video; un: hopscotch

[clavesregni]

[Caitlyn has found a small corner somewhere in the Wards that she's turned into a personal headquarters. Several sheets of paper, covered in incomprehensibly messy scribbles, are stuck to the walls, and there's plenty of room for more to come. She's even found some colored string somewhere and has started to make connections between the papers with the strings.

She speaks very enthusiastically. Nothing makes Caitlyn's whole being light up like detective work.]

I've begun working on solving the series of murders that have occurred here over the last eleven weeks.

The victims were all male, between the ages of twenty-two and thirty-five. There are no other obvious connections between the victims, no common physical characteristics, profession, or origin. We'll need to dig if we want to find any commonalities apart from sex and a rough age range. And, with only five victims, we can't entirely rule out the idea that the commonalities we do know of may be coincidental.

There are rumors circulating of someone referred to as the 'Reaper,' who is punishing the people here for abandoning their duty. I don't know if that's the killer's true motivation; why kill only young men? There's something more going on here.

There are two clear points of interest:

First, none of the victims have an obvious cause of death. Some have wounds, but nothing that would be fatal under normal circumstances, and none appear to have been ill. How is the Reaper killing the victims?

Second, all have a white string tied around their wrists. This must be some sort of calling card, though what it means is not yet clear. If we can determine the meaning of the string, it could give us an insight into the killer's motivations and perhaps their identity.

I suggest we collaborate in our work to find the killer.

Comments

[clavesregni]

Yes, that does support the theory that there's another motivation at play.

In the absence of other connections, we ought to start by at least theorizing that the connections we do have matter. Why younger men? What motivation could someone have for killing members of that demographic specifically?

[valeas]

The killer might be twisted enough to simply have a preference. Or they might wish to weaken Deimar further.

It doesn't explain the white string found on them, but whenever I ask about it, I'm given different answers. Some believe the string is a token sirens wrap around their intended. Others believe it signifies either fate or wealth. Why leave something like this behind on their bodies?

[clavesregni]

To sign the kills, so that everyone knows who claims responsibility. Or as a warning to someone who understands its significance. Or perhaps the culprit is a siren, seeking her betrothed only to fly into a murderous rage when she realizes she's found the wrong man.

[valeas]

If a siren is involved — we may have more than one culprit — it might explain the song some of the others have heard. They say it is haunting and lures them, as though hypnotized.

[clavesregni]

That may be an avenue of investigation worth exploring, then. Does there seem to be any pattern as to the timing of this song? Have only men heard it?

We could set up a stake-out, wait for the song to make an appearance and try to find the singer.

[valeas]

I'd like to ask more people before I answer that with certainty, but — the people who've mentioned it so far have been men, yes. They also spoke of a staircase they'd never seen before.

We find the singer, the staircase, or both.

( she is here for this stake-out. )

[clavesregni]

Why not take a day or two, then, to ask a few more people. While you do that, I can pass the time conducting a thorough search for this staircase. Once we have a little more information, we can plan the best time and place for a stake-out.

We might need to ask a man to watch with us, though, if only men can hear the song.

[valeas]

Yes, I agree that would be best. We gather as much information as we can, as well as someone who would be more likely to hear the song. ( She already appreciates Caitlyn's level of forethought, and seems quite sharp and capable. )

If you learn of anything else in the meantime, feel free to reach out. My name is Emilia.

[clavesregni]

You as well. My name's Caitlyn.

[downswing]

Young men are preferred for battle.

[valeas]

Not all of them were soldiers, but with dwindling numbers and desperate circumstances, they would've sufficed. ( They are in ... agreement? Whoa. )

[downswing]

If a grudge of defectors stands true, age suits.

[valeas]

You truly believe it a haunting?

[downswing]

Curse, haunting. Droves of men do not perish with tokens bound and no mark.

[valeas]

I still don't know what to make of that token. In my world, the use of specific colors and materials are ritual based.

[downswing]

A question: if the token induces death or commemorates it.

[valeas]

I was able to study one of them, the tokens. It was once touched by something magical or possessed of the ability, though the string itself was only string.

It was all I could sense.

Then again, Serthica taught us how well something can be concealed.

[downswing]

A siege is no subtle work.