The Striga of Lan Exeter
General Summary
The group is summoned by King Tankred Thyssen to Lan Exeter. He relays that there has been especially brutal killings just outside of Lan Exeter among some of the nobility's estates. He offers a hefty sum to disover the source of these attacks that the City Guard has not been able to prevent or solve.
The group is directed to speak with the commander of that area's patrol, Captain Grier. He relays details surrounding the attacks.
The investigation uncovers three incidents that have occurred over the span of several months. Each seems to center on a graveyard that many of the nobility are buried at. The timing also seems to center around the full moon of each month.
The first incident involved the widow Vandersloop. She went to pay her respects to her recently departed husband who died of old age. She was wont to spend many hours sitting on a bench and dealing with her grief. There were blood spatters on the bench, but not much else when she was sought for after she disappeared. It was thought perhaps a bandit had attacked her. Several bloody hand prints all over the area near her husband's grave. She was only identified as the victim by the discovery of her severed hand with a signet ring on it.
The second incident was of a person who still had yet to be identified. The theory was that the victim went out drinking and carousing, but never made it home. Parts of the victim were found near the cemetary. Guts were strewn on the wrought iron fence topping that surrounds the cemetary. People started avoiding the cemetary after this incident.
The third incident involved the Lady Janice Anderson and her beau, Roger de Riguer of Lan Exeter. They were walking out by the moonlight when they heard a growl. She turned and saw a blur as she was knocked over. The man screamed and she saw the beast's back as the man was dragged through the streets. She fled in terror. Flagging down a patrol of guards who were non too keen to do their duty, but went in the direction she indicated.
The group interviews the only surviving guard, Toman. His courage failed and he hid and then made a break for it when he thought he had a chance to get away. He stated to the group that he could barely see what was happening during the attack on his patrol, but that he could tell the beast toyed with its victims like a cat would do with a mouse before devouring them. He stated that no one dares go near the cemetary now for fear of being attacked.
Captain Grier directs the group to where the other survivor, Lady Janice Anderson, resides. The group interviews her and during the conversation learns a curious bit of information: She says that the beast seemed to have a ripped up dress that made her think of the burial dress of her deceased friend, Angelika Beck. Further prodding reveals that the Lady Angelika Beck's death had somewhat suspicious circumstances. Rumor was that her husband, Jan Beck, had perhaps been involved in her death.
As evening approaches, the group decides to visit the cemetary where the killings seem to be centered on. They find signs of ghoul activity, but also a much bigger revelation: That victims had been dragged to a sarcophagus in the Beck crypt. The sarcophagus was the final resting place of Angelika Beck.
The group waited that night to see if anything would creep out of the crypt. Nothing emerged, but ghouls did appear. It was a hard fought battle, but the ghouls that showed up were dispatched.
The next day the group prepared to lie in wait again. This time something did emerge on what was now the first night of the full moon: A Striga! The striga attacked Witcher Bas. The assault was vicious and brutal. In the moonlight, the witcher's arm was rended from his body. The group launched their own attack in a desperate bid to preserve his life. The attack gave Vorand Bas enough time to attack, striking a mighty blow to the beasts head. The beast was laid low and the Witcher was stabilized.
The party then prepared to get the Witcher further care and to report back to King Thyssen.
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