Blakeshadow Family/Rugina/Foolish,Foolish Dancer/Part one

Foolish, Foolish Dancer - Part one

A few days ago in Al Amarah…

“My Lady!” A young messenger rushes into Rugina’s court, drawing heavy breaths “My Lady! They’ve found another body!”

For the last week the peasants and nobility have been locking their doors to visitors, out of fear of a murderer who has been scouring Al Amarah, leaving a total of eight bodies in his wake… now nine. A few of the victims we’re children, and all were mutilated. The first body had the guards concerned about a roaming monster, but by the second and third, and the manner they found the bodies, the vigilantes and guards alike knew they were not dealing with a beast. Whoever was committing these crimes was truly a monster, but definitely not a beast. No Beast would slit a throat, or lure their prey from a market stall to an inn bedroom. And every body that has been found, has been somewhat devoured. Gruesome kills and they’ve been pretty well hidden. Most are sure they haven’t even found all the victims. Those who are missing are assumed dead… Noble and peasant alike.

Rugina takes the messenger by the shoulders. “Another body?! Where, Lad?”

“At the Dogma Homestead, in an empty cart stored in their shed! Ma’am, the body was still warm.” Rugina nods and looks towards Irlith and the guard lieutenants who quickly respond to the news.

Irlith shouts “move men! That monster still is out there with blood on his hands! Hurry and we can catch this man!”

…

They return to the court, with no luck on finding the murderer. And once again, there was no witness. But Rugina knew they were getting close to this cannibal. And she wouldn’t stand for this monster to roam her home while she looted another’s home to the dirt on their doorstep. This last victim was a small elf girl, the daughter of one of the Dogma’s stable-hands. She was bloody and broken, but small. She wasn’t over twelve, and this monster swooped in and slashed her throat, and devoured her. A small defenseless little girl. She wasn’t even missed yet when they found her body. It was supposed to be a normal day for this family; she was allowed to play until dinner was to be served. Rugina swore under her breath. She would avenge these deaths.

…

Yesterday just before sun-rise…

Rugina wasn’t able to sleep well. She kept dreaming of her daughter, Serria, being taken by this butcher. She rose from her bed, and the side of her eleven year old daughter, kissing her forehead before moving to a window.

She noticed a commotion at the gate, and quickly dressed and took one of her swords and left her bedroom to investigate.

A guard “Where is he now?”

Rugina interrupts “where is who? What is going on?”

The Vigilante messenger bows to Rugina “My Lady, my associates have captured this cannibal red handed, and have detained him in one of our cells-“

“Take me there, now!” Rugina demands.

The Vigilante nods...