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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ulorian - Agent of Chaos" data-source="post: 1951203" data-attributes="member: 16668">The first attack had been shocking. As the cart bearing the body creaked into town, driven by the ashen-faced woodsman and guarded by the woodsman's three sons, who gripped the cudgels and woodaxes they bore nervously. Even if Horsom had known the young shepherd, the body was ravaged and mauled to such a degree that recognition would have been impossible. The cart trundled past Horsom amidst the shocked whispering and angry murmuring of the crowd that had gathered and made its way through the early morning mist to the home of the town elders.The response was swift: armed patrols were sent out, but to no avail. As the days wore on, and women and children began disappearing, the patrols were increased, but with the same result: the panther or panthers were too wily to be caught. It was decided that more help was required to save Long Archer from the depredations of these killer cats. Among other plans feverishly concocted by the desperate town elders was recruiting mercenaries to bolster the patrols. Because of his recent career as guard for the merchant Corvo Snowmantle, it was decided that Horsom would be sent to Selby-by-the-Water with a purse full of coin to hire some of his former colleagues to the task. Since travelling alone in these times would be foolhardy, Horsom would accompany the so-called Long Archer Panther Posse, led by Fellan Margrib, a quiet man, but a cool-headed and well-respected woodsman, hunter, and tracker. The Posse would take him close to Selby, and he would enter on his own.Later on...The Long Archer Panther Posse reined up in surprise as the goblin stepped out into the road, their horses whinnying in complaint. The group gawked as the disfigured little creature offered to accompany them to Selby-by-the-Water, following its speech up with a smile that could best be described as lying somewhere between a grimace and the death rictus of a week old corpse.A quick scan of the area seemed to indicate that the goblin was alone, and the fact that Fellan's broadsword remained in its sheath told Horsom that the tracker had reached the same conclusion. The rest of their companions, though, grumbled nervously among themselves, and some fingered their weapons. Though goblins were a fairly common sight in the Lakelands, and he himself had travelled with a few in his days as merchant guardsman, Horsom worried that his less worldly companions would allow their distrust and limited knowledge of goblinkind combined with their fear about the panther attacks to take this situation into... an unhealthy direction for the friendly young goblin. Maybe they'll take him in as bait, Horsom thought.Horsom quickly decided that this would be an opportune time to split from his companions, both for his sake and the goblin's. "Hail, goblin. My group is not making for Selby-by-the-Water, but I am. I would be glad of some company on the way."</blockquote>

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