The Judge paid careful heed to what had been said, and after each memebr of the group had approached him with their evidence, he called all the parties into the main hall for judgement. By this time a sizeable crowd had formed on the lawn in front of the town hall. The Creedy's mother and her other children were at the forefront of the crowd, their access being prevented by the town guard on the orders of the judge himself it would seem.
The three Creedy boys were brought before the man, each of them responding differently. The oldest one stood as if this was something he had endured in the past. A look of resignation was pasted against his face and he turned once to look at those who had borught him to justice. He merely shrugged when he saw them, indifferent to how things would turn out.
The middle boy was edgy. He seethed in his cuffs and he looked daggers at Feldspar in particular. The dwarven Paladin could tell the evil had hold of him now, and if he was to be set free, then the man would commit violence to gain vengence. It hurt the dwarf to see so much anger and hate bound into one so young as this man was.
The youngest Creedy looked truly scared. He was holding on to his toungue, refusing to cry out, yet it wa apparent he was on the verge f panic. When the Judge and his Hellknight companion entered, the boy's nerve began to fail him and his eyes welled with tears.
"After hearing all the evidence to date, I have come to a decision in regards to the three men before me. For their part in the attack on Sandpoint, these men cannot fully be blamed. They engaged in an activity that led to an attack on the township, yet were not knowingly doing so. This act alone would not accrue these men a punishment of overly severe nature, yet we must look at this as a whole, and not as an independent event. The two oldest boys, Mitchell and Paulus, have criminal records extending back quite some way. Their influence on the youngest lad, Kurt, is clear, in that he willingly abetted them in this crime and knew clearly of their activities in the past, yet did not act to disuade them of this path. With such evidence before me, and given their pasts, I am forced to increase the severity of the punishment accordingly."
The room had gone quiet now, all eyes on the judge. Even the oldest Creedy seemed to be edgy now. This was not going as he had expected.
"In the case of Mitchell Creedy, the fact that you have used you natural leadership to infulence others to crime stands against you. Your lack of judgement and general willingness to work against those in authority has led to the deaths of people within this community. For this, we sentence you to death by beheading, to be carried out immediately. Leadership carries a price Mitchell, and all who entertain such ideals as yours must be shown this to be true.". The three men groaned as one.
Ignoring this, the judge continued.
"In the case of Paulus Creedy, your record shows a past of violence and hatred. Taking into consideration the words of the Paladin Feldspar Flamebeard, it is apparent that your soul has become irredemiably tainted with evil. You represent a true threat to the land, one that a frontier township such as Sandpoint cannot afford to harbour. As such, your sentence is death by beheading. Your corpse shall also be burned and the ashes scattered over the seas while the priests cant the holy words of bansihment, in order to prevent a soul such as yours coming back to world for retribution." Paulus screamed in rage and struggled agains his bonds and the man holding him. The big Hellnight stepped fowards and casually backhanded him, knocking him to the ground and into a delerious state with the metal gloves on his hand. Blood dripped in ropey tendrils from Paulus' mouth, ignored by everyone as the judge made his final statement.
"In the case of Kurt Creedy, you are a fool boy. Your willingness to follow in your brothers footsteps shows your complete lack of forethought and discretion. If it wasn't for the testimony of Tania Teg and Feldspar Flamebeard both attesting your co-operation at the end and the fact that you were merely following your brother, you would share their fate. As it is, in order to break this family preponderance for criminal activity, the law sentences you to 10 years hard labour. You shall spend this time working aboard the War gally Ferregrant, stationed off the northern coast near Riddleport. There you shall put your skills on the water to good use chained to the oars of the galley in order to serve the kingdom you have so far spurned and undermined. Be grateful for this lenieancy boy, and look to your captors for thanks in your salvation."
With that, the tall elf stood to leave. "Le the sentence be carried out at midday, so the sun is high and all can bear witness to the word of the Law. Sentence shall be carried out by Sir Graheme Harwall, of the Hellknights. That is all"
[ooc]Knowledge (local):
At the announcement of the sentences, Jo'no frowns a little. He says nothing, and leaves the room as he quietly contemplates the events which led up to this.
