Istas:The flow into the infirmary has slowed considerably today. The Queen's decree of the ninth has left many ill people waiting at home for physicians.
"Thank the Lady," Istas breathes a sigh of relief that her duties are a bit lighter in the infirmary than the past. She can feel her own strength waning from the disease and any respite is appreciated. She does, however, fret over the lack of access some citizens might have to endure by being restricted to their homes. Later, she approaches Father Corvin about it.
"Doesn't it seem odd?" she questions, "That everyone is requested to stay at home rather than seek out the very infirmaries in the temples? As useful as the Queen's physicians may be, wouldn't it make sense to have them augment our own healers at a centralized location? By having them all travel to people's homes, I imagine there's a lot of time wasted going back and forth all about the city."
Istas & Heather:
The Pharasmen are not willing to sell the remove disease potion. Heather asks to see Istas to plead her case.
"I'm afraid such things are priceless commodities right now," Istas explains, "There's little I can do to persuade them to sell you one. Are you not recovered yet from your own illness?"
Kenan goes off to see Jeorik and Istas and shows them the lavender liniment.
Istas brightens considerably when Kenan arrives. Dealing with the ill has obviously started to weigh on her. Coupled with the effects of Bloodveil, she's far more eager than usual to speak with her friends.
"I'm not sure I understand," she tells him, "What does this lavender liniment do? And where did you get such a thing?"
"Istas, Jeorik this concerns you too. This was given to me outside the home of Tayce and my friend Donitello. No great details but someone is passing this off as a cure all and that be bad enough except dat the liniment here is pure poison and they be falling over after. Falling over dead. This needs stopping because someone is making a tidy profit killing people in Trails End."
CrimsonDM
Kenan sits the poor man down and pulls out a small wineskin, "this be purely for medicinal purposes when the day is long and my throat is parched. Care for a drop? Then perhaps we can swop stories about our patients. Do you be knowing that I had an old lady bring in her dying cat for me to save! believe it! Can you believe it! A cat on my dear departed mother's best shawl I nearly threw her out myself!"
"Istas, Jeorik this concerns you too. This was given to me outside the home of Tayce and my friend Donitello. No great details but someone is passing this off as a cure all and that be bad enough except dat the liniment here is pure poison and they be falling over after. Falling over dead. This needs stopping because someone is making a tidy profit killing people in Trails End."
"This is dire news, indeed!" Istas rocks back as Kenan shares his information about the lavender liniment. Then she shoots a glance at Jeorik (). "We should make sure the Field Marshall is made aware of this development. The Guard should track down who's peddling the liniment and put a stop to it. And right away! Before it causes even more harm in making people think they've found a cure for bloodveil, and then they delay finding a legitimate healer to help them."
"By the Lady," she complains, "Who would use such a dire circumstance as this plague to profit on the deaths of others? If the Field Marshall requires a diviner to help root out these miscreants, I'd be happy to talk to Father Corvin and see if he will release me from duty in the infirmary to help."
"Kenan," replies Jeorik when told of the poison, "that is indeed serious news. I fear it will be unwelcome news as well, the guard is already spread thin. I was on my way to try and recruit some more to aid us. Perhaps though, we can gather some companions and investigate it. First though, let us inform the field marshall and see what she thinks. I suspect she will be like minded in her desires."
Jeorik takes Kenan and Istas to see Croft.
Istas and Heather
"We're talking about a pregnant woman here..two lives in the balance and..dammit Istas she's my oldest friend...if I desert her how can I possibly keep my soul clean. As for me I'm healed thanks to the care of your people..and I'm ready tohelp hheal my city"
At Keenans news she scowls.."Now that is just the sort of Charlatan I want to see swinging from the nearest Lampost..lets go see this..alchemist"
Emerion: Phillida replies that she's doing well enough, but that her family is holding her back. Everyone treats her like a child. Just yesterday when she tried to go to class Jeorik turned her back at Stone Bridge. Today she came via Griffons' Gate. (One of the most substantial wood bridges across the Strait of Alika. Now it leads through a very bad neighborhood indeed.) "I've never gone that way before. The trash and filth, and all the dirty children running around. Someone should clean it up." But she's very serious about joining the Grey Maidens. She wants to help the queen make Korvosa safe and strong again. And Inigo would approve, she's sure. Then she inquires politely, "And how are you Emerion?"
