GM Rednal's Rise of the Runelords: AE (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

"Ven's daughter Katrine was one of the victims. He was the first person I visited, actually - he flew into a rage and fought like a devil, but I managed to get him into a cell so he could cool off. I'm pretty sure he was simply mad about what happened, though, not at getting caught for anything. He's never been the gentlest man, and he never liked Harker, the other victim, but I don't think he'd have gone as far as this... and I haven't found anything at all connecting him to the first set of murders."

"We'll need to talk to him more fully when he calms, then." Shalluk remembered the slightly grumpy shopkeep, but the man had treated him fairly if suspiciously and allowed him to resupply. Without shortchanging him. It was not always the case.

If nothing else pressing occurred, Shalluk headed for the murder site.

Pausing at Andulian's question, Zelani nodded sadly as she listened to the new information. "Poor Katrine...and Harker..." Her fingers, with sparkling nails, flexed for a moment into fists, before the aasimar forced herself to calm.

She agreed quietly with Shalluk, before heading with the others to the lumber mill.

Andulian shakes his head, absorbing all the information with a certain grim worry on his eyes. Finally he spoke.

I agree. - limited himself, still thoughtful as he followed Shalluk and Zelani.

Because I don't feel like making you constantly affirm that you'd like to check each potential point of interest, let's do this the fast way. XD

Perception (Andulian): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 Oh good.
Perception (Shalluk): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Perception (Zelani): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

The Sandpoint Lumber Mill stands on the shore of the Turandarok River. A sizeable crowd has gathered outside by the time the PCs arrive, and groups of nervous-looking town guards stand at the mill's entrances. They've clearly been expecting you, though, because they nodded quietly and stepped aside to let you in.

The mill is a well-built wooden structure with very thick walls. The roof is of wooden shingles , and doors are simple timber and unlocked. The mill machinery has been disengaged, although you're pretty sure it was running last night (the frequent noise had been a regular subject of complaints by the neighbors).

There were several points of points of interest as you searched around, though...

The Timber Pier: Timber was delivered to the mill via a small pier that extends out into the Turandarok River. Your investigation of the pier reveals a set of muddy footprints that leads from one end of the pier up to the mill itself.

Survival (Shalluk): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Survival (Zelani): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Even better, both of the group's members trained in survival were able to 'read' the prints, and they reveal that a barefoot human man clambered up from the mud under the pier, crossed over to the mill, and then scaled the wall to an upper-floor window.

The Murder Scene: The mill interior is coated with sawdust strewn with footprints and splashes of blood.

Survival (Shalluk): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Survival (Zelani): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Zelani is able to note the obvious from them - that a desperate struggle took place inside the mill - but Shalluk (without much enjoyment) was able to note that the bare prints here had a lingering smell of rotten meat, as if some animal had died and been allowed to ripen.

Katrine's Body: Katrine's mangled, ruined remains lie on the mill's lower floor amid heaps of bloodstained firewood. A pale-faced, obviously upset guard stands at attention nearby. The method of death - the mill's log splitter - is fairly clear.

Harker's Body: Harker's body has been horribly desecrated. The poor man has been affixed to the wall by several hooks normally used to hang machinery. The body is mutilated, the face carved away and lower jaw missing entirely. His bare chest is defaced as well, bearing a strange rune in the shape of a seven-pointed star... one that looked awfully familiar to Shalluk and Zelani.

Heal (Shalluk): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Heal (Zelani): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Shalluk - who seems almost worryingly good at forensics at the moment - is able to locate several additional wounds on the body. Unlike the deeper slashes on the body, these smaller gashes almost seem to have been made by a claws-claws on a five-fingered, human-sized hand. The rotten scent seems stronger near these wounds. The body is only recognizable as Harker's by a faded tattoo of a raven across his lower abdomen (something you were easily able to confirm with the guard).

The Axe: A handaxe is embedded in the floor near the log splitter, as if it had been dropped there. The handle is covered with bloody finger-marks, and a close examination of the head reveals two things of note. First, smears of what look like rotten flesh and fragments of bone are caked on its blade, and second, the rotten meat stink is strong on it.

Know ??? (Andulian): 1d20 ⇒ 7

Alas, that was all you could learn from it.