As the group gathers after the sentencing, Idrian let's them know that Mother Creedy is holding him responsible for her boys' fates and that he expects them to act against him in the next few days.
Tania stands crestfallen as the verdict cuts through her hope. She turns to Jo'no:
Feldspar listens to the announcement with an impassive face, though he isn't pleased by the announcement. Justice is often hard, he reminds himself and though the sentence isn't one he would have passed it is not for him to choose. He'd done what was necessary and that was all there was to it.
Later, at Idrian's announcement, he shakes his head sadly. "Have they learned nothing? How many more are there for us to be watchful for?"
"I'm really not sure what we can do. I understand the importance of ensuring that the punishment must act as a deterrent to others. I also accept that the Creedy's were not the holiest of saints either. People did die from the results of their actions."
Jo'no sighs.
"Despite all that, the sentences just really don't sit well with me as it feels like I am the one wearing the executioner's hood. Sadly I think that boy is no different than Nuala. Simply a young impressionable soul that simply needs guidance in life, and perhaps he could make better decisions. I would rather have seen him indentured to a monastery or a temple."
Jo'no shakes his head.
"Perhaps I will have to rely more on my instincts in the future, even if it goes against the collective will of the group."
Jo'no shrugs.
Jo'No and Tania
Durik
"Master Durik, prior to my arrival in Magnimar, I spent time fighting the daemonic incursions in the world wound. I have seen first hand the dangers of possession and the true threat of demon kind on this world. How sure can you be that your ritual worked? These beasts are amazingly sly and subtle. If you cannnot prove to me beyond doubt that the girl is clean, then she will be taken into custody for trial by ritual. Unforunately, it is often the only way to truly force a creature of its ilk from the host."
Without his iron mask to hide behind, the Hellknight had lost much of its mysterious intimidation. Moreso, there was a look of sad resignation on this mans face that reached out to Durik. This man had seen failure and death when dealing with these things, much like Durik. He truly understood.
Tania turns to the others with pleading eyes and emotion in her voice: "Look, Jo'no and I find the sentences too harsh. It seems we failed on our promise... And though there are things you can't change, we could at least try for the youngest Creedy. Jo'no had the idea of service in a monastery. Something to give guidance and a positive environment to the boy. We were thinking perhaps you'd think of a place, and help us convince the judge? "
If only something could be done about the eldest...
"I understand, believe when I say the girl is cleansed. I found the items and destroyed them as part of the ritual, while purging the girls soul. Feldspar assisted and we have saved her soul. She has had no incidents since that time and her dreams have returned to normal. If the girl regresses then her soul is lost and we must kill the demon's host before it spreads it's darkness further."
Durik looks troubled as he says this last, but he is sincere.
Whispered to Tania. "My mind was thinking the same thing Tania, but I'm unsure if the boy would have wanted to live as an outlaw being hunted by the hellknights. Hopefully the judge may be able to consider our request, otherwise I fear there really is only 1 other practical alternative for us."
Jo'no stands beside Tania, nodding as she speaks her plea.
"Waste of time." Idrian responds to Tania, but he sees the emotion in her eyes. "But if you want to go through the trouble...."
Once safely away from an prying ears, Feldspar nods gravely. "The sentences were certainly harsher than I had anticipated. But I am new to this place and it is not for me to question how the local laws are applied. I do not think it is likely that anything can be done at this point; once a sentence is announced publicly, it is improper to change it. To do so would create an unfortunate precedent that could work against people as well as for them. After all, if after public announcement, a harsh sentence can be exchanged for a lesser one, what's to stop an authority from doing the opposite to appease an insulted party?"
He tugs thoughtfully at his beard, considering. "Still, your ways are different from my own. If you think such an opportunity exists...well, I cannot think of a more proper environment for the lad. My own people would likely put him to work in the mines, to re-temper his body as well as his soul at the earth's forge, digging or hauling ore. The sea is more like to be to the lad's taste where at least he'll have the sun and wind upon his face."
