Mystery at the Stables

[Arkelos 1027]

During one of your walks towards the capital city of Arethor, you stumble upon a grizzly scene near the stables, Blood and inner organs from horses lay across the road, the corpses of the horses stuffed into one of the stable pens with a blood trail leading to the particular stable close to the carriage that takes you to the Cloud Temple.

Some of the corpses never made it into the pen, as you inspect closer, some of them had chunks of flesh removed from their body as if someone used a serrated blade to cut into the steeds, upon closer investigation, you notice the tails of the horses have been cut off brutally, and the rest of the lacerations seem to be imperfect, rushed cuts, some jagged, some stopping half way into the horse's body.

Someone, something was here late at night, flies begin to gather over the steed's corpses as they finally begin to show the first signs of decay.

Upon seeing this sight, what will you do next?

[Nummy 413]

Piper walks to the stables, hoping to get one of the horses to go visit the Elendils in Ildon. She turns the corner and sees the trail of blood, gripping the hilt of her sword she follows it into the stables, gasping as she see's the torn flesh of the horses. She lets out a growl, trying not to make herself sick she turns around, scanning the area for the one responsible.

[Arkelos 1027]

Bloodied footsteps lead out of the stables, going towards Ager, but there are not other signs of life except for the crowd gathering, the footsteps too large to be anything more then an Orc. Following them might lead you to the creature, but then again.... those horses are going to start decaying more if you leave them.

[Nummy 413]

Piper sheathes her blade and starts following the footsteps, leaving the rotting horses behind. She walks quickly, her auburn hair flowing behind her as she wishes the creature had left at least one horse for her to mount.

[Arkelos 1027]

The trail of blood ends at the farms of Ager, a loud cry filling the air as the one horse the Orc took limps over to Piper, it's clearly in no condition to be ridden, limping on all fours and neighing sadly as you notice that this horse still had it's designated location branded on it's hind legs, this one was the Salvus horse.

The horse collapses from exhaustion as the cries fill the air once more, the creature striking once more.

[Nummy 413]

Piper looks upon the horse, sadness showing in her eyes, she walks towards it and strokes it's fur. She thinks about ending the beast's misery, but thinks of it's chances of recovery. She stays with the horse for a few moments, keeping it calm as she hums peacefully to it. As the horse falls into a sleep, the Dame gets to her feet, walking off into the direction of Salvus, which by the looks of this horse, is where she will find more about this horse killer.

[aron. 427]

Aron looked around impatiently, curious as to where the Salvus horse had disappeared to. He walks the long winding path, eventually ending up at the capital of Oren and is taken back at the sight of of blood in the stables. He follows the trail of blood, ending up at the mortally wounded horse. "What has happened?" He asks in shock.

[Arkelos 1027]

A corpse lays on the road to Salvus, from the looks of it this man was extremely wealthy. Parts of his clothing ripped off and a satchel lays emptied across his lower body, most of the goods left behind is papers, ones of inventory and stock of which was inside the satchel.

You can tell that there we many golden trinkets stolen, and another path of blood leads you closer to Salvus. But should you continue alone? This orc, or whatever it is, could be well armed and ready for a fight.

[Nummy 413]

Piper looks the corpse over, she takes the man's cloak off and covers his mangled body in respect before running off, following the footsteps. She runs off foolishly alone, her boots treading lightly along the bloody path.

[Arkelos 1027]

Piper looks the corpse over, she takes the man's cloak off and covers his mangled body in respect before running off, following the footsteps. She runs off foolishly alone, her boots treading lightly along the bloody path.

As you reach closer to Salvus, a discarded bloodied note lay on top of a dead bird, only being seen as it lays on a pillar.

Should you decide to read it, the note reads

"Come to Goi"

You can only assume the violent orc has vanished from the lands of Oren...

But your assumption is wrong, looking to your left, you see a small emcampment razed, burning wildly as the large orc spots you, the bodies, and the screaming half dead people call for help as the orc makes it's retreat back to the Goi.

Aron looked around impatiently, curious as to where the Salvus horse had disappeared to. He walks the long winding path, eventually ending up at the capital of Oren and is taken back at the sight of of blood in the stables. He follows the trail of blood, ending up at the mortally wounded horse. "What has happened?" He asks in shock.

The horses seem to have furthered into the decaying process, the smell strong enough to churn stomaches, they need to be removed, or risk people getting sick.

[Nummy 413]

Piper sighs, reading over the note. She leaves it where she found it, should someone else come looking for the beast. The dame sheathes her sword and runs off towards the burning encampment trying her best to pull the people from the flames. "who did this?" she shouts as she helps a man get clear of the flames.

[Arkelos 1027]

The man groans in agony as he says "An orc, it was.... it was alone, bloodied, looking for more food, one of the other settlers told the orc... to piss off, and it ended up atta-" the man loses his strength, dying in Piper's arms before he could continue.

[Nummy 413]

Piper holds the man in her arms for a few moments, then gazes around at the destruction and smoke around her. She gains a determination to find the orc and put it at an end. Piper gets to her feet, she looks at all the survivors, wounded and dead and decides the orc can wait, that her duty lies here for the moment. For the next few hours, the Dame helps tend to the wounded and bury the dead.

[Arkelos 1027]

[[ The story now splits into two, see http://www.lordofthecraft.net/forum/index.php?/topic/72782-upon-the-sands-she-walks/ for the orc part~]]

[aron. 427]

Aron rushes back to Salvus, to retreat his horse to a barn. As he runs down the path, a trail of smoke catches his eye. He hurries over to the encampment to help any survivors he can. His eye catches piper, and his voice booms with urgency, and anger "Who has done this?!"