Ashe walks over to the mal-treateed warrior woman placing a hand gently on her shoulder he raises his visor meeting her eyes, "...The failure was not your Maiden Commander Vanyar. A soldier's duty is to obey his commanders trusting that the order and directives follow the rule of law. It is a sacred trust that a soldier obey his superiors with the understanding that they are acting in the best interests with their full knowledge of the situations and objectives that dictate their office of command. You are not at fault with that sacred trust is betrayed.... whether knowing or unknowingly. Rest assured... we will find those responsible... and there will be an accounting."
With a look of distress upon his brow Ashe asks, "... may I?" As he gestures with is Inheritor's gauntleted hand as it glows a warm golden hue.
If she nods her consent Ashe will tenderly touch the scar on her face and expend a lay on hands letting the mercy of Iomedae settle upon her to heal the unsightly scar.
"I... am a alchemist and healer by my studies... I have a topical alchemical remedy that with time and regular application will smooth out scars and make them less unsightly. I assume it was earned in battle, but it need not mar so lovely a visage. Warfare changes us indeed but we need not let it blur the beauty or grace the gods gifted us each undeservedly with at birth. It is not vanity to not wish to be maimed in the performance of one solemn duty and oaths, milady."
Turning away Ashe will gather any and all notes the Urgathoan Physicians were collating... this data may in fact help him with study and persistence come up with an alchemical remedy or serum/vaccine.
Damoc strides into the room, trying to walk the center of the aisle and sidestepping away from any patients whose arms of legs stick out into the aisle. He looks at Ashe and the Maiden. So easy. So comfortable. So attractive. What must that be like? He turns away.
"What's through the door?"
"I dunno, lets find out.." Graxer moves over to the door and takes a listen.. If he hears nothing he'll try the door.
Once we secure the physician in the webs, Deriven asks, "Where is Davaulus? Speak quickly."
The papers and notes gathered and put away Ashe lowers his visor again and strides over to the door to Davaulus' office.
Telepathically, to Majenko still above the door,
His voice hard and metallic directed as Graxer, "Inquisitor, please break down this door!"
Ashe readies his shield and draws ... calling upon the celestial spirit with his blade Ashe silently requests the power of and the blade ignites with a pulsing warm golden light brighter than the radiance of the Inheritor's Gauntlet's touch.
...
Once the door is open Ashe will stride in and look for Davaulus, he has no words for Davaulus but strides up to him and puts him to the sword...
But with his celestial spirit awakened in Dauntless Heart granting it the ... he can be subdued him with no threat to Davaulus' life.
Across the telepathic like Ashe sends to the party,
Watching the interchange between Deriven and the physician, Damoc thinks, It looks like I chose poorly. I hope that I do not have to become that man's friend."
To Ashe, the wizard says, "Let's try it the easy way first." He tries to open the door. If that fails he produces a scroll of knock, and reads the spell off.
Deriven hands the prisoner over to Commander Vanyar. He follows Ashe into the other room.
Graxer will try the door and if its locked he"ll put he sword through it..
Damoc searches in his bag for the knock scroll and quickly comes up with it. He reads the scroll, then raps the door twice with his knuckles. Pushing the door open he quickly stands aside to let the real fighters through first.
As he's about to smash the door in half he halts, seeing Damoc produce a scroll..
Stepping into the room Ashe pans his gaze about... certain there was someone within.
Standing in the doorway Ashe says over his shoulder, "Davaulus is hiding,,, or perhaps concealed with magic. Cover the doorway - he may not be alone. Graxer... cover the right of the door, and be careful... there is delicate alchemical equipment in here that MAY be volatile."
Ashe detects for evil panning his gaze about the laboratory, not expecting much but worth a try.
Finally taking the total defense stance raising his shield for maximum protection Ashe steps into the lab and moves to the left of the door keeping his back to the wall.
Hefting ... pulsing with celestial power waiting to be used...
Graxer scans around the room as he moves in..
