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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 1875159" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p><strong>Mass Murderer</strong></p><p></p><p><em><strong>8/19/368 O.L.G., 7 p.m., approaching a small village</strong></em></p><p></p><p>Sheriff Riley Barleybrew has rarely looked so grim. He kneels on the path, his sharp eyes picking the tracks of the mass murderer known as Manson out from the signs of animals and peasants passing. “He’s headed for the village,” the Sheriff says, his voice touched by despair.</p><p></p><p>“What <em>is</em> with the number?” Boddynock presses the Sheriff. At the last murder site, scrawled in blood on the wall of the hovel, was the number six hundred and sixty three, which Sheriff Barleybrew revealed to be Manson’s tally of victims. Now the Sheriff sighs and just shakes his head.</p><p></p><p>“Let’s just say we want to prevent any more victims from dying, okay? Especially three more victims.”</p><p></p><p>The posse mounts up on their riding dogs and quickens their pace towards the little village ahead of them.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p><strong><em>9 p.m, at the village of Wheat Creek</em></strong></p><p></p><p>“It’s too dark,” grumbles Riley. “I can’t follow his tracks like this.”</p><p></p><p>“We’ve been riding for hours,” Lita complains. “We should rest for the night.” She sighs and makes eyes at the Sheriff. “And I could really use a nice massage...”</p><p></p><p>The party moves to the village’s inn. They secure rooms (paid for by the Sheriff) and dinner- late, but better late than never, and they eat enough to help them all recuperate from the shock of the murder scene. Even Timothy seems less withdrawn and- well, frankly, a little <em>better.</em> Perhaps accompanying the group will help him overcome his mental... condition.</p><p></p><p>When the party goes to bed, Lita and Sheriff Riley Barleybrew go together.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p><em><strong>9 a.m.</strong></em></p><p></p><p>Without even waiting for second breakfast (<em>Wow, this is drastic,</em> thinks Sandy) the group moves back to where they lost the trail, on the hills just outside of the community. From there they have a good view of the layout of the village- small, mostly farmers, with fields of grain snaking along after a small river that runs through it. A modest bridge slightly upstream of the middle of the village crosses over the large creek. There are a good number of trees scattered throughout the parts of the village without farms. The group can see the inn, a church of Bleak, a general store and about a dozen houses from their present position; it’s clear that a few more homes are hidden by the trees, but the place can’t have more than 100 souls or so living within it. </p><p></p><p>“He won’t have much of anywhere to hide, but there won’t be much of anyone to stop him,” murmurs Sandy.</p><p></p><p>“Except us,” Boddynock remarks.</p><p></p><p>Soon the trail leads the group to the edge of the creek. Following it upstream, they reach the first edges of the village, crossing a few fields of wheat. </p><p></p><p>”Look,” the Sheriff points. Ahead of them is a ruined ramshackle building, a shack really, constructed of wooden planks on a stilted platform above the creek. A wooden walkway leads out to it. It looks abandoned, but it is certainly big enough for someone to hide within, and a boat is moored underneath it.</p><p></p><p>The weapons come out. Our heroes, led by the Sheriff, advance on the shack. When he reaches the door, Sheriff Barleybrew pushes it open and peers within. Sunlight filters in through the warped boards of the walls and ceiling, and the party steps inside. </p><p></p><p>Slowly they move through the barred sunlight, moving from room to room in the old building. They find a room with a horrific altar in it; but they move on, saving it for later. Lives could be at stake right now. </p><p></p><p>”I heard something,” whispers Lita, pointing down a hall, and the group advances on tenterhooks. </p><p></p><p>Then, as they round a corner, they find their quarry, standing in a filthy room with a few rotten sacks of grain in one corner near an open trap door in the floor. Manson- the party recognizes him from the Asylum. He was one of the quieter ones there. He made little fuss as he was being released, though he didn’t answer Jawbreaker as he asked each of the inmates their name. Manson, mass murderer. He’s a dirty human, of middling height, indeterminate age, dark hair and frowning countenance. And as he comes into view- with some sort of slavering, stinking <em>thing</em> beside him- Lita delivers a present to him with an underhanded throw: a flask of alchemist’s fire. Suddenly Manson is in flames and screaming in pain.</p><p></p><p>The other creature, the thing beside him, leaps forward as the Sheriff charges at Manson and deals a deadly blow to him with his longsword. Blood splatters and the murderer reels. He tries to cast a spell, but the flames on him cause him too much pain! With a groan he throws himself out the trap door, a maneuver resulting in a splash! But his companion snarls and strikes, opening its mouth to reveal sharp, deadly fangs. Its filthy hands show themselves to have formidable claws as well; and the stink of the grave hits the group as its slavering bite latches onto the Sheriff’s right shoulder. With a cry, Riley draws back and smites the creature even as both Boddynock and Timothy hit it with <em>disrupt undead</em> cantrips. The creature squeals as big chunks of its flesh blast into ash. It strikes at the Sheriff again, more weakly, but misses. Our heroes press the attack, and finally they destroy the ghoul; and then Sheriff Riley Barleybrew rushes to the trap door and sticks his head out it. And he gives a long, loud curse.