Caizarlu is his name. Varisian, seems old. He has four...undead men? They shuffle and shamble about but don't talk or anything. He and the doctor had a "deal" of sorts, madmen die often, even with good treatment and fresh corpses are hard to find. Nobody asks questions if a loony dies and gets "buried" in the woods...
The tiefling shakes his head then continues,
Anyway the doctor bought us out of slavery in exchange for keeping him safe. Truth be told I think he is nervous about the necro but he needs the old man's money to keep the doors open and supplies coming...This thing with the Grayst fellow was the first time Habe did anything more than pass over a body. I think the curiosity was too much.
Habe sputters a bit but doesn't awaken, the other Tiefling too moans a bit but does not awaken. Gurnak continues.
Habe's quarters is a library of sorts. A blue book called "On Fear of Death and Psychosis" pulls from the shelf to open the case up as a door. Down the stairs the old man has a few rooms below. He lives there with his undead types. A bell rings when the case opens, don't know if you can get to it without setting it off.
"No other entrance or exit? It would seem that the old man would have an external portal somewhere. Unless he uses his magic." The thought of the man being able to escape through magic obviously bothers the bard.
The tiefling shrugs, Only been down there a couple of times, mostly carrying some poor sot and rarely in the position to look around you know?
Vidar listen to the tale, all the while his face goes more and more crimson with barely suppressed rage.
Finally he seems to snap, stalks over to the unconscious Habe and grabs him by the front of his clothes, pulling his torso up.
Vidar lifts his fist and growls, for a moment he Hoovers there before slamming Habe back down on the floor with a snarl.
"You...you...BASTARD! So help me, if you were awake I would stove your skull in."
"Easy, Vidar. It won't even feel very satisfactory..."
Looking back at the tiefling, "What did the doctor tell you about Grayst? What did you know before we got here?"
Vidar backs of from the prone body of the doctor, all the while staring daggers at it.
"Oh, I doubt that, I doubt that very much..."
Nevertheless, he does keep back, clenching his hands into fists, but keeping them down at his sides.
"You said you were bought out of slavery? Where did the "good" doctor procure you and how long ago was it?"
"What is he paying you and what are your skills? We might be able to find you new employment. With fewer shambling dead."
The tiefling blinks at the flurry of questions but works his way through them one by one.
My brother and I were bought out of pressed service off a Chelaxian frigate, one that the doctor had used more than once to sail the coast and so on. He paid for us oh...4 or 5 years ago? Time moves funny here with the folks coming in and so on.
Gurnak looks over at Habe, He's not a horrible man, just obsessed with his work. We have good instincts, we are more resilient than most, my brother and I. We're big, we're strong, we can do a variety of handyman and household tasks. Trained with weapons and can take a man down without killing him outright. We're loyal...to a point. We appreciate what he's done...I would appreciate you not beating his skull in anymore but despite the look of us both we are not stupid. I know I can't stop you if you mean to kill Habe for what you think he has done here.
Camillo nods, "Fair enough. Let's go find us a necromancer. I think Habe may need to answer to the sheriff for his lack of judgment, but his death is not necessary. We should tie him up for the moment, though."
Vidar rounds on the speaking tiefling in a fury.
"Think he has done? THINK he has done!?! Are you telling me to ignore the evidence in front of my eyes? THAT man, Vidar points a finger at Grayt, had GHOUL FEVER! He was kept here to watch him turn!"
With a supreme effort of will, Vidar manages to calm down enough to lower his voice.
"I am not completely unsympathetic, He may have had good intentions, but what he has done here cannot be excused so easily.
Some things we do not NEED to know, and some prices are too high to pay for knowledge."
Having said his piece, the volatile Wizard walks over to stand in a corner, breathing heavily and muttering a calming litany under his breath.
Kithian rolls his shoulders and cracks his neck before yaking the lead with Reggie. "All this talking and belly aching is just getting in the way. Show me that bastage necromancer, it is time he reap his justice."
Gurnak rises from the bench and leads you through the west wing of the facility. Smaller than the other wing this side serves as a home for Habe and a storage area for some of his more sensitive supplies. There is a common area, a kitchen a storage room, a bed room and the aforementioned library/study. Within the tiefling gestures to one of the bookcases, There you are, but like I said, its got the bell on it.
"Let me have a look. Be ready in case I mess this up, though. If stealth fails, speed will have to do, eh?"
Working his fingers to warm them up and letting out a big breath, the bard moves up to the indicated book and examines it to determine what the trigger for the bell might be.
Once he thinks he knows how it works, he will attempt to trip the door without triggering the bell. Slipping some fine tools out of an inside pocket, he gets to work.
Thoughtfully, Camillo approaches the bookcase and examines it. First only with eyes and then ever so gingerly with his hands the bard notes the frame, the hinges and other mechanisms at play to allow the door to function. Noting an ever so narrow opening behind the shelved book that acts as the switch Cam uses his tools to look at the "back" of the door.
The bard takes a few more minutes to maneuver his tools and is rewarded for his efforts as he snaps the cord that maneuvers the bell as the door opens. As per its design the bookcase opens quietly and easily and the party is greeted with a set of granite steps that descend into flickering torchlight some 30 feet below.
With a relieved grin, Camillo steps back with a "See?" gesture toward the stairs.
"Before we leave, what do we do with our "guests"? I would like to show a certain degree of trust, especially considering we...or at least SOME of us have offered to help them seek more...gainful employment."
Garnuk offers a shrug, I'm in no position to take my brother anywhere and the doctor won't wake for hours. I have every belief you will hunt me down if I go and I won't leave my brother...
Kithian grins and slips Reggie's chain."If they move, eat them."
The half orc unsheathes his weapon and moves forward.
