I'm the last person you would need to warn about the City of Nightmares, given that I have been here for longer than just a few hours. I'm aware of what's fostered in the darkness here.
[He fits in with it after all. And not only does he fit in due to his very nature, but he seeks to gain control over the whole of it for himself.]
However, not all who occupy the City of Nightmares are monsters. It wouldn't be able to survive if that were the case. So, as with every city, there are predators and there is prey. I think this man is the latter, but you believe him to be the former. You're wise to approach this with caution, but what exactly is it that he's done to give you the impression that he might be a predator himself?
If you think he's laying a trap, he's set a poor one. He mentioned that he consulted with others. It wouldn't be difficult to ask him in a safe manner the names and contact information of the individuals in question to verify what he's saying. You could make the argument that they are in his pocket in some way, but there does come a point where you are simply being paranoid rather than observant.
And more important than a means of checking out his story, the reward is not enticing enough to most.
It's obvious that it's of value to him when he mentions that he's losing business as a result of the problem he's presenting, but for most of us, we would be more comfortable with a room elsewhere even when it comes attached with a fee. That means he's largely relying upon the generosity of others. However, people require motivation to engage in a problem as difficult and as dangerous as what he's described as it's not merely spirits, but that of a killer and his victims.
The potential benefits do not outweigh the costs for most and they must possess either a truly altruistic heart, be incredibly desperate, or be the sort of person who would thrive in a place like this. All three of those persons would be a significant threat to him and would be a poor choice for a killer to select as his next set of victims. That means even for him, the risk is most likely greater than the reward, if he were the killer.
It's good that you're taking the time to consider the possibility of ill-intent, but remember that you cannot discount alternatives to what you suspect unless you have something to disprove them.
whispers i'm sorry he likes to talk...
[He fits in with it after all. And not only does he fit in due to his very nature, but he seeks to gain control over the whole of it for himself.]
However, not all who occupy the City of Nightmares are monsters. It wouldn't be able to survive if that were the case. So, as with every city, there are predators and there is prey. I think this man is the latter, but you believe him to be the former. You're wise to approach this with caution, but what exactly is it that he's done to give you the impression that he might be a predator himself?
If you think he's laying a trap, he's set a poor one. He mentioned that he consulted with others. It wouldn't be difficult to ask him in a safe manner the names and contact information of the individuals in question to verify what he's saying. You could make the argument that they are in his pocket in some way, but there does come a point where you are simply being paranoid rather than observant.
And more important than a means of checking out his story, the reward is not enticing enough to most.
It's obvious that it's of value to him when he mentions that he's losing business as a result of the problem he's presenting, but for most of us, we would be more comfortable with a room elsewhere even when it comes attached with a fee. That means he's largely relying upon the generosity of others. However, people require motivation to engage in a problem as difficult and as dangerous as what he's described as it's not merely spirits, but that of a killer and his victims.
The potential benefits do not outweigh the costs for most and they must possess either a truly altruistic heart, be incredibly desperate, or be the sort of person who would thrive in a place like this. All three of those persons would be a significant threat to him and would be a poor choice for a killer to select as his next set of victims. That means even for him, the risk is most likely greater than the reward, if he were the killer.
It's good that you're taking the time to consider the possibility of ill-intent, but remember that you cannot discount alternatives to what you suspect unless you have something to disprove them.