Well this is another fine mess.
"Maybe we should wait our turn. We don't want trouble right now."
Sebastian raises his hands, standing very still. "Whoa there, no need for all that!" He steps backward slowly, leaving the way he came.
Please forgive my friend, he is very distraught that his friend is missing.
The Gray Maiden pushes Sebastian back out into the waiting room at sword-point and then stands in front of the curtain with her arms crossed. You can't see her face behind the mask, but she is clearly expecting you to leave the hospice and is making sure you don't cause any further trouble.
Once the woman sheathes her sword, Sebastian visibly relaxes. "There, isn't that better? We can be reasonable about this. I am Sebastian Merrin," he says, gently doffing his cap. "Sabina Merrin is my sister." Bringing his hand up across his heart , he fingers the pseudodragon mark he uses to pin his cape. "My friends and I are just looking for Ruan - we have a cure for him! We don't want any trouble, we just want to do our part to help the city."
Indeed, we have a cure! A magic cure
The Maiden's arms relax as you sway her to be slightly more friendly but she doesn't move from the door.
"Unless you have written orders from Sabina, it doesn't matter who you are. I have my orders not to let anyone in. If this Ruan is within, he's being taken care of. If you are referring to a remove disease spell, many a cleric can claim such a feat. The only one who can find a true cure is Doctor Davaulus and the best way to aid him is to let him do his work undisturbed."
Ayako tugs on Sebastion's arm. Let us lave the good doctor to his work and pray for Ruan's recovery.
Well, this is cutting it close..., mentally sighs Lucien while his exterior appearance does not betray any sign of nervousness.
"Indeed we have a lot of work to do, Sebastian", says the paladin as he puts a reassuring hand on his friend's sholder, "Maybe we should leave as they say".
As Ayako pulls him away, Sebastian relents. "Very well, then. We won't disturb you further. Good day."
After retreating a safe distance from the hospice, Sebastian scowls. "First Old Korvosa, now this. There is something afoot with Doctor Davaulus, and I don't like it. Why does a hospice need so many guards?"
Once outside, Lucien walks at Sebastian's side, listening thoughtfully to his words, his face clearly concerned as his friend's. "I was just asking myself the same question, Sebastian..."
Lucien looks up at the sky, vainly hoping to find the answers he's looking for in the bizarre forms of the clouds above his head as he was used to do when he was only a child. "Our city is dying...", whispers the paladin with a face full of sorrow.
"Ayako, Iolana. You two have better memory than me for sure. There's something we can do while we wait for the situation at the Hospice to change and maybe allow us to act?"
We could visit Sabine to get permission to enter, or disguise ourselves as doctors but that is punishable by death. Or sneak in during the night.
Sebastian shakes his head. "Better not to involve Sabina further. something felt...off last time. I don't like it, but the less she knows the better."
No doubt she will be observed, so the less we have to do with her the better.
'Why not try a mixture of the plans. One person dresses in the physician outfit we have, and the rest try to sneak in behind that person at night. The physicians must be around at all the time tending to the ill. Maybe there won't be as many guards then."
Make ourselves look all sick and being escorted in?
Sebastian shrugs. "I don't know anything about healing. Ayako, you're the only one that might be convincing as a doctor."
Well I know how to use make-up and can use it on people's faces to make it seem they have the sickness but it won't stand up to close scrutiny. Hmm.. I might be able to use my healing skills to use some toxic plants to make rashes on the face. Iolana, do you have any skills with plants or items that might aid me?
Rubbing his chin, Sebastian considers the task before them. "Ayako, it makes the most sense to disguise you as the doctor. I don't like the thought of you going in alone, but I'm too memorable to play the patient. Iolana, you're Varisian - the hospice is so crowded that nobody would give you a second look. The two of you should be able to find Ruan."
Shifting his stance, he rests his hand on the pommel of his sword uneasily. "But Ruan isn't the only thing that matters here. There's something that isn't right about Doctor Davaulus. I won't pretend to understand what's happening, but we don't have any time to waste. We have to move on this tonight. Lucien and I will wait outside. Once Ruan is safe, we'll storm the building. Lucien can help to secure the patients while I draw the Grey Maiden's attention. If we can create enough chaos, Ayako can penetrate into the hospice unnoticed and get to the bottom of this once and for all."
