The Hospice of the Blessed Maiden was once a warehouse in the West Docks owned by the Arkona family through their charter company, Arkona Imports, but was sold about four months ago. Nothing about the sale was strange, Arkona owned dozens of similar warehouses and property on the docks was sold or leased all the time as part of standard business practices.

For a month it stood empty as it was slowly remolded and again as far as the locals are concerned there was nothing strange about it. It wasn't until it reopened as the Hospice of the Blessed Maiden a month ago that the locals took notice of it. The poor and working class of the West Docks were thankful for a place of healing so close to their homes although it did rely entirely on traditional medicines instead of divine healing magic as there were no clerics working for the Hospice and as such its effectiveness was more as a place where the sick could die in peace. A few weeks after it opened up the Blood Veil plague started spreading and the Queen's Physicians established their base of operations there. The sick that could not afford healing at the temples were channeled here so the physicians could study the disease and try and find a mundane cure for it. So far while the Physicians have claimed they are getting close, no cure has been discovered and those that enter the Hospice's doors rarely ever leave.

A few survivors are found and from their accounts it seems perfectly legitimate. The sick are kept in the large open warehouse while the physicians have set aside the offices for individual patient study and research. The survivors that the party can find never left that main central room but they do talk about how the physicians would select some of the sick to be taken to the back rooms for further study. None of the survivors recall anyone ever coming back but they admit that there was an extreme amount of turnover and with their own illness they weren't paying particular attention. Anyone sent to the Hospice was severely ill and without a cure the death rate was quite high. The nurses were always clearing out dead bodies and there was always more sick waiting to take their place.

The building is not a military compound and while there is some security it is easy enough for a stealthy operator like Kraw to climb the walls and peer through windows. Combined with interviews with people who had stayed there as well groups that have supplied food and supplies to the building the group has a good idea of the overall layout and security of the building.

1. Entry - A waiting room where those sick with blood veil can wait until a bed opens up. Entry to the Hospice is guarded by a burly nurse named Bhrunlida Torthus. By the survivor accounts she is completely devoid of any kind of compassion for the sick and has zero bedside manner. In fact they think she hates working with anyone who is ill and takes extreme precautions to avoid any contact with victims of the plague. She runs the Hospice entry with an iron fist and turns away family members and well wishers with cold efficiency. If the group plans on getting into the hospice they will likely have to find a way to bypass or bluff their way past Bhrunlida.
   
   
2. Sick Ward - A large open area in the central warehouse with about 60 cots for the sick to lie on and die. The northeast area has been turned into a makeshift kitchen so the Hospice can serve a watery gruel to the patients who can even still swallow. Typically there are about four Queen's Physicians moving about the area, studying patients and a half dozen civilian nurses who as far as the group can tell are volunteers from the area.
   
   
3. Loading Bay - This used to be where cargo was loaded in and out of the warehouse but now is unused. Nobody has seen the Physicians or nurses use this room for anything and the three large loading bay doors are locked and chained shut from the inside (DC 30 strength check to force open from the outside).
   
   
4. Lift & Stairs Up - When this was still a warehouse it was used to bring cargo up to the catwalks above. Now it is used heavily by the Queen's Physicians as they seem to not take the 3-story stairs very often to the upper offices. They also use this as a way to transport patients who are often too weak to climb the stairs. Access to the lift and stairs are guarded by a pair of Grey Maidens at all times.
   
   
5. Catwalks - Used by the warehouse to allow workers access to high storage, now it is patrolled by a pair of Grey Maidens armed with crossbows in case any of the patients get unruly or anyone forces their way past the entry way without permission. The catwalks are 20' above the warehouse floor.
   
   
6. Private Hall - Originally used as the entryway to the clerks and managers office, now it serves as a guard room with another pair of Grey Maidens.
   
   
7. Experimentation Ward - Three Queen's Physicians work here on patients in an attempt to find the cure. Originally it was a communal room for clerks to process the books but about a dozen or so cots were brought up here and patients are brought up for "additional research" although so far none have ever survived their treatment so the exact nature of their experiments and research is unknown.
   
   
8. Doctor's Office - Originally the manager's office, Doctor Davaulus has taken it over as his personal office. The windows have been covered in heavy curtains so the exact details of his office are unknown.

In terms of infiltration and disguise there is a potential opportunity. The Queen's Physicians rarely travel alone, typically they move around in groups of 3 or 4 and so it might be possible for the group disguised as Queen's Physicians to move straight through the entryway and sick ward and go straight to the lift and stairs without having to say a word to anyone. Survivors have mentioned seeing other groups of physicians do the exact same thing. However presumably such a group is moving about on specific business and once on the upper level the party's intelligence is almost nonexistent.

