Ellery moves towards the wall, keeping himself from looking down the hallway. He does his best to blend in as much as possible.
The creature reveals itself to any who can see it,l. It casually strolls down the hallway scrapping its war razor along the wall making a horrible screeching sound. It stands ready to strike anyone with the razor.
"Stay outta this, unless he gets in my head" Dervak says to Rowan and Ellery as he sees them readying to re-enter the battle. He drops the pack and advances. He watches as Theophilus flees past him .
"Goodbye, my friend."
Once Theophilus is past, he calls out, "You want the demon? It wants you too. Beat it out of me, if you can. COME ON!"
Dervak's voice is newly confident. He twirls his falchion as he strolls forward, then holds it in both hands.
Theophilus pats the 1/2 orc on his shoulder.
Good luck!
And he retreats out of sight.
Mara activated the wand to bless her friends. "May the Dawnflower watch over you!", she whispered to Dervak. She stayed behind a ruined section of wall, hoping that the nightmare creature wouldn't notice her.
The creature saunters towards Dervak grinning like a madman. Dervak's first blow slices across the creature's abdomen revealing not entrails but more of the same solid rubbery flesh. The Tatterman grimaces as if in pain for the first time in a long time and then anger as trails of yellow fog trail up out of the wound instead of blood. Dervak's second blow slices the creature's neck, nearly decapitating it. This time a look of surprise as it slumps over in a heap, still grasping the razor tightly and convulsing on the floor.
With the defeat of Zandalus and the Tatterman, the terrible yellow fog surrounding the the asylum slowly dissipates revealing a dawning sun. Robbed of its principal leadership the Apostles in Orpiment almost immediately fall apart. Fortunately, Winter and Dr. Elbourne quickly are able rise to lead the disorganized former patients and provide any critical medical attention needed. York finds that a single rowboat still attached to the dock on the southern end of the island and begins to ferry people to the nearby town of Thrushmoor. It will take some time to finish this task so you have some time to tie up any loose ends in the asylum, should you choose to.
Searching the carnage you caused in the ruined upper floor you find several valuable items. Aggra was wearing a set of bracers of armor +2. On Zandalus's corpse you find an oil of magic weapon, a potion of cure moderate wounds, a potion of invisibility and a +1 light mace. The Tatterman was wielding a war razor +1, but wielding it makes you feel vaguely uncomfortable. When wielded by a humanoid creature this Razor imposes a -1 penalty to saves vs fear. On the Tatterman's finger is a ring with etching on the side that gives the impression of a disembodied mouth with sharp teeth, biting down on any finger wearing it.
Hundred of sketches littering the room are unsettling but could be valuable if sold to the right person. In the mattresses are several pouches filled with gold, 400 in total, a wand of command (38 charges), an elixir of truth, a scroll of summon monster III.
Undistracted by the rigors of the last couple of days Theo and Mara are able to work together to divine the rest of the mystery items you've found. A candle of spirit protection, incense of open thoughts, lesser talisman of warrior's courage. The spellcasters also have time to piece together the writing found in the prior room, revealing a treatise on summoning creatures, a standard book of extended summoning.
Red Destiny is a +2 weapon but also carries a curse. Taking up this weapon the wielder risks cutting the red string of destiny that ties her or him to their destined true love, should the creature have that destiny. If the user scores a critical hit with the weapon they will cut this cord dealing 1d4 wisdom damage to them as the sense of loss overwhelms them. They become immune to this damage afterwards but will be incapable of falling in love with another creature naturally, a wish or miracle spell can reverse this effect. If a creature is already in love with a creature they will find they cannot use this weapon at all.
Finally and most importantly among Zandalus's belongings you find the book The Chain of nights. This book was written in the late 1200s by the Keleshite doctor and seer Valhadis. It explores the brain as an organ, as the lens of perception, and as the throne of something more. First and foremost it is a text on the anatomy and workings of the brain, the first several hundred pages concern themselves with diagnosing, analyzing, and treating numerous physiological and psychological afflictions. The last third of the tome turns to more esoteric topics, such as the source of nightmares, accounts of the Dimension of Dreams, and descriptions of the creatures that live there.
