As you wake up after one nice the entire tavern is filled with Gossip of last night's events. The tavern was too far from the All of Eodred for you to hear and have been woken. There is gossip buzzes through the city and fanciful tales run wild. You hear popular rumors of pirate raids and ghost ships, though the Crimson Throne has remained silent on this topic.
The Korvosan Guard fired upon and destroyed a ship full of foolish pirates from Riddleport who had obviously hoped to sneak into the heart of the city under cover of night.
A sinister-looking ship refused inspection as it sailed into the river. When it neared North Bridge and still failed to make its intentions known, the watch fired upon and destroyed it.
None of the guardsmen who signaled or shouted out to the ship received a response. Some say that no one was on board at all. There was a shining single yellow light which lit the ship onimously.
You have heard tales from Sailors about this light being a nautical warning identifying a ship under quarantine.
The rest of the day continues on with the tales of pirates who were trying to raid the town or of it being a ghost ship, praising the guards for destroying and sink this possibly deadly ship.
The next day a familiar face comes into the Tavern with a fearful and desperate look on his face. It's Grau, the man the group had saved when he was in a drunken Stupor as the Chaos first started.
"There you are!" he calls out running over to the group breathlessly. You all notice he has cleaned and has shaved himself giving him a much better look than the drunken sop he was. “My niece is sick. I don’t know what she has and neither does anyone in Trail’s End. She’s broken out all over in red pocks and can barely keep down food, or even the swill that goodfor-nothing herbalist gave her. Her mother’s talking about going to the Bank of Abadar, but her family can’t afford to pay the prices their clerics would demand. Then I remembered how you and your friends handled yourselves during the riots, and how you helped me out, and I figured you all could help. A bunch of resourceful folk like you, I’d bet if you don’t already have a way to fix this you must know who can. Surely you can’t just sit by while a child suffers, can you?” he seems very desperate and you get the sense that he doesn't have the money to pay the bank of Abadar for any curative magic which could remove the affliction.
Jerin begins to walk through the crowd, talking to various people. Over the past few weeks he seems to have gained more confidence. He even flirts with a few of the "ladies".
Majenko and him have become fast friends and are rarely apart. He has gained a little bit of notoriety due to this with the locals in this area.
Arianna spends the morning wandering around the taproom listening to the murmurs of the crowd, interjecting questions among the on going conversations.
Diplomacy check:
She is startled by the appearance of the wild-eyed man at their table.
Arianna looks at the man in front of them, "Slow down, my good man. I'm afraid I'm new here and don't quite know what's going on. Of course we will help. Why don't you fill us in on the way."
A strange ship with no crew except for a single glowing light... Strange times... Curnach mutters to himself as he gathers information from the crowd. Frowning at Grau's words, Curnach responds...
Theres no need to try and make us feel guilty, we're happy to help. I'll just fetch my herbs...
As the group walks on he points out the home is a small community northeast of Korvosa disparagingly called Trail's end, a slight against the number of settled Varisians in the area. Made up Primarily of Varisians with a few Shoanti and socially disaffected Chelaxians, Trail's End is poor and reputedly dangerous.
"As I said, she got ill yesterday when she returned home. She can't keep food down, not that pig-swill the herbalist serves. Damn crack pot just wasting they're money and time." he appears annoyed at this herbalist he had mentioned. "She was in North Point buying things, but I don't know where she got the money to buy as much as she did. She even bought a dress that cold her 2 gold coins, a wage she could never get unless she stole it or got the money by some other means. She's my brother's kid and she has always been so full of life. I hate seeing her like this."
As you leave the city and enter this area you notice how run-down it is with thugs hiding in the alley ways either doing deals or avoiding the party as you all pose far too big a threat for them to attempt to mug you being as well armed and armoured as you are.
Only a crooked block away from the Jeggare sure, the Soldado home is a squat, two-story wooden building in desperate need of repair and gardening. As you enter the building it feels like the home of a family too busy living to bother with tedious chores due to the many parts of the house needing repair. The living room you enter is filled with well-used furnature and decorated with the crafts and scribblings of children.
Two boys are playing quietly in the living room and get up, happy to see Grau and run towards him.
