The Secrets of the Hospice of Blessed Maidens or The Dungeons of Arcona Imports

Characters: Barl Bloodbones, Belton Stoutshield, Domollo Blue, JadeBlade

NPCs: Magoovial Hammerstriker

Synopsis: JadeBlade and his companions return to Teziir with the much coveted, but also skeptical, spoils of the Astorian hideout: the case of the cure for the Bloodveil plague. The priests of the Temple of Torm are in disarray as too many of the city folk have fallen to the disease. The cleric of Torm Magoovial Hammerstrike takes the cure in possession, but expresses dismay at the current state of Teziir, especially his fallen brother Eshtani Doctri. Magoovial explains that he recently came in possession of documents detailing strife among two factions of wererats that infest the city below. One faction is lead by the wererat Geargz, the other Ariz Yelloweyes. The letter insists that Geargz and his followers intend to lay waste to Teziir and begin their campaign of rule from the sewers. Aria Yelloweyes contends that this will upset the status quo and bring ruin to her kind. At its weakest moment, Teziir is under attack.

Magoovial summons two other aides and asks for JadeBlades assistance. JadeBlade follows the cleric as the priest of Torm describes suspicions regarding the actions of Doctor Duvalis and Eliosa Arabasi. Rumors are abound of their deviance and Magoovial is to inspect the converted Arcona Imports warehouse that now serves as a triage center for those infected by the Bloodveil. The city streets are desserted until they reach the warehouse where a line of ailing people are governed by several Gray Maidens, followers of Eliosa. Magoovial dispenses with the present authority, gaining access to the facility. The sea of the dying is overwhelming as cots are populated with those struggling to live, but losing badly to the Bloodveil. But the priest stops as he sees the telltale signs of battle. Blood stains the walls as numerous bodies include both Gray Maidens and Duvalis’ masked physician’s assistants.

On the upper level of the warehouse, Barl, Crulamin, Domollo, Belton, and Vi’Helm stand outside an engraved door, desperately seeking the truth they know they must find. So far their investigation has discovered only death. Breaching the door, they find another set of patients. But these are in the most advanced stages of the Bloodveil, each strapped to their bed amidst a wicked laboratory. Three attending physicians stand at the ready and loose their crossbow bolts on the intruders. The battle is quick as the group overruns the demented assistants. As the combat ends Magoovial and JadeBlade arrive and greet Domollo’s mates. Familiar with the group, Magoovial updates Domollo with the recent knowledge of the advancing army of wererats.

Beyond the lab is an abandoned private study littered with alchemical beakers and scattered papers. Nothing of value is apparent, but the condition of the office indicates that it was recently occupied. The adjacent lab reveals cruel treatment and potential experimentation on the sick. As the group is looking for clues, the warehouse’s lift begins to move. The group moves to the sub-floor to find a vast network of rooms. Among the first chambers are a watch guard of Gray Maidens and another alchemical equipment room.

Under the guise of Physicians’ Assistants, the group stumbles upon a ritual party headed by dark priests of Tylona, goddess of disease and death. Domollo immediately falls into character, order the troop to return to the “queen” as they have been summoned. He summons one of the priests into the equipment room and, while shutting the door, instructs Barl to cut him down. The physician is slain, leaving nothing but stained robes on the chamber floor. Their infiltration is coming to an end.

The network of rooms becomes more evil with each subsequent chamber, culminating in a despicable hall of horrors. Encased in transparent walls of force, undead bodies writhe in a crawl space around the circumference of the room. Body parts pivot and blood coats the poor souls trapped within. The display is sickening, even to the heartiest of warriors. Quickly moving to through the opposing doors, the group finds a disturbing room with corpses fastened to beds in the most extreme case of depravity. It is a room of total experimentation with complete disregard of the dignity of life. The entire building is saturated in evil.

Moving through the hall of undead, the group soldiers on, passing through mighty double doors. On the other side is a montage of priests and phsycian’s assistants waiting in silence for the intruders. The room supports elevated crosswalks that pass over massive culdrons of bubbling ooze. Standing atop the central catwalk is a man dressed in heavy aprons, equipped with a multitude of cutting instruments and miscellaneous surgical devices. The room is silent in the exposure of pure evil.

Encounters: three Physician’s Assistants, four Gray Maidens, a gas-trapped foyer, a multitude of priests of Tylona, and the mad experimentor.

Achievements: uncovered the secret compound of the Physician’s Assistants, revealed the evil experiments being performed on diseased folk, and discovered the participation of priests of Tylona.