Any reader who spends 1 hour consulting The Chain of Nights can immediately after use the hypnotism occult skill unlock (Pathfinder RPG Occult Adventures 195) once per day even if that character isn’t capable of casting psychic spells or doesn’t possess the Psychic Sensitivity feat. Also, after 1 hour of consulting the tome, the reader gains a +2 bonus on a single Knowledge (planes) check related to the Dimension of Dreams. Additionally, the tome contains the spells dream, dream council, dream scan, dream travel, and nightmare.
In addition it contains instructions for a ritual
RELEASE NIGHTMARE
School conjuration (creation); Level 6
Casting Time 60 minutes
Components V, S, M, F (a candle flame flickering in a darkened room), SC (up to 12)
Skill Checks Heal DC 28, 4 successes; Knowledge (planes) DC 28, 2 successes
Range touch
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Will save; SR yes
Backlash The primary caster is targeted by the spell nightmare every day for the next 1d6 days. The effect has the same DC as this ritual.
Failure The target takes 2d10 points of damage. If this kills the target, the target becomes an oneirogen rather than dying.
EFFECT
This ritual creates a small rift between the Dimension of Dreams and the target’s mind. If the target suffers from natural, reoccurring nightmares, the ritual conjures them into a viscous, physical substance that boils forth from the target’s mouth and nose, then congeals into an inert, coal-like lump of dead dreamstuff. After this, the target has no natural nightmares for a year and never has those specific nightmares again. This ritual dispels the effect of the nightmare spell and makes the target immune to that spell for 1 week.
If the target is the victim of an outsider that can cast nightmare as a supernatural or spell-like ability, this ritual attempts to conjure that outsider. The target must have been affected by the outsider’s nightmare ability within the last 3 days. In this case, upon the ritual’s completion, the outsider must succeed at a Will saving throw or be summoned into a space adjacent to the target. If the target has been affected by multiple outsiders’ nightmare ability, the outsider with the
lowest Hit Dice is conjured. The outsider is in no way controlled by the target or the ritual’s casters, and likely either attacks those who conjured it or attempts to flee. Outsiders having an ability similar to nightmare—such as a night hag with its dream haunting ability—might also be conjured by this effect.
The more magically inclined PCs surmise that when this ritual was performed on Zandalus, it allowed the Tatterman to take control of his body rather than expel it from his nightmares. When Zandalus's body was killed the Tatterman was able to fully emerge in this world. If the ritual was modified and performed by someone more skilled it would have the intended effect of expelling any foreign presence in someone's mind.
Dervak blinks.
He looks at the sword in his hand, the dead thing on the ground, and the war razor that hadn't even grazed him.
He hacks at the body twice more to make sure.
His chest heaves.
"GORRRUMMMM!" he howls in prayer. He lacks metal armor, so bangs the side of the falchion's blade against the ground.
Then he silently finds a rag, cleans his falchion, and sheaths it. He tries to remember the prayers to Sarenrae that he learned from his foster father. Thank you, Dawnflower. My blade struck true because of your blessing. I ask that you show me the path to redemption, and if that is not possible, then a good death that helps others.
Later, when he sees Mara and Theophilus deep in study with the Chain of Nights, he asks, "Anything useful in there?"
Mara heard the sounds of battle, and then a brief silence. "Dervak, are you OK?", she called out. When she heard the other half-orcs prayer, she looked cautiously around, and saw to her astonishment that her friend had been quickly victorious.
"Thank the heavens!", she declared, emerging from cover. After a moment, she realized something was wrong. "Where's Sara?", she cried; in her earlier panic she hadn't realize the girl's form wasn't in the hallway.
**********
Mara went to the northwest corner of the asylum to find the man they had left tied to a table.
**********
When they arrived back at the sanctuary, Mara immediately found Winter and told her what had happened. After going through the defeat of Zandalus and the Tatterman, she added with a heavy heart, "Our companion Julius fell in the battle, and then turned into a ghoul! Could you give him a proper burial, and make sure his spirit is at rest?"
**********
Later, she spent many hours reading through The Chain of Nights. When Dervak asked about the book, she replied, "It's fascinating! There's a lot about the Dimension of Dreams."
She paused, trying to compose her thoughts so she didn't sound mad. "I've been thinking about Sara. I think isn't truly gone; I believe that she is linked to her brother Loic's mind. There's a ritual in this book that I think could draw her out and bring her permanently to the material plane.
