Failed Break-In Ends With Murder

by Tauren Kai-Jere, Staff Writer
Last Updated: Palast, Newkolt 30, 2006

Palanthas - An unidentified man was murdered in an alchemical lab of Palanthas University Bakukal night following the botched burglary attempts by two separate groups of thieves, said the City Guard.

"We believe that two groups of criminals broke into the alchemical lab at the same time, with the intent of stealing university property, and began fighting amongst themselves," said Captain Richard uth Koeckert, spokesmen for the City Guard.

The City Guard believes that this incident may be related to the rash of burglaries the city has experienced recently. Over the last two weeks, Palanthas has seen an average of 11 extra burglaries committed weekly compared to what was reported this time last year in the 40 SC Palanthas City Guard Crime Report.

"Rest assured, we are doing everything possible to capture these men and put an end to their activities," Koeckert said.

An evening caretaker spotted two groups of men exiting one of the school's laboratories shortly after hearing loud noises.

"I was mopping one of the halls down by the scientific labs, when I heard all this noise," said Soren Willis, 48, of Palanthas. "Things breaking, people yelling – it sounded like an army was getting killed in there. I peeped around the corner to see what was going on and right quick hid again."

Willis said he saw three armed humanoid suspects dressed in dark cloaks burst into the hallway from the lab and run down the dark hallway away from his hiding spot.

When Willis peeked around the corner to see if the suspects were gone he saw a second group of three to four suspects emerge from the laboratory carrying what looked like a body.

"I guess I dropped my mop or something because I heard this bang by my feet and heard the men say something about guards or something," Willis said. "I ducked back around the corner just about when this tiny arrow whizzed right by my head and stuck in the wall. I ran down the hallway as fast as I could. I tripped over my bucket too and ran right into the night watchman."

When the City Guard arrived on the scene they discovered the dead body of a Solamnic human male lying in the main hallway of the University Science Wing. The man was wearing a non-descript dark cloak over black studded leather armor. The victim had an empty sword sheath on his belt and possessed a number of tools commonly used for breaking and entering, the Guard said.

There was a small blood trail leading from the victim's corpse to the laboratory. Investigators found more blood and obvious signs of a struggle inside the lab; including broken furniture and lab equipment, a discarded short sword, and a number of discharged hand crossbow bolts.

The laboratory door was unlocked and one of the windows opening into the room had been entered from the outside. The Science Wing of the University is located on the third floor.

Total losses were approximately 2, 010 stl.

Failed Break-In Ends With Murder

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