GM Faelyn' Falcon's Hollow Series

Game Master Faelyn

As Ruhk handles the bottle, it occurs to him that a bottle of nightshade might prove useful at some point, and he briefly considers nabbing it for himself.
Eventually he does replace the bottle where he took it, not without a little bit of shame at his unworthy thoughts.

"It is time for you to go gently into that good night old man, to sleep the sleep of those who have done their part in life.
To sleep, perchance to dream forever more, until you stand in front of Pharasma, and may she judge you kindly for the work you did in life."

Now, how do we go about stopping that little child from following suit?
No way can a poor little babe still in swaddling clothes be considered to have lived a full life.

Normally, yes, Greyson; however, Blackscour Taint is very different. With that roll on your Heal check I will post the description from the module.

So the cough is more of the body's reaction to the fungus as opposed to being due to fungal infection of the lungs. It's kind of odd...

A wizard did it!

Caine stared flatly at Laurel. "Spores ain't very big. How many do you think she'd need to breathe in b'fore she got enough of them in her mouth to swallow a few? You think breathing the thing that is killing the town is probably fine?"

"You know this stuff doesn't obey the rules. What else goes from the stomach to the lungs? Anything?"

"You don't know a damn thing about it beyond how people die from it. That's why you can't cure it, or even keep people from catching it."

"If you knew what it was, you could have it contained, but all you can do is poison people who are about to die anyway."

"I might be a drunk, but even I know that we can't afford to take chances with this."

While he talked he gently picked up Belladonna from the body of the dying man and pushed a flask into her hands.

"Lass, I need you to pull it together for a second. Do not swallow. Wash your mouth out with this, and then spit it out, alright?"

It's just whiskey. It will kill anything in your mouth.

There is a fury burning behind Laurel's eyes as she looks up at Greyson from where she's kneeling next to the dying man. "Just like the rest of the arrogant fools in this town, you think you know more than me. Well, then, Mr. Drunk where were you while all these folks were dyin'? While her daddy lay choking and drowning on his own blood? You ain't done nothin' for these people! I am the only one who has done anythin'! For your information, I'm the one who traced the disease back to Brookman's Well. I'm the one who begged for Kreed to close it down! I have contained the disease, no one else has gotten sick since the initial outbreak. I am the only one 'round here who cares enough to even try to find a cure, other than these good folks here who just offered. If you cared so much, why haven't you tried to help, eh? Where have you been? Drowin' your sorrows in that whiskey you so love."

She slowly stands and points to the door. "Now get out of my shop." Her voice is low and quiet, but there is a deep menace behind it.

Belladonna cringes under the man's words, but she did as she was told.

After spitting out the whiskey, she motions to have some more to drink, before slinking into the corner of the room and hunkering down.

"Excuse us, we mean no disrespect. It is often just that frustration takes hold of our tongues. I am curious, if you know, at all, before we go. Are there caves, or underground passageways below the town, any place where someone might have access to the source of Brookman's well, a place we might investigate for clues as to where this contaminant originates from?

after Belladonna has gone to the corner of the room, he will approach her and say

Miss Goodbarrel, I hope you are felling better. I can't help but overhear some of the things that are being said, and I do not mean to pry into your private life, it is none of my business, and perhaps people should be more careful of the things they say in public, but if it means anything to you, I am sorry for your loss, and that you have been personally touched by these tragedies. If there is anything I can do to be of help to you or your family and friends, please don't hesitate to ask. In the mean time, I'll leave you alone, take all the time you need to gather yourself together.

I'll then approach Laurel. and ask her,

Will you be alright if Belladonna stays here for a moment or two, until she is feeling better, it would mean very much to me to know she was in your care.

And then I'll approach Greyson,

Sir, I don't believe we've been formally introduced. My name is Nathaniel Artegal Boote. Since I do not know you, or your situation, I must naturally give you the benefit of the doubt. However, Miss laurel has asked us to leave, and I must insist we do as she has asked, and I will hear no argument to the contrary.

