Bill Dunn |
He definitely detects as evil - moderate strength aura.
"My role? I am a pawn, although a pawn with a specialist knowledge. The Red Mantis purchased my services from my master, so here I languish while my own studies go fallow. Davaulus is, sorry, was a tool, Rolth an amateur. I suppose I should have expected little better in this backwater, though I suppose there have been some interesting riddles for a researcher of my experience." He gestures toward the young man on the table.
"Take young Ruan, here. He and some of his Varisian fellows have proved immune to every strain of Vorel's phage to which we have exposed them. Very impressive considering the work that has gone into increasing the virulence of that disease."
Victor Rivilon |
An all too familiar rage began to slowly to possess Victor. This man was no different than any of the punks and gangers of his past, but someone gave this one gold and power. The sorcerer wanted nothing more than to set this man in front of them ablaze and be done with it, but he needed to get as much information from this evil bastard as he could and for that he didn't need to be the ever scowling Victor but the apathetic queen's agent...So as quickly as he could Victor shoved his anger in a cage, rehearsed his role in his head and stepped into the lime light.
"Yes, well that is what happens to tools that outgrow their usefulness and amateurs who have no idea what they are doing" Said Victor as he stepped forward, his hand rummaging through his hair.
"Queen's cleaning house and she sent me here to salvage anything useful if there is any" Victor eyes went over the strapped on young man as if he wasn't there, looked at their host for but a moment and then looked to the right and the left of the room in boredom "So why don't ya start telling me why the queen should still keep ya around eh? I suggest ya spare no detail, after all one small thing could save yer life" He hoped his companions would recognize his act and let him play it out for as long as possible, for while he guessed that they shared his desire of making this man pay, they also needed to get as much information from him as possible.
Bluff: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35
Amira Oenestria |
As Victor steps up to engage, Amira's eyes dart around the room looking for any indication of other living prisoners.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Wednesday Daud |
"A fellow countrymen, neh?" Wednesday lets out as he watches the others interrogate their passive, for moment, host before studying the man himself.
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Cassandra Wagner |
"Cool." Cassandra tosses the wand over by the pile of stuff that Victor pulled off of the dead doctor guy.
Park, meanwhile, tugs on her ear and points.
"What?" Cassandra says. "Oh. Right. Moving on. Another guy. Chamber of horrors. Blah blah blah."
Cassandra sighs and leaps down off the catwalk, then walks over to join the others.
Terri Riverrun |
Terri steps up behind Victor. She knows it is an act, but that doesn't make it any easier to swallow, especially given the state poor Ruan is in.
So she stands there, glaring at the deathly pale man as her teeth grind and her knuckles go white from her hands tightening around her glaive. She makes no effort to hide the symbol hanging from her neck. She'd allow Victor to play the villain, but she was not going to let this man believe for a second that she was okay with what he'd done. For that matter, she wasn't even sure that he was even human, and she'd never seen anyone so pale outside of the morgue.
Know(Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Bill Dunn |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33
"Keep me around?!? I would prefer to be discharged of this duty and return to my own laboratory where I can pursue important matters!" the man throws his hands up, emphasizing his frustration. "You want details? Details you shall have." He reaches for a ledger on one of the nearby tables. "This man and several others like him in the holding cells have resisted all attempts to infect them with Vorel's phage. Their immunity is natural, no magic is involved at all. That immunity, sadly for my research, does not extend to any other disease... or curse." He offers the ledger to Victor.
"Now since you seem intent on ending my research here, shall we save both of us the trouble of the sort of pitched battle you waged amid the vats? Allow me to pack my things and I shall return to my homeland, and you may conduct yourselves as you please with what remains of the Cult of Urgathoa in Korvosa and their Red Mantis allies."
Neither Amira nor Wednesday spot any other prisoners or any other immediate dangers in the room. Some of the alchemical apparatus may have significant value, but probably nothing more than a few hundred gold coins.
Terri Riverrun |
"Where are the others." Terri asks flatly as she steps forward.
Cassandra Wagner |
"Don't mind me."
Cassandra shifts herself to the other side of her companions and begins examining the device that the poor "test subject" is strapped into. She completely ignores the odd confrontation going on.
