The Search for Aroden

Game Master Molech

I look at the speakers. Are they blind or just stupid? I step forward. "Look at me then. See my face? How many faceless monsters have you see with a face? An do they talk to you? How could they? Without a face they can't have mouths. We could go back and get the bodies of the two zombie nurses, but what good would that do? They had faces too. The second one tried to bite one of our guys before we smashed it with the weapons we found. And why should we go risk our lives to try and find any of your so-called faceless monsters!?! You still wouldn't believe us!"

I step forward again.

"You're not thirsty? Fine. The cauldron is too big and heavy to move so we left it behind. We don't care in the slightest about you or your hiding place. And we don't really care if you're too stupid to believe us. If you want to hide here until whatever monsters find and kill you, fine! We're looking for food, but we don't want any of yours. Sounds like it's infected with some sort of disease that rots your brains.... So, all we want is to know how we can leave here. Point us to an exit and you'll never see us again. Can't do that? Then get your people and get out of our way. We are leaving!!!"

The dwarf listened to the back and forth, growing increasingly agitated. His face flushed, he yelled out over the din ”If I could change shape would I have this FOOKING THING FOR AN ARM?!” His voice cracked at the last word, having finally given voice to the nagging dread he felt. ”I don’t know what they did to me.” He continued, assuming that is what happened. He didn’t want to consider that he might have arrived like this, as it somehow felt worse. Regardless, he did not refute being a monster. At the very least he had to admit that he looked like one.

A flurry of whispering from behind the makeshift barricade follows, as fear and uncertainty mixes with fatigue and a glimmer of hope.

Then a pause.

At the utterance of Transform, she ticks.she doesn't understand why, but she ticks. A glimmer of emotion and something fleeting in the haze of her mind. Like walking through a library of topics but some sort of catastrophe came through and displaced them all.

She would have hoped to be positive but it seems many also sought to leave. Which could be for the better. She too thought finding an exit rhe best.

"If they don't want us, there are a lot of other places to look. We'll find the way out eventually," he says, clearly having no hope to get anything out of this conversation. He starts looking at the other doors in the hallway, listening at the nearest to see if there's anything behind it.

1d20 ⇒ 8

1d20 ⇒ 19

"Can we all just calm down?" Scalpel says, wearily slumping against the wall. "You're scared, we get that. We're scared too. We haven't told you our names because we don't know them. We woke up with no... no knowledge of who...."

They trail off, shaking their head. "We all had a nightmare. A city, yellow fog, a tall thin man with tattered clothes chasing us. There was no escape. Then we woke... to a horror. A zombie was mutilating a man, a... 'strigoi?' was draining his blood. The strigoi left and we were able to kill the zombie and escape. If you want the zombie body, I'll go get the nearest one right now, for you, it's not that far back.

"Or if you want me to put down my weapons, pathetic as they are, and come forward to you unarmed and alone, so that you can poke at me and do whatever pleases you to confirm I am no shapeshifter, I'll do that too. I'm too tired to fight you. I'm... I'm so tired."

Assuming it wouldn't take too long to go get the body of zombie 2, Scalpel will certainly be willing to do that.

Diplomacy aid?: 1d20 ⇒ 9 Snort. same roll as before

Perhaps it's the tone of voice, or even just the way he held the Holy Symbol of Pharasma. The simple words,

"Easy now. We're no enemy of yours, promise."

It was something. Enough. An empathy that showed an understanding of equal 'fright,' 'confusion.'

Autumn Evanescu is the first to accept it. And though the Priest of Pharasma (as she introduces herself) acquiesces to Novembre Clacza (introduced as the Inquisitor of Pharasma) in matters of defense and security, it is the Lady Priest who may have ultimate authority on who is deemed a survivor and who is an enemy.

They call you over and remove some of the barricading so as to help you reach their relative safety.

Wyatt Wrunevescu is the first to apologize of the defenders. There are children in back, you see, and the 'Faceless Monsters' (what the Inquisitor has named as 'Faceless Stalkers') can change shape and look like people. They couldn't just risk the fragile bit of safety they have achieved.

