Vilus looks inside the cauldron and sees it is empty and thoroughly scoured clean, but it nevertheless gives off the same pungent smell as the chemical wraps on the prisoners. Whatever foul concoction it is, this is where it was brewed.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Keeping an eye on the continuation of the passage after Rana speaks of others that come and torment the prisoners, she heads over to the desk area where Rana pointed out where the key was located. She searches for it..
Investigation 15 (passive 12)
Once (if) she finds it, she hands it over to Rana to help the other prisoners escape. Helping those that let her and need it. Offering what water she has left. All the while keeping an eye and ear towards that passageway.
Speaking to whoever is closest to her, "We need to get these people out before whatever is down there comes back. Oh, Silas, put Razmus in one of these cages."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Feeling that the others are better equipped to deal with the locks, prisoners and strange writing and runes than he is, Joren is suddenly wary when Rana speaks of "others." He sees Ashley looking that way at one point and moves to stand guard at the far passageway, the one which Rana had indicated.
As unobtrusively as possible (so as not to startle the prisoners), he summons his echo to stand near him, just around one edge of the far passageway as he peers around the other edge. He uses both his 60' darkvision and 10' blindsight to keep watch in that direction.
Perception (at disadvantage due to exhaustion): 5 (Passive 13)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Noting the smaller drawer, Samir will move to investigate it specifically. He begins to reach to open it but pauses, considering the possibility of a trap. Crouching down to get a better look, he checks for anything out of the ordinary or threatening. If something is found he will see to disabling the trap or opening the lock if need be, so that he can get inside. If he does manage to find a key, he will gladly turn it over to Ashley.
At Ashley's suggestion, Silas hesitates and glances at the spindly bartender still limply hanging over his broad shoulders, he then glances to Joren and Marion with a degree of concern before looking back to Ashley "I can't do that.. not yet, sorry. There's something I need from him, and he likely won't survive it." Silas then readjusts Rasmus on his shoulder, moves to stand next to Joren and clears his throat.
'Silas' keeps his voice low as he speaks with Joren, "I saw the look in your eyes earlier, I've seen it before. you want to spare the others of dealing with gruesome tasks and you're willing to do the dirty work that needs doing when the time comes. Correct?"
Silas sighs as he continues, apparently not happy with the situation of needing to regard others safety and well-being, and the growing complexity now that the injured prisoners are in the mix.
"I'm right about this being something wrong... that sounded stupid, ummm... Let's say this, I need every ounce of weird stuff I can get my hands on if I'm going to figure out what is going on here, which includes the tattoo on this guy's chest... I was hoping to find a copy in the papers but no luck. So I'm going to take the original, and I'll need your help if you want that kept out of sight of the others.. I hope you understand what I'm asking."
It takes longer than it should for Joren to comprehend what Silas is asking of him. He grunts as his mind turns it over... and collides headlong with his imagination of the other party members' possible reactions. Ashley, bright and kind and full of joy as she is of fire. The clever, inquisitive and shy Samir, who would be horrified. Malachi, who had tried to resolve things peacefully with Razmus to the last. Perhaps most of all, Marion and her unimpeachable honor and faith in the Blue Lady, none of which Joren shares, to be sure. In fact the two had hardly spoken. And yet...
Joren shakes his head - at himself, not yet at Silas. He had seriously considered it for a moment. Flaying a living captive for the runes on his skin. Though Razmus surely has it coming if anyone does... and Silas may use it to save lives...
Part of him is aghast at himself. Something is going on here that is far deeper than my own understanding, and Silas is offering to understand it for us. But I... I cannot be losing myself in the process. For the first time in a long while, Joren thinks of his own mother and rubs his eyes furiously for a moment.
"I... I cannot be doing as you say. Moc se omlouvám. Certainly not without the others agreeing, which I do not think they will. Even though I know you are implying the need is being paramount. Protecting them, protecting everyone from this foulness, yes I am wishing! But not from the truth."
"In the cellar, I was thinking. For such a villain, certainly a clean death is not too cruel. One sweep of my greatsword. I am willing to look Razmus in the eyes while doing so. But even then, being only if the others are agreeing, which they may not. Only if so, after that, you may from the corpse be taking... what you are needing..."
Joren swallows, mouth dry, more confused than ever.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
With mention of a key Marion resists the urge to continue smashing the locks on the rest of the cages, at least for now anyway, rather leaving Samir a moment to find it and cause less commotion.
