Keeping back and biting the inside of her cheek. Mutilated dead is one thing but this man is alive and being failed. This town is so twisted.
The CLW did little to affect his condition, although a few minor bruises went away.
When he sees Cordwin, though, his mood changes.
"He said. He said you would visit me. His Lordship. The one that unmade me said so. He has a place for you. A precious place. I'm so jealous. He has a message for you. He made me remember it. I hope I haven't forgotten. The master wouldn't approve if I forgot. Let me see. . . let. . . me . . . see. . . "
He seems to be racking his brain, and then tries to scratch his eye with his tongue.
"The master said that the bodies you are finding are signs and portents, that when he is done, you shall be remembered forever and the Misgivings shall be your throne!"
+3 to identify creature abilities and weaknesses
" 'Misgivings', ain't that the name of that there abandoned place south o' here? Think the proper name is 'Foxglove Manor.' " René murmurs softly to his companions. "Iffn it's parta his message, we're supposed ta go there. Though it's a trap, no doubt in mah mind 'bout that."
Geez, you help out a *little* and then crazies start sending you messages and trying to send you into harm's way. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say.
"Foxglove? Seems a dumb name for a place, foxes don't wear gloves, or other clothes for that matter. Unless they be were-people that is!"
"Naw, I assume it either belongs ta or used ta belong ta Aldern Foxglove's family. Me'n'Cordwin'n'Tylur met him a while back. Wanted ta go boar huntin' with us fer some reason. Think he went up ta Magnimar? That or he went lookin' fer Sabina since he seemed a bit taken with'er. Sabina was onna Cordwin's friends."
"That makes more sense then."
You think Lord Foxglove had anything to do with this? He seemed like such a nice fellow.
He then turns to Grayest...or whoever they seem to be talking to at the moment.
Who is the Master? Is it Lord Foxglove?
As Cordwin asks his last question, the patient collapses and issues a low moan.
"Aldern Foxglove? The man could be of no harm. Do you think he is the cause for Sabina's abrupt leaving?"
Egads! What's wrong with him?
"Well, Skarn said he were close ta death, right? I would say we should call someone, but they don't really seem ta care much ta begin with." René withdraws the cookie he had been offering, starting to munch on it thoughtfully. There really wasn't anything he could do to help the man.
"Don't think he gonna be able ta answer much more. Mayhap we check out the ol' manor?"
The moan rises to a shriek, and Grayst lurches to his feet quite unnaturally. This arms break free of the old straight-jacket, and he reaches for Cordwin, menacingly. René and Cordwin react the quickest.
In typical René fashion, he let out a surprised laugh as the crazy man lunged at them. "Whee who! Look who dun come alive when we thought he was a goner!"
Cordwin is surprised and quikly tries to hit Grayst with his hammer, but his surprise costs him.
Swinging his fist at Cordwin, the man connects solidly with Cordwin's jaw.
Ouch! Cordwin yells as he tries to bring his hammer down again...
Skarn decides that he dislikes being attacked by mental prisoners, he swings at the guy with his pick...
x4
René gives a nervous chuckles, "Hey, uhh, ain't we s'posed ta be the so-called 'good guys'? Ya don't need ta kill the fella! He's clearly off 'is rocker 'n' not doing so well. Try ta go easy on him, won't ya?"
Tylur grabs the spiked chain attached to his belt swinging it several revolutions he tosses it at the feet of Grayst but the chain skitters off the floor as it misses Grayst.
Grayst is in a full rage now, and continues to assault Cordwin.
Cordwin does not know what he did to deserve this creature's wrath so he continues to swing his hammer.
He is so distressed, he completely misses!
Skarn continues his assault...
x4
René gives an unenthused chuckle, "When I said, 'Don't kill 'im,' I didn't mean 'miss 'im entirely'. I'd like fer us not ta die as well."
Tylur pulls the man's feet from under him, and knocks Grayst to the ground. The man rises to attack poor Cordwin again.