They want to know more about your nightmares. And they admit they have all been having similar nightmares -- though not as deadly: The Tatterman is nearby while they try to hide, rather than The Tatterman is chasing them.

Neither Priest nor Inquisitor are able to rest enough to prepare spells. The last spell Autumn Evanescu cast was an Augury, a divination to see if she should lead the children and other survivors out a window and flee this place. Pharasma answered her through the spell that such a gambit would bring dreadful Woe to them all.

Autumn Evanescu
Priest of Pharasma

.

"There is a lower level, actually, though it is not "official." It was built over the warrens of The Briarstone Witch when the Count Hassurton and Principality High Inquisitors tracked her down and destroyed The Briarstone Witch. That was over thirty-five years ago.

"But all entryways to those chambers were sealed decades ago. It is possible that the earth-shakings when the Nightmare creatures came through opened up a way down. .... But that would not explain how you got here.

"Come, let us take you to where we survivors have congregated. We can discuss more. .... I know you want to run out of Briarstone Hospital and Asylum into the yellow fog; I understand your frustration. But my Augury spell, well, I recommend we try to find some answers first.

"Mister Wyatt, you and the Inmate stay here, rebuild the barricade; we'll be in the lounge."

When the other group finally take down the barricade I feel almost like collapsing in place. Almost. But maybe they have some answers?

They let us in, and yes, there are children in there with them. But, listening.... They have names!

"How did you get your memory back? None of us remember who we are. The terror. The nightmares. Not knowing, anything. Even when I think I refer to myself in my thoughts as I or me, because I don't even know my name!"

"Thank you," Scalpel rasps emphatically when the arguing ceases and they are allowed in. "Thank you..."

They listen to the explanations with a confused frown. "You called this an asylum? You said you've all been here for years? Please, start at the beginning, and act like we know nothing, because we don't - how did you get here? What has happened?"

The dwarf did not put down his improvised club, but he did lower it and lean against it. It was a sign of lack of hostile intent, but he was still wary. He listened carefully, eager for any information that might help him regain his memory. But even with these newcomers, he could not help but think about the zombies that roamed this place. The idea of any coming while they were distracted was terrifying.

She relaxes a bit as she enters this area. Not much, just more relaxed. She keeps her weapons but seems to look around this area to see who is in here and what makes them tick.

Something again fluttered in her mind—a group of people in posh clothes, chittering away. Words from a feminine voice flutter in ' Remember to always watch and observe. Even here, politics and position are in play. So be on your guard, watch, learn. Then file it away to remember later!" and just like that it was gone, no solid images, no distinct voice, just advice at some hazy party. Was it real? Or is it a Dream?

Falling behind just for six to twelve seconds, one of the survivors takes the moment to listen closely at the hallway doors close to the barricade.

"If they don't want us, there are a lot of other places to look. We'll find the way out eventually."

First, the door seemingly to the same western room from which you heard shambling sounds previously. The same sounds emerge, no louder or more intense than previously.

Then, across the hall on the eastern wall, some twenty and another thirty feet north, two more doors. But no sound emerges from either of these. And they 'look' like interior doors rather than 'exterior' doors.

Then, with everyone else being invited beyond the barricade, this survivor joins them.

Autumn Evanescu
Priest of Pharasma

.

"None of us have any memory loss. I don't know why you do. I don't know how you came to Briarstone Hospital-and-Asylum, or how long you've been here.

"The Warden of Briarstone, Elienge Losandro, could answer your questions, maybe -- if he's still alive. He is missing. But even if you were secreted in here somehow, there may be a written record. Perhaps we can find it. But several doctors, nurses, and Clerics are missing.

"Before the Warden and the lead Inquisitor charged in fight to buy us time to get the children here to safety, I was just one of the ranking Priests of Pharasma. I've been assigned to Briarstone for eighteen months. Wyatt Wrunevescu has worked here over fourteen years.