Instead she sheathes her sword and rests her shield on the ground before kneeling down in front of Rana. Reaching out towards the woman she offers her hand as she speaks gently, though loud enough that the other victims can also hear. "I am Marion, Knight-Errant of the Order of the Blue Rose and a humble servant of the Azure Queen above us all. You needn't fear any longer, my companions and I only wish to help. Would you allow me to examine your wounds?"
If Rana allows Marion to examine her - medicine (with inspiration): 17
"This is understandable, Although I doubt any would agree, It needs doing... I would do it myself but none of you have a reason to trust me yet and so I don't want to risk panic or bad reaction. At the same time, the quicker it is done the better, another option could be that i take it whilst he is unconscious and we have him healed before he wakes, this would necessarily involve others to witness though..." Silas sighs, this wasn't a conversation he wished to have, and he seems burdened by others nd still in spite of it he makes no move to leave them behind or forge on by himself. a part of him, though still not fully trusting, is comfortable to once again be a part of a team, working through issues together.
Once he finishes speaking he is silent for a moment or two, letting the choices sit on Joren's mind, not pushing for response. then he straightens up again. "I'll hold onto the man for now, If you help me persuade the group to let me do this, I'd appreciate it, and if I have to then do it alone, I will"
(Investigation 10) Crouched down, Samir looks over the drawer quickly for any obvious signs of a trap. Not seeing any wires or mechanism attached to the underside of the drawer, he steps to the side and carefully opens it a crack.
Nothing happens.
Relieved, Samir slowly opens the drawer the rest of the and lo, there in the middle sits a small iron key beside a quill and inkpot, and what appears to be a letter that has not yet been finished and sent off. Samir quickly reaches for the key, thankful that traps weren't something he had to add to the growing list of unpleasantness they have encountered thus far, but a nagging feeling bids him pause once more. He looks closely at the key and sees a thin silver filament looped over the key.
(Tinkers tools 14) With a long delicate driver from his tool collection, he carefully prods the thread. It doesn't appear to be under active tension, so if this is a trap, it is likely triggered by pulling the key, and the silver thread with it. Instead, Samir carefully slides the key out of the loop. Having done so, he sees that the thread feeds down through a small hole under the key, most likely to some mechanism hidden under the second false bottom he had seen that day. A fairly simple trick, but one that would have been too easy to miss had one not been looking for it.
With the key safely extricated, he holds it up as Ashley approaches. She takes it and returns to the prisoners where she tries it on the padlock of the dwarf's cage. The lock clicks open with ease and she offers a hand.
"If this IS another ruse," they say gruffly, "it is the most elaborate yet." They wave Ashley's hand aside, but not unkindly, as they shuffle toward the open cage door. "I think... you are doing us a kindness, but you shouldn't touch me. Not like... this," they say, indicating their yellowing chemical-infused wrappings with shame. Lean for a dwarf, and looking like they may have kept their face clean shaven at some point months ago, the now shaggy, disheveled dwarf lowers themselves down from their cage. They slump down and wearily accept the waterskin Ashley offers. "I'll catch my breath here. You can move on to the others, though I can't speak for their conditions Rana was the most recent taken, and I before her. That was months ago, and the others have been here for longer."
(Medicine 17 [Any further inquiries Marion makes to the conditions of the prisoners, including if anyone manages to get the wrappings off, will use this roll]) Meanwhile, Marion looks over Rana. She's gone mostly quiet now, eyes staring off and blinking slowly like she is putting all of her mental energy into processing the new situation. She nods to Marion and does not put up any resistance as she checks her condition. She is clearly dehydrated and malnourished, though not so much as to be immediately life-threatening. It seems Razmus made sure they all had just enough to survive. More pressingly to Marion, the wrappings are still bound tight. Marion reaches out tentatively toward one of the rune-marked fasteners, not sure if it is safe to touch, but Rana flinches away. "I wouldn't, if I were you," she says. It will hurt you if you touch it. Not seriously, but its enough to make removing them very difficult. Only Kairem over there," she gestures to the dwarf, "has been able to remove one since I arrived, and Jon just replaced it the next day. Didn't try again after that."
Rana then freezes and her eyes focus on something behind Marion. Joren sees it too, and Vilus feels it, as they conclude their conversation. Razmus has begun to stir.
Joren starts again and grimaces as the figure of Razmus begins to stir.
