Eostre follows after her.
Conner kicks water out of his boots and follows.
Eostre sighs a bit as they make their way.
"Getting this out now, while it's just the few of us, so I don't seem like an @55 to the Sandpointers...but...seeing the sihedron used in such a manner is a disgrace to Thassilon's memory. I know we should really be talking about the victims and their families and not an ancient empire's symbol, but...what kind of person would even know what it is? Let alone carve it into someone like a message? Be honest, how many of you actually knew what a sihedron was before I showed up in Sandpoint?"
"I didn't," Evelyn replies, not realizing Eostre's question is most likely rhetoric.
An expression of unease spreads over Evelyn's face. "I should keep my medallion out of sight..."
"You bring up a good point, Eostre. We maybe the ones the messages are meant for more than any or, we should think of who in sandpoint is the most educated."
Eostre gives Ekan a "are you kidding me?" look.
"You don't seriously think Brodert did this? For one thing, he's a weedy old man. Second, he's been assisting me with the Old Light excavation since we got back from Thistletop, I've literally seen him every day."
But after saying that, she pauses and frowns.
"Sorry, getting a bit agitated. You're probably right that this was meant to get our attention."
Eostre fishes some trail rations out of her bag and begins to munch on them as they continue on.
The walk to the garrison is tense and quiet, even with the few Sandpoint citizens you pass wishing you well. A breeze kicks up as you reach your destination, blowing a few leaves and a cloud of dust behind you as you step inside.
One of the garrison's guards (sporting quite a shiner) leads you to down to the cells and points you to the large, sunburnt man in the nearest one. He's seated on his cot, with his head in his hands. He doesn't seem to notice your arrival.
"Why the Hell have they got you locked up, Mr. Vinder?!" Eostre asks indignantly.
"It's obvious you didn't do it!"
Ven looks up from his hands and glares at Eostre. "Because..." He sighs in resignation and pent-up frustration. "...what would YOU have done to the man who told you that your beloved daughter was just murdered?"
"You see that guard that led you in here?" He nods at the bruised guardsman, who shies away. "He... um, he was the poor messenger boy."
Nicat makes an effort to steel himself, not sure how Ven will react to him in this circumstance, and knowing how demonstrably capable the man is of sudden violence. He opts to keep his question simple and clear, almost as if he's acting professionally, "Mr. Vinder, I am so sorry for what's happened. Do you have any idea who might have wanted to hurt Banny and Katrine?"
Ven shakes his head. "...no idea who'd want to hurt Kat. Banny, on the other hand..."
He growls. "...this is without a doubt an awfully petty reason, but he tended to let the lumber mill run on well into the night and not let folks around get a wink of sleep. And apparently there was something going on between him and his business partner, Ibor..."
Conner steps forward. "Mr Vinder, we think the murders were related to some kind of Runelord cult, we found similar symbols at Thistletop and Chopper's Isle, along with demons and undead. There was also a smell of rotting flesh at the sawmill, and someone or something..walked up one of the walls. Do you know if Banny or Kat had any contact with strangers, or anyone acting unusual?"
Ven listens to Conner's explanation of the situation, his eyes widening and his hands clenching into fists. "The only one I know of would be Ibor Thorn. He's the man who helped Banny run the mill--as far as I know, Kat never had dealings with anyone Banny wasn't familiar with."
"Sandpoint's not that big a town--just about everyone knows who you are if you grew up here."
"We'll go to Ibor next," Evelyn tells Ven.
"Please, if you find out or remember anything else that could be of use, contact us first. Please don't go after Ibor or anyone else yourself. You look like a strong man, but what was done to Katrine and Banny... there's something very sinister going on. Judging by our findings, it's clear that necromancy is involved."
The large man's lip trembles for a moment. "But--but what am I supposed to do--I can't just--"
He buries his head in his hands and his shoulders start shaking with renewed grief.
"If you want to do something about what happened, come with us and help us in our investigation," Evelyn says sympathetically.
Evelyn shuffles a bit with her feet. "I... I was abducted as a child, by evil fey... My dad never gave up on me, and went looking for me every single day for over seven years. The situation's slightly different here, but... My dad wanted to find me, hoping I was still alive. You want to find the person who did this to Katrine..."
"I mean to say... I kind of get how you feel... You want justice for your daughter... Can you promise to stick with us, if I tell the sheriff I'll vouch for you? And please keep yourself in check? It may be Ibor, but it may just as well be someone else we don't know of yet. You can help us to help you find out who did it, but treating Ibor the way you did the messenger may not yield us the results we want..."
