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Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul.

Posted by Belor HemlockFor group 0
The Raconteur
GM, 2316 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 24 Nov 2015
at 04:37
  • msg #203

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




As Liseth clutched her holy symbol and bowed her head, a flash of positive energy flowed over both her companions and the fallen horses.  But the tieflings and their foul master had done their bloody work too well--the steeds were dead, and a far more-powerful divine intervention than a simple summoning of positive energy would be required to bring them back.

Kerr moved next to Liseth, putting his arms around her, trying unsuccessfully to shield her from the heartbreak and sorrow wracking her small body.  He looked sadly down at the piebald that had faithfully carried him into the depths of the Nettlewood and back.  So much trust, and his horse had died while tied to a hitching post, his rider nowhere to be seen.  Kerr buried his face in Liseth's hair.  He was no expert horseman, but he had been learning.  But they would learn together no more.

The only saving grace, the young paladin thought, was that Heily hadn't also been killed.  "It's okay, Cato," he said, lifting his head to look at the mage before following the killers as they disappeared into the forest.  "It's not your fault.  It's theirs."

As the blonde acolyte sobbed, Kellan's huge form lumbered next to Hakon, his giant hand smoothing the mane, mourning the loss of his valiant friend with not a small bit of smoldering anger.  As Kellan looked around, he saw that the saddles and gear on all three dead horses were seemingly untouched.  Not only that, but the saddlebags from Nettie and Heily also laid on the ground, their straps neatly cut.

Apparently their opponents had counted speed more important than whatever the contents of their bags might have been.

Meanwhile, back inside, Pisca found the lock to the northern room just as difficult as the one she'd just overcome to the south.  It nearly defeated her, before a sudden rush of insight allowed her to place her pick just like this, and it gave yet another satisfying click, bowing to the irresistable force of gnomish ingenuity.

She opened the door to find a small study that looked as if it had a split personality.  Parts of the study, including about half of the desk, were immaculate, clean, and well-organized.  The rest of it reeked of chaos, with documents, knick-knacks, and other accoutrements of the good doctor's trade were scattered haphazardly about like a painting from the new school of artists that was all the rage in Magnimar these days.

A figure who was unmistakably Doctor Habe writhed frantically on the floor.  His wrists and ankles were shackled, and he was blindfolded and gagged.  Blood trickled from what looked to be a newly-made cut on his forehead.

"Mmmph!"  The good doctor was definitely trying to make himself heard.

OOC:

PARTY ACTIONS

None.

NPC TURNS

None.

PARTY TURN

Kerr Mollin

Move:  To G11.

Standard Action:  None.

PARTY STATUS:

Pisca expended her Timely Inspiration to pick the lock.  Kerr is at +1 to his next roll.  Kellan is enlarged.  Liseth and Cato are sickened.

ALL PARTY MEMBERS MAY ACT. 



   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
9 |  |  |  |  |  |  | K|K |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
10|  |  |  |  |  |  | K|K |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--xxxxWWxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
11|  |  |  |  |  |  | Rx  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--ppppppp--x--+--+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
12|  |  |  |  p C|  p Lx  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--pppp--+--pppxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
13|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |P |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--+--+--+--D--+TT+--W--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
14|  |  |  p  |  |  |  x  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
15|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
16|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
17|  |  |  p  W  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--p--x--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
18|  |  |  p  x  |  x  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--pppp--xxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
19|  |  p  |  x  |  D  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxx--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
20|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |TT|TT|  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--W--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
21|  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xDDxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
22|  |  x  |  |  |  |  |TT|TT|  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--x--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
23|  |  W  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--x--+--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxDDx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
24|  |  x  |  |  D  |  |  |  |  x  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
25|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
26|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
  +--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

D = Door
T = Table
W = Window
x = Wall
p = Porch

K = Kellan
R = Kerr
L = Liseth
P = Pisca
C = Cato




This message was last edited by the GM at 04:38, Tue 24 Nov 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1189 posts
Miniboss
Wed 25 Nov 2015
at 06:22
  • msg #204

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

What was going on in the world? When did it become unwise to even consider going unarmed? Or to even hitch your horse unattended? At a hospital of all locations? If this was the work of the dark gods and their servants, turning places like Sandpoint into hotbeds of violence, suspicion, and horror than they all had their work cut out for them.

