Amandil relaxed slightly once the monster stopped moving. "Never seen anything like it. Be a good story to tell, though." He walked over to where Van was examining the figure in. "I"m not touching that, but..." He gestured as he spoke the incantation for Mage Hand and used the hand to pick it up. "... it's too important to just leave lying around. If it self-triggered, it might do so again. We'll take it back with us - let the mages worry about that."

He looked around. "Let's take a break now to bind up those wounds."  

Edit: Endaelin looks at the figurine and shrugs. "Don't know. Must have been confiscated and awaiting processing. That's Kegan's desk, he's off duty, probably still sleeping. Can show you to his house if you want, its about a 10 minute walk."

The older guardian breaks from paralysis with a slump, breathing rapidly. It seems he was aware of what happened, already collecting himself and muttering to Endaelin. They do not hide what they say- he only affirms that they will cooperate with you, though he says that the estate guard should still be notified of the incident when the adventurers are ready for it. With your leave, Endaelin will go to bandage himself up downstairs, while Khorie, the older defender, takes a chair in the room to drink some water. He stares for a long moment at the splattered remains of one of the creature's victims, eyes red as he holds back tears, before he turns his chair around, letting out a few restrained sobs.

Van says to Amandil "Before we stow that away I'd like to try to learn more about it" He'll cast identify on the figurine. Then while everyone is patching themselves up he'll say to the party "It seems our presence triggered the time to resume in this place. It seems logical that may continue with other places we go to, or if we find a place where time is running as it should there may be someone else there already. I think traveling to the estate guard would be a good next move. Perhaps we can learn more there about others who may be here."

Turning to Khorie "I hope you are OK. Can you tell us anything about what happened here? Endaelin mentioned that the figurine must have been awaiting processing. Where are these items you confiscate coming from?"

This is a Wondrous Figurine of Power, Orthus. Orthus is two-headed guard dog, a lesser relation to the mythical Cerberus. One head is able to paralyze creatures it is close to and drain their memories, the other can stun groups of enemies in a cone in front of it with a howl. The first head is intelligent, capable of speech, the other feral, with heightened senses and a vicious bite. It can be used for up to 8 hours, then cannot be used again for 7 days. It is ready to be used now, and you know the command. 'Come, Orthus'. The creature you encountered seems a twisted nightmarish version of what the figurine summons, though what caused it remains a mystery. The item is not cursed.

Khorie turns to Van when he addresses him, staying seated. "I'll be okay, its just that I didn't expect anything like this would ever happen here. Things like that figurine come and go often- usually they find a new home faster than we can finish processing it- they get auctioned most of the time. Some folks play with those things like toys. The former owner is probably sitting overnight in a cell down in the basement. Endaelin and I are the second night shift and don't handle that most of the time, but that business takes up a lot of the other's time."

ooc: Song of Rest while we're taking the short rest, in case anyone needs to roll some hit dice. It doesn't really require a check but I'll go ahead and roll anyway for lolz. Performance: 16

While Van was casting, Amandil took his lute and played a comforting melody, to soothe nerves and help them in recovery. 

Van informs the party of what he discovered about the figure saying "Well that's a handy little item. May be useful if we get in a pinch. Although with how odd this world is I'm weary of having something spring out of it. In any case. What do you guys think. Should we check the basement?"

(I realize I had forgotten to ask where the trapdoor in the ceiling led, so I'll do that also)

(The trapdoor goes to the rooftop))

(Yeah, that's what I figured. In that case while we are deciding what our next move is I'd like to recall Wes from downstairs, crack open the trapdoor and send him up to do recon. The goal is to find out if anything can be seen from the roof or if the fog is still too thick)

Wes spots a guard, just 20 feet from him, at the corner of the rooftop, leaning against the left crenelation watching the front of the building (you came in the back). A small cooking fire, built as part of the building, is live near Wes and the guard, from which the aroma of herbs and meat wafts. The haze persists at 35 feet visibility, which you can see in the thin windows at the 2nd level.

(Right, duh. Forgot about the guy on the roof) Van would recall Wes and suggest to Khorie that when he has collected himself he let the rooftop guard know what has happened and not to attack us when we choose to leave. Van will then wait for the parties input on what to do next.

   “I’ll follow your lead, I’m not sure what to think about this world. They’d had no idea of Lillaeas, what do you suppose that means?” Anahn asks both of his companions as they discuss their next move, his hands shaking slightly from adrenaline, or perhaps even fear, as he remembers being face to face with that strange creature. 

Amandil asks Khorie when he finished playing "Thinking ahead, we'd obviously like to avoid any more unpleasantness with the other guards, if they also assume we're some sort of hostile. Any ideas on how we could do that?"

