A man wrapped in bandages walks into the Prancing Pony. He limps to an open chair and falls into it. His breathing is strained and his eyes are slowly coming back into focus.

Barliman walks up to him, "Are you alright buddy?"

"I'll live," Jorundr says "but I could use some pain killer."

Barliman gets a beer and sits with the man, "What happened?"

"Well I had a job tending to the chickens at the Thornley farm north of town. It was a good job nice and easy." Jorundr stops to drink.

"That farm's been having trouble with orcs lately and with the rangers leaving it's only going to get worse."

"Yeah I know. I can't convince Mrs. Thornley to leave though."

"She's always been a strong willed woman," Barliman says.

"Anyway, I was out collecting eggs like I do every morning. It was overcast and I wanted to get done before the rain started. I noticed the door to the root cellar was open, which is strange since we keep it locked. I walked up and looked inside, damn thing is always so dark you can't see anything."

"Something jump you when you went in?"

"I wasn't that stupid," Jorundr says. "I went and got a pitchfork and headed down with that in front of me. When I reached the bottom and nothing happened I set the pitchfork down and used my flint to light the lantern we keep down there. I saw nothing alive, though I did jump at a shadow as the flame flickered."

"What happened then? Did you fall down the stairs going back up?"

"No. I noticed several jars of preserved vegetables were missing along with some salted meat. I left to tell Mrs. Thornley about it. When I got outside I saw something crotched in the middle of the chickens holding one by the neck."

"An orc was stealing a chicken?" Barliman asks.

"It wasn't an orc. When they turned I saw they were a woman. A small, scrawny woman wearing patched together furs. She had long black hair that was knotted with dirt and blood and a wild look in her eyes. When she stood I could see she had almost no muscle, nothing but skin and bones. I mistook her for a wight at first glance."

"Are you saying some wild woman did this to you?"

"She took one look at me snarled and attacked," Jorundr says. "I still can't believe how fast she was. The sword and axe she was carrying were badly rusted and chipped. That was the only good part, if they had been properly cared for I'd be dead right now."

"How'd you come out alive?"

"Some of the men from the construction site south of the farm were coming to talk to Mrs Thornley. When she heard them talking nearby she turned and grabbed a couple of chickens before disappearing into the fields."

"So they didn't catch her?" Barliman asks.

"No, I've asked around and no one knows anything about her. Since the attack she hasn't been seen again."

"If we're all lucky the mad woman is gone."

"I hope so," Jorundr says. "Though I wonder where she went."