Kellan was just starting to suspect how much work that might entail.

"Sorry boy...should have been here..." Should have had my weapon He chastised himself inwardly as he knelt down and took stock of their supplies.

"It's all here" he called to the others and hefted his poleaxe, relishing the weight in his hands.

"We just about ready ready to go after them?" He asked as he looked around, just before he realized that Pisca was no longer right beside them.

"Pisca?" he asked as he looked around. "Where'd she run off to?"
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1183 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Wed 25 Nov 2015
at 15:14
  • msg #205

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato stepped toward the giant-sized Kellan, staring mournfully at the guard's horse.

"I'm ready to go after them.  I think Pisca heard something else inside."

Cato glanced back at the Sanitorium.

"I hope Doctor Habe is in there and wasn't allied with the tieflings or the necromancer.  It would probably be best for Sandpoint if this place wasn't left undefended."

The wizard was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head.

"Though I find it hard to believe that Habe wasn't aware something was strange, with the undead lurking and his traitorous helpers.  Either he's dangerously incompetent or simply dangerous.  Still, I don't see a better option right now."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2731 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Wed 25 Nov 2015
at 15:21
  • msg #206

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Stomper's voice drifted in from outside and made its way to Pisca's delicate gnomish ears.  Though, why he would say something about being able to hear all was any gnome's guess.

"Looks like I caught you at a time when you're all tied up, Doctor Habe."  Pisca entered the small study with a dire mien, as though completely oblivious to her jocular play on words.  "Did you know that you had an evil necromancer in you dinning hall?"

With a savage step she straddled the human's head and sat heavily onto his shoulders, pinning him to the ground.  "Don't move, please.  Your necromancer has just made off with my beloved pony.  And when he's done running her to death, I'm certain that he intends to eat her."

As she spoke, the gnome's small hands worked away at the human's gag.

"I am, quite naturally, upset, and I fully expect you to do everything in your power to help us catch up to them and save the animals of which we are overly fond."

"Hmm.  Did you know that your office is a mess?  I wonder what they were looking for?"

Are we still in Combat Rounds?  You're still posting maps which tells me, Yes.

Move: Enter room.
Standard: Untie Habe.

Position: I12

AC: 18 / 13Touch / 14Flat (TD 24/19/14)
AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2478 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Thu 26 Nov 2015
at 07:21
  • msg #207

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

She could only watch as Heily disappeared into the distance with her abductors.  There was nothing that could be done!  They wouldn't be able to catch them on foot; and there was no telling what might happen to Heily and Nettie once those villains thought they weren't needed anymore!

Everything was spiraling out of control far too quickly.

"I don't..."  Liseth started, then looked up, "What are we going to do Kerr?"  The girl was overwhelmed and demoralized.

"After them?"  She looked in the direction that the horse-murderers had fled; Cato and Kellan were already prepared to follow them.  "Yes.  Yes, we have to go after them.  That's what Pisca said; she'll follow after us once she's finished here."

Liseth gathered Heily's saddlebag and glanced inside; all of the important things were in there.  "At least we have our food."  As much as she didn't like the idea of having to carry the cookware herself, there was little choice anymore.

Feeling her shoulder where she had received her recent bite, Liseth cringed slightly.  She had no idea what was going to happen to her, if anything.  But she had a good idea what might happen to Heily and Nettie if they didn't rescue them!

Conditions:
Sickened (-2 to attacks, saves, skills, ability checks, damage)

The Raconteur
GM, 2318 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Sun 29 Nov 2015
at 07:45
  • msg #208

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kerr hugged Liseth close as she asked him what they could do.  And what can we do, he wondered miserably.  What could anyone do?  Certainly nothing for the horses.  And who knew what mischief the necromancers and the tieflings might be planning?  It seemed like no sooner had they made progress in one area than they were dealt a devastating setback in another.

It was disheartening.

As Liseth left to inspect the saddlebags, Kerr glumly shrugged at Kellan’s question, then suddenly whipped his head around to inspect the area for Pisca.  Where was she?  He thought she’d left the building with them.  Had she gone back in?

