Session 20 - Murder Investigation

General Summary

Outside the Rusty Dragon, Sheriff Hemlock briefly spoke with the Saviors of Sandpoint while his men piled up the slain cronies of Lord Blackmoor. The sole surviving footman was shackled and taken to the Sandpoint Garrison. The half-orc Gorvi pulled his cart up to the scene and the bodies were loaded up. Sheriff Hemlock instructed Gorvi to take the bodies to the Sandpoint Cathedral so Father Zantus could take care of them. To the heroes, the sheriff simply told them to go back inside the Rusty Dragon and enjoy the rest of their evening. He would speak to them later.    Back inside, Anzin returned from Thistletop and told the party he was heading back to Magnimar. He wished them luck and told them if they ever ended up that way to visit the Lodge and stop in for a drink. He then teleported away.   Just before sunrise, Bethana woke the party to tell them that the sheriff has just arrived and needed to speak to them immediately. Bethana escorted the heroes to one of the private festivities room and met with the sheriff. Sheriff Hemlock, exhausted, confessed that there seemed to be a murderer in their midst. Late last night, the murderer struck at the Sandpoint lumber mill and killed two people - Banny Harker, co-owner of the mill, and Katrine Vinder, eldest daughter of Ven Vinder. They were actually the second set of murders in as many days.   Even worse, the killer seemed to know Kilgor. A note with Kilgor's name on it had been pinned to Banny Harker's body. The note read, “We have spoken of this before, my master. Now it begins. Join the Pack and it will end.” It was signed, "Your Lordship". The Sheriff didn't believe Kilgor had anything to do with the murders. However, if word got out, the townsfolk might not be as understanding.   The Saviors of Sandpoint made their way to the Sandpoint lumber mill to look for clues. Poor Katrine appeared to have been pushed into a log splitter. Despite her remains being horribly mangled, she would have died instantly. Banny Harker was not so lucky. He had been pinned to the wall with hooks, had his face cut off, his lower jaw ripped free, and the Sihedron rune carved into his chest. Claw marks with a stench of rancid meat were also found on his body. Between that and the flesh found on a nearby axe, possibly one used by Katrine in self-defense, Gallious suspected the killer had been some kind of undead creature.   The party then visited the Sandpoint Garrison. They told the Sheriff what they had found, which put a dent in the shoanti's stoicism. He took the party into the basement so they could examine the first set of bodies associated with the killer. The corpses had started to decay but their wounds were not only similar, they shared the same rancid meat scent as Banny Harker. The sheriff noted that they were three con men from the town of Galduria and were known to the Sheriff. One of them had a note on them, also from "Your Lordship", inviting them to the barn to discuss a potential scam. The sheriff suspected the killer used the note to lure them to the barn to kill them. However, four horses were found at the barn yet only three corpses were discovered. Where was the fourth person?   They then spoke to Banny Harker's partner, Ibon Thorn. Ibon was still covered in blood and still in shock. He was hesitant to speak to the party, especially seeing Kilgor wearing the strange emblem around his neck that Banny had carved into his chest. Jayvielle and Kumiko were able to get him to open up. Ibon confessed that he knew Banny worked the night shift so he could meet up with Katrine at the mill. He knew Ven was a protective father but didn't believe he killed Banny. He also confessed that Banny had been skimming off the top at the mill for years and had probably amassed a small fortune doing so.   Finally, they spoke with Ven Vinder who was in one of the holding cells. Ven was still angry, but sad as well. He had nothing to say and simply wanted to mourn. The sheriff released him without issue.   Hoping to find the money that had been stolen from the mill, the party asked for directions to Banny's home. They also wanted to take a look at the barn where the first set of bodies had been found. The sheriff gave the party four horses and said they could use them for the day. Harker's home was just outside of town and had nothing of interest in it, including his embezzled fortune. The barn, however, was a different story. Inside the barn, the party found a man buried under the floor where the corpses had originally been found. He was very sick, almost dead, with a nasty bloody wound in his shoulder. His skin was gangrenous, his eyes milky white. His arms had been tied behind his back, and a rope tied the bindings to a noose around his neck.   The party dug him out. He rambled and giggled weakly, clearly out of his mind. He mumbled something about “razors” and “too many teeth” and that “the Skinsaw Man is coming.” However, when he saw Kilgor, the man’s eyes bulged and he seemed to focus for the first time. He spoke in a dry, raspy voice. "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.”   Jayvielle and Kumiko recognized the name “the Misgivings”. It was a local name for a run-down and abandoned estate further south—a place called Foxglove Manor.   The man collapsed as if delivering the message was all that had been keeping him alive. He then lurched to his feet and tore his arms free from the ropes. "Ssssoooo jealousssss..." he shrieked and charged at Kilgor.

Rewards Granted

Selling the mundane gear that Lord Blackmoor's crones carried, the party ended up with 267gp each.

Missions/Quests Completed

• Discovered a bloody note on the body of the elf wizard.  "Here is the coin as we discussed. Deliver Kumiko and you will receive the rest of the money." It's signed with a "V". Kumiko was unsure who the V person was.
• Investigated the Sandpoint lumber mill, discovered clues on the bodies.
• Searched Banny Harker's home but could not find his embezzled money.
• The killer seems to know Kilgor.

Character(s) interacted with

• Anzin - Dwarven wizard and high ranking member of the Pathfinder Society based out of Magnimar. Seems to have history with the halfling Bethana Corwin and playfully flirts with her when he visits the Rusty Dragon.
• Sheriff Belor Hemlock - The current sheriff of Sandpoint. He replaced the previous sheriff, Casp Avertin, who was killed by serial killer Chopper. The sheriff has become quite attached to the town and wants to do right by the memory of his former mentor, Sheriff Avertin. He does not want a repeat of the Chopper nightmare and wants the current killer situation dealt with quickly.
• Ven Vinder - Ven Vinder owns Sandpoint's general store. His daughter Katrine was murdered at the Sandpoint Lumber Mill. He lives with his wife Solsta and daughter Shayliss. 
• Ibor Thorn - Ibor Thorn is the sole operator of the Sandpoint Lumber Mill since the murder of his partner Banny Harker. Thorn was the person to find the bodies of Harker and Katrine Vinder, Harker's girlfriend, in the mill.