The Vixen catches herself staring. Okay... staring's rude. But eye-contact's polite, so the two kind o' cancel out. Wait... did Winter say we gotta kill it?
The Vixen fears this is the case, but she pities the creature. For now, she simply says to York. "Pleasure aside o' circumstances. Name's the Vermilion Vixen. Just Vix'll do." And to the eye, she says, "I don't know what ye've become. Care to tell me what ye once were? Who ye once were?"
The eye fungus on the wall behind the curtain does not respond to Vix's questions other than to weep ammonia and quietly say in three overlapping voices, "What have I become?"
The Vixen says to York and Winter, "Ye're right. I don't like it. But I get it."
She turns to Miyuki. "太ももが心配です。
"それでも、巨人であることは、このモンスターを倒すのに役立つかもしれません。"
Still, being a giant may help (me) defeat this monster.>
Saiya instinctively steps back from the...monster? It's creepy, although it's hard to really be afraid of something that seems to do nothing other than cry. What even is that thing?
"Okay, that's certainly unsettling. To avoid duplication of effort, what have you already tried?"
York drawls, "Yep, shot it with crossbows, stabbed it with a spear. Any damage we did reformed in seconds and it's hard as iron. Anytime someone messes with it, starts screaming something awful and gets bitey. Scares the kids and some of the more nervous patients."
Saiya knows nothing specific about it. She does speculate that it's some otherworldly presence that has possessed the door.
The Vixen asks Winter, "Any chance a silver weapon'll do the trick?" She taps her stiletto heel on the floor. "Me stiletto heels're in fact masterly-crafted silver blades." She's maybe a little too proud of the boots.
"I ain't crazy about getting close to this thing, but if Miyuki casts her spell on me again, I might be able to kick from teen feet away with a six-foot-long leg." She hopes those teeth won't be able to jut out at her. "Ye said it gets bitey... but not spitty, right? As in acid-spitty?"
Jassminder looks dispassionately at the eye in the door; or the door that's become an eye; or whatever in all the hells she is looking at.
She listens to the triune voices, and then to York. "Have you tried answering its question?"
Moving forward to be sure that the eye can see her, she speaks directly to it. "I have no idea what you were, but what you have become is a gigantic eye with a mouth in the pupil." There's no enmity or disgust in her voice - but nothing in the way of compassion, either.
York says, "Bites you with its eye, yep. No acid spit or anything like that ma'am, also why I used a spear so it couldn't get to me."
Winter adds, "It doesn't seem to respond to anything we say to it."
Whatever it is does not respond to Jass's matter of fact statement.
Saiya and Miyuki get the sense that it may not be responding to spoken word because it can't hear.
"It's just an eye," Saiya says slowly. "Not an ear. I don't think it can hear what we're saying. I don't remember learning about anything exactly like this," because I don't remember anything, "but from what I do know I think it's some kind of spirit possessing the door."
Okay. It can't hear us. It might be incorporeal; that would explain why attacking it isn't working. Although in that case I don't think it could bite people...not important right now. I think Jass is on to something with answering its question, but if it can't hear us...wait a minute. She slaps her forehead as the obvious solution occurs to her.
Digging around in her pack, she produces her blank journal and ink pen. She quickly scribbles, You've become a spirit, possessing a door. You look like a giant eye. After a second's hesitation, she adds, How can we help you move on?
She tears out the page and shows it to the eyeball.
I really hope this thing can read.
The Vixen is more than a little embarrassed she didn't think of that. She says nothing of her foolishness, but merely replies, "Oh," then after a brief pause:
"If we can just communicate with it, ye got any more paper? I wanna write something like,
"Dear Eyeball,
Mind if we roll ye out o' the way?
Sincerely,
V.V.
"Or if someone with paper can ask, that'll do. I prefer a peaceful resolution o'er kicking it and making it cry."
The thing doesn't respond to the note, neither Saiya's nor V.V.'s.
York says before he leaves to get dinner, "Let me know when you're done so we can get a barricade up. It may be keeping us here but it's also protecting us from whatever is on the other side of it."
