3rd adventure: Rebirth

"Sorry. We'll take those off in a minute; i just need to ask you a few questions first." - Mihai explains - "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Uh?" This question leaves him at a loss. After a short moment of consternation, he closes his eyes and tries to remember the last thing he did. "I was... I was drinking. At a feast. There were a lot of people, but... I was talking to just one person." He frowns, and then shakes his head. "I don't know. What's happening? Where am I?"

He looks around.

"You're at the Asylum. Hopefully we'll be able to take you home today. Do you remember who it was you were talking to?"

"The asylum? What's that?" He finally notices the blown-up wall at the end of the hallway. "Is that how it's supposed to look?"

"No. The place was attacked while you were out. It's a long story, but i'll explain." - he then follows up - "Tell me, though. Do you remember me?"

He turns to face Mihai again. "Am I supposed to?" He then examines the other party members. "No... You don't seem familiar."

Suddenly, his eyes stop on Fedler, and he begins to study her face. The redheaded ranger is a little uncomfortable, but she holds Saemon's gaze. "I think..." he begins, uncertain. "We've met, haven't we?"

Fedler is surprised by this. "Yes," she confirms. "We lived in the same village for a few years."

"A village?" Again, he tries to remember, but nothing comes to mind. He hangs his head down. "I'm not sure. I just get the feeling you like animals."

The ranger glances at her companions. "Yes. Something like that."

"The rest of us you only met briefly, so it's not surprising." - Mihai gets up, and offers him a hand - "I'll need you to bear with those for just a little while longer. Just until a friend of ours wakes up; she's just been through an ordeal."

"Well, you only saved her niece from being killed, and went insane from using way too much raw magic." Konrad twitches with impatience. "You've been in the asylum ever since, and when it appeared that you regained your mental faculties after months of foaming at the mouth, they decided to let you go, and we came to escort you back home to your sister. You remember your sister, don't you?"

Saemon looks at Mihai's hand, and after a moment of consideration, takes it. Now standing up, he faces Konrad and listens to his explanation. He tilts his head to an almost imperceptible degree. "...No, I don't." There's a pause. "I've... lost my memory? And that's why I'm here?" He puts his hands on his temples. "This is confusing. Gimme a minute."

"Take your time. But we'll need to get moving once you're able." - Mihai waits for Saemon to put himself back together.

Saemon doesn't appear to be listening to anyone else right now. Instead, he whispering to himself with his eyes closed. "One thousand. Nine hundred and ninety three. Nine hundred and eighty six. Nine hundred and seventy nine."

He keeps counting down.

Steve only:

Mihai waits.

"The reactor guy?" - Mihai asks rethorically, incredulous.

"Patience, Konrad. He's trying to focus. It's a mental exercise taught at the Citadel."

"Actually, this is as good a time as any." - Mihai activates the comm - "Rodnel, you there?"

A few seconds later, Stephen responds. "Yeah? You all still alive?"

"We are. The thing that caused this to happen is dead. There are still patients loose in the relaxation room, and bound in the massage room, so be careful, but they shouldn't be all homicidal with a purpose now. We're gonna try to find the Lv5 Keycard now, and see about getting us out of here."

"Good luck then," replies Rodnel. "And try not to bring the building down on our heads. Whatever you guys just did, we felt it from here."

"Yeah, we felt it too. Worst should be over. I'll contact you again when we have the card."

Mihai resumes waiting for Saemon to put himself back together.

Saemon has now fallen silent, and by the way he imperceptibly nods every two seconds, he is most likely counting mentally. Half a minute later, he opens his eyes again, and faces the party members. "What will you do with me now?"

"Some things have happened here that are too complicated to explain right now, but we have to finish securing the building and find a card we need to open the doors leading outside. There may be some red tape after that, but we're essentially taking you home to Amelia." - Mihai explains.