"How many other diseases is he carrying now?" Cassandra wonders. "If we free him and send him home, what will he infect people with?"
She glances up.
"You said you tested them for immunity to other diseases and curses. I just want to know what we're dealing with."
Trying to figure out the torture chair and how to release the poor guy.
K (engineering): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31
Victor Rivilon |
"Ya heard there questions. Ya may want to leave and that's fine and all but ya still work here now" Said Victor as he casually took the book and placed it in his backpack And if I have my way ya won't be leaving ever He thought to himself as he tried to sooth the beast of anger with these hateful mental rambling for now.
Terri Riverrun |
Would someone mind asking for a copy of his notes? I'd do it, but that's a little out of character for Terri at the moment. Also, does anyone else feel that Victor and Terri are a lot along when they're mad? Or is it just me?
Bill Dunn |
"The other subjects? They are in holding cells near Rolth's laboratory. I am surprised you have not found them yet. It is a large chamber just off the Princess's Bacchanal. Hmm, I suppose you wouldn't know it by that name. You saw a room with reanimated bodies and parts behind glass, yes? Rolth's laboratory is adjacent to that chamber. But be warned, his methods of experimentation are crude and juvenile. You may not like everything you find."
Cassandra can see that the surgical table's restraints are adjustable and could hold a creatures with a variety of sizes - or crush the life out of them if adjusted to be too tight. Ruan seems to be held firmly, but not tightly enough to injure. You think you understand the mechanism enough to release him without causing injury.
Responding to Cassandra's question, the experimenter answers, "This one is free of disease. I cannot say for certain what Rolth has done with any of his active projects, but the subjects in the holding cells have only been exposed to Vorel's phage to date and have shown no signs of illness."
Terri Riverrun |
"Then I only have two more questions," Terri says with a steely edged voice, "Would you leave a copy of your notes, a full copy of them, with us?"
Terri Riverrun |
"How many have you killed in this endeavour," she asks, her eyes as cold and hard as steel.
Tolenn |
Tolenn had heard enough, "I think we know the answer to that, Terri." she says calmly, "Each blood veil, oh pardon me, Vorel's phage, death can be laid at the feet of this one, Rolth, Davalus....the Queen. Victor, Wednesday ...sieze him."
She then calls to Cassandra, "Cass, if you can operate that thing, free Ruan and confine our 'researcher'. Confine, do not torture, just make sure he can't get out. Oh, and bind his fingers and stuff is mouth. Don't want him disappearing on us, now do we?"
Wednesday Daud |
Wednesday shakes his head. "Unfortunately none of that will work, he could have already left if he wanted to, as easily as a bug or rat scampering through a crack. And I would heavily advise against touching him, lest you wind of a shriveled husk."
"Or were you hoping for that, oh, Ancient Drinker? Sorry, you haven't graced us with your name yet. The last words he directs at their host, all the while wearing a slight smile, only compounded by the scars running across his face and head.
Bill Dunn |
"And I do not intend to give you my name. But you are right, my kind are difficult to hold. So why bother? I am certain you have more productive things to do with your time. Since you have mentioned just Rolth and Davaulus, I gather you have not yet opposed the "lady of the manor". She will not wait forever. And I do hope that Rolth, in his flight, did not return to his laboratory to take his research or kill any witnesses like the other prisoners. But that is of no matter if you feel you must be righteous with me." Try as he might, the creature cannot keep all of the sarcasm out of his voice.
Amira Oenestria |
Amira studies the man in silence assessing how likely the man was to attempt to leave without a fight and how likely he was to actually leave her city.
sense motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Wednesday Daud |
"My apologies for the trespass in asking for your name when you do not wish to divulge it. But what of this Lady? Care to speak any of your contractual mistress?" Wednesday keeps up his polite demeanor, though the years keep him from affecting the Ardealian accent common to the Dauds.
Terri Riverrun |
At the mention of Rolth killing those trapped in his lab, Terri turns to Tolenn.
"I don't like it any more than you do, but I think we've got more pressing matters," she tells the paladin before turning to the undead creature.
