Serolt nods respectfully at the guards and stops at the threshold and examines the ground seeing what he can learn.
"The sawdust helps, though I suspect some of what we're seeing is also the person who found the bodies and subsequent guard activity."
Amaya was silent during the deputization, mostly wondering how this affects her plans to return to Magnimar. As much as she had enjoyed her time in Sandpoint, it was never meant to be permanent. She only came to help Ameiko get back on her feet, and now, well. She had more and more reasons to stay, and more of a life that could be made here than she'd expected. It also hadn't escaped her notice that she had nothing to really return to.
Finding the thoughts unpleasant, she tried to absorb the facts of the case instead, but found herself shaking her head at the barrage of different names and relationships, thinking she'd rather simply see the crime scene and start there.
At the mill, she eyes the splashes of blood curiously, looking for any details about what may have happened.
Amaya and Serolt realize the obvious--that a desperate struggle took place here several hours ago. But they also realize that one set of prints in particular is not only barefoot, but reeks of rotten meat.
The smell doesn't seem to be coming from either Harker's body or Katrine's. Instead it seems to be coming from a bloody handaxe. The axe is embedded in the floor near the log splitter, as if it had been dropped there. The handle is covered with bloody finger-marks, and a close examination of the 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.
You identify the lingering stink of corruption as beyond that which a
dead body can normally produce--the axe was likely used within the last 24 hours against some form of corporeal undead.
When the smell is pointed out to Bruin, the halfling cleric comes closer. The stench is powerful--and familiar.
"I think we're dealing with some sort of undead monster. One with a body. And a very putrid one at that."
Amaya opens her mouth to argue with Bruin - pointing out the unlikelihood of an undead finding itself in a saw mill and murdering two people - but remembering he was right about the Sandpoint Devil, she instead takes another smell of the flesh herself. Paling, she nods in agreement with Bruin. "You're right. I guess one of our victims fought back."
The tracks lead outside to the Timber Pier--a place where timber is delivered via a small pier that extends out into the Turandarok River.
You find a set of muddy footprints that leads from one end of the pier up to the mill itself.
You deduce that a barefoot human man clambered up from the mud under the pier, crossed over to the mill, and then scaled the wall to an upper-floor window.
Serolt carefully inspects the pier. "Look. Here. There's a set of muddy footprints. A barefoot human man clambered up from the mud under the pier, crossed over to the mill, and then scaled the wall to an upper-floor window. Quite spry."
He gets down on his belly at the end of the pier and looks below it to see if the muddy footprints continue or if the water has washed them away.
"We should check upstairs too."
Beromar nods stoically as Serolt does all the track reading for him. This was never his favorite part of the job and it appeared that the varisian hunter knew what he was doing.
How hard is that wall to climb?
Serolt notices that there may be footprints on the other side of the marsh. But of course it's hard to tell from this distance.
You find 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.
Serolt suggests, "I think it may have rested over there. I'm going to go check it out."
He wades into the marsh and examines the far shore.
He'll then return to the group with his information. "There's a dry spot over there in the nettles, well hidden from here, but with a clear view of the mill. Looks like our same barefoot human went to and from into the river and may have waited there, watching for someone."
"Maybe they were looking for someone specific? Or just the first lucky folks to come around, I can't tell. Oh, and there's a foul stench - rotting flesh. That said, I didn't find any leftover food or anything, so our guy might just be foul. Might help us track him." he thinks a moment, "Or her."
Serolt spends some time trying to find a scent with the aid of Regin. But after a few minutes he concludes that the undead creature must have used the water to hide its tracks and scent. Tracking him this way would be impossible.
"Maybe we should check the bodies?" Bruin suggests.
Poor Katrine was killed instantly when she fell into the log splitter. Her mangled, ruined remains lie on the mill's lower floor amid heap a
of bloodstained firewood. The log splitter itself is powered by a waterwheel and consists of a chute in the floor with rotating saw blades that cut logs as they are fed in. It was a cruel way to be killed.
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.
It is a symbol that fills Bruin and Beromar with dread--the Sihedron.