Hearing Ashe mention magical concealment, Damoc reads from his scroll of see invisibility. He remains standing at the doorway and looks around.
Communicating through Majenko..
Graxer takes a step in the man's direction but doesn't look at him.. "I know your in here somewhere you bastard.. Give yourself up and you might live to see the hangmans noose!" He pokes his sword in the oppisite direction of Davaulus..
Damoc is a little confused. Graxer sees Davaulus, but he's looking the wrong way -- Ahh. A ruse! Taking his cue from the dwarf, Damoc lets his own gaze slide away from the skulking figure. He rummages in his bag for a suitable scroll in case the fighters fail.
Ashes armored emotionless visor inclines slightly in Graxer's direction.
Across Majenko's telepathic link,
Dervien secures the door and puts himself in a position that cannot be passed. "I will not let anyone pass. Secure the Doctor."
Graxer will look one way and then swing around at the doctor with his weapon and activate as a swift actions and as a free action.. He somehow manages to angle the flat of the blade instead of the sharp side..
With Deriven in position to interpose at the door Ashe waits for Graxer to act...
On Graxer's swing Ashe acts pulling a 1/2lbs specially prepared packet from his belt pouch a small bag of mixed chalk dust and flour powder. Pathfinders are always prepared to deal with Invisible threats, with tried and true 'mundane' superior tactics.
Ashe hurls the bag of powder at the target are of the floor causing a brief cloud of white powder to settle in the area. Even if the invisibility spell slowly turns any sticking powder invisible as well... it will NOT hide the obvious footprints of the foe revealing his location for all to see!
The Bag does not only hit the floor section but apparently Davaulus squarely in the face!!!
Ashe strides over to flank the revealed Red Mantis cultist of Urgathoa, "SILENCE! I have had enough of your lies and evil! There is no 'healing' going on here... and I AM THROUGH talking to you! You WILL speak the truth... once properly motivated by the authorities... Right before your LONG-OVERDUE appointment with the headsman, but for now... YOU WILL BE SILENT!"
With that Ashe swings over his head in that characteristic power swing to put him down in a single mighty blow {or two as needed..}
Satisfied Ashe says, "Damoc, Graxer... Deriven - detect magic on this decay worshiping vermin - remove anything magical and everything save clothing! Manacle him, gag him... check for false teeth that might have poison compartments... he does not escape justice with suicide!"
Ashe advances in to his office and begins sorting through the papers and any records here... not sure what he's looking for but he checking to see if there is any subtle evidence waiting to be discovered. He is being meticulous and VERY thorough!
Graxer searches the doctor and his vile room thoroughly..
"Graxer, would you mind checking his teeth? I am not putting my fingers in his mouth." Damoc shudders at the thought.
Damoc also scans the Doctor and room for magic.
If, they're needed to try to identify magic auras:
Spellcraft (caster level 13)
Spellcraft (caster level 2)
Spellcraft (caster level 0)
Spellcraft (caster level 12)
Deriven scans the Doctor with detect magic. He removes any items that register. He removes any holy symbols or weapons. He strips the man to his loincloth. "We won't be taking him anywhere until we secure the information we need from him. There are answers needed now that will not wait for interrogation elsewhere. He will give them to us alive or dead. I care not which. The man is in our power. I am a priest of the Inheritor. Alive or dead he will reveal what he knows."
"Graxer, I will bring him to conciousness. You will assist with the interrogation."
Once he is secured we will bring him to conciousness preferably without magical healing.
Deriven searches the man for any item that looks like it may fit the elevator.
"Indeed i will be.. I have a few uses of my detect lies ability left so make your questions good.. I will tell if hes lying or not.."
Once Davaulus is awake, Deriven grabs his chin and forces him to meet his eyes. "You seem a smart man, Davaulus. I wonder how much of a zealot you are and I intend to find out.
I am a servant of Iomedae. That name should be known to you. Ashe is as well. What that means for you is that you can trust my words will match my deeds. I promise that if you provide the information we wish you will survive to see prison. I'm sure that is a better chance at life than the alternative of death now and I make your corpse answer my questions.
