Nyarai attempts to speak first, processes what is happening and lets out a distressed, soundles cry of confusion and helplessness. She will attempt to sprint out of the room, bodychecking whoever is blocking the path.
"A boy?" Alvar thinks quickly. "Maybe Brenton's brother? Debis, was it?" They slip their tail into their backpack, grasping for the toy the child had given them. "Are you certain he's alive, Nyarai?" Not... dead. Or worse, undead.
The sylph, in her panic, flees the darkness, stumbling over herself to reach the light. Something bites at her heels as she runs, but it misses. Nyarai barrels into Enoch's arms, soundlessly panting/screaming as her voice is heard weeping in the darkness.
"Brenton ... wake up, Brenton."
The sylph looks around frantically once she exits the blackness of the room. She opens her mouth, but lets out no sound. She grabs whoever is closest to the doorway and starts pulling them away from the door, eyes still panicked.
Ethyl's eyes turn wide as she see Nyarai flee the darkness panicked and voiceless. Fear flows unbidden in her brain as she is unable to tamp down on her emotions. She flees from the sight of the darkness. She doesn’t stop until she reaches the relative safety of the library where she is able to calm herself.
Iosif backs away slowly, trying to get a good view of everything.
Enoch prepares to ...and then Nyarai comes tumbling, stumbling into the Paladin's waiting arms! With the gentleness of an juggernaut, the leather clad Paladin uses her momentum to both close the door and propel them away!
How you doing.
Again, Nyarai moves her mouth without speaking. She rolls her eyes, covers her mouth with the palm of her hand while looking at others. She uses her other hand to point at her half-covered face.
Alvar looks Nyarai over quickly, their expression slightly concerned, but when they turn to look at Ethyl, she's already gone. "Where did Ethyl go?" They ask sharply, looking around in the hopes of seeing her. When they find no sign of her, they hiss a curse in Infernal. "Our doctor's disappeared, and Nyarai is deeply distressed. That's just splendid."
"Hopefully it is Debis" Iosif whispers
As Alvar produces the shadow lantern, the darkness within the room fades away, allowing those with darkvision to see normally. The room appears to have had some sort of detonation within, forcing the now broken furniture and assorted debris flung against the walls and corners, though Iosif will note there is no sign of gunpowder or burn marks.
Standing at the room's threshold stands a curious little creature dressed in childish sketches and scribbles. It's skull is that of a rat, it barely stands up to one's knee in height, and every movement is accompanied by the sound of grinding teeth or rustling leaves.
It looks up at Alvar, shyly holding out its arms for the lantern. "Please, Brenton." Nyarai's sobbing voice still emits from the creature. "Please wake up, brother."
Taking the lantern, the creature known as Debis sighs peacefully. The lantern casts its glow around the party, each illuminated knight animated to prance and march about. Debis' form falls apart, a warm amber wisp rising from the creature and floating into the lantern.
Enoch witnesses the application of more insanity being displayed for their benefit...
Well that happened. Where did Ethyl run off to? We best find her.
The Paladin takes his leave, looking for the lost Doctor....