"I am well enough - now. I had a brush of the Bloodveil, but the Pharasman healers have pronounced me cured. I have a few friends and family that are sick still, which is why I want to do something about this mess we are in," he smiles briefly. "I have never exactly been civic-minded, but I do see the ills in this place. So, how would you say the poverty and trash should be cleaned up, Phillida?"
Emerion asks the question thoughtfully, wondering what her response will be. He has his own ideas, of course ...
Emerion: Once across the Strait, Philly steers you west. "I love looking at the big houses along the cliff." Then she returns to the conversation. "Well. The people there made the mess. They ought to clean it up. They could pay for some carters to come in and take it all away."
Heather:Something about the bottle Kenan holds is familiar.
"What would they pay with? If you hadn't noticed, those people are very poor," Emerion points out. "Do you think they live stacked on top of one another among filth and rats out of choice? I know I wouldn't want to. They live there because they have no-where else to live, I think you will find, and the filth is there because there is no-where else for it to go and they cannot afford to have it removed - and if they threw it in the narrows, I imagine it would soon form a reef all of it's own."
Emerion grimaces sadly.
"Did you know my Grandfather grew up there? He was lucky, rather than working for coppers in the ironworks he was apprenticed to a sword-smith early on, and became a master craftsman and eventually a wealthy man indeed, but not everyone has the skill or the talent to rise out of that squalor."
Emerion looks up the houses.
"They are nice, I suppose, but it's not how most people have to live. One thing I have learned is, it isn't just cream that floats to the top."
"Oh goodness Lavender's..my Mother's aunt Hildegarde used to swear by that stuff, they've been making it for years..just another quack medicine harmless in itself but if they are claiming it cures the Bloodveil then we have to put a stop to it."
"The shop's up on the heights..I can't quite remember where but I'll know it if I see it"
Father Corvin, who has quietly been watching the exchange, agrees. "It would be good for you to get out of here, Istas."
"And good for the rest of us." He adds dryly, indicating the entire ward with a sweep of his hand. He chuckles and coughs. "This could be serious. It is almost as important that people have faith in the healers as that the healers actually cure the people. A fraud of this nature imperils that trust."
When Istas leaves to arm herself, the elderly priest pulls Heather aside.
Jeorik and Kenan: Perception DC 18
After a few seconds with Heather, Corvin calls out to Kenan. "Kenan, how goes the battle across the Jeggare? I hear Davaulus has not sent any physicians beyond the city walls yet."
"What would they pay with? If you hadn't noticed, those people are very poor," Emerion points out. "Do you think they live stacked on top of one another among filth and rats out of choice? I know I wouldn't want to. They live there because they have no-where else to live, I think you will find, and the filth is there because there is no-where else for it to go and they cannot afford to have it removed - and if they threw it in the narrows, I imagine it would soon form a reef all of it's own."
Emerion grimaces sadly.
"Did you know my Grandfather grew up there? He was lucky, rather than working for coppers in the ironworks he was apprenticed to a sword-smith early on, and became a master craftsman and eventually a wealthy man indeed, but not everyone has the skill or the talent to rise out of that squalor."
Emerion looks up the houses.
"They are nice, I suppose, but it's not how most people have to live. One thing I have learned is, it isn't just cream that floats to the top."
Philomina is momentarily abashed. "Well, I suppose that's true. But if they make all that trash, they should clean it up themselves. Maybe they should burn it. It's places like that that breed Bloodveil and a dozen other diseases."
***
"Your grandfather worked hard and did the right thing. I'm sure he never let trash build up in front of his home."
***
"These people in the Heights are the finest in the city. Someday my father will move us up here too."
Sometime in the last few days it became commonplace to identify a house infected with Bloodveil by painting a red stripe across the door. Walking through the city you see a lot of them.
Everyone -- Perception DC 15:
Heather leads the main party almost due west. She locates her aunt's old house on the Slope and retraces the route along which her aunt would often drag her. It winds past Castle Korvosa and unto a broad boulevard. You are just abreast the Temple of the Iron Fist (Azmodeus) when you see a couple of familiar people strolling toward you, Emerion and Jeorik's cousin Philomina.
Heather:
Everyone (repeated from Emerion's post) -- Perception DC 15:
Interesting thing about the Heights. There's not as many red stripes although a lot of gates are closed and many houses have a civilian guard or two at the door.
