Kithian points his thumb over his shoulder at Vidar and grins. "Dropping off. He suffers from delusions, actually thinks he is a wizard."
"Not to mention this one," Vidar says, indicating Kithian, "He believes he will be able to say that and STILL enjoy the company of ladies tonight."
The half orc laughs and shakes his head. "Just a bunch of nuts here to see the Chief Headshrinker."
The man follows the banter for a moment and his look turns from confusion to bemusement at the exchange. Nodding he exits the room.
A few minutes later an older man featuring a tightly cropped white chinbeard and loose dark robes enters the room. He has the air of a man of knowledge but also someone uncomfortable with the sudden presence of weapons and warriors standing in his foyer.
I...I am Erin Habe, doctor of this facility...you are?
His grey eyes flit over the group trying to pick out a "leader".
"Deputized by Sheriff Belor in Sandpoint, sir. My name is Camillo. My friends and I have had some success in aiding the town in her recent trials with the goblins and the sheriff has asked us to look in on the survivor from the attack that was brought here." He proceeds to introduce Kerrec, Rullis, Vidar, and Kithian, trying to make them sound accomplished but leaving himself as "just Camillo".
The doctor nods at the information and looks the group over, Ah I see. Well, normally I would have people leave their weapons in the foyer here as I do have some individuals in my care that might be violent...
"You have some individuals right here that are violent."
"I think if any of your patients tries to take a weapon, you may have fewer patients to treat tomorrow. Are we going into an area with a lot of them, or has this man been separated from the rest?"
Sense Motive:
Rullis decides he needs to speak up. "Mr. Habe, don't worry about these guys, they are really quite harmless. We'd just like to speak to the man who was brought here and then we'll be on our way. Hopefully we won't be too much of an inconvenience for you."
"We'll make every effort not to disturb your other patients, of course."
"Or we will of course respect your professional ethics, return to Sandpoint, talk to the sheriff about being unable to continue our investigation.
This will of course mean the sheriff have to come here himself, but he is of course well known for his patience and understanding..."
Habe seems flustered but nods hestitantly, Yes of course, you are here to see the man brought from the barn...horrible incident if the man's condition is any indication...
The doctor clears his throat and opens the door to the right gesturing for the group to follow. A long hallway take you to a turn into another hallway that abruptly ends with a door facing the left. (In essence you have walked the perimeter of the building and are looping back in.)
Upon opening the door the group is presented with a large room featuring tables, chairs, a series of doorways into smaller interior rooms and a stairway that lead up.
At one of the tables in the center of the room is the large human man who greeted you earlier as well as two other men who look similarly related. With their pink skin and pronounced horns the two men share a look of similar features and their black and red eyes look warily at the group as you enter. (Many are the tales of the tiefling race, some of you may have seen them in places like Riddleport the rest of you have heard of them at the very least.) The men seem to be eating food.
HAbe clears his throat and gestures to the men at the table, My orderlies. Smoothing his smock the doctor gestures at the men, Fetch the patient in 3? From the farm attack? These men will question him.
The orderlies stand slowly and move to the staircase, the human pulling a straightjacket from a nearby peg on the wall. As the orderlies ascend the staircase Habe turns back to the group, I couldn't possibly let you question this man for more than ten minutes or so, he becomes highly agitated and I cannot have him unduly distressed if I am to make him well...
"Has he shared anything during his treatment that might help us?"
Vidar slowly shakes his head, and when he speaks it is with cold steel in his voice.
"Murders have been committed doctor; this man may be our only lead to solve this before MORE are committed.
We WILL question him as long as necessary."
At this, Vidar throws a meaningful glance towards the burly Kithian and his weapon.
Habe flushes at the steely implications of the wizard and he seems to almost shed his nervousness as he turns to the group, The man is on the verge of mental collapse and I am the doctor here and this is my facility. Deputies you may be but you have no right to threaten me! I'm sure the town council and mayor would be less than pleased to discover a citizen in good standing such as myself would be unduly harassed!
Kithian holds up his hands and flashes a nice toothy grin at Dr. Habe. "Easy there Doc! No need to get your panties in a bunch. What my friend here means is terrible things are going on around here and this man could have the information we need to keep this from happening again. I know your main concern is for your patent, but we have to put a stop to all of this. We want this to go nice for your patent, we know he did not commit these atrocities, and are more than willing to have you present during his questioning. Now there aint no need in us not being friends about this."
"So... has he shared anything that might help our investigation, doctor?"
