Tunder grabs the man's smock. "This is no courtesy call. We came to see Grayst Sevilla. Sheriff Hemlock said you were taking care of him."
"Are you Habe? We have a letter from the sheriff explaining our interest. Seems like you don't get many visitors." Barek walks over to the door and hand him the letter.
"What do you know about the incident that sent Grayst here?"
Seldon, concentrating on maintaining his spell, merely fixes his gaze on the man. [/ooc]
The man, who is mostly back out the door, steps back in and looks at you cautiously. "I am Dr Habe. Erin Habe. I am the Director of this place. You say the Sheriff sent you and you want to see Grayst Sevilla?" He smiles coldly and looks at you askance. "I'm afraid that's impossible. You see Mr Sevilla is in a very delicate state and can't have visitors. Now, if you'll excuse me..."
He again steps toward the door, quickly opening it again.
Squeezing herself quietly between herself and the exit, Mirela smiles broadly and speaks in a more sultry and persuasive tone "Please Director, our friend Seldon is a healer and practiced physician himself; surely at least he can visit Mister Sevilla under your constant supervision, no?" Mirela looks squarely at the doctor, making sure to draw his attention towards herself.
Selena remains outside looking through windows trying to open the shutters with her open/close cantrip. If that does not work then she will come back inside to see what the group is doing.
Thorn looks and stays by Selena's side. "What about this door should we knock?" He asks Selena letting her decide what to do.
It wouldn't hurt to try it I suppose. It looks like maybe it is more of a back door than anything. Perhaps we should stay here to prevent anyone from running out if the others have luck in the front?
Selena will let Thorn knock as he is able to knock louder and get someone's attention than she is. She will stand back and hold her staff securely ready to call upon her magics if something should transpire.
Barek steps up to try and block Habe from closing the door. "Sir, you need to see this letter. Sevilla is a witness to what may be a serial case of murders. The murderer will strike again, and if we do not question Sevilla, we may not be able to stop it. Lives are at stake here."
In Reception
Mirela's flirtatious advance catches the attention of Dr Habe, and he stops and turns to face her. Stroking his chin, he says "Perhaps...just perhaps. Yes, that might work. I would, of course, have to insist that you stop questioning poor Mr Sevilla if I gave the command. The interview would have to end right then, and you would have to leave straight away. You see, my dear, nervousness only exacerbates his condition..."
He pulls the bell rope, and an odd looking orderly, dressed all in hospital whites, appears. The man has scaly, red skin, small devil horns on his head, and a forked tail projects behind him swishing calmly. "Gortus, please get Gurnak and bring Mr Sevilla to the dayroom. These folks would like a few words with our newest patient."
Gortus, the tiefling orderly, looks at you and rolls his eyes as if you might be the crazy ones, but he makes a small bow to Dr Habe, and withdraws.
Habe leads you through the south door from the reception area, which leads into a large dayroom. It looks like the inmates here do some sewing and stitching work, as the room's few table are cluttered with scraps of cloth, and other sewing paraphernalia.
The room is large 20x45' or so, and takes up most of the first floor of the building. Three doors line the west wall, while to more appear on the far (south) side of the dayroom.
You sit there for a few minutes waiting for the attendants to bring in the patient.
Outside
The back door is a very solid, thick wooden door. As Thorn raps on it, an exceedingly ugly, man opens the door. His skin is black, his eyes a lizard-like blue. He wears hospital whites and speaks with a lisp. "Yeth, can I hewp you? Dewiverwieth are thuppothed to be made to the fwont doo'. Thop knocking pleath." The man's attention is diverted to something inside, and he makes a shooing gesture with his hand, and turns closing the door behind him. You see tiny black vestigial bat-wings on his back as he turns.'
"Sorry did you just say deliveries? at the front door?" Thorn asks still not sure if he heard it correct and puts his solid booted right foot in the doorway so it can't be closed.
Selena backs up Thorn as he makes his play to find entrance to the building. There was no answer at the front door. Now we need to speak with a doctor Habe about a resident here.
Tunder follows after the doctor at the rear of the group. He figures Mirela and Seldon to be better at speaking to the crazy man than he would be.
Barek stands in the room with his arms crossed. "Anyone else creeped out by this place? You don't think he's hiding something do you?"
Happy to see that Doctor Habe has become more agreeable, Mirela smiles broadly as he relents "Of course Dr. Habe, we completely understand." Looking at the others, Mirela nods and motions for them to follow.
Nodding in agreement, Mirela paces the room and whispers "This place is incredibly creepy, I agree Barke."
Outside
The tiefling man, looks frustrated at Thorn. "Yeth, dewevewies in fwont. Doctow Habe is with some visitows now. If you wait in weception, he wiw see you soon. Now pwease move your foot, siww. I have wowk to do inside."
