The Skinsaw Murders

Part One: Murder Most Foul

A mysterious killer is at large in Sandpoint, but few in town know that a murderer stalks their streets at night. The first victims have been hushed up by Sandpoint's Sheriff in an attempt to keep the town from relapsing into the panic that gripped them several years ago when another murderer, a man named Chopper, menaced the town.

After they returned from Ravenmoor, Sheriff Hemlock found the group and again asked for their assistance. He informed them that a murderer was on the loose, and two sets of murders had taken place. He also informed them that there was a personal connection with the murderer and showed them the note he had found at the latest scene. It had the name of one of the group on it [2-1]. The sheriff quickly added that he didn't suspect them, but asked that they help investigate the crime scene.

The group went to the Sandpoint Lumber Mill, there they found the bodies of Katrine Vinder and Banny Harker. Katrine had been killed by the log splitter, but Banny's body was affixed to the wall, and desecrated by a seven-pointed star carved into his chest. They recognized the star from the key and medallion found at Thistletop. The group also found a set of clawed tracks that emerged from the other side of the river. They followed up on several clues, talking to Ibor Thorn, the mill owner that found the bodies, and Brodert Quink, an expert on ancient histories. Brodert informed them he had seen the symbol from ancient Thassilon, and it was called a Sihedron Rune, and signifies the seven virtues (wealth, fertility, honest pride, abundance, eager striving, righteous anger, and rest) and seven schools of Thassilon magic (divination was not regarded as a magical school). Brodert believes that the symbol also has ties to the seven sins (greed, lust, pride, gluttony, envy, wrath, and sloth).

The sheriff also informed the group about the first set of murders, his guards on patrol of the Long Coast Road were assaulted by a raving, deranged man near a barn South of town. Inside the barn, the guards discovered three mutilated bodies, one had a note on him [2-2], which identified the men, they were notorious con men and swindlers. All three were found with the same seven-pointed star carved into their chests. The man that found them was sent to Erin Habe's Sanatorium, as he was clearly insane. The sheriff also gave them a note of introduction, in case they wanted to check on the man.

Part Two: The Thing in the Attic

The Saintly Haven of Respite, better known locally as Habe's Sanatorium, is run by Erin Have, an expert on disease and mental derangement. Independently wealthy from his years as a doctor in Magnimar, he chose to build this sanatorium in a remote dale South of Sandpoint because of its seclusion. He hoped that here, his wards would find the peace of mind they needed to heal.

The group arrived at the sanatorium, and were led into the main room, and asked to wait as Erin Habe brought Grayst Sevilla down to speak with them. Grayst arrived, wrapped in a straightjacket. and mumbling incoherently. He suddenly stopped his ranting and, what seemed like a moment of clarity, spoke to the group, "He said. He said you would visit me. His Lordship. That one that unmade me said so. He has a place for you. A precious place. I'm so jealous. He has a message for you. He made me remember it. I hope I haven't forgotten. The master wouldn't approve if I forgot. Let me see... let... me... see... He said you should come to the Misgivings soon, to meet the Pack, for they have something wonderful to show you." He then collapsed, shortly after rose with a shriek, tore off the straightjacket and lunged for the group. He had succumbed to ghoul fever and completed the transformation. Habe panicked and ran upstairs, locked in a room, and begged for forgiveness. In the basement, the group found four human zombies and an elderly human necromancer, which they defeated.

They recognized the Misgivings as a name associated with Foxglove Manor, the Foxglove family house on the coast, South of Sandpoint.

Part Three: Walking Scarecrows

Although the swindlers and the millers were the first victims discovered, they were not the first to fall. This dubious honor fell instead to a family of farmers who lived relatively close to Foxglove Manor. Old Crade Hambley was known among Sandpoint's farmers for being a penny-pincher and a tenacious haggler when it came to selling his crops. His family dwelt in poverty, even though his farms seemed to make as much money as those of his neighbors.

As the group returned to the garrison in Sandpoint, they discover the guards had picked up a drunken farmer, who shouted about walking scarecrows that plagued the Southern farmlands. He suspected the problem came from Hambley's farm. The sheriff informed them this man was Maester Grump, a local farmer, and he hoped the story was just enhanced by booze, but wanted them to investigate, in light of recent events. Amongst the farm, they found several moving scarecrows, some were ghouls, yet some were farmers who had not yet turned. As they moved closer to the farmhouse. they were ambushed by ghouls. Inside the farmhouse they found the body of Crade Hambley, with the Sihedron Rune carved upon his chest, and a note pinned to his tunic [2-3]. They also fought a ghast, and found a key with the Foxglove crest around its neck.

Part Four: Misgivings

The "Misgivings" is the local name for Foxglove Manor, a region shunned by locals for years as a place of shadowy menace, bad luck, and haunts. No one travels the road to the Misgivings today. Lord Foxglove made attempts to rebuild and reclaim the place, but found few willing to work in the region due to its ill history.

The group returned to Sandpoint to take care of the injured, then made their way to Foxglove Manor. Outside the old manor house, they found a well with a curious passageway, which they followed. Inside the caverns they fought a ghoulish bat, ghoulish goblins, and eventually found Aldern Foxglove, who had been transformed into a ghast. He was clearly insane, calling himself His Lordship, the Hurter, and the Skinsaw Man. They found a letter [2-5] mixed among a stack of charcoal drawings of themselves.

Part Five: Chasing the Skinsaw

Although the Lost Coast is remote and quiet, news travels fast. Word of the murders in Sandpoint quickly reaches Magnimar, which has had trouble with killings of late as well.

The group made their way to Magnimar to investigate the Foxglove Townhouse, and seek the agents of Xanesha. Inside, they found both Aldern and Iesha (his wife). They knew something was not right, and found the imposters to be faceless stalkers, creatures that can alter their appearance to look like anyone. As they died, their faces flashed through all they had taken the form of, including Leonard Kriegler from Ravenmoor. Inside the townhouse, they also find the deed for Foxglove Manor [2-6], which indicated that the Brothers of the Seven had partially paid for its construction and would be taking ownership soon. It listed the Seven's Sawmill as collateral, which was located in Magnimar as well.

Part Six: The Seven's Sawmill

The Seven's Sawill is one of several mills that operate along the shores of Kyver's Islet. It appears as a standard lumber mill, similar to others in the area.

Inside the sawmill, the group is met by several workers. The workers smiled and invited them in, but quickly turned on them, donning strange masks that resembled those found in Ravenmoor. After they dealt with several of the cultists, they found the leader, an elf, Ironbriar, one of Magnimar's Justices. They defeated him and found his journal, which was written in a strange cypher consisting of characters from Draconic, Elven, and Infernal languages. They had not been able to decipher it. One of the cultist revealed that they often visited the Shadow Clock, but stayed outside while their leader entered.

Once he learned of the traitor, the Lord-Mayor invited the group to dinner, and offered them a treasure from the city's vaults as payment for uncovering Justice Ironbriar.

Part Seven: Shadows of Time

Hidden beneath the grimy, blackened goliath that is the Irespan, leans a decrepit and sagging clock tower. High above, the tower's roof reaches within 5 feet of the Irespan's stone belly. The tower's clock face is frozen in time, proclaiming it to be 3 o'clock.

Inside the Shadow Clock, the group fought a large, living Scarecrow, and more Faceless Stalkers that dropped the heavy bells onto the deteriorated stairway. At the very top, an illusion of a flying demon distracted the group as Xanesha, a lamia matriarch, attacked them. After her defeat, they found a note from her sister [2-7], which indicated she was operating out of Turtleback Ferry, and may have control over Fort Rannick.