"I'm not saying it's a bad thing, I'm saying doing it too hard, too fast... erm, no double meaning intended I assure you... but too much control, put into place rapidly without care, well -- that's the Hellknights isn't it? Trying to uphold law and order without caring about whose face they have to smash in to do it? Whereas you would only smash someone's face you were certain needed it to protect Korvosa."
Cherias pauses, then continues in a moment.
"I guess what I'm saying is, the queen needs to choose as to whether she wants to be loved or feared. Being feared may be easier, but being loved will lead to a stronger Korvosa, I think."
"Back in Tien Xia, there is the philosophy of Pao-Lung, which this one adheres to as much as possible," Absinthe says, musingly. "The chapter on rulers and nobility says this: That the ruler is the hub around which all the kingdom turns, and nobles turn the spokes of the wheel around it, and the commoners push further out, so that all work in harmony to bring the kingdom forward. Authority is important, yes."
Absinthe looks the Marshal directly in the eye. "But as the commoner has a duty to defer to the authority of the noble, and the noble the duty to defer to the ruler, so the ruler also has a duty to defer. To defer to the needs of those placed in their care. Pao-Lung wrote that the ruler must govern their passions for the good of the many, and that the virtuous ruler spreads virtue. A ruler who leads in accordance with these principles has control not through deception, but by being the good ruler, who works so the wheel may turn freely and without unnecessary strain, and everyone in their care and under their authority may move forward.
It may be one's foreign origins coming to the forem but one believes that authority begets obligation. Power comes at a price, even the blood-gift of high birth.
Also, one is reminded of the teachings of Sangpotshi as they pertain to the ruler. In essence, all souls are travelling to the same destination: Pharasma's Boneyard, and must consider the virtues and failings of our past lives as we seek enlightenment and the release it brings us from the wheel of rebirth. As Sangpotshi applies to the ruler, it applies to all; we must travel in humility and honour, for pride and deceit sets us back in our development and means returning again and again and again, to struggle and suffer."
Cressida nods to Absinthe's words. "Wise teachings, and a bright ideal to aspire to. I well and truly understand the burdens of responsibility that come with a position of leadership. I think you'd find, however, in reality few nations in Tian Xia enjoy such harmony."
"Just look at some of the people you have faced recently. These are not ones to defer and work in the best interests of the public. No, they use the chaos to exploit the weak and bend the system to their benefit. How does a ruler combat these effectively?"
"Seren, we may not agree in politics, but I think we'd agree that deception and illusion can be used for the greater good. In certain circumstances, show of power or solidarity may be as effective as the real thing. As Shoanti of the Cinderlands may say, 'fight fire with fire'..."
"One knows Tian Xia is no pearl in the crown of heavenly harmony," Absinthe says, a note of quiet dignity in her voice. "Not as a whole. But some nations do uphold the good principle -- or at least try to.
One hopes you do not consider us to be on par with cannibals and necromancers, the fire to combat the fires we have stamped out, Lady Marshal." For a moment, redness flickers in the depths of Absinthe's eyes, though her expression remains quietly dignified.
"Rather, one would suggest that what one uses to battle those who abuse not merely systems, but also the sanctity of body and soul, is courage and a sense of at least some ethics and morals.
Also, while one agrees that a ruler needs a certain amount of pragmatism, they should at least start from an ideal. If a ruler starts from a position of flexible pragmatism, rather than layering it onto stable bedrock... the whole nation is built upon sand."
The tiefling shakes her head and pours herself another glass of wine, then downs it in one gulp.
"Apologies," she says as she gets up, and reaches down to pick up something that had been lying under her chair. A sheathed sword, the blade easily four foot long, on a belt. Absinthe slings the belt over her torso and gives you all a shallow bow. "One has had a little too much to drink. One shall retire... to sleep."
Slightly unsteadily, Absinthe clip-clops away to the stairs.
Melianthe's expression shows an inner struggle as to whether the Marshal's view of deception matches hers or not. She attempts to bring up a cogent point several times, then sighs.
"We are in the arena of speculation. We don't know the Queen's motives, nor Blackjack's, nor, really, Trinia's. I'm not even sure we know what was going on with our black market meat merchants. All we can be certain is our own hearts--if even that is clear. Ahhh, perhaps Abby has the right idea." Melianthe looks at her glass and finds it to be empty. "Inebriated philosophicking rarely leads to anything."
