Chapter 2 The Skinsaw Murders

A month has passed and our "heroes" have settled into life at Sandpoint, Praz has opened an apothecary, Baelfire has become a jeweler's apprentice, Golrak a smith's apprentice, Ulvein a guard at the Rusty Dragon, Sorek has begun make traps in hopes to use and sell, Toraq has found work on the river and seas as a sailor on the Walrus a keelboat, under captain Thalina "Sea Bitch" Andyll, and Fenrir well Fenrir may not of settled in.

Gathered at The Rusty Dragon, Sheriff Belor meets the party and explains that he needs their help again with a very disturbing situation, at this time he deputizes all of the party except for Fenrir who has been charged with armed robbery of a local citizen.  He explains that there have been several murders in the city that he believes to be related to each other.

On top of this found on one of the victims pinned to the body was a note with Ulvein's name on the front written in blood.



Ulvein is not phased by this message as is no one else in the party, Ulvein believes that perhaps some of his time spent leading a cult is connected to this note. Fortunately Belor does not believe that he was involved in the murders at all.

Banny Harker and Katrine Vinder were murdered the night before at the lumber mill and two nights before that three con artists were found murdered in a barn their bodyguard found manic after the experience all the bodies but Katrine's, who was pushed through the log spliter, were desecrated and marked with the Siehdron Rune.

The party investigated the lumber mill finding several clues leading them to believe the murderer was some of kind of living dead, they spoke with Brodert Quink and discovered more about the Siehdron rune then the previously knew, its association with the 7 schools of magic, the 7 seven virtues of rule and the perversion of said virtues.

They went next to the garrison to speak with Ibor Thorn the poor man who discovered his partner Banny and Banny's lover Katrine early that morning, as well as Ven Vinder father of deceased and currently Sheriff Belor's only suspect.

Ibor admitted to Toraq and Ulvein, who won his trust, that he knew about Banny and Katrine's love affair but he did not believe Ven was capable of murdering them both.  After deciding that he was not going to tell them more, Toraq believed it was time for some good cop bad cop and, Fenrir was allowed in to assist with questioning. He accused Ibor of committing the murders and attempted to put him in a sleeper hold, Ibor reacted angrily and was much stronger than Fenrir expected, he fought him off as the guards rushed in telling the party the interrogation was over.

They went next to speak with Ven Vinder, the father of one of the victims, Belor doesn't believe Ven to be invlolved and is prepared to let him go. Before this the party attempts to get information out of him Ven is closed mouthed and angry and eventually during the talks Fenrir mentions his almost encounter with his other living daughter.

Ven goes into a rage flipping the table and screaming, "It was you! You killed her I'll make sure the whole town knows it to!" he continues cursing them all, the guards come in forcing everyone out and the party goes to leave meeting Belor in the entrance of the garrison.

He asks about what they have learned and tells them more about the earlier victims that they were 3 con men that Belor was not surprised that they meet such a gruesome end he assumed they tried to con the wrong person and got what was coming to them.  But the connection to Banny and Katrine is clear, he tells them that Grayst Sevilla was the bodyguard of the Habe, Mortwell, and . Grayst was found alive but manic and was taken south of town to a private sanatorium, he gives the a parchment with his seal on it so they can investigate if they should like.

At this point Fenrir is arrested on rape, petty theft, assault, armed robbery, attempted murder and resisting arrest, his fate is undetermined as he is held in the Sandpoint garrison.

The next day the party regroups, Toraq is gone on the Walrus and Sorek is patrolling around Sandpoint.

Praz, Ulvein, Baelfire, and Golrak head to Habe's Sanatorium, while riding there they come across a cleric in armor praying on the side of the road, beating his great sword against his armor, Praz recognizes him as a cleric of Gorum.  While approaching the stranger a group of goblins jump from the nearby brush.

The stranger stands quickly brandishing his sword, Golrak rides forward jumping from his saddle to aid the man, Baelfire conjures two bolts of magic and kills one of the goblins and gravely wounds another, Golrak cuts down another with his fearsome Double-ax, and the stranger cuts the last goblin in half with a mighty blow of his sword.

After the battle the stranger introduces himself as Ulfgar, a cleric of Gorum home from fighting in many wars a native of Sandpoint who takes great interest in the parties quest the safety of Sandpoint being important to him. They join together and head on to the Sanatorium.

They find the stout building in a remote dale south of Sandpoint, right from the start things seem off about the place. Erin Habe a nervous man, greets them at the door initially unwilling to let them in, eventually after some smooth talking and the letter of introduction from Sheriff Belor Habe concedes allowing them into his hospital. Praz leaves Hopper to watch the front door.

Once inside Habe seems extremely nervous he agrees to take the heroes to see Grayst Sevilla, they follow him up stairs passing two patients that Habe explains have unfortunately been there quite some time there conditions not improving and forgotten by the loved ones who left them in his care.