Finally I'll approach Rhuk, Zilka, and Zirren, and ask as politely as I can

We all seem to have come upon this situation at the same time, even though we may have had different plans, each of our own, but I would suggest that we take our leave of this place, for , now, compare notes, and see if it would be beneficial to this community for us to pool our talents and resources, and acting together, do what we can to track down the origin of this plague, do what we can to bring it to a swift end. Would you agree? We can retire to a local public house, if you see my point, wait for Miss Goodbarrel to join us, and then make a plan of action. Together we can accomplish far more than any one of us can on our own.

"Well, then, Mr. Drunk where were you while all these folks were dyin'? While her daddy lay choking and drowning on his own blood? You ain't done nothin' for these people!

"All these folks ain't my concern. They're yours. I tried t' speak up when it all started and damn near got thrown in jail again. Remember that? You told me not to tell you how to do your job, and when I tried to get you to listen, you got Baleson involved. After that I went back to the Duck."

"There's damn near twenty people who live or work at the Duck, and not one of them is sick. Probably just a coincidence, right?"

Caine shook his head and looked down to where Nathaniel was addressing him.

"You aint going to get any argument from me. I was just leaving." To Belladona he just said "Keep it." Then he looked to Zirren for a moment and said. "Your mom sent me. I'll be outside."

Laurel does not say anything to Greyson as he exits, just glares at his back. "Arrogant, son of a..." The rest of her words die on her tongue as the old man begins another coughing fit, though this one seems to not be nearly as bad as the last. She comforts him and eases him back down onto the floor. She stares at Old Man Gill for another few moments as his eyelids slowly start to droop and his coughing eases up. Gill's hand suddenly finds Laurel's. "Thank ya." His head lowers to the floor as Old Man Gill's breathing slows, but steadies as the Nightshade begins to take effect.

"Rest now, Gill. You'll be seein' her soon..." Those watching Laurel might see her lips tremble slightly and a hint of moistness gather at the corners of her eyes. "Poor old fool doesn't even have any family left to see him off." She watches him closely for the next few minutes and looks up at Nathaniel's approach. "'Course she can..."

Laurel glances over towards Belladonna, hiding back in the corner and lets out an angry sigh. "He's right, you know." She says to the others still in her shop. "I can't stop this, I just don't have the knowledge or the ingredients... But..." She shakes her head. "I cannot believe I'm askin' you all this. If you really want to help me, there's one last medicine that I haven't tried yet. A weird concoction that sounds more like hoojoo than real medicine. I've got most of the ingredients here except for three and I cannot go out to find them. Will you help me? It's the last hope we've got."

"These things are rare I take it? What d'ya need Lauren, come on, don't be coy, just tell us.
I said I'd help, so at least give me and these others a chance to try.
Something, even a long shot is better than nothing after all."

"Finding things that don't want to be found is kinda my specialty. What do you need?"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Laurel nods at Ruhk and Zilka. "Rare doesn't begin to cover it, sweet Ruhk. First is somethin' called elderwood moss, which I’ve never heard of, but granny says the stuff only grows on the oldest tree in a forest. A specially pickled root called rat’s tail, again, sounds like hoojoo to me. And seven ironbloom mushrooms, stunty little things that only grow in dark places thick with metal, a favorite among dwarves, or so I hear. It's a long shot, but if you can get me these ingredients then I can make the medicine. Not sure if it'll work, but according to the notes in my granny's book, it's good for this type of sickness."

Belladonna nods slowly when the others talk about finding the rare ingredients. However, she still doesn't lift her teary eyes. Her arms wrap around her legs, and she rocks herself back and forth gently.

"Well, the tree might be the easiest to find, if one of the other lumberjacks don't have at least a clue for us to follow then I'm a two headed ogre with a hangover and the pox."

As he talks, Ruhk moves over to Belladonna and gently puts a hand on her head, stroking her hair softly.

Belladonna takes Ruhk's affection with gratitude.

"Thank y-you" she muttered softly. She then used his hand to steady herself as she got up.

Turning to Laurel, Belladonna still did not meet her gaze. However, she whispered "Can... C-Can I bury him?"

Her lower lip quivered uncontrollably.

Laurel nods. "Of course, dear." She glances down at Gill, his breathing seems to have slowed down quite a bit, only one breath every 10 seconds or so... She still holds the old man's hand while she thinks of locations for the ingredients.

