The metal of the shelving begins to grow hot and soft while bits of the junk stored here are set on fire. Both of the Apostles’ skin grow cracked and raw from the gout of flame. One tries to dodge out of the way but finds Saiya ready to stab him in the chest leaving a sucking wound.
Ernesto clearly doesn’t know how to use the katana which Saiya easily step out of the way. The unnamed Apostle draws a sap and beats Ci Ci over the head in retribution. The door behind Vix swings open and a third Apostle, presumably Bertold, screams, ”Shut up!” He swings wildly hitting nothing in particular.
Vix whirls around in the direction of the whiff!
“How dare ye swing at an unarmed woman, ye limp dick!”
“Now say ‘Auntie,’ or die!”
“Though truth be told, if there’s a dead woman in that closet killed o’er the color of her dress, I actually hope ye don’t surrender.”
"Not just me then. Seems like no one here wants to listen to reason." Before Jassminder can interject, Saiya adds, "Asylum, right. Reason is apparently optional."
Aware that Vix can take care of herself in a fight, and uncertain about whether the same can be said of Saiya and Ci Ci, Jassminder opts to target the unnamed apostle who just hit the sorceress.
Unfortunately her footing is poor in the blood-slicked corridor and she loses her balance at a critical moment.
The place is crammed, but Lahrehn moves as quickly as she can. She feels the need, but controls her rage for now, and uses the space his allies are occupying for cover, as she moves, to avoid being opportunistically attacked by the enemies. She enters the room and keeps moving South, stopping just south of the enemy being attacked by two of her allies. She then proceeds to attack him with her gore.
Miz moves down the hall to open the other door on the eastern wall, seeing the room is large enough that it should connect. Hoping to find a way around the enemies backside to flank them.
Ci Ci backs away from the man who struck her , then calls upon her power again, this time in a more controlled and focused manner.
She extends her hand toward the the man directly in her line of sight and unleashes a thin cracking arc of electricity at him.
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Saiya's eyebrows raise at the clumsy swing. "Pro tip. That doesn't belong to you, and you shouldn't try to use a weapon you're unfamiliar with." She once again punctuates her words with a stab.
Although to be fair, her stab is just as easily dodged.
Bertold steps back and Vix’s first kick catches nothing but the hem on the man’s dingy robes. But the second lands square in his gut.
Bertold takes his opportunity and smashes his crowbar into Lahrhen’s side as she passes. Lahrehn’s gore does not connect with the nimble cultist however. Ci Ci’s arc of electricity burns the cultist’s face and he passes out from the pain of the accumulated injuries.
Ernesto makes another clumsy swipe at Saiya.
“Ye hit me friend. Not cool.”
Missing ain’t cool either, Vix.
“Ye can drop the weapon, or keep swinging ’til I drop you.”
Miz moves in behind the yellow-robbed man still standing in the room with the others and waves her bookend around menacingly in an attempt to distract him so the others, better equiped can deal with him.
Mildly embarrassed, Saiya decides she should probably forego the quips. She simply stabs the unfortunate Apostle while he's distracted.
That went better. Maybe silence really is golden?
Jassminder fires another shot, although the cramped space in the corridor is making it difficult to bring her longbow to bear properly - this time, she bumps her elbow on the wall and it throws off her aim.
Safely behind her companions who have closed for melee, Ci Ci does her best to stay out of the way until the remaining assailants are dealt with.
Each of Jassminder, Saiya, and Vix's attacks find their marks dropping each of the cultist in turn.
To the north: Racks cluttered with boxes and sprawling collections of haphazard junk fill this dusty storage room. A quick search through the room you get the impression this is where the personal effects of patients were stored while they were being treated. Most items are junk and coated in a thick layer of dust. Still there are a number of useful items to be found, armor, weapons, and gear.
To the south: The handles of dozens of drawers frown from the faces of numerous matching cabinets. Many of the drawers are open and their contents volumes’ worth of stray parchments blanket the floor. Glancing through the pages you can clearly see they are patient records. If you knew the name of a patient you could potentially find their records but it would take some time due to it's recent ransacking.
The Vixen turns to the others, and says, “I took out the door-breaker. Not sure he’ll get up any time… ever.”
Vix does nothing to make sure he’s dead.
“If any o’ ye think we should stabilize ’em—or the opposite—I’ve no problem with either call. Personally, I’ve a hard time sparing anyone who’d kill o’er not wearing yellow. That’s a crime against both humanity and fashion!
“But if any’re in shape to wake up, I’d like to know what the white stuff is they were going on about.”
Vix knows she can’t do anything remotely medical, so she helps Miz and Ci Ci gather their belongings.