“I think she’s still inside,” he agreed with Cato.  “Where else would she be?”  As soon as he uttered it, Kerr realized that this was a not-very-comforting question for those who knew the gnome.  “Um, let me check,” he extemporized as he began moving for the sanatorium’s main door.  Leaving Pisca alone was a recipe for . . . well, it certainly wasn’t the best course of action, to Kerr’s mind.  He picked up his pace as he headed back inside . . .

. . . Meanwhile . . .

Habe sagged in relief as Pisca began untying him, but tensed again at the words “your necromancer.”

“He’s not my necromancer!”  The doctor protested as soon as Pisca removed the gag from his mouth.  “I’m as much a victim here as you were!  If not more so!”  The man was clearly very worked up.  “You dealt with him for what, a few minutes?  He was using my sanatorium . . . my sanatorium! . . . as a refuge for his . . . his unnatural experiments!  For over a year!!!”  Habe was nearly frothing with resentment and anger.  “And there was nothing I could do about it!  He was holding my patients hostage!  Him and those infernal tieflings of his!”

OOC:  We are no longer in combat rounds.




This message was last edited by the GM at 07:46, Sun 29 Nov 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2733 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Sun 29 Nov 2015
at 16:57
  • msg #209

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Well, if that's the case, you'll have no objection to telling us everything you know about him.  And help us catch him.  Rescue our ponies."

Pisca paused at the ropes that bound the esteemed Doctor Habe.  She considered the implausibility of one necromancer and two tieflings holding an entire sanatorium of patients hostage.  It was a place that would die anyway without staff and supplies.  The odds against word getting out and rescue to follow were not stacked in the favor of the necromancer and his hench-minions.  But, with uncharacteristic wisdom, she said nothing of this.  Time was of the essence and there was nothing to gain from letting on that she suspected his complicity.

Instead, she went on to work on the Good Doctor's bonds.  "Start with his name.  What's the necromancer's name?  How and when did he show up?  Did he happen to mention where he came from before here?  And ... did he happen to mention the name of Lord Aldren Foxglove?  Or, maybe Your Lordship."  Maybe Aldren Foxglove was no more.  Maybe all that was left of their generous friend was Your Lordship.

"Oh, and do you keep any horses here?  Anything to get you to town and back faster than a walk?"

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Dr. Erin Habe
NPC, 3 posts
His business
is the mind
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 18:50
  • msg #210

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"Help you . . .," Habe spread his hands helplessly, "what kind of doctor do you think I am?"  He shook his head, as if chasing stolen horses was some herculean task.  "But I'd be happy to tell you all I know about the man.  Augustus Ziren is his name.  He's Magnimarian, I believe.  He became a silent partner in the sanatorium when I ran low on funds."  Habe grimaced into the middle distance, as if remembering a particularly unsavory moment.  "He said all he wanted was a quiet place to study, and was 'happy to be supporting such a noble cause.'"

The doctor nudged one of the displaced documents with his toe.  "You can see how that turned out."

"He lived in the basement.  I wasn't allowed down there.  But he . . . took anyone who died here at the facility, if they didn't have close family monitoring their condition."  Habe looked disgusted, perhaps with Ziren, perhaps with himself.  "For experimentation.  He was particularly interested in Grayst, since the man was clearly on his last legs."

"He turned the tieflings against me.  So there I was, with a hospital full of patients, and I was the only one who really cared about their well-being.  Ziren said he'd let his . . . things loose in the wards if he ever thought I'd been talking to anyone.  So I didn't."  As if suddenly realizing that Ziren was no longer his problem, Habe slumped into the nearby chair in relief.  "But now he's gone!"  He smiled for the first time that Pisca could recall.  "Really gone!"

"Aldern Foxglove?  The merchant noble?"  Habe scratched his head.  "I don't think Ziren mentioned him.  But then again, he didn't talk to me much."  The doctor looked at the floor, as if thinking, but then looked up.  "But Foxglove did make a generous contribution to the sanatorium when I was initially seeking funding."  He shrugged.  "I don't know if that makes any difference or not.  I haven't seen him since."

"And no, we don't have any horses.  I have neither time for their upkeep nor the funds to hire someone to care for them."




This message was last edited by the player at 18:50, Tue 08 Dec 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2734 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 30 Nov 2015
at 14:16
  • msg #211

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"You're not free yet," said the gnome, her voice distracted by the thoughts, festooned with dark flowers, that danced in her head.  "Remember, you've still got a basement full of ... *things*.

