Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-5583506-20150816180208/@comment-5583506-20150819220343

"Is... Is that you, captain?" asked a voice nervously.

Vemirius seemed to recognise the voice, and lowered his crossbow somewhat. "Buford the Hatchet", he shrugged. "And why is it that you so willingly acknowledge your presence before the City Watch?"

"If... if you promise not to s-shoot me, I will come out!" replied the voice from within the building. "I am unarmed!"

Vemirius sighed. "Come on out. The sooner I can put you and your filthy band of ruffians behind bars the better."

From the inn came an Imperial with raised hands. However, he didn't seem like archetypical and bloodthirsty ruffian in Scav's or Fabricius' eyes. In fact he seemed to be terrified. A trait which even seemed to surprise Vemirius.

The guard captain raised his eyebrows in confusion. "What's the meaning of this, Buford? Where is the rest of your crew?"

The smuggler shook anxiously. His eyes were wide open... in fear... "D-dead..." he uttered vaguely.

"Dead?" asked Vemirius, even more confused than before. "Your doing?"

Buford shook his head. "You... you have no idea, captain..."

"What about Theomyr Cordius?" asked the guard. "Did you have anything to do with his murder? The alchemist in Leyawiin? Answer me!"

The smuggler looked as if he legimately had no idea of what Vemirius was on about. "I... I don't know what you are talking about, captain. But... I am willing to confess to any crime as long as it means that I will be safe behind bars."

Vemirius looked at Buford with a worried expression. One could tell that due to the captain's previous dealings with the smuggler, this was completely out of Buford's character. He then lowered his crossbow completely. "Tell me, Buford. Just what is going on here? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

Buford swallowed hard. "M-maybe I have, captain. There is... there is something here in the swamp. It killed my men. It... it almost got the better of me as well. I managed to flee here. I have been living on toads and snakes for two days now, in fear that whatever that... that... thing was, it would surely come after me."

Buford reached down for his shirt and pulled it up, exposing his chest. Huge claw marks could be seen across the right side of his ribs, the indication that whatever had killed Cordius had been at Buford as well.