"It is the fourth day since tragedy struck." And the Priest turns to Novembre Clacza.

Novembre Clacza
Inquisitor of Pharasma

.

"I am the least member of a cadre of Inquisitors who came to Briarstone six days ago investigating rumors of the return of The Briarstone Witch. Over fifty years ago The Briarstone Witch spread misery, death and chaos -- for several years -- before the local Count, Hassurton Loew, and an Inquisition of Pharasma, tracked her to this location and destroyed her.

"That was about thirty-five years ago. But every few years a Ghost or Haunt of The Briarstone Witch reanimates, and every three or four years we perform an exorcism. That Count Hasserton Loew built Briarstone Hospital and Asylum on the top of the Witch's lair. I know it sounds foolish, but in Ustalov, All land is Profane; all Soil is Cursed. Nonetheless, ten years ago when that Count Hasserton passed his authority to his son, the current Count Hasserton Loew, the two of them paid for a poweful Exorcism and declared The Briarstone Witch destroyed forever. For a decade we thought her gone. Now she appears to be back.

"This time was a little different as it appears The Briarstone Witch is attacking the people in their dreams -- their nightmares. But four nights ago the Nightmare, I really don't know exactly, Escaped. Somehow a number of Faceless Stalkers broke free from the Dimension of Dreams and was unleashed in Briarstone.

"We can't get enough rest each night to heal, to recover. We're too exhausted to pray for our Divine spells. We have no magic. Little to no food or water. Few weapons.

"But if a few of you can help us, maybe now we have a little extra manpower with which to get some resources. Until now, at least, we couldn't leave the children. My superiors, and the Warden of Briarstone, I believe sacrificed their lives buying us the time to get the children here to relative safety. We've been hoping for respite from beyond Briarstone. But if it can come from within, well, we'll accept whatever help we can get."

My shoulders slump, even more than usual when I hear that the new people don't know why I can't remember anything. Well, if there might be records? Just knowing my name would be a good start! Then they mention that some of their people are missing?

"We'll do whatever we can to help. I'm not sure how effective we'll be though. It took us all to beat the last zombie nurse to.... I say to death, but I guess she was already dead. But she was active, and trying to bite...." I point to Khardon. "him. The shorter man with the strange arm."

"So the Witch was, or is a powerful thing, and the faceless things can.... change their face so they have one and can appear to be people? That is so strange. Then how do we figure out when we are facing one of them instead of a real person?"

He comes back to the group after taking his little look around, passing the barricade shortly after the others.

He frowns at the story. "What if this's something other than that Witch this time? That would explain why it's different."

Scalpel rubs at their jaw as they listen. "Well.... we know where there is water, at least, a few hundred gallons of it. Similar to that stuff you threw on our.... our friend. I drank from it and it did not poison me. As for food, we could do with that ourselves, to be certain."

They break into other coughing fit, long arms wrapped around themselves briefly. "...and clothes. Better clothes. If you have such."

Did the cauldrons appear movable? I assume very heavy, with the water inside, but were they bolted to the ground or anything?

Autumn Evanescu
Priest of Pharasma

.

"The three cauldrons you mention, as long as the room remains Hallowed to Pharasma fresh water will appear to fill them each morning at dawn. We the Priests must Bless the Water for magical healing -- and to combat the Undead. It is Holy Water. If we can get access to vials, or anything that can hold water, we can arm ourselves with Holy Water with which to fight the Undead.

"But getting to the chapel where we can rest without Nightmares is the biggest priority. We have no Spells without rest."

Novembre Clacza
Inquisitor of Pharasma

.

"How to recognize a Faceless Stalker, you ask: It is not easy. We took a risk in allowing you in without proof. I believe the chance was good.

"When a Faceless Stalker takes the form of a person, it doesn't grant the creature knowledge of that person. So sometimes you can determine whether the person you're talking to is a monster in disguise or a friend, just through careful conversation.