Miz is happy for the help in gathering up her belongings, her sword, armor and her pack still full of her other gear. She takes off her overcoat and puts her armor on instead placing the clothing in her back, strapping the scabbard of her blade to her waist she slides the blade confidently into the scabbard, with practiced ease.
When Vix mentions about letting the men die she shakes her head "If we can save them we should. Maybe they were just disturbed patients or something? At the very least they might have useful information. I'm sure between all theis junk we can find some rope to keep them secure..."
Assuming one of the others goes to try and stabilize the men they just fought Miz will start sorting through the stuff specifically looking for rope and/or manacles.
Lahrehn scratches her arm where the crowbar hit. She is in some pain, but the part of her skin where the man hit has a dull grey color, absolutely uncharacteristic. She concentrated as possible, and the color slowly takes a more dark purple pigmentation, looking a bit more natural.
I... have to be more careful. Thanks, girls. - she finally says.
She then proceeds to move through the room, collecting her belongings - or at least what she thinks was hers. There isn’t much, and onlookers will quickly notice her “set of gear” seems as awkward and out of place as she herself is. Yet, the oozemorph believes herself a bit more protected now.
She is not particularly bothered by the bleeding men on the floor. While she doesn’t do anything sadistic or to increase their suffering, she doesn’t do anything to stop it either. If anyone wants to stabilize and save them - or choose to plain ignore them as she does -, she won’t do anything to stop them.
Ci Ci collects her gear, including a sickle, and a cudgel made of a deep brown, nearly black, polished wood.
”I know they’re my things, but it’s frustrating not to recall where I got them,” she says to the others. ”Sorry if calling fire was an overreaction. I don’t like to hesitate in dangerous situations. I guess overthinking must have nearly gotten me killed at some point...that I can’t remember...(Sigh). This is frustrating. I can’t even tell you why I did what I did beyond a vague feeling that it’s ingrained in me from past experiences to behave that way.”
Assuming one of the others goes to try and stabilize the men they just fought Miz will start sorting through the stuff specifically looking for rope and/or manacles.
Miz finds a large ball of twine which when doubled up could serve as bindings.
“But if any’re in shape to wake up, I’d like to know what the white stuff is they were going on about.”[/b]
Vix grins at the phrase ‘calling fire.’ “Holy s##!,” she remarks in apparent admiration.
Of Ci Ci’s remorse, she says, “Kill-anyone-not-wearing-yellow deserves a fiery retort. Only ones who should be apologizing’s these three a+~$#$%s.
“I mean, if anyone plans on patching ’em up.” To Miz, she says, “Sweet o’ ye to suggest it.”
Vix will gladly help with the mummification of wrists to chairs, if there are any live ones. She will also help get them to talk, if assistance is needed.
Saiya shrugs, quickly cleaning off and sheathing her rapier. "I like the idea of asking them some questions. But I'm not about to waste spells healing them, so they'd have to be not only alive but reasonably close to conscious for that to work." Non-magical healing isn't really in her skillset, but she glances over the three apostles to see if any of them fit that description.
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Jassminder walks briskly over to the least-wounded of the three in yellow. "I have some healing capability. Knowing where the blood and nerves are can be useful in combat."
She gestures at Saiya to join her, taking the fetchling's left hand and guides it on/into the body cavity, heedless of the blood. "Feel that? pinch it shut while I make a tourniquet."
She isn't gentle with the cultist, but her ministrations could work to keep them alive. One of them, anyway. They only need one.
Saiya and Jassminder stabilize one of the bleeding Apostles. His life is saved but he remains unconscious. The other two die from their accumulated injuries in the mean time.
Miz gives a thankful nod to Jass and Saiya, but when the man remains unconscious she frowns. Miz hands the 'rope' over to Vix so she can help to secure the man and then she suggests "Well, I guess we can just leave him here until he wakes up and we can keep looking for a way out. I feel a bit better about looking around now that I have my gear."
She will take a moment to check the men for anything useful or any clues to what is going on. Then she will spend some time sorting through the room of items, checking to see if there anything useful. As she does she will ask, to no one in particular "Wonder if there might be any magic stuff in here that could help us get out of here?"
Vix ties a tight knot...
...then hoists the man over her shoulder.
“Won’t be me first time lugging an unconscious man in this nuthouse. At least this time, I don’t care if I need to drop him and fight.”
Lahrehn shrugs and puts on the weirdest smile ever. Her face is absolutely awkward - a combination of relearning her shifting abilities and the fact humor is not something she’s used to - she would be the latest person to joke about anything.
Well, next time we want to stabilize some random guy to ask questions, we should choose the lightest one.
The oozemorph then proceeds to assist Miz with the search.
