Rather than give a bubble punctuated response to Tolenn Daud simply nods and then looks to the others to await surfacing. With not getting mauled at the moment the peaceful oblivion here was rather pleasant to his senses, but so was being able to understand what the hell everyone else was saying.
Gathering their findings, the companions swim languidly to the surface, then the shore, taking their time and enjoying the freedom that being underwater affords one. Soon enough, they are back on land, presumably getting decent in preparation for a trip back into the city proper.
Enjoying the swim up with her companions, Amira looks at her armor, not relishing the idea of donning leather over wet undergarments. "Cass, mow would be a good time for you little do anything spell."
Terri shakes her hair out as she climbs out of the river. The wind and the wet causing her to shiver.
"Sh-sh-should-d-da b-b-brought a-a-a t-t-towel."
Under one arm is the coffer she and Wednesday found in the ship.
Tolenn emerges from the water, dripping and sodden but gives not indication of the discomfort she suddenly felt , now out in the air.
Placing her coffer carefully beside her gear, she takes the time to properly dry her weapons , using a blanket from her pack.
Donning her armor, she says to the others, quietly, "I suggest we bring our findings to Croft. An actual plague box and a follower of Urgathoa in physicians garb....if the Queen's own physicians are responible for the plague...Croft needs to know, and she may know where they are headquartered."
Cassandra does indeed use the mystical powers of the arcane to make sure everyone is dry. Everything in Korvosa seems much like it was before you went under water, except you now have certain proofs that the Queen's Physicians might be more and less than they appear.
The stinging cold and dampness upon breaking the surface reminding him he was truly back up among the living he was just about to redress, damp underclothes or not, before Cassandra helped alleviate that inconvenience.
"Presuming she's not in on it as well..." Daud scoffs while redonning his clothes and armor when Tolenn suggests the reasonable course of action.
Terri thanks Cassandra as she quickly gets dressed, her cheeks burning brighter and brighter every time she looks at Wednesday, wondering what was going through his head.
After what had to be a record setting dressing, which felt like it took an eternity, a red cheeked Terri turns to the others.
"Wednesday and I f-found this on the ship. I don't know what's in it, but I can't imagine anyone locking up something that wasn't important."
Glad to be dry, Amira dons her armor as well, chuckling softly at Terri's haste. Turning to Tolen she asks the Paladin's opinion. "How likely do you think it is that Croft is mixed up in this? We need to take this to someone, but the wrong person could be disastrous."
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Terri thanks Cassandra as she quickly gets dressed, her cheeks burning brighter and brighter every time she looks at Wednesday, wondering what was going through his head.
Getting mauled by a shark sucks. Tolenn has a really nice body. Dessert has a really nice body. Trumpet has a really nice body. Tangled Briar has a really nice body. Swimming without the need for air is fun. Getting mauled by a shark sucks.
"I'm hoping not at all. She's in a position to do a lot of damage if she is involved," Terri says as she pulls on her boots, "But the problem is we don't know who to trust. The Field Marshal could be involved. Someone could be trying to implicate the Queen's physicians. The Physicians could be duping the queen. The Queen could be behind all of this, or it could just be coincidence."
The young priestess shrugs before grabbing her pack and her glaive.
"We don't know enough to be leveling fingers, but I may be able to ask for some guidance on what we should do. Do you think we can wait until tomorrow so I may ask for my goddess' blessings?"
"I wouldn't put it pass Croft, and the Queen may not be the ringleader but she's definitely not out of the loop." Daud says as he finishes getting his clothes back on, lacking his coat it didn't really take that long.
"I'm thinking that waiting may be the best course of action if it increases our chances of keeping it from the wrong person." Amira says, strapping on the rest of her gear.
Swinging her shield up onto her back, Tolenn sighs, "I have no reservations about bringing this to Croft, but I certainly agree caution is warranted. Let us wait for Terri to seek Shelyn's guidance on this matter..."
Gathering up her back, carefully due to it's dangerous cargo, she leads the others back to Zellara's.
The group travels back to Zellara's without incident, the only bad mark on a successful expedition the fact that Terri has to paint a portrait of that insufferable wizard. It's still rather early in the day, but it feels as if it has been longer to the companions.
Nonplussed at avoiding Croft at the moment Daud quietly follows the ladies back to Zellara's, looking forward to a comfy bed.
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The next morning, Terri is up at sunrise, praying as she sketches the scene to the east in vibrant pastels. After an hour, she heads inside, Shelyn's blessings filling her heart and mind. She finds an empty room and begins to chant in a sing-song voice. Powdered chalk flows from her hands, creating an image of her holy symbol on the floor. Candles flicker as she dances and turns the room into art in motion, every movement, every moment an artwork that could be a masterpiece.
Suddenly, she stops in the middle of the room, in the center of the drawing of the thrush, in the center of a circle of seven colors.
"Eternal Rose, the Master Artist, I ask for your wisdom. I ask for your guidance. I seek to know, what will come of letting she who leads the Korvosan Guard know what we have discovered in the shipwreck?"
