Yeah, that does it.
Vorkstag drops off the ceiling and lands at Darius' feet in a crumpled heap.
Darius raises his whip in a furious arch about to rend the creatures head off. He would have been completely justified in taking this things LIFE. They were pure evil and could not be redeemed... BUT he stops short the glow from his whip gone and his anger pulled back. " Well then, I'll do so when it is needed. Jones, would it be better these two alive for sentencing or rather EXECUTION? Not to mention charges for being foul beasts and evidence. "
"As much as I would enjoy destroying these vermin now, it won't do us any good to have that blood on our hands at the trial tomorrow. They are still respected members of the community."
"But that will change when we bring them in looking like the monsters they are."
Darius spits on Vorkstag's unconscious face, " Fine.. I shall make sure this one makes it through like the last. Lets get your floating .. 'companion ' back over here " Darius lashes out with his whip grabbing around Bulldozer's leg and pulling him eventually towards and to the group. He places his hand on the Duegar's unconscious body and lets a pulse off
Bulldozer is conscious, though in no shape to move around.
The fighting has left numerous gashes in Vorkstag's clothing as well as his flesh, and upon moving him the beleagured fabric gives up the ghost.
The tatters of his clothing fall off, revealing a scar underneath.
Both Darius and especially Jones can tell that it is the unmistakeable mark of a blood caiman bite. Jones can recognize from the transcripts of the previous days' trials that the Beast was supposedly bitten by a caiman, but bore no mark of such. Now you know who was really there in Morast, digging up bodies, and who the villagers REALLY chased away there.
Z will step up and lay her hands upon Dozer.
"This might hurt, but he's in no shape to complain anyways."
Z moves her hands across Dozer's wounds cauterizing them shut and then healing them away.
Darius nods at Z's ability " Hrmph.. wasnt aware you could use healing magic.. I guess this makes it interesting. At this point we need to find more proof... or it won't matter what we bring in.. Though I suppose a one of Truth Spell can be handy. Not to mention Skin Stealers such as THIS FILTH can hie as others in their skin. That may have cause some issue with your investigation." He compliment/insults while speaking to Zeke and Jones.
"From what I've heard, it'll be somewhat tricky to get permission to cast a spell at the trial. We should look for some physical evidence as well."
Jones searches the room for clues, but more quickly this time.
-1 Syringe spear still loaded with an exceptionally deadly dose of Deathblade poison.
-2 vials of Blue Whinnis poison.
-2 doses of Black Adder Venom
-2 CLW potions.
-1 potion of Invisibility.
-1 potion of Water Breathing.
-A wand of Acid Arrow (21 charges)
(And 2 empty vials labeled Spider Climb and Bull's Strength)
-A Masterwork Light Mace.
-2 doses of Dust of Tracelessness
-A ring of keys that will unlock ANY door in the factory.
And, of especial deight to Jones, a formula book containing Blur, Fire Breath, Jump, Shield, Invisibility, True Strke, Cure Light Wounds, Darkvision, Bull's Strength, and Endure Elements.
-A collection of books and notes on alchemical reactions that, to the right person, would be worth 500 gp.
-3 packets of Flash Powder.
-5 pots of Alchemial Grease.
In addition, the keys open a cabinet in the back of his room. Inside are an assortment of skins, ripped whole from sapient creatures' bodies. Foremost among these is the skin of an enormous 8 foot tall mongrelamn...who could be confused with the Beast at a glance, and fits Karl's broef description of the monster that attacked the Sanctuary.
Additionally, , there is a secret compartment in this cabinet containing:
-500 gp (everybody add 100 gp to your sheets)
-A silver drinking cup inlaid with obsidian (worth 400 gp)
-6 vials of some sort of alchemical elixir involved with a necromantic process (real purpose unknown. What's your Craft: Alchemy Jones?).
And finaly, a ledger containing names of people who bought body parts from Vorkstag and Grine.