Saiya blinks in confusion when Jassminder grabs her hand, then understanding dawns. "Uh, okay. Got it. Do your magic." Which Jassminder does, successfully stabilizing the bleeding man.
(She doesn't feel in the slightest bit bad about the two left to bleed out on the floor.)
"If we're taking him with us, gag him. Don't want him to wake up and start screaming at a bad time. Not that there's really a good time for people to start screaming." Saiya cleans off her hands and nods at Mizuko's suggestion. "Good call. I'll take a quick look around to see if there's anything useful."
Which she does, searching both with mundane means and with detect magic to see if anything shows up.
"Nope, don't see anything. Just a bunch of personal effects."
She wanders into the records room where she looks around for a minute. "Probably some useful stuff in here, but I'm not sure we have the time right now. What do you all think? If we gave ourselves an hour or so maybe we could look ourselves up. Or Zandulus, get a little more information about what his deal is."
While waiting for a response, she opens the door at the north end of the room to see what might be in there.
After collecting her gear, Ci Ci takes a moment to look around the storage room.
Miz just helps the others in searching the room.
When Saiya talks about the records she shakes her head "No, I think you're right probably not the best time now. If we hit a wall and can't find a way out then it might be worth combing through."
"Nope, don't see anything. Just a bunch of personal effects."
Saiya would have missed it if it weren't for the detect magic but in a bin hidden under a shelf there's a small bottle with an oil in it. After a close examination Saiya determines that it is an oil meant to imbue a weapon with holy power. No one else locates anything of particular use.
Saiya is undeterred by the lock on the door. The walls of this crowded room are covered by filing cabinets, except for one space where a battered old painting of a somber, towering structure hangs.
Saiya eyes the painting, unnerved by the structure. "Is it just me, or is that a really weird painting to have in here? There weren't any paintings displayed in the other storage rooms." Curious, she looks for an artist's name on the painting. Didn't Winter say Zandulus was an artist?
She takes a quick look around the rest of the room as well, opening a few drawers and rummaging through the contents to verify whether they contain more records. With Detect Magic on again, because you never knew when a magic scroll could be hiding among other, more mundane paperwork.
Ci Ci considers the painting with a critical eye, trying to see if anything about its compostition might spark some recognition or insight.
The records inside these cabinets are still well ordered and record hundreds of unexplained events, brutal dramas, and bizarre patients the asylum has seen. A quick search reveals nothing pertinent to your current situation. While Saiya doesn’t find any magical writings in the cabinets when she glances at the painting she clearly sees an aura from behind the wall.
The Vixen checks out the painting. “Interesting. Dark. Love the use o’ shadow. That a real place?”
Ci Ci doesn't think the painting is particularly good or valuable. Vix does not recognize the location.
Saiya catches the magical aura by accident as she scans the room. She blinks a couple times while staring at the painting, wondering if her eyes are playing tricks on her, then smacks her forehead. "Hidden safe behind a painting, now that's a classic. Not a good one though, or they'd have anti-magic wards set up..."
She removes the painting to check out what's behind it.
"Let's see what goodies are hidden in here." Saiya quickly checks for traps before trying to unlock anything.
La-la keeps her distance, behind Saiya, as she starts examining behind the painting. The eyes of the oozemorph seem to pop for a moment off their boar-looking furry face out of pure curiosity.
Careful, Saiya... - she says, mostly out of reflex.
Miz stands by watching as Saiya examines behind the painting, hoping that maybe it leads to a secret tunnel or something that will get them out of here.
Saiya finds a small brass latch which when pulled reveals a hollow within the wall. Inside are the cases treated and observed by Administrator Losandro over the years. Easily the most extensive of the records are related to the patient Ulver Zandalus. Saiya finds a brief summary of Zandalus’ stay a Briarstone:
Patient Record: Ulver Zandalus
Male, Varisian descent, approximate age 47
Home suspected to be Rozenport, Versex County
Committed: 2 Sarenith 4685
Circumstances: Transferred from Pharasmin lamentations in Rozenport
Attending Doctor: Eliege Losandro
Zandalus exhibits complete withdrawal from society and an inability to care for himself in any but the most basic modes. The symptoms of his passive antisociality chronically present as mutism and blankness. Frequent night terrors result in brief but dramatic nocturnal outbursts, shouting, shaking, fear responses. Zandalus grasps the difference between sleep and wakefulness and typically recovers from nightmares quickly.
Treatment: Therapy, antipsychotic regimen, observation
Development: 2/4687 Zandalus proves to be a gifted and prolific artist. He has enthusiastically taken to using a charcoal drawing set to create dramatic but fanciful works of art, typically of surreal architecture and skyscapes. Art calms him in the wake of nightmare. He will be afforded basic supplies to continue such art therapy.