The dwarf heaves a sigh and meets Tania's eyes. "If you can offer a better option, I will do what I can to support you should it be an appropriate one."
Duirk
The older elf cast his pale eyes onto Durik and spoke quietly. "So be it, you are responsible for this girl from this point Inquisitor Durik. Her crimes are yours if the demon has not been banished."
It was a simple ruling, and something the Desnan follower had heard spoken of before in his circles. Still, he was confdent that Maree was clean of taint.
The group of delegates knocked politely at the door to the Judges chamber, and all of them entered eagerly when they were invited in.
Tania spoke first, passionate in her plea for the youngest Creedy boy. The judge listened without expression while she spoke, then turned to ask each interested party their thoughts in turn.
At last, he sighed and spoke with steepled fingers.
"Very well, your offer is far better for the boy than anything I could offer him without the agreement of the Churches. He cannot remain here though, for the temptations of his family and his past would surely lead to failure in his rehabilitation. I shall instead take him with me to Magnimar, and with a letter of writ signed by Father Zanthus and the Good Sir Feldspar here, I shall indenture him to one of the churches there." He smiled ruefully at Father Zanthus then before continuing. "Not the church of our Good Lady Desna though I think. Their teachings are to wander and explore, and I don't believe letting this boy lead such a carefree existance would set the right tone in this instance."
With that, he seemed to feel the matter was closed. As the delegates left, he called quietly to Tania.
"Miss Teg, I would have a word with you in private please.". It wasn't really a request.
Tania
"Tania Teg, you have a good heart. Strong and passionate, that much is clear. However, I fear that your thoughts are written clearly on your face the moment they neter your mind. I saw the look on your face when my sentences were read out. I must say I am glad that you came to me with a plea, rather than take matters into your own hands as I had feared you might. Indeed, my Hellknight companion was so sure you would try somthing rash, he now awaits your arrival in the prison cells next to those the Creedy brothers are being kept in" The thought seemed to amuse the man, and he smiled to himself.
"Don't let your compassion die my dear. There are too few I meet who have such goodness in their hearts. I myself have had to set aside many emotions in order to do my job service. The law is writ, and it must be followed, particularly in these lands on the edges of civilisation. Without them, we fall to anarchy and despair."
He pasued and drank a sip of his water before continuing. "However, I warn you too. If you make it to Magnimar and find yourself in similar situations, don not question my Brethren. Most of those who work the courts of mighty Magnimar are not as tolerant as myself, and you may find yourself serving a sentence as well. Temper your passion my dear, and learn better to hide what you feel."
With that, he seemed to be finished, leaving the young woman wondering at this strange Elf who sat before her.
The enitre party, before the executions
The region surrounding the town hall was buzzing with noise as the crowd finally found out the verdict. Many folk were excited about the prospect of wathing a Hellknight serve justice. The Creedy's had caused trouble in these parts for years, and to most this was a long time coming.
However, a certain element of the crowd muttered darkly under their breaths, and the looks being thrown at the party from these folks was less than friendly.
Of the remaining Creedy clan, there was no sign. The mother and her children had left the moment they had heard the verdict, silently melting into the crowds.
As the group milled, just having returned from the judges rooms for the most part, Balor Hemlock came up and addressed them.
"There is an ugly air brewing here my friends. I fear their may be reprisals when this sentence is carried out. I have something that needs looking into, something a bit beyond my mens ability to deal with. The situation is not yet widely known, and I would like to keep it that way, especially with Judge and his pet Executioner in town. I have already been adressed by both of those honourable mentionables about my capacity to keep peace here, letting them know more trouble is about is not high on my priorities."
