unfortunately there is nothing that the mundane arts of healing can do for the priest at this point he is just too weak to fight off the disease now.
Lies! My check clearly indicated that he will live...carry on.
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Gareek helps pack up and upon returning to town, he offers the meat of the wolves out to any who seem to need it or to the town elder to distribute as he sees fit.
"There is very little that I can do that others cannot, but I would be happy to assist any way that I can. Is he able to speak? Let us know where he was where he got the bite?"
"No, it was a ghoul bite and I believe a cemetery but I'm not sure where or which one." Calistria shakes her head. "I do not know magic that can help with this. Calistria is not a goddess of healing the way some are."
Tears run down her cheeks.
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"I've got bad news," Hailey says when she returns to the others. "He's too far gone. A quick death would be preferable for what is coming, unless someone can find a stronger priest that can remove disease within a day or two. We're too late. He will die. I suggest his suffering be ended. Any of you men care to step up? If not, I'll do it myself. In any case, it is time that those who love him be told the bad news, and they will decide if he lives to suffer or dies now in whatever comfort we can grant. So, someone go find his kin. Now."
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"Before we resort to such.. drastic. . Measures, sister Hailey, maybe someone could go back to the count for help or bring the priest back."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"You will end that man's life just as soon as you have ended mine. Do you understand?" Calistria speaks with intensity.
"I'm going to the lord of this village. He might have ideas or resources we don't know about. At least Garekk realizes there's still hope."
Calistria turns on her heel and marches towards the local lord's home, intent on going straight to the man for aid.
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Garekk goes along with Calistria to hunt for the lord and a horse. "If I may, Calistria, I would rather go fetch the count or the priest. You should stay here to continue your ministrations.. and to perhaps teach Hailey a bit of compassion through actions? I do not think that her heart is completely in the wrong place.. she just is rather callous. Let her see that humanity is not weakness through your actions and care."
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She follows them outside.
"My, what passion in you, Sister Callie. Very well. I'll stay my hand and let nature take its course. I simply meant to spare the family the sight of blood and gore. And, of course, to end his sufferings. Am I really that wrong for this, Garekk? Sometimes evil can be done in the name of good, and sometimes good can be done in the name of evil. It's never as cut and dried as one would assume.
"But it's no longer any concern to me what happens to him. I'll let those you who are adept at compassion handle this. Fetch your aid. Do the best you can for him. My place is as a gather of knowledge, so if you'll excuse me, I'm going to write another letter to my church to update them on the newest information since I last wrote. Shall I include asking them for some scrolls to be sent to you to expand your healing powers, Sister Callie? They'll take time to arrive, but . . .
"And I want you all to understand something. I don't do harm to the undeserving. I considered this priest a special case. I saw nothing we could do for him and felt it kinder to let him die in peace than suffer any longer. I should not have said so, though. If he was bitten by a ghoul, then you people have bigger problems than whether or not a priest will live or die. It means the ghouls are active around here. We need to know where he was, what he was doing, who he was doing it with, the time of day, ad infinitum."
With that, she searches for more paper.
After that, she will go around town asking who knew the circumstances of the priest's bite. We obviously have a big problem, or at least, those who detest the undead do, that nobody seems to have noticed right now.
After she finds out anything, she'll write her new updated report and include that in it.
All you find out Hailey is that the priest went to visit a farmer out of town several days ago and was found the day after about two miles out of town fevered and incoherent.
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As soon as Hailey learns this, she'll go looking for Swift-Palm, Sir Rois, or Voryn, and inform them about what she's learned.
"I know, I know, I'm nobody's favorite person, right now, but I've learned some rather interesting information. The priest went to visit a farmer who lives out of town and might well be worth talking to. Wouldn't you agree? The priest was found the day afterwards, roughly two miles out of town and already infected. It may be a slender bit of information, but to me, it seems worth checking out. But you boys meet and talk it over. If anyone should care to find me, I'll be doing my job."
Then she will go write her letter updating the church of Nethys on her newest information, including the priest and his travels.
"I think we should both go." Calistria says to Garekk. "I've made him as comfortable as I can and I can explain the situation best. Thank you, though, Garekk."
Garekk and Calistria find someone who will loan them a pair of horses for one day. Though he mentions if you don't return he will have your friends hanged as horse thieves.
The local lord's house is within the village walls and has a stone wall and wooden gate around it. There is a burly man standing outside the gate, a spear in hand, and wearing scale mail, his shield resting against the wall behind him.
"If he was truly bitten by a ghoul, we should hunt down the creature and slay it, so that no one else falls prey to such a foul disease. It is good information that you have gathered Lady Besh. And I know that your intention wasn't evil when you suggested to put the infected out of his missery, as you saw no better solution, but Lady Calistria is determined to find a way to save the man's life. Perhaps her resolve will bear fruit, but I fear that nothing can be done."