"Also, when studying them I read that it takes several seconds for them to change their shape -- and that in the first moments of their unnatural Transmutation, it is easier to recognize as a monster. Alas, until I arrived here six days ago to hunt The Briarstone Witch with my Principality Inquisitor superiors, I had never been in combat with a real one. Actual combat is often at least a little different than training. And the ones we fought here had their disguises in tact."

Autumn Evanescu
Priest of Pharasma

.

With her bright white cat Familiar in her hands, she answers your question about The Briarstone Witch. "It seems odd that the latest calamity wouldn't be the mayhem and misery inflicted from the return of The Briarstone Witch.

"The Principality Inquisitors sent a cadre here for that purpose -- and I know the High Priest of Pharasma here, my Mistress, Aerwyn Savoia, was certain the cause is The Briarstone Witch.

"I am reluctant to enter Aerwyn Savoia's private chambers to snoop through her papers. But like the Warden and the other Inquisitors, she is missing -- after having bought us time to get the children here to relative safety."

Wyatt Wrunevescu
.

Poking his head into the lounge for a moment, having fully reset the barricade and established the former inmate to guard for a moment, he addresses the Dwarf.

"Well done in the hall; I respect that attitude. If you're willing, I could use another guard -- another pair of eyes on watch. I'm, uh, not a warrior. I'm a little bit of a carpenter and orderly, and I've worked here so long I've become a reasonably knowledgeable nurse. Not a fighter, though some bouncer work with an unruly patient now and then has given me some grappling and brawling experience -- nothing like fighting Zombies, though."

The Children and Survivors of Briarstone Hospital & Asylum
.

B5}
Nine children congregate with a few more adults in the Briarstone Lounge.

It is a large, open room where nurses, doctors and Clerics would enjoy leisure activities away from the patients when they could. Now, it is a reeking refuge of terrified survivors, with barely any food or water, unwashed and anxious for four days. With no respite, no dawn, in sight.

The room's outer walls are softly stained-glass, but with enough transparency to see through to the woods, water, and sky outside. Except now it is blanketed in a sickly yellow fog.

One of the little girls, with impossibly stark-white hair and large shadow-black eyes in a tattered smock bravely, and full of hope, approaches the survivor with the doll hanging from his waist.

"Is that your doll?"

There is a much different question in her eyes.

A question of longing and wanting something to play with. But her confidence only extends so far.

He grunts. "So where's the chapel from here? How many more zombies between us and it?"

It feels good to hear so many voices, people who know who they are, who know something about what is going on.... It gives me hope.

I hear the Priest, Autumn Evanescu, talking about holy water. Using vials of holy water as weapons. Vials? But we had vials! And we had filled them with the water. They were so small, not barely a sip. But maybe... "Vials for Holy Water? You mean like these?" I pull out the ones that I carry. "There are others. We don't have proper pockets in the rags we wear. But we filled these vials and spread them out to all of us. We didn't want to break any. Here. Take these if they will help!"

Then the Inquisitor. It is had to recognize the Faceless Stalkers then. Once they have taken their disguise. "Would the holy water do anything to a faceless stalker? If not, do they bleed like regular people? Is their blood.... different? If not, I can understand the fear but not how you could trust anyone. I mean.... If you asked one of them to kill another and maybe a couple zombies, couldn't they do that just to infiltrate your group?"

One of the children notices the doll tied to my waist. It isn't anything important. But I carried it somehow, from my nightmare. "The doll?" I pull it loose from the strings holding it. I look at it. It isn't even a nice looking doll. "I.... Well. Actually I don't know. I was scared, and I found this. But I'm not so scared now. Maybe someone else should have this doll? I don't need it. Do you know someone that might want it?" I hold the doll out to see if any of the children might want it.

She listened as they spoke. Strangely, she gathered close to Autumn. She just found her comforting. Still, she let her bangs fall to help obscure her Golden eyes. As she listens, shapeshifting is spoken. When it does she begins to think about bats. The feel of the wind under your wings. The sound is rushing around you.