First, where does the elevator go? What we will find when we get there?
Second, how many more diseased coins are there? Where are they made? Who is making them?
Third, does the Queen know of you are spreading plague in Korvosa? Did she order you to do so?
Think carefully on these matters and answer truthfully. Pray that if you lie, you do so well enough to deceive the Gorumite. I will not stay his hand if he does not perceive the truth in your words. As I said, a corpse is as easy to interrogate as a living man for a servant of the Inheritor."
When the doctor answers he will activate Detect Lies as an immediate action (DC 16 Will) and will also sense motive..
Damoc listens to the interrogation, but thinks that he is unlikely to help unless he "becomes Davaulus' friend". Instead he drifts across the room to examine the doctor's equipment. Convinced the doctor is brewing Bloodveil Mark II he touches nothing and shies back at the slightest odor.
Random intelligence check
Ashe will lift his visor his expression not pleased but not directed at anyone in particular... more at the situation.
Ashe will first gather ALL the Davaulus' personal notes on the Varisian sporadic immunity to the plague... valuable information Ashe will need to craft a cure. Carefully packing the notes away.
Ashe comments, "... I don't really think he will be cooperative. All those questions have either been answered or will be answered very shortly when we move to investigate the elevator. If need be we can put a hole in the floor and repel down to the basement we know is there... Varrel detected a powerful magical trace from below ground."
"I already KNOW the Queen knows about this... the problem is proving she 'specifically' brought Davaulus here and ordered him to spread plague in the city in such a way that is not just circumstantial. A letter with her writing and direct orders... something she cannot deny. HE.. {pointing at Davaulus} is a witness that can be called into question as he is a murderer and a cultist... even under a . Our proof must be IRRIFUTABLE... and cannot rely on a spell. She IS the Queen - and she does not have to agree to be subjected to spells that call into question her person! We can't just accuse her without IRON-CLAD, solid, evidence! I expect such proof does not exist... the Queen is much too smart for that!"
Looking over the recovered gear from Davaulus he comments, "...he is supposed to be a ... be very careful.. I would think he would have some poison on him... somewhere. Is that magical? I've never heard of any such potion or elixer... is it a cure spell in potion form?"
Ashe frowns even deeper, "...but if you must insist on questioning him I have smelling salts in my healer's kit that will wake him... but I don't want him dead... Not yet. He must stand trial, he Must face the queen with his failure and he MUST face the citizens of Korvosa when he is executed! An example and a warning to the Queen... whatever her crazed motivations must be that 'she is not unstoppable!' And there are those watching her... closely! I know its not what you would want but the time for watching from the side is coming to a close... after what we do here.. there will be no denying our involvement here! Best to stand fully in the light where all can see ... so the Queen may not act directly without proving to ALL her culpability..."
Ashe will pull out his healers kit and rafter briefly rummaging he will produce a vial of smelling salt and hand them to Deriven,"... just wave this under his nose.. he'll come around."
"Could the potion perhaps be a true cure for the blood veil already distilled?"
Ashe ponders Graxers supposition... then shakes his head.
"I don't think so Graxer, if it were a cure to the Blood Vail... why also does he carry a potion of ? Also he is wearing a ... one of their magical ones that makes him immune to Blood Veil! It would seem highly dubious to actually make a cure for the disease when their efforts here are clearly trying to find a way to infect those Varisians that are naturally immune to the disease... I doubt its a 'cure' to the plague."
Deriven wears an expression of displeasure, "It was not wise to strike him down when he was secured. A vain and wasteful show of power without meaning. No one to impress and an enemy already defeated. I will not waste Iomedae's gift awakening him as I may need it to deal with what may lie below. It would have been better to learn from him what we face rather than go in blind."
"Damoc, can you detemine what this is?", Deriven hands the vile of true healing elixir to the mage.