Ven looks over at Evelyn, his eyes turning red. His knuckles are stained with tears.
"...if you think I won't get in the way, I will."
Eostre gapes at Evelyn's words.
"So THAT'S why you slip into Aklo when you're stressed! Evelyn I'm so sorry I never asked!"
She has an ashamed look on her face.
Ekan also looks a bit ashamed Perhaps we should have indeed asked. I just assumed it was... divine, and then went no further.
Eostre gets between Mr. Vinder and Evelyn and offers her arms for a group hug.
Evelyn swallows and her gaze shyly moves to her feet. When Eostre gets in between and offers her arms, there's some hesitation before Evelyn joins the hug.
"It's okay... I'm glad I get to be your friend. That's already a... well... big help."
She looks back up at Ven after the hug. "We will find the killer, and he will pay. With his life, if necessary. I'd like for you to come with us... Can you promise you'll at least try to let us take charge? And if you feel like you can't anymore, and that you may do something stupid, will you let us bring you back here until you're in control again?"
Ven tentatively joins the group hug and sighs.
"We will find the killer, and he will pay. With his life, if necessary. I'd like for you to come with us... Can you promise you'll at least try to let us take charge? And if you feel like you can't anymore, and that you may do something stupid, will you let us bring you back here until you're in control again?"
The large man nods. "I'll do my best."
Evelyn smiles encouragingly at Ven. "Then I'll talk to the mayor for you, and we'll be on our way."
"Madam, I'd like for Ven Vinder to join us in our investigation," Evelyn tells the mayor. "Will you allow his official release? He'll stick with us during the entire investigation, and I'll see to it he won't punch more random people."
Eostre gives Mr. Vinder a reassuring clap on the shoulder.
"You know, Ven? You remind me of my own dad back in Riddleport. Real hardworking, wants best for his kids type. Just make sure you keep back if we run into something ugly. Brodert and Father Zantus can tell you about the demons and stuff we had to deal with on Chopper's Isle."
Shay's FATHER is coming with us? Nicat thinks, his eyes wide. Maybe this will be a chance for us to bond a bit, but I can imagine all kinds of ways it doesn't work out well. He considers trying to dissuade his friends from this plan, but what with all the hugging and personal confessions, decides it's happening whether he likes it or not.
"Right," he says, once Ven is released and everyone is ready to go, "let's go see Ibor Thorn."
Ekan has his concerns about the safety of the man, and resolves to stay close to him.
The walk to the town hall doesn't take long--it's just across the street from the Garrison.
Mayor Deverin is easy enough for the party to find. Her hair's a bit of a mess, and her eyes have dark circles under them--it looks like she was up part of the night for some reason.
"Madam, I'd like for Ven Vinder to join us in our investigation," Evelyn tells the mayor. "Will you allow his official release? He'll stick with us during the entire investigation, and I'll see to it he won't punch more random people."
Mayor Deverin looks between Evelyn and the large man next to her, who takes off his floppy hat and holds it before him. "He's been an upstanding man ever since he settled here. I'll allow it."
----------------Concerning Ibor Thorn, the party is directed back to the Garrison. This time, they're led to a different set of cells by a guardsman who's in better health than the previous one.
"Go easy on him, if possible--he's been through a lot in the past few hours." The guardsman cautions the group as he opens the door to his cell and leaves.
Sitting in the corner of the cell is a brown-haired man in plain, well-spun, white clothes spattered with blood. His face has dried blood splattered across his cheeks and brow, and he flinches when he hears his cell door open.
"W-who's there?" He asks, trying to press himself as far into the corner as possible.
"Your new best friends, Mr. Thorn," says Eostre.
"We're going after the bastard who murdered your partner, and we need your help to catch him."
Ibor swallows and emerges somewhat from his corner. "Um... okay..."
"...I already told Sheriff Hemlock all I knew. I don't know what else I can tell you." His eyes look everywhere but at Eostre's eyes.
"Please start by telling us exactly what you told the Sheriff," Evelyn tells the man.
As she looks at Ibor, Evelyn tries to figure out if he's up to anything. She also tries to sense the truth behind his story when he tells it.
Ibor strikes Evelyn as someone who would NEVER lie, even if his life would depend on it.
Ibor swallows nervously and moves to sit on the bench in his cell.
"...I was working late in the accounting office when everything happened. Keeping the books balanced, you know--paying for maintenance on the sawmill's equipment, working out salary for the workers, et cetera. The saw was going full-tilt, and I barely heard the screaming coming from the work floor."
