Pinkie watches carefully as Cats plays with locked door offering advice here and there.
"Up a little.....ok jiggle it....your sure good at this"
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Being warned by Cats that he'd better not try and destroy The Eye does sting BB a little.
My friend Cats. I would never disregard your feelings by doing something behind your back. You are right, attacking The Eye would betray your trust - without proving to you it is EVIL. I wouldn't think of it.
While I like Pinkie's suggestion of using a Table (good visual too!), it will wait until you are satisfied.
Let's go check out these rooms together!
Seeing that they are trying to unlock the lock, BB will grant Luck to whomever tries to pick the lock a second time.
Remember companions, using the right tools can make a task easier. Let me lend you my most valuable tool - the Grace and insight of Desna.
Cats takes one look at the lock and knows it is a simple design, on of the oldest invented, called a warded lock. No tumblers, no pins, just a small internal maze of walls to navigate. Taking out a slender metal rod with a crossed tip, and ignoring Pinkie's advice, he slips the bolt with surprising ease.
In the room beyond candles array themselves before a violet wall hanging embroidered with the shape of a spiraling comet. Against one wall stands a row of cabinets. This room once served as the chaplain of Briarstone's personal shrine, where he would prepare for the day and seek inspiration for the patients’ mandatory church services by following a strict regimen of self-flagellation. The cabinets contain ecclesiastical records for many of the patients as well as three deep purple cleric’s vestments (suited for a priest of Pharasma), a clean leather lash, and a box containing two scrolls and an old rowan wood wand.
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Walking into the room, BB makes his eyes change a bit - the better to see the items of real importance. His pupils shrink and the whites of his eyes take in the scope of the room.
He calls out anything that is magical (assuming the scrolls are) and reads them with an assumption that they are divine in nature.
After searching high and low -- but only from the comfort of a nice and plush chair -- he asks to see some of the records on the patients. Pulling out the files on Loic, Mura, Bates, Baisily and most importantly the file related to Zandalus.
He takes the files. Moves over to Fearless and stuffs the files in his "handy pack".
Looking at Cats and while not stating the obvious next course of action -- gives a hint.
No doors in this room that allow us to bypass and get to the Admissions Entry Hall.
Going through the patient files here yields files on Loic, Mura, Bates, Baisily, and Zandalus. They are not extremely detailed, and seem like personal notes the chaplain made to help him remember the faithful who visited the Chapel.
Loic Ulsohnen
File begins 6 years ago.
Loic hears the voice of his long dead sister Lucy. Attempts to detect and contact a spiritual presence failed. Deferred to Doctor Losandro's diagnosis of mental hallucinations. Loic favors Pharasma and Shelyn.
Mura Yopchick
File begins 12 years ago.
Mute and distrustful. Attempts at healing failed to restore voice. Doctor Losandro believes mistreatment by father responsible for condition and that silence is self inflicted. Mura has made silent prayers at the icons to Sarenrae on good days, and to Zon-Kuthon, and Groetus when when angry.
Baisily Harbour
File begins 3 years ago.
Baisily sleepwalks. Attempts to detect spiritual possession failed. Cause unknown. Have suggested prayers to Pharasma (of course) and to the Desna, the Tender of Dreams.
Bates Yopchick
File begins 1 year ago.
Bates suffers from falling down sickness. Attempts to heal physical body yielded no effect. Bates has expressed no interest in worshipping the gods.
Ulver Zandalus
A note has been left in this file showing that Doctor Losandro has transferred all documents on Zandalus to her office.
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Brother Butterfly looks up the patient profile of someone he doesn't know, just to get an idea of what type of information is actually in these files.
He does not look into the files of the people that he pulled and put in Fearless’s satchel. Well that's almost truthful. He definitely takes a look at the file for Mura (Mute Female). Checking out her information. He just couldn't help himself, as she intrigues him. As for the other files, he wants to honestly be able to say that he hadn't looked at them -- when he hands them back to their owners .
He does want to look, but he fully expects the curiosity of Fearless and the cat like qualities of Cats to accomplish his research job for him. He'll just have to remember to ask them what the files said at a later time.
The Exception is Zandalus. His main goal is reviewing Zandalus’s file. Showing everybody the note that is the only thing Z’s file holds.