She brushed away the thought and then nodded. "So if we can get to the chapel, maybe we can have a better chance?"

Wyatt Wrunevescu

.

Poking his head into the lounge for a moment, having fully reset the barricade and established the former inmate to guard for a moment, he addresses the Dwarf.

"Well done in the hall; I respect that attitude. If you're willing, I could use another guard -- another pair of eyes on watch. I'm, uh, not a warrior. I'm a little bit of a carpenter and orderly, and I've worked here so long I've become a reasonably knowledgeable nurse. Not a fighter, though some bouncer work with an unruly patient now and then has given me some grappling and brawling experience -- nothing like fighting Zombies, though."

The dwarf nodded, unsure of how to respond. He didn’t know if he was a craftsman as well, but he didn’t think he was a warrior. The last fight had been far too terrifying. After listening though, he said ”Aye, I’ll pull my weight. Those things…those zombies…we have to keep an eye out for them.” Resisting the urge to shudder, he added ”Any idea how many there are? And do they tend to come back after we put them down?”

"Also any other weapons or armor about. The band is a bit hardscrabbled together with bits and bobs form whatever we couls find"She sasy pulling out a Rook from her clevage.

While he has no idea who or what she was, they felt drawn to both priest and inquisitor. As if they might, perhaps, be kindred spirits somehow. Thus, she turns to them first. "I know you're reluctant to enter your superior's office, Autumn, but if there is even a possibility of useful information inside, we must. Especially if such information could help protect the children." He says, before they speak to the Inquisitor. "Would the hallowed room allow you to sleep well enough to recover your magicks, if we helped guard your slumbering forms? Or is the chapel our only hope for such rest?"

Novembre Clacza
Inquisitor of Pharasma

.

"26 Vials of Holy Water -- that's a significant arsenal against the Zombies. Against the Faceless Stalkers, though, you may have to use your makeshift clubs and anything else you can find. At least until such a time as we can get significant rest in the chapel. Once we can recieve or Divine spells and powers again, the priest and I will be more effective. I know you likely want me to accompany you -- my Morningstar is enchanted with magic as a Bane to fight Undead, and my magical Cloak helps Save me from magical Curses, Hexes and other debilitating attacks that don't come from a sword. But I have sworn to guard these children. To try to lead them to safety. My superior likely sacrificed himself to give us this chance at surviving."

The Children and Survivors of Briarstone Hospital & Asylum
.

The pale girl in threads bravely reaches her hand in acceptance of the doll. Two of the other children have dolls, but none seem to be playing or frolicking. There is a stillness among the children. From time to time the twin girls giggle as though telepathically communicating; they separate themselves from the other survivors. One of the boys, a blind child with eyes large as moons walks from cluster of adults to cluster of adults offering to help. he doesn't use sight, but somehow knows where to walk. His plate of oddities are more frivolous than practical. But he's trying to help. The wealthy children act wealthy, not at all like hospital patients, and the boy with the scars is mute. And shy.

The teenage girl is frightened.

The blonde girl with her new doll seems to get more courage with a baby of her own to play with. She approaches another survivor, "Why are you called 'Scalpel'?"

Wyatt Wrunevescu
.

In the hallway connecting the lounge with the barricades, the head orderly and one of the Briarstone patients (who has proved himself reliable during this catastrophe) feel a little more secure as guards with the addition of the Dwarf with the cursed arm.

The makeshift barricade facing north, and separating two private rooms (the former chambers of Autumn Evanescu and another Priest of Pharasma, now missing), is the vantage point to look for danger. The way the survivors of the Strigoi emerged.

To the right is an enclosed courtyard, normally visible through glass walls serving as large windows. But a yellow fog hangs low to the ground and visibility extends through the sickening mist only mere inches. Still, every handful of minutes, a shambling humanoid shape appears for a moment, wandering aimlessly -- like a mindless Zombie -- through the courtyard.

