Once you are in his office, Sheriff Hemlock say to you:
“First, let me thank you again for all you’ve done for Sandpoint. It’s fortunate that you’ve proven yourselves so capable, because we’ve a problem that I think you can help us with—a problem that I wish I didn’t have to involve anyone with, but one that needs dealing with now before the situation grows worse.
“Put simply, we have a murderer in our midst—one who, I fear, has only begun his work. Some of you doubtless remember the Late Unpleasantness, how this town nearly tore itself apart in fear as Chopper’s slayings went on unanswered. I’m afraid we might have something similar brewing now.
“Last night, the murderer struck at the sawmill. There are two victims, and they’re… they’re in pretty gruesome shape. The bodies were discovered by one of the mill workers, a man named Ibor Thorn, and by the time my men and I arrived on the scene, a crowd of curious gawkers had already sprung up. I’ve got my men stationed there now, keeping the mill locked down, but the thing that bothers me isn’t the fact that we have two dead bodies inside. It’s the fact that this is actually the second set of murders we’ve had in the last few days.
“I come to you for help in this matter—my men are good, but they are also green. They were barely able to handle themselves against the goblins, and what we’re facing now is an evil far worse than goblins. I need the help. But I’m afraid you’ll need the help too. You see, I’m afraid that this particular murderer knows one of you as well.”
At this point, Hemlock passes a bloodstained scrap of parchment to Kaylee. Her name is written in blood on the outside of the folded parchment; inside is a short message:
"You will learn to love me, desire me in time as she did.
Give yourself to the Pack and it shall all end.
-Your Lordship"
Sheriff Hemlock explains that the note was found pinned to the sleeve of the latest victim by a splinter of wood. He’s quick to comfort you with his belief that this note was left at the murder scene to throw suspicion onto you, and that while he certainly doesn’t believe that any of you had anything to do with the murders, if word of this note gets out, he’s afraid that the town’s reaction might not be as understanding. For this reason, and since he doesn’t want to start a general panic, he asks you all to keep as quiet as possible about the murders.
Before you race off to investigate the murders, Sheriff Hemlock runs the current list of clues by you. He informs you that, while he’ll be working with you to figure out what’s going on, he suspects he’ll have his hands full keeping the peace in town. By deputizing all of you, he hopes that the best possible minds and resources will be focused on solving the murders, leaving him and his guards to the task of keeping Sandpoint from erupting in a panic. He promises you all the support you want, but again asks you all to keep your investigations quiet for the town’s sake.
The following are various leads presented by Sheriff Hemlock (in no particular order):
Sandpoint Lumber Mill: The most recent murders took place here—the bodies are still present, and little has been done with the crime scene itself. Sheriff Hemlock suggests that this be the first place you investigate, since he would like to clean the mill up right away and get the bodies buried.
Ibor Thorn: Sheriff Hemlock has interrogated Ibor, the man who discovered the bodies, and doesn’t suspect the frightened miller knows much more.
Ven Vinder: This merchant is sheriff Hemlock’s only suspect, although the sheriff is fairly certain that Ven is innocent and that the murders were committed by someone else.
The First Murders: Three con men from the town of Galduria were found murdered in an abandoned barn south of town a few days ago—their bodyguard survived the assault but has gone insane and is being kept at a nearby sanatorium.
The Rune: The star carved on Harker’s chest certainly has significance to the killer, but Hemlock’s at a loss as to what it means.
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