He grits his teeth in a snarl and balls his hands into fists, the aggressive stance belying his kind, if garbled, words.
Trying to stave off the fight Selena places a hand on Thorn while speaking to the tiefling in a coy manner, Perhaps if you would just lead us through from the back here that would be quicker and easier sir. We mean no disrespect and thank you for your time. It isnt too much to ask please.
diplomacy
The looks over his shoulder, and nods. He steps back holding the door open for you, and you see the rest of the group sitting with Dr Habe. The tiefling opens a door on the south wall and climbs stairs set there.
Soon, both of the tieflings return with the patient, Grayst Sevilla, between them. The man's skin is pale and looks gangrenous, his hair is wild and his eyes milky white.
The man is mostly unresponsive to stimuli, and wrapped in a straitjacket.
"As I said, questioning him may be difficult, but you are welcome to try. We have not been able to get him to say anything more than a few nonsense words. If he becomes agitated, I will have to ask you to leave the room, while Gortus and Gurnak help restrain him. Agreed?"
Seldon casts one glance around the waiting room once more before closing his eyes tightly, blinking as if awaking from a dream as the blue glow suffuses. He stares with obvious distaste at the straight-jacket. "I might question you decision to restrain the man in such a fashion, doctor." Seldon says, curtly. Remembering himself, he apologetically murmurs a proverb, "... yet the pilgrim who insults his hosts shall lead a cold and hungry journey. I'll not question your methods under your roof."
Wordlessly examining the patient, he lifts his chin and stares into the man's glazed, unseeing stare, his suspicions confirmed. He glances over his shoulder with a deadpan expression, his eyes betraying some hidden meaning to his words. "I am inclined to agree with Tunder. Something about this entire situation stinks of rot."
Turning back to the patient, Seldon places a gentle hand on his shoulder. "My dear friend Mirela is just going to ask you a few questions." he says, soothingly, stepping away to give the patient some room.
Thorn shrugs and nods at Dr. Habe's statement, then asks, "So what seems to ail him?" He simply asks and views the poor man from a distance.
From Seldon's remark, he makes sure that he stays next to Dr. Habe and if he tries to flee he will try to trip him.
Tunder shifts his footing to strike out at the closest intern.
As Seldon makes his observations and shares his message with the group, the patient seems non-responsive to all outside stimulus, just standing there head drooping and shoulder slumped. The two tiefling orderlies keep sharp eye, and Dr Habe seems to be studying the curves of Mirela's leathers more than the patient.
As Seldon steps aside and Mirela steps up to question Sevilla, a sudden change occurs. Grayst milk-white eyes bulge, and he speaks in a raspy dry voice which rises in volume and ferocity until he is nearly shouting the end. He is clearly speaking to Mirela and no one else: "He said. He said you would visit me. His Lordship. The one that unmade me said so. He has a place for you. A precious place. I'm so jealous. He has a message for you. He made me remember it. I hope I haven't forgotten. The master wouldn't approve if I forgot. Let me see...let...me...see..."
The orderlies grab Grayst and Dr Habe snaps too. "I think that's quite enough. You have upset him and..." But his words are cut off as Grayst shouts the message he was to deliver to Mirela.
"He said that if you came to his Misgivings, that if you joined his Pack, he would end his harvest IN YOUR HONOR."
The patient literally screams the last three words, then collapses to the floor, slipping from the grasp of the tieflings. He issues a low moan and lies there rocking.
"... Foxglove Manor."
"Foxglove manor? That nobleman we rescued? He's behind this?" He looks to see if the name Foxglove causes any reaction in Sevilla.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Finally seeing the patient, Mirela experiences both pity and revulsion at the sight of him. Clearly he was diseased, even Mirela could tell that. Glancing over at Seldon as he delivers his prognosis, her eyes widen at the thought of the undead.
Mirela smiles kindly on the pitiful patient while moving closer to him, clearly not expecting much more of response than he gave Seldon. His sudden flurry of activity and speech clearly catches the young varisian girl completely off guard, as she falls backward in horror with a startled yelp. Listening to the diseased man, her face own expression slowly goes from startled to a mixture of anguish, disgust and terror.
As Grayst slips away from his captors landing near her, Mirela scrambles on the ground in a panicked attempted to move away from him and yells "Get him away from me! Just get him away from me, please!" Entirely overtaken by fear, Mirela begins to weep uncharacteristically "Ohhh w-why is this h-happening? I don't understand any of this!"
Suddenly it dawns on Mirela, as the pieces start coming together. Looking over towards Seldon and Barek, she fights back her sobs and wipes her arms across her red puffy eyes "Aldern Foxglove... is he c-capble of such horror? End the harvest in my honor... what?" Shaking her head, Mirela suddenly began to realize the gravity of the situation and covered her mouth while whispering "Oh no, I really am responsible for all this... I must really be cursed."