Cressida chuckles and nods in agreement. "I'm sure we will soon have some new trouble to sort out, taking up any free time for armchair philosophizing... But this has been a pleasure, if only a brief respite from our chores." She too finishes her drink and stands. "Until next time.
Cherias stands and gives Kroft a bow. "Take care, Marshall."
Date: 30 Sarenith 4708
Korvosa returns to a state of near normalcy as much of the disorder quiets and acceptance of Queen Ileosa as the city's new sovereign slowly sets in. Still, the scars of the past month's upheaval still show on many buildings and in whispered gossip.
Nearly two weeks have passed since the evening with Marshal Kroft, and you have not heard from her in that time. Brief check-ins at Citadel Volshyenek show the guard are as busy as ever, but no 'special' tasks have arisen.
Today, it is the same, but as you gather by the citadel gate and prepare to depart, a voice calls to you from across the courtyard. Sergeant Grau Soldado, looking in much better condition than your last meeting, jogs over to you. Though he has shaved, bathed and sobered up, you can see in his eyes he remains distressed.
"My friends, it is good to see you again. I had hoped to catch you here..." He looks around before adding. "Do you have a moment to talk, umm... privately?"
Segang, freshly returned to the city, and marked with new facial scars and tattoos is busy showing them off to his companions when Sergeant Soldado jogs over. The red color from this one comes from the roots of a rare red cedar. he is explaining...
Looking to companions he offers The stable there is empty, except for the horses. What is lacks in decor I hope it makes up for in expediency.
"Sounds good ... I'm getting ancy just reading all day. Time to put some of this new found knowledge to work. Let's see what he has to offer."
Grau nods and leads you over to the stables, finding a quiet space by the hay stack. He explains his cause with a grim expression.
"My niece is sick. I don't know what she has and neither does anyone in Trail's End. She's broken out all over in red pocks and can barely keep down food, or even the swill that good-for-nothing herbalist gave her. Her mother's talking about going to the Bank of Abadar, but her family can't afford to pay the prices their clerics would demand."
"Then I remembered how you and your friends handled yourselves during the riots, and... how you helped me out. I thought you could help, somehow. As resourceful as you are, if you don't already have a way to fix this, then I figured you might know who can."
"A scroll to remove a disease would be pretty expensive, yes... I can try to see if I can find anyone who can cast it as a charity thing. I haven't learned such a spell myself."
"There are several forms of pox; a herbalist may not be able to identify it in one go," says Melianthe, her voice unconsciously assuming the role of a medical authority. "Grau, let me fetch my doctor's outfit and some items, and I will come to Trail's End. Friends," she says, turning to the party, "You may want to keep some distance while I look at the patient. Some poxes are transmitted through the air."
She turns to Cherias, somewhat embarrassed, murmuring, "The spell for removing disease is beyond the merit I've earned with my patron as of yet. A scroll could be useful, all diagnosis and medical talk aside."
"One is not a healer," Absinthe says, tugging absent-mindedly on the belt that keeps the monster sword secured to her back. The tiefling frowns thoughtfully. "But one wonders, regarding the subject of contagion... Is your niece the only one to have displayed such symptoms?"
"A scroll would also cost at close to 400 gold coins... A spell to diagnose the disease, though, would be much easier to find. We'd then be able to know what we were dealing with. It could be something that would pass on its own. Should I to a temple to buy one?"
"Possibly, we might find a temple willing to donate some scrolls to the cause," Absinthe suggests. "This is a city. Pestilence is as much to be feared as wildfire, after all. All it requires is a temple of a civic turn of mind, and the right word in a well-placed Cleric's ear."
"Let us not rule out the possibility of a curse. Good man, have you run afoul of anyone lately. Your daughter, as well, but I'd suspect that if this were a targeted curse, it may be directed at you, the head of the family."
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Segang looks worried. I do not like sickness. It is made up of tiny foes too small for me to fight. Thinking on the matter he adds. If it is disease we must understand where it came from. We could pay this sum of gold to remove the disease only to have the girl contract it again if we do not. Mel, even if we stay back, you could catch the disease and then give it to us, no?