He looks to Rois, Swift-Palm and Vorel
"It is getting dark, so we should probably wait until tomorrow, but I suggest we hunt down the ghoul responsible for this man's illness. What say you, friends?"
"Just as wise as ever, dear Voryn! It would be in our interest, and the interest of the entire village, if we investigate this incident at the earliest possible opportunity. There may yet be a connection between this ghoul sighting and the other issues at hand."
Swift seems to ponder on this matter. Before Hailey leaves, Swift will gently ruffle her hair in a playful manner.
"Like the huntsman has said, we know your heart was in the right place. Some people just feel differently about this than you do. We should respect Calistria's wishes on this."
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"Thank you, men, both of you. As I told Sister Callie, it's no longer any affair to me. I am, however, pleased that you agree following up on the information I collected is important. Yes, we should wait until morning. Now if you'll excuse me."
With that, she goes to write her updated letter and find someone willing to deliver it to her church in exchange for money.
Vorelloex has been silent, listening to the business, staying out of what he does not know. He does however, respond to Voryn's hunt offer with pointed eagerness.
"Abominations will pay for their sins, sane or not."
Vorelloex is wholly inspired by the loss of his brother to bring justice to this matter.
He doesn't understand it in his mind, but his subconscious is warping and growing...
Calistria takes a deep breath and focuses on thoughts of the Winged Lady, trying to push away the helplessness and worry she feels.
"Excuse me. I am Calistria of the Order of Sacred Couriers. A priestess of Desna. This is my friend, Garekk. We'd like to talk with the Lord, please. It concerns the village priest. He is quite ill."
Rois watches calistria and Voryn leave in a rush. He is completely confused. Why would they be in such a hurry if the priest was bitten by a dog. Could that dog have rabies? Maybe it was a werewolf? Does that mean the priest will turn into a werewolf?
The aged knight stands silent and resolute, hoping someone would explain what is happening...
Calistria takes a deep breath and focuses on thoughts of the Winged Lady, trying to push away the helplessness and worry she feels.
"Excuse me. I am Calistria of the Order of Sacred Couriers. A priestess of Desna. This is my friend, Garekk. We'd like to talk with the Lord, please. It concerns the village priest. He is quite ill."
"Of course you can see the baron, priestess. I must ask that your orc servant stay out here however. The baron will not deal with such creatures."
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Garekk swells with indignation and scorn, but manages to keep his anger to himself.. barely. He glares at the guard as he says to Calistria "Go as you must. I will bear the indignation.. for now. The priests life is more important right now than satisfying insults."
Garekks knuckles pop and strain as he works to hold in his ire. Eventually, he gives the man the worst insult that he can allow himself: He puts his back to the guard and pretends that the little bug is not there. In the Clans, turning your back to an enemy is not only stating that the person does not have any value, but indeed that their value is so low that they cannot possibly be a threat. He is wounded.. deeply, and turning his back also gives him a bit of cover in case the mask might slip. Evil has many faces.. not just the bloodshed and hatred.. but poisoned little darts of prejudice as well.
Calistria is let inside the house where a servant announces her to the Baron of Kotla.
"Please, no need for formal titles, my lord will do fine. What can I do to help you priestess?"
"The village priest has been bitten by a ghoul." Calistria says after offering a curtsy to the baron. "I have labored to heal him but I am not learned enough yet to know the proper spells to help. I am hoping, my lord, that you know someone who does."
"I believe the Caliphvasos employ a cleric of some power at Chateau Douleurs, a day north of here on Lake Raiteso. I have no idea if she can or will help you. A ghoul you said? Such wounds are nearly always fatal are they not and does the church of Desna agree with our teachings that such wounds usually indicate some dark stain long held on the soul of the afflicted individual?"
"I think that that judgement lays in the hands of the gods, my lord, not in our's. If the cleric at Chateau Douleurs can't or won't help? Maybe you are right. If the cleric can? Perhaps the gods want this man saved for a reason."
"Will the priest live long enough for you to travel there and return?"
Calistria closes her eyes.
"... I think we would need to bring him with us. It would be his only chance. A slim one, I know. And it will be his choice. His and his wife's."
Voryn looks at his companions. "One of us should go in and ask the man where he was when he was bitten by a ghoul. He's probably feverish and I don't want to scare him, so maybe it's best if it's one of you."
"I have no qualms in doing so, dear Voryn. If any of you wish to accompany me, feel free to join."
Swift goes to the ailing man, heading to the bedside. He observes the priest for a few moments, then speaks as gently as he can.
"Can you hear me? Poor soul, this sickness is making quick work of you. If you have the strength left to answer a few questions, we might be able to do more."
"I have no qualms in doing so, dear Voryn. If any of you wish to accompany me, feel free to join."
