"The sheriff is not the most conversational person I have met" - Grenz replied - "Well, I am neither but... Perhaps. We can always ask"
"I wonder why all the secrecy. I know no authority likes a panic among the populous, but up north, if a great beast threatened the hall, you told everyone so they could gear up to join the hunt and defeat it. It's strange to me." Idun asks.
”Certainly. I will have a scribe write one up and have it delivered to you later today.”
”Certainly. I will have a scribe write one up and have it delivered to you later today.”
"Thank you Mayor Deverin"
"I wonder why all the secrecy. I know no authority likes a panic among the populous, but up north, if a great beast threatened the hall, you told everyone so they could gear up to join the hunt and defeat it. It's strange to me." Idun asks.
Khamul replies grimly "Think about it Idun, this is not as tight-knit a community as a hall. There are too many people here, and there are definite hints that some of those people might be on the other side..."
He pauses and then continues "So let us go find Drek and Milah, and warn them of what we now know. After that, I think our next step is interrogation of the prisoners."
"Who wants to carry this?" - Grenz put the wrapped staff on the table, after making sure there conversation was completely private and away from prying ears or eyes.
"Mmm... I see. It is strange to me, but I will try my best." Idun doesn't look like she completely understands, but at least accepts it.
--
--
"I would keep it safe to the best of my ability if entrusted with it, but I'm not sure I'm quite as experienced at this whole hero-ing thing as the rest of you."
After looking around nervously, Khamul whispers "Well, if Zarque's off with the real thing, perhaps we can use this fake to bluff... So nobody let on that it's the fake." He motions at Grenz to put the staff away.
Then he continues in a normal voice, "So I figure today is time to talk to a whole bunch of people and ask a whole bunch of questions. We need to get together with Belor, and this Habe feller he was 'bringing in on this' and talk to the acolyte, the ghoul thing, and Red Fist. See if between listening to all three we can make some kind of sense of what they're willing to tell us. Then maybe we can figure out what needs doing next. Once we done that, maybe we should take all these things we've found that Sileven says are magical to that old geezer Quink and see if he can tell us what they're all up to. Might also ask him if he knows anything about the ..." He trails off and gestures at Grenz's pack. Starting again, "Finally, we got all this money from the Mayor that we might want to spend some of..." He pauses to let the rest of the group weigh in.
"Ok then" - Grenz stores the staff in his backpack - "Your plan sounds good to me. Let us start with Habe?"
Idun keeps her reaction to Khamul's whispering fairly impassive.
"I'm pretty loathe to talk to the prisoners again, so I guess Habe is nice to start with?" Idun agrees.
Starday, 19 Lamashan 4707, 11:30am. 45 degrees, Clear. Habe’s Sanitarium Entrance.
You travel outside of the East Gate of Sandpoint and follow the Lost Coast Road south, past the trails that lead to the farms of Sandpoint and then further south, into the hills that are the extension of Raven’s Roost split by Cougar Creek. You stay on the northern side of the creek, away from the Ashen Moors. As you go, you pass a couple of farms, most of which have finished their harvests this late in the season and are preparing for winter in Sandpoint. Though you haven’t had much in the way of snow, you expect it at some point. Eventually you see the signs you were told to look for and they take you farther south down a lonely road lined with trees that seem as if they haven’t been looked to in several generations. The building itself looks about as well taken care of as the trees. The now dead vines growing on it and through the front gates being an indication as much as the roof patches that look like they were done some time ago. As you walk through the front gates, their iron squeaks so much that you nearly have to cover your ears. The smile on the orderlies face that comes out the door to greet you tells you that they have no plans to fix it.
”Can we be of service?”, his human voice sounds as if someone made him swallow some rocks.
"This is Habe's sanitarium right? We need to talk to Habe about the patient brought to him yesterday."
"Boy, out of the way place...?" Idun comments curiously, before climbing up on a corner of the gate to take a look around from a slightly higher vantage.