To Absinthe, Grau shrugs. "I don't know. I didn't see anyone else, really... I was there yesterday, after dark."
Grau shakes his head at Seren's question. "I'm not their patron, and I don't even get to see them very often. I can't think anything I've done would make them a target of something like this."
"Ah, the Sczarni turf," Absinthe says. Then she blinks and amends: "Ah... or so one had heard. Once. Indeed, it is a primarily Varisian-inhabited area. As many Korvosans hold a low opinion of the Varisians... this may indeed mean there is greater malice afoot than the cruelties of nature. Then again, it may be naught more than sickness. If there is worry as to Sister Mel bringing back disease, I volunteer to be her escort whilst the rest of us tarry here. One's kind are... hardy."
I know the area too. More than good Varisian people than sczarni, but the thugs are there as well. Disease is insidious. Our Friend Grau may have already infected us. But I'll not live my life hiding from such dangers and will go as well.
"I have been meaning to learn that spell, Cherias...I'll do that immediately. Segang, yes, the small organisms that make up disease can be passed from person to person, and sometimes in the air itself. I will, however, be wearing a mask and clothing that can be sterilized after use...I hope. Occasionally, items must be burnt...Abby, I do appreciate the escort; you'll want to stay out of the room when I examine the patient as well."
"It will take an hour to teach Hloire the spell; Grau, can we spare it or should we go now?"
Segang, having recently come back to the city had spent a little time asking about what is new in this, his adopt home. Perhaps he has heard of others who are sick, or other significant events in the city.
Cherias travels first to the little shrine of Arshea he has been frequenting of late, to ask the priestess there if she can help. If, as he expected, she cannot, he heads to temples of Pharasma, Sarenrae, and Shelyn to try to find help.
"I don't know, but I'm sure an hour or two will be okay, especially if its going to help. Let me know when you are ready to go... and thank you!" Grau seems physically relieved.
Melianthe has a very unproductive hour feeding a scroll to her scorpion. Annoyed, she meets up with Absinthe, glowering. "Let us go, and see this patient, blast it all."
Cherias departs to test his luck with the temples around the city. After Melianthe gives up on feeding her scorpion, the rest of you meet up with Grau and follow him to Trail's End. To get there, you pass through Midland and North Point to reach the North Bridge. Once outside Korvosa and across the Jeggare River, you follow the road north along the shore, passing caravansaries and shanties before you finally reach the tight cluster of hovels.
Trail's End lives up to its reputation. The people are almost entirely Varisian, with dark hair and olive skin distinct from the majority of Chelish in the city. You spot a handful of other ethnicities, but not many. The criminal element here is obvious and impossible to ignore -- groups of toughs and thugs loiter on the street, eyeing you distrustfully as you pass. A few make rude calls at Absinthe, but they make no hostile motions. It's clear they recognize Grau as a local.
Grau leads you to a squat, two-story wooden shack near to the waterside. It is in desperate need of repair and gardening. After a knock, a tired looking Varisian woman answers. She smiles weakly at Grau and waves you all inside gracious. "Thank you so much for coming. I'm Tayce, Grau's sister-in-law."
Within, you see the house is remarkably clean and well-kept, filled with worn, well-used furniture and decorated with the crafts and scribblings of children. Two young boys are playing quietly in the living room. In the kitchen is man wearing the robes of a priest of Abadar. He is busy brewing a concoction from a bag of herbs, smelling of cinnamon and anise. The man is of Vudrani lineage.
As Grau sees the priest, he grunts in displeasure and takes Tayce aside to have a whispered exchange. The priest nods towards you and smiles, "Hello. Are you friends of the Soldados?"
A fit of ragged coughing echoes from upstairs.
Segang responds for the group. Indeed we are. How ill is the girl? Might our healer see her?
Cherias thinks about the cost of a scroll, and the cost of a caster, and decides a scroll is easier and not too much more expensive. He purchases the scroll of Diagnose Disease, and heads out to Trails end.
"Why yes, one's mother did do that," Absinthe replies to one of the ruder remarks, a sunny smile on her face. "But then she is the madam at a brothel. One wonders what your mother's excuse was, though."
Absinthe regards the outside of the house with obvious displeasure. Once the group is inside, she makes her courtesies towards the mistress of the house and addresses her: "One is not skilled in the healing arts, goodwife, but has had some minor training in carpentry. Mayhap one might offer some assistance with the upkeep of your walls? One would be happy to instruct your offspring in such works as well."