Years of surviving away from civilisation and treating his own wounds, along with whatever books he had been able to buy, had kept Shalluk alive. He was rather shocked at how many of those same skills transferred to examining the crime scene.

"Let us see..." the former Tiefling murmured as he looked, yellow eyes running over the environment as he tried to piece together what he had seen. "That attacker came from the river - a man, his feet bare." Removing a crossbow bolt from his quiver, Shalluk laid it by the muddy prints to mark them.

Continuing, up to the murder scene, Shalluk tried to look at the bodies as evidence of the crimes, rather than as former people. He had killed - and been killed - but it was...no, he wasn't thinking about them. He was concentrating on the scene.

Kneeling, he laid another bolt by one of the attackers footprints, confirming the size against those by the river. "He snuck in. Was the machinery running? Did he use the noise to cover his approach?" He made a note to ask if the machinery was running. "There is a scent...tainted meat. Perhaps an undead of some kind?"

Moving to Hawker's body, Shalluk knelt once more. "Note, please, the claw marks - each smelling of the same tainted scent as the foot prints. He clawed the man, savagely, until he could force him into the machine...but the man fought back?" Shalluk looked over at the axe. "The scent is on the blade once more." He pointed to the fingerprints. "But not before Hawker or Katrine was wounded? Is that their blood?"

Shalluk nodded to the body. "Jaw removal prevents us speaking to the spirit. And the star...it was present on several of the ruins we investigated. We recovered a ring that forms it as a shield of pure force, and a potent amulet. Clearly, this symbol needs investigating."

Rising to his feet once more, Shalluk tilted his head, scanning. "Where did the killer go? Back to the river, to wash the blood away and sneak away out of sight? I should...check."

The Crossbowman walked outside, turned, and vomited heavily and noisily.

Coughing, Shalluk washes his mouth with water from the canteen, and checks around to see if he could determine where the killer walked from there. Given the blood, he doubted it would be hard to follow, and he expected it to lead to the river.

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Zelani nodded to the guards and the crowds as she arrived with Shalluk and Andulian. Being her cordial self, if a bit solemn compared to her usual sparkly self, she gave a few reassuring comments about looking into things and no need for alarm before following the others to the timber pier.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

"Odd and risky for a guy to be barefoot at a place like this..." Zelani comments at looking the footprint over, watching as Shalluk marked it with a crossbow bolt.

The aasimar looked a bit ill and distracted as they looked over the murder scene...and the bodies. Poor Katrine and Harker. "Human claw marks...there are a few ways that could be done." the druid commented, as she continued listening to Shalluk.

"Obviously didn't want him talking..." she comment sadly as she pulls her eyes away from where Harker's jaw bone should have been as she tried to recount the times she had seen that star...in the temple. The weird door...and that ring. "The ring, I...I picked it up...I've been twirling it about between my fingers...I collect shiny bits and bobs..." she said shakily as she took a few moments to her check her dress which seemed to have far more pockets than at first glance before pulling out a small ring.

It took her a few minutes of staring at the ring before she braved putting it on. "Şenay"... Zelani softly says before seeming to continue talking to herself in Sylvan. Moments later, a black snake appeared from under Zelani's cloak at her feet, staring at the druid for a moment before they moved to follow the ill Shalluk. Glancing back towards the snake, Zelani activated the ring and allowed herself a minute to compare the two before pulling her sorrowful eyes to the rest of the room...

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Andulian looks with curiosity at the star symbol, and seems truly fascinated with the fact Zelani has a ring with the same symbol in it. For a moment, the paladin thought he remembered something important - but the thought quickly fled his mind as he stopped to pay attention at the Druid.

After a fairly exhaustive investigation, you seemed to have found all the clues you were likely going to find - and, alas, it wasn't clear which direction the killer left from. Of course, if he had gone through the river, there was essentially no hope at all of tracking him down - there was a reason people used them when they wanted to avoid pursuit.

The real question was what you were going to do with the clues you'd found... and the other leads you'd been given.

Confident enough in his own skill and that of his fellow, Shalluk paused, considering. Either the creature had returned to the river - a simple feat if it was truly one of the undead - or it had flown. There were only a handful of things that could escape via the ground and leave no tracks, and Shalluk hoped it was none of those - a Druid who had turned to murder would be a problem he did not wish Zelani to have to deal with.