"Hi Uncle!" he smiles and ruffles the hair of one of the boys
"Hey Carlo and Rello. Where's you're mother?" he asks and before they tell her a ragged coughing fills the house from above. In the kitchen is a man who appears to be using a pedastal and mortor making herbs and brewing some strange concoction that smells of cinnamon and anise. Grau appears displeased and leaves the group and heading upstairs, running into a woman and having a conversation with her.
The gist of the topic is Grau is scolding Tayce for racking up a bill with an expensive and worthless healer when he said he would handle things and Tayce defending her devision and restating the direness of Brienna's condition.
Jerin walks over to the man in the kitchen and strikes up a conversation.
So are you the herbalist that Grau told us about? Maybe you can tell us a little about the girls condition? What do you think it is? Grau seems very worried to contact us and bring us out here.
Curnach subtly examines the herbs the man is using, before asking-
Where's Grau's niece?
Heal
Kno: Nature
Very well... You have my thanks...
*Gulp*
The man looks to Jerin and sighs heavily.
"The worst part of this is I don't recognise the exact combination of her symptoms. I'm afraid to say this, but it appears to be some new kind of disease. She has a rash and mask of blisters that cover her face. She's fatigued, caughting and has a headache. The rash is spreading and more pox-like blisters appear on her skin. Some are even the size of grapes. I don't know where she could've picked up such a illness, but I hope it doesn't spread." he says worridly as again the caugh echos from upstairs. The caugh is that of a young girl, though it sounds horrible and haggered.
The herbs are used to make simple antidotes against minor diseases, however the problem is this disease is very advanced and doesn't appear to affect her.
Curnach, as you walk up the stairs you find the entire bedroom has been dedicated to the young girl, Brienna Soldado. Both her mother and uncle are nearby, but Grau tries not to touch her, afraid of her condition whilst her mother puts on a wet towel on her head. She's a 40 year old woman who possesses a simple beauty, scarcely hidden by her disheveled appearance and wan features. She clearly hasn't slept in quite some time and moves out of your way, worriedly looking over your shoulder as she watches you examin her.
Curnach Fort Save
You notice all the symptoms that the man points out and you manage to find a way to cure her, however she still remains silent as the damage from the disease has been delt, though you are confident as she is no longer caughing so hard that she will get better with time or a restoration spell of somekind.
This affliction is very new. It's no natural malady and appears to have been refined from the disease Corel's phage, an unnatural disease that first came into being deep under Foxglove Manor on Varisia's coast.
The symptoms are as follows.
A rash and mask of blisters that covers the face. In its initial stages, the disease is characterized by headache, fatigue, coughing, and the aforementioned rash. As it progresses, the cough becomes more obtrusive, the rash spreads to the neck, face, and limbs and develops into pox-like blisters, and the lymph glands swell into painful buboes. At its most advanced stage, the blisters grow to the size of grapes or larger, internal bleeding creates black patches on the skin, and blood is expectorated. Ultimately, a most unseemly, wheezing death occurs. If left untreated, blood veil kills the average human in approximately 7 days.
Unnamed Disease-contact or injury; Fortitude DC 16; incubation
1 day; damage 1d3 Constitution and 1d3 Charisma
Curnach will also examine the patient for recent signs of injury- and if he doesn't find any will ask Grau and his wife to leave the room, and ask her what she has been in contact with...
Curnach will also examine the patient for recent signs of injury- and if he doesn't find any will ask Grau and his wife to leave the room, and ask her what she has been in contact with...
You don't appear to find any recent injury on the girl and though they are reluctant to leave, they do go and you try to talk to her as she ow opens her eyes slowly, groaning and looking up at you, trying to move away quickly.
"Wh-Who are ye?" the voice gets her mother's attention who grabs hold of her and cuddles her for a few moment to calm her down and explain that Curnach had saved her. She leaves though, seeing as you still want her out the room when you talk to her.
"I...I do not know. I was feeling ill when I came back from shopping and all I know I came over with these rashes and a headache." she says weakly, lying back down as she is still very weak after the disease had ravaged her body and she doesn't appear to be caughing anymore.
You get the sense that she's holding something back, but you don't know what.
Foolish girl- this disease could have killed you and you try and hide information from me? I won't tell your parents- but you must be honest with me or others may die in your stead.