Khorie thinks about it for a few seconds. "Tell them the war's over. If I'm with you, they estate guards won't attack. In town, if you don't bear weapons, nobody should attack you either. At least, not our people."

With that, then he goes up to the rooftop as asked. You hear them talking for some time, but occasionally listening in, you're certain they intend to cooperate.

Van says "We might as well check the basement while we're here. Gather as much info as possible. Then I'd say heading to the estate guards. Perhaps they can tell us of others coming and goings."

Going back to the stairs and down to the basement, it is a long, damp room with four large cells with benches, no walls separating the cells. Each cell is comfortably illuminated by bright yellow amber stones fixed into the ceiling. There is one time-frozen blue skinned man in fine green clothes in the cell just to the right by the stairs, facing away from the group. His hair reaches to his shoulders, a dark bronze color. When you come within 15' of him, the haze implodes, the disorientation even shorter this time. You now have 40' of vision. He animates in that very moment, at first completely unaware of the effect. He paces, jumping slightly upon seeing you at the end of a stride toward the bars. He steps up closer, first looking at your combat-ready gear, then to your eyes. They are yellow, just a little brighter than his hair.

"Are you the ones come to take me away? None too soon, I thank you. Quickly now. I assure you it is not for ire of this cell." His eyes stray toward the stairs, the expression on his face turning tentative. "I... am mistaken, I see. I realize this is an unreasonable request, but due to pressing time constraints, please, release me from the cell. Whatever your goal is, I can be of use to you."

He straightens himself out, pulling at his collar with a slight twist of his head. "I know, for instance, that it is no longer possible to be traitor to Empyrean."

Van shakes his head saying half to himself "We must make a handsome bunch. Seems everyone wants to be our friend" Turning to the prisoner "Whether you can be of use remains to be seen, but I agree that there are time constraints so give us direct answers and we'll consider your plea. Also know that what you say can be checked with our friends upstairs. Now, why is it no longer possible to be traitor to Empyrean? "

"Is that why you're in this cell, betraying the Empyrean?" He wasn't too inclined to spring prisoners out of jail, not without a very good reason. Also, that's not why they were here. The reference to time constraints made him remember they had limited time as well.

"A homeland implies a suitable home," he says with absolute certainty, "but within a matter of days, none will consider Empyrean a home. And for saying as much, with insistence, it was decided that I should spend a night here for traitorous notions. This is not a prison, but merely a holding cell. There is nothing to sleep upon in here."

What he says holds up- judging by his clothes, he hasn't been sleeping in the cell, and it lacks the odor of living in.

"The constables should be willing to release me if they understood the truth. I could convince you this to be the truth as well, requiring that we travel north to my laboratory, which would take hours by foot. Nonetheless, I could best determine of what use I could be to you if I knew what your goals are, which I presume are of greater concern to you than what the constables think. I presently have but two goals- primarily, to survive this world, and if possible, to see the lady of the estate survive as well. I am in her debt- and she is not of this world, and surely would be unwilling to leave without her child."

He gauges your expressions, seeing the need for explanation. "I am the director of the local laboratory, which is in service to Empyrean. My skills involve the study of material to identify traces of Heroic activity upon it, and the laboratory exists to aid me in that. As such I am familiar with the area, the affairs of Empyrean, the fate which I had discovered yesterday, and of course, Heroics themselves. We can keep this simple, however, if you'd help me understand what you seek. For freedom, I offer knowledge, and to help me in both my goals, I offer my allegiance, which is not to say I serve you unto death, but that I faithfully serve you as I have Empyrean for many years."

He spreads his arms partially in a shrug, palms up. "I think it far less valuable, but I also have arcane talent that I may lend to you, but I am nearly powerless without my focus and spellbook."

ooc: insight to see if I can tell whether he's lying 9 but I'm going up anyway.

"That's very interesting. If you were only placed her for the night, it might be time for you to go anyway - it's daylight now up above. I'll go check with the guards." Amandil headed back upstairs. Once there, he asked the guard "Since it's now day, is the man downstairs free to go? He said he was supposed to spend the night there, no more. Is that true?"

The man's eyes widen when you mention it is day, then looking down in thought, running his right hand through his hair.

Distracted from the work of bandaging his wounds with his armor off, Endaelin turns to Amandil, still holding a loose end of bandage. "Ah, yeah, I guess so. There was supposed to be an escort for him, but if there are other monsters around- it wouldn't be right to just leave him there. I'll get the key." He goes upstairs, taking little time to return, and hands the key to Amandil.

Edit: It seems that he's very nervous, but you think he isn't lying.