The 'L' corner of the hall also provides access to the personal chambers of the Briarstone Asylum High Priest, Aerwyn Savoia, now missing. A foul smell emerges from the closed door but Wyatt Wrunevescu assures you that it is from the backed-up drain-hole. The High Priest's chambers has a tiny shaft she could use to dump her chamber pot. But for four nights now everyone has been dumping chamber pots down it and the sewer is likely backed up a little.

Finally, hiding the way to the main entrance of Briarstone Hospital and Asylum, Wyatt Wrunevescu and the Inquisitor, Novembre Clacza have hung a large tapestry of Desna and Pharasma in order to hide "The Thing" beyond from view.

Novembre Clacza
Inquisitor of Pharasma

.

"That castle piece,... may I see it for just a moment, please?"

Looking at it only briefly, but concernedly, the Inquisitor is stumped. But she has a theory:

"I think this is a magical component, like a spell component, but for a Gate that leads, well, I don't know to where but another Plane. Look at the door etched on the bottom. The coldness and grayness of it makes me think The Shadow Plane, but the material composition is more, I am unsure, Silver-of-'The First World.'

"Can you tell me where you found this?"

Novembre Clacza
Inquisitor of Pharasma

.

She turns to the man after he kindly gives the doll to the little girl.

"You are correct, it is not wise to trust in this situation. But The Priest listened to the words of your fellow, there, and convinced me to try. It looks like it was a good choice; the Priest of Pharasma is wise."

Autumn Evanescu
Priest of Pharasma

.

"The chapel is close by but we don't know how many monsters are between us and it. It is also central, so I don't know how secure we could make it. But I think we hve to try.

"Of more importance is something growing just past a tapestry we hung to cover it from view." She whispers in a huddle with interested survivors and the Inquisitor, Novembre Clacza. [smaller]"A Thing 'not-from-here' is manifesting and growing on the other side of the tapestry. It is beyond my or the Inquisitor's knowledge. It's blocking passage to the chapel, and to the rest of Briarstone.

"I am certain it is from The Briarstone Witch. So is Novembre Clacza."

She turns to the Diplomat of the survivors, "Your Holy Symbol of Pharasma: It belonged to my friend, Vera. She's missing.

"Do you see the frightened young lady in the corner? Vera and I helped her carve that Holy Symbol. The young lady is a briliant talent at art and artistry. Vera and I encouraged her to fashion that. Vera was to give it to the Count of this place, Hassurton Loew. His father defeated The Briarstone Witch decades ago and built this hospital and asylum."

Autumn Evanescu gently brushes her finger against The Diplomat's found Holy Symbol of Pharasma, looking at it, looking 'beyond' it to the memory of her friend and peer. She looks back into The Diplomat's eyes, "May this Holy Symbol bless you and keep you, and may Vera's Soul whisper for your behalf to Pharasma."

Autumn Evanescu
Priest of Pharasma

.

Turning finally to "Scalpel," Autumn Evanescu begins to answer your question, ignored these past few minutes.

"I didn't mean to ignore you, it just took a moment to get everything settled and then I forgot you asked.

"This hospital and asylum has been here about thirty-five years; I'm not good with history or storytelling. Count Hasserton Loew built it upon the lair of the defeated Briarstone Witch.

"The village of Thrushmoor is less than a mile through the woods; there is an easy trail. And the village of Hallowfeld is less than a mile further on.

"The Warden of Briarstone is named Doctor Eliege Losandro. He is a good and experienced expert of medicine and impediments of the mind. He is also a Divine Adept, not a fully blessed Cleric or Priest, but is able to bestow Divine healing nonetheless. He is missing.

"With Dr. Eliege Losandro there is also the High Priest of Briarstone, my supervisor, Aerwyn Savoia, a powerful Cleric of Pharasma. She sacrificed herself in a battle that allowed us to escape here.

"Several nurses and lower ranking priests and clerics are also missing.

.

"Let me start now with the troubles: For over eight weeks nightmares have become more and more vivid for many of the patients. Early on, we Divine spellcasters felt there was some malevolent influence. And we suspected The Briarstone Witch's return (though you have suggested doubts.).