"Tell me, Doctor Habe, when exactly was it that Auggie the Evil Necromancer became your silent partner?  And when was it that Aldren Foxglove made his generous contribution to the sanatorium?"  And then, with a voice that virtually dripped with implications, she said, "One wonders where an evil necromancer comes up with the funds to support a sanatorium."

"Maybe ... Maybe that's what it comes down to.  Money.  I heard a saying when I was in Korvosa, 'Follow the Golden Sails.'  Have you seen any of these," said the gnome then, bursting into a flurry of activity.  She brought out the Card of the Golden Seven, the One Eyed Mask, and a piece of chalk.  With the chalk she drew the seven pointed Sidehedron on the floor amid the clutter.

"These.  In your association with Auggie the Evil En, have you ever seen one or more of these?"

And it was then that it came to Pisca Neep Freemish that she had a terrible decision to make.  To pursue Auggie the Evil En and rescue her beloved pony.  Or, to ransack the basement, where surely clues awaited.

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2481 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Tue 1 Dec 2015
at 01:02
  • msg #212

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Pisca was opening the door into Doctor Habe's office."  Liseth said as she secured Heily's saddlebag to her knapsack; she wasn't about to leave it behind.  "She said that she would catch up with us..."  The girl paused; separating didn't seem like a good idea now that she thought about it.  There could be any number of more surprises waiting to ambush them here!

But they couldn't just leave Heily and Nettie either.  What was the right thing to do?

"If we follow them too quickly they might push Heily and Nettie too hard..."  Liseth looked off into the distance where the villains had run.  "And we wouldn't catch them.  They're too fast."  She sighed and her shoulders sagged as reality set in, "They are going to get wherever they're going before we do."

"I can follow the trail easily enough."  The young acolyte looked at the kicked up turf where the horse hooves had pounded, "But I think..."  She sighed again, "I think it would be best for us to search the Sanitarium.  Maybe we can still find something helpful..."

"We'll have to do it quickly though."
Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1186 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Tue 1 Dec 2015
at 14:49
  • msg #213

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato nodded, and  helped secure their belongings from the ground.  "Perhaps we can find more clues as to the relationship between Aldern and this necromancer.  If we have Habe's assistance, searching this place shouldn't take too long, although he seemed anxious about us intruding on his study of Grayst before.  I wonder if that was his natural impulse to protect his patients, his worry that we would discover the necromancer, or something else?"
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1191 posts
Miniboss
Tue 1 Dec 2015
at 18:53
  • msg #214

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Probably just scared" Kellan suggested as he moved alongside Cato. "Can't really expect a small town doctor to stand up to those types I guess, unless he was on the take...but, I doubt it." Kellan looked back at where the tieflings had retreated and made a promise to himself that he would never go unarmed again if it could be helped.

"Yeah...yeah we better toss the place real quick, then we can hoof it on back to town and see what we can do another...well, more horses."
The Raconteur
GM, 2321 posts
Teller of Tales
Writer of Wrongs
Tue 1 Dec 2015
at 20:09
  • msg #215

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Kerr entered what was apparently Dr. Habe’s study just in time to see the man cringe away from Pisca, eyes widened in fear.  “Do you think . . . do you think there are more of them down there?"  A tremor entered his voice.  "I saw them . . . he made me watch while those monstrosities killed a patient.  Once.  Once was all it took.  Could you and your . . . your friends go down there and check?  I don’t have the,” he waved a hand in the air defensively, “the skills to deal with those creatures.”

The doctor made a visible effort to pull himself together.  He stood, sloughing off what remained of his bonds, then set his desk chair upright, straightened his tunic, and sat down.  “Aldern offered his donation when I was initially raising funds for the sanatorium.  He’s well known for his generous gifts to charity, you know.  Quite the philanthropist, really, if his reputation is to be believed, and I certainly have no reason to think it ill-deserved.”  His eyes flitted questioningly from the gnome to the paladin, as if wondering what the noble had to do with the sanatorium’s troubles.  But apparently he was too polite—or perhaps too scared—to ask.