Turning, and nodding to the snake with only a brief moment of surprise - it was rare to see the creature out in public like this - the Crossbowman noted Zelani's distress over carrying the symbol, and approached quietly. "Remember, the symbol has another meaning. That you happen to carry it, rather than myself or Tyrannius, is simply because you can make use of its abilities. The other one, the amulet we found, is in the possession of Tanwen, and we know so far nothing has happened with her."

Looking at Andulian, Shalluk murmured, "I think we have seen all we have to see here. The obvious conclusion, I feel, is that the murder was performed by some kind of undead. It's ability to breath underwater would be useful in traversing the river, and the smell of rotting meat certain hints towards such. And many of them have claws. But, there are a number of other explanations - a strong swimmer could make the river a simple task, and magic has several ways to grant claws - but it is, for now, the most obvious explanation."

Looking at the others, Shalluk added, "Unless one of you has another preference, I would suggest we check the scene of the first murder, and compare it to what we have found here. The scent of tainted meat has likely faded, but some of the other clues may still be present."

The snake followed Shalluk back in, pausing for a moment near him before continung back to Zelani as if attempting to make clear they had only gone out there because the druid had requested it.

Zelani sighed, nodding in agreement, "I know...it's just, with everything...it feels..." she shrugged, lost of words to express the swirling emotions that made this, likely a coincidence, feel so much more... aimed.

"It certainly looks like someone who can at least make it appear ritualistic. I'm...I agree that comparing this to the other place soon is likely for the best..." she said, holding her breath slightly from the smell as she knelt down to make it easier for Şenay to move back into hiding. After a few moments, Zelani stood back up, pulled the ring off and put it back in her pocket out of sight before moving closer to the other two. "I'm ready when you two are..." she said, uncomfortable with taking the lead at the moment...

I agree our case looks to have the foul stench of undeath written all over it. - finally said the Paladin, as they got ready to move to check the scene of the first murder.

As much as it pointed to such evidence, however, and that I have some level of understanding of these religious matters... I couldn't pinpoint exactly if this was the case, of just a strong suspicion. Maybe we can find traces of the arcane on the scene, rituals or whatnot, and this could provide us a path to follow.

Finally, the bard gave a warm smile to Zelani.

Curiosity for the unknown never startled me. Your feelings are natural, but fear not; we walk side by side now. I'm sure there's a reason you're in the possession this symbol, and I respect your willingness to carry such burden, whatever it might mean.

I should note that the site of the previous murder has already been cleaned up. Presuming you want to get the information that's still available...

Checking back at the sheriff's office, you are given some pieces of information, starting with a note found at the scene.

A worker there explained that 2 days ago, a patrol of guards along the Lost Coast Road were assaulted by a deranged man near an abandoned barn south of town along the banks of Cougar Creek. The man was obviously sick and insane, his flesh fevered, eyes wild, mouth frothing, and clothes caked with blood. The guards subdued him, but when they checked inside the barn they discovered the mutilated bodies of three men. The note with them identified them as Tarch Mortwell, Lener Hask, and Gedwin Tabe, three notorious con men and swindlers well known to Sheriff Hemlock as local troublemakers. The sheriff had personally forbidden the three men from operating their con games and barely legal operations in Sandpoint, and wasn't particularly surprised at the time to find them murdered - it was only a matter oftime before they tried to swindle someone worse than them, after all.

But in light of the mill murders and the fact that Mortwell, Hask, and Tabe all bore the same seven-pointed marking on their chests that Harker did, the Sheriff was convinced there was something worse than revenge afoot.

The bodies of all three men were currently in state in a cool basement room below the Sandpoint Garrison, not far from the holding cells, and you were welcome to examine them if you wished.

Frowning at the note, and the description of the scene - the fact that the main source of identification was the note itself did not speak well of the likely state of the bodies - Shalluk considered, but the same damned mark certainly suggested a strong link.

Unfortunately, examining the bodies seemed the next logical step. "If we check the bodies, this may not be...pleasant. Perhaps I should take this task alone, and the pair of you talk to the shop keeper. Ven is...less than friendly to myself, anyway. Perhaps you will have more luck with him." Mostly, however, he didn't want Zelani to see more corpses with that trice-damned mark again.

