At first, Ven looks so angry that he's about to hit Cleo through the bars. Just as he's about to hit, he falls to his knees and weeps. The kind of weeping where your nose goes all runny, and your eyes sting from all the tears. Through gasps and shuddering, all Ven can say is "I dddon't know anyththing. I've lllost everything. Everyone."
Cleo steps up and wraps her arms around him as best as possible through the bars, soothing as best she can. She say to the others I think we can let him out, don't you all.
Helgarr nods in agreement at Cleo, then turns to Ven - "You still have Shayliss - rest assured she will understand the importance of family, and come to visit you soon. Just be prepared to greet her with open arms" - she speaks calmly - "Or you can go after her to make amends for whatever grievances you may have had in the past" - she offers.
"There is much to life, even in face of such horror Ven - you have a whole town filled with people willing to sit, share a drink and a word with you. You need only give them a chance" - the girl adds.
Ven eventually stops sobbing. He doesn't say anything, just sitting there staring into another realm. Just then Sheriff Hemlock descends with Ibor. With sombre voice he asks "Well? *sighs* What do you think? Did you glean anything from the suspects? Should either of them be let out or arrested?"
Helgarr shakes her head - "Nothing that brings us to any conclusion..." - then looks to the others.
They should be let out Cleo announces, looking sadly at Ven. We should either follow the trail or go look at the scene of the other murder... Cleo looks up at Helmock Who found them, the non locals I mean?
Wabbit detects evil on both of them. If neither ping evil he recommends they be released
I don't see any reason to keep either of them....
Wabbit does not detect any evil from anyone in the room. Maria senses despair and anxiety within Hemlock, and absolutely crushing despair within Ven.
"Very well." Replies Hemlock. "I'll let them out."
Then he turns to Cleo and says "A caravan of Varisians found them while on their way here. They were met by an insane man who's tracks lead them to an abandoned barn near cougar creek. In the barn were three twisted corpses each with a seven-pointed star on their chest. They bound the man and brought him to me two days ago. I took him to the sanatorium, and later took a look over the bodies."
"We should go talk to this madman" - Helgarr offers - "And the bodies? Have they been buried already?" - she asks of Hemlock.
"Not yet Helgarr. The bodies are being held in the Cathedral. Abstalar told me that one of the workers there cast a spell over them, to help keep them from rotting away. In the meantime, I'll write a letter to Dr. Habe, to introduce you."
"Maybe we should take a look at the deceased, if we are allowed" - the barbarian ponders - "Who is Dr. Habe?"
"The man who runs the sanatorium." Replies Hemlock. "By all means, go take a look at the deceased if you want."
This is turning out to be a rather morbid day Cleo mutters as they start heading to the Cathedral. The Seven pointed star carved in their chests, and a seven pointed star we find in Thistletop. And how was Furnok involved? Cleo doesn't expect answers, she's just venting.
The group travels to the Cathedral to check out the three deceased in the hopes of gaining additional clues. Inside they meet not Father Zantus, but a hunchback short man in clerical robes. He politely introduces himself as Naffer Vosk, the boneyard keeper and a follower of the Dawnflower. When asked about the bodies, he says that they're going to be embalmed today, but for now they're resting in the morgue under a spell. He'll lead you down into the cold, stone basement where the morgue is. He is slow, limps a bit, and has a haggard breath.
A large stone construction, not too unlike a huge dresser, stands at the back of a room of tables, tools, and chemicals. Naffer opens one of the 'dresser' drawers to reveal a mutilated corpse.
"Now one of you strong'uns, help me lift this guy to the table please."
With some help, he lifts a stretcher and the body onto the table for everyone to examine. "This guy here is called Tarch Mortwell. Fine piece of work. He'd dress up as a poor travelling monk to get alms for his monastery. Thing is, he'd come back with a different religion every time. Father Zantus was furious."
Each body presents the same: A mangled body with a seven-pointed star carved into their torsos.
Naffer describes the other two as Lener Hask, a travelling merchant who sold oils with miraculous properties, and Gedwin Tabe, a man that Naffer once knew way back. He was a smuggler for a crime ring in Magnimar.
Con men... and a lumber mill owner. leaving out Katherine due to no star. Cleo will find a stool to look at the bodies, if Naffer is okay with it. She's looking to see if they have the same type of wounds. And smells.
If she can't figure out anything, she'll ask Naffer if he noticed and claw marks or a horrible smell beyond, well normal dead bodies.
Cleo can tell that the bodies were all mutilated by wicked claws that leave the wretched smell of a Ghast.
After displaying the perfectly obvious claw marks and scrunching her nose make sure everyone understands. A ghast near town is a really bad thing. How do we find it?
other than Katerina who may have not have been the actual target, it seems like all the other victims were unsavory characters who were guilty of stealing defrauding or cheating people out of money.... seems to me like the Ghast isn't targeting the innocent
A ghast vigilante?