Among these are the names:
-Doctor Brada
-Miller Hargel
-Olga Slavech
-Auren Vrood
-Borgo Znojmo
-Doctor Katarina Vilt
-6 vials of some sort of alchemical elixir involved with a necromantic process (real purpose unknown. What's your Craft: Alchemy Jones?).
+8.
If taking 10 isn't enough I will add
It is an elixir relating to the creation and sustenance of chymickal zombies, a zombie variant that retains the skills and personality it had in life.
"Well, that was fun."
Ezekiel will carry anything that needs carrying.
On his way out, he will check for any remaining Mongrelmen workers, and advise them to leave the city.
By the by, there is still a bit more facility left unexplored, if you care.
"Do you suppose we should check the rest of the complex? There could be something nasty left behind for someone to haplessly stumble upon if we don't."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"I agree. We must be sure not to miss anything important."
He glances at the unconscious forms of Vorkstag and Grine. "Zeke, keep an eye on our new friends."
Ezekiel ties up Vorkstag.
" Well then, let us rip the nails from the ground and turn every board. " Darius assist in exploring. he takes the keys and has some fun his intelligence returning after a moment.
Once descending to the vat room floor, you notice a single door you haven't explored yet.
That door leads to a storage area, containing numerous boxes of usable goods (as well as a few coffins, lots of straw, and several huge bell jars).
-5 pots of Bladeguard
-10 doses of Bloodblock
-5 Silver Weapon Blanches
-5 Cold Iron Weapon Blanches
-1 Adamantine Weapon Blanch
You are all also easily able to notice a secret door leading to a further room to the east, and a pair of double door to the south.
"Secret doors are fun...Errr, provided I'm not the one opening them."
Darius looks to Z with... pity , " This isn't a game, girl. Something's innocence might be at stake not to mention our lives.. this place is riddled with traps. "
"Yeah, well I could burn the whole place to the ground I suppose, wouldn't be any threat of traps then."
This room contains grisly things in jars, two complete skeletons of monstrous creatures, a coffin, and a handcart.
The jars contain various preserved specimens waiting to be shipped, including a preserved drow head, a pickled pair of hill giant eyes, the half-changed head and spine of a wererat, and a trio of chuul tentacles. The skeletons are both owlbears, while the coffin holds the body (preserved with gentle repose) of a recently slain traveler from Tamrivena named Jakob Terrell who Grine poisoned and is sending to a buyer for dissection.
On one of the boxes is a ledger detailing the above, atop which lies a wand of Gentle Repose (12 charges remain).
There is also a grille on the eastern wall (unlocked by Vorkstag's keys) that leads to a sewer tunnel. Presumably this is a secret escape route or way to leave the faciity without being spotted.
Darius is.. not sure which insult to use on Z stupefied by her... suggestion. Once he has a look at the the materials below his fury once again needs a checking " If these creatures aren't hung in court by the people I swear I will do it myself at a later time. Is any of this good enough evidence? "
The floor of this large chamber is hidden beneath the murky water filling the room to just below the bottom of the door. Dozens of perfectly reserved pale cadavers silently float in the ice-cold waters, bumping into each other or against the damp walls with the lapping of the water. The air is still and quiet, broken only by the sound of water lapping against stone walls.
If there are any further threats or treasures, you cannot spot them from where you stand.
Darius looks to Zeke and Jones when it comes to the water " Well I assume you two can swim so most likely something is hidden below the water. Otherwise I think our job is done. "
Darius looks to see if any of the cadavers are of worth.
You get about halfway through the room before noticing anything odd. This time you spot it, out of the corner of your eye, hiding less than 5 feet away , one of the corpse's eyes are alert and watching you intently, rather than the glassy eyed stare the others have. It seems to especially be eyeing Jones' belt, where the pouch with the necromantic vials you found hangs.
The others see nothing.
You are not surprised when the creature bounds up from the water, landing unnaturally nimbly in it, and points at Jones.
"Give me those vials." it says.
Darius can read the zombie like an open book. It may try to be menacing, but it is really acting out of desperation. It NEEDS those vials.