"This evil man is awakening. I am putting him down once more if no one minds. I, at least, am hearing all I need to from him and am not trusting his words. And he may be calling to his allies."
Giving a few seconds so that others can tell him to stop, using a slow backswing with the pommel of his greatsword, he brings it crashing down on Razmus' head, unless someone has asked him not to before that. (Attacking non-lethally).
Silas lifts a shoulder, adjusting 'Jon' into a more accessible position. He then moves his own head out of the way in order to make Joren's strike easier on the slumped figure and to not harm Silas himself, as some of the force is absorbed by his shoulder the goliath lets out an amused exhale, "that's one hell of an arm you've got there"he chuckles, somewhat out of place in the current situation.
As the two take their leave of their respective cages and let Marion and Ashley know about the staples, Ashley tries casting mage hand to see if there is a way for the spectral hand to remove the staples. Since she is closest to Kairem, she tries him first.
When she sees Rana freeze, she looks over her shoulder at what is going on. As Joren pummels him with the pommel, she retorts, "Is there any reason we are leaving that despicable man alive?"she shakes her head, but is also relieved when they knock him out before he has a chance to speak.
She then asks Kairem, "I understand that what has been done to you is unimaginable, do you know who I should unlock next? I am worried about the state these people are in, and I don't want to put you or Rana in any more danger."
As Ashley's magic touches upon the fastener, she sees it emit a spark and hears a sudden crack of electricity. Kairem flinches, but doesn't seem to have to have been harmed, and it appears to Ashley that her spell is a decent work-around. She pulls all four fasteners one by one, setting them on the ground to the side. Kairem quickly brushes the bandages off, relieved to be free of them. Underneath, the limbs are gnarled, shrunken, and pink, though not as bad as the rat-men had been.
Kairem rubs their arms, wincing. "Ah-ooh, that... doesn't feel great. I don't think any of the others are dangerous. At least to others. Well... Actually, I can't say. Such things affect people differently. But I don't know how far they are from themselves, and how long it will take for them to come back. You know?" Kairem seems to be getting their voice back. Far less gravelly with some lighter, softer tones sprinkled in. "I was strong, but I also haven't been here for as long. I don't know." They sigh, sounding very tired. To Joren and Vilus standing by the passage, they say, "We'll probably be fine. We'll at least hear them coming from a ways off. Jon usually sends one of his... victims... to send word, and it takes a day for them to arrive. But it doesn't hurt to be careful."
(Ashley and Marion make insight checks on Rana, DC 9)
When Razmus begins to stir, he moans weakly and tries to lift his head. His eyes are bloodshot and unfocussed, and a long strand of saliva hangs from his mouth.
With Marion turning to take note of Ashley's work with the fasteners, neither of them notice as Rana, still locked onto Razmus, begins breathing heavily. Her jaw flexes and her fingers twitch nervously as she is in full fight or flight mode. Moments after Joren knocks Razmus back into the void of unconsciousness, Rana breaks into a sprint across the room, grabbing the scalpel off the small table as she rushes straight at Vilus, Razmus, and Joren, screaming hoarsely. Vilus and Joren look up just in time to see her closing the last few feet of distance.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Samir removes the key from the drawer, and deftly disarms a potential trap while doing so, Malachi’s attention is drawn to the letter. He grabs the inkpot and quill for later, and takes a close look at the letter, trying to decipher the contents and the intended recipient. Perception: 13
He looks up at a flurry of activity as Ashley and Marion work to free the captives. There were so many, where did they all come from? Joren and Silas struggle briefly with the innkeeper, starting to stir again, before Joren knocks him out cold again. Malachi calls out “Perhaps we can place him in a cage, or secure him to the table with the restraints, give him a taste of his own medicine. He will fear what we do to him based on what he has done to the others on that very table. Very useful for getting answers.”
He turns in time to see one of the captives race toward Razmus, hate and fury in their eyes. “No, wait! We need something from him first! He will answer for his crimes, I promise you” Persuasion to stop Rana from attacking. 22.
Looking at the letter, the language Malachi sees is still totally alien to him. He might be able to decipher it with a little bit of magical aid, but short of that he doesn’t even know where to begin.
When he calls out to Rana, she doesn’t even seem to register his voice, so absorbed she is in her charge. (It would take a persuasion of 18 or higher to divert her in this instant.)
