I promised I’d try to get more information about the ongoing serial killer cases in Stormwind, so here is information on another one, this one actually caught. The Drust Killer.
Miatar, the freelance journalist who wrote the recent article on the Tall Tales dwarven storytelling event accompanied me to a talk with Captain Stormblade of the Golf Company, aka The King's Footmen last night.
After some initial pleasentries we went straight for the main course.
H. Lester: "So, a lot of serial killers lately, have you caught any of them yet?"
Captain Stormblade: "Yes and yes. In total, we had four. Yet three days ago we managed to get one."
H. Lester: "Oh? which one is that? and can you tell us about it? Happy to hear it! I'm sure it will be good for the citizens to hear there is one less threat." "
Captain Stormblade: "Since the case is closed, I can share details on it. It's related to the Drust Killer case."
H. Lester: "The candle one? Can you give us a run down of the case?"
Captain Stormblade: "Of course. We called it Drust Killer, simply because the killer itself was conducting rituals and experiments related to the drust magic. In short, there were four bodies in total. Two are from Dorzen family. Mother and Father. Both killed and found at the Cathedral in a middle of a day. Another - Markus, an ex-soldier. Final was Edward Stone. Archaeologist. All victims shared similar pattern. A slice wound across their throat. It was also a fatal one. A cut out heart. A blue candle with ruins of drust origin. During autopsy, every victim would become reanimated by the drust. Grabbing an inspector by their surcoat and yelling something before going into dead state again."
H. Lester: "Yikes. What would the corpse yell?"
Captain Stormblade: "'You are a failure' or 'I know what you are'."
H. Lester: "Remarkable. How did you catch the killer?"
Captain Stormblade: "Edward Stone was a key. You see, as I said it earlier, he was an archeologist. We've performed a search at his workplace, library at the keep, and found out that he was sent to investigate drust recently. Then we started to question other his colleagues and stumbled upon a group of those at the Lion's Rest. One of them, Lizz, knew the victim. She shared that last time Edward was seen, was at Cathedral and at the company of an old, bald man with white beard. A few day ago, I spotted a man who matched a description of this old man. He was having issues with walking, struggling. I took him for a questioning at the HQ and just in case asked my officers to back me up. Turns out, it was a right call. Man's name was Solomon. He used an illusion of an old man to lower the guard of his victims and gain sympathy. During our talk, he often refered to his old memory, often giving inconsitent statements about Edward Stone. At some point during our conversation, he tapped his staff against the floor, right where you are sitting, Mister Lester, trying to use drust magic to try and attack us. But thanks to the wards, he failed. Once he realized that, the man quickly jumped on me with a ritual dagger, barely missing an inch at my neck so the wound wasn't fatal."
H. Lester: "Light... "
Captain Stormblade: "My officers instantly pulled out their flintflocks and shot the man's kneecaps off. As that happened, I pulled my blade out and he collapsed on it, impaling himself through. He bled from his wounds rapidly."
H. Lester: "So no chance of hearing his story then..."
Captain Stormblade: "Unfortunately, no. And it will remain a mystery for what purposes he was doing these rituals."
Article continues after the ad.
H. Lester: "I hate those endings. I mean, its good he is no longer a threat, but man it leaves me curious"
Captain Stormblade: "Drust is a very complex subject in itself. It has many nuinsances too. "
Despite my curiosity not being sated, then at least we can all sleep a little better at night knowing there is one less serial killer on a killing spree in Stormwind.
Miatar followed up with a couple of questions regarding some of the details of the case.
Miatar Vaux: "Do you think the Drust Killer was working alone?"
Captain Stormblade: "There was always a chance that killers could be multiple. But in this case, he was alone."
Miatar Vaux: "But there were two victims the first time?"
Captain Stormblade: "Yes. Dorzen family. Father was first, Mother was second. It happened on a separate day, mind you. In summary, Father was first victim. Mother was killed two days later. As a result of this, their daughter was adopted by one of my soldiers as he was more related to this case and their family. "
Miatar Vaux: "Oh... All right. Well, do you know where he got the candles?"
Captain Stormblade: "Not from the local area, that's for sure. As I said, these candles were of drust origin, containing runes."
Miatar Vaux: "Did he take any tokens? Aside from the hearts?"
Captain Stormblade: "No."
Miatar Vaux: "Can you tell us where the other two victims were found? The ex-soldier and the archaeologist?"
Captain Stormblade: "Ex soldier was found not far from Slaughtered Lamb. In between that pub and Red Kush Luxury shop. Edward Stone was found at the Old Town. Exit tunnel from Trade District."
Miatar Vaux: "And this was in broad daylight too?"
Captain Stormblade: "All bodies 're-appeared' at broad daylight. They were lured out of the city at different times of a day. Our theory was that blue candles were anchor points to where victim would be teleported to. Otherwise, I cannot explain how a mutilated body"
Captain Stormblade: "could make its way to the destination point, without anyone seeing or hearing anything."
Before leaving the Captain to get back to catching criminals, Miatar had one last question.
Miatar Vaux: "Do you have any advice, for citizens, in regard to the other two killers? Places to stay away from? Hours to be aware?"
Captain Stormblade: "Most homicide cases tend to happen after eight bells in the evening. When it gets dark, it's easier to lure a victim away. It was specifically more so evident with Drust Killer. A person who tries to win your sympathy and wants you to help them - beware. It can be a wolf in a sheep skin. I wish I could say which places to stay aware from, but I can as well say you can just leave the city. It can be anywhere. Really. It can be subtle, it can be loud. As long as you try to stick to the public places or establishments, where other people gather - you should be alright. We've.. reached out to an order of light wielders at Cathedral Square. Asking them to help maintain peace over Cathedral District. So perhaps, that would be the most 'safiest' place, I'd say."
One last thing to mention is that one of the actual serial-killers, the so called Music-box killer leaves a nasty surprise behind in his victims.
Tenebres Stormblade: "All bodies had a chest torn apart and a music box stuffed into the ribcage. Upon the touch, it releases a poison that causes hallucinations. "*
So if you do happen upon a corpse, keep your distance, alert the guards. Don't take any risks.