“Ziren came later.  Running this facility was costlier than I anticipated, and the endowment I had arranged wasn’t quite making the returns I’d been promised.”  He frowned.  “I put out some feelers through my contacts in Magnimar seeking further funding, and that’s when I met him.”  Habe put a hand to his head, then looked in horror at the blood when he returned it to his lap.  “My goodness, am I bleeding?  How bad is it?”

“I thought Ziren was an answer to prayer, really.  A paying, scholarly tenant who just wanted peace and quiet for his studies?  That seemed perfect.  Sadly, the reality was much different than I expected.”  He sighed.  “Terribly different.”

Habe looked through Pisca’s various items.  “I don’t think I’m familiar with any of these,” he said.  “Although I think that’s some sort of religious symbol,” he speculated, pointing at the Sihedron rune, “but that’s really just a guess.  I can’t tell you why I think that."

He looked back at the other items, then picked up the Card of the Golden Seven, studying it closely.  “You know,” he ventured, voice slightly subdued, as if thinking, “I think I might have seen this symbol somewhere before.  Back in Magnimar.  But I can’t recall where, or with what it might have been associated.”  He shrugged.  “I just feel like I’ve seen it before.  Again, I can’t really tell you why.”

“Do you have a key to Ziren’s apartment downstairs?”  Kerr interjected.  He figured that the necromancer might have left some answers behind, given his quick exit.

Habe shook his head.  “I haven’t had access to the basement area since Ziren moved in.  He was very . . . particular about his privacy.”




This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 20:13, Tue 01 Dec 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2736 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Tue 1 Dec 2015
at 20:59
  • msg #216

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"I thought you'd all gone off after our ponies," said the gnome to Kerr Mollin, casting an frown in his general direction.  She sighed.

"Here, let me see your head, Doctor Habe.  Yes you're bleeding," said the gnome after little more than a casual glance.  "But, if you can ask that question, then you'll be fine."

What to do?

Pisca gathered up the clues, stowing them back where they belonged.  In the process, she got an idea.

"Doctor Habe ... "  The airy and melodic tone in which Pisca called out the doctor's name was a sure sign that she was about to suggest something that he would most likely not like.  "How long do you think it would take you to run into town at your highest and most desperate speed?  If you were to run into town for us, and speak with Lieutenant Barett ...  If you were to tell him that we need a posse mounted to chase down Auggie the Evil En and rescue our beautiful and beloved ponies ... If you were to do this thing for us, then we might be willing to rid your basement of your patient eating things."

"What do you think?" said the gnome, putting on a wheedling grin.  "Fair trade?"

Realistically, how long would it take for an out of shape middle-aged human to run back to Sandpoint from here?

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Dr. Erin Habe
NPC, 3 posts
His business
is the mind
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 18:49
  • msg #217

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




"What?  Me?"  Habe looked completely taken aback by Pisca's suggestion.  "Sandpoint?  I . . . I can't!  Who would care for my patients?"  He threw his hands wide in protest, looking to Kerr for help, as if the young man might show a gnome the light of reason.  "That is not a fair trade!  None of you have the training!  You don't know their schedules, or their medications, or . . . or anything!"

Outside the study window, the late afternoon sun shone through the trees, dappling the northern lawn with a latticework of light and shadow.  A light wind ruffled the grass, but nowhere near as violently as Pisca's suggestion had just ruffled Habe.

The doctor took a moment to compose himself, then ventured his own proposal.  "If you're unwilling to deal with whatever might be in the basement yourselves, you can go back to Sandpoint and ask Lieutenant Barett to send a squadron of guards to help clear it out.  But I can't leave the Sanatorium."  He heaved out a deep breath, crumpling slightly as he did so.  "Especially not now."




This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:49, Tue 08 Dec 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2743 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Thu 3 Dec 2015
at 22:25
  • msg #218

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Sometime times humans fail to think things through.

"Listen," said the gnome, letting some of her ire show through her very Hands-On-Hips stance, "I don't think that you're thinking this through.  If we open the basement door, we can't guarantee that whatever is down there won't come through us and up here with you.  If you want to risk that, then fine.  But this gnome doesn't want to hear that she didn't warn you ahead of time.  Alright?"

