Hmmn.  Vecna symbol on the door.  Bodies preserved against turning.  This little figure hiding near the bodies... Well, bollocks.  Let's see how lucky I am today.

Rattinger slings his bow back over his back and raises his hands high with palms out to show he is unarmed.  Slowly, he will work his way to the left, away from the rest of the group and around the room.  His goal is to get a look behind the cover and see exactly what is hiding from them.  He is making no attempt to be stealthy, in fact he wants to show how vulnerable and non-threatening he is.  Hopefully he can stay within the light either of his torch or of Arthos' light spell.  If not, and he needs to cross into shadow to see the mysterious figure... so be it.

To see the figure (if possible):  Perception 22

To appear non-threatening: Persuasion   15      (with advantage?  Since Rattinger is a scrawny old man and probably doesn't look that threatening to begin with?) 12

As Rattinger moves forward Thordilgon thinks to himself 'This fool, stay back so you don't get yourself killed.' and he will start to adjust his cannon to be ready to attack when and if it's needed.

Arthos will maneuver the mage hand holding the lightened stone as well as possible to try to keep Rattinger within its light. 

Moving forward Rattinger catches the figures attention and they remain still looking with lamp like eyes at the old rogue. Closer now with the figure remaining still Rattinger can see it's a halfling man who looks like he's been hiding for days in filth! Pausing to look at Rattinger the man seems expectant but also searching for an easy escape if needed from the party.

Rattinger gives a knowing glance to the others, then slowly drops to one knee, not trying to get any closer than he already is.  In a quiet but firm voice, “We are from the church and we are here to help.  I can see you’ve been through a nightmare here.  Please… let us help you, young halfling.”

"I'm...an alchemist," the halfling man says in a shaking voice, "are...who are you? Have you come to help us," he asks looking over the party his eyes lingering on Longshadow and Loa nervously.

"Yes," Longshadow answers without hesitation, "your name master alchemist," the ask curiously.

"Sebastian Tumbleson," halfling replies with noticeable less aniexty.

"Highhammer? Where's the high priest," Longshadow asks stepping forward covering Rattinger's kneeling form as Sebastian comes out from his hiding place.

"There...." Sebastian points to the closed door that's been barricaded within the temple! "I...I had to lock him in," the halfling says nervously..."he is unwell," he adds worrying the tattered hem of his once white robes.

“Is there anyone else in there with him?” Loa surveyed  the room, and the door in particular to see if there was any immediate threat. Perception: 4

Seeing nothing immediately, Loa moves over to stand near the door. 

Gareth:

Moving over to the door as well, Gareth asks, "Unwell how, good halfling?" with an uneasy glance towards Longshadow given the comments the man had mentioned regarding his divine senses.

Thordilgon adjusts his cannon to fire at the doorway if it opens and something bad comes out.

"That's the source of undead I sensed...," Longshadow replies with a frown and a deep frown.

"Yes, there's been a sickness...after a group of traders came to town a week ago and then perished. Their sickness spread...the villagers they started attacking one another," Sebastian explains. "Some of us managed to barricade inside the temple...but then the it began to spread here too," he gestures at the shrouded figures. "I...I...am the last survivor," he adds solemnly.

'Great undead, skickness, random rage, this is the type of stuff I would rather not deal with.'  Thordilgon thinks to himself as he is pulling on his short beard.  he then looks to Sebastian "Last survivor, should we be worried about you too?"

I'd like to make an insight check on Sebastian.  I want to know if Thordilgon can trust what he is saying.  18

Does the illness Sebastian is describing correspond to anything Rattinger has ever encountered?  Medicine 23

Rattinger will rummage in his pack and pull out a ration.  "I can't imagine what you must have gone through.  Having the foresight to perform funerary rites on these poor souls is admirable.  Here, it isn't much but I'm sure you must be quite hungry."  He passes the ration to Sebastian.

The he rises and joins the rest who are taking defensive/observation positions around the blocked doorway.

Rattinger only:

Thordilgon only:

Loa waits by the doorway, listening for any signs of life from the other side. While he keeps one ear open to the conversation being had, he feels it is better to leave the situation to Rattinger, who seems to be building a rapport with the halfling. (Perception: 12)

"Gentlemen... from what Sebastian describes and from what I can see of the bodies... this reminds me of something.  Many years ago there was an illness that struck an isolated town.  "The burning plague," it was called.  No cause was ever determined but it was suspected to have magical origins.  In that incident, the plague killed anyone who did not flee the town.  The illness seemed tied to the place, rather than to traditional plague vectors like rats."

Thinking about this some more... "I don't recall if traditional medicines or healing magics offered protection.  But if this is the same illness... and any of us... show signs of infection... flight from the area may be our only cure.  Though even that is at best a guess on my part."

"I don't trust him, there is something up with his story.  He is the only one to survive? Really." Thordilgon motions his hands to show all the dead bodies.  He does not care if Sebastian hears him or not.

“Rattinger, are we in danger of contracting this disease by being here in this place?”

"Arthos, I... I simply can't say.  I'm no healer and to my knowledge this has only happened once before.  If academics or scholars ever determined the cause and risks of the spread of this, I never heard about it.  I do think it is something we will be forced to keep in mind.  And if anyone begins feeling ill effects... by Pelor don't keep it to yourself!  Advise the group and we can decide together how to proceed."

Rattinger thinks at Thordilgon's words.  Sebastian had not raised any red flags, but the artificer has a point... the 'burning plague' was supposed to kill everyone. or so the stories claimed.

“Most unsettling. Perhaps we should check on the High Priest?” Arthos glances at the door and his mage hand moves to illuminate the area around the door. 

"I'm an alchemist. My inventions prevent me from catching the illness but no one else would risk my methods," Sebastian explains looking morose. "Yes I did not come by my cure without sacrifice," the halfling adds glaring at Thordilgon. "Good luck with the priest. I want you he's too far gone," Sebastian adds moving away for the door with all speed. "You came through the village, yes? Is it clear," he asks next looking at the party.

"Yes," Longshadow replies with a frown. "You truly are the only survivor we've met but night is upon us master Tumbleson. Shouldn't you remain with us," they aka as Sebastian shakes his head of matted curls.

"No, I'll take my chances in the dark if you're opening that door," Sebastian says looking horrified continuing to move towards the front door.