He looked at each of them, settling particularly on those of the group who could channel the carious magics. "We found a man wandering teh roads north East of here, he was heavily injured, covered in blood and babbling incoherantly. I took him to the local madhouse, thinking him insane and self harming, for such was how he appeared. However, when we inspected him closer, it turned out the blood was not his. There is something not right in this, even the wardsman of the that ill place thinks so. I would ask that you look into this for me. your nique talents may be useful here, and it will serve to remove you from the immediate vecinity of the executions. I would like it very much if the rougher elements of this town didn't take it upon themselves to have words after that because you good folk were there. Will you help?"
[b]"Actually, Sheriff, I was rather looking forward to the 'vigorous debate' with those rougher elements."[b]
Back with the others, she stands tall, shaken by the executions about to take place, yet proud to have found a way to improve the youngest's lot. She listens to Hemlock: "I'd be honored to help in any way I can. Where is that man to be found?"
Feldspar listens to the judge's response with open amazement. "Just out of curiosity," he asks, "with which church do you intend to indenture him?"
"You have whatever assistance I can offer, sheriff. I am at your service." He inclines his head.
Durik nods at the words of Tania and Feldspar.
"Lacking a further assignment from Desna at this time, I will of course assist in this matter. As it stands I must continue to monitor Maree so I will be unable to continue my regular travels for some time."
Mikka has little to add during the trial, her introduction to Sandpoint occurring after the events in question. She observes the verdict in silence, finding it interesting to note her friends' reactions. While she served a Goddess of great compassion and love she also understood the fierce almost ruthless passion with which one protected everything what they held dear.
In the natural world retribution was usually immediate though the absence of the Creedys definitely meant danger. They were a pack, like hyenas, and they would strike when they percieved weakness.
"We will go to see this man as you wish. Violence here would endange the community."
Belor looked to Idrian, his face blank, which meant he was verging on angry for those who knew him.
"I cannot make you go Idrian, but I am trying to avoid trouble. I have no doubt you can handle whatever these folk throw your way, my concern is that things will get out of hand and blood will be spilt. This town does not need that."
Turning to those who offered help, the Sheriff nodded his thanks and looked to Tania and Jo'no. "You two will most likely remember it as the old Tomlinson place, just south of Nobles Bluff. The house was taken over by a medical man who came in from Riddleport not long after the time of troubles we had 5 years ago. You two had gone by then, but you should remember the way. I have a man there keeping an eye on things, and he'll let you in. Whatever is affecting this man has the doctor concerned and is, to be honest, the freakiest thing I've ever witnessed. Any help is more than welcome."
Jo'no has no interest in being at the executions, so looking into helping the wanderer is of greater interest to him. After being explained his vexing ailments, Jo'no will use his magic to determine if there are any magical auras eminating from the man.
"I'll go, Sheriff, but understand you're only postponing the inevitable. Mother Creedy said she held me accountable for whatever happened to her boys. When they come at me I don't expect they'll only want to talk nice. And whether it's tomorrow or in a month, I doubt she'll forgive or forget."
The sheriff nodded at Idrian, showing concern on his face for once. "I know my friend, but if I can delay as long as possible, maybe something will come up that can minimize the fallout. Remember, Alaya Creedy has watched her husband die, and now she's going to see her two oldest boys killed as well. They were never a rich family, and when Jaerek was hanged, her two eldest did what they could to keep everyone else fed. They crossed a line though, and most folk around here are happy to see them go. You'll have support if it comes to trouble."
With the group fully in agreement, they all left Sandpoint together. The place felt like a ghost town when they left, with almost everyone gathered at their favourite drinking hole to discuss the verdict and await the executions. Only those with jobs too essential to leave had not gathered there, with even the local trade houses closed up for the day. The guardsman on duty at the southern gate nodded at them as they left, wnd with that they headed south.
It was a twenty minute trip to the old Tomlinson place, as Tania and Jo'no knew it. The house had once belonged to husband and wife who had moved here from Cheliax. They had planned on growing Scoya plant, for shipping back home, bu the venture had failed when the wife had died of the blood fever. Old man Tomlinson had just up and disapeared about a year later, and the house was left to rot.