Ulver Zandalus
A note has been left in this file showing that Doctor Losandro has transferred all documents on Zandalus to her office.
I think after the kitchens, we might need to take a detour and inspect Dr. Losandro’s office.
**********The scrolls grant the reader - if you are skilled - to cure someone and heal wounds. The second scroll will grant sanctuary from someone attacking you.
Cats stands up, clapping his own hands together as he gets the door opened.
"Get a look of cat!? I did that! Door open!" Cats pushes open the unlocked door and steps inside.
He is immediately drawn to the records, but is disappointed by there being nothing on him. Not his name, not where he came from, nor why he was there.
He takes a bit of time to read through the files and then sits around, disappointed that there was no way around.
"What's behind this door?" Cats tries the west door.
The second door in the Chsplain's Shrine is also locked, but easily bypassed through the other door in the hallway. Inside a nest of cushions and linens squeezes between the room’s rear wall and a battered desk covered in folded paper animals. A sculpted emblem of a spiraling comet overlooks the otherwise ransacked room.
This room once served as the office of Briarstone’s chaplain. After the survivors holed up in this area, they ransacked the room for fuel, turning bookshelves into rewood and stu y ecclesiastical treatises into kindling. The desk proved too awkward to break up swiftly, but its time may soon come.
With noise and disturbing outbursts common in the chapel, Winter asked a soft-spoken nurse named Tolman to handle two of the more fragile survivors, Brenton and Maeve, to keep them calm and safe. Tolman has done so admirably, distracting them with paper folding crafts. Maeve is working on animals, while Brenton is perfecting an orchid-like shape.
Pinkie takes his time poking around in the rooms nooks and crannys making sure nothing useful gets missed.
"I'm gonna check it......I said ill get to it....Hey Brother Butterfly do ghosts sleep?.....Yes I think you are all getting cranky and need a nap......no I don't need one I know whats making me cranky."
As the morning carries on Fearless pulls the pearl back out and continues to study it as lost artifacts seem to intrigue him and his overly curious nature.
'This is going to be a tough nut to crack." He says as he places the pearl back. He nearly leaps out of his skin as the other beginto hoot and holler from the hallway again.
Fearless pushes his way into the crowded room. "Just making all this noise for the Walleye now? Obviously screaming at it like a distant wife didn't do anything before, why would it now?"
He looks about the room, picking up the Rowan wood wand.
"This wand will help for many ailments" he begins to explain the trigger word and what exactly the wand does to Brother Butterfly.
"Figure out the wall yet Shapeshifter? Maybe if you change your form and show it what it wants it will stop crying."
Pinkie searches thoroughly, but finds nothing further in the chaplain's office or shrine.
Moving on you go to check the last unopened door beyond the barricade. There you find a muddy courtyard with trampled flowerbeds. On all sides, stark gray walls climb toward a narrow gap of sunless sky producing steaming rain and strange thunder. A shedlike structure to the southeast lies largely collapsed.
Cats pokes around the courtyard, similarly disappointed with it as he was the other two new rooms. He takes his time to pick over the shed (both for tools and potential burnables).
He then turns his attention to the sun gap. He looks up at it as if measuring his chances of escaping through it.
The Twin follows along with Cats into the courtyard and sees the opening in the ceiling. His eyes light up at the sight of the sky, despite the overcast nature of the day and he silently motions to the Snake as it slithers over to the wall and tries to climb.
Seeing that the Snake might reach the top without him, he quickly moves over to the fallen shed and investigates the contents of the dilapidated outdoor building. "Yo. Kathmandu. Find something to climb. Perhaps we can escape out of that hole in the ceiling..." he calls to the man staring up at the same possibility of escape.
Fearless peeks around the damp and gloomy courtyard. Running his fingers through his greasy and disheveled hair he scratches his smooth face. "Starting to look like the only way is through the Walleye. Unless someone can climb up through the small hole and look for some help."
He scavenges around the courtyard to create a make-shift hill or small tower to climb up to peek out of the hole. Using the large rocks in the rubble-filled hallway to help support it as best as he can. It is grueling and back-breaking labor but it beats talking about it.
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Following the rest of the group to the courtyard, Brother Butterfly stays under the doorway as he doesn't want to get wet. He silently watches the others and their attempts to climb the steep and seemingly sheer walls.
