Orik shrugs, "He would not tell me. But it can't be good. I have not known him long, but the Sheriff does not come across as one who is frivolous."
In that case, lead on, we shouldn't keep the man waiting
Rolling his eyes at Stone for the bite comment, Kelvin agrees with Brandark, "lets head back now. If the sheriff is requesting help, it must be serious" and he turns Estrella to head back to Sandpoint.
The party is rushed under a gallop into Sandpoint and to the Garrison, and then into the Sheriff's office.
“Good. You are back sooner than I expected. We may not need a spell to preserve the bodies. First, let me thank you again for all you’ve done for Sandpoint. It’s fortunate you’ve proven yourselves so capable, because we’ve a problem I think you can help us with—a problem I wish I didn’t have to involve anyone with, but one that needs dealing with now before the situation grows worse."
He takes a deep breath and continues, “Put simply, we have a murderer in our midst— one who, I fear, has only begun his work. Some of you doubtless have heard about the Late Unpleasantness, how this town nearly tore itselfapart in fear as Chopper’s slayings went on unanswered. I’m afraid we might have something similar brewing now."
“Last night, the murderer struck at the sawmill. There are two victims, and they’re… they’re in pretty gruesome shape. The bodies were discovered by one of the mill workers, a man named Ibor Thorn, and by the time my men and I arrived on the scene, a crowd of curious gawkers had already sprung up. I’ve got my men stationed there now, keeping the mill locked down, but the thing that bothers me isn’t the fact that we have two dead bodies inside. It’s the fact that this is actually the second set of murders we’ve had in the last few days."
“I come to you for help in this matter—my men are good, but they are also green. They were barely able to handle themselves against the goblins, and what we’re facing now is an evil far worse than goblins. I need the help. But I’m afraid you’ll need the help too. You see, I’m afraid that this particular murderer knows one of you as well. That is why I was willing to send Vancaskerkin to Magnimar to retrieve you.”
The Sheriff hands the party a blood stained note that say, 'You will learn to love me, as she did. Give yourself to the pack and it shall all end.' The other side of the note says, 'To Elektra'.
Well, this is a threat to one of us, which becomes a threat to us all.
Brandark then looks at the others
I think we should deal with this threat before we deal with the other issue the good sheriff asked us to look into
Reading the Note Elektra will try to learn more about the writer.
"I can just quote from some of my books, but this shows a borderline obsession. I think he is completly under the delusion that," looking at the faces of the people around her"this guy is nuts and wants me! No way, not for a night with Calistrea!"
Then let him show himself, and you can say that to him. After that, Garrath and I will show him the error of his ways.
Beyond that, we should look at the sawmill, if the sheriff has not cleaned it up yet.
"It was pinned to one of the sleeves of the victims by a splinter of wood," the Good Sheriff adds. "Some may try to accuse one of you of the murders. But I know you were out of town, so none of you are suspects. Either way, we need to keep this as quiet as possible or panic could set in."
Sheriff Hemlock sighs, "OK, let's make it official. Raise your right hands." He pauses to see that everyone has risen their right hand. "Do you swear to protect and serve the citizens of Sandpoint? If so, then say, "I do." He pauses again to await a response, "You are now Sandpoint Deputies. This is what we know. The bodies are still at the mill. We have tried not to disturb the scene. But we need to move fast and remove the bodies for burial. We interrogated Ibor Thorn, a millworker. He was frightened and didn't seem to know much." The Sheriff takes a long pause then sighs, "My only suspect right now is Ven Vinder. His daughter was one of the victims. But I honestly don't think Ven could do such a thing."
The Sheriff sighs again, "Shortly after you left for Magnimar, we were notified that three men from the town of Galduria were found murdered in an abandoned barn south of town. They were con men running some sort of scam. Their bodyguard survived the assault but has gone insane and was sent to Habe’s Sanatorium. It is a privately run respite for the insane not far from town. You may need to go there too."
"And finally, and this is the weird part, some of the victims had a strange mark carved into them. We have no idea what it means." The Sheriff looks at the party, "Let's go to the sawmill."
"I do" replies Kelvin when the sheriff swears them in as deputies. "So we have three places to go. One to the mill and check out the scene there. One to talk with Ven, and finally to go to visit this bodyguard in Habe's Sanatorium."
Kelvin pauses to think for a moment, then suggests, "how about the mill first so we get to look at the latest victims and then let the sheriff clean it up which should settle down Sandpoint somewhat."
"I accept!"
After Kelvins words Elektra just nods.
Returning to her horse and ready to move forward to the mill.
"I will protect Sandpoint." He listens to Kelvin, and nods "Latest place too, any sign will be freshest there.
I do, and let us go. Kelvins order sounds best
The Sandpoint Lumber Mill stands on the shore of the Turandarok River. A sizeable crowd has gathered outside by the time the PCs arrive, and groups of nervous looking town guards stand at the mill’s entrances.
The guards nod silently and step aside to allow entry by the Sheriff and the party.
The mill is a well-built wooden structure with very thick walls. The roof is of wooden shingles and doors are simple timber and unlocked. The mill machinery has been disengaged.
THE TIMBER PIER:
There is a small pier that extends out into the Turandarok River adjacent to the mill to collect logs.
THE MURDER SCENE:
The mill interior is coated with sawdust strewn with footprints and splashes of blood. There are two bodies and an axe at the scene.
THE ROTTEN SMELL:
The lingering scent of decay in the air is curious—it smells almost as if an animal had died somewhere in the room and its remains were allowed to ripen.
