Whether fortitude of the testicular variety or just sheer stupidity, Campre nods his head energetically. "Yeah, I think if we just go this way-" He says as he steps into the hallway and points towards the chapel. Before he could finish a different voice screamed "We're under attack!"
There is a loud Thwap noise and a crossbow bolt hits Campre in the temple, extinguishing the light from his eyes instantly as the bolt buries itself to the quarrels. The orderly hasn't even slumped to the floor before another, different voice shouts "G#~~+&nit hold your f$**ing fire! Hold fire!"
"What did you do? Gods! You killed Campre!" the second voice continues to shout at him. "We have enough problems here without you shooting at any other survivors that come this way!"
"But sir! What if he were one of those things?" The first, obviously on edge and terrified voice wavers.
"We weren't going to let him in unless we could prove it otherwise! the second voice continues to shout. "Gods... go get Harry to replace you." he then directs his voice down the hallway. "If there are any more of you in that room make yourself known. I promise we will not shoot you if you don't get too close."
Helena frowns at Campre's unmoving body a few more seconds, then stalks to the door. Just as she approaches the doorframe, she stops. Looks down at her sword.
Sheathing the weapon she turns to the others, "I...", pause, "I don't think I am best to speak, I might frighten them more being so heavily armed. If someone wants to do the talking, I promise to do my best to cover you." She adjusts her shield, then yells into the hallway, "We'll come out, but I'll hold you to that promise.
When the group is ready, Helena will lead the way out the door with her shield up, ready if need be to block anyone from more flying bolts.
Smallest Sun raises a hand as he approaches the body, but seeing the bolt so deeply embedded he lets out a pent-up sigh and shakes his head. "He's on his way to Pharasma, by now." he says, closing his eyes and saying a small prayer. The cleric puts a hand on Helena's shoulder. "We couldn't have saved him, he ran out on his own and was not prepared."
"Let me take front. I will talk to them." he offers.
Elren'dor was cleaning himself up, shaking off the adrenaline of the quick combat, when Campre opened that door enough and was put down by the crossbow bolt that pierced in through his temple. The elf's eyes widen as the body slumps down upon the ground, the color draining from his face as he whispered softly to himself.
"By the gods, they killed him..." His hand twitches and the cat tries to nuzzle into his neck but provides no comfort to the wizard this time.
He looks to Helena, giving a quick nod before he spoke. "It isn't your fault. Thank you, for helping me and Keymys." His attention turns towards Smallest Sun, as he gives him a shaky nod. "We could head back down...maybe go through the other vent? Just in case those people aren't safe..." The elf murmurs, mostly to himself but as a quiet suggestion to the others.
"They already know we are here. Much delay, or us trying to circumvent them, could be seen as an act of aggression or subterfuge. They sound only as frightened as Campre was and as confused as we still are.
Narcisa blinks several times as Campre slumps to the ground. She shakes herself, listening to the voices outside. She'll then shrug, "I'll go ahead and try." She moves up to the door, but doesn't exit, calling out.
"For f*#&ing Calistria's sake, yes there's more of us! Campre was the only friendly face we've seen in this hell hole since we woke up! Are you going to kill us too?" She pauses, maybe not the most graceful of greetings she could have tried.
Elren'dor nods, nervously wringing his hands as he sits against the boiler nearby and awaits whatever will happen next. Keymys bats at the dead zoog, as if confirming the foul thing has passed on.
Helena smirks at Narcisa's tiny tirade. It's what they all were feeling, but this probably called for a bit more... tact. Hopefully, however, it will stun the others down the hall just enough in it's truthfulness that they will not be so trigger happy as this little band emerges from the doorway.
"Smallest Sun, I do believe you are up. I will be right behind you. Despite the circumstances, Helena just can't help the small smile that escapes in her voice.
Smallest Sun looks shocked at Narcisa's sudden outburst, but leans close to her and whispers "Next time let me know if you're going to do this, I can help make it more convincing."
He then steps out into the hallway, his sword sheathed but his shield ready to protect his head.