In addition after observation and interviews the party lands upon a very interesting question: where do the queen's physicians sleep and eat? There are about a dozen queen's physicians in total based upon when they first arrived with Doctor Davaulus and at any given time about half of them are present in either the sick wards or the research room above so where are the others? There are no signs of them staying in local inns or temples and nobody who has survived their stay at the hospice talks about a physician removing their mask to eat or drink. Either one of the upper rooms has been turned into some kind of sleeping quarters for the physicians or there is more to the warehouse than the "official" blueprints or the queen's physicians somehow have no need for mundane requirements like food or rest.

Of one final note the group was able to shadow a group of Physicians as they went out to collect a few dying citizens from the ditches of the city and the party was able to subtely scan them for magical auras.

On the Queen's Physicians, everyone had a single aura of faint Conjuration.

On their Grey Maiden escorts there was no magical auras detected.

Finally Figus after watching the Queen's Physicians move and work discovers that while they are completely silent they seem to communicate to one another through subtle hand signals. He recognizes it because the dark elves of the Darklands would use hand signals to coordinate ambushes in perfect silence. Unfortunately Figus is not famiilar with these specific signals and he would note there is no universal signal language. Each city or house of dark elves might develop their own set of signals and it is entirely possible any other race or organization could develop their own set of signals.

Not knowing the signals would be a dead giveaway if the group tried to disguise themselves as physicians.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:54, Tue 23 Nov 2021.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 1):

Ayeesha waits patiently by the back loading dock door.

"Are you up for this Kraw?" Kyra asks Kraw before they start, ready to cast her spell on him before he heads for the hospice. If the front doors are closed, she plans on opening them for him and distracting the nurse as he slips inside.

Alright, so the plan is for Kraw to scout out the place, maybe lower a rope for us from upstairs (assuming there are windows up there and that he can open one without drawing attention) or open the back doors instead (assuming it would be easier to open it from the inside). But even if he can't do either, he might at least gather info for us, so that if we need to bust down the front door, we at least have a reason for that. Sounds good?

Kyra will cast the Witness spell on Kraw before he goes in (I'll load it in my open slot), and he has one potion of Invisibility. Before we start we could also invest in another potion of Invisibility (it only has 3 minute duration, not sure one will be enough) and a Scent Blocker (unless Figus can cast his spell instead?). I think we should do so, and Kyra can provide funds for both, but it's up to do DM if we can find those and how long that would take.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:00, Sun 12 Dec 2021.

Kraw nods. "I'm ready, but the short duration of the Potion means no detailed searches. But I hope I can gather sufficient cause for us to force our way in, if needed."

OOC: Let's buy that extra potion, if possible. Maybe it won't be needed, but better safe than sorry. Kyra can cover the 300 gp. And a Scent Blocker too, unless Figus has a ready spell, for 80 gp. Money is not a problem for Kyra. DM, how long would it take to get these?

Figus will prepare and cast the Negate Aroma spell on Kraw. It will last for 6 hours.

Alright, so Kyra buys another potion of invisibility for Kraw, we cast our spells on him and he goes scouting. Possibly we provide a distraction for him to slip inside. So we are splitting the party - what's the worst thing that could happen?

How much would 2 smoke bombs set me back? The ability to draw off guards might be useful if I need to get into a secure area.

That was assuming you guys had snuck through the place, peered in all the windows etc.

The doors to the upper area are physically closed with guards standing on either side so no amount of invisibility is going to around that. Same with the elevator: it's a physical operation with guards standing right next to it.

All the easy scouting is done in that write up.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 9):

I would not mind just going in the front door and ask to see Mirukova.

We can see what shakes loose with a inquiry into his well being.

Maybe we get lucky and ferret out more information that leads to our next course of action.

Then again, if we are still stymied, we can weigh our options.

The stinging scent of alcohol and medicine floods this dingy reception room, an odor typical to hospices, morgues, and battlefields. Across from the entrance sits a long wooden desk, beyond which a stained leather curtain covers an open archway, muffling moans from beyond.

Nurse Torthus sits behind the desk making notes in a leather bound book next to her. Her eyes cast up as Ayeesha walks in and her eyes narrow. She is wearing multiple layers of scarves across her nose and mouth, presumably to avoid catching the plague from those sick in the room.

"I'm sorry but we're at capacity right now. You'll need to come back some other time when a bed frees up."

To punctuate her point she jabs a finger at the row of chairs along the wall where a half dozen sick and sullen looking citizens are slumped in their chairs. They seem to be trying to avoid the attention of the stern nurse, the only noise they make is the occasional cough. When one of them has a more severe coughing fit the nurse reaches up to tighten the scarves across her neck.

"If you'd like I can add your name to the list to secure your place."