Stealth:
Shield's Up! Rullis activates his ring while holding his spear in the other hand. He let's Kithian and Kerrec go before him.
Garnuk offers a shrug, I'm in no position to take my brother anywhere and the doctor won't wake for hours. I have every belief you will hunt me down if I go and I won't leave my brother...
Camillo offers the tiefling his hand. "I meant what I said. You've earned some trust, I think, but you find the payment is higher for his." He indicates Vidar with a tilt of his head.
He turns and motions to the wizard. "Do wish to bring up the rear or shall I?"
So I am seeing:
Reggie
Kithian
Kerrec
Rullis
Vidar?
Camiilo?
As my order down the stairs?
"Hnh, I am highly doubtful that we shall be able to retain surprise for any extended period of time, so let us make the most of what we can get."
[ooc]Sorry I got hammered at work with a database migration "thing" I have been overseeing, I will have a description of events up tomorrow AM.[/ooc
Kithian leads the group down a well hewn granite staircase which seems to narrow ever so slightly as the group descends some 30 feet on a relativly steep incline. A pair of torches sputter midway down the staircase leaving only waning light at the top and bottom of the stairs save for the light sources the group is carrying.
Exiting the stairs the group comes into a chamber that measures some 50 feet square. Two tables and many hanging but simple chandeliers sit in one half of the room while the other half features a long work bench and cabinets. One door leads out of the room across from the stairs, another door leads out to the left of the staircase, past the tables. Both of these doors are closed and feature iron bands reinforcing the wooden slats.
Most of the candles in the chandeliers are out save for a pair over one table that features the body of a middle aged woman stripped naked. Mutltiple section of her seem to have been "worked" on featuring cuts and explorations not unlike those of a medical examiner attempting to investigate a crime. The body is extremely clean, does not smell still has a minor amount of color. The scene is not too dissimilar from the "workshop" you found beneath Thistletop.
Against the workbench a man with long white hair and pallid grey skin seems intent on putting away some items in the various cupboards and cabinets that surround the bench. The man is in tatters and moves in a jerky and almost uncoordinated way. He has not seemed to have noticed your arrival.
As the everyone starts descending the stairs, Rullis quietly says a quick prayer to Gozreh.
Kithian pauses and looks over his shoulder at the others and makes a chopping motion with his falchion before shrugging his shoulders.
He does not appear to be alive, a zombie perchance? We should then deal with IT swiftly and move on.
Vidar gently puts a thumb against the side of his neck and slowly drags it over his throat in a cutting motion.
Kithian nods his head then moves to attack.
Power Attack:
Damage:
Wordlessly Kithian approaches the otherwise occupied man and comes down with his blade in a sharp heavy blow. The body drops with a thud and little blood of any kind escapes the wounds. the face of the man is vacant and grey with rotten teeth and cloudy eyes. Surely undead or something close to it. Now dead for sure. No other sounds or actions occur in the workshop in response to the event.
Yes, that is what I suspected...
Vidar Points two fingers at Kithian and then motiones towards the lefthand door. Next he motions for Camillo to move over to the other door in the room.
Camillo moves quietly across the room as Vidar directs, drawing his sword as he does so. He listens at the door for the sound of movement or speaking within.
Rullis stays back and utilizes his pearl of power to regain his bless spell, then if granted the time, he will, as quietly as possible, cast Bull's Strength on Kithian (+4 to STR for 3 min). Then watching Camillo move towards the door, he will, once again as quietly as possible, ready Forbid Action. At the first sign of a "living" person, he will complete his casting and attempt to forbid that person to "cast".
In effect:
- Bless
- Bull's Strength on Kithian
Readied:
- Forbid Action
Camillo points at his ear and the door, then holding up two, then three fingers, then shrugging. He points at Kithian's target, then at the door, nodding.
He starts looking around the door to see if there is some means of locking it securely while the group attends to the other door.
Rullis will turn his attention to the other door as it appears Cam's door doesn't contain the necromancer, maintaining his readied spell.
Cam looks around the space and doesn't find much that might bar the door effectively. Though it does swing out the only item around that might keep it closed are the tables in the center of the room.
Frowning after his search, the bard braces his foot against the bottom of the door (quietly) and motions for the rest of the group to proceed with the other door.
Vidar nods, seeing Camillos determined expression, he then motions for Kithian to open the door.
Working together well...
Kithian nods at the wizard and opens the door.
Kithian swings open his door and is suddenly hit with a wave of water easily his height. Though the half-orc keeps his feet, he is pushed backward ten feet or so up against one of the exam tables that sits opposite the door.
An old man, bent and aged, dressed in simple black stands in the doorway his hand descending from the gestures of his completed magic. A group of other men, identical in look and action also fill the dimly lit study/bedroom.
The door that Cam is bracing shudder suddenly and violently as a gaggle of grey arms attempt to push their way out from behind. Low moans and shuffling are distinct as the bard barely manages to keep his feet and shoulder in place.
The old man sneers at the group, I have had Habe enchanted forever. I know when the man is in danger, you will not find easy sport *here*
Initiative:
Kithian (Done/Interrupted)
Necro/Minions (Done)
Cam
Rullis
Vidar
Kerrec
"Good thing we didn't come for sport, then."
Camillo will do his best to continue to hold the door.
"Bah, cease your infernal posturing you wizened bag of bones. I know you are too foolish and stubborn to just surrender and spare yourself pain, but know this, the offer will not be repeated."
Vidar then hurries over to Camillo, muttering a few words that sound much the same as the ones used earlier by Rullis, only harsher and less lyrical.
Rullis keeps his distance from the actual combat and completes his spell on the necromancer.
Kerrec raises his crossbow at the necromancer. "Your time of creating such abominations has come to an end!"