Development: 11/4702 A shift has occurred in Zandalus’s art. He has repeatedly almost perfectly illustrated one of the ancient standing stones situated at the northwestern corner of the
asylum grounds. As the isle’s shores are off-limits to patients, I do not believe he has ever seen the subject of his work. The significance or coincidence of this brooks further study.
Development: 3/4715 Count Haserton Lowls has taken an interest in Zandalus: first his art and now the artist. Lowls has become a repeat visitor, spending hours with my patient, but refuses to explain his interest.
In addition there is a tiny lock box which Saiya easily opens without the key. It contains 40gp, 6 pearls worth 15gp each, and a calling card for the Thrushmoor offices of the Sleepless Detective Agency. The card prominently bears an accusatory eye. Next to the lockbox is a short sword in a crimson scabbard. The pommel is sculpted in the shape of a cardinal and an etched gold band bears the name Red Destiny. Ci Ci is able to tease apart the enchantment on the weapon, it is a wounding weapon.
"The sword is infused with a magic that makes the wounds it inflicts deeper and more grievous. If any of you can handle this type of blade, it might prove useful," Ci Ci says to the others.
Saiya whistles as she pulls out the short sword. "Now that is fancy." She hefts it experimentally. "Admittedly I'm not very good at the whole stabbing people thing, but I keep finding myself in situations where stabbing happens so I'll use it if no one else wants it."
She quickly flips through the file on Zandulus, then shoves it into the haversack along with the other treasure. "It seems our previous employer, Count Lowls, took a keen interest in Zandulus for some reason. Also, apparently Zandulus was admitted decades ago for being too antisocial to function. Mute too. So how the hell did he end up being the leader of a cult?"
'Zandulus sees'...what? What did he see?
"We can check out the records here more if we want to later. Looking ourselves up might be enlightening. Maybe if we're running low on resources but aren't quite ready to go back to the chapel."
Dusting off her hands, Saiya heads to the bloody door. Where she stares at it instead of opening it. "Now my memories aren't exactly clear, but I'm pretty sure doors don't usually bleed. So what's up with this one?'
Saiya whistles as she pulls out the short sword. "Now that is fancy." She hefts it experimentally. "Admittedly I'm not very good at the whole stabbing people thing, but I keep finding myself in situations where stabbing happens so I'll use it if no one else wants it."
Jassminder nods. "You should keep it. I have no intention of letting anything get close enough to me to need it." She gives the fetchling what would be a critical look if it was from anyone else. "You should practice with it, though. Your technique is poor. Probably because you are talking to them when you should be concentrating on fighting them."
Dusting off her hands, Saiya heads to the bloody door. Where she stares at it instead of opening it. "Now my memories aren't exactly clear, but I'm pretty sure doors don't usually bleed. So what's up with this one?'
Jassminder looks at the door, too. "I agree. A door with blood coming from it suggests that we find another way around, if we can."
Employer? Count Lowls?
Lahrehn is confused as she feels she’s missing too much pieces of the puzzle at this point. Regardless, she continues speaking.
It seems the story of this artist is most interesting! Especially the parts about painting things he never saw before. Who is this count, this employer of yours?
She motions to reject the weapon.
And you can keep the blade. I’m not much really skilled with manufactured weapons... - as one of her appendages take a sharp shape of a crude slashing weapon.
Saiya shrugs, not at all bothered by the criticism. "I may not remember, but I'm pretty sure my previous reactions to danger were either to sneak past it or talk it out of killing me. Sneaking isn't much of an option as long as I'm sticking close to you guys," (her eyes briefly flick to the Vixen), "so talking it is. But you're right, not talking did seem to help last time."
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When they find the blade Miz shows no particular interest in it, prefering her katana over the simple short sword, even if it did have special properties. She smirks and just shakes her head when Jassminder gives Saiya such blunt criticism. When Saiya replies Miz chimes in "I would be happy to work with you on your technique at some point later once we've gotten out of her." she offers with a smile while following along to the bloody door.
Now with her blade and armor, she will be happy to get near the front and help as needed.
Vix says, “Then the two o’ ye can enjoy the sword, then. I like having me hands free.”
She heads to the bloody door and says, “Should I kick it again? I think I wounded it with the first blow. Might as well put it out of its misery.”
"Give me a second here..." Saiya continues fiddling with the lock, cursing as she nearly drops her picks a second time. The blood seeping through the door is disconcerting and makes it hard to concentrate.
While Saiya works on the door, Ci Ci tries to examine in magically. She looks for magical energies in it, trying to determine if the blood is being created by some spell