"I stepped out in time to see... something..." His eyes look straight at the floor and his posture goes rigid. "...her body was in two pieces... blood was everywhere..."
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"With respect, however unpleasant it maybe, we need the whole story. You're leaving something out." Ekan speaks up softly
Evelyn blinks when Ekan mentions Ibor leaves something out. Her eyes dart between Ekan and Ibor.
Did I miss something?
Eostre nods at Ekan's words.
"Something like how all that blood got on YOU, a bystander as far as we know. We've got a strong reason to believe you're NOT the culprit, but anyone with half a brain could see the state you're in and assume you are. Did you slip and land facefirst in a blood puddle or something?"
"You were upstairs." Conner take a step closer to Ibor, then to his left. "Something left muddy footprints on the outside wall of the mill." He walks behind him. "To a second floor window, where you were. Mr Thorn, I want you to think hard about what you've told us, and what you haven't, before you speak."
"You saw 'something'?" Nicat asks. "What kind of something? Can you describe it, if you don't know what it is? Did it have feathers, scales, a big toothy maw? Did it smell bad?"
Ibor's lip trembles as Ekan calls him out, as gently as it was.
"...about those footprints..."
He sighs and buries his head in his hands. "...I was in the accounting office. Except... so was Banny."
"He was... he was in the middle of skimming off a portion of our lumber sales for himself and his wife, Katrine, when I found him. I confronted him, we had an argument. And while we were distracted, the office window was unlocked. Then... that... reeking beast found us."
"It paralyzed me with a touch and then advanced on Banny. He pulled a handaxe from the wall and the two of them fought. I got spattered with his blood, and they took their fight to the workroom floor."
"I didn't see anything else, but I heard a woman scream. That must have been Katrine."
Eostre strokes her round chin.
"As we suspected, wrong place at the wrong time. You're lucky to be alive, Ibor. Do you have any idea why this "reeking beast" didn't come back for you after it was done murdering Banny and Katrine and setting up the display for us to find? Can you describe it for us?"
Ibor shakes his head. "N-no idea. I guess it thought it made too much of a ruckus and wanted to flee before the watch arrived?"
"I-it... it was a corpse. Skin stretched across its skull. Pointed ears. Reeked of rotting & eaten flesh. But it wasn't stupid--there's no way it would've opened the window without breaking it."
Ven's eyes narrow and his hands clench into fists, but he keeps silent.
Eostre ponders Ibor's description, trying to figure out what kind of monster they were dealing with.
"We're not dealing with just some ghoul here. Our murderer is a ghast. They're like a ghoul, but stronger, more cunning and far more dangerous. Their claws can paralyze just like what happened to Ibor, and they can even paralyze elves, who are normally resistant to that. Plus they carry that grave stench we noticed, whereas ordinary ghouls don't, and if you aren't careful, that can overwhelm your senses, sapping your ability to fight. Finally, their bites carry ghoul fever, which will kill you and then turn you into one of them."
She frowns and turns to Ven.
"At the risk of sounding callous, I'd strongly recommend cremating Katrine, to protect both her soul and your own peace of mind. I know you humans don't bury your dead in solid sarcophagi like dwarves do. They have lids so heavy that even if the occupants DOES become undead, they can't get out because they can't lift it."
"There is no shame in cremation, and I think in this case your point serves well." A nod to the transmuter.
Nicat, still a little stunned that Ven Vinder has joined them on the investigation, scratches his head and asks, "So we know what did this awful thing - but are we any closer to knowing why, or where it went?"
"Hmm, yeah, I've heard quite a bit about ghasts before."
Evelyn ponders. "Does anyone know of any place nearby that could house such a creature? We need to figure out where to go, but the footprints didn't help us..."
"That's the worst part. Ghouls and their ilk are like moles without charm, they like to burrow underground to hide in the day. Bastard could be anywhere on the Lost Coast at this point!"
"No, it'll be close. Remember the notes? It's personal for whomever is behind this. Can ghasts write?"
"No, it'll be close. Remember the notes? It's personal for whomever is behind this. Can ghasts write?"
"They're certainly smart enough to," Eostre replies.
Ven's hands clench into fists and he grunts in frustration when Eostre recommends cremation for his late daughter. "...I know."
He glares at Ibor, who shrinks back into his corner. "But I reckon the Sheriff would like to know that Mr. Harker was stealing away part of his men's salary for himself first."
"Come on--we should find him."