Chapter 2: The Skinsaw Murders

For the next few weeks, the Sandpoint guard, with assistance from the party and Shalelu, comb the surrounding region in search of Nualia and Tsuto. After three fruitless weeks of searching, Sheriff Hemlock calls of the search, "Well, I guess there's nothing to be done about it now. We'll find out in time if she just ran or she has some nasty plan for us all..."

Weeks pass by and it warms up, transitioning from spring into summer. The villagers' fear of impending goblin invasion fades and the town is soon filled with vendors on the street, selling fresh fruits, vegetables, and foods of all kinds. Happy children run through the streets, making up games and generally getting in the way of the busy adults. It seems that peace has returned to Sandpoint at last, in no small part due to the actions of the party.

One night as you all sit around your customary table at the Rusty Dragon, Sheriff Hemlock enters the inn, face grim. His eyes instantly lock onto your table and he walks stiffly over and pulls up a chair, waving to one of the servers for a drink.

He sits silently for a few moments, leaning back in his chair and taking a long drink of his whiskey before speaking, "I... I'm afraid that I must ask for your help in a matter of some import..." he says, looking around to make sure no one is listening in to the conversation.

The sheriff quickly drains the rest of his whiskey and begins his tale, "First, let me thank you again for all you've done for Sandpoint. It's fortunate you've proven yourselves so capable, because we've a problem I think you can help us with - a problem 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 lbor 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 Urthask's prompting, Hemlock pulls a folded bloodstained parchment out from a pocket on the inside of his cloak. He hesitates for a moment before handing it to Urthask.

Looking at the parchment, Urthask can see that the outside has his name on it. Opening it, is a message:

"I wonder if the point is not to cast suspicion on our friend in the eyes of the townsfolk. He seems the easiest target of your group due to his heritage," Hemlock says, taking another glass of whiskey from a serving girl.

Hemlock shakes his head, "Nothing to worry about there," he says, "Myself and another guard are the only ones who know so far. We don't plan on letting it spread any further."