(ooc: I hope you're ok, Jihon...)

The villager's mouth draws into a harsh line at Kawanua's request.

"No, we have no room for you here. Move along, and leave us in peace."

Soul Reaver glances over at Kawanua, quickly sending a telepathic message to him.

Kawanua... I realise you are in bad shape - we all are - but I do not think we can afford any rest until Stavarus has been found. We already lost far too much time back in the OGHRUN city. If we are to have any hope of catching him, we must push on.

Soul Reaver turns back towards the villager. His companions arrive behind him as he begins to speak.

"Please, we see that your community has suffered a recent loss. We do not mean to intrude upon your grief, but we are searching for a man who would have passed this way not long ago. He is tall and thin, with light brown hair and-"

The villager interrups, spitting the next word he speaks.

"Stavarus Revenard!"

Soul Reaver pauses, taken aback. He quickly regains his composture.

"Indeed. He is the one we are searching for."

The villager looks at Soul Reaver with rage in his eyes.

"Yes, he was here! I hope you find him, and bring him to justice!"

The villager finishes with a sweeping gesture of his hand.

"He is responsible for all this!"

Soul Reaver's carefully keeps the surprise from his face.

"Please, tell us what happened here."

The villager nods, then tells his sad tale...

"Two nights ago, this 'Stavarus' arrived at our village. It was late, and he asked us for a bed for the night. He tried to hide his weariness, but it was obvious that he was exhausted, so we offered him a place to rest.

The next morning, as he was packing up to leave, he spoke to me. He was very curt and unfriendly in his manner of speech. He asked us if we knew anything of Grafford the Seer. I told him that Grafford lives in the neighbouring village.

I tried to be friendly, and asked him his profession. He told me he was a Daemon Hunter.

Foolishly, I thought that this 'Stavarus' was a godsend. You see, a young maiden from this town - her name is Thirella - had recently fallen under prey to a mysterious malediction. Our physician could not cure it, and our priest suspected that it may have had... supernatural origins.

It is well known that Daemon Hunters are well-versed in exorcising Daemonic influences from their innocent victims. Foolishly, I told that man of Thirella's plight.

His expression hardened frighteningly when I finished my tale. He asked me where Thirella lay - I indicated her family home. Without another word, he stalked off into the cottage.

I was afraid after seeing his expression. Then, a scream was heard from Thirella's home, followed by the sound of smashing crockery. Gerald the blacksmith and I ran to see what had happened..."

The villager chokes for a moment, tears in his eyes.

"That butcher... Thirella lay in her bed, her throat cut ear-to-ear, blood all over her bed. He had slit the throats of the entire family - Thirella's mother, father, her siblings... just as we entered, he drew a dagger across Johna's throat. He was just a boy, not even old enough for the fields!

Then blood-soaked murderer saw us. There was no remorse or pity in his eyes. I still could not grasp the horror of what lay before me. Gerald asked him what he had done.

'She was tainted, and I could not risk her family being infected as well. This stain must be purified by flame.'

At this, Gerald and I ran to stop him. However, we were too late. The murderer seized an oil-lantern from the table and smashed it against the cottage wall. Fire engulfed the bodies of Thirella's family in moments.

By now, other villagers had arrived as well. As we advanced to bring him to justice, he spat at us, calling us delusional Daemon-kin. He killed Herman while making his escape, and injured many more."

The villager is crying openly now. He balls his dirt-caked fist as tears stream freely down his face.

"I would so dearly have liked to kill him then, but we could not follow him as he ran away - the fire had engulfed the entire cottage, and had spread to two nearby houses. We had to remain behind to extinguish it."

He looks at Soul Reaver with imploring, hate-filled eyes.

"He travelled East, most likely to our sister-village to find Grafford the Seer. If you find that butcher, Stavarus, then make sure he suffers for his crimes!"

Soul Reaver steps back, almost disbelieving his own ears.

This is impossible... Stavarus was a hard man, yes... but he could never have done something like this... never...