This zombie is a chymickal zombie, an alchemical recreation f what is known as a JuJu zombie, powerful, special zombies who retain the skills and intelligence of those they were in life. They are also not, as mindless undead, outright controlled by their creator.
No, they are instead...coerced into servitude. Unlike normal JuJu zombies which once created are self sustaining, they need a certain alchemical elixir to survive.
Without it, they slowly lose their intelligence and become mere mindless creatures. Many might call this a fate worse than death, and so it serves as an effective incentive to keep the creatures loyal.
Darius is at first ready to smite the creature but his knowledge that the creature could be FORCED into doing so stopped his rage once more. He looks upon the creature with.. Detect Alignment, first starting with Evil, Then Chaotic, Lawful, Good.
" Don't act too hasty. I know what you are and I know you need those vials to live. We MAY be able to help eachother if you were TRULY forced to be down here. A Juju.. well a chymickal zombie "
Sarenrae unfortunately is horribly forgiving and seeing as it's first act was NOT to attack him Darius could NOT smite the creature on sight. Especially when one has a capacity to not be evil.
The creature detects as Lawful.
It seems to relax slightly, though still seems ready to fight or flee at a moment's notice.
"Whatever you want. Given time, I think we could figure out how to make our own, but without those vials..."
"What do you need from us?"
Darius scoffs his fury would not be felt on these creatures. " As much as it disgusts me that your undead are around, you could have been forced or otherwise into this condition. Not giving you the vials would be tantamount to murder as you regress into mindless killers. Not to mention currently you are not evil that I can see. We want information. Tell us what you know and we may well even assist you in your continuation of existence.. Assuming you don't take a..turn for evil. "
Darius cracks his whip against the wall and recoils it back. " Your.. employers.. Vorkstag, Grine.. Tell us everything. "
"Yes, of course...though you probably know more than I do." he jerks his head up and a second zombie pops up out of the water that Darius didn't notice, and they begin to pool their knowledge.
He then explains what Vorkstag and Grine have been up to for the years they've run this factory. The factory is merely a front, though a lucrative one. It allowed them to cultivate their reputation as upstanding members of society (providing needed items to the Lepidstadt area), and also as recluses, who rarely if ever leave their factory.
This made it all the easier to sneak out through their secret sewer route at night, and do what they please.
Vorkstag and Grine were, among other things, serial killers of sorts. Vorkstag loved stealing the skins of his victims (since it let him traipse around the countryside entirely undetected), and Grine simply enjoyed the butchery for its own sake.
They were also grave robbers, and used both of these pastimes to provide corpses and parts of corpses, both fresh and rotting to anyone with deep pockets and loose morals for their research.
They used much of this money to fuel their own personal desires, Grine being somewhat of an anatomist (and his notes containing very detailed reports of vivisections he'd carried out, which while gruesome are quite useful for anyone in the medical profession) as well as an assassin for his god, and Vorkstag being an alchemical necromancer, though not the usual sort. He had lofty ambitions of using SCIENCE! to achieve the same results magic could, and the creatures standing before you now are proof of his mixed success.
The creatures he has created require very powerful magic to create, so in that sense they are a triumph: He has circumvented years of magical research and honing his abilities.
However, they are also a failure. Unlike he had hoped, he could not use these creatures (stolen from the graveyard of a monastery, and having considerable martial arts skill) to further his goals in other parts of teh world. Not only were they not under his control (he lacking the ability to control undead via magic or serum), they were essentially confined to one place. If they did not receive an elixir weekly, they would detoriate, becoming less effective minions all the time (though this last likely proved a lucky break for him, as true unfettered JuJu Zombies would have had no reason to not rip him limb from limb and make their escape).
In short, Vorkstag and Grine (as you may have already guessed) are both murderers and necromancers (as well as inhuman creatures), and are the source of much of the hardship the Lepidstadt area has suffered over the years (the most recent being the destruction of Brada's Sanctuary, and the murders in Morast carried out by Vorkstag in his "Shambling Man" skin).
"I could probably make more of this elixr, though I might need assistance from you, Darius."
"We would be forever in your debt if you helped us."