Sandpoint Lumber Mill

One of the mill’s operators, a penny-pinching man named Banny Harker, has of late been engaged in a semi-secret affair with the daughter of a local shopkeeper. He and Katrine Vinder had been meeting at the mill often of late, using the noise of the logsplitter to cover sounds of their trysting.

The Sandpoint Lumber Mill lies on the shore of the Turandarok River. A sizeable crowd has gathered outside by the time you arrive, and groups of nervous-looking town guards stand at the mill’s entrances. The mill was working last night—Harker and Thorn, the two millers, often worked late into the night, which had become a bone of contention around town as the noisy mill and its infernally creaky log splitter kept neighbors awake. The guards have already been informed by Sheriff Hemlock of his intent to deputize all of you, the guards nod silently and step aside to allow you entry.

The mill is a well-built wooden structure with very thick walls. The roof is of wooden shingles, and doors are simple timber and unlocked. The mill machinery has been disengaged. There are several points of interest as you investigate the site, each detailed below.

The Timber Pier: Timber is delivered to the mill via a small timber pier that extends out into the Turandarok River.

The Murder Scene: The mill interior is coated with sawdust strewn with footprints and splashes of blood. A desperate struggle took place here several hours ago. Harker’s body, Katrine’s body, a suspicious axe, and a lingering stench of rotten flesh comprise the primary clues here.

The Rotten Smell: The lingering scent of decay in the air is curious—it smells almost as if a small animal had died somewhere in the room and its remains were allowed to ripen.

Katrine’s Body: Her mangled, ruined remains lie on the mill’s lower floor amid heaps of bloodstained firewood. A pale-faced, obviously upset guard stands at attention nearby. The log splitter itself is powered by a waterwheel and consists of a chute in the floor with rotating saw blades that cut logs as they are fed in. In viewing Katrine’s mangled remains, you cannot help but realize the cruel efficiency of the log splitter as a deadly weapon.

Harker’s Body: Harker’s body has been horribly desecrated. The poor man has been affixed to the wall by several hooks normally used to hang machinery. The body is mutilated, the face carved away and lower jaw missing entirely. His bare chest is defaced as well, bearing a strange rune in the shape of a seven-pointed star. Closer examination of the body reveals the presence of several additional wounds. Unlike the deeper slashes on the body, these smaller gashes almost seem to have been made by a claw—a five-fingered, human-hand-sized claw. The rotten scent seems stronger near these wounds. The body is only recognizable as Harker’s by a faded tattoo of a raven across his lower abdomen. 

The Suspicious Axe: A handaxe is embedded in the floor near the log splitter, as if it had been dropped there. The handle is covered with bloody finger-marks, and a close examination of the head reveals two things of note. First, smears of what look like rotten flesh and fragments of bone are caked on its blade, and second, the rotten meat stink is strong on it.