Quorthos stays in place, watching for trouble while trying to follow the conversation inside.
Baer rubs her nose with her finger, only quickly darting it within to remove some troublesome blockage. Then she goes back to her watch.
Tural tries to watch the streets but gets more and more distracted by Baer, to the point that he is no longer watching the street but watching her with a disgusted fascination.
Denario looks from Mavor's speaking back to Cressida.
"Yes it does. Well then, of with it then.
The plague is the main topic, with an underlying planning."
Denario repeats the brief leadings up till recently, which Cressida knew about so far, to set everything in line for things to make sense.
...with the perfume being a fake.
Now, recently we've questioned one of the physicians, after a small exchange of words with a grey maiden. He openly declared, with glee, that the queen is working a grand design, to wipe out much of Korvosa's population with the plague."
Denario looks at Cressida and Mavor, before continuing.
"The 'good doctors' don't administer any cure or treatment, but they systematically visit people to infect them with tainted supplies.
....Mavor, if i've missed anything, please fill in the blanks."
"So Cressida, were you 1: aware of this?
2: Are you here to arrest us, as by now the exchange of words with the grey maiden has reached your ears, i'd bet."
Mavor eyes Denario first, then nods and continues the story.
"You may not like what you hear at first, judge us later when I've told you all of it."
Mavor sighs and frowns, scratches his head and mumbles.
"Where to begin...? Oh right. So you know we've explored the ship before and found the chest with the dead rats and coins in there? We've also might have mentioned finding a cleric there with a holy symbol of Urgathoa and palgue doctor's mask, just like the Queen's Physicians wear. After we'd done a service for some new acquaintices, a group of wererats, they've told us about death's head coffers washing up on the shore from the cargohold of the sunken ship. At this point we were curious about the infection ourselves and wanted to corner and confront one of the Physicians ourselves for some answers. Obviously they didn't want to cooperate and we slapped them and a Gray Maiden silly after we searched them and found three more symbols of Urgathoa among their possessions."
Mavor holds a pause for a moment, seeing how Cressida reacts to this news, then continues to the last part.
"We interrogated one of the Physicians through intimidation and he spilled the name Devaulus, the head Physician in the employ of the Queen was their leader and commanded them to spread instead of cure the infetion amongst the citizens of Korvosa. Devaulus was apparently hired by the Queen to 'dispose all the vermin' amongst the city's populace. As the Queen wants to kill off a part of the city, we don't know who we can trust with this information or who has the power to do anything about it. You're among the first to nkow what we suspected and found ourselves."
Cressida quietly takes the potion from Denario and drinks it, then hands the vial back over to him.
"Alright, so to my understanding I can only speak the truth right now," Cressida starts calmly, but then raises her voice. "Then let me start by telling you that your actions yesterday were completely irresponsible and idiotic! What the hell were you thinking, if you even were thinking?!"
She takes a couple of deep breath before she continues in a calmer, but still clearly agitated, voice. "The queen personally recommended most of you to work for me. Want to guess how long it took for someone to link your descriptions to you, after the gray maiden and physicians you knocked out were found and questioned? Not even a minute! The amount of times you've walked into Citadel Volshyenek to come see me... Pretty much everyone in the guard knows you worked for me!"
"Worked for me, yes. You can no longer show your faces near the Citadel, because I will have to arrest you if you do. Not because I want to, but because the queen's forced the gray maidens upon me and made it my job to protect them and the physicians! But then you showed up within the area my guards aren't supposed to let anyone in, and guess who's blamed? Me, because you weren't supposed to get in and you attacked the physicians and a gray maiden!"
Cressida turns her head toward the door. "Just get in if you're standing there! I saw you guys outside, I'm not blind!" she sneers.
She visibly tries to calm herself down again while shaking her head. "I believe you guys, I do. That's why I came out here alone, to hear you out. I figured you must have had a reason to do what you did, but... This has turned into a huge mess, and I'm trying to figure out how to solve it..."
"We were attacked first, you expect us to remain idle and be stabbed in the gut? Hardly i reckon."
Denario looks at Mavor.
"We just might have to get our friends and families into hiding."
Quorthos enters the room and dismisses his invisibility. He strides up to Cressida and looks her straight in the eye. "Did you know that the Queen's Physicians were spreading the plague?" he asks bluntly, and waits for the answer before proceeding.
Baer, who wasn't try to hide from Cressida, doesn't go in. She waves her hand and indicates that she will continue to keep an eye out for trouble.
Tural joins the others inside as Cresside loses her temper.
"We were after the source of the plague and we found it. Yes, at a price. Without what we did, no one would have figured it out and half the city would die. Is that what you want?"