"That's a good call, Ruhk. I bet Milon could point you all in the right direction, but he's up at the Main Camp loggin' right now." Ruhk recognizes the name as the most experienced woodsman in the Lumber Consortium. He also knows exactly where the main camp is located, about a 4-5 hour walk northeast of town.

"The rat’s tail and mushrooms..." She shakes her head in thought. "Y'know way north, toward the mountains, people say there used to live a bunch of dwarves. They’re not there anymore, but I’d bet their forges are. If you can find ironbloom anywhere around here, that’d be your best bet." Zirren, this makes you think of the dwarven monastery...

"As for the rat’s tail, who knows? Well. Actually. Ulizmila, the witch that lives deep in the woods might. She’s a crafty, mean thing that knows all sorts of strangeness. She might even have one. I don’t know what she might want for it, but I doubt it’d come cheap. My grandmother traded her sight to the old crone for a few pages of what she knew, and that was years and years back, and I don’t know a soul who got any nicer as they got older. Hell, I'd be amazed if she's even still drawin' breath, but you know them old crones. They tend to keep on livin'." Zirren and Belladonna both know the location of Ulizmila's hut in The Woods. Perhaps you visited the hut on a dare, or sought her out for some reason or another. I'll leave the details up to you, but you'll both know where to go.

"Well, I guess that's a start, all great journeys begins with one step, and this could be considered it then."

Ruhk gives Belladonna's head another tussle.
"How do you like that eh? Going into the forest to look for ruins, trees and witches?
Bet you didn't think that was going to happen today eh?"

"Well no, no I didn't. D'you think the witch'll turn us into toads?"

"Nah, witches aren't what folks say about 'em. She's probably just ornery and private and folks make up the damnedest nonsense, that's what I always find. If we're polite she'll come around, I reckon so."

"Well I hope you're right. My big bro made me go there once when I was little."

"Oh, what happened?"

Ruhk grins down at Belladonna.
"Why, she got turned into a toad, but don't worry, she got better."

Well then it seems like we have a plan and a purpose. Thank you Lauren.

Nathaniel bows to her, then turns to man standing next to Belladonna and says

Addressing Ruhk with a mile and an offered hand
Greetings, sir. I don’t believe we’ve met, or been introduced. My name is Nathaniel Artegal Boote. You can call me Artegal, please. Was Mister Caine a friend or acquaintance of yours? Never mind I shouldn’t intrude into other people’s business, but it does seem like he knows a great deal about this area and perhaps we need his help.

It would seem Lauren is in need of help gathering these things. Zilka and Ziren, whom I’ve just met, seem to be the kind of people who are experts in just this sort of work, while you, Caine, and Belladonna know the town and the surrounding area. I am hoping to explore these dwarven ruins that were mention, and offer my assistance in a joint, coordinated effort for the six of us to undertake the responsibility of acquiring these ingredients. What do you say. Should we take our leave, find a place to plan our strategy and what and where we should go to get this mission underway with haste?

"Yes yes Mr. Artegal. I'm feeling better now so I'm ready. I just want to make sure we are in town when it's time to bury this man. I want to be there for him."

Ruhk looks down at Nathaniel, frowning as he tries to think back and see if this is someone he has seen before.
After a moment he decides that no he has not, so he grasps Nathaniel's hand in the age old test of manly might by slowly squeezing it a bit.

"Just call me Ruhk, Nathaniel. And I know a lot of people in these parts, some I'd rather not, and some I'd rather know even better as they say, heh."

"As for Caine, not so much really, people call me a flirt and a ladies man, but I've never paid for the company of ladies...besides a drink and a dinner that is.
So I haven't really gone to that place, ESPECIALLY since some of the people in the Flesh trade around these parts don't like me for some weird reason.
Besides, as you saw just now, Caine is not the friendliest for sorts on a good day."

So, you know where to find two of the locations. The last, elusive, elder tree remains to be found, but you have a lead, Milon Rhoddam. I know Belladonna wants to wait to help with Old Man Gill after he passes. Do you guys want the opportunity for some RP here? Or would you rather do a little timeskip ahead to keep things moving?