They make it to the third floor where Grayst is held, Praz immediately notices that he is extremely sick and is in fact suffering from ghoul fever! "Grab the doctor!" Praz yells, moments to late, the doctor has already panicked and begins his flight down the stairs. Golrak and Baelfire rush after him. While Praz attempts to treat Grayst. Moments later out from a cell walks a wererat, a trap from Habe, Ulfgar draws his greatsword Gwyneth and faces down the foe.

Grayst sees Ulvein now and, Grayst’s eyes bulge and he speaks: “He said. He said you would visit me. His Lordship. 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...He said you should come to the Misgivings soon, to meet the Pack, for they have something wonderful to show you."

He lurches to his feet now breaking his bonds and attacks Praz landing several punches, at this point Baelfire and Golrak encounter the tiefling twins Gortus and Gurnak, with weapons drawn, Habe runs to a door by the stairs and bangs on it screaming for help.

Ulfgar dispatches the wererat with a mighty strike of his sword, Praz takes Grayst down, begrudgingly, with his quarterstaff, he yells for Hopper who is unable to hear him.

Ulvein begins sprinting down the stairs chasing after Habe, he makes it down stairs where Golrak and Baelfire have subdued the brothers, Ulvein yells "WHERE DID HE GO?" Baelfire had started chasing Habe, "He went through here" he replies. Ulvein yells "I'm coming for your ass he runs across the craft room into the reception area flipping a table and shoulder charging the door to Habe's office splintering the wood yelling again "I'm coming for your ass!"

Ulfgar and Praz head down stairs to find a very disturbing seen out from the basement door comes an elderly man and four shambling corpses, the man yells at the heroes calling them a bunch of do-goders and threatens all of them for coming here.

Ulfgar, Praz and Golrak fight the zombies as Baelfire melts some the door making it easier for Ulvein to get to the doctor, Baefire turns joining the fight against the necromancer and his minons, the heroes dispatch of the zombies as Ulvein knocks the doctor unconcious with his mighty claws, the fight turns to the Necromancer as he is brought to his knees begging for his life.

Praz revives the doctor after tying his hands and locking his tieflings in their rooms, the heroes question the both of them learning about the their symbiotic relationship with Caizarlu Zerren funding the hospital and using the victims of Habe's experiments in the name of science, to work on his necromancy.

They go down to his lab in the basement finding a wand and Caizarlu's map of the southern farmlands with a number of ghoul sightings marked, he claims that he has been tracking them in the effort to find a method to track a ghouls ancestry based off of ghoul attacks, he has an area near the coast with a note about the possibility of a new ghoul source.

Ulvein discusses with Caizarlu the option of not going back to Sandpoint but joining him in his gang/cult he agrees to go with him to Thistletop, the group discusses more about what to do with the two talking about taking them both back to the sheriff to let him sort it all out, at this point with Ulvein's suggestion Caizarlu makes a run for the door he gets trapped between Praz and Ulfgar and makes a jump over the railing getting struck in the back, he runs but does not make it far before Hopper runs him down, Ulvein is able to convince the group to let him take Caizarlu at this point back to Thistletop, while the rest of the group decides to head back to town and letting the sheriff deal with Habe.

Spacer

The heroes make it back to Sandpoint greeted by Sheriff Belor and several of the city guard, they explain why they have the doctor in binds and the brawl at the Sanitarium. Belor asks about the necromancer, the party explains that Ulvein has taken him to Thistletop to interrogate him and to find if he is involved in the murders or not.

Belor tells the group he has more grave news from a farmer from the south, he has some guards bring forth a weathered elderly man his clothes are all muddy there are spots of blood and there is the unmistakably smell of liquor on his breath.

Farmer Grump breaks into frantic babbling as soon as he is given the chance to talk, nervously muttering about walking scarecrows. Calming him down requires a few minutes of work, at which point he tells a short but harrowing story, speaking of how the southern farmlands have become plagued by foul walking scarecrows that stalk the night.

"We all knew that the problems were coming from the old Hambley place—things just ain’t been right there for a few days now—but when a group
of us paid the Hambley farm a visit yesterday evening, we were attacked by folk that looked like corpses but fed like starving animals. Atthis point in the telling, Grump’s worked himself into a lather again and shrieks, “They even ate the dogs!”

Hemlock explains that his men picked up Grump as he ran into town screaming about walking scarecrows. The sheriff asks the heroes if  they can investigate, and agrees to provide up to four of the local watch to help them—he would provide more, but dares not leave the town any more exposed than it already is. He hopes that Grump’s story has been enhanced by the booze he can smell on the old farmer’s breath, but worries that the moonshine may actually have dulled the man’s memories of the grim fate that has been visited upon the Hambleys, and that the situation there is even worse than Grump knows.