He says in a gruff tone in reply to her tantrum.
"You were placed under arrest first, for trespassing in a quarantined area," Cressida replies to Denario. "Of course a guard or gray maiden is going to apply force if you refuse to cooperate after being placed under arrest."
Cressida shakes her head. "I'm not saying I want you arrested, and I'm glad you weren't. Just understand that the gray maiden was tasked with the safety of the physicians, and she reported that you didn't cooperate and deemed you a danger to her charge. Her complete failure to protect the physicians from you landed her a place in the castle's dungeons."
"I did not know they were spreading the plague," Cressida replies to Quorthos. "I conducted some careful research on the physicians after what you told me a while ago, about your investigation of the sunken ship and the unholy symbol you found there, but wasn't able to discover a connection to the church of Urgathoa."
She nods at Tural, by now finally calm again. "Yes, I now see why you did it. A bit more caution would've been good, though. Why didn't you disguise yourselves? You were recognized not only by the gray maiden and physicians, but the people who live in that street also gave detailed descriptions of you when they were questioned."
"I believe I know you long and well enough to know you can be trusted, and you're obviously concerned with the safety of the citizens. If you say the physicians are worshipers of Urgathoa and spread the plague, I will believe you. It is however impossible for me to openly oppose the queen, as she'll simply throw me into the castle's dungeons and appoint someone loyal to her as the new Field Marshal. I believe you're Korvosa's only hope, my friends. I will support you to the best of my abilities, but it's paramount I stay behind the scenes to do this."
Cressida looks back to Denario. "And yes, you should get your family to safety. It's only a matter of time before the gray maidens will arrive at their doors, to forcefully interrogate them."
"They will regret it if they harm any of my family.", Denario was subconsciously rolling a card between his fingers along the discussion.
"We were indeed talking about a disguise, but it went otherwise, somehow. It looks like we might have to find another source of income as well, as we can't enter your office anymore."
Quorthos nods to the Field Marshall at her answer. "I hoped you were on our side," he says.
Now, what to do? Evacuate our families, but to where? The sewers?
Baer keeps a watch on the street, trusting those inside to do what needs to be done.
"A logical next step would be to further investigate the queen's physicians and the royal physician, Dr. Davaulus, himself," Cressida tells you. "The physicians have their base of operations in the Hospice of the Blessed Maiden, a former warehouse near Citadel Volshyenek."
"I suggest you go there, after you've ensured your family's safe."
"We will investigate Dr. Dabaulus. I think we should start there also."
He thinks of his father for a moment and nods.
"My family is safe."
As soon as the group's business is concluded, Denario heads over to his folks, and afterwards to Diana.
He makes things brief to both of them, explaining it as a vengeful party aiming to search and kill anyone connected to him and his colleagues, for walking into a dealing.
Baer nods to Cressida as she leaves, then follows her for a distance to make sure she returns to the Citadel.
When it looks safe, she returns to the troops to get filled in on the situation. She doesn't like the news, but understands Cressida's position.
"Near Citadel Volshyenek? Sure. I know where that is," Baer says, ready to go right now. Baer looks to see if others are ready. She deigns to wait for Denario and others with family. She does not have any. Or friends. "It's not far away from where we are now."
"I am sorry I doubted you, Field Marshall. When we were presented with this evidence, it seemed the entire world was against us. I am glad we have an ally."
After the meeting, Quorthos gathers everyone for a quick discussion. "We should get our families to safety, of course... but we need to disguise ourselves in public at this point. Is anyone skilled in altering appearance? I know there are magical items which can do this, but I'm concerned about walking the streets to the shop, at this point. Let's meet back here tonight."
Hopefully someone can do Disguise checks on all of us. Then, Quorthos goes to his father's shop, and tells him the situation. "You must leave the city, father. Go to Magnimar... here is money for the passage."
Quorthos will also go shopping for a hat of disguise and a scroll of alter self, depending on what's available.
"It's alright, Quorthos. Now please tell me when this potion will stop working. I wouldn't want to give a truthful reply if someone asks me where I've been, would I?"
"Oh, and I just realized that this house we're in is actually right around the corner of the Hospice... So I'll take the long route out of here, and so should you. Send Majenko to me when you need to contact me again."
Eventually Cressida leaves, and Baer notices that Cressida does indeed take the long route back to Citadel Volshyenek.
"I say we leave this place one by one and meet at an appointed location."
Tural says as he pulls his hood up and heads outside.
"I'll see you a couple of streets over."
"I am glad I was right about Cressida. We've should have thought it through more though, we've put ourselves and our loved ones in danger when we sprung our trap on those Physicians."