"Foxglove? That arrogant fop? He is too wimpy to do something like this. Too simple."
"This man is in the advanced stages of ghoul fever. What he says could be pure delusion..." Seldon says, trying to console Mirela as best he can before rounding on Habe. "You! You keep this man restrained on the verge of death without sending word to the temple, and you have the nerve... the nerve to call yourself a healer!?" the elf says, incensed. He draws his sword and points it at Habe's throat, eyes narrowing. "I aught to drag you to Magnimar in chains."
Selena's mind spins with what they just discovered in such a few short minutes. It seems that the 'man' they were looking for was none other than the gentleman that had a crush on Miri. To make matters worse it seems like this fellow either was a ghoul originally and was able to conceal it or had recently been turned into a ghoul. Regardless the man before then was in late stages of ghoul fever and may soon turn into one himself...Seldon, don't worry about that now. How long has the man been infected and do you think you can help him?
Selena backs out of the room to create space for the others should hostilities arise. She keeps her eye on both the doctor and the diseased man though while gripping her staff securely.
Barek pulls Miri away from Sevilla, shielding her from the man. "Dr. Habe! Control him!" He looks at Seldon, then back at Habe.
"Is this true? Did you know he has ghoul fever? He's been infected by an undead creature! Perhaps the same creature who is killing people in Sandpoint. You can't hope to cure him here. Seldon is right, a priest is his only hope now."
Tunder readies Rumilda. "Seldon, if you can't cure him, I'll deliver him a mercy."
Seeing his kin and the others jump to actions he draws his mighty blade, keen to behind Dr. Habe.
"Don't you dare move or your 'patients' will be the last thing you will need to worry about. Allowing if not letting someone turn undead is one of the vilest evil acts I can think of." He says in an angry whisper to the man, though most can likely hear him.
"I can also deliver a mercy to him too." Indicating Dr. Habe.
With the prisoner dropped to the floor, and Mirela reeling in shock, Seldon turn his blade on the doctor and Thorn quickly follows. At the unexpected provocation, the tiefling guards leap to his defense as the doctor screams in fright at the attack.
Disorder in the Asylum
21 Habe
19 Tunder
17 Mirela
16 Thorn
15 Seldon
12 Gurnak
12 Sevilla
5 Gortus
5 Barek
As the heroes draw their weapons on the peaceful gathering, Dr Habe begins shrieking like a girl and tries to avoid any attacks, but Seldon's readied blade strikes him, drawing blood. The doctor withdraws to the door leading to stairs and fumbles for his key to unlock the door. "We are under attack!" the doctor screams over and over.
Knock it off and put those weapons away!! We are not here to start a fight but find answers. We have what we came here for and the Sheriff will take care of the rest. We are not vigilantes to do as we want. Now stop!
Tunder puts an end to the soon to be ghoul.
Rumilda (Waraxe): 2H, power attack
to hit Damage
Watching Tunder's axe sink into Grayst, Mirela screams and scrambles to get safely away from the fray. Clearly shocked and unable to bring herself to action, Mirela falls to the floor and cowers behind Barek.
"Tunder!" Barek shouts. "Everyone stand down! We cannot kill a witness, no matter what state he's in. We need to share this with the sheriff and bring this man to the church. He may be too far gone, but he is controlled for now."
"As for you, Dr Habe, we need answers. Why have you hidden his condition from everyone?" Barek continues to try and shield Mirela from Sevilla.
"Come quietly and answer for your crimes, Habe! There needn't be any more blood-" Seldon turns abruptly. "Hold Tunder! I can-"
Seldon winces as the axe finds its mark.
As the cacophony of voices cry out, Mirela's wails and Barek and Mirela's voices of reason cry out, Seldon curses himself for escalating the situation, the sight of Mirela so distressed snapping him back to his senses. Cursing himself Seldon sets his jaw, his serene eyes ablaze as he watches how the situation will develop.
Also Mirela, kudos on doing such a good job playing the victim. You're making this adventure all the more chilling.
Disorder in the Asylum - Round 1 - concluded
21 Habe
19 Tunder
17 Mirela
16 Thorn
15 Seldon
12 Gurnak
12 Sevilla
5 Gortus
5 Barek
5 Selena
Tunder quickly grabs his axe and swings it at the remains of Grayst Sevilla. The chop sends blood spurting, but only hastens the man's transition into a ghoul. He lets out a mournful wail, screaming something about "Razors...too many teeth...The skinsaw man is coming" and his transformation is complete.
Mirela is too shocked and surprised to react, only stumbles behind a protecting Barek, her hands over her face hoping this is all a bad dream.
