Gamon lashes out at the mage as soon as he sees him begin to cast a spell, doing his best to attack with the flat of his blade, before continuing to whale on the helpless mage.
Everyone jumps on Davaulus as he starts casting, knocking him cold.
"Gamon, tie up the Doctor. We want to bring him to Cressida alive!"
He takes a defensive stance with his klar and sword, awaiting the reinforcements to break through the door.
Gamon pulls a length of rope from his pack, tying up the unconscious doctor as securely as he can.
Nicolai will use the lull in the fighting to use his Pearl to recall his cast Burst of Radiance spell before heading to and checking the door in the rear of the room.
Nicolai investigates the door at the other end of the laboratory and discovers what is probably Davaulus' personal office. The doctor himself is tied as securely as possible before the sounds of a door splintering and crashing to the ground comes from the stairwell area. The clanking of metal shod feet smashing against the door to the laboratory follows soon after.
Aloysia steps to the side of one of the doors an prepares to ambush the first enemy she can.
Jolon follows Aloysia's example, standing by the side of the door and readying an attack!
Seeing both of his companions moving to the side, Gamon follows suit and readies himself to strike down the first to make it into the room.
Seeing his friends setup their ambush and the situation well in hand, Nicolai will begin searching Davalaus' office for anything that might look important.
The main thing that draws Nicolai's eye is Davalaus' desk, currently covered with papers. It will take time to sift through them, but the varisian has an idea of where to start.
The doors are pushed open and two Gray Maidens stride in, swords drawn and shields out. They don't see the ambush prepared for them on the other side of the door, and one is instantly taken out with an axe and twin daggers. The other is cut by Jolon's sword, but that doesn't stop her return stroke.
The ambush and instant slaughter of her companion seems to have rattled the Gray Maiden, her swing is weak and easily picked off by Jolon's Klar.
Gamon takes a half-step forward, axe already in motion as he chops down at the remaining Gray Maiden, then brings his axe around with a backhand slash.
"RUN WHILE YOU CAN!" Jolon roars at any allies the sole survivor might have behind them.
Aloysia slides forward as well and unleashes...
At first glance Nicolai is unable to find anything incriminating or specific among the papers so he gathers them all up to peruse later when he has the time and puts them in his pack before heading off to help his friends.
Despite being shaken the Gray Maiden's defenses are incredible, her armor sturdy enough to withstand several hits, and her shield moving unerringly into position to protect herself all the more. She starts preparing a fighting retreat, stepping back towards the staircase slowly and taking a parting shot at Aloysia on the way out the door.
Gamon follows the Gray Maiden into the doorway, locking eyes through her helm as he batters at her shield.
Aloysia slides with her and tries again
Jolon steps around Gamon to join in the scrap!
Each attack hits precisely, burying deep into the Maiden's armor and leaving her to a clamoring fall as her sword and shield drop from her hands.
"Alright. Let's tend to these poor folk and make sure they're safe before we investigate the lower chambers."
Jolon takes a closer look at the Varisians.
All of the living Varisians here look malnourished and weak, as well as suffering the effects of needless surgeries. Given a moment to breathe you can now examine the not completely burnt notes on the table, as well as the notes from Davaulus' office. The scraps from the burned remains indicate that "A." is below, along with the rest of a cult of Urgathoa...
The doctor's notes reveal more about what the point of these Varisians is. It appears that some 5% of Varisians are immune to bloodveil. Gamon, having worked with an apothecary for so long, comes to the realization that these Varisians will help develop a cure for the disease ravaging the city.
One note sticks out from those collected from the doctor's desk. It is written in quick efficient strokes and is very blunt.
Davaulus,
If everything goes as you predict and the Queen continues paying for our services you can consider yourself an acolyte. Burn this note after reading it.
L
A whispered curse escapes Gamon's lips as he realizes what the notes mean. They were experimenting on these civilians. They probably still are, it sounds like there's a cult of some kind down below, and they're somehow in league with the Queen. We have to stop them!
He steps back with a jolt, as if to take off immediately, before making a visible effort to stop himself, and walking slowly towards the nearest Varisian. You're safe now, is there anything we can do to help you before we leave?
Jolon glowers with anger at reading the note confirms his suspicions, as the spirits' whispers rise in equal anger.
"I was right! I WAS RIGHT! The Physicians ARE a front for Urgathoa's foul faithful. They're not experimenting on these people to CURE the plague! They're trying to make it even MORE deadly! And it goes all the way to the QUEEN!"
He joins Gamon in tending to the Varisian prisoners.
For the moment, making the patients more comfortable and giving them some food and water to start the real healing process.
Nicolai will cast a Detect Magic spell and go over the Doctor's body as well as those of the Physician's and Grey Maidens'.
Among the gear from your fallen enemies only the masks from the physicians and Davaulus' gear shines with magic.
With his spell still going, Nicolai will peer deep into the items trying to decipher the magicks within.
Aloysia crouches low and starts silently moving to the stairs to listen for anyone else coming, daggers ready for any surprise she finds...
Gamon begins to search the room for anything they may have missed, particularly seeking out any hidden or concealed areas.
Nicolai is able to examine the amulet, rapier, and chain shirt before the sounds of boots turning the stairs becomes too great to ignore.
Gamon's investigation turns up nothing more than the clothing and personal affects of the various Varisian 'patients' in the room.
Moving as quietly as he can, Gamon creeps through the doorway to face Aloysia on the other side of the stairwell, axe ready.
Nicolai watches with amazement as his friends set their ambush with ruthless efficiency. He decides to wait until the guards show themselves and see the results of said ambush before deciding what he should do.
Jolon readies his sword and klar and joins Nicolai, watching and waiting, the spirits silent as the grave.
The lighter steps give way to the heavier boots of another heavily armored warrior.
A Gray Maiden swings around the corner, blade raised to attack Gamon, giving both him and Aloysia the perfect opportunity to attack.
Gamon quickly sizes up his new opponent, taking advantage of having them trapped between himself and Aloysia to launch a brutal attack.
Aloysia comes down on the Gray Maiden like a shadow of death, opening up something vital and leaving the Maiden in a poor position to defend against Gamon's follow-up attack. The Maiden's blood sprays down the stairs, coating the two Queen's Physician's who were following the Maiden up. They immediately reconsider and retreat back down the stairs.
Nicolai rushes to the stairway and peers down at the fleeing physicians. he shouts as the stairs are suddenly coated with a layer of grease.
Nicolai's spell creates a thin layer of grease on the stairs, causing both physicians to slip and drop down a step or two.
Jolon points at one of the physicians and cries "STILL!" his voice reverbating eerily and causing the man to stiffen.
The physician's joints lock painfully in place, though no sound comes from the figure stuck on the ground.
Gamon tries to move onto the stairs and towards the two physicians, but nearly slips and quickly halts his momentum by holding onto the wall. He growls menacingly at the nearest one, Stay down. We just want to talk.
Aloysia move near the other physician and puts both of her daggers to his neck, and says "You saw what happened to your friend, don't give me a reason to use these."
Both physicians throw hand signs at each other before swinging with their clubs at Gamon and Aloysia.
The one before Aloysia tries to stand while the other is still winded from his bone locking by Jolon.