Grenz simply stands there next to the others, as they wait for a reply to Khamul's introduction.
The disheveled human orderly looks your small group over before answering. ”It is the Sanitarium, but it is not possessed by Habe, only supervised by him. And we don’t allow just any to come and visit whenever they like, appointments must be made see, and time must be kept.” While you are trying to figure out what exactly he is saying, the door opens again and another orderly, this one of orc descent, based on the tusks protruding from his lower lip and olive tint to his skin, steps out and takes the first by the shoulder, ”Come on, Morten, no more games with the visitors. Time for your nap.” Looking to you, he says, ”Sheriff said we might get some visitors. Since most people don’t come here on purpose, that must be you. Come in and take a seat and we’ll have Mr. Habe come and meet with you.”
Once you enter the building, you immediately smell a place that has been cleansed probably more times in a day than you have bathed in a month. It is a stark contrast to the outside. After passing through a waiting area, where there are numerous patients wandering, playing games or muttering to themselves, you are taken to a room with a couple of chairs, not enough for all of you to sit, and a small table and bade to wait a few minutes. After those minutes are up, a man dressed in brown and red robes and wearing a red wrap around his head walks in smiling, though you can easily tell that it is not genuine. He looks at each of you, as if deciding that he already knows who you are.
”I am Habe and the Sheriff has said he would send visitors, but I was not expecting anyone so soon. Is there something you need right away?”
"Yeah, we were hoping to learn more about the patient you received yesterday." Idun hops down from her perch and follows.
Khamul interjects "Perhaps we should go somewhere private for this conversation."
Khamul will cast Guidance as we walk there. Also, on the way he will ask "What has sheriff Belor told you about the ongoing issue?"
”This is as about as private as it gets here, uh.. what was your name again?” He looks the three of you over. ”Anyway, the Sheriff told me that there was something going on that was getting a few people riled up and it seemed to affect some of their minds. I’ve had two people present here with the same symptoms. Inability to sleep and muttering something about ‘he is coming’ or some such. Two does not warrant a case for mass hysteria, but it is still an interesting case because since they have been here, they have refused any food my orderlies have tried to give them. Rather violently I might add. Otherwise, so far, I have yet to find a source for their dysregulation. Then again, I have only had them a short time.”
"Oh, apologies, I'm Idun." She introduces herself.
"... Hmm, I wonder if the 'he is coming' thing has anything to do with that mysterious entity mentioned earlier.." She ponders.
2 ranks +3 trained +1 trait +1 guidance +2 spirit Bonus +2 seance boon
"Khamul, Khamul Froghoth. They refuse food you say? How about drink? Further, have you anyone at the sanitorium who has a divine connection? Or perhaps some holy water?"
"I am Grenz" - the half-orc had been silent until then - "Thank you for receiving us"
"Is there any chance you could allow us to see those patients" - the half-orc inquired - "At least observe them? Both the sheriff and the Mayor have asked us to get to the bottom of all this, and we feel there may be a connection here"
Sensing the man's apparent hidden intentions he adds - "We can, and will wait as long as necessary"
Habe looks at Grenz as if he had threatened him. ”I don’t think that will be needed. They haven’t taken any food or water or anything else. The one that came in yesterday we are still trying to get settled in, but you are welcome to interview the first. And no, we have no priests here. This is a place of academia, not blind faith. I will have an orderly bring Mr. Sevilla to the room. “ He stands and opens the door and after a brief conversation with a nearby orderly, he stands by the door. After a few minutes, you can hear a bit of commotion outside and you have to move aside as the door opens and not one, but three orderlies are bringing the patient in. His wild hair and pale skin tell you that something is off and the fact that they have him in a straight jacket is telling. They sit him down in a chair as best they can and only one leaves. Habe leaves as well. ”Try not to take too long, I will need him back for his scheduled therapy soon.”