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Vilus looks inside the cauldron and sees it is empty and thoroughly scoured clean, but it nevertheless gives off the same pungent smell as the chemical wraps on the prisoners. Whatever foul concoction it is, this is where it was brewed.
(Is Razmus still draped over his shoulder?)
Keeping an eye on the continuation of the passage after Rana speaks of others that come and torment the prisoners, she heads over to the desk area where Rana pointed out where the key was located. She searches for it..
Investigation 15 (passive 12)
Once (if) she finds it, she hands it over to Rana to help the other prisoners escape. Helping those that let her and need it. Offering what water she has left. All the while keeping an eye and ear towards that passageway.
Speaking to whoever is closest to her, "We need to get these people out before whatever is down there comes back. Oh, Silas, put Razmus in one of these cages."
Feeling that the others are better equipped to deal with the locks, prisoners and strange writing and runes than he is, Joren is suddenly wary when Rana speaks of "others." He sees Ashley looking that way at one point and moves to stand guard at the far passageway, the one which Rana had indicated.
As unobtrusively as possible (so as not to startle the prisoners), he summons his echo to stand near him, just around one edge of the far passageway as he peers around the other edge. He uses both his 60' darkvision and 10' blindsight to keep watch in that direction.
Perception (at disadvantage due to exhaustion): 5
(Passive 13)
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Noting the smaller drawer, Samir will move to investigate it specifically. He begins to reach to open it but pauses, considering the possibility of a trap. Crouching down to get a better look, he checks for anything out of the ordinary or threatening. If something is found he will see to disabling the trap or opening the lock if need be, so that he can get inside. If he does manage to find a key, he will gladly turn it over to Ashley.
Investigation: 7
Thieves or Tinker Tools: 16
At Ashley's suggestion, Silas hesitates and glances at the spindly bartender still limply hanging over his broad shoulders, he then glances to Joren and Marion with a degree of concern before looking back to Ashley "I can't do that.. not yet, sorry. There's something I need from him, and he likely won't survive it." Silas then readjusts Rasmus on his shoulder, moves to stand next to Joren and clears his throat.
Joren gives a slight start when he notices Silas standing next to him.
A fine sentry, I am making truly. This exhaustion is... hovno.
He nods at the goliath turned minotaur turned goliath and looks at him questioningly, peering to confirm once again that Razmus is still unconscious.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
'Silas' keeps his voice low as he speaks with Joren, "I saw the look in your eyes earlier, I've seen it before. you want to spare the others of dealing with gruesome tasks and you're willing to do the dirty work that needs doing when the time comes. Correct?"
Silas sighs as he continues, apparently not happy with the situation of needing to regard others safety and well-being, and the growing complexity now that the injured prisoners are in the mix.
"I'm right about this being something wrong... that sounded stupid, ummm... Let's say this, I need every ounce of weird stuff I can get my hands on if I'm going to figure out what is going on here, which includes the tattoo on this guy's chest... I was hoping to find a copy in the papers but no luck. So I'm going to take the original, and I'll need your help if you want that kept out of sight of the others.. I hope you understand what I'm asking."
It takes longer than it should for Joren to comprehend what Silas is asking of him. He grunts as his mind turns it over... and collides headlong with his imagination of the other party members' possible reactions. Ashley, bright and kind and full of joy as she is of fire. The clever, inquisitive and shy Samir, who would be horrified. Malachi, who had tried to resolve things peacefully with Razmus to the last. Perhaps most of all, Marion and her unimpeachable honor and faith in the Blue Lady, none of which Joren shares, to be sure. In fact the two had hardly spoken. And yet...
Joren shakes his head - at himself, not yet at Silas. He had seriously considered it for a moment. Flaying a living captive for the runes on his skin. Though Razmus surely has it coming if anyone does... and Silas may use it to save lives...
Part of him is aghast at himself. Something is going on here that is far deeper than my own understanding, and Silas is offering to understand it for us. But I... I cannot be losing myself in the process. For the first time in a long while, Joren thinks of his own mother and rubs his eyes furiously for a moment.
"I... I cannot be doing as you say. Moc se omlouvám. Certainly not without the others agreeing, which I do not think they will. Even though I know you are implying the need is being paramount. Protecting them, protecting everyone from this foulness, yes I am wishing! But not from the truth."