Winter sighs and adds, "If you need anything I'll be inside. I can heal your wounds up uh.. Vermilion Vixen, if you can hold on until tomorrow morning." With that the party is left to try something else.
The Vixen says, "Well, that sucks. If ye think I should try kicking it, I prefer to be enlarged so I don't get bit. If I can't take it out before the spell wears off, then violence ain't the answer.
"O'course, if any o' ye've ideas for a non-kicky solution, I'm all ears."
"I wonder if it's blind too. I mean, yes it's an eye, but that ammonia it keeps crying can't be good for it." Saiya purses her lips, clearly deep in thought. "Or maybe it just can't read. Anyone have a mirror? If it can see, we could literally show it what it's become."
Of course, that's all assuming that answering its question will accomplish anything at all. Oh well, if all else fails there's still the 'kick it to death' plan."
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"I think it can't see because it has a mouth for a pupil." remarks Erisa. "Can we go around it by tearing a hole in the wall?" she asks.
"We probably could, but then we'd be leaving a nice big hole for anything else to get in. Don't think our new friends would appreciate that." Saiya pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Why can't things ever be simple?"
With no other ideas, she heads back into the chapel. "Winter, does anyone here have a mirror I could borrow? Or even just a particularly shiny dish?"
The Vixen follows Saiya.
She says to Winter and York, "I will kill that pitiful creature if there ain't another way, but if Saiya thinks we can communicate, I'd like to let her try. We can toss a mirror aside and resort to lethal brutality, but even knowing I'd rather not spend the rest o' me life as a toothy eyeball, remorse'll f+$* with us.
"I'm entertaining the notion a good shove'll get me by. Maybe it's not an eye, but a toothy-eyes giant with its ass stuck in a narrow passage out there. If Miyuki can squeeze past with me and make me a giant, I'll bet I've the strength to pull the big guy free. Or big girl...?"
The Vixen really hopes one of the others will figure out how to talk to the eye before trying a crazy stunt. It does seem as if the end of the hall was transformed into a creature, given the weirdness of the area around the door.
"Any chance either o' ye know who the eyeball used to be, or what's behind that doorway?—like the outdoors, or a hallway or...?"
Dr. Oathsday in addition to her doctor's outfit had a single potion of cure light wounds, a masterwork dagger, and 48 gold coins. On the southern table next to the lantern is a reasonably well kept set of surgeon's tools, and a backpack. Each of the pack's three containers opens into a chilly void you can't see into. Erisa is able to identify it as a Handy Haversack, the center pouch contains 3 platinum pieces, a pearl of power (1st level), and a phylactery of faithfulness. Next to the southern table is 6 foot tall standing mirror.
Winter appears to be checking over the man released from the shackles, he's been bound tightly but the new food stains on his makeshift yellow robe indicate his new captors are taking care if him. Winter says with a pained expression, "Sorry I don't. Maybe there's one in the northern halls. I think there are storerooms. Otherwise you could check the chaplain's old offices." She points to the two southern doors in the hall.
Jassminder's fragmented memory briefly sparks to life. "There was a mirror back where we confronted the doppleganger."
The Vixen grabs the mirror and says in resignation, "I hope this results in more than just tears."
Oh... and there will be tears.
"Right, thanks. I'd forgotten about that. Vix, I'll come with you." Not like Vix would need any help from her, but Saiya still didn't think anyone should go off alone in this place. If nothing else I could come running back screaming for help.
As she heads out the door, she glances back at the formerly-shackled man. "I'm assuming he's one of the Apostles in Orpiment?" Hopefully not the one who bit the kid...nah, I don't think Winter would be treating him if he were. "He'd been left chained up for a ghoul to eat; it didn't seem right leaving him like that. I hope he doesn't cause you any problems."
Lugging the mirror back into the hallway, Saiya sets it down in front of the creature. "There. That's what you've become. Question answered, assuming you're not blind. Any chance you'll say something else now? Because if not then I'm fresh out of non-stabby ideas."
The Vixen stands alongside the mirror, wondering how the eyeball thing will react. She checks the mirror herself, standing at an angle where she can see the eye's reflection.