"I don't suppose you'd wish to help us, so I'll just thank you for agreeing to let us have your notes. However, I do not condone what you have done here, and pray to whatever dark power you serve that I never see you again," she tells him as golden fire flows down her hair.
Turning, she rushes to the doors that the thing had said lead to Rolth's Laboratory.
Amira Oenestria |
"If you ever set foot in my city again, not even the dust of your bones will leave." Amira says calmly striding after Terri.
Victor Rivilon |
While Victor was not versed much in lore, he could still guess what Wednesday was hinting at when he said 'Ancient Drinker'. Few things annoyed him like letting a man as demented and twisted as this walk away but they had to pick their battles...not that it made it anymore easy.
The mask of the queen's tool fell instantly when Victor saw no reason in keeping it, the frown that usually marred his facade returned with a vengeance. He looked upon the vampire with open malice, his grey eyes not breaking their gaze with the eyes of this aged monster "I'll make this simple...ya ever step into my town again and I'll make ya regret it and beg for it to end" With his threatening words laid bare and his true feelings released from behind the veil of lies, Victor left the blood-sucker behind and followed after his companions. The shadows shaking and rattling slightly as he stepped through them, as if in response to his still burning fury.
Bill Dunn |
The creature stands passive at Terri's, Amira's, and Victor's threats. But he does respond to Wednesday's question.
"Ah, the Lady Andaisin. Priestess of Urgathoa. She claims a special connection with her patron beyond that of a normal priestess. I have not seen direct evidence of it, and most religious people claim such nonsense as a matter of course, but there is an intangible something about that woman that gives even me pause."
Wednesday Daud |
"Ah, then thank you for time and answers, Senir." Wednesday says with the slightest hint of a bow before glancing over at Tolenn to see what her response would be.
Cassandra Wagner |
"Blah blah blah intimidating stuff blah." Cassandra mutters absently as she works the controls to release the poor prisoner hidden inside.
Tolenn |
Tolenn looks at Daud as reveals the man's undead nature, eyebrow raised as if to say "Really?
Her hand tightens on the hilt of her scimitar, the leather strip there creaking. Watching, she ponders the creature before her, talking as if nothing were untoward, merely griping about his working conditions, like a common man.
But this was no common man, Tolenn thought as she waited out her companion's heated warnings. Seeing Daud's polite dealings with the creature took Tolenn by surprise, her grip on her weapons loosening.
"I now know what you are. And I think you know what I am. Tolenn says in a quiet but intense voice "I'm sure you realize your good fortune that we have a greater evil to deal with, circumstances that prevent me from dealing with you as my oaths insist. However, I am not without manners. Forgetting a moment your unholy state, you are obviously educated and urbane, and I will address you as such. I thank you for your aid this day, begone, plague Korvosa no longer with your presence . Come, Wednesday, let us help Cassandra with Ruan.
Wednesday Daud |
Hanging his head slighty at the Paladin's silent admonishment for trying to tiptoe around the creature's nature Wednesday nontheless says a quick prayer to Sarenrae in his head, his first prayer ever actually, before he goes about as Tolenn instructs in trying to free Ruan.
Bill Dunn |
The young man strapped to the table, whom the vampire identified as Ruan, is unconscious. His arms and shoulders are patchwork of bruises and marks from blood draws and injections and he seems a bit dehydrated but nothing that will be life-threatening as long as he remains stable. Releasing him from the iron restraints is a matter of a few minutes of cranking on levers. He stirs a couple of times during the process but it is clear that it will take either hours of rest or healing magic to get him moving on his own.
The vampire, meanwhile, busies himself with crating up a number of pieces of equipment but otherwise does not interfere with freeing the young man.
Meanwhile, Terri, Victor, and Amira can easily find another lab based on the vampire's directions. They find a room with eight iron beds equipped with manacles and stained leather straps. Six of them are occupied - one occupant appears to be dead, two more appear feverish with their bodies wracked by ragged coughing, the final three are occupied by men who gnash their teeth and strain at their bindings. They make unintelligible sounds, more grunts and growls than speech.