KATRINE’S BODY:
Poor Katrine Vinder was killed instantly when her body was thrown into the log splitter. Her mangled, ruined remains lie on the mill’s lower floor amid heaps of bloodstained firewood. A pale-faced, obviously upset Guard stands at attention nearby. It is an utterly gruesome scene.
HARKER’S BODY:
The miller Harker’s body 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 as well, bearing a strange rune in the shape of a seven-pointed star. The mark is similar to the medallion worn by Brandark.
Harker's body was only identified by a faded Raven Tattoo on his lower body.
THE SUSPICIOUS AXE:
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.
A close examination of the axe head reveals two things of note. First, smears of what look like rotten flesh and fragments of bone are caked on its blade, and second, the rotten meat stink is strong on it.
"So there was a struggle here last night, and at some point Katrine had the axe in her hand. See those are her finger marks in blood there. What a horrible way to die, being caught up in the log splitter." Kelvin muses as he looks around.
"Perhaps we should talk to Banny Harker and Ibor Thorn, the two millers since they usually work quite late?"
Your right, from the looks of it, there was a struggle last night.
However, look at this set of tracks coming from the pier to the mill indicates someone else came here.
But if you look at this set of prints, they are barefoot and smell rotten.
Brandark continues to look around
"Perhaps we should talk to Banny Harker and Ibor Thorn, the two millers since they usually work quite late?"
"We should also talk to Ibor Thorn. He and Banny Harker usually worked late, so why is Banny dead and Ibor not" suggests Kelvin.
Or more appropriately why was Miss Vinder here after dark
Also, kind of wondering about the smell of rotten meat.
But from the looks of the axe, someone put up a fight
Brandark then takes a little pity on the guard. Stand outside at the door please, and let us work in here
The guards gladly follow Brandark's instructions.
"Look there" Kelvin points to a neatly folded pile of clothes. "It looks like Katrine's dress, and Harker's shirt. Well, I guess we know what those two were doing here."
Trying to concentrate on the subject Felicitas is nevertheless sorely distracted by the gruesome visuals.
"Ibor Thorn and Ven Vinder are being held at the Garrison, if your investigation here is complete," the Sheriff looks at the party.
Harker’s partner Ibor is a young man, handsome if a bit narrow-faced. He is still in shock after having discovered the bodies when he arrived at work this morning.
Although the sheriff already interrogated Ibor, Hemlock admits that the party might be able to get something out of the miller that he could not. He cautions you to be gentle in their interrogation, though—Thorn’s been through a lot in the last few hours.
Ibor waits in a holding cell below the Sandpoint Garrison. His initial attitude toward the party is indifferent.
Before they head back, Garrath will look over the pier and murder scene.
Murder Scene
"The prints don't only come from the river, but come up to the building and scale the wall to the second story window." Garrath wades into the river and across to the other side, calling back, "He had to swim from this side. I will look for tracks over here."
Well, if those tracks go up to a higher window, then we should look up there.
Young man, can you explain what you saw
Garrath searches along the river. In a marshy area on the other side of the river from the mill, Garrath finds a relatively dry spot that bears a number of barefoot human tracks and a lingering stink of rotten flesh. The tracks lead from and into the river, but never away from the site. The spot is hidden by several low banks of nettles, but offers a perfect view of the mill to anyone hidden here.
With this discovery, it is very unlikely that either Ibor Thorn or Ven Vinder was the murderer.
Young man, can you explain what you saw
"When I entered the mill this morning what I saw was too much to look at. I recognized Katrine's face. How horrible to die that way! But I couldn't even tell that the other one was Banny. That is all I know," Ibor looks down.
Aye, that was a horrible way to die. Do you know why she was there, and not at home ?
Kelvin listens to Brandark question the young man.
Ibor will look up at Brandark and whisper since Ven Vinder is in the next cell, "Katrine and Banny often had midnight tryst together. Katrine would have to sneak out after her father went to sleep. This has been going on for a while. I know Katrine wanted to get married. Banny was too cheap. He loved her, mind you. He just didn't see any profit in it."
Lowering his voice
Knowing the father, I can see why she snuck out, but now we have to try and find whom killed her
Garrath will follow back to the Garrison, "I looked on the opposite bank from where the tracks came out of the river. The same smelly footprints were in a clearing that offered a perfect view of the mill. They led to and from the river, but I found none leading out of the clearing. Neither of these two could have made those tracks. Our killer is a man, or something like a man that smells of rotten meat."
The day is getting late.
"That sounds good to me."
So back to the dragon then
After two nights at the Wayfarer's Inn the Dragon was more like...well like home. Ameiko and Brathana greeted the Heroes as though they had been gone for months. Curried Salmon with spiced noodles was on the menu, but some roasted boar was available too. The Ale, Wine and Spring Water flowed freely.
The beds were warm and comfortable.
Day Twenty-Four
Brathana was up early making fresh biscuits, to serve with eggs and sausages. The brewed black wine was strong and hot.
I agree, let us check the farms first
As the party is about to leave the next morning, Sheriff Hemlock comes into the Rusty Dragon. He approaches the party, "We found another note at the scene where we found the earlier murders. It is similar to the one that Elektra recieved." He hands the party the note. It reads:
Messrs. Mortwell, 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 our futures.
-Your Lordship
"I am not certain how much it will help, but I thought you should have it," the Good Sheriff says sincerely. "Finally, when you visit the Sanatorium, give this note to Erin Habe. He should allow you to visit with the survivor from Bradley’s Barn." It is a simple introductory note.