Swift goes to the ailing man, heading to the bedside. He observes the priest for a few moments, then speaks as gently as he can.
"Can you hear me? Poor soul, this sickness is making quick work of you. If you have the strength left to answer a few questions, we might be able to do more."
The priest is incoherent when he responds.
"I feared it would be so. Please, save your strength. We are doing what we can to save you, but we also want to help prevent future incidents."
He gives the priest a moment of respite. After a brief meditation session, Swift thanks the priest for his time and takes his leave.
When Swift returns from the priest, Rois sees the horror in the monk's eyes and the elder knight finally realizes that this is more than some dog bite and the priest does not have long for this world.
"No man should die alone. The priest has done good here and it is only right that someone stay by his side until he is taken into Iomedae's arms. I have no use in the matters of healing. But, I do know a prayer or two. If none of you object, I will keep his vigil. And, at the very least, I can make his last moments as comfortable as possible."
Calistria returns, her expression dark.
"We have a chance. A slim one." she says. "The Caliphvasos employs a powerful cleric at the Chateau Douleurs, a day north of here on Lake Raiteso. We'll need to bring the priest with us. He won't survive, otherwise. His wife should decide if he can't. If he should go."
"That is good news, lady Calistria! Hope is something this land is in dear need of. We should convene with his with the utmost haste!"
The monk is unusually agitated, his calm demeanor replaced by a somewhat frantic behavior. The concern in his eyes dominates his plain face. His bear, slightly ruffled and no longer tamed, sways from side to side as the monk paces.
Calistria returns, her expression dark.
"We have a chance. A slim one." she says. "The Caliphvasos employs a powerful cleric at the Chateau Douleurs, a day north of here on Lake Raiteso. We'll need to bring the priest with us. He won't survive, otherwise. His wife should decide if he can't. If he should go."
His wife is perfectly willing if it has a chance to save him.
"That is good news, lady Calistria! Hope is something this land is in dear need of. We should convene with his with the utmost haste!"
The monk is unusually agitated, his calm demeanor replaced by a somewhat frantic behavior. The concern in his eyes dominates his plain face. His bear, slightly ruffled and no longer tamed, sways from side to side as the monk paces.
"We can't spare any time then! We'll have to travel through the night and make haste."
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"Assuming he survives the trip, that is," Hailey remarks.
She looks at Swift-Palm and gently takes his hand.
"Looked into the face of the other side, I see. Tonight, I'll lead the meditations. You balanced my chaos. Let me balance your feelings."
Hailey retreats to the outside of the house and thinks to herself.
I believe we're wasting precious time. Saving one man's life if it costs the entire village theirs? Oh Hailey, listen to yourself. It's not your place to care about these people. It's your job to investigate. That's what you should be doing. Still, is it really right to save one man and let the others be at risk? Hailey, stop it, you're drifting again. Who's going to speak for those poor undead? It's not their fault these people knew this land was dangerous yet chose to settle here anyway. If you don't want bitten by a shark, don't live near the ocean.
"Let them save this priest. Maybe they can. If they do, he can then give us more clear information about what we've done. But I can't let time pass so easily, and let memories fade and evidence be lost.
Hailey returns to the group outside.
"I would like to be allowed to remain and begin investigating at the farm where we last knew the priest to be. If the undead do show up, I can get them not to harm me. The longer it's delayed, the more memory and evidence are lost. I should have done it earlier, actually. Save your priest, if you can, for all your worth. I have work to do."
"Thank you, lady Besh. The face of Death is one I have not looked upon for many moons. It is not like me to lose my composure. I would be honored if you led the meditations."
He gives Hailey a gesture of respect, along with a pained smile. He gently squeezes her hand before relinquishing the grasp. Even with that severed, he does not stray far from the little gnome's side.
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"Swift-Palm, I know I've no right to ask this, but if I stay and begin the investigation here, would you stay too? That way I could lead the meditation."
And I'm starting to like your company. It's intellectually stimulating and that's something I didn't expect that I'd ever find around here, she thinks, but she prudently keeps that to herself. I wonder if he plays chess.
"If it is ok with the rest of our group, I would be delighted to stay. After all, we can't just leave one of our own behind."
And certainly not her. I don't know what I would do if something happened to her while I was off somewhere. It is decided, we shall remain in the village and figure out what we can while the others do their best to bring the priest to the healer.
Rois makes a audible sigh Moving the priest in the state that he is in may well kill the man. If we must move him, then we should do it quickly. He may not survive the journey, but, he defiantly will not survive long enough to get where we are going if we wait.
"Are you sure you wish to do this priestess? The man may not survive the journey. Why is it that we can not let him pass here and in peace?"
"What would you want, Sir Grave, if that was you in that bed?" Calistria asks with defiance in her tone. "What would you want if it was your wife and there was a chance to save her?"