Sleeping quite soundly, the exertion of the deep dive and underwater battle having taken its toll, Amira wakes with the dawn, carrying out her usual morning ritual. During her meditation she feels her connection with the city strengthen, a deeper connection with her streets and walkways and a greater power to affect the populace. A slow smile spreading across her lips as she completes her communion with the soul and spirit of Korsova herself.
Terri pulls out a scroll, her voice ringing like clear crystal chimes,
"If your humble servant can trouble you with one more question. What will happen if we trust the Queen's Physicians?"
The scroll catches fire with a brilliant seven color flame and disappears in a wisp of white smoke.
Terri pulls out a scroll, her voice ringing like clear crystal chimes,
"If your humble servant can trouble you with one more question. Will we have weal or woe if we were to let the Queen's Physicians know of our discovery?"
The scroll catches fire with a brilliant seven color flame and disappears in a wisp of white smoke.
Terri gasps in shock as she feels like she's been doused with icy water. Her breath fogs as she breaths. She looks around, the now dark room, the candles having gone out.
"I-i-i have to tell the others," she says to herself as she stumbles to her feet and finds them, a look of worry on her face.
Languidly moving downstairs for breakfast after being near exsanguinated just a few hours his movements and mood are sleepy and almost unaware as he sets about eating some fruit.
"What's wrong?" he asks the frantic Sheylinite, still more in the land of the dead than the living.
Tolenn looks up from the table , concerned "Terri, what did your augury tell you to make you so pale?"
"W-w-where are the others? I don-- I don't think I can explain it twice," Terri stammers as she leads the others on, her whole body shaking.
"Be right back." Daud murmurs as he staggers to his feet to head upstairs to fetch the hippie and the wizard. Stopping first at Amira's door he knocks first then waits a moment before opening. "Hey, Dessert was wanting us all together for something..."
After that he then repeats for Cassandra's door.
Finishing her meditation, Amira quickly gets dressed and heads downstairs, a look of concern crossing her face as she takes in Terri's expression. "This can't be good."
Cassandra also joins the group, shirt on backwards but trusty mithril anchor at her hip. "What's up?
Tolenn smiles encouraginly at Terri, drawing her to sit at the table, placing a warm cup of tea in front of her.
"Tell us , Terri, what are your tidings?" she says gently.
"I-it's the Queen's physicians," Terri says, her whole body trembling as she wraps her arms tight around herself, "I-I had a scroll that would help me commune with Shelyn and ask her if an action would bring weal or woe. I used it to find out if we should let the Queen's Physician's know what we had found, and... and..."
The young priestess shudders as she looks down.
"I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to believe that someone would hurt someone else while pretending to help them," she says as she trembles like a leaf in the wind.
There were plenty of things Daud wanted to respond to with this revelation that was entirely unexpected by the Sheylnite, but he bit his tongue. Literally. His mouth began to move as a cutting remark formed without thought and almost escaped before he bit down.
"That's what monsters do." he solemnly says with a sore tongue.
Tolenn's face darkens as Terri reveals her horrible news.
"Grave tidings, indeed. That those tasked with solving the plague are thier architects." Tolenn says quietly, then sighs, "I regretfully come to the conclusion that this corruption must reach high, perhaps even to the Queen herself, for the Grey Maidens are in charge of organizing the Physician's response. "
She shakes her head, looking down, then says "But what of Croft? Is she to be trusted?"
"I-I think she can. I don't know for sure, but the feeling I got from asking about the physicians was so clear, so cold..."
Terri's voice trails off as she trembles violently as if someone had thrown her out into the coldest of winter nights.
Seeing Terri shiver Daud gets up and hurries up the stairs, coming back a little while later with a blanket. Stepping over to the priestess he hesitates before draping the covering over her.
Terri turns around and wraps Wednesday in a bone crushing hug after he drapes the blanket over her.
Caught off guard by the action he keeps his arms out to he side for a brief moment before wrapping them around her in return, one holding her back and the other cradling her head.
He wasn't going to tell her everything was going to be okay, the last girl he told that after draping something over her to keep her warm got sent off to be executed right after.
He simply stood there holding her for as long as she needed it.
Tolenn bows her head in relief at Terri's words about the Marshall, then raises it to see the interplay between Terri and Daud, a small smile on her lips.
Thinking she knows the pattern of thought that are probably going through Daud's head right, now she silently thanks him for keeping quiet.
She allows Terri time enough in the comfort of Daud's arms, before standing herself and walking to the two.
Laying a hand on Terri's head, she says "Thank you, Terri. Enduring such an experience for us , humbles me. Your guidance will be invaluable in our struggle ahead."
"Yeah, you did good kid. Real good." Daud adds in without letting go, his gaze just drifting off rather than looking directly at Terri or Tolenn.
"How wise can I really be if I can duped so," Terri says into Wednesday's shoulder, "I-I'm no warrior, not even the most martially adept of the priests in Shelyn's service. I barely have enough power to mend your wounds, and even that's failed me."