No chance I am going to be able to get my "almost fat ass" up those walls.
When he hears Fearless talk about how the only exit is through The Eye, he nods his head in agreement. raising his hand and extending his finger in an "ahh-hha " type of finger waggle.
He watches, hoping that Ghouls or other creatures - like centepedes come out of the rubble or brush.
Those that venture out into the courtyard discover that the rain splattering on them is very hot. A few moments later and the heat is almost scalding!
Reflex
"Ah cattlespot! The rain! It burns!" Cats hops back under cover, certain that the rain sucks flumph.
Cats looks into the burning pain and decides not to check on the shed without a plan.
"I bet the solution to all our prayers is in that shed...just need to find a way out there."
Fearless runs from the rain as his clothes sizzle and a noxious fume rises into the air around him.
"I'm not going back out there. That rain f$#!ing hurts. You go to the shed if you want."
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Burning Rain? Brother Butterfly reflects on his decision NOT to go into the courtyard. Smiling to himself. He was just being a bit selfish, thinking more about not wanting the rain to ruin his clothes -- his nice, beautiful new clothes. He even just painted a holy symbol onto his cloak and was worried that the rain wood smear it.
I guess you made the right decision after all.
Speaking to the party, but mostly to Cats.
If it would help, I'm fairly certain that Desna will grant you the ability to endure harsh elements like this for a time. But that might need to wait till tomorrow --as I focused most of my prayers and spiritual energies on Her guidance to destroy the WallEye.
Speaking of which, that seems our only remaining option. Leaving the exploration of the courtyard until tomorrow.
If you are intent on checking out the shed – that looks destroyed -- we can ask Lady Winter if she can help against the elements.
What do you think?
The Twin and his companion quickly retreat into the building to avoid being scalded. His face is dour as he says. "It appears it is time for the eye to perish so that we may leave. "
He pulls out the magical dagger and looks to Brother Butterfly. "Gather them up. Let's kill it. "
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"Hold on, hold on! Gimme a minute...that shed," Cats complains. "Let me go cat on it."
Cats prepares himself to brave the burning rain to go see if there is anything worth recovering in the shed.
Reflex
Reflex
Reflex
Reflex
Cats will dig through the shed looking for things of interest. After grabbing what he can, he will sprint back to safety.
Perception
Determined to leave no shed unsearched, Cats throws his leather armored arm over his head and runs out into the scalding rain. Crossing the courtyard he does a quick, but thorough search of the shed, but finds nothing of note in the debris.
Running back he survives the rain and avoids getting burned.
Fearless watches Cats as he braves the acidic rain. Seeing him come back empty handed he laughs. "You one of those sadistic types that like to inflict pain on themselves. Or do you just have nine lives?"
He jests with the Catman as he follows the Twin back to the Walleye.
Cats shakes himself off once he gets back under cover, unhappy that his search returned nothing.
"Well, nothing ventured, nothing catted," Cats quips back to Fearless. "And it's time to try to get by the eye, *sigh*," Cats agrees, finding no other way forward and still mostly disturbed by the burning rain.
"Brother Butterfly, any idea why the sky is crying acid?" Cats asks as he moves back towards the Eye. "Cat doesn't seem normal."
Before letting Twin begin to jab the eye, Cats tries once to talk his way past.
"Hey, Mr. Eye? Cat we get by you? We need to get to the others side...and you're cataracting our path out."
Diplomacy - Cats smiles politely.
The Eye does not respond to Cats' polite words.
Cats moves away, back up and letting the Twin and Brother at the thing.
"I catted to be nice. I did," Cats throws up his hands and moves to the back, out of the way.
The Mariner joins the others at the eye, "Maybe it is waiting to read a secret pass phrase or something? I got these strange words on my arms..." He rolls up his sleeve and shows his scars to the eye from a distance. "hmm?"
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Like all others that have approached, the Eye focuses upon The Mariner, but it does not respond to the scarred words upon his arm. Its gaze trembles like a cornered animal, like a person haunted, scared and confused, but ready to lash out if provoked in the slightest way.
Gathered at the Eye, the Watchmen watch it, watching them.
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Watching Cats do his Wildcat jumping and bucking and bronco-ing just to come back empty handed leaves BB with his jaw dropped to the floor.