She closes the one book and pulls out another one, this one full of lined pages with names and dates scrawled into them.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 11):


Playing it cool initially Ayeesha starts with,

"Actually I am here to see Ruan Mirukova; can you tell me where to find him?"

OCC: Anyone else joining Ayeesha in the reception room? 

"That's right, we have reasons to believe he may have been brought here." Kyra backs up Ayeesha.

Sure, why not? I don't think we actually have a reason to believe he was brought here, but it's certainly possible. And Kyra is a good liar.

Anyway, does Kraw wish to try more recon or do we just play this and see where it goes?
This message was last edited by the player at 12:41, Sun 26 Dec 2021.

Without even looking at the book the nurse starts shaking her head.

"No, nobody by that name has been admitted."

She has an air of confidence about her acting as if she had the entire dozens upon dozens of pages likely containing several hundred names intimately memorized and she couldn't possibly be wrong.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 14):

Ayeesha eyes her discerningly.

Sense motive

16:51, Today: Ayeesha rolled 15 using 1d20 with rolls of 15.  Sense Motive untrained.

"We have a witness that has stated she saw him being escorted by a Grey Maiden and a Queens Physician." 

The nurse gives a shrug.

"Anyone who was admitted is registered in this book. Sometimes people are too delirious to identify themselves and they get registered as unknown until they are well enough to tell us who they are..."

She takes the intake log and flips back a few pages and then points out someone who was admitted a few days ago but just marked as "Unknown male."

The timeframe works out but it is hardly definitive evidence that Ruan was here. As for the Nurse, Ayeesha can tell the Nurse is trying to get rid of her but as far as she can tell the Nurse isn't lying.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 16):

"Well then please escort me to this unknown male so we can identify him and take him to the Bank of Abadar to be healed."

Diplomacy check to persuade nurse.

18:37, Today: Ayeesha rolled 7 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 6.  Diplomacy to persuade nurse +1.

The nurse take great umbrage about being ordered around in her waiting room. She starts to straighten up but the scarf around her neck starts coming loose and she scrambles to fix it to her face for fear of being even slightly exposed to blood veil.

"Now listen here. I don't know who you think you are but this is a place of healing. The doctors cannot have some barbarian woman storming around disrupting their research. You do realize that they are the last hope for this city so if you would please wait, your friend will be released when he is cured."

The woman huffs out at the barbarian looming over her. Despite the physical size difference of the two of them she seemed to be made of quite stern stuff. Perhaps seeing death on a daily basis had hardened her resolve.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 18):

Ayeesha glares at the nurse and responds with a steely voice edged in pent up violence as she reasons with the gate keeper

"Now listen, whats your name? Iam here to help by freeing up a bed,  magical healing is guaranteed by the Bank of Abadar or your money back.  I think you just need to be more open minded and let me help you.  Iam sure Doctor Davalus or one of his assistance would agree, so why dont you go get someone with some authority to see that the right thing is done?"

Ayeesha leans in menacingly with corded muscles ready to spring!

Intimidate attempt to get the nurse to bring a Queens Physician.

17:50, Today: Ayeesha rolled 32 using 1d20+15 with rolls of 17.  Intimidate Nurse +15.

The nurse seems genuinely surprised at being talked back to and her iron will melts beneath Ayeesha's smoldering fury.

"I..I cannot leave the front desk but you are welcome to speak to the Doctors in the back."

She gets up and opens the door that leads to the main warehouse floor and the rows upon rows of the sick and dying. The Gray Maidens up on the catwalk shift as the party enters but seeing the nurse opening the door they make no move to stop them. A few volunteers move among the rows bringing blankets or buckets of water for the sick but otherwise it is quiet. The stench upon the air is revolting, the smell of unwashed body odor mingling with various body fluids and the unmistakable stench of death.

The nurse points them towards the Gray Maiden's guarding the back room stairs and elevator (Room 4) before shuffling back to her desk and making a note in her logs about the "visitors."

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 20):

"One more thing, which bed is the unknown patient in?"

If she states a location Ayeesha will proceed to it. If not she will walk in like she owns the place and start looking for a patient that matches Mirukova's description.

Kyra follows after Ayeesha, trying to look like she's supposed to be here.

Will Kraw join us openly, or maybe follow invisibly? Just realized we have not seen Figus for a while now.

The nurse taps the book and shows Ayeesha the column where there is no bed listed.

"If there isn't a bed that means he was taken straight to the back."

She nods towards the guards at the back of the main floor where two Grey Maidens guard the doors that lead to the elevator and staircase.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 23):

Ayeesha proceeds straight to the back.  She intends to go upstairs and see whats what.

Kyra follows after, trying to keep Ayeesha between herself and the guards. She's starting to get a little worried about all this.

And I again forgot to cast Mage Armor. DM, could Kyra do that before she got inside? Casting it now could be a bad idea.