"This is the Sihedron Rune--an antiquated glyph that symbolizes arcane magic once practiced in ancient Thassilon. Seven points for seven sins which also corresponds with the seven schools of Thassilonian magic instead of the traditional eight we observe. They didn't consider divination to be its own school."
Bruin shifts from anxiously from foot-to-foot.
"We researched this rune last year, after the goblins attacked the town. Some of the goblins were wearing this symbol. As far as we could find, it didn't mean anything to them. We eventually concluded it was just something they saw somewhere and decided to adopt as a clan symbol."
"And we also found it in an ancient temple under the Sandpoint Glassworks."
Aye...so me thinks we mights have been wrong then... Beromar grumbles. Seein that thee doesn't seem to be many other clues around here we definetly have to research this. Amaya you is far traveled...
ever seen something like this?
"We should still speak to Ibor Thorn and Ven Vinder. But unless one of them is a necromancer, I think we can safely rule them out as murderers."
"I don't think I've seen that symbol before, and from the sounds of it, it's all over here like a rash. We should find out who's behind this attack, or I suspect there will be many more of them."
He looks around the bodies for further clues, "This may have been a random attack, but it was purposeful and direct. From the looks of it too, the one who did it was very skilled."
"I agree with Serolt. This was methodical. And while I still don't believe this symbol meant anything to those goblins, it certainly does mean something to whoever killed Harker and Katrine."
Bruin gets a look on his face.
"There are spells that can be used to identify magical objects. We never did that with that weird pool below the Glassworks. I suppose that's an option now--but we bricked it up. So maybe leave that as a last resort, for now? Not sure Amaya and Ameiko would appreciate unnecessary holes in their walls. Besides, we still have some leads we can follow up on--like the barn attack. What does everybody else think?"
Mruf returned, flat-eared, from where he had been quietly sick out on the dock.
"Let's talk to Ven and Ibor," he said, wrinkling his nose at the smell of rot and butchery. "And to the local high priest. No offense, Bruin. If there's an undead about, maybe he or she can tell us more."
"No offense taken. Let's find Ibor first," Bruin says.
***
Harker's partner Ibor is a young man, handsome, if a bit narrow-faced. He waits in a holding cell below the Sandpoint Garrison. When the heroes explain that they wish to speak with him he becomes stand-offish.
"What do you want? I already told the Sheriff everything I know."
"Ibor, we were appointed to aid in the investigation by the Sheriff, himself. We're sorry for your loss, and we don't want to cause you any more distress. We just want to get justice for your friend."
Ibor sighs heavily.
"Look, Harker and Katrine were, you know, involved. And they often had--er, late night trysts, I guess you could say. They wanted to keep it a secret from her father, who didn't approve of the relationship. And, look, I know Ven's a little over-protective, and a hothead, but I don't think he's capable of doing, well that to his own daughter."
Amaya shakes her head at Beromar's question. "I've come across the rune before in my own research into Thasslion, but I've never seen it used in a circumstance like this."
At Bruin's relucance of going back under the glassworks she laughs. "Holes in the wall doesn't affect the resale value quite as much as a secret underground temple. If it may help, I'm in favour of it. Especially since I never got to see it before it was blocked up."
"Is there anyone else you can think of that may have? Maybe a jealous third party?" Amaya adds, thinking it's unlikely, especially given what was done to the body afterwards, but wanting to cover their bases. The list of suspects wasn't exactly large.
"Well, no. Not really. No," Ibor says clearly being evasive.
When Amaya presses him, he relents.
"Look, there might have been something else. Katrine was--an expensive girl, if you get my meaning. And I think Harker might have been cooking the books to make some side money to keep her happy."
"I wasn't involved! Okay!" he quickly points out. "I wouldn't steal from anybody, especially not the Scarnettis. Everyone knows their reputation. They're ruthless, and they got ties to the Sczarni. Plus there are some rumors lately that they're responsible for burning several competing grain mills in the region."
"If they found out about Harker skimming, well, I wouldn't put it past them to hire someone to, er, take care of him, y'know."
