Karl nearly slumps as the thrown daggers pierce his newly enlarged organs, but manages to keep his feet long enough to repay the skinless horror in kind.
Darren spins and with a whole-hearted battlecry charges as the skinless man, longsword whipping out in a deadly slash.
Power Attack and Charge
Damage
Round Three - continued
A splash of acid flies out at the skinless man, but the liquid runs off without having any apparent effect on the creature!
Morbury charges into the room and takes up a position beside Karl, declaring himself to be an ally!
Round Four
Devi
Darren
Zombie
Faradir
Bertholdt
Small Stealthy Figure
Skinless Man
Karl
Morbury
-----
Round 4
Seeing the large elf bleeding badly, "Your wounds are grievous. Please allow me to aid you in closing them as best I can." He reaches out a hand and touches the elf's arm, allowing the healing energy to flow through him.
Professor Rokannon gritted his teeth around his pipe as he saw the acid do no damage. More serious methods would have to be used.
He drew his wand of Magic Missiles and fired at the skinless man.
force damage.
Devi stretches out her hand, palm outward toward the skinless horror. A low hum fills the room as heat and light gather before her hand. A second later, a beam of Searing Light streaks toward the skinless man.
Round Four
Devi
Darren
Faradir
Bertholdt
Small Stealthy Figure
Karl
Morbury
Devi chants and stretches her hand out, palm facing the creature - a brilliant light shoots out to strike the monster, searing deep into his flesh.
Darren charges the man and brings his sword down on the creature's shoulder, cutting through the monster's exposed muscles and organs.
The Professor grits his teeth and calls upon his spells to launch a magical missile of force at the creature. With a wide-eyed look of shock, the skinless man falls to the ground, feebly grasping at the stones on the floor. He appears to be still alive, but bleeding and close to death!
Bertholdt moves into the room, intent on lending his aid!
The smaller figure narrows his eyes, then heads for the stairs - he is trying to escape!
-----
Karl pauses a moment, surprised as the newcomers enter the room, but seeing by their actions that they are allies, at least for the moment.
Although taken aback by Morbury's black skin, white eyes and blonde hair, when the dahmpir's touch relieves his hurts, he nods gratefully and rushes to the base of the stairs, slashing in a more controlled manner at the fleeing knife-thrower.
Karl strides forward and slashes at the small figure, scoring a wide cut across the creature's back.
Bertholdt plants a foot on the floor and throws his other foot at the middle of the wall, pushing up with the sole of his boot, arms rotating up to grab at the railing and bring his body over the fence. He lands at the top of the staircase facing the small figure who glares at him with hate-filled eyes.
A small dagger clatters to the floor and he holds his hands up. He slowly points at the bleeding skinless creature on the floor while speaking in a raspy voice, "I surrender, I surrender. It was all his fault. The extortion, the murders, your torture. And if you spare my life, I'll tell you everything."
-----
Morbury will move and check upon the skinless man's condition. "He is near death. That man," he motions to the one who just conceded, "speaks of several travesties that this man is apparently guilty of. That is if he speaks true. If we can keep him alive, maybe he possesses answers we are in need of." Morbury then attempts to staunch his bleeding.
"I am unable to stop the bleeding. I can heal him if I must, but it may be greater than necessary which would more than likely result in him rising again and fighting to the death. If we can just get him stabilized, we can then proceed to detain him properly and go from there. Is there any willing to aid me?" He looks upon the others, wondering if any will help.
When the small one surrenders, Professor Rokannon hurries over to the chemical vat to shut off the relief valves. Afraid of caustic or flammables, he is relieved that they are only smelly industrial liquids.
Karl leans against his sword, grateful that the fighting has ceased for the time being, but keeping a wary eye on the small man. First off, down on the ground, hands to the side. Once the man complies, Karl begins to question him. Who are you? he swings his head toward the skinless man, and who, or what, in the nine hells is that?
He looks away briefly to nod to Berthold, Devi, and Morbury. Thank you all for your aid. I am Karl, and these are my associates, Darren Cayle and Professor Faradir Rokannon. How did you come to be in this place?
"I'll see if I can help you Morbury." Devi crosses to the skinless man's body and looks at it carefully for a moment.
What caused this strange condition? A man skinned so, should bleed out and die shortly, and movement of any kind would be so excruciating as to induce unconsciousnes...
Once through with her examinations, Devi, hands sticky with gore now, offers a handshake and a bright smile to Karl. Apparently she does not notice the sticky filth on her hands...
"Hi Karl! I'm happy to meet you and your friends."
Karl eyes Devi slightly askance, but shakes her proffered hand, his magically enlarged one swallowing hers easily, though he takes pains not to squeeze to hard. Once the handshake his done, he flicks his wrist and wipes his hand against his breeches, removing most of the blood. Uh, me too. What did you say your name was again? I'm guessing the dark fellah there is Morb'ry. My thanks for whatever it was you did.