The man in the straight jacket looks at each of you, his eyes seeming to scan you for something. He suddenly jerks upright. ”Wrong ones! You brought me the wrong ones! They will not do. Or will they? Master, please answer my call! More for the harvest, yes? They will do. They will do!” He repeats the last a few times, with a bit of a laugh in between each.
"Is anyone else reminded of what happened with blue-coat in the sewers?" Is the first thing out of Khamul's mouth (addressed, to Idun and Grenz). Then Khamul starts circling the chair , talking to the orderlies, "You presumably searched the patient when he came into your care; is he tattooed with a star symbol somewhere?". As he circles the patient, he pulls a small pot from his gear . Taking dab of the violet ointment on his finger (what you'd put on a sling bullet say), he smears the stuff on the back of the patients neck , being careful to stay out of biting reach... (and then closes the pot back up).
Idun is unsettled by the events happening around her, visibly tensing up. "Mmm, yeah. Too much so." She answers Khamul's question. She watches Khamul's experiment curiously.
"Are you sure we are the wrong ones? Take another look" - Grenz stares hard at the man - "And does this Master of yours have a name? Or are you simply just a lunatic?"
The orcish orderly shakes his head, ”No, no such thing on either one of them. We did notice bite marks though.” As if on cue, as Khamul tries to place the tincture on the back of the patient’s neck, it turns at an unnatural angle and attempts to bite the halfling.
Sure enough, as the ointment starts to touch its skin, it starts to bubble up. The creature reacts and you can see it straining against its bonds. ”Too much! Too much! Sorry, Master. I won’t tell them, I won’t tell them!”
The orderly tries to tighten the straps on the jacket, only to be thrown back against the wall as it jumps up to its feet, shrieking and biting in all directions.
+1 (Medium 4) + 4 Dex + 1 Racial+2 Spirit bonus (trickster)
Khamul smoothly avoids the clashing teeth (of the possible proto-ghoul), and applies the ointment. Seeing the weapon balm react, he steps backwards and pulls his longspear off his back, and prepares to attack if the thing tears loose from the straitjacket. As he does he asks "Really important question, have either of these patients bitten any staff or other patients?"
+4 dex +2 spirit bonus to dex checks
3 bab +1 str +2 flanking
+1 str
3 bab +1 str +2 flanking
+1 str
4 (Dex) +4 (Armor) +1 (Size)
4 (Dex) +4 (Armor) +1 (Size)
4 (Dex) +4 (Armor) +1 (Size)
Idun leaps back, instinctively reaching for her bow, but then feels the quarters are too cramped for it, and readies herself to cast a spell instead.
Improved Haste, standard action touch, 1 rd/CL for 1 spell point, target gains +10 Enhancement to all forms of movement, +1 attack rolls and +1 dodge bonus to AC and reflex saves. Extra +10 movement per 5 CL and extra +1 attack/dodge per 10 CL. Target may make an extra attack with highest BaB on Full Attack, or +1 AoO +1/5 levels. Cannot use both in one turn.
Grenz steps closer to the raging creature and unleashes a quick one-two punch combination - "Stand down!"
+1 Dodge
+2 Dex
+1 Amulet of Natural Armor
+1 Ring of Protection
+3 Wisdom
+2 Bodyguard Aid from Scourge
----------
Grenz gets +1 attack rolls and +1 dodge bonus to AC on the attacks and defense rolls above.
+
Idun grabs Grenz by the shoulder and he feels a rush of energy pass through him as the world seems to slow around him, his fists seem to move faster that’s sound as he pummels the man into submission, blow after blow raining down on its face. As it takes the punishment, it starts to laugh as it rips apart its straitjacket and tries to bite down on Grenz, right where Idun’s hand just was. Its forward momentum is stopped by a spear to the ribs by Khamul and the bite doesn’t touch the pit fighter.
As this occurs, the orderly gets to his feet. ”A couple of us got bit, but nothing we couldn’t bandage up.” He then disappears out of the room, presumably to get help.