"Doctor Eliege Losandro was communicating this with our patron, Count Hassurton Loew and within a few weeks the Immortal Principality of Ustalov sent a cadre of Inquisitors -- including Novembre Clacza -- to exorcize The Briastone Witch's Ghost or Haunt. They arrived six days ago.

"Four nights ago the ether of air shuddered and sickly yellow fog began pouring into Briarstone Asylum and the woods outside. Faceless Stalkers appeared as if Conjured and began chaotically attacking everyone. One hour later those patients and nurses who died became animated of Negative Energy and rose as Undead Zombies."

Autumn Evanescu
Priest of Pharasma

.

She nods in agreement with the Diplomat of the survivors, "Yes. It is time to enter High Priest Aerwyn Savoia's chambers to learn more. To learn what we can."

For now he hangs back, content to see what will be found in the priest's room before doing anything else.

I enjoy the smile and the courage of the girl with her new doll. It was a good gift.

The discussion of monsters in the surrounding areas, undead as well as the faceless things? It was hard to not give in to despair. And not knowing, anything.... How were we supposed to continue?

"Yes. Learn what we can. Maybe even who we are."

The Children and Survivors of Briarstone Hospital & Asylum

The teenage girl is frightened.

The blonde girl with her new doll seems to get more courage with a baby of her own to play with. She approaches another survivor, "Why are you called 'Scalpel'?"

The tall figure crouches to be at eye-level with the small blond girl.

"Well.... I don't know if I'm really called that, but I suppose we have to have nicknames. Things to call each other. I don't-- I don't remember my own, you see. And we found this little knife, it's called a scalpel. Since I'm carrying it... it's as good a nickname as any."

It's not the most satisfying explanation, they feel, but they have no better one to give. They-- she?-- gives the child a shrug. Then, she attempts a smile-- it feels rusty on her face.

"And how about you, what is your name, little one?"

******

'Scalpel' listens to the story of the asylum's recent woes with drawn brows, rubbing at their aching joints with her fingers. "This yellow fog-- it just came out of the air all around you? Or from a specific direction?

"...also, to go back to an earlier matter... this, um. 'Thing.' Behind the tapestry. You said... it's growing? manifesting? I don't understand what that means... There is something physically there?? Or... it's a painting, or...?"

******

'Scalpel' nods wearily to the suggestion of opening the sealed office. They mostly just want to sleep, perhaps for a year, but there's no time. And if there's any supplies of use, they'll probably be in that office.

"It seems to me..." The dwarf said, to any who cared to listen "...that despite how close the village is, even a mile in the woods would be deadly. But what we really need is to find Doctor Losandro." Without thinking he held his bone arm in his hand. "And we need to map this place out. So we can tell what rooms have been searched or cleared out. Going about this blindly is just going to add to the number of zombies."

Aerwyn Savoia
Briarstone Cleric

.

Offering to dump out the most recently filled chamber pots since 'she's entering Aerwyn Savoia's chambers for information, Autumn Evanescu and a few of the other survivors take a moment to gather the past few hours' worth of refuse to empty down the High Priest's private shute.

The bright blonde/impossibly-platinum-haired girl answers her name as Vaustine, comments that she *likes* the name "Scalpel" (mostly to herself), and retreats back in a corner to play-nurture her new faceless doll.

B6, B7}
Opening the doors lets free the reek of a backed-up sewer but Autumn Evanescu and the others quickly empty the chamber pots down a diminutive shaft in the back of the office.

There is one open folio on the Cleric's desk -- apparently the most recent documents Aerwyn Savoia was taking notes on -- as well as a locked second room wherein the Cleric could sleep and pray.

Autumn Evanescu mentions that the Silver Dagger she currently wields, a Bane of Undead, is not hers but that she took it from here a few days ago -- as well as the Wands of Healing now exhausted, and a few Vials of Holy Water. After these practical items were taken for use, Aerwyn Savoia's office and bedchamber have been only used for dumping out the chamber pots.