"The ritual is dangerous, though — if it were to fail, Loic would probably turn into an oneirogen, effectively killing both of them. It will take a lot of study before we could be ready to try it."
Ellery follows the group not really knowing what to make of his rescuers. He will spend any idle time, looking for locked things...doors, chests, locks unattached to anything, and he will do his best to unlock any of them that he finds.
"Hey, who are you?" Dervak asks the mutilated man. "Who sewed your mouth shut? Was it Kuthites? Or somebody who just didn't want you to talk? I do know how to read if you can write things down."
Standing in a corner, mouth open, blue eyes wide and expressing shock, the shaken gentleman coughs.
Maybe next time we start with that.
You gave him exactly what he deserved. But Theo is right; we should consider leading with that next time.
Rowan follows the group back to the camp.
Ellery will pauses long enough to write a short note and hands it to Dervak.
"Hah! They are not my minions. They are my friends."
Dervak gives a toothy grin as he says this. It's been a long time since he said that about anybody.
"I know I am not smart enough to be in charge. They have kept me alive this far. Mara is a half-orc but she's okay with that. Theophilus is a wizard and very smart and he makes hats. Rowan likes to drink and fight. Julius was smart too but never as good with a sword as he thought he was, and you saw him die. I think his wounds he might have survived but the Tatterman got him. Then there were a lot of other people but maybe I dreamed them. A man with a ghost, a different man with a hat, an old woman, the other smart guy who shot the shapechanger... they all just vanished. Like ghosts. Maybe they were never here?
But yeah you can come with us, at least as far as I am concerned. Mara is learning to fix people. Like the little boy who lost his voice. Or me with my demon. Maybe in time she can do something for you."
Mara went to the northwest corner of the asylum to find the man they had left tied to a table.
**********
When they arrived back at the sanctuary, Mara immediately found Winter and told her what had happened. After going through the defeat of Zandalus and the Tatterman, she added with a heavy heart, "Our companion Julius fell in the battle, and then turned into a ghoul! Could you give him a proper burial, and make sure his spirit is at rest?"
When Mara returns with the man Winter quickly casts a spell of restoration and some of the man's pallor improves. "I'll have York bring him and some of the worse off patients to New Chapel. Hopefully priestess Mavaine isn't too overwhelmed. I'll see to your friend personally, and do my best to guide his soul to the great beyond."
She rubs her temples, "Once I arrive in Thrushmoor I'll need to rendezvous with Accuser Omari at the Sleepless Building. I need report what happened here and give the evidence you helped me gather on Count Lowls. I'd like you to accompany me and give your account, hopefully we can figure out how you were associated with the Count."
Inside the lockbox you find 40gp, 6 pearls worth 10gp a piece, and a calling card for the services of the Thrushmoor offices of the Sleepless Detective Agency that prominently bears an accusatory eye.
"Oh yeah, Winter, that sounds good. We found a card from the Sleepless people in the administrator's lockbox. I'll go with you and talk to them but I don't remember much of the past three years. Just what was in our files. But we can bring those files. Some of us used to work for the Count.
Is there a smithy in Thrushmoor? I'd like to get some proper armor."
York eavesdropping speaks up, “Yer gonna want to go to Binter’s Smithy.” He gives you directions, changes his mind halfway through, gives you other directions and then finally goes back to the original directions after deciding the second set aren’t the fastest way there. “Now I’d talk to one o the other smith’s who rent her anvil sometimes, Binter’s not so great at meeting deadlines and none too interested in crafting things o war. Pretty damn lazy fer a dwarf if ya ask me.”
Ellery raises an eyebrow at Dervak's words and scribbles another note
Having seen the new stranger twist his fingers in various ways in response to being addressed, the gentleman takes a studied posture.
Keep it up, old man. I almost got it.
"You can't talk. That's what's broken. Did they rip out your tongue as well as sew your mouth shut? That's awful. I mean you must be able to open your mouth enough to eat so maybe you could talk a little bit if you tried.
And yeah, you can make hand signals and write notes but that's not as good. It's like a man with a hook for a hand saying his hand is 'fine.' I'm not going to take my eyes off an opponent to watch your hand signs and try to figure out if you're telling me 'Step left' or 'Trap there!' or 'Grapple it' or 'Use holy water' or anything useful. You can't give advice in a battle, can't learn most kinds of magic or use scrolls or wands . Are you telling me that if Mara could fix your voice, like she's going to do for that little boy, you'd refuse?"