If the wall-eye's just an illusion to f%&! with us, would the mirror reflect the truth? Or... just the illusion, but backwards?
Whatever prevents her from having to kick to death a monstrosity whose worst offense seems to be crying... sounds good to her.
Winter answers, "Yes, they all wear yellow like this and have those chalk marks on their forehead. We'll keep him bound for now. But he really just needs help, which was why this poor soul was here to begin with."
The group sets the mirror in front of the alien fungus eye. At first nothing happens but starting at it's extremities the fungus shrinks and cracks. Starting slowly but speeding up as it goes the thing just withers away into nothing. Once the corruption reaches the eyeball it falls away onto the floor and shrinks to the size of a coin and becomes hard like a marble. With the fungus gone only an empty door frame remains offering a view into the next room.
White tile, spiderwebbed with cracks, lines the walls of this cathedral-like hall. A prominent, oval desk faces staunch double doors, while hard benches and portraits of somber doctors line the walls. Regal stairs ascend toward a second floor, but rubble has crushed the upper flights, blocking passage. Lofty windows, gridded by bars, reveal yellow mist seething just beyond.
The Vixen picks up the marble. "That was refreshly tearless."
She offers it to Saiya. Whether Saiya takes the 'trophy' or not Vix says, "Thanks... I really didn't wanna kick that pitiful thing."
"Good thinking Saiya, I'm very glad we didn't have to do anything to it." remarks Erisa with great relief.
Looking around Miuyiki checks for any dangers before slowly, so slowly moving closer.
Saiya stares as the eye disintegrates. "Have to say, I was not expecting that." She wasn't entirely sure what she had been expecting, but it wasn't for the thing to disappear. "I...guess that works? Although it looks like we left a hole in the wall after all." She quickly scans the stone Vix hands her with Detect Magic, wanting to make sure it isn't cursed before she takes it. Then she once again heads into the chapel to find Winter.
"Uh, we took care of the eye problem, but it took the door with it so now you've got a big giant opening problem. We'll check out the area beyond it, but you might want to set up another barricade on this side." Message delivered, she promptly rejoins the others in exploring the new area.
Well, it looks like we found the front doors. "Shall we take a peek outside? Not that I think Winter was lying, but maybe seeing the strangeness for ourselves will help us figure out what's going on." Assuming no objections, she heads to the front doors and opens them.
The Vixen actually does object to rushing in. "If ye're anxious to scope the place out, ye know I'll venture out there with ye... but considering Winter and York wanted to set up a barricade first, and for the sake o' the innocents depending on us, I've a feeling we best stick to the plan.
"Things can go south no matter what we do, but at least if we do as Winter expects, we've her trust."
Saiya blinks in surprise, but drops her hand from the door. "Right...I'd forgotten about that." How could I forgot something so obvious? Is whatever erased my memories still affecting me?! "I should definitely spend some time tonight writing down everything..."
"No, you're right. We should get the barricade up, maybe get some sleep. There aren't any monsters waiting out here right now, better not to attract any if we can help it."
Wanting to downplay Saiya's apparent embarrassment, Vix responds, "I'm just following me gut-feeling." Patting the blood-caked puncture in her studded leather, she adds, "Get it? 'Cause I was stabbed in the abdomen?"
Like Dr. Oathsday tripping over a stiletto heel, the Vixen's joke falls flat.
"I think me jokes're funnier when I'm kicking someone. I'm sure the morrow'll provide plenty o' comedy material."
If the party's ready to head back to Winter and York, Vix offers to lug some things for the barricade.
(On the way, she pauses before the mirror, to momentarily gaze upon her own reflection.)
Jassminder looks cautiously out of the opening in the wall, noting that things do not seem to be as they should be. This is good. She is a paladin, after all. If things were as they were supposed to be, she would be unnecessary. That is rational.
"I suggest a rest before we do further exploration."
The eye, no matter which way Saiya turns it, always looks directly at her, if she hands it to someone else it looks at whomever is holding it. V.V. and York manage to plug the hole in the wall fairly easily. Luckily nothing approaches while they work.