"On the other hand, it isn't that far back to town.  You could make it there in around an hour.  If someone lends you a horse, you could be back with help in less time than that," explained the gnome.  "You could be back before nightfall.  Before meals or medications or anything become necessary."

"You understand this.  Right?  I want you to nod your head to show that you understand."  Pisca rolled her eyes.  And they let hummies like this be in charge of things?  "I don't mean to be short with you, but this really is the best course for you.  You'll be of little help here, and in the meantime, Auggie gets further and further away with our ponies."

"I'm going to go unlock the basement, Kerr Mollin," said the gnome, shaking her head.  "Point the way, Doctor Habe.  Lets see what sorts of Patient-Eating *things* your necromancer was keeping in your basement."

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2490 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Fri 4 Dec 2015
at 07:21
  • msg #219

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Liseth returned inside following after Kerr, a some clanging cookware from Heily's saddlebag announcing her arrival.  "Pisca, they got away.  We can't catch Heily and Nettie on foot."  The girl had adopted a clinical tone as an attempt to distance herself from the horrible happening.

With a quick glance around the split office, Liseth's eyes settled on the injured Doctor.  He didn't look like he was a willing accomplice to what had just happened; Liseth had heard the word necromancer mentioned and it sent a chill down her spine.

"The Doctor is right."  She said to the gnome, "We can't ask him to leave his hospital now; after this happened."  The girl looked to Kerr, he seemed to have a similar idea to her, "And we have to see if there is anything to find here."  She frowned, "Even if there isn't, we have to make sure there isn't any more dangerous undead.  There can't be undead roaming a hospital!"

The young acolyte approached the Doctor and looked up at the blood on his head, "Doctor Habe, you need to sit down."  Liseth led him to his office chair, "Do you have any bandages in here?  I should dress this wound for you before we go."  The girl gently touched the Doctor's injury and summoned a sprinkle of water to clean the blood off.

"Pisca, make sure to wait for Kellan and Cato before you go into the basement.  Kerr and I will be right there as soon as we're done here."  She didn't look away from her patient, "If you could help me Kerr?"

"So Doctor Habe..."  Liseth began as she dressed his injury for him, "Do you know much about the undead?  That's what happened to your patient Grayst.  He was attacked by an undead murderer in Sandpoint.  And the attack drove him mad somehow..."  The girl gained a worried frown as she considered her next words, "As well as changing him into an undead..."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:56, Sat 05 Dec 2015.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2744 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Fri 4 Dec 2015
at 15:33
  • msg #220

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Of course we can't catch them on foot, Lysa!"  The gnome turned at the doorway and threw up her hands in exasperation.  Loosing her Beloved Pony seemed to have placed her into something of a bad mood.  "That's why we need someone to run into town to get help!  And who's going to be up here doing nothing while we're in the basement fighting Auggie's *THINGS*?  Doctor I'm-Too-Important-To-Leave-The-Hospital here, that's who."

"He could be back here with new horses by the time we're done, Lysa.  Sandpoint is not that far away.  We could write him a note that will rouse the guard.  But instead, he's going to stay here and ... and ... and clean his office!"

"Say, you never answered my question, Erin."  Pisca turned to the human with suspicion in her eyes.  "They were looking for something here.  They were.  And you were here too.  What were the looking for?"

Sense Motive check, please.

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Cato Crispin
Human Wizard, 1188 posts
Quarterstaff Expert
Fri 4 Dec 2015
at 15:44
  • msg #221

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

Cato gestured, and Kellan returned to normal size.  "That might make it easier to re-enter Habe's place.  We should go see what everyone else is doing."

Cato followed the conversation to Habe's office and nodded once he was caught up on everything.  "Can't blame the man for wanting to stay, I suppose, and we should clear out whatever might be down below.  Who knows?  We might even find more clues.  And I think we'll be able to track the horses just as well after that, and thi way, we wont have more undead, or some other nasty surprise under our feet or at our backs."
Dr. Erin Habe
NPC, 3 posts
His business
is the mind
Tue 8 Dec 2015
at 18:49
  • msg #222

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

“But . . . but . . . ,” Habe spluttered in response to Pisca’s lecture.  It didn’t seem to be having much of an effect on the good doctor, aside from agitating him.  He gave Liseth a beseeching look when she entered the room, then a grateful smile as she began to tend to his wound.  He pointed her toward a small cabinet in the corner of the room containing bandages and ointment sufficient for the care of small injuries.