The new owner had done much repair work to it though, with the outer building being freshly painted in heritage colours to show its Chelaxian design. The grand entrance was well maintained by a darkskinned Shoanti, who even now was pruning hedges and weeding the gravelled path. It looked for all the world like some nobles house, complete with servants, until they got close enough to see that some of the folks wandering the grounds were dressed in loose gowns and seemed to be wandering aimlessly. One old woman sat beneath a spreading Oak, camly combing the hair of a doll as she sang a childs lullaby. She was most likely in her mid fifties, but her voice sounded young. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, ignoring even the stinging insects that had landed near her mouth to draw blood and moisture from her body. The sight was a little off putting.
The groundsman looked up and greeted them all, directing them inside the main foyer where he assured them the doctor was waiting. True to his word, they found the man calmly writing notes in a thick journal, just inside the main foyer. He was sitting on the edge of a large divan, made in a fashion long out of date, yet still in fine condition. He was surprisingly young for his position, no older than 30 summers, with smooth features and bright eyes. "Ah!! At last you have come yes? Come with me, you must see this man before his illness progresses too far."
In his haste to lead you in, the doctor fails to intriduce himself, rushing ahead through the various wings of the household until they had reached an old storage cellar. The door here was heavy, constructed to last and to resist damage from either side. Whatever purpose the Tomlinson's had once had for it, now it served to lock dangerous people away. From the other side of the door, strange groaning noises and ranting words could be heard, screamed occasionally from someone obviously suffering great torment.
"Mind the smell as you enter, my friends. His body smells of corruption and disease, yet there are no obvious signs of rot nor infection I can see."
When he opens the door, the smell comes wafting out like a physical force. The room smells of the grave, as if some animal died here and was left to rot. Curled in one corner of the room, bound in a heavy jacket worn backwards with the sleeves buckled together, was a tall pale skinned Ulfen man. His face looked palid, covered by a thin sheen of sweat. The eyes of his face burnied with some inner gleam, and his mouth kept working, mumbling strange words under his breath and occasionaly blurting out a screamed invective in buthcered common.
Jo'no will also cast Detect Magic to determine if the ailment's source is magical in nature.
Feldspar is careful to keep any reaction from the stench from showing on his face and studies the man carefully.
After his initial study from a distance, he steps closer and uses a more traditional approach, listening to the man's heart, his lungs, checking the pulse in his wrist and examining his eyes.
Sense Motive
K: arcana
Mikka studies the man,sniffing the air to determine if the stench were natural disease and offal or something more, paying attention to the manner in which the body moves or anything supernatural about the man's actions.
Curios she tried to sense the presence of magic affecting the man.
Knowledge Nature
Spellcraft
Tania is humbled by what she sees. The child in her hides beneath tight lips as she makes her way through the crowd of "patients". As they near the door, she steels herself, but still freezes as the scent of the grave crawls up her nostrils.
She lets the others in before her, feeling better being shielded by them. The youth in her refuses to accept that this is what it comes down to, despite her current spirit, the Lady of Graves beckons, always...
She snaps out of it as other makes comments, and does her best to help Jo'no with the arcane.
Durik shakes his head and moves forward into the room.
"What madness is this?"
Feldspar and Jo'no were first in the room. Both men taking stock in an almost professional manner. Feldspar could tell the doctor was holding back information. He knew more about what was going on here than he let on.
Jo no couldn't tell much about the man as far as his arcane knowledge was concerned, though when he put his sight up, a faint glow emanated from beneath the jacket the man wore. It was a palpable aura, possibly necromantic in nature though he would need to study it longer to find out for sure.
Feldspar was using his god given abilty to detect evil at the same time. The mans aura seemed mixed, bubbling with turmoil as both good nature and evil struggled within him. It pulsed with a disgusting afterburn that left the Paladin feeling oily with distaste.