A ghast vigilante?
yes... that's what I'm thinking. But I'm not sure how knowing it's motivation will help us catch it. Was there anyone in town who was known for railing against greed and corruption that died recently?
"Hmmm" ponders Naffer as he licks his finger. "Well, you people are the first who've been real heroes in Sandpoint in quite awhile. I don't suppose your late friend Furnok had anything to do against greed or corruption?"
I didn't know Furnok.... turns to the others Whaddya think? is this Furnok a candidate for this type of behavior?
"Furnok was a good man" - Helgarr pondered, while looking at the bodies - "Though he never came across like an obsessed one about justice" - she added.
"In any case, I guess we should visit his grave" - the woman continues on the same train of thought, now with a grim visage - "My stomach churns at the thought of a once valiant companion in such a situation - I'm sure there is another explanation" - she grunts.
The thought of someone defiling Furnock's grave and turning him into...
Cleo's worry settles into something cold and very angry. She jumps down from the stool, and starts to leave. To his resting place then.
"No Maria, you are a good person." Cleo says firmly. "Our pasts do not decide that for us. We do."
"Then we'll have to have a good talking to with this Ghast, now won't we?" Cleo pauses in her hurried walk to Furnok's grave. "Maria, you have us, and we'll all gone down together before any of us would allow that." she squeezes the teenagers hand. "If you want, you can bunk with me in the inn, until all this gets settled" she looks antsy to get on with the hunt, but waits until Maria answers.
Cleo and Maria will be happy to see that within the Sandpoint Boneyard, Furnok's grave remains untouched. Here lies Furnok of Ferd, a hero of Sandpoint
Helgarr is clearly not happy, even with the possibility, and stubbornly studies the area around Furnok's grave to make sure - "Apologies my friend" - she grunts.
Brelin studies the area around for other kind of clues
Cleo sighs in relief, placing her hand on the stone and whispering her thanks, then settles and agrees with Maria This creature has killed 5 people at this point. We should try and see if we can track it. We can go to the other site and the sanatorium if we lose the trail.
Look, this is ridiculous. We're talking to everybody when we have a real trail to follow. A trail that goes colder every second we wait.
sounds like a plan. Let's go
"You are probably right" - Helgarr nods - "It is time to find where those tracks lead us"
Neither Brelin nor Helgarr find anything wrong with the gravestone. Furnok's simple grave has been maintained quite well, as have all the others. Despite his disabilities, Naffer Vosk must put in a lot of effort.
The group travels back to the scene of the crime, where Father Zantus and a handful of other workers try to... clean up the area. The party goes around to the docks, where it was deduced that the Ghast climbed out of the river, and then climbed onto the second story to begin his grisly work. On the other side of the river lies a small marsh of nettles and bulrush weed.
"Rest in peace brother" - Helgarr nods as they leave Furnok's grave.
---
At the docks she stares toward the other bank - "We need to get across"
Helgarr very carefully studies the area for signs of tracks. Indeed there are, despite the rain, they have been preserved by the dense trees struggling in the marsh. Humanoid footprints baked in mud still linger, coming and going from the river. There is a small clearing in the marsh, allowing someone to hide behind reeds and take a good, long look at the mill. It is the perfect hideout for a patient, and relaxed killer. Each footprint still reeks of Ghast foulness.
The sun will set in about an hour. It has been a long, trying day.
well that was good planning... Wabbit says with a laugh
let's arrive at the murdering undeads lair just in time for sundown... it's so much more fighting undead in the dark :) anyone got smores? Cleo you got some in that pack of yours?....i know you've still got that sweet tooth
Cleo turns a bright crimson... and shuffles through her pack for the marshmallows
Getting back to task [b]So this is where it waited, do you see where it came from?[/ooc] she asks, popping a gooey goodness in her mouth, as she waits for an answer... and sharing of course.
The only thing Maria finds are small bits of flesh, still reeking the distinct odor of a Ghast.
Cleo turns a bright crimson... and shuffles through her pack for the marshmallows
Getting back to task So this is where it waited, do you see where it came from? she asks, popping a gooey goodness in her mouth, as she waits for an answer... and sharing of course.
"I can try Cleo..." - the barbarian crouches down, studying the muddy floor - "And yes, this may have been the perfect place to lay in wait before committing the foul deeds..."
She then looks back to the others - "There is still the matter of WHY the creature would go to such lengths... And why the carved symbols"
And then specifically to Wabbit, Cleo and Brelin - "What say you? If it comes to that, are we ready to face such creature? Should we prepare further, or carry on the hunt?"
Helgarr identifies that the tracks only go from the river, to the clearing, and then back to the river. Tracking in the river will be an impossible feat, even if the tracker had scent.