*********************
With Cats blessing, BB proceeds to map out an attack plan.
Okay, Twins, on my mark, I need you to draw it's attention by attacking it. Try to attack it in such a way as to not get gouged by it's beak like bite.
I will then move in and use some of the grace and help Desna has provided. Then, I will need The Mariner to come in after me and whallop it. I will try to hurt it some more and back out so The Twins and Mariner can do their thing. Hopefully The WallEye will dissipate quickly from our assault.
BB will fight defensively and touch attack using the cure lights spell. First round getting rerolls to help the results. The next round, I may get attacked and so should have splintmail and fighting defensively to help my AC. I will then CLW's again and move out of range.
Also, Did my religion roll above help with the Hot rain? Cats asked a question and I want to answer him.
Assuming agreement
On mark, get set, Twins GO!
luck
Cure Lights Wounds as attack
luck
"I think it'll see us coming..." the Mariner scratches his bald top then shrugs, waits for Brother's spell to take effect then charges at the eye.
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Cats stands back, waits to see how he can help or what happens next.
"Uh, cat I do anything?"
" If it can be hit with weapons why dont you just stand back and shoot it?"
Fearless quietly observes the entire scene from the back as he watches each blow and reaction from the wall eye to try and come up with a solution.
He sees if the weapons have any effect before firing his crossbow into the strange creature. It is a little hard for him to see at first as he cranes his body all about to get in a good angle.
Following Brother Butterfly's lead the Twin sends his serpent at the Eye.
The serpent's teeth latch onto the thing, but fail to bite hard enough to damage it.
Brother Butterfly moves in and touches the Eye. His healing energy burns it with white fire, but does not destroy it.
The Mariner charges in, but in his haste his bill clangs on the ceiling before glancing off to the side, failing to land solidly on the Eye.
The Eye shivers and the burned and blackened fungus begins is slightly restored. It then lurches forward at Brother Butterfly, its eye-teeth snapping closed right on his arm!
INITIATIVE
Cats (10/10)
The Twin (10/10)
Eidolon (6/6) mage armor
The Mariner (16/16)
Fearless (9/9)
Pinkie (10/10)
Brother Butterfly (2/10)
Argus Eye -6
Round 2
Cats tries to suppress a snicker as the holy (and *totally* not pompous) is bitten nearly through his pious arm. However, feeling guilty, he raises his bow to fire through the melee at the Eye.
"I'm catting sorry about this. But we need to get cat," Cats complains as he shoots.
to hit; (-cover,-combat)
damage.
AC: 17 (dex + leather)
HP: 10/10
Fearless laughs. "Quit flicking the damned thing. Didn't you see the card snake bounce right off of it. Your weapons won't do any good. Double B is the only one to hurt it and it nearly took his arm with it." He says as he holds his arms up in the air, not taking any part in this madness until he thinks of a better method or weakness in the eye.
The Twin sees the feeble attacks and looks down to his dagger and thinks that it is surely not going to work if the Snake's fangs failed to penetrate the eye. "It doesn't appear to be normal. An eye should be weak to attacks, but this is strong." says the Twin choosing to step back away from combat. "I cannot damage it."
He thinks about the few interactions with the eye and only remembers it crying out ammonia and calling out 'Who am I become'. "Perhaps we have gone about this all wrong. It attacks when attacked and asked a question..." he says, scratching his chin.
"Mr. Eye!" the Twin calls out to the enemy. "You are a giant eyeball attached to a door that we need to pass through." he says, trying to explain what it has become. "You drip down terribly pungeant tears and are very resilient to attack."
"It doesn't have ears though, so I wonder if it can hear. Though, it doesn't have a mouth and it talked, so who am I to judge..." he says, hoping his words have some effect.
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YAAARRRGGHHH!!! Screaming in pain at the vicious assault from the Argus Wall.
stupid, stupid, stupid fat man. It was my plan and I didn't even do it right. I went too soon and nearly lost my arm because of it.
I did some good damage to it, and need to keep up the attack, but I need to redirect the thing's focus.
Placing his near crippled hand on his Butterfly tattoo he forgoes healing himself in order to keep up the attack on the wall.
Give me courage. I am weak, but YOU are strong.
Cats' bolt bounces off harmlessly, but Brother Butterfly's energy continues to burn away at the Eye!