"I... actually agree with her." he says. "Why did you kill our friend?"
A 3-foot-high barricade of broken furniture and fallen masonry fills a wide, empty doorframe, blocking off the northern portion of this broad hall. Lanterns flicker upon the walls, casting shadows upon several closed doors and beyond the ramshackle barricade.
There are two women wearing armor and armed with crossbows using the barricade as cover, and between them a man in slightly better condition equipment standing up, his crossbow lowered but still loaded. Seeing Smallest Sun, he starts talking.
"I'm captain Vaustin York. Tell everyone else to come out but do not approach, and we'll be just fine. I'm sorry about Campre, he was a hard worker if not stubborn... if that was really him."
A few moments later another guard comes out of a door on the guard's side of the barricade. "Sir, Harry died during the last attack."
"Dammit. I'll stick it out. You go and try to clear your head. And no sleeping on the job again."
Elren'dor will take a moment to breathe, this sense of fear coming over him for just a moment. For just a moment, he wanted to crawl back down that rope and hide in the basement. He centers himself though and stands up, reaching into his spell component pouch and pulling our a small piece of cured leather. Whispering under his breath, there was a momentary glow of color which faded away as he let out a breath. "Just in case..."
He stands ready with the others for Smallest Sun to call him out, Keymys walking on the ground around the legs of the wizard.
Narcisa shrugs a bit at Smallest Sun, "Maybe talking's not my strong point." She listens at the request for everyone to come out, then rolls her eyes and stalks out to stand off to the side, but slightly behind Smallest Sun. She drops her hands on her hips, waiting.
"Captain, While I will admit I can not confirm for certain he was the real Campre, given we met just over an hour ago, I do believe if he had been one of those bluish, bug-eyed things he would have tried to kill us like the last one." Helena shrugs. "Of course you have only our word that we are not one either, unless you have devised a way to prove someone is who they claim they are."
Helena gestures around to the wall of the building, "All Campre could tell us was there was an earthquake, people started changing, staff and patients alike, and the one who trapped and was torturing him used to be Ilesi, a patient. And they we were brought in for amnesia and catatonic until about that same hour ago."
"Look I'm sorry about Campre, but I'm not going to risk our safety just letting you in. You could be one of those things. Or all of you could be those things!" Captain York calls out. "You all look familiar... of course you would, though."
He looks you four over. "I can't let you in. The survivors are relying on me to keep them safe, and unless you have a way to prove you're not changed, I'm not letting you in."
Helena blinks. Then blinks again.
"Honestly, we don't even know where "in there" is. What room is that? If you can give us directions to the front offices we'll be on our way. You can defend your little barricade all you need."
"They're dopplegangers." Elren'dor would say, clearing his voice for a moment as he looked around the imposing form that Helena made and using her for safety, just in case. "They are able to alter their shape but they cannot reproduce memory. Rumors exist that there may be some powerful ones that can even copy memories and skills, but none have been confirmed."
With a bit more confidence in his voice, he continued. "There is no real way for us to prove ourselves, even to each other. Yet, there is strength in numbers. It helps everyone keep an eye on everyone, ensure no one is unaccounted. Makes it harder for a doppleganger to sneak in. Logically, if you thought we were those creatures as well and are worried there may be some within your number now, then they outnumber you already. It just makes more sense to keep an eye on someone, you know? We can take similar shifts, make sure someone from both sides is on watch. Gives your men a chance to rest, to relax for a moment..." He gestures back to the boiler room, where Campre's body still laid.
Narcisa turns her head to look at Elren'dor, she opens her mouth to say something, then snaps it shut. She glowers towards the barricade, "For all we know, you're all those creatures too and that's why you shot Campre. You guys can stay in there for all I care. I just want to know why the hell I'm here so I can go home."
The guard captain waves his hand dismissively. "Pssh. Good luck at that, have you looked outside? Impossible." he says. "And if that's what you want to think then what am I to change your mind?"