Serolt shudders at the thought of someone hiring anyone to do what was done. It's beyond him to think that simple thievery could result in such gruesome deaths.
"We should take the measure of this Scarnettis. Yet I can't imagine being so... so... evil over mere money." he shakes his head.
"You'd be surprised." Amaya responds, an expression of despair on her face, thinking both of what she's seen in Magnimar, and things she's heard about her own family. "Scarnetti." She repeats aloud. "He live here?"
"They have a home here," Bruin says. "We should step lightly if we want to confront Titus Scarnetti. He has money and influence, and isn't shy about using either to his advantage. As far as them having contacts with the Sczarni, well I wouldn't know anything about that. But still theft is a potential motive."
"So where to next? Ven Vinder? Titus Scarnetti? Or do we investigate the barn murders?"
"Let's investigate the barn murders and see if there's a connection before we confront anyone. We should have as much information as possible before we stand before anyone who might have done... this." Serolt suggests
Aye...anyways before we speaks to Scarnetti... we need to know more details about how and what was was stolen...
Beromar's gaze rests heavily on Ibor in the hopes of offering up more information.
"I think Harker was skimming money off the books. I don't know that for sure, and I don't know any details. And frankly I didn't want to learn any details. The Scarnettis scare me."
The Heroes go off to find Sheriff Hemlock again to ask him about the barn murders. The grizzled veteran sighs, and says, "Well, 2 days ago, a patrol of guards along the Lost Coast Road were assaulted by a deranged man near an abandoned barn south of town, along the banks of Cougar Creek."
"The man was obviously sick and insane--his flesh fevered, eyes wild, mouth frothing, and clothes caked with blood. The guards subdued him, but when they checked inside the barn they discovered the mutilated bodies of three men."
"All three bodies were far too disfigured to identify, one of them carried this piece of parchment."
Hemlock pulls out the paper and hands it to the heroes to read.
***
"Three names, three bodies. If it wasn't for the signature, I'd say the murders weren't necessarily connected. Have you asked around town for who the men might be? Maybe they got on the wrong side of the Scarnettis, too?"
Mruf had a dark thought. "Property and gold... didn't Ameiko say she'd inherited the glassworks, and her family home? Maybe the Scarnettis have a plot to take them over... involving... undead." He trailed off, stumped by the unlikeliness of that scenario.
He swished his thick tail, dismissing the notion for now. "Anyway, were you able to interrogate the madman at all? Is he in the jail, too?"
Bruin examines the letter and then produces the one that was addressed to Beromar that was found at the sawmill.
"Yes, I think we can say that there's definitely a connection," Bruin agrees.
"These three were notorious con men and swindlers--I knew them well," Sheriff Hemlock says.
"I personally forbade them from operating their con games and other barely legal operations in Sandpoint. And, frankly, I wasn't particularly surprised at the time to find them murdered-it was only a matter of time before they tried to swindle someone worse than them."
"But in light of the mill murders and the fact that Mortwell, Hask, and Tabe all bore the same seven-pointed marking on their chests that Harker did, I'm convinced there is something worse than simple revenge afoot."
"The insane man has been identified as one Grayst Sevilla, a local Varisian thug. He's been given over to the care of Erin Habe, caretaker of an independent sanatorium south of town. If you wish to speak to Grayst to learn more, you're welcome to try but I warn you that he's more than bit off his rocker. And I wouldn't expect much. Still, give me a moment, and I can provide you with a letter of introduction to present to Habe."
The Sheriff writes a quick letter and presents it to Beromar.
Serolt nods uneasily as the scope of the murders is clearly broadened. He wonders how many more will die before they resolve it, and feels sympathy for the sheriff who must already be worrying as well.
"Yes, let's question the madman. He may know something that we can use. Probably not, but we can't skip the opportunity."
He gathers his kit and makes ready to head to the sanatorium.
"I agree. Sheriff, we'll make our way there now."
The Sheriff wishes the heroes luck. They then travel by foot for several miles before they reach their destination.
