(no subject)

[socrowdedinhere]

 *The next victim is a young boy. He's also sick, but seems a little better then Kira. He's out tending to the chickens when Darnell approaches. The boy looks drained, but pushing through what needs to be done.*

Darnell: Hello. My name is Darnell. I'm a detective investigating a shadow man that's been attacking people. Maybe you can help me?

Boy: *eyes /widen/* ...You...you'll stop him?

Darnell: I've been sent here to do my very best. Will you give me a few minutes to sit and talk with me?

Boy: *face flushes* ...I-I don't want to talk about it.

Darnell: *frowns* I know that he's been doing very inappropriate things with at least one little girl in town. I'd guess he's doing the same with you?

Boy: *the looks he gives Darnell will say that it is the case, even if the boy can't bring himself to admit it.*

Darnell: …………*nods in understanding* Will you tell me about the shadow man? When does he come to you? And what started it? If anything that you can think of.

Boy: ...He... he comes at night sometimes. He...stands over me. Everything smells funny when he's there.

Darnell: What's the funny smell? Can you describe it? Also, is he solid or see-through?

Boy: I dunno...it just smells...really sweet I guess? *he seems to consider.* Sometimes he looks solid, sometimes he's not.

Darnell: *nods* When did he start visiting you? Did something happen that triggered it, or did he just start appearing to you for no reason that you know of?

Boy: I dunno...six months ago?  I don’t think anything triggered it, he just...showed up one night.

Comments

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Is there any kind of pattern to his visits? Can you predict them at all?

[socrowdedinhere]

Boy: *shakes his head.* Sorry...

[dragondancer5150]

Darnell: It's all right. How many times a week does he visit?

[socrowdedinhere]

Boy: *shrugs* Sometimes two or three times, sometimes not at all; might just be once in a few weeks.

[dragondancer5150]

Darnell: Can you tell me the last several times he's visited? Maybe I can work out a pattern, epecially after talking to other victims. *didn't ask Kira because she's too young*

[socrowdedinhere]

Boy: *will name the dates so Darnell can note them.* I don’t know any more. I don’t want to talk about this. *turns back to his chores*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: Thank you. And I completely understand. I do have one more question, though? And then I'll leave you be. Your name? And age? *small grin* Sorry, that's two questions.

[socrowdedinhere]

Boy: ... *he’ll tell Darnell without turning around again.*
*Darnell’s next interview is with a woman. She’s young, Lin’s age, just married. Her young husband will show Darnell in, as she’s sick in bed. This interview will reveal one major clue. She’s better able to describe her symptoms and their progression, she’s being slowly poisoned and so are all the other victims.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *will express his deepest sympathies and promise her he'll do everything he can to stop and reverse this - will also speak with the husband, has he seen the creature, experienced anything, can he give dates, anything else he can think of?*

[socrowdedinhere]

*He’s never seen it. He...he sleeps riht through it! His wife suspects he’s being drugged somehow, because he’s usually a light sleeper. They’re both of a mind that this may not he paranormal. He can name dates, though, as his wife tells him each time it happens. Darnell won’t really see any patterns unless he puts everyone together. There are about fifteen people affected, all young (between five and twenty-five), and none are visited the same night (only one a night). They’re all over town, but the town is small so that’s not surprising. If he inspects around houses he may start noting small signs of forced entry, though whoever is behind this is careful with how they enter, leaving only minimal evidence. Come evening he’ll ne sure this isn’t paranormal if he wasn’t already, now to just find a suspect.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: */has/ been comparing dates and other notes across all the targets, trying to find a pattern or anything else he can determine, a few girls seem to be favorites but otherwise there's no rhyme or reason that he can puzzle out . . . there have been enough nights since the last assault that there's a high chance there will be one tonight, so after dinner, after dark, he'll silently take to the rooftops of the village, on the lookout for any suspicious movement*

[socrowdedinhere]

*At one point very early morning he’ll spot something. When he goes down to check it out, and he /will/ have to come down from the roof to check it out... he’ll find it’s jusg a dog. Before he can turn away, though to go back to his survey of the village he’ll be /hit/... a knocked out.*

===

*Darnell will wake feeling like his birth father tried to murder him again. One eye is swollen shut, and he can feel the blood dried on his face from his nose and split lip. His ribs and belly ache with each breath. He’s bound down...in a rather soft bed, and if he really takes stock of himself, he’s been completely stripped.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: */whimpers/ as he regains consciousness, eight to ten years old again for a moment in his mind because of the pain, but then he realizes he's bound, arms at his sides, and he /snaps/ the rest of the way awake, struggling on instinct before he stops and looks around to take stock of his surroundings*

[socrowdedinhere]

*The room is very nice, almost too rich for a small village. A soft bed, which he’s bound to, curtains hanging from the high bedposts in a gossamer canopy of light blue. A moment later an elderly man steps in.*
Man: Ah. You’re awake. *and without waiting for Darnell to ask questions he slips back out, returnng a few minutes later with a younger man. The you ger man looks to maybe be thirty-ish; handsome, black hair and dark eyes...and definitely a noble if his fine clothes are any indication.*
Lord: Ah, welcome back to the land of the living. *he’ll pull over a chair and sit beside the bed where Darnell can see him.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *eyes narrow* Who are you? What happened?

