Reflex Save:
"Ow!" Emerion curses as he darts back down the stairs. "More of them up here, Jeorik!" he calls to the guardsman.
Keliwyn hears Emerion and realizes that he has disarmed himself by returning Jeorik's sword, so he quickly checks the nearby rooms for his equipment and armor.
Percepion
"We're going to need to take the doctor with us, if he lives, so he can make a full confession. Also the maidens need seen to, until we can sort out what's what. They were just doing their duty, as they saw it. We should tend to their wounds as best as we can, but until we have made our report, word of this combat should be kept as quiet as possible."
Emerion:
Keliwyn: The elf tries the double doors to the northeast first. (F4) It opens on a small bare room with a cargo lift in the corner.
Next he tries looking through the heavy leather curtain into a loading dock area. (F3) The area beyond is scented with spice, exotic wood, and sawdust. Barrels and crates lie stacked at random on the floor creating maze-like pathways between the stacks. A web of ropes and pulleys crisscrosses the ceiling. A single strand suspends a net of barrels 20' above the splintered and scuffed floor. Three large wooden doors dominate the northern wall. Another leather curtain interrupts the southern one.
Heather occupies herself by searching the bodies of the Physicians for any clues as to their true allegiance.
Keliwyn: It's going to take a long time to search the loading dock alone.
Kenan grimaces at the way Istas dumps the unpleasant chore on him, but, driven by his calling as a healer, bends to the task. After that he walks from bed to bed and examines the various patients.
Heather finds nothing of interest on the Physicians. There belongings consist of heavy leather coats (equivalent to leather armor), their diagnostic rod, a round-headed wood rod with a pointed foot (equivalent to a masterwork club), healer’s kit, their bird-like masks, and pocket change.
Heather:
Keliwyn rummages around the loading dock for a few minutes, but quickly gives up his search for his belongings, consigned to that fact that he have to make do with what's on hand and replace everything later.
Reentering the main room, he moves toward Heather. "Heather, my dear, it is so good to see you again, and the others as well. I'm glad you've all been fairing better than me." As he speaks with the young sorceress, he collects one of the round headed rods for his own use, and contemplates a heavy leather coat. Deciding against it, he moves towards Davaulus body, relieves him of his blade, and begins to search him.
perception
Keliwyn: Davaulus has his rapier, a mithral shirt, and
"Well waste not want not Heather mutters as she pockets the few coins in the the phoney doctors possession..
"Good to see you too Kel..I was worried about you" she replies to the elf..
"Majenko go and help Emerion please..and while you are up there give that Maiden commander another jab with your tail to make sure she stays asleep."
She looks at Jeorik "Do we deal with the stuff upstairs or do we leave before everyone in the building comes down on us..I'm low on power and I'm pretty sure we can't fight the entire garrisson of this place"
Istas also defers to Jeorik as the more devout of their membership when it comes to matters involving the Korvosan Guard.
"We have what we came for..." she suggests, "Dr. Davaulus should shed plenty of light on the truth of bloodveil's origin. And we can either beat it out of him or question his corpse. I'm not going to be particular about it."
"Once we have a better feel for the extent of the Urgathoan cult operating in Korvosa, then we can prepare another targeted foray against them..."
With that, Istas heads upstairs to the catwalk to join Majenko where the pseudodragon hovers over the unconscious Gray Maiden commander. She wastes no time disarming her, casting the warrior's weapons off the catwalk and down to the hospital floor. Then, she binds the maiden as best she can, propping her up against the wall.
"Now where's Emerion gone off to...?" she asks aloud.
This room mostly soars to the building's roof. The true second story is only a 50' or so wide portion along the eastern wall.
"Now where's Emerion gone off to...?"
"Here, my dear," I Varisian grins as he steps out of the stairwell. "There are at least two maidens upstairs, one injured, with a healer, and maybe something else - the cads slammed the door in my face," he mops the blood up. "Nothing we cannot handle, and I'd like to know what else is up there before they get the chance to destroy it."
"Every second we delay means a second for our foes to reorganise..we need to decide now..go or stay"
"I don't think it's that easy, Heather," Istas replies from the catwalk, "Many of these patients can't walk out of here on their own. If there are more guards and doctors up here, we need to root them out before they reorganize and come down here in the middle of us trying to get everyone to safety."
She looks down at the rest of her companions. "Kenan? Why don't you and Keliwyn start organizing these people and getting them out? You know the proper care they'll need. And Keliwyn's ill-equipped to join the rest of us in pressing on. You can take charge of the prisoners, however. Take the doctor with you...alive or dead, it matters not to me. Also, the Gray Maiden commander here. We'll want to turn her over to the Guard and they can worry about getting her to call off any other Maidens while we handle the rest of this..."
"Jeorik? You and Heather and Majenko can come up and help me and Emerion root out the rest of these charlatans. If they've retreated to Davaulus' office, they may be trying to protect something. And that might be something we'll need to prove the justice of our actions to the Korvosan Guard. There can't be many of them left. It doesn't sound like Emerion found a barracks full of the Queen's Maidens up here. But time's wasting. Let's get these two plans in motion and then pull back to confer with the Guard."
"Agreed, I couldn't have phrased it better myself," Emerion nods emphatically. "Although Kel has the good doctor's sword, and he may find his possessions upstairs also."
"Well then let us continue..and hope we have not stirred up a stirges nest of trouble"
Heather produces her wand..knowing it's power is feeble but every little helps
"You are right, we must see whether there are any more to be dealt with."