Zelani's eyes avoided the note as she listened and thought. The aasimar's attention was pulled to Shalluk as he spoke, raising her eyebrows at his comment, "You were quite ill after checking the victims at the mill, and beyond that, such unpleasantness should not be faced alone. I'm...okay with talking to Ven, but you should not go alone." Zelani said.

Zelani is right, Shalluk. - finally says Andulian - Between talking to a merchant and investigating the bodies, I'd say she will be fine and I should accompany you.

The paladin stops for moments, before completing.

Maybe, even, we should stick together through all places, as unpleasant as they might be. With the latter occurrences, I wouldn't want our small party to be split.

Pausing for a moment, Shalluk nodded his agreement and headed to take a look at the bodies.

Heal (Shalluk): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

As promised, the three bodies were being kept in a cool room under the garrison - but even with that, decay had begun to set in on the bodies, and that seemed to be the only useful(?) information you were going to get out of them.

Zelani followed Shalluk and Andulian quietly, nodding and speaking to guards or anyone who tried to talk to them with

"Poor souls..." she said quietly to herself. Even with what they'd been told about these people, this was a horrible fate...

She looked about, fidgetting slightly as went as her mind was racing, waiting to hear the others' thoughts.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Relatively pointless, but Shalluk bowed his head regardless. It was worth remembering the weight of the obligation they had agreed to - five had died and more would join them if they failed.

Are the bodies intact enough to use Speak With Dead?

While his companions inspected the bodies or looked around, Andulian closed his eyes and prayed.

Enlightened One, give us strength. Give us guidance. Allow us to follow our path, and throw your perfect light upon such journey. Irori, receive these souls at the Serene Circle. Allow them to seek your Perfection if they so humbly ask for.

Finally, he just looked at the bodies while Shalluk was working on them and detected magic, concentrating to see if they were missing anything.

Alas, the bodies were too mutilated for identification - and thus spells like Speak With Dead. There doesn't seem to be any trace of magic on them.

Sighing at the dead end - Shalluk grimaced at the poor choice of thoughts, deep in the recesses of his hood - the former Tiefling headed outside and happily gulped air untainted by the scent of spoiling meat. Once his stomach was behaving itself, he focused on the task at hand.

"With all the information we have gathered, that leaves the interviews. Hopefully, we can use what we have learned to cross reference with the interviewees." Considering, Shalluk murmured, "I would suggest Ven first, due to proximity and the fact he likely has nothing of interest. Then, if the sun's course permits, I can use my gifts to move us to the hospital where the bodyguard is being treated." Shalluk's Astral Caravan would all them to reach anywhere in fifty miles within the hour, making most journeys simple.

Zelani watched the gentlemen pray and investigate before following Shalluk out without saying a word until he was well enough to speak. Nodding as she thought over what he said, she responded with a quiet voice, Sounds like a plan. I hope he will be up for talking after all of this... she said, nervousness creeping into her voice as she began to move to their next destination.

I agree with the plan. Let's go for Ven, then. - says Andulian, being more practical. He didn't exactly know of what type of gift Shalluk was referring to, but imagined it would give them the haste they needed to deal with this problem - and it wouldn't raise too many eyebrows.

The Sanatorium was about three miles south of the city, but the road wound around the high-peaked hills - so the normal path was a mile or so longer. It was fairly easy to get there and back again in a day as long as you left early enough.

Ven Vinder, the shopkeeper and father of one of the deceased, was still in his cell - and he glared as you approached. "Off with one ugly skin and into another, but you can't hide what you are." he growled at Shalluk. "You're a jackal, a deviant - you and every other hellspawn. You're the one behind it, AREN'T YOU!?" he slammed his fists against the bars of his cell. "You may think you've got a good thing going, masquerading as a hero just for getting rid of some goblins you probably sent our way in the first place, but it won't be long before that mask comes off and everyone sees who you really are."

Shalluk's jaw opened, then closed with the sound of clicking teeth. Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Whether the bitter words of a hurt man or the genuine thoughts of someone who disliked Tieflings, it didn't matter - such words would worm their way into the minds of others, and infect them. Even if he was able to solve the murders, some would suspect that Shalluk was the killer.