The doctor'e eyes linger on Kithian with a look of unease but Habe turns to Cam as the bard asks questions. I'm not ever sure what you are investigating? The farmhouse attack? My patient has said little tending to speak of his early life and friends. I can't say if those are friends he was with the man is not so...forthcoming. As you will see.
"Ah." The bard decides the patient is not the only one not particularly forthcoming and turns to wait for the patient.
Rullis leans on his spear to wait, the base planted on the solid ground. He opens his mouth to say more, but then decides against it not wishing to divulge more information than necessary.
The tieflings arrive after a while with a man in tow, bound up in the straightjacket and relatively unmoving. The human orderly is nowhere to be seen.
The human in the jacket appears to be Varisian though his skin has a slight yellow palor to it that does nothing to offset the appearance of illness as you see his face: His eyes are wide and roaming with the appearce of pure miky white and his mouth marked with spittle and foam with a light mix of blood. The sense of disorientation and feralness are obvious as the orderlies sit the man at a table.
The doctor gestures first to the group to approach and then to the orderlies to withdraw a few steps. Gentleman. My patient. He says his name is Grayst.
As Habe makes his introduction the other orderly emerges with another patient, a smaller man with a rat like face in white linen pants and robe top. Habe gestures to the back of the room, Ah good sit Pidget in the back for his meal, our guests will be done shortly.
Habe look over to the group expectantly. Grayst sits mouth ajar tongue lolling as his eyes cast about. His breath seems to quicken with the realization there are so many people in the room but he does not move as the tiefling's look on.
I've got a feeling something's up...
Rullis quickly speaks up. "This man is dying, he need medical attention. Do you know the cause of his illness?" He moves forward to examine the patient...
Habe blanches as he stammers for a response, I'm sure you are mistaken sir as I assure you I am a skilled physician. He is ill yes, but death? Surely not ...it is a malady of the brain, a swelling or sorts, caused by his mental anguish and grief. He is certainly alive and will be for quite some time.
Grayst for his part leers at the party. Suddenly as though his lolling head is guided by a strong from the sky the man sways in his chair and leans forward laying his whited eyes on Kithian. Grayst makes a pronounced sniffing motion with his nose and keens at the oracle, Death death death. I smell the blood and bone. I smell the blood...
"You will of course forgive me if I take the word of a trained priest over someone I have just encountered.
...
...
The assessment that there is something amiss with his brain may not be far off.
Even so, a fever of the brain has been known to kill just as sure as a failure of the heart."
Confused by Habe's counter of his assessment, Rullis looks dumbfounded as he looks between Habe and Vidar, then back to Grayst. He follows his eye-sight to Kithian and becomes more confused. "What blood? Was it the blood at the barn? What did you see?"
Camillo shifts his position to keep the orderlies and the other patient where he can see them, hopefully without being obvious about his intent. He frowns as he listens to the psychiatrist, but he doesn't say anything. Yet.
Kithian frowns and shakes his head as he steps a little closer to the man. "I am not sure what you mean by that, but how about you tell us what you know or smell and we leave you here with these nice men. I mean hell, I just washed last week so I know it is not me your sniffin after."
Grayst continues to list in his chair as Kithian speaks and steps forward. As the half-orc approaches Grayst becomes quite still. I smell one...like the one...I smell one like another...
With those whispered words Grayst begins to convulse and falls from his chair. White foam comes to the man's lips as he rolls on the floor gurgling and grunting.
Habe licks his lips nervously and backs away in surprise. Uneasy at the sudden action Habe turns to his orderlies and speaks in the fluid tones of Chelaxian.
The human orderly nods and moves to make his way to the doorway through which Grayst and the other patient were brough into the room.
Lets have init just to keep things clear.
Init!
Grayst (Acting)
Kithian
Cam
Rullis
Vidar
Habe/Tieflings/"Other Patient"
Kerrec
Perception:
"Well this aint good. He is busting lose! Some body better stop him or I may have to give him more blood to smell." The half orc draws his falchion and stands ready.
With only momentary surprise at someone speaking his native language, he quickly shouts back in Common, slight panic in his voice. "Changing? Into what?!? Hey!" pointing at the orderly moving towards the rat-man, "Leave that rat where he is!" His free-hand begins to crackle with electrical energy threateningly.
"Well spotted, I nearly failed to comprehend that myself. Careful however, he appears deranged, if he tries to bite or scratch you, he may infect you as well."
"I have grown oddly fond of your hideous countenance; I would hate to have to...put you down."
Vidar then takes a step towards Kithian and mutters a few words in an arcane tongue that was old when humanity was young.