The Saintly Haven of Respite, better known as Habe's Sanitorium, is a squat, stone building of three floors under a stout, stone-flagged roof, and is built in the lee of the limestone escarpment known as Ashen Rise. All the doors are stout, wooden ones that give a sense of intimidation. And around the building are narrow windows, no more than 4 inches wide, that allow for air circulation but are too small to allow access into the building.
When the heroes walk onto the wooden veranda, the old floorboards creak loudly under even the slightest weight or movement. They then enter the door into the reception area.
The room contains a desk and three chairs--two to the west, one to the east. A cord hangs from a hole in the southern wall above a sign that reads, "Ring for service." A tug on the cord rings a series of bells. And soon footsteps can be heard.
A middle-aged chelaxian man, wearing a purple turban and faded black robes walks out, flanked by two burly tieflings.
"Yes! What is it? I have no time for pointless distractions. I have a patient who requires my immediate expert attention," he says in a rude tone.
"Greetings good doctor. We're sorry to intrude, but we have been sent by Sheriff Hemlock to learn what we can of the murders committed by Grayst Sevilla. We need to speak with him."
Serolt speaks their case simply, and hopes the truth of it is enough to carry the day. He speaks in haste, and when he is done, he looks somewhat sheepishly at the others, as if apologizing for speaking out of turn.
I should let those who's speech flows more freely do the talking. he thinks, admonishing himself.
Mruf squinted at Habe, wondering at his rudeness - and appearance with what appeared to be thugs to back him up. Then he presented the man with the Sheriff's letter of introduction.
"We have no time to waste," he said levelly.
The turbaned man examines the letter, and sighs.
"Very well. My name is Doctor Erin Habe, and I am the one in charge of the Sanatorium. I will allow you to interview my patient, but only for a few minutes. And if you're questions begin to upset him, then I will immediately end it."
"Gortus, Gurnak--please bring down Mister Grayst to the workroom. And make sure he is restrained."
Doctor Habe then turns to the heroes.
"I ask that you follow me, and wait patiently for Mister Grayst."
The Doctor guides the Heroes into a large, disused area that seemingly serves as a combination kitchen and sewing room. Including the one that they just entered from, there are 6 closed doors in this room.
Habe seems nervous and twitchy the entire time. He's seems to be worried about something and wants you out of the building as soon as possible.
Bruin leans against one of the tables and waits patiently.
Serolt pets Regin, giving him a good scratch behind the ears and waits patiently as well.
Beromar eyes the odd man and his fiendish friends cautiuously waiting what he has to say.
Sense Motive
Habe seems determined to remain quiet and unassuming.
Mruf is distracted by a stray ball of yarn, which he must concentrate to avoid going over to play with. :P
Instead, he drums his fingers on a table, taps his foot, and otherwise fidgets until the return of the tieflings with their madman.
Bruin picks up a ball of yarn, and absently tosses it from one hand to the other.
The two tieflings come downstairs with a man restrained in a straitjacket--Grayst. His skin is pale and looks gangrenous, his hair wild and eyes milky white. He is mostly nonresponsive, accept for vague, partially incoherent mublings of "razors", and "too many teeth".
Grayst is quite sick and close to death.
Grayst is quite sick and close to death because he is in the advanced stages of
ghoul fever.
But then he stares at Beromar, apparently having noticed him for the first time. He seems shocked and yet eerily delighted.
"It's you. He said. He said you would visit me. His Lordship--the Skinsaw Man. The one that unmade me said so. He has a place for you. A precious place. I'm so jealous. He has a message for you. He made me remember it. I hope I haven't forgotten. The master wouldn't approve if I forgot. Let me see ... let ... me ... see ... "
"Yes, yes! I remember now. The master said that the bodies you are finding are signs and portents, that when he is done, you shall be remembered forever and the Misgivings shall be your throne!"
Grayst then collapses and issues a low moan. A moment later, his moan rises to a shriek, and he lurches to his feet. His arms tear free of the old straitjacket. Suddenly, he lunges forward.
"He loves you more than me! He loves you more than me! He loves you more than me!"
Mruf: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Amaya: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Beromar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Habe: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Bruin: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Serolt: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Tieflings: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Grayst: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
"Careful! He's dying from some disease!"