1.2 - In Search of Sanity - The Dead Don't Dream

"I don't think he's a doppelganger but there's a strong glamour around his upper body. It might be disguising his appearance or his bindings but I'm not sure. Be careful."

Axon focused on the man's torso and head for any objects that might project such a magical field.

As striking and punctuated the man's struggle appeared to be, it all ends rather suddenly as the man's body goes rigid - rising his mid-section from the bed entirely for just a moment, then he collapses upon the bed, motionless and quite dead. The man's struggle is over.

The man wears nothing but the robe assigned to patients such as these and as Axon observes, the magical aura diminishes until it disappears.

"Whatever the aura was, it's gone now. Perhaps it was some cloaked fiend attacking his mind. I'll keep a lookout for such auras while we search further."

As the moments pass and you confirm the man is surely dead, Grim notices the corpse's finger start to twitch.

Grim stabs the dead man a few times with the short sword. "We don't need no more creepy undead things running around here."

As Grim stabs the man, his features twist and distort. The creature begins to move and twist against the restraints, it opens its mouth to show exposed fangs. "So HUNGRY!" it cries as Grim's sword plunges into it. Helpless, it shudders as even its undead form passes from the land of the living.

Iosef steps forward, a finger to his chin. "Hmm, how incredibly interesting," he says. He uses an index finger and pokes at the limp arm, still restrained. "Some force appears to have turned this man into a ghoul, right before our eyes. It killed him first, of course, but that is highly unnatural. Typically one becomes a ghoul by contracting the disease from an existing creature of this sort." He cranes his neck around. "Such cases involve bites, and this man has no such marks on him, nor any of the telltale signs of having contracted ghoul fever."

Though taken aback by the brutality, Axon couldn't knock the result.

"Smart move, Grim. Like I theorized, whatever killed and turned him was probably invisible or some magic was attacking his mind and body. Nightmares..."

Axon shuddered.

"Nightmares, yes," Iosef agrees, "I would very much like to evaluate this creature more closely, in a safe location. Perhaps back at the chapel, if Winter will allow it." He steps closer and passes his fingers around various portions of the body. "Yes, I'm quite certain it's no longer a threat.

Elias, friend, do you think you might help me bring the body back to the chapel? I think my time looking over the body may result in valuable information to help us get off this accursed island."

Grim listens and then moves back into the hallway. His gaze is affixed to the next door south. "The dead are coming back as minions of this creep in our dreams. Nothing new. We've known this since discovering what former doctors and patients have become since the earthquake and the arrival of the fog."

Iosef nods, "That has been the most logical conclusion, though I'm more certain of it now than ever. Hmm. Perhaps it's best we don't wander off."

Elias approaches the now twice dead man and places his hand on his chest, sending a quick prayer to Pharasma. "This sort of abomination must be why I we have been called here". Turning to Iosef the paladin continues "You are right, we should learn as much as we can about these… things"

"Perhaps, friend, but thinking on it, my studies can wait - maybe they won't be necessary at all."

"Called? Is that what their calling abduction, incarceration, and torture-induced amnesia these days?" Grim interjects, tugging his beard and promptly turning north to investigate the double doors heading into parts of the asylum then have yet to check out.

Elias simply mumbles something about gods and fate and then follows Grim. Regardless of them being called here or not, they still have to make it out of this place...

You head to the north where you find a set of double doors. Opening them, the room beyond is incredibly dark. None of you, even those that normally can see in the darkness, are unable to pierce the supernatural darkness beyond this threshold. In the darkness you hear the soft sobbing of a child. "Brenton!? Wake up Brenton!" it calls out.

'A child?' Iosef speaks in surprise before his brown furrows. He had not expect to find a child still alive in this place. The horrors they must have seen surviving out the chapel. Then the name they speak sparks a memory. ' Brenton... the young mad with Tolman? He mutters partially to himself.

'Are you alright?' He calls into the darkness. 'We are not Brenton, but we know him.'

"Be careful. That darkness isn't natural... and whatever's in there might not be, either."

On an impulse, Axon retrieved Debis and Brenton's shadow lantern, lit it, and held it toward the shadows.