Mavor thinks to himself as he sees Quorthos leave for his father's shop about his own loved ones and just one person crosses his mind.
"Good idea Tural, I'll be heading towards the inn, cancel and pay our tab, say that we no longer need a room and give our thanks. Hopefully no one will come knocking at that door."
"I'll see you guys all later back here. Stay safe."
Baer is ready to go when others are, happy to Alter Self and/or Vanish when needed.
"I can use vanish on you, if you want."
Allyph looks around and shrugs. "If we're meeting back up here, I guess I'll just stay here for now. I don't have any family or places to go."
Baer sits and waits, thinking that Zellara's is a fine hideout for the time being. She waits for Denario and Quorthos, and others with family to do what they need to do. She spends the time either reading or practicing with her staff, not too worried about guards.
For a while it's relatively quiet now most of the others are gone, with only the occasional sounds of passersby in front of the house. After a couple of minutes, you hear the clanking footsteps of people in armor coming from outside.
"Why, what happened?" he asks you, confusion clear on his face.
After you've given a brief explanation of the situation, he ask, "But what are you going to do then? I can't just leave you!"
Diana later has a similar reaction, except she has no idea of where she should go. "I don't have family elsewhere, and what are going to do then? I can't leave with you still here, Den!"
Blythe clearly has more trouble with the news.
"But... aren't you coming with us then?" Blythe asks you, her face pale. "You're also in danger, aren't you?"
"I can put an invisibility spell on you, it will last for 6 minutes.
You could erm..you know, see my folks, who are also leaving the city for a while."
Denario tells her where they will get get by, so she can tag along.
"If they don't trust you just yet, tell the little girl's name is Emily. If they are still suspicious, tell them Emily was briefly kidnapped.
Only i could have told you this, so it should be good."
Mavor looks to Thendra and lays a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry to have caused you this problem Theandra, I hope you will be able to return after things settle down. I might not need to ask this, but can Blythe and her cat also come with you? It would do much to ease my mind when I know she is safe as well."
The big green half-orc then looks back at Blythe, who might be wanting to object still and then hugs her tightly for a two seconds and whispers.
"You have given me the feeling of being accepted again for the first time in a long time. I can't thank you enough. I..."
The last words seem to stick in his throat and he chooses not to say them. When he lets Blythe go from the embrace, he smiles faintly.
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"Please... promise me to not do anything foolish, please?" she asks you, nearly shaking with anxiety.
Theandra heads for the stairs. "I'll give the two of you a moment while I pack."
The old woman stops in her tracks and turns to look at you. "Don't you worry, Mavor. I will take care of her."
"And her tiny fur ball," she adds, then heads upstairs.
He starts packing some items, then grabs a dozen anti-plagues and gives them to you. "You can take these, no need to pay."
Magembe looks at you again, but his eyes are different this time. There's a strong hint of pride in them as he says, "To think the young boy I took in and raised would become such a brave man... Do what you must do, Quorthos. And no matter what happens, know that you truly make me proud to be your father."
Allyph also hears the footsteps and makes eye contact with you. She notices you're also aware of them, then uses her whisper spell to also inform Majenko.
"I'll casts invisibility on Majenko. Do you want invisibilty on you as well, Baer?," Allyph whispers to you. "It'll last four minutes, which should be enough to get out of here."
She gives a wary look at the door.
"Where will we meet back up, if they stay here? We also need to let the others know..."
Denario dares his luck, and puts a quick kiss on her cheek.
"I wouldn't dream of it. Plus i'm with friends who can help me."
With it, he casts invisibility for her to escape.
Allyph first cast invisibility on Majenko, then on herself. You hear her mumble the incantation a third time, and a moment later you can no longer see any part of yourself.
"In the name of her majesty the queen, open the door!" you hear a woman's voice demand with a loud voice.
There's a very short silence, then you hear the same voice say, "So be i-!"
You then open the door and slip out of the house, quickly making your way past the two fully armored gray maidens that stand there.
"What the heck?! Something went past me!" the one closest to the door, and judging by the voice the same one who spoke earlier, says.
The gray maidens look around in confusion. "We'll never be able to catch that one. Quick, enter and close the door!" the other says.
The maidens quickly enter the house, and close the door behind them.
Diana gathers her belongings and you head outside together. She locks her door and gives you one final hug while you cast invisibility on her. You then feel she lets you go, and you hear her footsteps head in the direction of your parents' house.
Tural lazily strolls around the streets trying to find something interesting to do to kill the time till the group meets again.
Majenko, you out? Lemme know when Allyph is safe or needs help.