Perception:
"My grandfather was lucky, too. That part of the city is largely made of wood, a lot of open fires there could set it all on fire. If there was a large space nearby they could haul it to every week to be burned, then you might see some progress."
Emerion chuckles at her comment about the people being 'the finest', then grimaces sadly.
"I'm sorry to disillusion you, but when my family moved out of the Old city, I too thought it would be grand to keep fine company. I wasn't out a day before I realised that the term 'Varisian Dancer' wasn't a very polite one, and no member of the heights would let us forget it. The people here ... aren't any worse than you'll find around the rest of the city, but they aren't really any better either - they just have money."
In the Temple..(for GM only)
Heather grins at the old priest and whispers a "Bless you Father.." before tucking her prize into her pouch and leaving with the others
On the Heights..
Heather catches that last comment from Emerion and can't help but laugh.."Oh so true my friend..oh so true..Philomena..how nice to see you my dear. I trust this scallywag hasn't been regaling you with boring stories about noble life..it's really not all it's cracked up to be..mainly stuffy rooms full off sweaty people all wishing they were somewhere else."
Turning to the others she motions with her head.."I'm fairly sure the place we seek is just a couple of blocks down this way..along Summoners Street. My goodness I must have been 12 the last time I was in the place.."
"You remember my Great Aunt Hildegarde, Emerion... the hypochondriac one..who died off old age at the age of 87 ..it appears there's some charlatan operating out off the place she used to get her medicines..claims to be able to cure this scourge..we're here to find out what's going on do you care to join us..you too Phili..you might as well see what is going on in your city "
"Heather my dear," Emerion bows, "it delights my eyes and my heart to see you well again!"
He listens a moment.
Knowledge (local):
"That place? I do recall it's up here," he points, "though I cannot recall the name of the street. I'd be glad to join you - in fact, friend Jeorik, we were on our way to do just that," Emerion grimaces sourly. "I fear I was about to do something I have thus far strenuously avoided and volunteer to help out the guard."
"Battle? what battle across the Jeggare? If you be meaning the plague, it be as strong as before and we be in sore need of more help. I was hoping to go to Palin's Cove and get more healers but it looks like that is not going to be happening this side of tomorrow. You don't have a cupboardful of them I could borrow, do you? Faith and I hope there be an end to this before me stocks of potions end."
"Speaking of which, Istas here be a little elixir that Ishani and I be making which has helped more than few to stop that fearful cough. If you be fighting Urguthoa and all then drink that and maybe you be fighting fit again." Kenan hands over a small dose of the precious infusion.
"As for a shop, if I was handing out potions of poison, I'd be a bit more on the move than that. Otherwise their good relatives might be calling back to thump me into the ground."
"As for moving around, I have a good pass that permits me to travel around like you see. Very special and precious that be at the moment. Watch out for them Grey Maidens, they be fierce and troublesome when it takes them."
"...Speaking of which, Istas here be a little elixir that Ishani and I be making which has helped more than few to stop that fearful cough. If you be fighting Urguthoa and all then drink that and maybe you be fighting fit again." Kenan hands over a small dose of the precious infusion.
"Thank you, but no," Istas gently refuses Kenan's concoction, "Save it for someone who needs it. My faith in Pharasma is all I need. Perhaps Heather could use it for her pregnant friend? Or I'm sure those at Trail's End could benefit from it more, considering their limited access to the Queen's physicians and the temples."
"It would seem the Heights have little need for healers or the Queen's physicians," the priestess comments as she changes the subject yet again, "And they've guarded themselves well against carriers of Bloodveil who might attempt to enter their homes. I suspect this gives those who would buy your grandmother's favorite liniment the illusion it's done much for those who live here. A false hope, made all the more dangerous."
"Let us find this shop, and perhaps Kenan can verify the liniment's lack of effectiveness..."
She starts off down the street Heather indicates, eager to make a difference for Korvosa...and also to keep moving. 'After all, as long as you're still moving, you're not giving into Urgathoa. And hopefully that means you're not getting any sicker as well,' she tells herself.
