Lyran and Zook both look at each other as they see the shifter slide into the stable.
Here goes nothing! they seem to be thinking to each other. Lynx slides into the stable without a sound, and from within he can hear the whimpering and struggling of the figure at the front of the small building.
With Lyran's generous gift in his hands, he ever so slowly begins to unwrap the enlightened rock... and the blast of light that comes out immediately brightens the room. At the far end, Lynx sees the figure down on one knee trying depserately to fiddle with the ropes that bind his hands behind his back. Once exposed to the light, the figure immediately springs to his feet and spins around to the light... and the wizard sees a look of wild panic in his eyes, along with a wide gag tied off around his mouth.
The figure is a tall human... dark brown hair, pale skin, and wears an official-looking tunic that Lynx does not recognize.
((Knowledge (Local - Karrnath) [no untrained role allowed]))
The man strikes no recognizable chord with Lynx, so he assumes the same holds true the other way as well... but that doesn't stop the gentleman from stumbling forward with a look of pleading desperation.
'MMMNNNNNN!!! MMMMNNNNHHHNNN!!!'
He spins around to present his hands to Lynx in hopes that he might untie his binds. Lynx only takes a second to think...
((Sense Motive [15] + 6 = 21))
...before agreeing to the man's muffled request. He reaches up and pulls at the gag around the man's mouth, and with a slight effort the gag comes away.
'Oh thank the gods! Quick! Quick! We have to hurry--'
The man's voice immediately brings Zook and Lyran to look into the hole in the wall, so all three members of the party now see and hear him.
'I am Donoval Johns of the Karrnath Royal Swords! A prisoner of ours has been stolen by a band of highwaymen and have taken off in my wagon!'
He looks quickly in the eyes of all three men.
'My partner! Have you seen my partner?!? Aaron Lleir! We must go! We must find him and then find our quarry!'
**********
Kolarred slowly takes one step at a time up into the second level of the waystation. Tyler follows along behind a few steps. Both men have their weapons drawn and try and step quietly as they mount the flight of steps. After a few seconds, they reach the landing of the second floor, and see that it curves back behind them and over the front room of the wyastation below.
Kolarred glances down the hallway, which ends in a small window adorned with another nearly burned out candle. On both sides of the hallway are two doors leading into presumably small bedrooms that travellers could stay in during the night. He turns back to Tyler, and sees the warrior looking intently at the floor further down the hall.
Kolarred ((Spot [3] + 1 = 4 / DC 10))
Tyler ((Spot [14] - 1 = 13 / DC 10))
Tyler slides forward past the paladin to the second door on the right and crouches down in front of it. With Kolarred following close behind, Du'Orien examines the floor in front of the door and sees a small puddle of smeared blood.
((Search [18] + 0 = 18 / DC 15))
He stands back up in concern, and turns to looks at the paladin. Only rather than also looking at the blood, instead Kolarred is staring intently at the door to the room.
((Detect Evil)) Kolarred's eyes grown wide with anger and without missing a beat, raises his foot and BASHES it against door... sending it ripping from it's hinges and collapsing in onto itself! Both men turn to look into the small room... and there they see huddled in a crouch in the corner... the bloodied, battered, still moving body of what was once a man, but is now a lifeless husk. The deadened eyes of the creature rise up and lock upon the two men, and with a strangled scream it stands up and shuffles forward to attack!!!
OOC: Kolarred and Tyler, please roll for initiative.
