Comic Strips

You arrive in the village of Cam, a small, backwater mudhole sandwiched between three swamps and a long dead forest. It isn't your first choice, but you are confident that, if nothing else, people won't give you a second glance as you walk through the gates covered in horseshit and what you hope is someone else's blood.

However, you are more right than you think. No one is looking at you at all. In fact, you don't see a soul in the town.

As you wander through the streets, you see the signs of life, but not a person in sight. Then, you hear it--a clamor--coming from the the edge of the westernmost swamp. Rounding the corner of a house of ill repute, you finally catch a glimpse of the townsfolk.

Walking towards them, you pick up on bits of the conversation. A woman, found dead and half-eaten, lies at the edge of the swamp. Any other time, this wouldn't mean anything to you, but this time it's different. Shes beautiful, or what's left of her is. Clad in a beautiful blue gown, a crown--though now crumpled--lays near her porcelain face. She is striking, and it is obvious immediately that she isn't from this town.

Over the murmur of the crowd, a voice can be heard.

"As the new king of this sad lot, I see that it falls to me to be the hand of the law. Citizens of Cam, your king requests the aid of those of stout body and sharp wit to assist the kingdom in finding out who is responsible for the death of this poor young woman. I promise 50 gold pieces for any information of value, and a full 500 gold for the capture of the nefarious soul responsible."

500 gold will go a long way to making sure you never have to eat trail rations again, and really, how hard could it be to track down a killer out here in the middle of nowhere?