1d20+6
Foolish girl- this disease could have killed you and you try and hide information from me? I won't tell your parents- but you must be honest with me or others may die in your stead.
She hesitated, but then gulps hard and nods
"I-I found a box washed up on the beach. It was black and I opened it and found 50 silver coins. I dumped the box back on the coast I don't know where it came from." the coast she points out is off from the river where the ship the previous night had been sunk.
Thank you for your honesty... Curnach says, then takes the party aside to speak to them privately.
Its all making sense now... the sunken ship was laden with black boxes with coinage inside- ridden with disease. The disease is not natural: I have reason to believe it was manufactured. We'd best inform the Captain... We need the beaches searched and the remaining boxes confiscated- and teams of clerics and healers to treat those already exposed. It spreads via contact, so this could quickly become an epidemic. Someone's trying to sabotage the city...
Then we should go to the coast and look for boxes before others find them. And the places where the young lady spent the money to recover the coins. Does she have any still? Are they a local coin or a foreign mint? Can it be treated?
Theres only four of us and the coastline is huge. Let the Captain organise manpower for it, then we can help if you wish- I doubt anyone else has caught wind of this yet. I believe she has spent all the coinage already, i'm not sure about the mintage... It is treatable, but its not an easy disease to counter; it will often be fatal within six or seven days. Also- I gave the young lady my word I would not tell her parents...
As Brianna's mother is able to enter the room Grau smiles to the rest of the group with joy.
"Thank you all for your help. Please, stay for lunch. My sister-in-law cooks a great meal." and though Tayce Soldado appears surprised him to say something os nice about the cooking she just goes with it and she works hard on setting up a meal for the entire group and family. The entire family consisting of Tayce, her three children and her brother-in-law Grau.
I'm afraid I have urgent business Grau... You know how it is. My companions speak for themselves of course.
Amazing...I've been working on treating the illness yet I couldn't get rid of it." he looks over to Curnach and smiles to the group. "Some of my more charitable work does require aid from outside the curch's rigid hierachies. I hope you will be amenable to contacting me in the future for whatever reasons you may need something from the Grand Vault of Abadar. We sell curitive items as well as our own services for these kinds of spells." with that he leaves, you assume heading back to his temple since as it doubles as a bank they are always busy.
Amazing...I've been working on treating the illness yet I couldn't get rid of it." he looks over to Curnach and smiles to the group. "Some of my more charitable work does require aid from outside the curch's rigid hierachies. I hope you will be amenable to contacting me in the future for whatever reasons you may need something from the Grand Vault of Abadar. We sell curitive items as well as our own services for these kinds of spells." with that he leaves, you assume heading back to his temple since as it doubles as a bank they are always busy.
Tell your superiors if they still intend to have any clients to lend money to, that clergy will be urgently needed to treat this disease in the days to come. Its spreading...
Ishani appears quite frightened as Curnach says this and shakes his head.
"This is just like Scarlet Leprocy in Vudra again." he sighs and looks back to Curnach. "I'll inform them, but I am only a lowly priest and they most likely won't listen to me."
As you approch the citadel you find that there are many more men here than in the past. Since things have calmed down the guards are back to training openly, standing guard, keeping watch or the occassional guard snoozing as you enter the Citadel. No one stops you as you all have a name for yourselves helping overcome the chaos in the city, though you aren't household names, you are popular amungst the guard and sable cavelry.
Cressida is surprised to see you enter as she was just finishing off a report and had a letter on her desk. She rises from her desk assuming you aren't simply here for tea and biscuits.
"It's been a while has something happened? Everything has been so quiet I was hoping to catch up a bit more on my sleep." she eagerly awaits for oyur news though, almost excited as the past few weeks have clearly been quite slow for her.
Curnach reports what he has learnt.
"If this disease is spread by contact with these ensorcelled coins then it's going to be near impossible to contain as they change hands."
Curnach reports what he has learnt.
"This is very worrying. I'll send out some men to try and ratrieve anymore boxes, but I fear the damage has already been done. If this disease is spread as you say then all those coins she had were infected and spread to every other coin in someone's coinpurse or cash register." she sighs looking out the window. "Korvosa is a big place. Those coins have probably already changed hands five times now. I'll make sure to pick up any more boxes to stop the spread. I hope this will nip the problem in the bud." she says as she is about to leave the room but stops suddenly, handing the letter on the desk over to the group. "Vencarlo told me to give this to you and only you. He didn't tell me why."