Between the beds are several small tables strewn with gore-soaked pans, flasks of mysterious liquids, sheafs of notes, and all manner of cruel-looking cutting instruments. A sizable brown-crimson stain covers much of the eastern wall, as if all the blood from a body once held there exploded in a single violent eruption.
Also visible is a set of sturdy-looking iron doors. (Since there's not much point in hiding it long, I've included the visual for the cells on the map.)
Terri Riverrun |
Terri looks over the poor souls trapped here, trying to see if there was anything to be done for them.
Heal: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Terri Riverrun |
Terri warily moves closer to the three thrashing about, hoping that she is merely wrong and these poor souls hadn't suffered the fate she fears they have.
Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
trying to find out what kind of undead these guys are.
Victor Rivilon |
Victor looked about the room, his frown growing deeper than before. There was little he can do to help these people and having just let that vampire escape was only adding to the anger within him Get angry later, just focus on what you can do He said to himself before placing an open palm in front of himself and concentrating, a small, pulsing dark globe appeared and remained hovering over his hand.
Victor casts Detect Magic
Bill Dunn |
The three writhing bodies appear to be some form of zombie. They are also, however, clearly showing symptoms for blood veil, so they may be some new variety of plague zombie - walking dead created to spread disease.
Victor scans about the room and finds no active enchantments that are detectable. There are some faint, lingering magical auras among the vials on the table, now empty save for a little bit of sludge at the bottom.
Terri Riverrun |
Terri says a brief prayer over the writhing corpses before putting an end to their suffering.
Coup de Grace 1: 3d10 + 3 ⇒ (8, 3, 6) + 3 = 20
Coup de Grace 2: 3d10 + 3 ⇒ (8, 6, 4) + 3 = 21
Coup de Grace 3: 3d10 + 3 ⇒ (4, 5, 3) + 3 = 15
And her weapon has reach, so any explodifying zombie shouldn't get on her.
Wednesday Daud |
Looking over the dead and dying, particularly the experimental wounds and status rather than out of pity, and even less so once Terri began putting them to rest, Wednesday froze once he heard the voice call out.
"Yes, do you need any assistance?" Wednesday said vaguely once he moved over to the door, hoping the vocal distortion caused by the plague mask would be of some aid.
Amira Oenestria |
"Looks like we're about to say hello to the bastard responsible for this place." Amira says, weapons ready.
Terri Riverrun |
Terri takes up position behind Wednesday, ready to skewer the person if it was Rolth.
Prepared Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Cassandra Wagner |
Cassandra, after releasing the poor slob in the chair, drags him along after the others. She sets him onto a bed in the zombie room, though she doesn't use the optional restraint system.
"Ooooh. Someone's behind the door." the wizard says. She hops up and knocks on it.
"Hello! The plague leaped out of people's bodies and mutated into giant monsters that went rampaging through the building and out into the city. Could you help us?"
Tolenn |
Tolenn helps Cassandra bring Ruan into the other room, laying him gently down on the bed.
She rests her hand on his brow, and murmurs a prayer to Saranae, her goddesses warm power flowing through her into the unfortunate man.
Lay On Hand, Mercies:Shaken,Disease: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 5) = 10
Amira Oenestria |
Despite the potential danger on the other side of the door, Amira has to work hard to restrain the urge to snicker.
Bill Dunn |
With Tolenn's ministrations, many of his wounds heal and Ruan's eyes flutter open. "No!" he cries out then looks about, disoriented. "Where am I? What is happening?"
Beyond the door, the voice calls out again, "Yes, we need help! We are prisoners here. Get us out!" A few other voices take up the cry for help as well.
Wednesday Daud |
Arching a brow Wednesday made to open the door before stopping himself and turning his head to Amira. "Don't suppose you'd mind checking for traps again, neh?"
Amira Oenestria |
"Considering how nasty the last one was, definitely." Amira says studying the door intently.
Perception:Trapfinding: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Terri Riverrun |
Terri readies herself. She didn't know if this was some elaborate trap, but she wasn't going to assume anything was what it seemed in this place.
Cassandra Wagner |
Cassandra readies herself as well! She gets ready to shunt the first person who comes through the door, should they prove to be hostile.
Park readies himself to eat a date.