The Fang Murderer

There is little telling of murderers. It is a sort of taboo for everyone in Marlun especially... but The Fang Murderer did strike true fear in everyone regardless.

— Everam, Teller of Nimenra

The Fang Murderer was a person, or persons, that set fear into the town of Glarn during a long four year period between 2122-2126. While they never were caught and tried for the numerous killings and terror that they produced, they left a lasting impact on individuals in Glarn for the longest of time. Even today there are fears that this murderer might resurge again when the time makes it opportune once again.

Killer of Everyone - 2122

Most notably about The Fang Murderer was that they targeted a person regardless of their status, profession or wealth. The first killings could probably be traced to even before 2122 but the notary had risen with the murder of a local and believed Farmer's Guild representative Barne Millers. Millers had started drinking with his fellow guildsmen as they were discussing the coming harvest season when he began to suffocate and soon after died in the tavern. What was worse was the fact that he was one of the runner-ups for the election to become Mayor of Glarn at the time. This made it look like a political murder from the other factions in Glarn. Investigators took notice that a human fang was left in Millers'glass, creating the "he was fanged" proverb for a time and that he was poisoned probably just before or during the meeting.

Only three days later another fang and body were discovered. This was of a Skin Carver who had recently lost a small fortune on gambling. He had too been poisoned, in his home nonetheless. His wife and children became targets of the investigation for both murders until, four days later, another body was discovered in the same manner of poison. However, the fang was placed on a scratched and carved wood figurine resembling the God Krakros. The body was of a priest of Orios.

It had seemed that a murderer was hunting everyone in Glarn regardless of the person. The only ones that had not been targeted were the Demons in Glarn, which increased hostility towards them within some groups. Soon enough, however, the body of a young Demon boy was discovered with a fang pendant which he probably had been strangled with. This discovery and with four people dead started the mumbling and rumours of a murderer selecting their victims depending on how their teeth looked, how they smiled, if they showed their teeth when talking and other speculations. The fear of becoming the next victim also spread up until a large outbreak of Yellowsnouth began and force many to confine into their homes. During the months-long epidemic, only one more person was killed by The Fang Murderer, this time strangled as well. The fang was left clasped by the dead woman's hand. While fear spread for many reasons and the taboo of talking about murders broken for a while, this would be the last victim... for now.

Castle by Lorc

Death by Fangs - 2123-2124

While a year pass without any new victims there was still fear lingering months afterwards. Investigation into the murderer fell cold and no one was ever caught. The murderer might have even died in the epidemic. Or so, everyone hoped.

The month was Morierm and the body was the twelve-year-old Erika, an Orfordian immigrant girl, who was found with her throat crushed and inside the throat, a fang was found. The murder would not be immediately known or connected to The Fang Murderer. It was when, three days later, another murder was discovered. This time a man was found hanged in a rope with a Giant Wolf fang punctured into the heart. The man was a Demon who had been involved in the Weaver's Guild but also suspected of being a Nekurian spy. These two murders did not seem connected until investigators were remembered by the fangs that had been found. While quick to gather any sort of leads on the locations... three more murders occurred within three days with fangs involved as murder weapons; two had each of their eyes punctured and one had a fang stuck through their nose.

These murders sent shockwaves of fear as Morierm already was related to death. What had Glarn, or the people of Glarn, done so that death was walking amongst them? Was it Rhyn's wrath or Orios's? Perhaps Krakros was finding evil beings in Glarn and sent them to their early grave? Evenings become desolated and nights of fear roll over Glarn during an intense month that was filled with no feasts or mourning days. The guards walked with lanterns shaking in dim-lit nights where the moon seem to even shun Glarn's streets. But they found no bodies. As weeks go by resolve and hope were restored for a time when the 28:th arrives. Krakro's own Dying Days come and another body was found... The body of Gregor, an old and gentle man, was found in his farmhouse outside the walls. He had been poisoned, struck with a fang in his mouth and put to bed as if he had died in his sleep.

The three long Dying Days become a peak in The Fang Murderer's torment. Six more murders were found or happened in front of people in the midst of daylight and dark night... All were left with a fang in their possession. The last to die was a visiting noble from the Kingdom of Ravero which had been poisoned during a friend's funeral. The fang he had been left with was his friends. After the noble's death and an increase in the effort to find the murderer by the whole garrison, the murders ended as Morierm did. It would be some time until the murderer returned, once again. The fear after the death of the noble lingered for several months and when the next year of 2154 arrived at Morierm again, panic and preparation was due. "Only" three Fang Murders, as they would be called, happened, one Brotherhood's Guild representative and two parents were found either poisoned or strangled with a fang close by.

Fangs Returns - and Ends? - 2125-2126

While the fear of death at the hands of The Fang Murderer kept lingering, life continued on as usual when they seemed to once again disappear. What would transpire was a new murder spree in the summer months where the bodies of three human children were found, all poisoned and strangled. Fangs were found, two with one fang in hand and one with the fang inside the mouth. The horrifying events all occurred in the same pattern as the previous first murders of each period, the first murder three days before the second and the last four days later. As the victims were children, anger and distress were shaking all of Glarn. The city council and mayor became targets of outspoken campaigns of their inability to combat the death of the children and previous victims.