But Shalluk had also promised to help, and he would. If he was driven from the town after, so be it.

"I am sorry for your loss," Shalluk said with a short bow. "Your daughter was a kindly woman." Looking at the others, he murmured, "My presence is not helping here. I shall wait outside." Shalluk excused himself outside, where he could keep listening at least.

Zelani stepped between the grieving man and Shalluk as Mr. Vinder began his hateful rant. She did not try to stop Shalluk from stepping outside - no one should have to put up with that. She took a few moments to collect her thoughts and observe the man and the room they were in before speaking.

"We are very sorry for your loss and I understand you are hurting Mr. Vinder - we are here to talk to you in hopes you can give us information that will help bring the murderer to justice - but that is no excuse to take your pain out on my good friend. Shalluk has put himself through great pain to help the town and to find who did this to Katrine and the others, may their memories be for a blessing, and I will not have you speak to him or anyone in that manner in my presence. I shall not put up with any further abuse. Is that clear?" The aasimar said firmly. She wasn't quite her usual sweet, dazzling, calming muse-touched self with everything that had happened, but Zelani did her best to both bring the man to a place where he might be able to talk and chastise him for his treatment of Shalluk.

She was quite ready to leave if he continued in such a manner - there were more people to talk to and they could come back to him later if needed. Zelani kept to herself her own knowledge of violent loss or that she was very sure of Shalluk's innocence both because of what she knew of the now kayal man and that he now lived in her home which, as it was, made it hard for people to come or go without others knowing. Trying to keep the personal out of it, she waited for Katrine's father to respond.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Weekend again - posting a quick one just so we keep moving.

Andulian is brief but supports Zelani on their friendly intentions.

Diplomacy (Aid): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"That's right! Run away, coward!" Ven shouted as Shalluk left. He looked at Zelani a moment later. "You of all people should know that once something is tainted, you have to pluck it by the roots so it can't sicken anything else." he told her. "Don't let your pity for the wicked blind you so much that they can take advantage of you. Infernal taints never truly go away... they just lie low for a time so they can stab the knife that much deeper. My daughter is gone, druidess... and I will punish the one responsible."

Having been called far worse than that, Shalluk listened in, considering. Was Ven trying to shift the blame from himself to Shalluk? Tieflings - well, some of them - did have claws and unusual signs of their evil heritage, but surely Ven would have noticed in their dealings that he did not smell of tainted meat? For that matter his feet hadn't been entirely human, but longer and close to having claws...not something most people knew. Then again, they were human now. And Shalluk knew of several ways to grow claws.

Still, it didn't seem likely that the man was trying to shift his own blame, but lashing out at an easy target for his own pain. Shalluk sympathised, although the words hurt, and the knowledge that he'd be weighing every look, every glance for ill intent somewhat reduced his desire to help the man. His daughter, however, deserved his aid.

And it was nice to hear others support him.

But the question remained - had the bitter old man killed his daughter and her probably lover in a fit of rage? Was he trying to shift his own blame? Or was he simply angry and Shalluk's own tainted blood made him a target? Were there any rumours that the man was violent to his loved ones, or a quavering in his voice? Shalluk tried to determine.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Zelani sighed as she stepped back from Mr Vinder, "What I've learned well is that wickedness can lie in wait in any heart, it grows where it is fed ego and hate and takes root strongest in any soil where power overcomes the ability to see the pain, the needs, the beauty in others. Shalluk is a good man who I've seen show nothing but kindness and consideration, defending and saving myself and others. I hear your pain, Mr. Vinder, and I see your need for justice to be served which is why we are here, but as you cannot tell us anything that will help us do so and can only speak from that pain at the moment... I do not think Katrine or Harker or any of the others would want any of us to be abused and delayed further. We have others to speak to and work to do to get the truth of this. I am sorry for your loss, I hope we can help give you and yours peace soon..." she finishes as turns away from the grieving man, glancing around the room as she considered Ven Vinder's words, and started to move away to join up with Shalluk.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

The paladin approaches and opens his hand, closing his eyes for a moment as he stands in front of the cell.

I am a Paladin of Irori, shopkeeper. - he finally said - Perfection is what we seek to achieve, like the Master of Masters; yet, we live in a world of intolerance. One could say the old touches on the blood are taints, drops of evil or veins of imperfection that prevent someone from ever truly achieving goodness or a proper purpose.