Skarn attack’s the man-creature as it rises...
x4
And again once he gets up, if needed...
x4
As the man tries to rise, Cordwin sees this as an opportunity.
That's enough to knock the man unconscious.
"I..I...There was no way of knowing..." Dr Habe stammers as two tiefling orderlies stand to either side of him. "You have to believe me! I didn't think this would happen. You can't tell anyone about this - it would ruin me! Promise!"
”You’ve got some explaining to do mister! And it better include a really good reason for us not to tell the world what happened here.”
Yeah! What happened to him? Why was he so focused on me?
René raises an eyebrow as the man babbles. If he was asking that they keep quiet about his poor treatment of those under his care, he wasn't sure he'd be promising that. As the doctor faces the Dwarven inquisition, he squats down next to Grayst, attempting to make sure the man wasn't going to die from the blows he had suffered (and wasn't going to pop up and continue attacking them).
You recognize that he will survive his current wounds, but it is likely to be a very small victory. You don't know how you missed it before, but this guys is in the final stages of ghoul fever, in addition to his insanity.
"I.. what?.. Who are you?" he finally asks of Cordwin. It seems you will not get an answer as to why you are a target, but clearly the man is holding something back.
I think there is more to this story, why don't you tell us all. It will make this situation more tolerable.
René quietly murmurs to his companions. "This fella defin'tly got in a tussle with the mill attacker. Ain't long fer this world. Got infected-like. Might wanna cons'der puttin' 'im outta his mis'ry."
Assuming someone can aid Cordwin there, the man seems to calm a bit. "Listen, I thought it was an interesting case, but I didn't know it was going to interest Caizarlu so much. I have to admin, some of his experiments seem to be a bit severe. But all in the good of scientific research, right? Anyway, it sounds like you have the information you need, so please, let me see you out."
The doctor motions for you to follow him down the stairs while the orderlies prepare to re-lock the door.
Cordwin eyes the 'good' doctor suspiciously. I'm assuming he didn't consent to this Caizarlu's experiments? Well, whatever happens to him is on you and Caizarlu!
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Still confused about what 'secret' they're supposed to be keeping, René hesitates. "Err, doc, ya might wanna be careful with that fella. He's turning inta something right nasty. When he dies, 'twon't be the end of it. Ya might wanna let us know, so we kin handle it." Oh great, now *I'm* volunteering us to help out in dangerous situations. But as long as we get to the body before it rises, it should be simple enough to destroy the creature.
"I do not know much of this fever the man has, but often outside forces can be applied to aid the sick in healing themselves. Perhaps if we stayed and assisted?"
If we choose to stay, and assist, Skarn will put on his bedside manner and try and treat the patient...
...If that meets the DC of the disease itself, then I'd give the patient a +4 on his next save. Happy to stay for a few days, if it will help!
Are you choosing to stay and do heal checks? If so...
Also, apparently your efforts have angered someone, so as you try to leave, a man and 4 zombies block your exit.
Initiative:
Absolutely, if I think it can help, and apparently it can.
So... Fight! Fight! Fight!
The man in the back looks furious. "How dare you interfere in my experiments! I am afraid you must now be dealt with."
Skarn, not interested in "being dealt with," activates his judgment of sacred protection, casts divine favor on himself, and moves up next to the purple beastie...
The angry man casts a spell.
"Oh, trying ta make it harder fer our heavy hitter ta hit ya, eh? Prolly a smart move. But I kin see through yer lil' displacement-y illusion-y thing!"
Perhaps he should feel a little guilty about what he was about to do. But the man was openly experimenting on the mentally ill. That was not the sign of a good person. Especially if he was covorting with the undead.
"Ak! Dorn, come lead me out of here! You others attack!"
Three zombies shuffle toward you, while forth keeps trying to grab the blind man... but the displacement spell is making it difficult!
Cordwin tries to hit a zombie with his hammer.
Skarn will attack Blue...
x4