He looks over to the cleric. "If you want to find out anything about any of the patients, you'd best be served by getting to the offices. Which is beyond here. And we're not letting you through if you're a monster. You want in, you're going to have to prove to me that you're not on their side."
He dismisses one of the guards and plunks down in her spot, resting his crossbow on his lap as he eyes you all suspiciously.
Narcisa throws her hands up in frustration, "Calistria's f%!#ing t+*~! We are not monsters! We just want to know how we got here. Can't you just assign a less jumpy guard to follow us around while we look at the records? If it'll make you feel better, do you want me to bring you the head of the b$#!+ that we rescued Campre from before your guard killed him?"
To your surprise, Narcisa's indignant anger actually manages to assuage captain York's concerns somewhat. He looks sympathetic, if only for a moment.
"Can't send someone with you, those things are strong and could overwhelm us." he says. "But if you've managed to kill one, then I'll tell you what. Bring us that one, and two more, and I'll consider you all to be clear... or at least not likely to be on their side."
He pauses. "But you better not just grab one of the ones we shot and bring them here. I know we got a few when they last attacked!"
Helena hands her shield to Elren'dor, I'll have easiest time carrying it, I'll be right back."
Helena walks back into boiler room and climbs back in.
*cut scene* Retrieves body, figures best way to drag, or carry, it up the vent. Retrieves rope & hook as a last minute thought and drags the carcass out into hallway.*/cut scene*
Helena shoves the body towards the barricade, without getting closer herself. "One down, two to go." Taking her shield back from Elren'dor she motions to head down hallway the opposite way.
York looks at the body and whistles. "Well, that's not how we killed them."
How does the group move north? I have unveiled everything you can see down the hall, so feel free to move yourselves. Also, keep in mind it's all dim lighting or darker here since there are no lit torches or lanterns except by the barricade.
Helena will quietly mention to the party, "We should probably leave those 2 doors south for the time being. We would have to step closer to the barricade and that will not earn us any favor right now. I can see a door north just as the sunrod starts to dim, looks like maybe a second just past that. The hallway extends further north but until we get closer, not sure how far it continues."
Narcisa nods her agreement, "The last thing we want is them to think we're trying to circumvent their barricade. I don't feel like taking a crossbow bolt to the head..." She'll follow after Helena down the hall.
You four make it to the first door on the right. You don't hear anything inside, and the door is not locked. Just a few more feet ahead is another door, and 60 feet beyond that... rubble that seems to be clear more to the right than the left. Either way, the way straight ahead is blocked by collapsed building.
Rain pours in rivulets from the cracks in the ceiling above, dripping into the piles of debris. Those who are spattered by it find the rainwater to be strangely warm.
Helena moves into the room checking for occupants, supplies or another route around the rubble.
You find the room to be significantly smaller than expected. The tremors has toppled and broken most of the items and furniture in here, but it's possible there might be valuables still intact in this room...
Helena peeks her head and and not seeing anything of use in this closet of a room, Helena moves to the next room north to do the same. "Doesn't look to be anything in there or a why thru."
Elren'dor will nod in agreement with the two women, following them down the hallway and away from the barricade and the possible promise of safety. Entering into the room behind Helena, there is a muttering of mystical words before he scans the room.
Elren'dor, you find a lantern, and 50 ft. of rope. Both are intact, and the lantern has a full tank of oil.
The second room is similarly disheveled, but somewhat smaller.
Elren'dor grabs the supplies, holding onto the lantern as an alternative to the sunrods. He moves carefully, quietly, letting Helena and Narcisa take the lead.
Narcisa also takes a look around, sneaking along after Helena and Elren'dor afterwards.
Smallest Sun will peer into the room but otherwise hears nothing over the sound of rain.
And though he tries to be quiet, he is far from silent, his boots knocking small rocks and splashing in puddles of standing water.
Elren'dor, with his elven ears, picks up the faint sound of muttering and talking down the hall in the section that opens up to the right of the collapsed ceiling. However, you cannot discern the words. Though not stealthy at the least, the group hasn't made any real loud noises nor engaged in any combat, so it's possible someone sneaky enough could scout ahead.