Mikka and Durik both recognise the unatural nature of the mans affliction. This was no normal disease that wracked his body, but something beyond the bounds of the normal world. It was almost unholy in its affliction, filling the room with its foulness and leaving Mikka in particular feeling fouled by its presence.
Almost together both Durik and Jo'no came to the same conclusion. Whatever this affliciton was, it was killing the body of this man but leaving the soul trapped. He was becoming undead, but in a way neither of them had seen before. They both yelled, just as Feldspar was about to lean and inspect him closer, causing the Palaidn to give pause.
The whole time this was occuring the patient didn't respond, he had just sat there babbling and moaning as the fever took him further down the path to damnation. However when Tania entered the room, his eyes flicked to her and immediately sat upright.
"It's you" he said, the words forming strangely in his mouth as if he was struggling to talk past some obstruction. He giggled excitedly, the sound quite purtubing coming from the ghastly man "He siad you would come, the master. He told me to wait for you so I could pass you my message, yessssssss." The last word hissied with sibilant menace as the mans tongue lolled from his, unrolling in an unaturally long tendril of filth and saliva. "The massssster left a gift for he did, at the old barnstead. He told me..." he gasped, pain wracking him as the fever killed more of his cells. "He told me let you know that if you came to his Misgivings, he would stop the gift making, Everythign is for you." He giggled again, letting the sound grow into a wracking cough as he stood suddenly from the ground. His face became red, then purple as the lolling tongue stretched and choked him. Flecks of blood sprayed from mouth were the teeth sunk into the gruesome flesh and his eyes bulged with the effort to breath. With onle last great spasm, the man tore free of the restraining jacket and howled into the air, his eyes now dead in their sockets and his teeth gleaming with new bone as they lengthened and sharpened. The tongue, nearly severed in the mans death throws regrew flesh and turned black as the blood and heart of the man died within his body. He turned his visage at Feldspar, and a spark of yellow pestilential light burned behind the dead eyes. "Hungerrrrrrrrr" it screamed.
Feldspar reacts almost by instinct. Since he was already so close to the newly spawned undead creature, he simply thrust his hands out against its chest.
"In Torag's name, begone from the world of the living!"
Round Surprise
HP = 28/28
AC = 17
Weapon Equipped = None
Arrows = 40/40
Speed = 40'
Inquisitor Spells Known (CL 4, +6 melee touch, +5 ranged touch):
2 2/2 Cure Moderate Wounds (DC 14), See Invisibility
1 4/4 Bless Water (DC 13), Divine Favor, Protection from Evil, Cure Light Wounds (DC 13)
0 Acid Splash, Create Water, Detect Poison, Read Magic, Light, Detect Magic
Teamwork Feat: 2/2
Agile Feet: 5/5 Ignore difficult terrain.
Judgement: 2/2
Status Effects = None
"A ghoul!"
Durik also reacts on instinct, his first reflex one of protection.
"I have something prepared for just this situation." Idrian casts Disrupt Undead. If needed, and possible, he'll take a 5' step before doing so.
Disrupt Undead: rtouch, precise shot
to hit damage
Cast Defensively
Tania's stomach forms a knot as the man seems to recognize her: What madness is this? How could he know me?
As he transforms, her hand moves naturally to her sword, drawing it and placing it between the ghoul and her. Her voice is caught in her throat, locked in a silent scream.
As the man's body convulses, completeing the terrible transformation, Mikka recoils in horror and disgust, the oily feeling in the air increasing tenfold as the corruption of life comes fully into being before her.
She feels the thing's presence as she involuntarily takes a step back and begins chanting, her steps instinctively taking her to stand in front of Tania, knowing beyond any doubt that this creature cannot be allowed to reach her.
Her eyes glow, the rising fire of rage aginst the very existence of this foul mockery of life bringing literal fire to her eyes as the air around the ravening monster ignites.
A look of concern shows across Jo'no's face as he realizes what it is. "Ghoul!" is shouted has Jo'no backs away from it on the surprise round. Jo'no nods his thanks towards Durik.