As Bertholdt makes his way down the stairs, Karl turns to listen. Experimented? His face is somewhat aghast. I'd ask how, but I'm not sure I want to know, and you'd probably rather not relive it in the telling. As for your lives, you don't owe me a thing. Honestly, we had no idea you were down here, and without your help, this fight might have gone a lot differently at the end there. Karl glowers briefly at the small knife-thrower as he pulls the man's dagger out of his own flank and stuffs it into his belt.
We came down here on an investigation regarding the Beast of Lepidstadt. We've been brought in to ensure that Alpon, that's the Beast's name, gets a fair trial.
"I am Devi, and Morbury isn't a 'dark fellah'. He's a Dhampir! His ancestors were vampires!"
Devi's eyes fair gleam with excitement, her pixie cut hair flailing as she looks to each person in turn, hoping for someone's excitement to match her own, until Karl admits that this was no a rescue.
"You didn't know to come for us? Then, why were we here? Why would someone hurt us for no reason?"
Morbury hides a grin at Devi's enthusiasm, finding it odd she finds one of his kind so interesting, yet, refreshingly glad.
Karl eyes Devi slightly askance, but shakes her proffered hand, his magically enlarged one swallowing hers easily, though he takes pains not to squeeze to hard. Once the handshake his done, he flicks his wrist and wipes his hand against his breeches, removing most of the blood. Uh, me too. What did you say your name was again? I'm guessing the dark fellah there is Morb'ry. My thanks for whatever it was you did.
"You are welcome, Sir Karl. And yes, I am Morbury. Morbury Dedlock." He nods in greeting.
"Fascinating. You are not here to rescue us, yet, we are free. The Dawnflower shines upon us, friends," he starts, speaking to Devi and Bertholdt with absolute calm in his voice, "do not despair. And my hope is this poor soul would have some of those answers we possess questions to." He looks to the skinless man wondering how one could live in such a state.
Turning his attention to Karl, "Sir, what reason has led you here in your investigation? And this 'Beast' you speak of, Alpon was it? What is his crime?"
When combat recedes, Darren kneels for a quick prayer, wipes off his sword, and then joins the group. "Well met, friends! I am Darren Cayle, a sword dedicated to the Inheritor, and indeed we are investigating some discrepancies with the Beast of Lepidstadt's trial. It is fortunate to run into such good company in this pit of evil, so again: well met."
"We interviewed a troubled youth here in town who witnessed some dreadful events in this place, and with some pressure from Karl here," Darren winks, "the kid tipped us off on what was really going on. Glad we didn't wait. But this treachery and evil goes much deeper... the building's proprietor is obviously corrupt, and he is a powerful man with powerful allies. We shall fling this scandal in the face of Lepidstadt's bloodthirsty mob and show them there's more to this trial than just an overbeaten, overused scape goat!" Darren is obviously incensed at their discovery, and his arm motions have grown to be quite dramatic and some reddening appears in his cheeks.
Suddenly, remembering something, he jumps and curses under his breath, then runs to check on the un-undead zombie's condition. "Professor, how is this sort of control possible? Is it a poison, magic? What has made this poor soul so clearly insane with hatred?"
Relieved that the outflow valves spilling smelly chemicals have been shut off, Professor Rokannon lights his pipe again to drive off the smell.
When Darren calls him over, he mutters a brief word of power and it looks almost like a third eye opens on his forehead as he gazes down at the un-zombie.
The short creature recoils at the intimidating presence of the heroes around him. He holds up his hands, "My name is Dartu Grime, and I told you, I didn't do it! He did it, his name is Vorkstag, and he's from the First World - a fey creature. His kind steal the skins of others and wear them like a disguise. He had one on when you got here! That Augustus person? He's been dead for months."
He points at Morbury, Devi, and Bertholdt, "As for why you were here... Dhampir, half-elf, and human. Three different races, for three new disguises. All the stuff he did to you? He was testing your skin before he took it from you... you would not have survived the procedure."
His shoulders sag, "My job was to find people for him. We got your names from one of Vorkstag's associates. He was a man with gray skin who only spoke in whispers. I never knew his name, and only saw him a few times. But he was here a couple of weeks ago. That's why you were chosen, this man wanted you dead. He figured that Vorkstag would enjoy doing it, and keeping it quiet. He's been at it for years."
His third eye shuts and Professor Rokannon blinks a little as he taps his pipe against his chin, frowning in thought.
"Hm. Interesting. I don't believe this man's condition is due to a spell. I am almost certain that the condition is due to imbibing some kind of alchemical creation."
He looks up at you.
"You know, if we could locate a specimen of what they were given, it might be possible to create an antidote."
Well then, I'm sure that Mister Grime would be more than happy to find a sample of this alchemy for us, while he tells us everything he knows about the gray skinned man, in exchange for keeping his own skin intact, of course. Karl glowers, frowning... Whispers... Darren, do you think there could be some connection between these skin stealers and their whispering boss the Whispering Way from back in Ravengro?