"Great Aunt ..my grandmothers older sister and the only one of the Chellish side of my family who would still talk to my mother after she married a Varisian.They would have rather that she had stayed in mourning for Sabina's father until they found a suitable candidate willing to take on a widow and her child..she, thankfully, allowed her heart to rule her head for once"
"I liked Great Aunt Hildi..she was the one who encouraged me to study magic..off course then I found that my Varisian blood had granted me a few more abilities than I had ever imagined..and my time at the Academe ended abruptly..no room for 'hedge wizards' there"
There is a slight tone of bitterness in that last comment
"Great Aunt ..my grandmothers older sister and the only one of the Chellish side of my family who would still talk to my mother after she married a Varisian.They would have rather that she had stayed in mourning for Sabina's father until they found a suitable candidate willing to take on a widow and her child..she, thankfully, allowed her heart to rule her head for once"
"I liked Great Aunt Hildi..she was the one who encouraged me to study magic..off course then I found that my Varisian blood had granted me a few more abilities than I had ever imagined..and my time at the Academe ended abruptly..no room for 'hedge wizards' there"
There is a slight tone of bitterness in that last comment
"I'm sorry," Istas replies. It's unclear if she's commiserating with Heather's change of fortunes during her magical education or apologizing for confusing her great aunt for her grandmother...a possible sign she hasn't been paying attention very well lately. The priestess very much doesn't seem herself lately. The stress of the plague and her self-assigned role in trying to stop it clearly weigh heavily on her.
"Yes, they are an odd bunch there," Emerion agrees.
"Istas, my dear, we Varisians have a story about a man with much faith in Desna. He fell into the river one day, but was not concerned - he had faith that his goddess would save him. He saw a log float by, but did not reach for it 'My goddess will save me,' he said to himself as he was borne along by the river. Soon a man on the shore came into view, and he grabbed a rope. 'Don't worry,' the man called, 'I have a rope! grab it, and I will pull you to shore and save you!'
"'No need,' the man in the river replied, 'I have faith that my goddess will save me!' and he was carried on past by the river. Then some men in a boat came into view, and they saw him and started to row toward him.
"'Do not warry!' they called, 'we will save you!'
"'No need!' the man replied, 'I have faith that my goddess will save me!' and the river carried him onwards. Then it swept him over a waterfall and he was killed. His soul went to Desna, and begged to know why she had not saved him.
"'I sent you a log, a man with a rope and a boat!' she exclaimed, 'What more did you want?'"
Emerion takes the phial of medicine.
"Take the medicine, dear Istas. We and the people of Korvosa need to you well, not sick. This can help one person, you, on the other hand, can help many - but not if you are dead, or too sick to work."
"'I sent you a log, a man with a rope and a boat!' she exclaimed, 'What more did you want?'"
"An interesting tale," Istas notes, "For the goddess of luck to provide so many happenstance opportunties for the man to survive is appropriate religious doctrine. So, too, would be the fact that the river enabled him to travel to his goddess' embrace."
"I do feel, however," she explains, "That this particular situation is different. We're talking about a conflict between the goddess of death who serves as the gateway to the afterlife...Pharasma...and the goddess of disease and undeath, the direct enemy of the Lady of Graves...Urgathoa. Hence, I have a bit more confidence in my Lady to resolve this issue. I expect her to take a more direct hand than a sometimes capricious and distracted dream-goddess like Desna. And thus, I look inward for the faith and means to deal with this problem. It is my own personal battle to wage. And I'll do it on my terms with the same Shoanti stubborness, endurance, and fortitude that have seen me to the grave and back before."
Emerion takes the phial of medicine. "Take the medicine, dear Istas. We and the people of Korvosa need you well, not sick. This can help one person. You, on the other hand, can help many - but not if you are dead, or too sick to work."
Emerion's forwardness obviously puts Istas more on edge and she pushes aside her listless fatigue to look at him more directly. As much as her body might be physically under assault by Bloodveil, it's clear the disease hasn't taken her spirit yet. For it burns quite fiercely in her eyes.
"As you can see," she flatly states, "I am neither dead, nor too sick to work. Thus, I am here, am I not? And my Lady still favors me with her daily blessings and hears my prayers."
"So I will keep my own counsel on this matter," she asserts, "And my faith will be stronger for it. Pharasma's doctrine teaches us that everything has a purpose. Everything. And I will experience this outcome to its full conclusion, trusting her to provide a way. For the waters of Pharasma are both deep and wide. And their current can change at anytime. We just have to be patient and let it take us where we're meant to go. If that means I go over a waterfall and to Pharasma's Boneyard, it will only be because that's where my goddess needs me most."
