A Bounty Poster

[Bistrum]

*In the night's darkness a couple of posters appear near the general store. They look worn, like they would have gone through a lot of alterations...*

Bounty!
Wanted: Dead or Alive

The man Known as Marcus Delavious is wanted for the crimes of Murder, Assault and Abetting the criminal known as Thorn.

150 silver reward for the person or persons who brings them in.

Their physical description is as follows: Age in the mid to late thirties, height at around six foot tall, weight estimated at around two-hundred pounds (sturdy build), Eyes described as Brown, Hair likened to the color of Black. Typically seen dressed in Black attire.

This man is to be considered dangerous, take proper precautions before engaging.

-By order of Captain Ellery

[The Broken Sword]

A black hand is smeared across the bounty poster.

[The Narrator]

A guard passes by the General store on his daily patrol just as day breaks over the horizon. He squints, looking to the poster now marred with a black hand, and wrinkles his brow in confusion. He briefly surveys the area before reading and rereading it. After a moment of consideration he takes the poster down and continues on his patrol, noting several others like it on his way.

Upon completion of his patrol, the guard walks to the inner keep and waits patiently outside the office of the Captain. When the door opens the guard hands him the poster and waits as he reads it.

Having finished reading the bounty, the Captain looks to the guard and speaks in an even tone, “How many others like it?” The guard responds quickly, “Not many sir, but a few. Only this one had the smeared hand on it”

The Captain nods, pausing a moment before speaking, “Take them down and bring them here. Double patrols in the area. Any suspicious persons in the vicinity detain and bring to the undercroft to await questioning by me.”

With a quick salute the guard turns on his heel walking off to carry out his orders.

Captain Ellery looks down at the poster another moment, focusing on the smeared hand now running down its length. His eyes narrow, perhaps in recognition, perhaps in frustration, as he closes the door to his office to contemplate this development.