Maybe we could close that well until we can figure out what is contaminating it. We can could also ask the town priest to purify water with spells for the towns people.
DM: it was my intent to ask the question to the sheriff before anyone in the house took a drink.
The Sheriff looks towards the Magistrate: Vamros, if you would please send Hollin to Lady Cirthana and have him bring her to Brookman's straight away. You lot, he looks at the party Come with me. Magistrate you are welcome to come as well of course.
He gets up and heads out the front door of the Magistrate's Manor leading the party outside the rough wall of the town and towards a well, which must be Brookman's Well.
What do you do at the well?
pulling my green cloak about me, "Let's go meet Magistrate Harg". If there are no other voices than I enter, avoiding contact with plagued falconeers, falconites and general falconizers.
We will all examine some of the water and see if we notice something that seems out of the ordinary. Not sure what to roll...
The rest of the party make a perception and nature check.
Sheriff, do you see that fungus growing on the side of the well?
The whaaaa...OH! Well I'll be damned, what is that? You may be right. Anyone know what type it is?
You hear Variel quietly murmur, By the first flame! It IS blackscour! This explains it... then louder to the group Sheriff, my companion Daedeloth is right. No one can be permitted to drink from the well until this contamination has been purged by fire, preferably alchemical. Moreover, we will need to speak with your local herbalist or apothecary to see if they have the means to craft a remedy.
Good work guys!
Azzakan, can you burn out the blackscour?
To DM and the Group: I will do so, it should not take me more than a day, but if others think it will take longer,it can help us but I question the intellect of the populace. Why keep drinking the water if you know it makes you sick. Also there must be someone in charge of the poisoning. The populace is being poisoned, lets find out who it is. I wonder about the people in charge??!!!
Good call comrades I was worried about the water, too.
To DM: what is spoiler omitted?
Variel: Friend Azzakan, clearly they did not know what was poisoning them and I have never heard of any instance where blackscour grew in a well? Usually it is only found in fetid swamps or the deepest of woods. I myself thought the symptoms of this illness sounded like those of blackscour, but could not imagine how so many would be affected. This curiosity makes me agree that some agency brought the spores here and it was not just ill luck. Be that as it may, our duty as Cloaks must be to see to helping the Sheriff cure those that are afflicted with the taint, would you not all agree?
Here's what I had in the spoiler, not sure why it was omitted:
"You can easily concoct a potent flaming ungent given a few days and the proper resources. You know that with the skills you possess the job will be complete and the well will be clean."
I agree
To group: Agreed we need to cleanse this well, cure for the sick, and find/punish those that are responsible.
To sheriff: you should inspect all the wells around town, if someone poisoned this one they could poison others too. Can you think of why someone might want to do this?
Sheriff: I'll get my deputies on it right away. As well, I'll go meet with the Magistrate and inform him that we think we have found the cause of sickness. He pauses to take the four of you in However, take it easy when you throw around "someone poisoned the well". That's a pretty serious charge and all I see is some fungus growing in a dark hole. I don't need people going on some type of righteous crusade to find out "who dunnit" when the blame may lie fair and square on mother nature. That's the type of thing that starts riots. To Variel's point, I don't know if you have noticed but we are pretty deep in the woods. Didn't pass any cities on your way here, did you? Why don't you hustle down to Roots & Remedies, Laurel is the proprieter, and see if she has the ability to stir up a curative for those that are currently sick?
With that he turns and strides back down the hill toward's the Magistrate's manor.
We head off to find Laurel.
We head off to find Laurel.
I will agree on the trip to Laurel's
I willI agree on the trip to Laurel's as well.
After getting some quick directions from the Sheriff you make your way to Roots & Remedies: "Creeping ivy and full window boxes cover the facade of the rugged-looking, two-story shop bearing the faded sign 'Roots and Remedies'. A line of twenty-some somber townsfol...some with pale, wheezing children, others seeming to be precipitously near tears....stretches from the open door"
I will get in line with the townsfolk and wait. While in line I observe and listen to the people to see if I can learn anything more about the sickness or about Laurel.
I'm going to scout about town and see what I can observe/hear...I'll estimate my recon to be about the time that Daedeloth would reach the front of the line.
After what seems like an interminable wait you finally reach the front of the line. Hours of hearing folks complain about their aches and pains, the local town gossip, and sadly a few folks that appear genuinely worried about loved ones suffering from wracking coughs.
As you enter the building:
"The smell of burnt earth and spicy incense chokes the air of the cramped, mud-tracked shop. Bunches of dried herbs hang from the ceiling, along with dangling pots, presses, alchemical apparatuses, and glassware of more arcane purposes. Pouches of rare plants, jars of colored glass, and all manner of dried, preserved, and jellied animal parts fill high shelves and tables doing double duty as displays and workspaces. In the shop's rear, a rail thin woman
http://pathfinderwiki.com/mediawiki/images/thumb/9/9f/Laurel_face_card.jpg/ 429px-Laurel_face_card.jpg
with severe-looking spectacles and hair pulled back tightly busies herself between an overpacked rack of herbs, a table covered in stray powsers and measuring equipment, and a pot loudly bubbling over with thick gray froth. Over the din of her work and without looking up the woman impatiently shouts, "And what's YOUR problem?!!!"