Fearless and the Twin hold back.
INITIATIVE
Cats (10/10)
The Twin (10/10)
Eidolon (6/6) mage armor
Brother Butterfly (2/10)
Fearless (9/9)
The Mariner (16/16)
Pinkie (10/10)
Argus Eye -9
The Mariner winds up and takes another swing at the Eye.
His polearm scratches the Eye and it cries out again.
Without a target in range the Eye trembles and shakes, it's eye-teeth struggling to reach the Mariner. Meanwhile, the damage inflicted continues to heal.
INITIATIVE
Cats (10/10)
The Twin (10/10)
Eidolon (6/6) mage armor
Brother Butterfly (2/10)
Fearless (9/9)
The Mariner (16/16)
Pinkie (10/10)
Argus Eye -9
Round 3
Cats realizes the futility of trying to use the bow through the crowd of people. He moves up the hallway, stowing his bow. He moves to address the guards.
"Hey, cat I borrow a longspear, just for a bit? I wanna go cat that thing in the eye," Cats asks totally nicely.
Diplomacy
AC: 17 (dex + leather)
HP: 10/10
The guards look at Cats like he's some kind of patient from an asylum, but York gives the word and they hand over a longspear.
Meanwhile, Brother Butterfly channels more energy, stalling the healing process, but doing little real damage to the Eye.
The Mariner slams his polearm into the thing again, ripping a chunk of fungus free. The Eye seems barely able to cling to the door now.
Initiative - All Players up!
Argus Eye -13
"HHHMPH!" the Mariner throws his entire weigh into the swing, hoping to poke its eye out once and for all.
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Fearless watches the slow and painful process. "Seems Desna is having second thoughts on you damaging evil defenseless Walleyes."
He chips in as he finds a nice crate to sit on. He places his foot up on the crate and rests his elbow on his knee with his fist under his chin.
Fresh blood continues to drip down BB's arm. "Desna may want to touch you up a bit before you fall over big guy."
Fearless grabs a dirty, blood soaked rag and wraps it around Brother Butterfly's arm. He loosely shakes off the dust debris and a severed hand that falls loose before applying the field bandage. He slowly slides the severed appendage to the side with his foot hoping Brother Butterfly doesn't notice as he is too preoccupied with the wall.
Cats comes running back just as Brother Butterfly channels more energy from his goddess. As he and the Mariner ready their weapons to attack the Eye it suddenly bursts into white flame and burns away in a flash that leaves cinders and ash drifting in the hall.
The door beyond, now free from the strange manifestation of the Eye, is now easily pushed open. Beyond is the Admissions Hall of Briarstone, or what's left of it.
Designed to inspire a sense of reliability and prominence, the entry hall was once one of the prides of the institution. Now, its marble floor is broken, the path to the observation halls above are crumbled, and its admitting nurses have fled. White tile, spider-webbed with cracks, line the cathedral-like walls. A prominent, oval desk faces staunch double doors, while hard benches and portraits of somber doctors line the walls. Regal stairs ascend toward a second floor, but rubble has crushed the upper flights, blocking passage. Lofty windows, gridded by bars, reveal yellow mist seething just beyond. Unlike most of the asylum’s rooms, the ceiling here is 20 feet high.
A number of paths lead from the entry, including several doors, the stairs, and a broad hall stretching east. Unfortunately, not all paths are open. The stairs can be climbed up to the landing, approximately 10 feet off the ground, but another wall of rubble blocks the flight of steps leading higher. There is nothing beyond this wall, as much of the asylum’s second floor has collapsed. The hall to the east is blocked by a wall of rubble blocks.
Stepping into the new area of the asylum, you all feel a sense of accomplishment. You have survived, found a place of refuge, and fought to gain further footholds against the horrors of Briarstone. You may not remember who you were before the asylum, but you are surely becoming more than the mad patients you awoke as.
Fearless' jaw drops. "Well, I'll be damned.he did it!" Fearless peeks in around the door, half expecting the Walleye to return and bite his own arm off.
If Fearless doesn't see any traps of otherwise threats to his life he slowly creeps into the room and begins to rummage through the many desks.
"There has to be something in this place to tell us what is happening. Walleye's, Acid rain, and shapeshifters don't just appear out of thin air."