Dawn Mercy Clinic
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The Dawn Mercy Clinic is the front-line site of the Aurelian abduction conspiracy in Umbrafall. Officially a charity hospital, the clinic was coerced by an Aurelian cell into filing false cremation records for aquamated bodies — i.e. bodies that were not actually destroyed but transported. Risa’s sister Mira Hale, whose ash was actually lye, was abducted from here and shipped to Aurelia via Dock 13. The orderly Drew confessed under Caelumn’s three-nat-20 Intimidation streak in session 10 [3] and fled.
Overview
The Dawn Mercy Clinic is the cover site at the centre of the Aurelian conspiracy thread. The clinic was a real charity hospital before the Aurelians arrived; under threat, the staff began filing false cremation records for bodies that were instead aquamated — chemically dissolved with lye-based solution rather than burned. The aquamation residue, mistakenly handed to grieving families as “ash,” is what Risa kept in the urn that Hugo’s 22 Perception identified by smell in session 8.
The actual purpose of the clinic, in the Aurelian conspiracy: a discreet body-disposal facility that allowed the abduction of magically-gifted residents to be camouflaged. The Aurelians arrive with papers, take the named target alive, force the clinic to file the false record, and ship the captive to Aurelia via Dock 13. Mira Hale — Risa’s sister, who could light candles with her mind — was the case the party broke open in session 10.
Geography and appearance
A small clinic somewhere in Umbrafall. The interior smells of vinegar and herbs and is suspiciously clean. A back room holds a half-covered keg labelled L-Y — lye. The orderly’s desk holds the falsified records. The original logs were burned under the Aurelians’ instruction.
Government / control
The clinic is a coerced cover, not an active conspirator. Drew, the orderly the party broke, was forced under threat of death to file false records and burn the originals [4]. The actual abductors are an unnamed Aurelian cell with bribed Nightwatch cooperation.
History in the campaign
- Session 7 (foreshadow): Risa introduced as the urn-woman outside the Whisper Coil Emporium [1] — “It’s the last thing I have of her”. Clinic name and cremation-time anomaly are not yet on the table; they surface in s8.
- Session 8 (named): Hugo’s passive Perception 22 identifies the smell as lye — i.e. aquamation residue, not cremation ash. The clinic name is confirmed: Dawn Mercy [5]. Risa’s sister had latent magical ability (“turned a candle on with her mind”).
- Session 10: The party visits. Hugo spots the half-covered keg labelled L-Y. Caelumn manifests fire in his hand and rolls three nat 20s in a row on Intimidation under advantage and inspiration; the orderly Drew breaks: “They were Aurelians. They came a few days ago. They had papers. They weren’t looking for patients. They already had a name. Mira Hale, that she had shown magical capabilities, and they wanted her for some reason” [6]. Mira had been taken to Dock 13 four days previously and shipped to Aurelia. The Nightwatch had been paid off. Drew, threatened with death, was forced to comply. He flees the clinic during the questioning.
Inhabitants
- Drew (orderly, fled s10)
- Other clinic staff (unspecified, presumed coerced)
- The Aurelian cell (off-screen, the actual conspirators)
Status as of session 16
Active as a coerced front. Drew is presumed to have fled Umbrafall. The Aurelian operation continues; whether the clinic continues to file false records under new staff is unconfirmed.
See also
References
- ^ Session 7, line 1208 — Risa first introduced — "It's the last thing I have of her" (sister's remains in dispute; clinic name and cremation-timeline anomaly are not surfaced until s8).
- ^ Session 8, line 117-148 — Lye in the urn; Hugo's identification; clinic name confirmed.
- ^ Session 10, line 643-666 — Drew confesses Aurelian abduction route; Mira Hale named.
- ^ Session 10, line 645-660 — Inline citation.
- ^ Session 8, line 141-148 — Inline citation.
- ^ Session 10, line 648 — Inline citation.