"If you feel otherwise," she finishes, "Perhaps you should pray to her like I do? So you can better discern the other possible outcomes to such a fate. Perhaps Kenan's medicine represents one such path. But that doesn't mean it's necessarily the only one...or even the best one. I trust my Lady to open my eyes to all options. And I'm not yet so infirm as to lack the means to see them."
"Don't pressure her," says Jeorik good naturedly, "If she wants to travel around the city, contagious and dangerous and thus worsen the plague, she is merely doing what she thinks is right. That is your intention," continues Jeorik to Istas, "To make sure you carry the plague with you wherever you go? Or had you not stopped to consider how your actions affect others beyond yourself. Stubborness is one thing, but when it endangers others it becomes selfishness instead."
"Just..take..it" Heather says tersely "we have enough sick people to deal with without you adding to the burden..I know,I know Pharasma sends these things to try you..but just once could you do what everyone want's you to do and take the bloody medicine. Besides don't you think it a bit arrogant off you to decide what your goddess wants from you?"
"Don't pressure her," says Jeorik good naturedly, "If she wants to travel around the city, contagious and dangerous and thus worsen the plague, she is merely doing what she thinks is right. That is your intention," continues Jeorik to Istas, "To make sure you carry the plague with you wherever you go? Or had you not stopped to consider how your actions affect others beyond yourself. Stubborness is one thing, but when it endangers others it becomes selfishness instead."
Istas pulls a scarf over her face.
"I know the steps to take against spreading disease," she answers with a somewhat muffled voice, "Pharasmen have been combatting Urgathoa's weapons for far longer than most."
"And if you're truly concerned with me spreading Bloodveil," she adds, "Why then did you wish me to accompany you in the first place? Kenan and Ishani's medicine isn't an immediate cure-all. It would no more reduce any contagion in me right this moment than the liniment we're attempting to expose. Would you prefer instead that I be locked behind a door marked in red as the Queen's physicians have done to everyone else?"
"Look. Bloodveil is going to spread," she finishes, "Trying to shut away every possible carrier is an exercise in futility. The sooner we all realize and come to grips with that, the better off we'll be. And, whether or not any of us are infected, we need to get to the bottom of this. The sooner we do that, the sooner we save everyone's lives, and not just the handful who might avoid contact with me."
"Just..take..it," Heather says tersely, "We have enough sick people to deal with without you adding to the burden...I know,I know Pharasma sends these things to try you...but just once could you do what everyone wants you to do and take the bloody medicine. Besides don't you think it's a bit arrogant off you to decide what your goddess wants from you?"
"If you like the medicine so much, why don't you take it?" Istas hotly replies, obviously starting to react more and more negatively to everyone teaming up on her, "And besides, you're the one that sought out my temple's aid to help your pregnant friend. So, it would seem you yourself prefer something infused with the faith of the Pharasma. Well, so do I."
"And I'm not trying to "decide" what my goddess wants from me," she finishes, "Instead, Pharasmen are always trying to divine the will of our Lady, free of arrogance or any other emotion. Don't presume to preach to me about my own faith. If anyone has arrogance in this city, it's the nobles of Korvosa...toward those living in squallor at Trail's End, the Shoanti, and everyone else who has less than them!"
Istas' anger blows itself out with that last statement and she lapses into sullen silence thereafter, continuing to ignore the proffered medicine.
"None deny that, Istas," Emerion speaks softly. "But you are our friend, and forgive us if our concern for you is great, but it stems from our friendship," he grins suddenly and jokes to break the tension:
"We wouldn't be such a pain to you did we not value you so highly, so it is your own fault for being so popular, you know!"
The shops down Summoners Street are neat and compact. A few blocks down there is a shop with a line out the door. Most of the patiently waiting people appear to be healthy, although a few are heavily veiled. The name of the shop is simply Lavenders. A sign in the window proclaims in flowing script, “Lavender’s Luxuriant Liniment: Either You’ve Got It, or You’ve Had It.”
"Ah..this one...Jeorik be a dear and move these people along like a good guardsman should..I'm sure there's some public order law you can use to get them away from here....and if Emerion,Philomena and Kenan would like to slip round the back before Istas kicks the door in I think we'd all be much better off don't you?"
She gives everyone a sweet smile though her eyes say she's had enough of pussy footing about and is all done taking names. Indeed the invisible, unfelt wind that often stirs her hair seems to be getting stronger, whipping the ends around.