The heroes take the aid and are joined by Taven, Saren, Mathawin, and Verin. Ulvein has not returned from Thistletop but Toraq is back from the seas, Sorek still is out hunting down leads on his sworn enemy.

They head off on foot Toraq, Golrak, Baelfire and Ulfgar, they pass farms heading south and hear rumors from the locals of attacks in the night people being taken by lurking figures dressed as scarecrows, the further south they go the less welcoming the farmers become and the rumors become firsthand accounts of monsters lurking in the night.

It is getting late in the day and the heroes decide to setup at the nearby farm of Maester Grump, they set some guards and find Grump's stash of moonshine (drinking some) and using it to soak cloth in with the intent to shoot flaming arrows into the scarecrows. The fall asleep but are awoken by the shriek of a creature in the night.

Ulfgar is attacked by a scarecrow in the night waking Toraq who jumps out a window on the second floor and runs to the back of the house.  While at the front of the house another creature attacks Mathawin wounding him with a grievious bite.

Toraq lights up the back of the house with dancing lights, while Ulfgar tries to fight off the beast, Golrak and the other guards out front attack the other beast attending to Mathawin discovering that his wound looks to be infected.

Toraq and Ulfgar dispatch of the creature in the back, while Baelfire awakens and strikes down the other creature with 3 blasts of magic missiles.  The party attemps to treat Mathawin's wounds but fears what the infection from the ghoul may be.

In the morning Ulvein arrives on his horse sent on by Belor, the party decides its for the best to send Mathawin back to town to be treated, Golrak fears for his safety riding alone and together they head off to town agreeing to meet at the Hambley farm.

Once at the farm the party splits up not finding much the decide to meet back up and head toward the barn and farmhouse to the southwest, they find a scarecrow and realize it's moving it breaks free from it's pole and attacks them they kill the beast and tie it back to its pole with its arms pointing to the west, a message for Golrak to follow them his name is carved into its chest.

They head on coming to a crossroad Ulfgar heads off to the west starting a fire in the road and hiding in the cornfield, the rest head south toward the barn and farmhouse.

At the barn everything is extremely quiet Ulvein directs Verin and Saren to stand next to either side of the barn doors, Baelfire gets on the farm porch to get an elevated shot, Toraq draws his bow ready for trouble Ulvein stands before the door ready for what lies inside...he hopes.  

The guards throw upon the doors releasing a horrible smell of death and decay, it is dark inside but the smell of rotten flesh is unmistakable, Toraq throws in some dancing light while Baelfire releases glitter dust into the barn highlighting 6 beats within, Ulvein launches a javelin the magic of his weapon flashes in the dark piercing deep into a creature.

With a shriek the fight is on, the creatures rush forward attacking Saren and Ulvein. Ulfgar sees two scarecrows approaching his fire, seemingly alerted by the shriek, Golrak rides quickly to join his comrades finding the sign into the farm with his name and an arrow to the west.

Ulvein draws forth the power of fire and ignites 4 of the creatures in terrible flames, Saren strikes one down with his sword, Verin rushes in headstrong swinging his hammer killing another. Toraq releases some arrows missing his mark, Baelfire shoots off 3 magic missiles striking down another foe.

Golrak arrives at the crossroad and decides to head west seeing the creatures he leaps off the horse and hurls a jug of moonshine hoping to hit the fire, he falls just short but the ghouls turn on him they rush at him and one is instantly cut down a mighty blow of a greatsword from an unseen attacker, Ulfgar strikes true, the other ghoul bites Golrak paralyzing him.

Verin is bite in the barn following paralyzed another ghoul feasts on him he screams silently as he is eaten alive, Ulvein strikes down one of the ghouls with magic missiles and stand over Verins body challenging the remaining ghouls to fight him, Saren kills another trying to get to Verin out from the farm comes a foul smelling creature with only one ear, it attacks Baefire biting him and paralyzing the shocked elf.

Ulfgar exits the corn and dispatches the last ghoul he looks down at Golrak and decides he will be okay as he jumps onto his horse heading off toward the sound of battle. Golrak curses him.  Ulvein kills the last ghoul as the others turn to the fight the new assailant, the fail to strike him as he bends to feast upon Baelfire, the sound is horrific as his body is savaged by the beast Taven and Saren rush to fight the beast Toraq shoots the creature.

Saren and is bite and paralyzed and Taven fails to strike the beast, Ulvein rushes the steps grabbing the creature in his shocking grasp electricity arcs throughout the ghasts body as it falls to the ground, Ulfgar arrives just as the battle ends to find his beloved comrade Baelfire slain as well as his new friend Verin, Toraq and Ulvein grieve for their fallen friend as Golrak arrives at the Barn.

Inside the farmhouse is a terrible scene a rotting body lies inside, an mistakably mark is carved into its chest, the Sidhedron Rune, and another note left behind, Ulvein's name written on the front.



