Shaeda will attempt to trip the physician right in front of her...
The physician goes down. His compatriot draws another scalpel and throws it at Shaeda.
He misses.
Emma casts Hold Person DC 14 Will save on the physician that isn't on the ground.
The physician is held fast.
Seeing that the Grey Maiden in unconscious, Searok will turn his fury on the doctor that tried to stab him.
Searok pummels the singed and prone doctor into unconsciousness.
Tronar asked me this morning to put him in for a Delay action.
Shaeda will perform a nonlethal coup de grace with her whip on the Held opponent.
Shaeda's whip knocks the man unconscious before he can regain his mobility.
Examining your attackers, the Grey Maiden has a set of full plate armor complete with face concealing helmet, a heavy steel shield, a composite longbow with 20 arrows, and a longsword. Removing her helmet reveals that she's a woman about 20 years of age whose otherwise attractive features are marred by a long scar all down one side of her face.
The two Queen's Physicians each possess four scalpels (function as daggers), leather armor, a club, a healer's kit, and their creepy birdlike masks. The masks detect as magical.
As mentioned before, this room is full of patients strapped to their beds. None of them are conscious, though some toss and turn in their slumber as much as their restraints will allow, as if suffering terrible nightmares. Their skin glistens with sweat and their breathing is shallow; probably drugged. Unlike the poor wretches downstairs, none of them are showing the telltale symptoms of Blood Veil. They aren't exactly well however, as it appears that many have undergone some degree of experimentation; bits of skin stripped off, stitches where some form of exploratory surgery took place, even the odd finger or toe lopped off and sitting under a magnifier on the table.
Their features and skin tone are also similar; all appear to be ethnically Varisian.
On the table, in addition to bits of the unlucky patients, are alchemical tools and reagents, as well as copious notes.
Shaeda’s attempt at deciphering the notes...
And Emma’s...
Shaeda’s attempt at determining what the masks do...
And Emma’s...
Whatta ye think we should do with her? Searok says as he secures the unconscious grey maiden.
”You mean after the questioning, right?”
Seeing that his knowledge isn’t needed, Tronar takes up a watch by the entrance and just listens to the whip mistress getting the information needed from the obvious evil person that is experimenting on humans.
Results of Emma and Shaeda's rolls:
Some of what Shaeda discerns from the notes confirms what you've already heard, that a certain percentage of Varisians are immune to Blood Veil, and the physicians want to know why. Since obviously none of these individuals will be submitting themselves for treatment, they had to obtain their research subjects by less savory methods. Jolistina implied as much, but the psychotic elf probably wasn't the most reliable source of testimony. Now you have physical evidence taken from the physicians themselves.
But there's worse news. One note refers to agents of "Lady Despair" being involved in the investigation, and Emma recognizes that as a nickname of Urgathoa. There's also reports of several of the patients being "Sent below to A" after they are no longer useful.
The masks, you discover, have been enchanted to grant immunity to Blood Veil (newly crafted ones could instead grant immunity to any one disease), and a +2 bonus on saves against disease and nauseating scents. That might be perfectly sensible equipment for doctors to have...except that there's an additional enchantment on them that disguises the wearer's alignment, making them appear neutral to detection magic. This suggests that these weren't intended to stop the spread of disease at all. They are worth 2000 GP each.
"Well, these masks are interesting. Immunity to the disease makes sense for non-Paladins. Hiding your alignment can be a questionable tactic, but I will point out that Paladins can do that as well. Ok, there are a couple things we need to do." She counts off fingers, "One, get these poor unfortunates, and the ones down below, out of here. Two, ensure that the knowledge of what is going on here gets out to those who can really do something about it. And C, put a stop to this crap wherever it originates." As she finishes the final statement, she kills the prisoner. She then looks around, "did any of these have the key for the lift?"
Don't forget D - See if tha person we were supposed ta be findin' is here. Searok adds.
No key on any of them, but there is one more door to the south.
None of the prisoners in the room matches the description of Ruan Mirukova.
Shaeda points towards the next door, "Searok, if you would please."
With pleasure!
Searok will try to open the door with the knob and if locked, will kick it it!
The door flies open at Searok's kick.
Blood, bile, and other humors bubble away within oddly formed beakers and twisted tubes in this sizable laboratory. Any wall space left in view between cabinets or over-laden bookshelves is covered by worn parchments depicting magnified aspects of human anatomy in grisly detail—many pierced with pins and flags like the war maps of a veteran campaigner. In the corner, a desk of elegantly carved white ash bears the image of a herd of antelope, but stains from dark chemicals and gore disfigure the once-beautiful piece.
Dr. Reiner Devaulus stands near the desk, shoving notebooks and papers into a leather satchel. He was apparently expecting Searok's sudden intrusion, as without missing a beat he gestures toward the door and fires off a readied spell.
Turn Order:
Tronar
Davaulus
Searok
Shaeda
Emma
Tronar hearing the spell go off, dimensional slides into the doorway to survey the room. Upon seeing that there is only a single target that is obviously trying to make a get away, Tronar sends forth a familiar black lash.
vs touch
to strength, dexterity, and constitution to a minimum of 1; @ 1 the target is immobilized
Searok feels the urge to laugh hysterically well up inside him, but it can't overcome his natural crankiness.
Devaulus ducks just in time for Tronar's lash to snap over his head.
He steps forward in a fencer's stance and jabs at Tronar with a silver-hilted rapier.
"If I could just explain what we're trying to accomplish here! Your foolish crusade to save this city will do anything but! Once the weak and worthless have been culled, Korvosa will be better for it! A city you'd be proud to call home!"
Once We're done with ye, ye won't be sayin' much of anythin'
Searok clobbers the doctor with his hammer.
Shaeda moves forward and will attempt to disarm the doctor...
"You won't be needing that! Care to surrender now, Toothless?"
Devaulus curses as his rapier is dashed to the floor.
Emma will hit the disarmed opponent with hideous laughter. DC 13 Will Save.
He resists the spell.
Tronar seeing that thing as an abomination will move (if necessary) to pick up the disarmed weapon from the ground. and then will ready to cast a spell if he doesn't surrender that will really hurt him for what he did to me.
Unfortunately surrender isn't in the cards for this guy, he's a zealot.
Dr. Davaulus steps back and begins to cast a spell.
duplicates (unless interrupted).
Tronar patiently waits for his opponents surrender, but secretly hopes for a fight...at least for enough seconds to let him feel his pain.
DC 27 Concentration check:
His spell fizzles!
Searok will continue to bop him on the head.
Shaeda will reach out with her whip, in an attempt to trip the man...
----------
Emma will step forward and apply some healing to Tronar...
Searok hits the doctor twice, Shaeda trips him, and Tronar is partially healed.
"Give up! … Or don't." Tronar gives a grin as he points the rapier Devaulus and readies another spell if he doesn't give up.
Devaulus tries to cast a spell at Tronar. Take your readied action.
"Thank you for continuing to resist."
DC 22 Concentration check:
"Help me friend-ARGH!" Davaulus attempts to cast some sort of spell on Searok, but Tronar's missiles stop him from completing his arcane gestures.