Dervak thinks a minute.
"Unless you can talk and just don't want to. Like some vow of silence thing. Is that it?"
Theophilus just looks at Dervak and smiles.
Ellery chuckles and scratches out another note.
Though a piece of advice, if we are trying to hide, hand signs are a great way to communicate without alerting others to your presence.
Dervak gives Ellery a blank look.
"Of course I'm broken. Did you not see? I hope Mara and Theophilus can fix me too. Someday."
He walks off to go help Winter, standing guard as the survivors make their way to the boats back and forth to Thrushmoor.
Rowan wasn’t really listening to the “conversation”, mostly just thinking to himself and mourning his recently lost wine. He decides to chime in anyway.
”You know what is really broken... this whole world. If they turn me into one of those mist fountains, you kill me and burn me.”
“Maybe I can find someone to ferment me up something, if we even have anything worth fermenting.”
Ellery gives Rowan a thumbs up at his request to be killed and burned.
”Only if they make me into a gas fountain. Don’t get any ideas about killing me in my sleep.”
Resting in the chapel everyone has a pleasant night's sleep. The first good night's sleep for Ellery in several days. You dream pleasant dreams of a star lit sky and a single blue butterfly alights on your shoulder.
Despite this Dervak, Rowan, and Theo all wake up extremely sore and run down. They are each running a high fever. Additionally Dervak is unusually hungry, but it subsides once he's eaten a triple helping of boiled potatoes for breakfast.
Both Mara and Theo suspect that everyone in the party except Ellery is suffering from filth fever, which could have been caught from a number of sources in the asylum. Mara is luckily still latent and on a hunch she also checks the party for ghoul fever discovering that Dervak is infected. Due to his general hardiness he's yet to suffer any ill effects from that disease.
The morning brings cloudy skies as you prepare to enter Thrushmoor.
Mara awoke after a good night's sleep. She felt great, but some of her friends did not. After talking to them, and examining them, she determined that they were suffering from diseases they had contracted during the previous days. She meditated, contemplating events from her childhood, and memorized some spells to help her companions fight their infections.
Orisons: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Guidance.
1st lvl: Bless, Cure Light Wounds x2, Liberating Command
2nd lvl: Lesser Restoration x3
She recited three prayers to boost her friends' constitutions, so they could better overcome their sickness. She paid extra attention to Dervak, because she suspected he was suffering from ghoul fever.
After that, she helped with breakfast preparations for all of the chapel residents.
Theo will assist Mara.
Dervak is clearly miserable. He is a bit lazy about any physical labor requested of him, but is quiet and sits still for Mara's examination.
Ellery keeps his distance from the sick people, and when he catches Mara's eye he makes some hand gestures.
Rowan doesn’t want to appear sick, so he does his best to perform his daily movements and chores. He is clearly shakier than normal, appears grayish, and is sweating profusely.
Mara replied to Ellery with hand gestures, doing her best to reassure him.
The gentleman reaches into his coat pocket. He slowly raises a handkerchief to his lips, purposely dabbing them. Sighing ever so gently, Theo stares directly at Ellery; his piercing blue eyes shyly batting.
I feel famished! If only a tasty morsel would manifest for me to sink my teeth into!
He winks at Mara.
Ellery chuckles and cocks his head toward Dervak.
He pauses a moment and taps his chin in thought then makes some more hand signs.
Ellery chuckles a bit.
Mara replied to Ellery, with the hint of a smile, "They don't bite, really! Well, Dervak does, but only people he doesn't like."
Though you have escaped the strange mists of Briarstone Isle, the poor weather persists. Deep gray clouds loom like a low ceiling in a dark room. Halfway through the boat ride driving rain soaks you through. Still fishing vessels can be seen as you approach the town.
Walking through the town people quicken their pace as you approach and whisper behind your backs. When you look at them they avert their eyes. The large two story building that is home of the Sleepless Detective Agency is dark and quiet, it takes more than one knock on the door to receive an answer.
A short human woman answers the door and smiles warmly when she sees Winter, “Winter! Oh I’m so glad you’re safe. So much has happened,” she trails off as she sees the party. Frowning she says, “What’s the meaning of this?”