Devi shivers at the horror...
Morbury notices the short man attempting to breath. "Sir Bertholdt! Please! Hold!" He quickly moves over next to him in an attempt to keep him from killing the man. "Sir Bertholdt, this man has information that could prove vital to us all. And he has yielded, Sir Bertholdt. Please, sir, release your grip, I beg of you."
The little man grabs on Bertholdt's arms as he feebly struggles against the larger man's grip. Speaking quickly, he rasps, "Please... I was a prisoner too! Look at... my arm... he took my skin... too! It wasn't me! The gray man, he wanted to stop you from ... talking to a Professor. Petro Loortimor.. or Lorrymore... or something. Please, don't... ughh... please."
His eyes become unfocused and his breath starts coming in short wheezes...
At the mention of the professor, Devi strides quickly to the little, grey man and shakes him by the shoulder.
"Lorrimor? Professor Lorrimor!?" What's he to do with this!? Answer me!"
Karl narrows his eyes at Grime and Devi in turn. What do you know of Petros? And how would we talk to him?
Darren shakes his head solemnly at Karl, "We'll just have to dig and find out, I suppose."
At the mention of Lorrimor's name, Darren's mouth clamps shut in fury. It takes a few moments, but he spits out, "If that skinning freak set up the good Professor for his untimely death, it's just another damn good reason to remove his head from his shoulders!" Incensed, Darren looks ready to storm out of the building in pursuit of the Augustus-disguised monster.
Karl puts his hand on Darren's shoulder in a show of brotherly commiseration. That thing, whatever it was, is dead. No need to mutilate the corpse, unless, is there Professor? You seem to know about these sorts of things.
Turning his attention once more to Grime, Karl's face darkens like a thunderhead as he hefts his greatsword, resting the blade on his shoulder in a position from which he can quickly strike. Start talking, and start talking now. Otherwise, your miserable life won't be worth spit. What did you give to these men, to turn them into these zombies, and where can we find this gray-skinned associate?
"And tell us where our things are being kept."
Grime takes a deep breath as Bertholdt loosens his grip.
"I don't know much more... I just heard the Gray Man say something about the three of you on some list to get letters from this Professor, or letters about him, or something like that. He didn't want you three involved, so he made a deal with Vorkstag to get you out of the way. But I didn't talk to him, and I don't know how to contact him, or where he went. He came to Vorkstag, already knowing what he was."
He looks at Karl, "Those were some of Vorkstag's chimeras he called them. His experiments. I don't know where he kept the formulae he gave them, probably in his room upstairs. I don't go in there. It's ... creepy."
"And I would gather that is where our possessions are being kept? As Devi has inquired, would you know if that is the case? It is imperative we collect them. Pants, a shirt, and a tool," he draws attention to each one as he lists them off, "that has probably been used for unimaginable purposes, is not going to aid us well in our endeavor."
"Show us to the room, Grime," Darren demands.
Karl retrieves his bow after slinging his sword across his back and looks around. He narrows his eyes at Grime and points to the door where the small man was hiding originally. What's through there?
Grine follows Karl's pointing hand, "That's just the vats, Vorkstag had me open them - they aren't really dangerous, but he thought you might not know that."
He stands up slowly, "I think your equipment is through that door."
Grine indicates the doorway where the zombies first appeared. Inside you find a long room with workbenches along the walls. Devi, Morbury, and Bertholdt discover all of their possessions on the workbenches. There is nothing else of interest on the workbenches.
Another hallway branches off of the room and leads to a ramp leading upward. Thick ropes line the walls along with hooks and winches. This is apparently the way wagons were loaded and moved out of the basement area.
Grine finally leads you upstairs, back along the route Karl, Faradir, and Darren entered. He stops at one door, "That is Vorkstag's room."
The door opens to reveal a room appearign to be the study of a scholar. A roll-top desk with a leather chair stands against one wall, holding a variety of alchemical equipment and surrounded by hundreds of books piled on every available surface. A narrow cot is crushed into one corner behind a wall of books. A (locked) door stands in the north wall.
Most importantly, a massive suit hangs on the back of the door. It has gray skin, a bit of black hair, and massive rips and tears in a section along one shoulder and across the midsection.
Karl tugs off his cestus and goes to work on the locked door.
After a minute's work, he grins and pops it open, although his cheery grin falls immediately at the gristly items within.
Karl opens the oak wardrobe within the closet, showing the score of "skin suits" and more importantly, the massive gray skin suit that hangs at the back. Could this be a disguise for Alpon? He asks in a small voice. We should get this back to the barrister...
Morbury moves into the room and gathers his things, equipping his armor and shield.
Following the others upstairs, Morbury takes in the grisly scene as Karl opens the locked door. "A disguise for Alpon? I do not understand. How large is this gentleman?"