As again Morierm were closer and closer each day, citizens in Glarn were keeping their eyes out for any scrumptious characters. This did not prevent two new murders, however... Both were hanged for display at the entrance of their home, with fangs used as tools in their death. The fangs were lodge into the back of their throat.

While all murders remained unresolved, it seemed, however, that the murderer either was scared by the increasing anger of the citizens since no more murder occurred that year. Another consequence of the new murders was the increased attention to the problematic situations in Glarn in racial relations since the guilds targeted the demon population again with hostility.

With murders seemingly hindered the garrison focused efforts on investigating all the murders collectively for a short period with the aid of contractees. While many leads were pursued and criminals arrested or killed, the silence from murders lead the garrison commander and mayor to end the investigation when a demon man was arrested for attempted murder on a Brotherhood representative.

The effort would seem to have been fruitless when another Fang Murder happened in early Marem 2126. A demon man, who happened to be a representative in the Farmer's Guild, was found poisoned in his Glarnwheatfield and a fang placed in his pocket. The guards in response prepared for the pattern of murders that had occurred before and increased the number of guards on the second day after the murder. But Kaarl, a fieldhand in the same Glarnwheatfield, was found dead. The fang was found inside his hat, having been attached on the inside.

People again feared for their lives as many this time began to lock themselves inside. The Fang Murderer still was able to reach these people. A week later in the home of a broom maker, guards came to the horrifying discovery of a whole human family of five poisoned to death, all pale white and in a state of terrified petrification. Many asked how The Fang Murderer was able to kill them all and without anyone noticing. Rumours spread that it was someone who had discovered invisibility through magic or alchemy and now hunted only for amusement or some other evil unknown might hunt people in Glarn. When this was spreading, fear overtook the town for three days where no one was going outside their houses.

Castle by Lorc

It was only when travellers successfully opened the gates again and made their way through town that slowly it came back alive. Since the only death of the three-day-lockdown seemed not connected to The Fang Murderer, the rumour about invisible killers and evils was not fully diminished but was not the main fear anymore. While fear of the murderer still was large, the town was more engaged in countering the murderer, despite three more Fang Murders happening after the lockdown. The years of fear might have grown a resistance against it that had finally escalated through the lockdown. The last murder was of a demon merchant Meenver, who had been poisoned through his own supply of fish which he was showing, happened Muri 11:th. With his death, the reign of fear that had gripped Glarn was over.

Current Status

Unknown

Age

Unknown

Belief/Deity

Krakros? Orios?

One or several?

The identity of The Fang Murderer remains as elusive as the deepest knowledge of the Gods and of Nimenra's past. While the town's officials believe that the Fang Murders were done by one being, man, demon, dwarf or other; some others have speculated that the murderer was really murderers. Some contractees brought this to the attention of the garrison commander and mayor that refuted the speculations.

The contractees speculated the case between three different murderers:

The First Fang Murderer

• Was the original murderer that used fangs as a threat
• Targeted only representatives of different guilds
• Used poison as their main tool to kill
• Motivation seemed more political and threatening to specific people
• Died or stopped after 2526
• (Might have killed the other Fang Murderers?)

The Terror Fang Murderer

• Started after the first series of murders, probably with Erika
• Targeted randomly, or semi-randomly, people of all types but many children
• Brutally killed people and methodically placed the fangs inside victims or used them as murder weapons
• Killed for "fun" or "sport", had an evil character
• Might have died or disappeared during or after their terror reigned, might also have been the demon man captured/killed by the contractees

The Copy Fang Murderer

• Took after (or mimicked?) the first and second murderer
• Targeted their own set of targets, most likely killed the family during the third period of murders
• Used fast-acting poison
• Used the fangs artistically or to make it seem like a Fang Murder
• Stopped or died with the death of Meenver, the demon merchant

Identity of The Fang Murderer(s)?

Speculations on who was The Fang Murderer never ceased. Long after it ended, many suspected even one of the dead to be the murderer and some saw it as possible that there were multiple murderers. At the end of all speculations, there have been multiple names. Two notably were the mayor of Glarn at the time, Herr Langrest and the demon merchant Meenver who died due to his own negligence.

Slanderous to say the least but with Herr Langrest's death in a building accident two months after the murders all stopped. It was only timely that when he was elected that his opponent fell ill and ended their candidature for mayorship. This was only two years before the murders began and that it was on various representatives does not help his case. In his life, he was an excellent botanist too.

Meenver Serviceer was also suspected due to his connections to low life and criminality. He had the means to even gather herbs and flowers from Nekuram with his contacts. His popular toxins which he created to use against vermins was a staple product of his and he was more than capable of murder with a long register of brawls and fights. What reports against him was his manners as a charlatan rather than a murderer, charming his victims into buying his product rather than killing them. He was found dead with a very potent poison that he had fabricated and was probably killed by it.