Very well, I'll prepare Iolana to appear to be infected. Ayako gets out her make-up and some items she uses for healing and begins to work on Iolana, applying ointments and irritants to make it seem that she is infected and has the tell-tale red rashes.
We should be prepared that Ruan is not there. We are already doing this on evidence with the weight of a shadow so if everything comes up empty, we might just have to retreat or bull our way in and be prepared for extreme consequences.
I can make you two invisible. I know the spell. Try to be quiet as you go in. I don't think we should split up just in case something goes wrong. If I stumble and make lots of noise, it should cover the gentlemen entering after or between us. What do you think?"
That sounds reasonable.
Ayako gets Iolana made up as best she can and then gets on the doctor uniform. A bit of a pity that you are free of the disease at the moment, I could easily cure you when needed with our wand. Hmm...A drastic but useful tactic? Infect one of us?
Sebastian nods, liking Iolana's suggestion. "That would help get us in. I'll need a disguise, though. If the spell gets broken, I'd rather I wasn't recognized."
You get your disguises in place and return to the Hospice of the Blessed Maiden. Ayako, in her Queen's Physician outfit, enters with a "diseased" Iolana. Sebastian and Lucien follow invisibly behind.
The nurse is still behind the counter but the Gray Maiden has returned to the inner area. Most of the patients in the waiting area you saw before are still there except for one indicating the line is moving albeit very slowly.
The nurse says nothing and doesn't stop Ayako from walking into the sick bay. Inside, another Physician looks over Iolana and says, "Take her upstairs for special treatment. A bed just freed up." You take the stairs up past the catwalks to the upper level.
The rough functionality of the warehouse below gives way to beige tile and a white hall on this more officious-looking floor. A door engraved with images of rampant gazelles stands to the south, their once fine teak bearing obvious scores and gapping chips from rough use.
Two more Gray Maidens stand guard in front of the door. The Maidens spot Ayako and knock on the door behind them. A Physician opens the door from within and lets Ayako and Iolana in (and Sebastian and Lucien).
Rows of white-sheeted beds line the walls of this room. Each is occupied (except one), every bed bearing a patient restrained by leather straps that bind the figure to the sturdy metal frame. At the room's center stretch simple wooden worktables, each covered in fluid-filled beakers, intricate glass tubes, small burners, and other alchemical instruments.
Each bed is occupied by a human of Varisian descent. They've all been operated on and mutilated but they are drugged in a state of oblivious bliss. A smoking censor in the center of the room adds to their "comfort". Altogether, there are three Physicians in this room.
The Physician that let you in points to the empty bed. "Tie her down. I'll administer the injection."
Ayako guides Iolana in, her eyes darting around. When they reach the room with the savaged people, she considers asking about the injection but realizes that would instantly blow her cover so she moves Iolana to the bed and loosely sets the straps so she can get out.
Ready? Ayako whispers into Iolana's ear.
Iolana nods slightly her eyes huge. She moves very slowly to the bed as she looks around to see if she can spot Ruan among the mutilated Varisians. I hope the guys made it in. This is bad really, really bad. Who would do this to my people, and why.
Sebastian follows along, his hand on Lucien's shoulder so they can keep track of each other while invisible. He looks around in horror at the scene beyond the door. This must be the 'good' doctor's laboratory.
Lucien tries to keep himself calm, while the horrific pictures in his mind torment him as he sees his wife dying again and again to her disease. I MUST find a solution. I was not able to save her...Now I cannot fail again!
Lucien walks as slowly as he can in order not to produce any noise that could create some suspects.
Iolana still does not spot Ruan amongst these Varisians. He must be somewhere else.
"What are you waiting for? Those straps aren't tight enough. Is something wrong?" says the Physician in a frustrated voice. "Move aside. I'll do it myself. There's a reason you're down there with the common filth." He approaches to tighten the straps and to inject Iolana with the needle in his hand.
Ayako moves aside and when the 'doctor' leans over Iolana, Ayako's hand comes out of her sleeve and it is seemingly covered in black ice. With a quick motion, the ice leaps from Ayako's hand to encase the doctor's head.
Ayako's hand connects with the Queen's Physician's face and the freezing void of outer space encompasses his body, quickly spreading from his head down to his feet. You can only imagine the look on his face behind the mask. He doesn't get out more than a gasp before his body solidifies into a frozen hunk of meat and topples over with a hard thunk.