[socrowdedinhere]

Lord: *wry smile* Fair questions. I am Kalan Dragnir. My wife found you half dead in a field while on her morning ride three days ago. Now, your turn. Who are you? What happened?

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *frowns* T-three...three days? I...w-where am I? How far from ((Village)) is this? *no, wait...he's been asked questions - swallows, shivering* My name is Darnell Barrett, master detective in service to His Majesty, King Sidon. I'm investigating a rash of assaults on the people of ((Village)).

[socrowdedinhere]

((He /is/ covered up to his waist))

Kalan: Not far actually. Few hours ride. *crosses his arms, studying Darnell.* You seem a bit young to be named Master Detective. *don’t lie to him.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *rueful grin* I know. I think so too. But my first case when I moved to ((City)) was the Captain of the King's Guard taking me on to help with a very sensitive theft. In the course, I uncovered and stopped an assassination attempt on a visiting princess that would have laid the blame on our king and started a war with her country. For my efforts, the king no only accepted my services in his city, he named me "master detective". *shrugs...and /winces/ in pain*

[socrowdedinhere]

Kalan: *studies him.* Hm. It’s unfortunate you don’t have any proof with you anymore, but I’ll accept your word, Darnell Barrett. Don’t break my trust and I’ll do what I can to aid you. Now, about those binds. Am I correct in assuming you will not attack anyone within my household, nor cause any other sort of mischief?

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: My badge? My clothes? *soft gasp, sitting up a bit* My satchel!? Nnnn! *flops back, panting in pain, feeling defeated for a moment . . . looks back up at Kalan, shakes his head* No, sir. */frowns/* I-I mean, wait. /Yes/, sir, you're correct. No, I have no intention of causing any harm or disruption.

[socrowdedinhere]

Kalan: I’m afraid your were found as you are. *stripped of everything.* *he nods* Good man. *He pulls a knife and cuts the knots, uncovering only Darnell’s ankle to cut his feet free. He’ll move around the bed to free his other limbs.* Doctor Bolei here has heen seeing to you. You’re still weak and injured, so take it slow and do as he says.
Bolei: Sit up slowly, lad. Let me help you. I’m afraid you’ve got some cracked ribs from the beating you took.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *weak and unsteady, groaning, as he slowly pushes himself up* I-I need to get back to ((Village)). I need to...warn them...

[socrowdedinhere]

Kalan: You need to recover first. As soon as you’re able to ride I’ll take you nack to ((Village)) myself. *one Darnell’s left, helping him sit up.* You were poisoned and beaten near to death. Don’t push too hard.

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: .....poisoned... *turns to Bolei* Doctor, do you know what the poison was? What did you do to counter it? *the look in his eyes is /urgent/, like he's not thinking about himself but someone(s) else*

[socrowdedinhere]

Bolei: Of course I do, lad. *why wouldn’t he?*
Kalan: ...The people in ((Village)). Doctor. I’ll help him up. Gather as much of the antidote that we have, or make as much as you can. If more is easily gotten have Therin help you gather more.
Bolei: *is he serious? But he nods.* He needs water and any food he feels he can keep down, my lord. *will go to do as ordered.*

[neverasked4this]

Darnell: *catches Bolei's arm before he can get too far* Fifteen doses, doctor. More if you can, just in case, but at least that many. The targets range in age from five to twenty-five, both male and female. *will let him go once that's done - looks at Kalan* Thank you, milord. You and your lady. I don't know yet who's behind the poisonings, but they'll be the one who jumped me from behind the other night and left me in that field. There's a predator posing as a shadowy phantom who's preying on adults all the way down to very young children, sexually assaulting and slowly poisoning them. I don't know why yet. I've not been able to determine either pattern or motive. But this has been going on for eight months. King Sidon finally heard of the trouble and sent me to resolve it. *weak and in /pain/, but his determination and fear for those people give him strength to sit up and speak clearly*

[socrowdedinhere]

Kalan: *nods.* I don’t like hearing about people being hurt. I’m glad to help. *will get Darnell sitting ip and turned so his feet are on the floor.* I’ve some clothes for you here. *he’ll slip across the room to get the clothing. It...must be Kalan’s. It’s rether fine.* You looked about my size, maybe a bit narrower in the chest, so these should fit you well enough. *will come back to help Darnell to his feet so Darnell can dress.*