Devious

Mizar

Five years ago

Fego was a small village in western Mizar located somewhere between the Shrine-Cities of Cambena and Zinheim. It was not an important place. Not now, not in the distance past and most people would have never heard of it.

Situated above a bluff, the hamlet is home to a few families, no more than 30 souls. Most tied by blood, followers of Hoi for the most part.

This hamlet wasn't built by a bluff by accident, as its fish teeming waters are the main source of food for the habitants of Fego who toil the surrounding moors, growing tubers and other roots vegetables, as well as tending a small communal flock of sheep.

The hamlet itself looks like many others do in Mizar, with its thatched rooftops, birch wood homes and some stone storage dwellings.

The largest buildings in Fego is its windmill built with reddish stones from a nearby quarry and with three white curved blades.

Malacost stood on top of his horse looking down at the village as the smoke from several houses drifted lazily in the morning breeze.

He was travelling to the Shrine-City of Zinheim after his latest job in Cambena. He had apprehended the infamous Scissor Brothers from Kru'll and claimed the bounty on their heads. He grinned as he recalled the horror of the Constables face has he dropped the sack with their heads and mutilated bodies on his desk.

They had been more valuable alive but the bloodlust had come over him on the long journey to the city and by the time he truly stepped back to admire his handiwork, they were more dead than alive. He licked his lips thinking on how he had terrorised the two by slowly and methodically cut and sliced their bodies. Their screams still fresh in his mind. They had put up a strong act at first but if life thought Malacost any lessons is that in the end everyone breaks.

He saw a young man casting a net into the narrow river below and absent minded his left hand went to the large hook he wore around his neck. He thought about grabbing the man and taking him to the nearby woods and torture him that night, letting his screams wash over the terrified village.

He grinned. Maybe something on a larger scale was in order today celebrate his latest bounty hunt.

He had a pouch of Bleeding Spray on his backpack. A unique blend prepared by the poison masters of Torjas. A mixture of Biaxanegrass, Thexhol tallow and grinded liver of Ash Serpents.

A lethal poison with no known antidote. It is deadly even in its unrefined state. The best method of quick delivery is through liquids. Like water.

Once ingested, it takes only trace amounts to be effective. It steadily causes irreversible damage to major organs like the heart and liver followed by a sudden painful death.

A plan began to formulate in his mind as Malacost spurred his mount in the direction of the village of Fego...