Helena does quick check of second room before resuming the northerly progression.
As you four advance, the sounds of rain rise and fall with the wind outside. Ahead, you can see that the rubble eventually blocks off the hallway north, a collapse that did not spare anyone. There is the body of an orderly, his lower half pinned by debris.
Narcisa holds her hand out in front of Helena, stopping her. This time, she also hears the muttering. She indicates for the group to wait just a little bit before she starts to creep forward.
Narcisa sees a doppelganger, in its true form, crouched amidst the debris. While it looks at first to be hiding, it is, in fact, doing some kind of experiment. There are bodies of humans and doppelgangers crushed by the debris from the collapsed hall and rooms. It seems to be cutting off strips of flesh from both humans and doppelgangers alike and laying them out side by side, in alternating order.
"Sample #3 and #4," the thing says to itself, "Analysis of tissue necrosis in doppelganger tissue proceeds as expected; inferior human flesh appears to be progressing at the same rate." It growls to itself, smacking the side of its head with the heel of its hand. "No! No! It just needs more time. More time!"
It has not noticed Narcisa, and takes up its knife to slice off another strip of flesh from the deceased.
Helena will point at Narcisa and make a stabbing motion with her hand, twice. Then point at herself and make a forward and rightward gesture. Hoping it is simple enough for Narcisa will understand the crude attempt at sign language.
Helena will then turn around and hold up 1 finger to Smallest Sun & Elren'dor & Point to Narcisa. Then hold up 2 fingers & point to herself. Then hold up 3 fingers & point to both of them. Then give a thumbs up?
If they return agreement, she will give one to Narcisa.
If Narcisa moves to attack, Helena will pause long enough to allow the woman to get into position then move to engage. The delay so that Helena's loud movements won't spoil Narcisa stealth.
Elren'dor waits patiently as the human scouts out ahead, investigating the murmuring that he had heard slightly. The rain continues to pelt down upon the broken tile and into the accumulating puddles, the droplets playing a tune that seems to come in on the elf's peripheral memory. Before the memory solidifies, Helena turns to him and communicates her message through simple gestures.
Taking out his dagger, Elren'dor gives a nod and waits patiently for the ambush to begin.
Narcisa gives a quick glance about, looking for any other creatures it could be talking to.
Upon not seeing anything else, she begins her attempt at creeping towards the creature.
She winces to herself, unsure if the creature heard her movement through the rubble on the stone floor. She then lunges with the blade, attacking.
Waiting a few beats after Narcisa disappears around the corner, Helena runs up and around the corner.
Elren'dor will follow through behind Helena, stopping at the corner though and evaluating the scene and what happens next.
Smallest Sun murmurs a prayer as he sees everyone charge off to battle. "بارك"
As Narcisa closes in, the Doppelganger's head perks up just as you lunge. It isn't able to get out of the way, but your stab is far from lethal.
It screeches and lurches to its feet.
Helena comes around the corner to see Narcisa tussling with a doppelganger wearing doctor's clothes. Elren'dor steps in, seeing this fight starting out.
Narcisa
Helena
Elren'dor
Smallest Sun
Doppelganger -6
Helena scrambles onto the rubble and takes a swing with her longsword. Her swing is rough from trying to get footing on the rubble, but strikes a glancing blow.
Smallest Sun will take a deep breath as he charges forward, hoping that he really does know how to use the longsword he found among his things. He steps up behind Helena's movement and takes a swing at the creature.
His attack bites in, and he feels a bit of relief that he seems to know how to do it. The sword's grip was worn and faded in a pattern that fit his hand, so he had been using the thing for a while before ending up at Briarstone.
"Hah!" he exclaims.
Narcisa, you're up!
Narcisa slashes at the creature as it tries to get in a better position to fight back.
She then attacks once more with a "Ha!"
She looks annoyed as this swing misses the creature.
Clearly I am meant more to stay quiet while attacking.