Deriven holds up the button, "I see no reason rappel when it appears we have secured the entry key. Where will this take us I wonder. If it is in his care, it must be a place of great importance."
"That will work." Deriven will take the smelling salts from Ashe and use them to awaken Davaulus.
Deriven will repeat his previous questions when Davaulus is awake adding, "Are there undead where the elevator is? What type?"
Ashe replies a somewhat testy tone to his words, "Not a waste. I know not if he is a spellcaster... note.. he has no empty potion bottle for that he was obviously under. He could have used a scroll.. which means he could be a spellcaster. I did not want him conscious to cast anything nor did I feel any need to question him when I can find out all the evidence I need in his notes and or potentially the basement once we get there. I also knew I could revive him without using magic if the need was great. I had no need to hear more of his lies... nor risk the threat of him casting spells."
Noting the button... which Ashe obviously didn't notice before , "Ah.. good... a easier way down. I'm sure we'll find all we need to know in the basement... whatever is going on there. The 'Blood Veil' plague is magical and evil... it may be being created in the basement... as Varrel detected a powerful magical source there. That would be most convenient indeed... and all the proof we would require to justify our actions here as irrefutably in the best interests of Korvosa! It tactically would be the best place for such an operation away from prying eyes. Were the Queen to order our arrest.. after we revealed such if that be the case; she would have a full revolt on her hands from the people!"
"Question him if you must.. but be watchful of his words... some spells only take vocal components to complete... like ."
"Perhaps it would be better to question him later then.. Thats all we need is him vanishing on us.."
Ashe smiles, his words softening, "..its just something you learn as a Pathfinder. We call it the 'villain's escape clause'... . All do the same thing conceal and or allow the foes to escape apprehension ... to potentially come back and make themselves or threat or Worse inform the real threat as yet not-encountered to your presence. Pathfinder Doctrine 1.3 The Scrolls - specificly 'On encountering a foe under the effects of a limited duration spell.. it is best to assume they are a spellcaster and subdue, bind and gag them, until proven otherwise.' Something you only make a mistake about forgetting once ... painfully; then you keep it in mind if you survive the blunder!"
"In my travels I've found it best to just remove the head entirely.. I understand you all wish to question him so.. Manacle him and put a sock in his mouth i say.."
Ashe shakes his head, "I do not want to question him... he will LIE I'm certain! But I DO want him to face public trial and his well-deserved and equally public Execution! The system works.. if we support it. It proves - justice does find the guilty and punish them for their crimes. The alternative is anarchy and the tyranny of 'mob rule'. There are whole kingdoms under such evil... Galt in particular. The rule of law is what I'm striving to support and uphold."
Damoc takes the vial from Deriven and focuses upon it.
Detect magic Spellcraft will identify anything up to caster level 6. (unless one of the rolls above counted)
Varrel no doubt picks up on some happy thoughts of success from the ever chatty Majenko?
Deriven responds in the calm voice of the military commander, "I am a spellcaster. I understand their tactics from use. If he had these capabilities, he would have used them. We would have found the room empty. Our entry was not quiet. Unless he is a fool, he would not have risked being overmatched alone against unknown enemies. Though some casters are overconfident when it comes to their own power."
"Graxer had the means to see an invisible being active. The only means of egress was blocked. If he had access to a secret door, he would have used it I would think. There is no means to fly out of the room or he would have done so. If he was a spellcaster of any power, he would not have waited to talk. He would have acted to escape or attack as would any spellcaster with enough power to do so."
"I do wish to question him. I trust our ability to see through his lies. I would prefer not to walk into an Urgathoan den used for manufacturing disease unaware. If all feel comfortable entering this place without any foreknowledge, I will comply given this is not a military unit I am in command of. Though I feel it is unwise. Field interrogations can be very helpful. I do not wish to leave Varrel guarding prisoners if we are to enter this place. We should enter in force and with as much casting power as possible. Urgathoan servants often employ undead and those that can create undead: powerful priests and necromancers."