"You are right, Arianna. Not to mention we can't walk in and confiscate coins claiming they're diseased."
The letter is sealed in wax and she leaves the room before you open it.
I need your group's assistance in a urgent matter. Please come the Orisini Academy with only yourselves, no one else.
Vencarlo Orisini
Jerin walk up and opens the letter and then hands it t the rest of the group. So Orisini wants to see us. I guess we can find out what he wants and then see if we hear about any other cases of this disease.
Perhaps it is related. Besides, our talents are better at establishing and dealing with the long term cause of this disease, rather than triage... Let us be off.
As you make your way you find there is a sign hanging from the door which reads, “Classes Cancelled Today.” After a few moments after the knocking the door opens with a serious-looking Vencarlo appears and ushers you all inside.
"Thank you for responding to my cryptic note." he tells you and leads you down a hall and into a study, the windows which are tightly shuttered and curtained. He starts to talk in hushed tones. "I have a very important task for you all." and this all becomes obvious as he calls another guest into the room. At first she appears to be a young woman wearing simple travelling cloths, a wide-brimmed rider's hat and a wig of long red curles. Before you manage to ask who it is she smiles and Curnach and runs at him, pulling him into a tight hug. The hat and wig fall off revealing it to be Trinia Sabor, the alleged assassin.
Vencarlo waits for either Curnach or Trinia let go but if neither one does he caughs loudly as a single to force her to break the hug.
"You were all at the Queen's debacle, so I don't doupt you recognize this charming young woman, especially you, Curnach." he gives a wink his way. "I had only just reached my home the night of Her Majesty’s morbid gala when that rogue Blackjack and this startled woman arrived at my doorstep. The people’s hero and I have had some dealings in the past, but still, it’s been some years since I’ve seen the scoundrel. He was quick with his words, and soon swooped off doubtlessly to right some other festering wrong—but not before entrusting Miss Sabor into my protection and care. Although I don’t know Blackjack’s motives or politics, I trust his judgment and have seen much right done by his blade. He says the girl is innocent of the crime she’s been accused of, and I’m more disposed to trust a hero of the city than the tantrums of some bloody minded harlot playing at queen. He shakes his head and gives Curnach a sad look before saying what he is about to say. “The matter is simple: Korvosa is no longer safe for Miss Sabor. I’ve arranged for friends in Harse a couple of well respected ranchers to take in our beautiful renegade until this whole ‘assassination’ foolishness blows over. Its the first leg of the journey where we find our problem, though. Both the Korvosan Guard and the Sable Company have been searching for the young lady tirelessly they’ve stopped by here three times so far, and each time I’ve only just barely been able to turn them away without inviting a search. My most reliable contacts have gone to ground in light of the recent uprisings, and Her Highness’s considerable bounty for Trinia’s capture makes the use of new agents inadvisable. Thus, after some time to let her trail cool, I turned to you resourceful lot. Care to escort a lady home? I have also given her supplies and a horse when she leaves the city so that she will be fine on her end until such a time it is safe to come back to the city, if there ever is one.
Returning Trinia's embrace, Curnach nods sternly over her shoulder at Vencarlo.
It would be my honour to escort her to safety. he says simply.
Should be a simple matter if we can get her to the gates, I now have an invisibility spell that lasts minutes! If we disguise her until we get to the gate and the make her invisible they wouldn't stop us from leaving and we could escort her out.
Vencarlo rolls his eyes at Jerin and points to the wig and wide-brimmed hat Trinia was wearing.
"That was the disguise. I think it should be easy enough to get her out of the city." he looks back to the rest of the group. "Due to the recent events of last night you can't escort her by the entrance near North Bridge. I suggest a slow walk through the city down to High Bridge and then up to Dwarfwalk Road. There won't be many guards so there shouldn't be a problem. I wish I could go with you, but my fame and history with the guards might draw unwanted attention to you all. I suggest you just all act casually and she will be out of the city safely."
Trinia smiles shyly at Curnach as she puts the wig and hat back on.