The party manages to relax, as best they can, for a while. Those who sleep find it to be especially restful, despite the uncomfortable circumstances. They mercifully do not have nightmares of any kind and only fleeting memories of a dreamed purple butterfly floating through a star filled void.
The Vixen awakens, surprised to see her wounds fully healed. She gives Winter a flirtatious grin. "Yer healing touch is gentle as a butterfly's." Kidding aside, she adds, "Thanks."
If time permits, she wraps a bed sheet around herself like a toga, takes out her artisan kit, and stitches the tear in her outfit. Once her own clothes are in order, she dresses up armor and all, and offers her skills. "I can't mend wounds... just clothing."
Erisa wakens feeling refreshed, "That was the best sleep I can remember having. Granted, the only other sleep I can remember is the one in the boiler room."
Saiya has a peaceful night's rest...at least until she wakes up and feels like someone hit her over the head with a brick. Ugh...what is wrong with me? Significantly paler than usual, (although it's hard to tell, given a kayal's normal skin tone), she staggers out of bed.
That damn rat. It has to be. S!!%, I don't have time to be sick!
Merely thinking of breakfast makes nausea twist in her stomach. Unsure what else to do, she heads to Winter. "So, uh, I think we're going exploring today. And I, uh, mightbesick." She looks at Winter imploringly. "Is there any chance you could do something about that? I'd prefer to be at my best before confronting more things that want to eat me."
Jassminder gives Saiya an appraising eye, before pressing the back of one hand against the fetchling's forehead, checking her temperature. She doesn't seek permission.
"I recognise this. It won't kill you. It just delays us. It would be tactically unsound to continue exploring. We should delay until you are better. That is rational."
Winter casts a spell, "I can only do this once today." When Jassminder suggests not exploring at all today her expression becomes pained, "You are sick Saiya but perhaps the rest of you could look for a way out." She leans in close and says softly, "After today we'll only have three days of food left at best."
"Three days," Vix repeats in a whisper.
"Before we're all plunged in a situation where those who need our protection most will be the first to die, and self-sacrifice would be the only means to avoid the damning choice between starvation and cannibalism." She concludes, "I'd rather go down fighting, or survive trying."
She gives Saiya a confident look, and seems as if about to say something—
—but a thought hits her, and so she turns to Winter: "I just remembered a conversation when we first met yer friends manning the barricade. They said there's a way to tell whether what appears human's actually one o' the Greys."
"So... what's the trick?"
Saiya relaxes as the spell washes over her. While she still doesn't feel well, the worst of the muscle aches and pains are gone. "Thanks Winter. That really helped." She winces as the Vixen starts talking about cannibalism, looking around quickly to make sure no one is close enough to hear.
Three days, huh? Not long at all.
The thought of staying behind and letting the others take on the dangerous task of exploration is appealing, but unfortunately...irrational. (Jassminder is clearly starting to rub off on her.)
"The way fights have been going you'll need all the healing you can get." She smiles with more confidence than she actually feels. "Thanks to Winter's spell I should be fine to explore with you all. Just let me know when you're ready to go."
She isn't sure anymore whether the lingering nausea is from her sickness or from the earlier talk of cannibalism, but she forces herself to eat anyway. I'll need all the strength I can get.
"I've few memories o' Numeria, but I don't believe cannibalism was e'er practiced for survival. It was more about power, far as what's left o' me memory can tell, and from the size o' the skill codpieces, I think the clansmen only ate men o' defeated clans.
"Oh, and I do mean clans-men, as in all the Juicers're male and the Woad Warriors're a bunch o' macho dicks... can't remember any other clans by name.
"Golden Boys?" She pictures the clansmen in her head, then explains, "Me memories're distorted. Like an ink painting come to life, everything in red, black and white and fleshy pinks, tans and browns... but the Juicers had glowy green eyes, and tubes o' green liquid and green lightning at their backs. The Woad Warriors had streaks o' blue all o'er their skin. In another clan, the men had hair o' gold, and chains and teeth to match."