Winter serious, replies, “Meg, I need to report to Accuser Omari, it's a long story.”
“I’m sorry… Omari’s gone missing, let me take you to Cesadia.” With that you’re led into a waiting room.
Mara wondered at the less than warm welcome that they received when they entered Thrushmoor. I guess we aren't going to get a hero's welcome here.
Once they sat doen in the waiting room,she whispered to Winter, "What's going on with the frosty reception?"
Theophilus remains animated during the parade through town. The fancy attired gentleman tips his grand hat smartly to all those that cross his path.
He smiles; white teeth reflecting the laughter in his eyes.
Dervak is generally surly, and his illness has not made him more cheerful. "I'm used to the glares. This is the welcome I expected, though not the one I hoped for. I guess nobody knows what we did."
A hacking cough issues forth from his broad chest. He walks hunched through the streets, head down.
He drops into a seat in the waiting room and coughs some more. His joints ache.
Winter replies, "I'm not sure. Ustalav's people aren't known for their hospitality, but this seems like something else." She pauses staring off in thought, "If you worked for Count Lowls you would have likely lived in Thrushmoor if not then at least you would have visited frequently. I suspect you have a history with these people that we're unaware of."
Meg leads you into a neatly appointed office with a fit woman approaching middle age sitting at a desk. Her hair is reddish-brown that is kept trimmed short. Her eyes are large and inquisitive, and her pale skin is scattered with freckles. She speaks with a calm assertiveness, "I assume you have a good reason to bring Lowls' cronies here with you."
Winter clears her throat, "Yes, they were instrumental in helping us escape the curse that was placed over Briarstone asylum. I doubt I or anyone else from there would be alive today if it weren't for them. We did find documentation that indicated the count had committed them. And they don't remember much, if anything, from the last several years."
Cesadia looks at each of you assessing you with a piercing gaze. "Do you have anything to say for yourselves? Mara? Rowan? Even Ellery, mute as he is? Maybe Theophilus could stop spouting nonsense long enough to say something in his defense. I doubt Allard has forgiven you since you were here last. I see that a few of your usual companions are missing, just as well."
Mara with that sense motive knows that Winter is being honest as usual and Cesadia, while calm on the surface level, is seething with anger at you.
Theophilus stands straight; his posture picture perfect. With only sincerity seeping from his sad eyes, the charming gentleman bows low to their host.
Madame, please and thank you for allowing our humbke personages to proceed predictably with only practiced purpose.
Mara addressed the woman named Cesadia, "I can tell that you're very angry with us about something, but I'm afraid I have no memory of the past few years. I remember setting out from Qadira, heading for Numeria, and then nothing. I woke up in the Ayslum, and fought terrible monsters!"
After an awkward pause, she asked, "Can you tell me something about my past?" She had a feeling she wasn't going to like the answer, but she had to know.
Dervak nods along quietly as Mara talks. Theophilus fails to lift his spirits, as he asks glumly, "What did I do?"
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Ellery looks at Cesadia as she speaks and when she finishes simply raises a middle finger to her while wearing an indifferent expression in response.
Stone faces she replies, ”The name Klyn means nothing to you then? And you don’t remember threatening one of my investigators, to ‘Stay out of state business’?” Seeing no one knows anything she pauses, appraisingly. Starting evenly then becoming impassioned, ”There have been a number of disappearances as of late, Magistrate Padgett and Count Lowls leaving on mysterious business, disturbing murals appearing out of nowhere, the good Constable Cesyll in Fort Hailcourse refusing to investigate matters, rumors of the Briarstone Witch returning to reenact the Thrushmoor vanishing.” She stops coming to an idea, ”Our Agency has been overtaxed as the only people in a position to investigate recent events. If what you and Winter says is true, then if you help me I’ll tell you what I know.”
Mara listened to Cesadia, before replying, "I will help you. We found some mention of the Briarstone Witch in the asylum library — historical accounts. All we know of Count Lowls is that he was apparently our employer, and that he had us committed to the asylum. I can't help but think he is responsible for our memory gaps."
She looked to Winter Klaczka. "Winter, how are we for accommodations for the other patients, and the nursing staff? Is there anything we can do to help? Obviously, many of the patients aren't going to be able to look after themselves."
Theophilus seems to suddenly come down with a severe laughing...errr...coughing fit!