Moving in to explore the rest of the house, nothing seems out of the ordinary, it is clear that no one has been living in the house, walking through a bedroom Ulfgar and Ulvein notice a loose floorboard and make an odd discovery, they find inside 34 neatly packed pouches of 100 silver coins a strange find on such a humble farm.

Outside on the one eared ghasts body a unique looking key is discovered with a curious flower surrounded by thorns, Golrak recognizes the symbol as the family crest of the Foxglove's.  He remembers seeing it back when the heroes saved Aldern Foxglive from goblins during the raid on Sandpoint and then went hunting with him, Golrak and Ulvein recall that Aldern had a fascination with Ulvein.

Taven tells the party that the one eared man looks kinda like ole Rogors Craesby the part time caretaker of Foxglove Manor which stands a mere 3 miles to the west on the coast, the party decides it would be best to settle things at the farm and to tend to their dead before venturing to the manor.

They find a wagon and put Baelfire and Verins bodies inside wrapping them in some canvas. They tell Taven and Saren to head back to town, while they finish their grim work.

Before the party heads out Ulfgar cures Golrak of his ghoul fever, the 4 remaining members of the party head south along the road, soon they come across another scarecrow they are able to hear faint moaning and decide to cut the scarecrow down removing its mask they discover it is a man! Barely alive he is extremely sick, he manages to introduce himself as Horran Guffmin, a farmer he begs the heroes to find his wife Lettie he hopes she's still alive, the party does their best to patch him up and decide to send him to Sandpoint telling him they believe it's his only chance to survive, and they will find his beloved wife.

Heading along the path they begin to head east and then north when they come across 4 more scarecrows, the party calls out trying to speak to them they decide they are not human, and Ulvein launches his javelin nailing one through the heart punching all the way through the wood supporting it, Ulfgar draws his blade and cleaves one in half it shrieks briefly as its life flees quickly, Golrak spins his double axe dismembering a third and finishing it with a blow to the head. The fourth leaps down rushing the party Toraq drops the beast with two well placed arrows.

To Be Continued

Spacer

The party decides from here to split up there is a debate of going through the woods to the east and working back to farmer Grump's House,  others want to push onward staying on the path, concerned about attacks in the dark of the woods.  Eventually they split up with Toraq and Ulfgar heading into the cornfield cutting across to the center of the farm, while Ulvein and Golrak head along the path heading north and then west to meet back up with their comrades.

  Meanwhile Praz is riding hard to join his comrades he was informed by the sheriff that his friends were at the farm, he encountered the wagon carrying Baelfire and Verin's body, he grieves for his friend and tells the guards to continue onward not having enough power to heal the infected guards.  Riding hard he arrives at the farm and discerns the most recent tracks are heading west.

  Golrak and Ulvein encounter a single scarecrow that immediately breaks its bonds and rushes at them, it leaps on Golrak biting the hulking barbarian paralyzing him with its poisonous bite.  Ulvein rushes in to save his comrade grabbing the creature with both his hands lifting in the air and releasing a massive surge of energy his sorcerers powers overflowing causing the ghoul to disintegrate, a shock-wave radiates out bending corn, hundreds of feet away Toraq and Ulfgar feel their hair rise.

 Toraq and Ulvein creeping quietly as they can through the corn, they see a scarecrow ahead and slowly approach hoping it may be Lettie, or if it is indeed a ghoul kill it before it can attack them.  Getting closer it seems to not be moving Toraq climbs up and cuts the scarecrow down Ulfgar catches the scarecrow the weight catches him slightly off guard causing him to fall to a knee, he stands holding the scarecrow pulling away its clothes revealing an unconscious woman beneath the rags.

 Ulvein and Golrak arrive regrouping with their companions happy to find they found Lettie. She is still alive but very weak, Praz rejoins the group with an unexpected newcomer. Wandering through the corn fields, Praz meet an odd halfling who goes by the name Twitch.

Twitch reveals that he had been following the heroes since the left the sanatorium, where he was residing, a complete misunderstanding he ensures them all it was a misunderstanding he was there in the first place. Him not being even the slightest bit crazed.

Wary but willing to trust the group allows Twitch to join them. Spent from their travel and battles they have no magic left to cure poor Lettie so they quickly gather up their things, the ghouls littering the ground the farm appears to have been cleansed. They ride off now with all speed to Sandpoint in race to save Lettie and to plan their next move.

spacer

Late in the evening they arrive to find the southern gate closed several armed guards are on the walls with torches in their hands bright watch fires burn illuminating the area around the gate. Yelling can be heard as they approach.

Toraq calls out "open the gate! we have wounded among us!" There's some discussion at the gate but as they get closer a voice calls out, "It's them! They're alive! Quick open the gate.