"I guess I look kinda silly like this, huh?" she has her hands behind her back in a typical girly fashion and kicking the dust on the floor. "I...see you got my paining." she smiles up at him seeing how much better he looks now.
"A pleasure to meet you, Signore Orisini" Arianna smiles demurely, extending her hand for a kiss "I am Arianna Rothschild, a newcomer to this little adventuring troupe. Am I to understand you've had dealings with our little band before? If so, I look forward to any future endeavors we may have together"
Diplomacy:
Turning to face Trinia Arianna offers a sad smile "Miss Sabor, I am delighted to see you well. I am sorry for the part I played in your arrest and 'trial'. For what it's worth I believed in you innocence and thought you would be exonerated. Unfortunately the Queen seemed more interested in pandering to the mob's sense of vengance rather than the crown's sense of justice."
Turning to Orsini again, Arianna says "I for one would be glad to see Miss Sabor safely out of the city, safe from the reach of the Queen until such time as someone can prove her innocence beyond any doubt."
"A pleasure to meet you, Signore Orisini" Arianna smiles demurely, extending her hand for a kiss "I am Arianna Rothschild, a newcomer to this little adventuring troupe. Am I to understand you've had dealings with our little band before? If so, I look forward to any future endeavors we may have together"
Diplomacy: 1d20+8+1
Turning to face Trinia Arianna offers a sad smile "Miss Sabor, I am delighted to see you well. I am sorry for the part I played in your arrest and 'trial'. For what it's worth I believed in you innocence and thought you would be exonerated. Unfortunately the Queen seemed more interested in pandering to the mob's sense of vengance rather than the crown's sense of justice."
Turning to Orsini again, Arianna says "I for one would be glad to see Miss Sabor safely out of the city, safe from the reach of the Queen until such time as someone can prove her innocence beyond any doubt."
"Pleasure to meet you, Miss Rothschild?" he poses the last part as a question as like a gentleman he leans down and kisses Arianna's hand, bowing as he does. "I helped the group out when the chaos in the city presented oppitunities for certain ambassadors who could stir up trouble." he gives a wink to the group reminding them of that time even though it was not that long ago.
He smiles softly as she talks about looking forward to any future endeavors.
"Well just remember, if you ever need my help you know where I'll be." he says as subtly suggests the achademy.
Trinia smiles shyly at Curnach as she puts the wig and hat back on.
"I guess I look kinda silly like this, huh?" she has her hands behind her back in a typical girly fashion and kicking the dust on the floor. "I...see you got my paining." she smiles up at him seeing how much better he looks now.
Yes- It was wonderful thank you. That wig and hat could not mask your beauty. Curnach says, the words not coming out nearly as smoothly as he had intended them to.
I was just a little worried about someone seeing through her disguise so that is why I suggested we make Sabina invisible once we get near to the gate and go through ourselves with Sabina following, but if the Disguise seems good enough then we can just walk her out.
Trinia smiles shyly at Curnach as she puts the wig and hat back on.
"I guess I look kinda silly like this, huh?" she has her hands behind her back in a typical girly fashion and kicking the dust on the floor. "I...see you got my paining." she smiles up at him seeing how much better he looks now.Yes- It was wonderful thank you. That wig and hat could not mask your beauty. Curnach says, the words not coming out nearly as smoothly as he had intended them to.
Sabina blushes, matching the red of the wig she's wearing. Even though it didn't come out as smoothly as he wanted, it was still very sweet to say such a thing which also embaressed her.
Sabina nods as she listens to Jerin to answer what she can.
"All I heard was the guard who claimed to see me poison the king had angered Sabina since he didn't tell her earlier and Sabina knocked him off the top of the castle. I saw the queen, but she said nothing. She just looked at me behind the bars and looking smug." she explains, though clearly didn't like the memory of being locked up."Let's get going." though she says that last part sadly as she looks as Curnach, not wanting to leave.
As you all make your way down the street you notice that the guards take interest in the group, stareing at you all as you make your way down the roads. In fact there is a moment where one of the guards seems to recognise Trinia and moves slowly over to the group, but stops as his friend starts caughing and he goes back to check on him. The man complains of a headache and appears to have a small rash developing on his cheek and neck.