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious."
Melianthe holds her mask in one hand and bows to Tayce. "Miss Tayce, I am Melianthe, a physician. May I see the patient?"
"One moment..." Tayce responds as Grau takes her aside.
The cleric bows his head. "I am Ishani Dhatri of Abadar. Her mother sent for me this morning. The girl is seriously ill, but I do not recognize the combination of her symptoms. Perhaps, had I gotten here earlier..." He shakes his head and frowns. "Maybe you will have more luck," he says sincerely to Melianthe, and continues to mix his herbs.
Tayce returns a few minutes later, climbing down the narrow steps. She waves to Melianthe. "If you are ready, I'll show you to Brienna."
The creaky steps open up into a bedroom loft above the main room of the Soldado home. A young girl with auburn hair lies in one of the beds, her slight frame dwarfed by the bed's size and the pile of pillows, afghans, and quilts surrounding her.
Splotches of an angry red rash cover her face and arms, appearing in irregular shapes and sizes. Suddenly, her restlessness is interrupted b a violent fit of hacking coughs that jerk her entire frame, lifting her well off her pillows. The spasm passes after a moment, dropping her back to the bed, but seemingly having done little to ease her breathing.
"I truly do not know, Ishani. May we all have good fortune, particularly this girl, on our side."
She places the doctor's mask on and climbs the stairs. At the sight of Brienna, she opens her gloved palms in a sign of friendship, her pleasant and professional voice slightly muffled by the sinister looking beak.
"Hello. I am Melianthe, a doctor, and a friend of your uncle's. Please do not take fright at the outfit; it is part of the tools of the trade. Do you need water before we begin?"
If anyone comes up into the room, she will make sure they stand behind her.
Segang stays downstairs and actually keeps his distance from the priest whom he assumes is potentially infected. Brother Dhatri, can you tell me of Abadar and if your deity encourages you to help the poor. I fear I know little of such things.
Absinthe stays in the kitchen and levels a flat stare at 'Brother Dhatri'. When he speaks, she listens - and watches him for all the tiny little tells that would betray him to be a con artist. Her hand rests on the hilt of her rapier the whole time; it looks nice and casual, but the hand is still there.
Ishani gives Segang an unsure look before answering. "Abadar is the patron of law and the courier of civilization. He also supports commerce and commune between people. Some see only the wealth, or call us 'bankers', but the clergy of Abadar serve the community first, rich or poor."
*
Brienna looks at Melianthe with hazy eyes and shakes her head.
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Melianthe is puzzled by the girl's symptoms. "We will have to wait for another to arrive; he may be able to determine more about your illness," she says lamely. "Can you tell me when you got sick and anything unusual you did around that time? Visiting someone, going to a different part of town, and so forth?"
Absinthe briefly steps outside and whistles a pre-arranged three-note signal. When Majenko drops down from wherever he was hiding, the tiefling gently strokes his skull and whispers to him.
"Of your courtesy, my dear, would you and your kin ask around? Tell us whether there are others showing these symptoms in this neighbourhood or others. Plague can spread like wildfire, if given half a chance. One would know."
Majenko nods. "I'll have a look around," he says before flying off.
*
Brienna is too weak to answer, but Tayce speaks up on her behalf. "It started two days ago. I can't say if she got into something bad or not... She works as a maid during the days... she came home that day exhausted. By morning, the rash and coughing had set in." Tayce lets out a ragged sigh. You can see the mother is at the end of her energy. "Brother Dhatri says an herbal brew will help give her strength to fight off the sickness. Is there aught else we can do?"
"I'll have to do more research, Tayce," says Melianthe a bit helplessly. "Our friend is bringing a scroll that may bring more to light about this disease. I will be able to tell you more then. An herbal brew cannot hurt as long as it is not too strong. I would not touch her or her garments or bedding until we know more. Has anyone laid hands upon her?"
She descends, keeping her face in check when she removes her mask. [b]"We will have to wait for Cherias, she says to Absinthe.
Seren will quietly inspect the rest of the house, checking the kitchen first and then the room for signs of unnatural causes or foul play.
Gotta think differently. Maybe a curse or poison
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