Hello Laurel, I am Daedeloth, my companions are Variel, Azzakan, and Jalriel. We met with the sheriff and discovered the source of the sickness, blackscour contamination in a well. We wanted to pass this information to you in the hopes that it would help in you cure the townsfolk. Have you found anything that helps with the sickness? Is there anything that we can so to help?
What can i tell about her, is she overwhelmed by the crowd or is she in her element? I do my best to win her over and also try to see what motivates her. Is she in it to help people, for the money, or some other motivation.
I am with Daedloth and await his inner feelings. If she is on the up and up, I might want to assist her.
I knew it! I just knew it! I TOLD them it had all the signs of blackscour, but damn me to the fetid bowels of Tiamat I never once though to check the well. She starts to smile and immediately warms to your conversation. You can tell that she is genuinely excited for someone to have found some answers to the ongoing sickness.
I've been trying to help folks as well as I could and gods know I've given out more elixers than I've been paid for these past several days! She frowns again as she thinks. Just a moment. She walks over to a large book shelf and pull down a large well worn book.
This is my Grandmother's and she travlled and saw more than anyone else I've ever met. She wrote about an odd ball cure for blackscour that she came across once in a village along the Northern swamps. ...skim reading through the book... Says here that it requires some rare roots and concentrations. What a weird formula! Sounds more like some kind of mystic hoojoo more than real medicine. Most of the ingredients I have or can get quickly but there are three that I can't. First, Elderwood Moss: I've never even heard of this but Granny's recipie says that it only grows on "the oldest tree in the forest". Second, is a specially pickled root called "Rat's Tail", again, sounds like hojoo to me. Finally, seven Ironbloom Mushrooms. Those are stunty little things that only grow in dark places thick with metal, a favorite amoung dwarves, or so I hear.
I take out the Elderwood moss that I had in my pack...
I take out the Elderwood moss that I had in my pack...
I'm waiting for Daedloth to pull out a rats tail.
To: DM I ask laurel if I may take a look at her grandmothers book. Maybe I can assist with the terminology and perhaps different names for the herbs.
Laurel, we will head out to find these ingredients and return as soon as we find them. Are there any other clues that you might give us or hints in your book to help is find them?
She looks askance at Azzakan and his suggestion I'm sorry young sir, but this book and the information found within are quite proprietary and I'm sure that I know exactly what my Grandmother wrote and meant, thank you very much. Did you know that she actually gave up her eyesight to Ulizmila the witch for the information in the final few chapters of this tome?...pauses and her face lights up and she claps her hands...Of course! Ulizmila would probably have some of these items, quite certainly the Rat's Tail. She's a crafty, mean old thing that knows all sorts of strangeness, but it's a fair travel in to the deep woods to reach her and I don't know anyone living that has been to her home....thinks some more...You should ask Milon Rhoddam out in the eastern Consortium Lumber camp. If anyone would know where to find Ulizmila's house it would be him. He's been everywhere in these woods. In fact he might have an idea where you could find Elderwood Moss and even Ironbloom Mushrooms. If you can bring me these ingredients I will gather up the rest and make enough curatives to relive those that are already infected. But you must be quick! I know of at least 30 cases of infection and if we don't get the cure brewed and in to them quickly they will start to die. In fact, I'd be surprised if sickest have more than a few days to live as it is.
To laurel: I apologize if I offende you or your grandmother.
To group: we must be on our way.
Don't fret about it Azzakan, my Grandmother's long in the ground and I'm just having a long week. All will certainly be more than forgiven when you come back with those three ingredients and we help those that are sick.
Let's head out to find Milon Rhoddam out in the eastern Consortium Lumber camp.
To the lumber camp we go...
Lumber camp or as Chevy chase in the caddy shack movie "the lumber yard"
After a busy morning you decide a quick meal and some counsel is in order prior to heading out to the lumber camp. You head back to the Magistrate's and update him on your findings and your plans. He treats you to a fine repast during which the Sheriff comes in and tells you that the remaining wells have been inspected and are clear of any taint. He also tells you that you should ask for Jarlben Trookshavits, the lumber camp's foreman, as that will be the quickest way to get to Milon. Be wary friends and know that Jarlben will probably expect some "compensation" for his troubles.
With that both the Magistrate and the Sheriff bid you good luck and walk you to the road leading out to to the distant camp. You travel close to 15 hard miles and by dusk reach the camp, exhausted from your long day: "The Lumber Consortium Camp cuts an ugly scar of stumps into a dense stand of proud darkwood trees. Five sturdy-looking log buildings...seemingly a bunkhouse, meal hall, office, barn, and smithy...stand with numerous wide carts and sleds amid the sawdust-covered clearing."