Thorn reacts to the threat posed by the tiefling guards and lays into the nearest, slicing him open, and withdrawing his blade as he slumps to the ground unconscious.
Seldon tries to rectify the violent situation that perhaps his rash actin provoked, but moans inwardly as blood is spilled in the dayroom, first from the patient, then from the tiefling orderly.
Gurnak the surviving tiefling, seeing the rapidity of the end of his partner, drops his knife and yells, "I yiewd, don't kiww me, pwease!"
As he does so, a monstrous Sevilla breaks free from the straitjacket lacing him in place, and lashes out at Tunder with its claws. The lunging attack is sidestepped by Tunder, but he growls at the growing threat at his feet.
Barek takes a defensive posture, trying to shield Mirela from the sudden combat, and the horror that is Grayst Sevilla.
Selena calls for an end to the violence, trying desparately to end the fighting. It appears all the combatants have ended their violent deeds except perhaps for the mindless Sevilla, who still gropes, for Tunder.
End of Round 1
Disorder in the Asylum - Round 2
21 Habe
19 Tunder
17 Mirela
16 Thorn
15 Seldon
12 Gurnak
12 Sevilla
5 Gortus
5 Barek
5 Selena
Habe runs up the stairs and away from the fighting trailing blood behind him.
Tunder continues with his 'mercy' to Sevilla.
Rumilda (Waraxe): 2H, power attack
to hit Damage
The chaos ends with Tunder's war axe finishing off the ghoulish Mr Sevilla, one of the tieflings bleeding on the floor, the other surrendered, and Doctor Habe fled for the upstairs of the asylum.
With combat over for now, things slow back down, and the PC's are free to do what they will.
Hoping to limit the damage done and remove as much tarnish as possible to the group's name, Seldon, can you do something for this tiefling? He should not have to suffer for such rash actions since we are the ones who started the violence and threats.
If he does not then Selena will get out one of the potions of lt healing that she has and use it.
"Shall I go after Habe?" Thorn asks the group ready to run after him if anyone says yes.
Seldon shakes his head at Thorn before answering Selena. "Of course." Seldon says distractedly, already staunching the man's bleeding. Visibly shaken, he cleans the blood off of his hands and, in silence approaches the surrendered tiefling and places a roll of bandages into his hands. "You will need to change his dressing if the bleeding starts again. Take him to the Sandpoint Temple." he says, pausing thoughtfully before producing a wooden Swallowtail pin, the same he purchased at the festival weeks ago. "Give the good father this, and tell him that I sent you."
Picking himself up and taking a steadying breath, Seldon makes a pained glance at Habe. "I did not mean for that to... escalate quite so quickly." he admits. "He had begun to turn, but I could still have saved him from the sickness. Restoring his mind, though, was beyond my skill. Perhaps it is better this way."
"We've seen the condition this doctor keeps his patients in. We cannot let this stand. Let us search this place and rescue those that we can." he says, a severity in his voice. "Perhaps without any more of Rumilda's mercy this time, Tunder?" he adds, without reproach.
When the party are ready to move, Seldon will cast Bull's Strength on Thorn and begin to make his way up the stairs.
Tunder pokes the corpse a couple of times to make sure that it is dead dead before cleaning Rumilda and putting her away. He steps back and watches over the others protectively.
Also Mirela, kudos on doing such a good job playing the victim. You're making this adventure all the more chilling.
After Tunder finally puts Grayst out of his misery, Mirela simply stares at the corpse with her right hand covering her mouth. Though still terrified, the initial panic begins to wain and her breathing gradually returns to normal.
Finally, she starts to clue back into the conversation at hand. Weakly standing up, Mirela looks wide eyed at the others as they discuss what to do with Habe. After a moment or two, Mirela begins to regain her rational thought, though she remains clearly disturbed by the recent revelations.
Finding the Sanatorium stifling, Mirela finally shakes her head resolutely "You'll have to excuse me everyone; I need to get out of this miserable place right now... I, uh, think I'm going to be sick." With that, Mirela turns heel and makes a dash for the door.
Gortus, the surviving tiefling, gives you a baleful look as you explain the care needed for his companion. "Wouldn't be in this situation, if it weren't for you...Don't need no Butterfly Goddess to take care o' our healing." the man mutters under his breath and then half carries, half drags his friend to their quarters which is one of the small rooms on this floor. You hear the lock catch as he slams the door shut.
As you climb the stairs to the second floor, you find a small room that serves as a guardpost. The door has a small peep window into the cellblock beyond, where it appears 5 or 6 prisoner cells are, but the iron-reinforced door is locked.
Tunder looks as Mirela excuses herself and the room clears. "We should leave here now." He says. "Because when the tunnel caves in we already have what we came for. The sheriff and the priest will be told what we found here. I say we let them decide how to go from there. We have other things to worry over.""