“Exactly my point!”  Habe agreed with the small acolyte as she retrieved the medicinal aids, as if her comments sealed the matter.  “I can’t leave the hospital!”

"But I . . . I don't know much about the undead."  The physician admitted in response to Liseth's question.  "They were always just stories to me.  I mean, I'd heard the priests talk, and I guess I believed them, but I'd never seen any undead, or any evidence of undead, or heard of anyone who'd encountered undead."  He waved his hand through the air.  "They were easy to ignore."  He chuckled ruefully.  "Until they weren't."

"I knew Ziren was a necromancer, obviously."  Habe went on quietly.  "He . . . he showed me that.  I saw his . . . his zombies?  Saw them at work."  He shifted uncomfortably.  "So I had what you might call a shift in my sensibilities.  And I thought whatever was wrong with Grayst was . . . supernatural.  Ziren's interest only confirmed it."

“And Ziren wasn’t looking for something here,” the doctor contradicted the gnome, “he lived here!  In the basement!  And had for more than a year!”  He calmed down a bit.  “But as I said, he was very interested in Grayst.  He normally could not care less about my patients, but Grayst was apparently different.  He demanded to talk to the man in private.”  Habe shrugged his shoulders helplessly.  “I don’t know what about, or what information Grayst might have given him.  If any.”

"But . . .," Habe continued as Pisca gave him a you-didn't-answer-my-question glare.  He wilted slightly.  "Um . . .," he looked around, then a light went off.  "Oh, you mean were they searching for something in here?"  He waved his arm, indicating the office.  "I don't think so.  The mess is simply from their," he coughed, "rather ungentlemanly efforts to subdue me."  A tinge of whining entered his voice.  "They didn't treat me very well."

The doctor set his shoulders once Liseth was done with her care.  “But I’d be happy to show you the way to the basement."  He said as if he hoped his willingness would appease Pisca.  "Follow me.”  He walked out of his office and back into the large room where they’d so recently fought with Ziren and the tieflings.  Walking over to the area on the right, he pointed to a door facing the western portion of the room.

Habe looked a little shocked as he pointed.  “The door,” he said, paling slightly.  “It’s . . . it’s open.  I’ve never seen it open.”

And so it was.  About two inches’ worth.  When opened further, it revealed a dark staircase plunging down into the depths below the sanatorium.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:49, Tue 08 Dec 2015.
Kellan Storval
Human Fighter, 1193 posts
Miniboss
Sat 5 Dec 2015
at 03:29
  • msg #223

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Damn it" Kellan cursed under his breath, still obviously bothered by the death of his horse, with the door adding one more thing to worry about in all this. "We should clear it out...last thing we need to do is to backtrack or have to run some of these things down if they get loose into the countryside. It'll slow us down, but better now while we are here and they are contained than potentially later when they are all scattered to hell and gone."
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2748 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 7 Dec 2015
at 14:15
  • msg #224

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"WAIT!"  The gnome strode with great purpose.  With a characteristic Hands-Upon-Hips stance of disapproval, she stared down into the dark basement.

Then she slammed the door shut with a bang.  "Something's not right here," Pisca declared.  "Very un-right."

"And you," she rounded on the good doctor, with the Finger of Accusation™ "you only get the benefit of the doubt because Lieutenant Barett has vouched for you."

"How did this door come to be open?  It wasn't open when we were in here just now.  Could someone have doubled back on us?" she speculated.  "Could Auggie's escape have been ... and illusion designed to fool us?"

"Wait here, please."  Her eyes carefully examined her the dining hall as Pisca slowly made her way back toward the doctor's office.  Was anything else different?  The windows were too small.  Where else might someone have come in from?

"Please detain Doctor Habe here for a moment.  I'm going to give his office a good once over.  Maybe I can figure out why it looks half ransacked."

"They've had their way with our ponies already.  Nothing we can do about that.  No reason for us to rush into things without taking a very ... careful ... look first."

Perception: 36 (Taking 20) to spot other anomalies.  Especially other doors that might lead to the outside.

If you'd like to move things forward, use the same Perception 36 for the search of the office.

