Limine quickly calls on the Guidance of her patron as she attempts to read the man's face and body language, looking for any signs of ill intent.

Insight 13

Fallion watches the exchange as he leans against the door frame. He could leverage his position as nobility to get this man to cooperate, however... Tlanbourn was a heavy name to throw around. He wasn't sure it was wise to use the family name while still being a stranger to the town... He thinks for a moment and speaks up. "Actually, you all seem perfectly capable of getting information out of this mad exorcist. I don't imagine my presence will help at all in that regard. However, I did notice that many townspeople were gathering at the general store. As time is short before sundown, I will go and speak to them while you complete your task here to ensure we have all the information available. Let us meet at the Barracks after, hm? There is still time before the 'moon is full', so to speak. It would be wise to finish up before sundown."

He nods at the rest of the group and walks off at a brisk pace towards the general store, dragging Efritta along with him.

Khan's eyes light up as Mordekai takes the strange brew, and he speaks with a hint of exuberance, "Truly, what a daring cast we have!"

He calls out after Fallion as the man walks away, "I shall accompany you, I have a few questions of my own and I wouldn't want anything...," his eyes flicker to Efritta as he pauses for effect, "Untoward to happen."

"Uh..... We might not want to split the party. Just suggesting. You really don't have to listen to me." Slurb says nervously.

Efritta scoffs in response to Khan and turns to Fallion. 

"Sure, let's go to the store. This place was giving me the creeps anyways." 

The gaunt doctor watches in anticipation as Mordekai drinks the vial of frothing green liquid. However, Limine can't discern any malice in his expression- the doctor seems generally curious about the effects of the medicine, and appears to have no qualms around testing it on a person. 

(Effect: 12)

Mordeaki feels...nothing. But suddenly, a bright light flashes into the room. Looking down, Mordekai can see the index finger of his dominant hand glowing with a green, fluorescent light! 

The doctor exclaims, "Did that alchemist give me the right vial? It wasn't supposed to do that at all!"

He sighs, and says, "Alright. You can come meet the exorcist." 

Taking a set of jangling keys, the party in the sanitarium follows the doctor down several hallways, floored with sterile white tiles. Locked steel doors on both sides contain an open grille, the moans and screams of the patients can be heard. Some attempt to stick their discolored arms out of the grilles, grabbing at the party, though the doctor doesn't seem to mind. 

Finally, the doctor stops at one of the cells. He says, "Be gentle, alright? Don't raise your voice, or push him too hard. This is a...difficult day for him."

He opens the cell door. Inside, a white-robed man is kneeling on the ground and frantically praying. Several sticks of incense are burning next to him, and the scratched inside the walls are various holy symbols mixed with some...unidentifiable yet disturbing sketches. He doesn't seem to notice the party's entrance. 

(Will post the general store stuff tomorrow.) 

Mordekai flashes his white fangs in a smile and holds his hand up, "Look, we're already illuminating the situation." Entering the cell, Mordekai applies a bit of rouge to his already-orange skin (casting the cantrip Friends for advantage on Cha checks for one minute) and says, "Say there friend, we're trying to get information on the...thing coming into town tonight and see if there's anything we can do to stop it. Would you be able to tell us what happened to you? What you saw? And maybe anything to overcome it?"

If persuasion is needed, 21

Fallion shrugs as he walks, in response to Khan. He nudges his head towards Efritta. "She is a squire. That means she is nobility. Did you think she came all the way out here with an errant knight to be coddled?"

After a pause though, he adds. "Though we do appreciate the concern."

Slurb walks quietly into the Mad Exorcist's chamber.

"Hey? Hello?" Slurb says quietly.

Khan nods his head slightly in concession to Fallion and Efritta, "Very well, though there is nothing of coddling to be found in taking sensible precautions. Do stay safe."

He stays with the group at the sanitarium, waiting to see the man's response to Mordekai's question.

Fallion and Efritta travel back to the general store, where they witness a wizened gnome allowing several elderly folks inside. The gnome nervously adjusts his spectacles and glances over a list. But when Fallion approaches, the gnome looks at him with shock. He tries to force a smile on his face as he speaks to the knight. 

"Uh, greetings, mi'lord. Unfortunately, the general store is closed right now. If there's any wares you would like to purchase, be sure to come by tomorrow, hehe." 

At the sanitarium, Mordekai's magic has an immediate effect on the robed man. The mad exorcist stops praying and slowly turns to Mordeaki, his eyes fixed in a thousand-yard stare. He whispers, 

"She...she screams in my head...too powerful for my magic...her touch corrupts...fear takes hold! I ran, but...the other two didn't...not her fault...torment, torment, torment."

Then, the exorcist collapses on the ground, as if speaking those words was a great labor. But, he utters one more thing.

"You can't kill her in the town square...follow her to her grave." 

(Friends will be over in about twenty seconds.) 

"Wait. She?" Slurb says, a little bit freaked out.

Mordekai frowns, "I'll see what I can do. Rest well, poor fellow." As he exists the cell, he says to the group, "I'm afraid we've...exhausted our resources here." Perhaps we should meet up with the others at the general store." 

Heading out of the Sanitarium, Mordekai looks deep in thought for a moment and folds his hands up as in prayer (casting Guidance on myself), muttering "Screams...touch corrupts...grave..."

(OOC: Based on his cloistered life studying, would Mordekai have any idea what this monk is talking about? Arcana or Religion check: 8)

"At ease." Fallion says as he stops in front of the entrance. "I am Fallion. This is Efritta, my squire. We simply have a few questions regarding the events that are going to happen tonight. As you can see, I am an errant knight. I, along with a few others, intend to deal with your annual problem that always comes this time of year. What do you know of this? And why are you all gathered here instead of staying in your homes?"

"It seems like the only useful information we got is that she has a grave. She shrieks and kills. She also comes only once a year, goes to the town square and then gone. Holy water seems to repel it. Did I miss something?"

"Nope. You didn't miss anything. Wait. He said 'grave'. Graves are in the graveyard, but also some in the temple quarter. Maybe some of us should go tell the others at the general store?" Slurb suggests.

"We should meet at the barracks, as arranged. I will catch up with you, I have a few more questions for the exorcist, and I believe the presence of a crowd would be detrimental to getting answers."

"Then do what you must." Limine looks at Slurb. "Do you know the way to the barracks? I've actually only just arrived at the town so I am unfamiliar with its layout."

Even with a lifetime of study, Mordekai can’t pinpoint the exact nature of what the exorcist is talking about. 

Just as Mordekai exits the cell, the Friends spell ends. The change in the exorcist is apparent- he springs off the ground and attempts to grab Mordekai! 

“Heretic! The purifying light will purge your demonic soul!” 

Initiative: 20

Mordekai, roll initiative. Anyone who wishes to intervene, also roll initiative.

(General store coming soon.)

At the general store, the gnome withers under Fallion’s questioning eye. 

“Uh, sir, I know as much as anyone, and uh, as for the gathering...”

While the gnome searches for words, a tall man with graying hair comes to his faire from inside the store. He wears fine garments and has a rapier at his side. He looks at a Fallion curiously. 

“I’m Lord Trajan. I don’t recognize you...which house do you belong to, and why are you here?”

Khan's initiative: 14