Zilka hmms, and repeats her question, "Bella, what happened when you went to the witch's house when you were little?"

Belladonna, in reference to Zilka's question, feel free to take that opportunity to have some fun! If you have any questions reference the Witch, let me know and I'll provide you what info I have!

I think some RP is definitely in order. Pretty sure the group is still standing around inside the shop. I'd love to do a scene where we all get together outside, or inside somewhere getting breakfast, and discuss what needs to be done.

Don't worry guys, I'll have a post up in a few hours.

"Lemme explain it on the way, I think it's time we get outta here."

Belladonna dons her cloak and exits the shop, taking another glance at the old man before she leaves.

With a deep breath, Belladonna collects herself outside in the rain. When the others join her, she says the following while heading to the Duck.

"Well, back when I was a little Hin, I used to play in the woods with my older siblings. We liked to play hide and seek, I was really good at it. One day, I was the seeker and I found my big brother scouting out a lonely hut. Of course, I yelled "I gotcha!" but he turned and shhed me. He said that this was a witch's house, and that she'd turn us into toads if we got too close.

I don't remember what exactly happened, but he forced me to go investigate it, but I was scared. I think he threatened to tell mom about something, I'm not sure. Anyways when I did finally investigate the hut, the ginormous door swung open. I heard an evil laugh and ran as fast as I could out of there. I had night terrors about it for weeks."

Caine didn't say anything as the group filed out. He just fell into step near Zirren and listened.

"Hmm, sounds like a wonderfully nice person. Let's start there!"

"Don't be offended now kid, but really, your brother...he's a bit of a prick isn't he?"

Without hesitation, Belladonna replies with a firm "Yup! A really really big prick. It's okay though because he works hard for the family. He helps out the loggers and such on a daily basis. His name is Wilmo, by the way, but most people just call him Will, or Willy."

Being called 'kid' didn't phase Belladonna, for she found it useful in appearing innocent.

Grinning, Ruhk once more ruffles Belladonna's hair affectionately.
"I guess we know who is the good sibling in the family then, but just in case, if he should give you any more trouble, just tell me and I'll put him through a window for you.
And if he is really apologetic, I might even pick one on the ground floor."

I'll follow Belladonna, quietly

"Last time you threw someone out a window, I had to fix it." Caine grumbled from behind Ruhk. "I'm not much of a carpenter so it doesn't close right anymore. Now there's a drafty corner in my bar."

"True, I'm sorry about the window, but I'm not sorry about doing it.
THAT guy was a right prick, and in my defence, I WAS aiming at the door.
You were too busy with his two pals at the moment, and he was starting to get a little too..."handsy" with people."

Caine shrugs. "No big deal. That window's been broken three times now. Sister Sylvanna knows that magic fixing-things trick so it doesn't cost much to repair. She just spends a few hours putting the glass back together and I try not to screw up the rest."

"Yeah, pity he got up and got back in.
How long did it take to heal that bruise he gave you? My nose was sore for days."

Turning to the others and offering them a wry smile, he whispers.
"Getting kicked in the face hurts, take it from an expert."

Caine shrugged. "I get hit there a lot. Hard to say."

I dunno if I should laugh or be scared...

"My rule of thumb about getting kicked in the face is do it to the other guy before he does it to you," Zilka comments.

Yup, definitely scared

"Good rule."

"Well, you're a gentlewoman, there are quite enough people in these parts who would wait for you to kick someone, only to sneak up behind you and put a dagger in your back..."
Ruhk's mood sour remarkably fast, and he spits into the gutter, muttering to himself.

"A gentlewoman? Me? Ha! My parents were tradesfolk, thank you very much. Nothing gentle about us."

"Ladies, ladies, you're both the prettiest." Caine said with a roll of his eyes as he moved past the rest of the group it push open the swinging doors of the Duck.

He gave a quick wave to Val and Jalene while he held the doors open for the group, then pulled off his wet cloak and wiped the rest of the rain off his face.

"Grab a seat. I'll get some food." Then he vanished into the kitchen.

Just as Caine asked, Belladonna grabbed a halfling sized chair and sat at the table.