"Try to subdue him; he may yet have answers we need."
Camillo follows Kithian's lead, readying sword and shield and letting some arcane power flow into the weapon.
Kithian grins at his friend as he moves forward. "Guess I can give it a try." The large half orc attempts to take the man down making sure to stay away from his teeth.
Grapple:
Kithian manages to wrap his arms around the flailing Grayst and keep him somewhat contained but the man is surprisingly strong, too strong. It will take much effort to keep him contained if he continues to struggle.
Meanwile Habe runs from his position near the group back towards the entrance to the room, throwing open the door clearly moving to make an escape. As he runs he yells over his shoulder Pidget you know what he'll do to you, kill them!
The two tiefling each pull knives from beneath their smocks and both hold them up defensively as they wheel counter-clockwise from the group, obviously trying to make their way to the same door as Habe.
The human orderly does not move towards the rat faced man but further away, attempting to complete his movement to the doorway he brought man from (that presumably leads upstairs.)
For his part the rat man scowls at Habe but then begins a distinctly horrid transformation as his skin sloughs off and a new rat/man creature stands where once the other patient once was. The rat-man hisses at the group in an obviously threatening manner.
"May I humbly suggest that someone uses a bit of blunt violence to subdue the...Patient so we can deal with the others before they get too far?"
Kerrec raises his crossbow at the strange rat-like creature. He asks Abadar to see into the creature's very nature.
"Pidget....."
If the creature pings as evil, Kerrec will fire at Pidget. If he does not, Kerrec will think he's just mentally ill and under the influence of the staff at the hospital. He'll hold his action but will fire at him if he attempts to attack anyone.
Reaching out with his sense Kerrec is confident that the ratman that stands before him is an agent of foul intention. With its crackling *thwap* the bolt is released.
The bolt flies true but the rat creature is far too fast on its feet, easily dodging the bolt and hissing at the paladin in response.
Thrashing under Kithian the madman shows that the attempt to subdue him has come too late as his arms pop free from the torn edges of the straight jacket. Slipping his arms under the barbarian and maneuvering himself for a solid push Grayst escapes Kithian's hold and the two men become untangled.
Struggling to stand Grayst's eyes can be seen hovering to Kerrec past the others in the group, 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 ...
THe man struggles on hands and knees to take his feet.
Kithian steps back drawing his mithiral silver hand ax and shield, waiting on the thing to make an attack or finish it's sentence.
Power Attack:
Damage:
"Do not kill him unless you have too, perhaps he can still be cured...
...
But do not risk needless injury or death either."
Camillo turns to face the rat-man, but instead of attacking, he begins reciting an ode to inspire his friends - a tale of joined efforts against unexpected enemies.
Trusting in Kerrec's decision to attack, Rullis joins him to quickly take the apparent foe down. He releases the electrical energy that he was holding and shoots a bolt at the one seemingly known as Pidget.
Still confused at what was happening, he yells out in Chelaxian at the retreating trio.
Grayst's voice peters off and he rises to his feet, more than enough of an instigation to have the barbarian bring down a solid blow on the madman. The blow is hard and does its damage but the crazed Grayst seems unconcerned, hollowing as he stands, ignoring Kithian and shambling to Kerrec, Join him, the Skinsaw Man bids. It is all for you and you are his!
AoO:
Kithian misses a chance to catch the wildly shambling Grayst as the demented man attempts to pass the barbarian lurching to Kerrec.
The odd eyed Grays lists on his feet and ineffectually attempts to put hands to Kerrec in an attempt to either claw or grab him (it is not immedeatly clear.) The man continues to mumble, though incoherently and for now Kerrec is unharmed.
Meanwhile Rullis turns the power of Gozreh onto the rat-man and sees the creature hiss in pain. The creature howls but seems undeterred. Cam begins his rousing song to inspire the group.
The rat may be the bigger treath for now...
Vidar mutters a few short arcane phrases before pointing at the ratman.
Arcane missiles fly through the air and slam into the rat man who howls as the shards of magical energy pierce his hide. He remains on his feet however and continues leaps to assault the off balance Kithian.
The rat shuffles hurridly forward and charges into Kithian gnashing at the barbarian with his pronounced teeth. The rat man finds a weak spot and gnashes into Kithian with a pronounced bite.
Meanwhile the the guards and doctor continue to circle the room, staying out of harm's way as chaos erupts throughout the space. Habe successfully opens the door from the direction you came and the tieflings move to follow, not exiting the room but being set to in the next few seconds. The other human orderly disappears through the door leading to wherever they brought Grayst from.