</p><p></p><p>“He’s getting away! He’s in the boat!” </p><p></p><p>He leaps to his feet. </p><p></p><p>“Quickly!!” And he rushes outside the house.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> Can our heroes stop Manson? Plus: the return of Jawbreaker!!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 1875159, member: 1210"] [b]Mass Murderer[/b] [i][b]8/19/368 O.L.G., 7 p.m., approaching a small village[/b][/i][b][/b] Sheriff Riley Barleybrew has rarely looked so grim. He kneels on the path, his sharp eyes picking the tracks of the mass murderer known as Manson out from the signs of animals and peasants passing. “He’s headed for the village,” the Sheriff says, his voice touched by despair. “What [i]is[/i] with the number?” Boddynock presses the Sheriff. At the last murder site, scrawled in blood on the wall of the hovel, was the number six hundred and sixty three, which Sheriff Barleybrew revealed to be Manson’s tally of victims. Now the Sheriff sighs and just shakes his head. “Let’s just say we want to prevent any more victims from dying, okay? Especially three more victims.” The posse mounts up on their riding dogs and quickens their pace towards the little village ahead of them. *** [b][i]9 p.m, at the village of Wheat Creek[/i][/b] “It’s too dark,” grumbles Riley. “I can’t follow his tracks like this.” “We’ve been riding for hours,” Lita complains. “We should rest for the night.” She sighs and makes eyes at the Sheriff. “And I could really use a nice massage...” The party moves to the village’s inn. They secure rooms (paid for by the Sheriff) and dinner- late, but better late than never, and they eat enough to help them all recuperate from the shock of the murder scene. Even Timothy seems less withdrawn and- well, frankly, a little [i]better.[/i] Perhaps accompanying the group will help him overcome his mental... condition. When the party goes to bed, Lita and Sheriff Riley Barleybrew go together. *** [i][b]9 a.m.[/b][/i][b][/b] Without even waiting for second breakfast ([i]Wow, this is drastic,[/i] thinks Sandy) the group moves back to where they lost the trail, on the hills just outside of the community. From there they have a good view of the layout of the village- small, mostly farmers, with fields of grain snaking along after a small river that runs through it. A modest bridge slightly upstream of the middle of the village crosses over the large creek. There are a good number of trees scattered throughout the parts of the village without farms. The group can see the inn, a church of Bleak, a general store and about a dozen houses from their present position; it’s clear that a few more homes are hidden by the trees, but the place can’t have more than 100 souls or so living within it. “He won’t have much of anywhere to hide, but there won’t be much of anyone to stop him,” murmurs Sandy. “Except us,” Boddynock remarks. Soon the trail leads the group to the edge of the creek. Following it upstream, they reach the first edges of the village, crossing a few fields of wheat. ”Look,” the Sheriff points. Ahead of them is a ruined ramshackle building, a shack really, constructed of wooden planks on a stilted platform above the creek. A wooden walkway leads out to it. It looks abandoned, but it is certainly big enough for someone to hide within, and a boat is moored underneath it. The weapons come out. Our heroes, led by the Sheriff, advance on the shack. When he reaches the door, Sheriff Barleybrew pushes it open and peers within. Sunlight filters in through the warped boards of the walls and ceiling, and the party steps inside. Slowly they move through the barred sunlight, moving from room to room in the old building. They find a room with a horrific altar in it; but they move on, saving it for later. Lives could be at stake right now. ”I heard something,” whispers Lita, pointing down a hall, and the group advances on tenterhooks. Then, as they round a corner, they find their quarry, standing in a filthy room with a few rotten sacks of grain in one corner near an open trap door in the floor. Manson- the party recognizes him from the Asylum. He was one of the quieter ones there. He made little fuss as he was being released, though he didn’t answer Jawbreaker as he asked each of the inmates their name. Manson, mass murderer. He’s a dirty human, of middling height, indeterminate age, dark hair and frowning countenance. And as he comes into view- with some sort of slavering, stinking [i]thing[/i] beside him- Lita delivers a present to him with an underhanded throw: a flask of alchemist’s fire. Suddenly Manson is in flames and screaming in pain. The other creature, the thing beside him, leaps forward as the Sheriff charges at Manson and deals a deadly blow to him with his longsword. Blood splatters and the murderer reels. He tries to cast a spell, but the flames on him cause him too much pain! With a groan he throws himself out the trap door, a maneuver resulting in a splash! But his companion snarls and strikes, opening its mouth to reveal sharp, deadly fangs. Its filthy hands show themselves to have formidable claws as well; and the stink of the grave hits the group as its slavering bite latches onto the Sheriff’s right shoulder. With a cry, Riley draws back and smites the creature even as both Boddynock and Timothy hit it with [i]disrupt undead[/i] cantrips. The creature squeals as big chunks of its flesh blast into ash. It strikes at the Sheriff again, more weakly, but misses. Our heroes press the attack, and finally they destroy the ghoul; and then Sheriff Riley Barleybrew rushes to the trap door and sticks his head out it. And he gives a long, loud curse. “He’s getting away! He’s in the boat!” He leaps to his feet. “Quickly!!” And he rushes outside the house. [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] Can our heroes stop Manson? Plus: the return of Jawbreaker!! [/QUOTE]
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