Jeorik readies himself and follows Istas.
Emerion leads the way back up the stairs and tries the door again, sword in hand (Combat Expertise active) ...
Keliwyn:
Emerion pushes the door open a hand's width. Then it stops as it hits something heavy. He can just look through the gap to see your opponents have not been idle. The doctor and wounded Maiden are gone. Two hale Maidens are drawing bows pointed at him. Their swords lie naked on the table between them.
Heather follows the others up the stairs..her nerves are showing however
Initiative:
Emerion ducks aside.
"Surrender!" he calls, "Davaulus has confessed his role in spreading the plague to this city, and the Korvosan Guard are coming. Resist and if you live you'll face charges of treason!"
Intimidate:
Raising his hands he gestures to the others: pointing to beyond the door, holding up two fingers, then making a motion of a person drawing a bow as he unlimbers his own and offers it to Kelliwyn.
Keliwyn whispers some words into the dying man's ears, and as his pulse goes out, he begins taking everything he can from his body, including the mithral shirt. He pockets the potions, the keys and the amulet. "He has some keys, if you need them," he calls to those going upstairs, hoping he is heard. He then rallies the patients with Kenan's help, introducing himself to the other as he does so.
After a few minutes, he decides he wants to see what the keys could unlock, and follows the others upstairs.
Kenan is pleased to meet Keliwyn, but he is busy with his new patients and doesn't have much time for pleasantries.
The rest of the party hears the clinking rustle of Keliwyn climbing the stairs behind them. The elf arrives on the landing behind the others. He complexion is clear; his movements, light and fluid. The late Davaulus' silvery mail glitters on his chest and the Doctor's rapier is in his hand. It's clear he is fully recovered and ready for action.
No sound can be heard through the door.
"Here," Emerion hands the elf his bow. "I'll throw the door open, you two shoot through, then I'll move in to move any barricade and engage them," he whispers.
He waits until the other two confirm.
"On my mark one ... two ... THREE!"
Istas prepares to follow Emerion through, more than eager to put a few more Gray Maidens in their place by showing them what a real warrior-woman can do.
The door opens, but Keliwyn and Jeorik find no targets. This room consists of a 5' wide hall running east to west. The east end opens into a small room with a table and some wood frame chairs. One of the chairs lies on its side. The southern wall has a closed double door set in it.
Emerion approaches with caution.
Perception:
"Hmmmm . . . " Keliwyn muses as he lowers the bow.
Perception
Heather nods in agreement..
"I still have a couple of magic missiles I can throw" she murmers softly..
Keliwyn can hear plenty of noise through the double doors,dragging furniture, quiet shouting.
Keliwyn points to the double doors, and whispers, "Let's try that again."
Emerion nods and sets his shoulder to the door ...
Strength Check (if required):
Keliwyn points to the double doors, and whispers, "Let's try that again."
"Give me a moment," Istas advises. She offers a quick prayer to Istas for vitality in the impending conflict.
The priestess then withdraws a scroll from a tube slung around her waist. Holding it up, she whispers so only the others can hear. "With this, I can summon a magical blanket of fog to cover our presence. That way, once we hammer open the door...and, as long as we stay close to the ground...their archers will be much less likely to hit us. The fog will center around me. And we should be able to see one another as long as we're close together. I'll wait until the rest of you are through, then dismiss the fog and join you."
Emerion strains against the door, but it holds fast.
Istas smashes her foot into the door with a powerful kick meant to shake loose anything used to barricade it.
"Everybody push!" she demands once the door feels like it'll give a little more.
The door begins to slide reluctantly, then slows ....
"Kelewyn, Jeorik, lend a hand!"
Keliwyn slings the bow, draws his (new) rapier, and holding it in an underhand grip, helps push on the door.
Strength check
Grey mist enfolds you as you push the door open. It robs the color and clarity from each of you, the door, the piles of furniture (which seem to consist mostly of beds) behind the door, and you can't see beyond the furniture pile into the room. But you can hear.
"The door is opening!"
"Get those patients out of here!"
"We're trying! They're not very mobile."
"I can't get a shot!"
"Wait for it. I doubt they can shoot through the mist either."
Perception DC 15:
Some shreiks, many moans, groans, and weak cries of fear, cries for help.
Wait for it says, "Step through that doorway and we'll fire."
"Let's go!" Istas whispers sharply to her companions, "And fear not! Pharasma shields us from harm..." Without hesitating, she bursts through the mist, charging into the room and heading straight for the first Gray Maiden she can find since she assumes they'll put up the stronger fight.
Initiative:
Perception:
Stealth:
Emerion glides silently through the mist (or tries to) in order to surprise whoever is there. Combat Expertise active, ready to run through any Grey Maiden's he finds, quite sure that wherever they want to take these poor souls any evacuation is not for their benefit.
Maidens:
Others :
"We believe you," Emerion replies before stepping over the threshold, "your sisters did the same right after Deavelus confessed to deliberately spreading the plague, so we know that to save these people, you have to die." Crouching low he thrusts the barricade in several directions at once to spread the noise over as wide an area as possible.
Keliwyn makes no sounds as he follows behind Istas, pushing ahead of Emerion in his eagerness to carry the fight. Focusing on the weight and balance of the rapier in his hands, he tries to set aside his rage over the treatment he has received to better tend to his opponents.