The other two Physicians immediately look up and silently draw whatever blunt object is within reach.
From what you can tell from this side of the door, the Gray Maiden guards haven't reacted. Perhaps they didn't notice or perhaps they are used to noise coming from within.
Becuase she doesn't know where Lucien and Sebastian are standing Iolana decides not to Color Spray the physicians. Instead she decides to Scorching Ray one of them. I hope they go down quickly. I don't want the Grey Maidens in here if we can help it.
Lucien grits his teeth. It's time!
Quick as a shadow slithering into the darkness, although he's not used to it at all, Lucien moves in front of one of the two Queen's Physicians still alive. The paladin silently draws his trusty greatsword as he moves toward his foe, then takes in a deep breath. Abadar, please forgive me. I'm not acting honorably by attacking these men while they cannot see me, but there are human lives at stake here.
With a strong and violent descending blow, Lucien tries to overcome his inner reluctance. He brings down his greatsword with all of his strenght on the Queen's Physician, shivering imperceptibly as he does so. Am I... Without even realizing it, before his sword can hit the man in front of him, something inside the paladin leads him to slightly turn his wrist. Instead of the sword's blade, Lucien uses the flat part of the weapon to hit his target, although he perfectly knows that the hesitation bringing him to have mercy could easily make his attack miss and put his allies in danger.
____________________________
Iolana's ray hits the closest Physician squarely in the chest. He staggers back a step but doesn't fall over.
Lucien brings his sword down hard on the other Physician knocking him out.
Sebastian stabs the remaining enemy ending the fight.
Luckily for you, the fight has ended before it even began and no further enemies are interrupting you.
Ayako helps Iolana up. Perhaps we should lure in the maidens outside the door? Say we need help with an unruly prisoner. We then ambush them.
I suggest this, we take the robes and disguise ourselves as physicians, myself, Sebastion and Lucian while Iolana acts as a victim again. Both of you hold down Iolana as she thrashes around while I request help from the maidens and lure them in. If they come in, both Sebastion and Lucian can ambush them while I strike from behind.
"Seems like a good plan, Ayako. Although I don't like the idea of being so deceptive, I can see no alternative. Let's do this", comments Lucien as his eyes are still fixed upon the man whose life he spared. Will he deserve that?
Lucien then starts to wear the Queen's Physicians clothes, along with their mask. The process makes him nervous, although he's a little relieved by the fact that those clothes won't touch his skin, but only his armor, which he's wearing beneath them.
If we attack them straight on, we risk drawing in more forces than we can deal with.
"I agree luring them in is the best plan. Do we want to check the other room first just in case there's someone in there that could hear us?"
Ayako helps Iolana
Ayako hears the whispers from the well. Of dark waters and rushing wind into the endless depths.
Beyond the door to the south you hear the occasional creaking of footsteps on wood floor and the clinking of glass. A man hums from within as he performs some unseen work.
Ayako whispers. A man is inside, we can take him unawares.
Iolana is really glad she decided to check the door even though Ayako was the one who heard the man. she whispers back, "Let's try." She gestures to the gentlemen to come to the door.
Ayako will let Sebastion and Lucian take the lead through the door.
You slowly push open the door to the next room.
Blood, bile, and other humors bubble away within oddly formed beakers and twisted tubes in this sizable laboratory. Any wall space left unobscured by 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 the stains of dark chemicals and gore disfigures the once-beautiful piece.
Doctor Davaulus sits behind the desk and looks up as the door opens. He shouts down to you in an angry condescending voice.
"How did you get in here?! Can't you see you are interrupting important work being done to determine a cure for the plague? Work that was commissioned by the queen herself, I might add. Your actions could be taken as high treason. Consider your next move very carefully."
Sebastian eagerly steps up to the door. Now that they were past the guards, he didn't see any use for more sneaking around. Cloaked and masked, he throws open the door to find an irritated Doctor Davaulus.
Emboldened by the protection the mask affords his identity, he scoffs at the Doctor and his claims of high treason. "Treason? So sayeth the man who doth consort with cultists!" Sebastian steps into the room, brandishing his rapier threateningly. "Or has the Queen softened her stance on the Pallid Princess?"
Ayako readies to cast Pilfering Hand if the 'doctor' tries anything like drawing a weapon.