"In the cellar, I was thinking. For such a villain, certainly a clean death is not too cruel. One sweep of my greatsword. I am willing to look Razmus in the eyes while doing so. But even then, being only if the others are agreeing, which they may not. Only if so, after that, you may from the corpse be taking... what you are needing..."
Joren swallows, mouth dry, more confused than ever.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
With mention of a key Marion resists the urge to continue smashing the locks on the rest of the cages, at least for now anyway, rather leaving Samir a moment to find it and cause less commotion.
Instead she sheathes her sword and rests her shield on the ground before kneeling down in front of Rana. Reaching out towards the woman she offers her hand as she speaks gently, though loud enough that the other victims can also hear. "I am Marion, Knight-Errant of the Order of the Blue Rose and a humble servant of the Azure Queen above us all. You needn't fear any longer, my companions and I only wish to help. Would you allow me to examine your wounds?"
If Rana allows Marion to examine her - medicine (with inspiration): 17
"This is understandable, Although I doubt any would agree, It needs doing... I would do it myself but none of you have a reason to trust me yet and so I don't want to risk panic or bad reaction. At the same time, the quicker it is done the better, another option could be that i take it whilst he is unconscious and we have him healed before he wakes, this would necessarily involve others to witness though..." Silas sighs, this wasn't a conversation he wished to have, and he seems burdened by others nd still in spite of it he makes no move to leave them behind or forge on by himself. a part of him, though still not fully trusting, is comfortable to once again be a part of a team, working through issues together.
Once he finishes speaking he is silent for a moment or two, letting the choices sit on Joren's mind, not pushing for response. then he straightens up again. "I'll hold onto the man for now, If you help me persuade the group to let me do this, I'd appreciate it, and if I have to then do it alone, I will"
(Investigation 10) Crouched down, Samir looks over the drawer quickly for any obvious signs of a trap. Not seeing any wires or mechanism attached to the underside of the drawer, he steps to the side and carefully opens it a crack.
Nothing happens.
Relieved, Samir slowly opens the drawer the rest of the and lo, there in the middle sits a small iron key beside a quill and inkpot, and what appears to be a letter that has not yet been finished and sent off. Samir quickly reaches for the key, thankful that traps weren't something he had to add to the growing list of unpleasantness they have encountered thus far, but a nagging feeling bids him pause once more. He looks closely at the key and sees a thin silver filament looped over the key.
(Tinkers tools 14) With a long delicate driver from his tool collection, he carefully prods the thread. It doesn't appear to be under active tension, so if this is a trap, it is likely triggered by pulling the key, and the silver thread with it. Instead, Samir carefully slides the key out of the loop. Having done so, he sees that the thread feeds down through a small hole under the key, most likely to some mechanism hidden under the second false bottom he had seen that day. A fairly simple trick, but one that would have been too easy to miss had one not been looking for it.
With the key safely extricated, he holds it up as Ashley approaches. She takes it and returns to the prisoners where she tries it on the padlock of the dwarf's cage. The lock clicks open with ease and she offers a hand.
"If this IS another ruse," they say gruffly, "it is the most elaborate yet." They wave Ashley's hand aside, but not unkindly, as they shuffle toward the open cage door. "I think... you are doing us a kindness, but you shouldn't touch me. Not like... this," they say, indicating their yellowing chemical-infused wrappings with shame. Lean for a dwarf, and looking like they may have kept their face clean shaven at some point months ago, the now shaggy, disheveled dwarf lowers themselves down from their cage. They slump down and wearily accept the waterskin Ashley offers. "I'll catch my breath here. You can move on to the others, though I can't speak for their conditions Rana was the most recent taken, and I before her. That was months ago, and the others have been here for longer."
(Medicine 17 [Any further inquiries Marion makes to the conditions of the prisoners, including if anyone manages to get the wrappings off, will use this roll]) Meanwhile, Marion looks over Rana. She's gone mostly quiet now, eyes staring off and blinking slowly like she is putting all of her mental energy into processing the new situation. She nods to Marion and does not put up any resistance as she checks her condition. She is clearly dehydrated and malnourished, though not so much as to be immediately life-threatening. It seems Razmus made sure they all had just enough to survive. More pressingly to Marion, the wrappings are still bound tight. Marion reaches out tentatively toward one of the rune-marked fasteners, not sure if it is safe to touch, but Rana flinches away. "I wouldn't, if I were you," she says. It will hurt you if you touch it. Not seriously, but its enough to make removing them very difficult. Only Kairem over there," she gestures to the dwarf, "has been able to remove one since I arrived, and Jon just replaced it the next day. Didn't try again after that."
