Ebullience

[Nephrite]

"Please." Moore says. "Something is definitely wrong, and my guess it's inside rather than out."

He will let the expert deal with it!

He nods to Sylvie. "It may be that my words simply can't reach him in the state he's in." He says. He does lean down to look at the papers and inspect them too - this guy did keep them away from the light outside for some reason...

[Anastasia]

Perception check, Moore, +4 bonus.

[Nephrite]

Take 10 for 122.

[Anastasia]

It's a forgery. You've seen Filbrez's handwriting before and while close, it's not quite right. The truth of it jumps out at you now that you examine it in the light.

[Nephrite]

"Aha." Moore murmurs. "A forgery. Once we figure out who this is and what happened, we can let Filbrez know and take things from there."

He sits back to let Jetina do what she needs to do and to offer her support if she needs it!

He may as well use Inspire Competence here for her - +16 Competence to skill checks and Inspire Excellence for +to Wisdom and +Intelligence of 18, so she'll get +27 on skill checks for right now.

[Anastasia]

Jetina takes 10 since Moore's boosting her for a total of 96.

Sylvie also takes 10 for 101.

After a little focus and effort, "What? Why?" Jetina speaks aloud. "His brain has been altered. Parts have been removed. Let me show you. There's a spell Syala and I worked out to allow us to study the brain safely. Since otherwise you can only examine it on death."

A spell and divine will. The mercane's head opens up like a series of blocks, moving aside of their own will. His skull does the same, revealing his brain within. Indeed, chunks throughout are gone. Rather like someone scooped out helpings of gray matter, leaving it like holey cheese. Despite this the mercane does not show any signs of harm or discomfort.

You can see it. Strange, swirl-like symbols of tiny size are carved into the brain that remains, often within the recesses where gray matter has been removed. In other places tiny filaments of glass and steel have been installed, often with a tiny, near invisible metal thread that connects to another such. Often visible lightning runs along these threads.

"Lobotomy?" Sylvie comes forward, unfazed by it all.

"It has to be," Jetina comments, "Rare, but it seems that it was used here. It's not magical."

"It's not," Sylvie agrees, "Specialist work. I'd bet it's all non magical for the stealth. The threads are generating electricity somehow, possibly a metal or material related to storm elementals or their home plane."

"To make the poor soul do what's commanded, even maimed like this," Jetina agrees.

[Nephrite]

"No wonder my words couldn't reach them." Moore says with a frown. "This is awful. Would a spell like Regenerate work to restore them?" He asks. "Before we even think about who or what was done, we should make sure they're treated. We have all sorts of spells that can help us figure out where this person came from... but... well, I'm certain we'll find some clues here."

He will inform Erathaol and Zaphkiel of what they've witnessed regardless - they should both be made aware of this as soon as possible.

[Anastasia]

"I can heal it," Jetina sounds confident, "Sylvie?"

"I'd like to extract some of the threads," Sylvie announces, "I-"

Jetina stops with a deep frown, enough to get Sylvie to roll her eyes, "It's practical, Jetina. If I can study them and figure out what it is, it might give us another clue to who did this."

"Not that," Jetina explains, "Syala just contacted me with the same problem. Sylica had someone try and do this, too. They caught him but his brain has identical work done on it."

[Nephrite]

Moore frowns even further than he thought possible.

"Well, I think we can assume where they came from, then." Moore says. "Since we can heal the damage done, please proceed, Sylvie. We need to do as much as we can to ascertain where this came from. Maybe the poison itself will help with that." He adds. "I'll bolster you so both can do what you need to do."

[Anastasia]

Sylvie nods as if it's obvious.

Jetina smiles, "Thank you, Moore. Where do you think it came from, then?" she asks as she goes in to study them a little bit.

[Nephrite]

"If they attacked both us and Alicia, it feels like it has to be Shar." Moore says. "There's few others that would treat both of us as enemies... but perhaps that's what they'd like us to think."

A shake of his head. "Regardless, once we have figured out who it is we can decide how to proceed."

[Anastasia]

> roll 1d20+86 Jetina
<Rei-chan> Kotono rolled : 1d20+86 Jetina --> [ 1d20=1 ]{87}

It's a good thing Jetina's a deity of healing and life.

Roughly an hour passes before Jetina emerges from the clean, well lit room she commandeered for this. She tosses Sylvie a small wrapped bundle, who catches it easily. "I harvested the threads so you can study them. He's healed in body and mind."

"Thanks," Sylvie says automatically. "He's good to awaken?"

"Whenever you want to get to the truth of it," Jetina confirms.

[Nephrite]

"Let's talk to him." Moore says. "We have a variety of ways of getting some good information."

Moore will prepare a Bredanalundalum's Wit in the meantime, but go in to see this poor soul! He's curious to see what he'll remember.

[Anastasia]

Here the mercane rests. He looks up at the three of you, quietly curious.

"Are you feeling better?" Is the question Jetina asks.

"Yes," He bows his head, "I...I never imagined I'd get a second chance like this."

[Nephrite]

"I'm sorry for what you've been through." Moore says. "I have several spells we're going to use, so I would ask you not try and prevent them." He explains quietly and a little slowly.

"For now, let's start with some basics and I can ask my questions after we have that." He begins, "Your name and the last thing you remember... I realize that may be difficult, but you are safe here and we will help ease any pain you have." He says.

He can give him a Mind's Ease at a moment's notice, at least.

Plan will be to hear what he says then invoke Wit to find out what's the next best question to ask.