The group was fast, having honed their reflexive responses in the crucible of Thistletop. Holy energy coursed through Feldspar and Idrian, striking the undead thing and searing out cells corrupted with negative energy. The Ghoul dropped to the ground, writhing and thrashing in pain as the antithesis of its very essence seared the blood vessels and blackened heart within its body. Limbs twitched and the head arched back as a scream of horror and pain came from the twisted mouth. With a quick step, Mikka moved in and laid the last vestiges of undeath to rest with a gaze that burned in righteous anger. This abomination could not be suffered to despoil the natural order of the world.
The corpse smouldered, both from natural fire and remant holy power that continued to sear and cleanse the undeath from the ghoul. What had moments before been a man struggling with infectiona and corruption, now lay destroyed at their feet. His weakness at going through the ordeal was apparent in the ease at which they had put him down, yet still it was disturbing.
There was no sign of the good doctor, since he had obviously fled in terror at the sight of his patient undergoing such a terrible transformation. Around them, the institute seemed to have errupted in noise and catcalls, with the various patients calling and yelling in some confusion at the noises coming from the cellar.
noting the 'good' doctor's absence, Idrian goes to search him out.
Perception
Jo'no examines the man's jacket to determine what the source of the magical aura is.
Tania follows Durik: "What's going on here!? Doctor!?"
Durik will move to support Idrian and Tania, bow at the ready.
Satisfied that the others would look after the mysterious doctor, Feldspar kneels on the floor beside the corpse of the creature he'd been forced to help destroy. He takes a moment to examine the body more closely, looking for anything of note before moving on.
We forgot this
We forgot this
Mikka trned to follow the others, seeking to question this "doctor".
The Doctor
The small group of friends rushed up and through the sanitorium, dashing through rooms where patients seemed to be in a state of high anxiety. Most of these people had been interred as a consequence of violence induced madness in the last set of mass murders that Sandpoint had been through five years ago. From what the group had heard, a local woodcarver had gone crazy and killed nearly 17 people over the course of two months, earning the monicer "Chopper" and terrorizing the town. The people here had either witnessed the brutal murders or had family members slain in the attacks. The sounds of violence downstairs had stirred them up.
They found the doctor in a large laboratory. The room had once been a formal lunge, by the looks of things. Now it was filled with various sets of glassware, stored specimens of organs and human brains, and bubbling mixtures in various states of distillation. The doctor was madly pouring a few mixtures together while pouring over a book of notes resting open on the bench beside him. He looked up as the group entered and his face showed a panicked concern. "Give me a minute, please. I've almost got the antidote ready. Was anyone bitten?!"
His face showed a sheen of sweat, both from his frantic efforts and the panick he was obviously feeling.
The body
The mans body was beginning to rot even as Feldspar and Jo'no moved to examin it. It smelled like it had been lying in the sun for a few days, and already teh stomach swelled with gases ready to erupt from the cadaver if handled too roughly.
Both men were careful in handling the corpse. Jo'no found the source of the magical aura, not on the jacket the man wore, but beneath it. A crude symbol had been carved into the mans chest, similar to the pendant they had found in the posession of Nualia. This one had one side exagerated, and the rune for Greed had been carved with some care above it. This sign glowed with some form of necromantic magic, as well as a binidng of some type. It was not usual magic, but ritualised and would take Jo'no some time to discern. Unfortunately the body was decomposing rapidly.
Feldspar couldn't tell much about the man, but as he turned him to help Jo'no in his investigation, he felt something hard in the pocket of his pants. Searching quickly, he discovered a small padlock and key. The metal of lock had a name inscribed upon it "Wescore". It meant nothing to Feldspar, but perhaps it was a clue.
Everyone hears the folowing
The sound of screaming and panick came to a sudden halt. From somehwere outside, a mans voice called desperately "Stop! Don't come closer. I said STOP!". The sound was followed by a womans scream of hatred which was cut off abruptly. The mans voice then spoke again "Oh Desna forgive me, what have I done?"