The deaths were random; I don't think the Malnosso would go do the trouble of planning each one, which means whatever method they used to cause them is unstable. That means they were desperate to keep you and the other affected from...possibly evolving further. The point's driven home by the fact that they actually asked a traitor for help, and bargained with him. Since they're so proud, they really must've been at their wits end.

Whatever these spirits are, they're something the Malnosso fear. I'll admit that some of the townspeople became violent, but otherwise there really wasn't much for us to fear; physically, at least. The spirits themselves might be used as a weapon against the Malnosso, if we can figure out what exactly happened.

Yes, I remember you saying something about that.