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Liseth Thoradin
Human Oracle, 2491 posts
Deluge of Positive Energy
HP 36/36
Mon 7 Dec 2015
at 15:37
  • msg #225

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Sorry Pisca," Liseth paused at her patient and looked down, "I didn't mean...I'm sorry."  It wasn't as though she didn't want to go after Heily and Nettie.  But what could they do?  It would take hours for someone to get help from Sandpoint.  And either way they wouldn't be able to catch up without knowing to where those villains fled.

"Do you mean that the necromancer...Ziren...he didn't seem to know anything about Grayst when your patient showed up here?"  The young acolyte asked later, while Doctor Habe was speaking about undead and the necromancer who lived in his hospital.  How could he have been so desperate for money that the doctor could allow someone like a necromancer have free range of his hospital?  At least without trying to let somebody know?

"How long did you say Ziren lived here in your hospital, Doctor Habe?"  They still couldn't assume that this was a mere coincidence.  An evil necromancer so close to Sandpoint; and now they're being attacked by an undead murderer in the night?  Ziren had to know something.

Her heart rate picked up as the basement door was opened.  The doctor's reaction to seeing it open did not do much to help any.  "You must have been down in the basement before though, right?  Before the necromancer moved in?"  Liseth looked from the dark stairs back to the doctor.  "Anything you can tell us about what it looks like down there will help."  Now wasn't the time to mention how she felt about entering a dark basement supposedly packed with the undead.

"Let the goodness of our cause shine as a torch to light the way."  The blonde acolyte whispered before touching her hand to the back of Kellan's breastplate.  "We're right behind you Kellan.  Remember that zombies are easy to cut and...and skeletons are easy to break.  But other weapons don't affect them much."

Liseth jumped as Pisca shouted to wait, "Wait...what's going on?"  She had to admit that she never had much of a good look around the room.  "Wouldn't it have just been opened from the necromancer coming upstairs?  He probably just...just didn't expect to flee.  So didn't lock it back up."

"Right?"  She paused and looked at the doctor, "What might they have wanted out of your office?"

OOC: Cast Light on Kellan.
Pisca Neep Freemish
Gnome Archaeologist, 2750 posts
The Gnome!
And Her Imagination
Mon 7 Dec 2015
at 17:17
  • msg #226

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul

"Lysa," the gnome turned back.  Half way to the far side of the room she turned back and pointed to the Ex-open door.  "I was there.  I was standing right next to that door.  No.  I was mostly lying on the floor at the time.  But, I was there.  I was looking right at it, and the door was *not* open."

"I would remember if it had been open," she said with a typical overconfidence that might have been augmented somewhat by an irritation at the fact that her beloved pony was about to be eaten by an evil necromancer.  And she continued on to the office, unconvinced that the mess had been made by a struggle - unconvinced, in fact, that Erin Habe would have put up a struggle at all.

Same Perception checks apply.

AL: 4/9
L1: 4/5
L2: 1/3
Lore Master Used Today

Dr. Erin Habe
NPC, 3 posts
His business
is the mind
Mon 7 Dec 2015
at 17:58
  • msg #227

Re: Book 2, Chapter #1:  Murder Most Foul




Erin Habe looked as if he was completely out of his depth.  “I don’t . . .,” he said, watching Pisca head toward his office.  He looked to Kerr for support, but the paladin just shrugged with a what-are-you-gonna-do half-smile on his face that seemed to comfort the doctor to some extent.

“I don’t know exactly what he knew about Grayst,” Habe informed Liseth.  “I know that he was very interested when the guard brought Grayst here.  But whether that was because of Grayst’s condition or because he had some prior knowledge regarding the man, I can’t say.  He lived here for over a year,” the doctor forged on, “and yes, of course, I was down there before.  The stairs descend into one large room.  There are two smaller rooms off the main chamber, once directly across from the staircase,” he pointed directly ahead, “and one that is essentially next to it.”  He jostled the imaginary room with his right elbow.  “I do not know to what purposes he’s put any of them, though.”

“I have no idea what they might have wanted from my office.  I guess they might have gone through it after they tied me up, but they didn’t have much time . . . they were in a hurry.  Maybe they were looking for a patient file?"  He spread his hands, as if to demonstrate his lack of knowledge.  "I just don’t know.”




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