Krofburg has a new resident, and an unwelcome one at that.
Before the Pale Man vanishings, the creature was mainly glimpsed among the ridges and mounts near the dwarven settlement Dvergeheim, whether bearing a bucket of water, practicing peculiar physical exercises or simply watching passersby from afar, retreating if approached.
But now the creature is lurking among the houses and vineyards of Krofburg. A number of peasants have glimpsed the small and ghostly pale figure, or a flurry of silver hair as the creature retreats. The creature--clearly a female thing of alien grace and unsettling comeliness--seems to be quite shy but sometimes grows bold enough to approach a villager; her voice is soft and melodic, issuing from lips that appear either silver or ice blue, depending on the light. Most often seen lightly clad and barefoot, the creature shows little fear of the cold yet is visibly reluctant to approach open flames. And though the creature's silvery, almond-framed eyes never betray anger or malice--and though no residents of Krofburg have yet died by her hands--the villagers fear and shun the unnatural creature all the same, wailing "monster" or "ghost" or "caliban" as they flee.
Ovidiu--one of Krofburg's few guards--attacked the creature as she approached him one sunset. Though most of Ovidiu's strokes were deftly avoided or struck aside with her bare hands, one of his halberd thrusts struck her ribs and drew blood, laying to rest the notion that she might be a banshee or other undead. In the guard's words, the creature in turn defended herself by striking Ovidiu with hands and feet "made of stone" with "a touch as cold as ice," knocking him aside before turning away and fleeing "as swiftly as the wind".
It is not commonly known if the creature is here because she followed the Pale Man--whether as his accomplice, his enemy, a villainous opportunist or a mere seeker of curiosities--or if she simply came of her own accord. But the village is laid out with numerous holes and cellars where such a creature may hide. Barring a massed effort to drive her out of Krofburg, the bizarre creature may be here to stay, for better or for worse.