Khamul observes "That's not working Grenz, we need to put it down hard..." and then his head snaps around at the orderly's comment, and he callls after the orderly Find out who got bit! The disease spreads from bites!"
Meanwhile, he takes another jab at the thing...
3 bab +1 str +2 flanking
+1 str
"If he's going getting help, and there have been bites, I'm wondering which team the help is going to be for!" Idun grimaces, dodging backward and moving over to Khamul to boost him as well.
"Very well then" - Grenz growls at the creature, the brawler in him taking control as he tries to pummel their opponent down.
+1 Haste
+1 Dodge
+2 Dex
+1 Amulet of Natural Armor
+1 Ring of Protection
+3 Wisdom
+2 Combat Expertise
+2 Bodyguard Aid from Scourge
Defense 1: 3d6 + 10 ⇒ (6, 6, 3) + 13 = 25
Defense 1: 3d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 4, 3) + 13 = 21
Defense 1: 3d6 + 10 ⇒ (6, 5, 3) + 13 = 24
----------
Idun blesses Khamul with her power, the halfling taking another stab at the creature, holding it pinned while Grenz lays into it this time, his hands like claws ripping flesh from bone and creating an enormously overpowering smell as he does so. The ghoul collapses into a heap, but no sooner it does, you hear commotion and screams outside of the room.
"That rationalist fool in an occult world," Khamul makes a pithy criticism of Habe's obvious blind spot, and continues "I'm guessing we have a ghoul outbreak!". He uses the butt of his longspear to smack the door open from a distance, so we can see into the hall ... He swiftly reverses the spear to take a poke at any ghouls coming through the door...
3 bab +1 str +1 haste
+1 str
3 bab +1 str +2 flanking
+1 str
3 bab +1 str +2 flanking
+1 str
4 (Dex) +4 (Armor) +1 (Size)
And maybe a further +2 for spirit bonus. Under normal rules, spirit bonus doesn't apply to AC, because it's not a roll. A defense roll though, might be a dex check, GM's ruling...
4 (Dex) +4 (Armor) +1 (Size)
4 (Dex) +4 (Armor) +1 (Size)
Idun will try and see what is through the door before taking an action.
Grenz allows his rage to deflate, and takes a moment to boost his defenses with magic.
Then he also moves to the door - "This can get out of hand fast..." - the half-orc comments to his companions.
Khamul readies himself for the inevitable rush of more fighting, his spear at the ready. Idun looks past the halfling while Grenz prepares for a longer fight.
In the main waiting area, you see three orderlies trying to corral two more ghouls, both of whom are trying to get at some of the patients. The patients are in various states of running frantically from place to place, catatonic shutdown in the middle of the floor and everything in between. Habe is no where to be seen.
Oh dear. Burning of Stratholme anyone? :P
Idun moves forward through the door, trying to interpose herself between the ghouls and the patients just to give them more bodies to get past, keeping her guard up.
Grenz takes a step out the door, and falls into his pugilist rhythm, attacking the closest undead thing - "Back away from it, it is too dangerous!" - he urges the orderlies - "Get Habe now!"
+1 Haste
+1 Dodge
+2 Dex
+1 Amulet of Natural Armor
+1 Ring of Protection
+3 Wisdom
+2 Combat Expertise
+2 Bodyguard Aid from Scourge
+4 Mage Armor
----------
Trusting Grenz to have his problem well in hand, Khamul slips through the door into the waiting area, between the tables. He stabs at the ghoul facing off with Idun...
3 bab +1 str +1 haste+1 small
+1 str
3 bab +1 str +1 haste+1 small
+1 str
From Idun's spoiler, her haste is different than a normal haste, and I can potentially take a second AoO...
+1 str
4 (Dex) +4 (Armor) +1 (Size)
And maybe a further +2 for spirit bonus. Under normal rules, spirit bonus doesn't apply to AC, because it's not a roll. A defense roll though, might be a dex check, GM's ruling...