the other hand, it could also mean more collateral damage...
But we have a few leads we haven't explored yet, so there's still hope, I guess," Eoghan says with a feeble smile.
You're all squished back into the sheriffs office. Grim faced he hears Justin and Eoghan's report.
"I dont know wheter to be relieved or more concerned that the killer might be a monster and not one of the townsfolk. So far it seems the murderer has only struck at night, so I'll increase guard patrols after sundown."
He rubs his temples. [b]"It means Ibor and Ven are no longer suspects. I didnt true think they did it. Ven has a temper and might kill someone that hurt his family, he would never harm his daughter one hair on her head. I have both of them locked in the cells below for now. Ibor so he could calm down in the one place nosy people wouldnt bother them, and Ven because the news of his daughters death made him fly into a rage. If you want, you can talk to them. If not, I'll let them go."
"I can try to say a few words."
Its cool and slightly damp in the rooms beneath the garrison.
Ibor is a young man, handsome if a bit narrow-faced.
It takes him a few moments to notice that you're there. Its clear his mind was miles away, and that it takes some effort to return to the present.
"He... hello? Yes? You're the sandpoint heros right? Are you here to ... to... to make it right?"
Dayo offers the man a sip of water, gauging his reaction to see how much of a talking mood he's in.
"My name is Dayo. You're the first person to call me 'hero'. I am not from around here, originally." he subtly rubs a hand against his golden scales as though he were just wiping his mouth. "And you are, Ibor?" he asks in case his pronunciation is off.
Ibor gratefully accepts the water.
"Yes, I'm Ibor. I... I dont want to be rude, but I told the sheriff everything already. I... I just want to be left alone right now."
Dayo pats Justin on the head.
"Apologies to be bothering you. The Sheriff told us you wanted to be alone. I can sympathize. We have been through some terrible ordeals ourselves. We watched a lot of people die. Recently. I understand it's hard. We wanted to offer you any assistance to help you cope with this. "
Ibor turns pale, and wrings his hands. He sighs before speaking.
"Harker had frequent midnight trysts with Katrine, but although Ven’s a protective father, I don’t think he’s capable of doing
what was done to... to... .... I... I just found Katherine. I walked in trough the side door as always. And there was so much blood. I didnt recognize her at first. When I did and did not see Harker, I rushed up stairs. And there he was. Pinned to the wall. I ran out. Calling for help. It... Its all a bit vague ater that."
Eoghan listens dispassionately as the traumatised man tells his story.
"Sorry this happened to you, kid. Trust me, I've seen it plenty of times, it never really gets easier. You just have to tough it out and deal with it, otherwise you'll never make it. See this as a chance to become stronger. If you can calm down and survive this, the next time, if there is one, Sarenrae forbid, will be easier. If you break down now, you're of no use to us."
To Snowflake and Dayo he whispers, "He's holding something back. Maybe some sweet-talking will do it. Or some emotional pressure, your choice."
"Apologies. Again," which Dayo says while flashing Eoghan a look of 'he's right here and can hear you, too'.
"My friends are clearly upset as well, and simply want to learn of anything that can bring this... Murderer... to justice. Were you... more than friends... with Katherine? It sounds like she was a wonderful person. I'm sure she wouldn't want you to hold anything back. Please. Anything else you could offer can help us make this right."
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"You must forgive my friend for asking that kind of question. Where he's from, love is something that isn't something you hide. It is something you share. What has been done to those people, it almost physically hurts him. Can you tell us if anything look strange to you. Not only that night, but in the preceding days. Certain talk, certain poeple acting weird. Even things that smelled weird. Can you help my friend here?"
Ibor fidgets a bit. "I... I guess. You're heros. You would know what to do best. Harker had been 'cooking the books' for some time. I never took part in the scams,I swear. But Harker might have stashed away quite a lot of money by skimming from the top of sales and business over the past several years. The Scarnettis, they are the family that owns the lumber mill, well, they.... they have a reputation for being ruthless—there are rumors that they’re responsible for burning several competing grain mills in the region, after all, and I wouldn’t put it above the Scarnettis to hire someone to kill Harker if they found out he’d been embezzling money. If Kathrine had caught whomever it was in the act, she could have... could have..."
Ibor has to swallow a few times. "I honestly didnt notice anothing amiss in the days beforehand. It was just buisness as usual."
"Thank you, Ibor. We have all had to make tough choices amidst this chaos, and innocent people can't help but get caught up in it. Get some rest. I promise we will use your information for good."
Ibor nods, still pale. "Ok... Ok... I'll try. I just dont want to close my eyes, you know? Evertime I do I just see it all before me again. So much blood..."
Leaving Ibor alone with his thoughts, you move a few cells down.
Inside is Ven Vinder, the owner of the general store. He's got a black eye and a split lip.
The moment he sees you, he scowls. "What do you lot want?"
Dayo is a bit taken aback by the stark contrast in demeanor.
"Hello. My name is Dayo. I am a pilgrim of Apsu. I wanted to tend to your injuries, if you're in need."
Ven sits back in his cell. "I dont know what an Apsu is. Leave me alone."
Vy knows Ven from his childhood
..but has always been afraid of him.
Now, he needs to press on.
"First, my condoleances, Ven. I've know your daughter ever since I was a child. So I'm sorry to ask you some tough questionsWe've spoken to Ibor. He fears the Scarnettis might have something to do with this. That they might have set something loose on Harker, and your daughter...just happened to be at the wrong time and at the wrong place. Now I do not know any Scarnetti. Can you help us out?"
"Beating yourself up over what happened won't solve the problem. If it did, I would be black and blue by now. Projecting that anger at us also won't help. Be angry at the killer, not us. If you want vengeance, tell us what you know. We're investigating the situation, and we'll take vengeance for you. We're pretty sure you're not the killer, but you might still be connected to the killer, somehow. The sooner you can rid us of this thought, the sooner you'll get out of this cell and get on with your life."
"You bunch of freaks leave me alone! First Shayliss goes work at that awefull tavern, and now this?! You must have corrupted her! You freaks prancing around, wearing weapons and doing gods knows what in the woods! I swear I'll wring all your scrawny necks! Desna help me I'll do it!"
He makes tries to grab you trough the bars, but luckily he cant reach very far.