I look around. If i don't see any people about I head towards the office. Knock and enter. If anyone is inside I tell them I am looking for Jarlben or Milon.
There are a large number of hard bitten lumberjacks throughout the camp yard. Approaching a small group, they eye you suspiciously and are prepared to tell you exactly "where to go" until you state that you are looking for Jarlben. They then begrudgingly direct you to the camp office.
You cautiously enter the office, and see a weathered man of robust proportions making notes in a ledger behind a desk. His massive hands struggle with the charcoal pencil to make clear marks on the paper and you tend to think that the pencil is getting the short end of the deal. You: Are you Jarlben? The man looks up Yeah, and what the hell business is it of yours?
I am Daedeloth, several townsfolk have gotten very sick from blackscour. The magistrate an sheriff have sent us to find ingredients for a cure. We think Milon might be able to point is in the right direction and we were told you could help us find him quickly.
Can you take us to him?
Jarlben seems a bit taken aback by your confident assertions. You can tell that he's not used to being challenged and isn't quite sure how to respond. He sits quietly for a few moments, his emotions playing out across his face. Finally he stands and walks towards you opening the door to the office. Narstan! Get your arse over here!....Go find Milon. No you idjit! I DON'T know where he is that's why YOU are going to go find him. And do it quick or I'll put you on latrine duty!
He slowly walks back to his desk, the color slowly draining out of his face now that he is finished screaming his point across. Sitting, he leans back in his chair and pulls some loose tobacco from a pouch on his desk rolling himself a cigarette, the entire time eyeing the party. Finally finished, he lights it and takes a deep drag. Does Kreed know you folks are out here disrupting his operation?
We haven't had the pleasure of meeting Mr Krees yet, but we aren't disrupting operations, our work will ensure operations continue as scheduled. The sickness could soon spread to the loggers if we don't find a cure, and the sickness would cause your operations to grind to a halt.
Jarlben listens and smiles slowly. That's exactly the types of answers you will want to give when you finally meet Kreed. That and make sure you get his name right, because it will be Mr. Kreed to you. Either way, do us both a favor and let's just make sure you never have to explain how you came out here and I talked with you on account of the Sheriff and the Magistrate told you to. I don't see that ending well for me. he finishes with a grimace. Blast! Where in the hells is Milon. I coulda found him by now!
Just then the door opens and a older man with heavy chapped and scared hands walks in to the room You wannted to see me boss? he says somewhat breathless as if he had sprinted to get to the office.
That's right Milon. These good folks here were sent out by Mr. Kreed to help fix the sickness that has taken hold in the Hollow. Do us both a favor and answer any questions they have so they can go on about their business and I can get back to mine.
Milon snorts and his face wrinkles up in mocking disbelief Sure boss, Kreed sent them here to help the town. What's next? They fey are going to come help us cut down all of their trees? Hah! He turns to look at all of you, I'm just glad someone's finally doing SOMETHING regardless of who sent you. My nephew has been sicker than a dog with this illness and I'll do what I can to help him and you. Ask your questions.
Thanks for coming so quickly Miron.
We need to find Ulizmila's house, to get some Rat's Tail.
We need to find the oldest tree in the forest to get some Elderwood Moss.
And we need to find Ironbloom Mushrooms, apparently they only grow in dark places thick with metal, a favorite amoung dwarves.
Can you help us?
Guess I need to get spellcheck for names!
You don't ask for much do you? Boss Kreed will have to contribute with a piece of paper. No cost too big for the cause, eh Jarlben? He walks over and takes a pencil and paper from the desk, quickly sketching a rough map of the Darkmoon Vale area.
The quickest route to get to the locations your require is to cross this arm of the river Orem and head in to the heart of the Vale; that's where you will find Eldest. It's said to be the most ancient darkwood in all of Folgefonna forest, carried as a sapling from the Hissing Jungle and planted here in the distant past by Deirzir, the Eagle of the First Way, himself, the druids that once guarded these lands claimed this darkwood to be root from with all of Darkmoon grew. He makes some notes on the map indicating the route to take and the approximate location of Eldest.
From there you will travel East where Ulizmila's hut is rumored to be. Never been there myself, but it's an area of the forest that people disappear in all to frequently and legend has it that's where the witch lives. More markings on the map. Finally, continue East and as you near the edge of Droskar's Crag you should find the ruins of a Dwarven monastery. If ever there were to be a place that Ironblooms would grow that would be it.
He hands you the paper and places the pencil back on the desk. That's all the information I can give you fellas. After you harvest those mushrooms make straight back to the Hollow cutting through forest and across the river. Some folks will probably die regardless, but the quicker you make it back with those ingredients, the more that will live; hopefully my kin being on the list you save. You can come grab a bite with me and spend the night around my fire. Then you must be up early in the morning and on your way. Come on. He turns to leave the office.