Rana then freezes and her eyes focus on something behind Marion. Joren sees it too, and Vilus feels it, as they conclude their conversation. Razmus has begun to stir.
Joren starts again and grimaces as the figure of Razmus begins to stir.
"This evil man is awakening. I am putting him down once more if no one minds. I, at least, am hearing all I need to from him and am not trusting his words. And he may be calling to his allies."
Giving a few seconds so that others can tell him to stop, using a slow backswing with the pommel of his greatsword, he brings it crashing down on Razmus' head, unless someone has asked him not to before that. (Attacking non-lethally).
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
As the two take their leave of their respective cages and let Marion and Ashley know about the staples, Ashley tries casting mage hand to see if there is a way for the spectral hand to remove the staples. Since she is closest to Kairem, she tries him first.
When she sees Rana freeze, she looks over her shoulder at what is going on. As Joren pummels him with the pommel, she retorts, "Is there any reason we are leaving that despicable man alive?" she shakes her head, but is also relieved when they knock him out before he has a chance to speak.
She then asks Kairem, "I understand that what has been done to you is unimaginable, do you know who I should unlock next? I am worried about the state these people are in, and I don't want to put you or Rana in any more danger."
As Ashley's magic touches upon the fastener, she sees it emit a spark and hears a sudden crack of electricity. Kairem flinches, but doesn't seem to have to have been harmed, and it appears to Ashley that her spell is a decent work-around. She pulls all four fasteners one by one, setting them on the ground to the side. Kairem quickly brushes the bandages off, relieved to be free of them. Underneath, the limbs are gnarled, shrunken, and pink, though not as bad as the rat-men had been.
Kairem rubs their arms, wincing. "Ah-ooh, that... doesn't feel great. I don't think any of the others are dangerous. At least to others. Well... Actually, I can't say. Such things affect people differently. But I don't know how far they are from themselves, and how long it will take for them to come back. You know?" Kairem seems to be getting their voice back. Far less gravelly with some lighter, softer tones sprinkled in. "I was strong, but I also haven't been here for as long. I don't know." They sigh, sounding very tired. To Joren and Vilus standing by the passage, they say, "We'll probably be fine. We'll at least hear them coming from a ways off. Jon usually sends one of his... victims... to send word, and it takes a day for them to arrive. But it doesn't hurt to be careful."
(Ashley and Marion make insight checks on Rana, DC 9)
Oh man... Insight 9 (passive 12)
insight: 15
When Razmus begins to stir, he moans weakly and tries to lift his head. His eyes are bloodshot and unfocussed, and a long strand of saliva hangs from his mouth.
With Marion turning to take note of Ashley's work with the fasteners, neither of them notice as Rana, still locked onto Razmus, begins breathing heavily. Her jaw flexes and her fingers twitch nervously as she is in full fight or flight mode. Moments after Joren knocks Razmus back into the void of unconsciousness, Rana breaks into a sprint across the room, grabbing the scalpel off the small table as she rushes straight at Vilus, Razmus, and Joren, screaming hoarsely. Vilus and Joren look up just in time to see her closing the last few feet of distance.
As Samir removes the key from the drawer, and deftly disarms a potential trap while doing so, Malachi’s attention is drawn to the letter. He grabs the inkpot and quill for later, and takes a close look at the letter, trying to decipher the contents and the intended recipient. Perception: 13
He looks up at a flurry of activity as Ashley and Marion work to free the captives. There were so many, where did they all come from? Joren and Silas struggle briefly with the innkeeper, starting to stir again, before Joren knocks him out cold again. Malachi calls out “Perhaps we can place him in a cage, or secure him to the table with the restraints, give him a taste of his own medicine. He will fear what we do to him based on what he has done to the others on that very table. Very useful for getting answers.”
He turns in time to see one of the captives race toward Razmus, hate and fury in their eyes. “No, wait! We need something from him first! He will answer for his crimes, I promise you” Persuasion to stop Rana from attacking. 22.
Looking at the letter, the language Malachi sees is still totally alien to him. He might be able to decipher it with a little bit of magical aid, but short of that he doesn’t even know where to begin.
When he calls out to Rana, she doesn’t even seem to register his voice, so absorbed she is in her charge. (It would take a persuasion of 18 or higher to divert her in this instant.)