He opened his eyes, now gazing intensely.

In truth, Perfection might be beyond what our ignorant minds can perceive. It can exist on the combination of details, on the appreciation of differences and on the twisting reality that a man whose blood condemned him from the birth, in truth, sacrifices his eternal soul to fight against evil and seek redemption for crimes he never actually committed.

Andulian approached the cell, exposing a small tattoo on his hand in the format of a hand itself.

Irori shall bless you against the biggest of pains; that of losing an offspring. Yet, pray now. Pray now! Pray for your soul to be saved from such ignorance, and we shall deliver to you salvation - we shall find the murderer or murderers. - he again looked intensely at the man's eyes - ... And I guarantee, the Fists of Perfection won't be merciful to those undeserving.

"Don't try to tempt me." Ven answered, staring Andulian squarely in the eyes. "I follow the Judge of the Gods - not some monk who stares at his belly for weeks on end. If you want to prove something, don't preach at me like I'm some boy in his first class at church - find the one who killed my daughter and bring me his head." he paused briefly. "...A public trial followed by quartering would also be acceptable."

The second option sounded reasonable to Shalluk, and it didn't sound like Ven was automatically assuming the person being hung, drawn and quartered was him. The Crossbowman considered this progress, but it didn't sound like he knew anything that could help.

Zelani simply nodded at the Ven Vinder's mention of a trial as she continued moving to leave before asking the guys, "Who would you like to talk to next?"

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Andulian makes a silent greet, then leaves and meets the others outside.

I'd say we should head to the hospital, at this point. - says the tiefling, not completely happy with the man's answers. Abadar, however, had morale aligned with Irori, so he didn't give it much thought.

"Agreed," Shalluk replied. "Once we're done there, we can spend the evening consolidating what evidence we have and reporting our findings to the Sheriff come morning." Of course, Shalluk wasn't going to sleep well that night - his mind would wander to escape routes and preparations to flee - but such was life.

For what it's worth, the Sanatorium - which is what you meant? It's an asylum of sorts, not a hospital - is about an hour and twenty minutes away on foot. Just let me know how you want to reach it. ^^

Unless it's especially treacherous, we'll grab some mounts and ride there I suppose. If needs be we can rent-a-horse for those who don't have one.

sounds like a plan...let's do the thing.

I think we're all in agreement already to where to go - if needed, I will rent a horse on my gold

As you arrive - with the sun still relatively early in its passage across the sky - the Sanatorium comes into view. It's a rather squat-looking, three-story stone building. The windows all seem to be on the first floor, aside from one lone viewpoint on the third floor. An old, creaky wooden veranda leads up to the (unlocked) front door.

Shalluk decided to knock on the door, regardless. It seemed a poor idea to burst into a house of healing. Especially for those who had wounds and ills of the mind. He understood, at least from common lore and stories, that such places tended to be guarded against escape, and did not want to provoke a fight with such sentries due to a misunderstanding.

Zelani followed quietly, chewing slightly on her lips in thought. "Hopefully, things will go better here..." she said mostly to herself with a sigh as they arrived. Once dismounting, she checked the steeds were well tied up before she joined Shalluk at the door, turning as she tried to observe the place.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Andulian followed with the others and, agreeing with Shalluk, stopped by the front door before entering. The paladin, however, took a step forward and knocked the door, keeping the best of his smiles visible to talk the sentries into letting them in.

There was no response from the inside of the Sanatorium, even after you waited several minutes following your knocks. There wasn't too much to the exterior of the place other than what you'd already observes - just solid construction, small windows, and definite signs of aging and weathering.

Either this was the most poorly run hospice Shalluk had ever heard of, or something was likely wrong. Of course, both was also an option. Checking the bow beneath his belt, Shalluk gently pushed the door open, moving inside and looking around.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Concerned by the lack of response, Zelani followed Shalluk in. Looking around, the aasimar called out in a warm careful voice, Hello, we would like to talk to someone...

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

The paladin pulls his weapon and prepares to enter the place. His face shares the concern of the others - something was going on there.

Be ready, my friends. - he says - As per we might be in the presence of evil.