Noting that none of those in her all-female group look even remotely similar, the Vixen adds with a shrug, "Ye'd think at least one clan'd some degree o' diversity, even by accident."
Enough reminiscing, she decides. Thoughshe does add, "All the clansmen were me enemies. So in case there's any confusion regarding me views on cannibalism,
"I'm against it."
"We will definitely be better of with you Saiya if you feel up to it." Erisa adds.
Where I grew up, from what I can remember, there were many undead. Is a ghoul eating a human cannibalism?" she says and seems to think about it.
"All I know is that cannibalism is one of the quickest ways to become a ghoul."
"Ye mean that meepy thing, right?" The Vixen's pretty sure Erisa was the one who called it a 'ghoul.' "I imagine there'll be more o' them out there, and not conveniently cuffed to a post."
The Vixen suddenly has a horrifying thought.
"Um... speaking o' that, how exactly does one become a ghoul 'through cannibalism?' 'Cause what I'm wondering's if being bit by a ghoul'd do the trick."
It's pretty clear that the Vixen isn't just shooting the breeze. Her eyes shift back toward the innocents—mother, child, raving loon...
Jassminder also has a hearty appetite - especially when you don't know when you might next eat again. She shovels the food down, idly listening to VV's chatter.
"Cannibalism seems irrational to me - you wouldn't know what the people you're eating have eaten. We only eat animals that eat grass or grain, don't we? Cows, chickens, sheep, horses, donkeys, and so on. If you're eating a person, they would have eaten meat. It seems wasteful."
A pause. "Also, cannibalism is wrong."
At VV's question, she does her best to remember what she can about ghouls.
"I...really don't remember much." Saiya shifts uncomfortably, but her rolling stomach insists that missing memories are a better topic than cannibalism. "I think I was born on the Shadow Plane? Most kayal are, and it feels really weird to know that but not be sure if I was one of them. Otherwise..." She shrugs helplessly. "I remember a few snippets. A dragon flying overhead. Researching in an old library." Kneeling in front of a black throne...
She decides not to mention that last one. Something about that throne unnerves her, even as a memory.
She forces a smile. "Like I said, snippets. Images with no real context. I couldn't tell you where that library was, or what I was researching."
"So... what's the trick?"
Winter looks confused, "We don't have a trick. I wish we did, it would have prevented a pointless death."
When the topic of cannibalism comes up Winter excuses herself, "Let me know if you need assistance, if we aren't attacked I should be able to heal you."
Saiya feels like someone is watching her. When she instinctively looks around she sees a young Varisian boy clutching a shadow lantern staring at her.
Erisa sees who Vixen is glancing over at and subtly shakes her head and her mouth does a small "shush" lip pursing with no sound, "No, I'm pretty certain you need to eat human flesh, preferably dead human flesh, ghouls often tunnel under graveyards to eat the newly buried bodies. No one here needs to worry about having been clawed by them. The first ghouls ate the rotting remains of their kin, died from a foul disease, and became ghouls. We can discuss it later when we aren't around these wounded people - I'd prefer to not upset them."
She inclines her head in the "do you get what I'm implying?" motion.
Jassminder doesn't get what Erisa is implying. "These people are imprisoned in an asylum surrounded by ghouls, shapeshifters and strange weather patterns. They have no fighting skills and no way to protect themselves. For them to be upset is rational."
The Vixen replies to Jass, "True. But it ain't rational to upset 'em even more, right? With their morale boosted, they'll move quickly once we clear the area outside, whereas they'll be hesitant if we're a bunch o' Debbie Downers."
Sheepishly, she adds, "Ain't lost on me I'm the one who brought up... y'know."
To Erisa (softly), "If ye say none o' the innocents in here'll turn, I believe ye."
As the group continues discussing ghouls and cannibalism, Saiya excuses herself and heads over to the young boy. Does he know something about who I am?
"Hey there. Couldn't help but notice you looking over at us." At me. She doesn't think she'd be good at dealing with children even if she wasn't sick, but she tries to smile and crouch down to his level. Maybe that will put him more at ease. "Do you need help with something?"