But you are hopefully correct, maybe there is something here to learn.

Ulver Zandalus
Briarstone Inmate

.

According to the folio and loose papers on Aerwyn Savoia's office desk, a scholar from Lepidstadt University and Count Hasserton Loew admitted a strange new patient, Ulver Zandalus, to Briarstone nine days ago. He suffered from terrible Nightmares that Count Hasserton Loew (and likely the Professor) felt was magical in nature.

Ulver Zandalus was not to be housed with othe hospital or asylum patients, but rather in the jailed-cell on the doctor's side of Briarstone (area B9).

Aerwyn Savoia believes The Briarstone Witch, as a Ghost, is tapping into Ulver Zandalus' Nightmares and now has found a way to encroach into other people's Nightmares.

Novembre Clacza
Inquisitor of Pharasma

.

The Inquisitor answers the Dwarf as Aerwyn Savoia's chambers are being searched. "I was hoping for a detailed description of Briarstone as well, as I am just arrived to help fight The Briarstone Witch.

"With Autumn Evanescu and Wyatt Wrunevescu's help, we were going to try to coax the teenage girl into drawing a detailed layout. She is an artistic prodigy -- as your friend saw from the Holy Symbol she crafted.

"Alas, when I tried to convince the young lady to help us, well, let's say I was not nearly as diplomatic as some of your friends, especially him with the Holy Symbol. The girl shut down emotionally. I understand the trauma -- a mental patient anyway, and now the catastrophe as literal Nightmares have come to life.

"Hopefully some of you can convince the girl to draw a map of this place -- under the guidance of Autumn Evanescu and Wyatt Wrunevescu."

Wyatt Wrunevescu
.

The orderly and assistant nurse answers the Dwarf and 'Scalpel's questions. "Yes. When we first got trapped in here Autumn Evanescu used her last spell to cast an Augury to see if we should just bust out of the exterior windows and make a run for the village of Thrushmoor or even to Hallowfeld. Apparently Pharasma answered her prayers with an emphatic "No" and that it would not be safe."

He gets a little disturbed even looking at the direction of the tapestry hiding the 'Thing.'

"After we holed up in the lounge we built the barricade blocking the long hall -- where you came from -- and locked and barred the door to the main entry of Briarstone -- which is now covered. After a few hours we collapsed in sleep, trying to take watches in case any of the faceless monsters got through.

"When we all awoke six or seven hours later, a, uh, thing had manifested there. Novembre Clacza tried to use the tiny bit of magic she still had to destroy it. But, well, I guess that was also when they realized th Nightmares we were all having also prevented them from resting enough for their prayers to reach their deities.

"I put that tapestry up to keep from scaring the children, and, uh, to prevent it from "seeing" us. I think the damned thing is alive."

Looking over the pages from Aerwyn Savoia's office and seemingly arriving nowhere. Someone also notices another loose page on the floor, perhaps having fallen from the desk when Autumn Evanescu entered here four nights ago when she grabbed her superior's Silver Dagger, Wands and Holy Water.

It looks to be a page from Aerwyn Savoia's clerical Log.

The paper states Aerwyn Savoia's discomfort, but understanding, that Doctor Eliege Losandro, Warden of Briarstone -- as a favor to the Count(!) -- has allowed Hasserton Loew to admit nearly thirty patients to a private, secure hospital chamber beneath the Count's personal office, a few at a time over the past eighteen days.

Effectively, a 'basement' ward exists under the Count's office that only he had access to. And for the past three or so weeks the Count had been admitting patients therein.

Of further note, because Count Hasserton Loew did not prefer to keep the Briarstone Warden ignorant, Doctor Eliege Losandro keeps these patients' records in his own office.

I watch and listen. Nobody has asked me any question, not that I would know anything. But they are providing information. More patients? Are they like us? Or are they now zombies or food for the faceless ones?

"So the doctor may have records? Maybe about who we are? Let's go to his office then. I need to know who I am!"