Mirela breaks into a big smile as she hears the diagnosis.
Thank you. You have no idea ’ow much I appreciate you doing that.
She looks around her room for a moment then looks back up at Twilight.
I guess there is no more reason to Stay locked in ‘ere then is there. I suppose I should take Whisper out for a bit then join the others. Do you want to join us for a short walk? You can tell me more about ‘ow you think Priestess Joy can ‘elp, or when a heath blessing might be most effective. I don’t be ‘aving much experience with this life draining Necromancy.
Atticus returns to his room and opens his file cabinet, holding his alchemistical tools. It had been a rough fight and the veil was a looming presence in his mind, so finding a way to improve his health was of paramount importance.
He had heard of an extract to strengthen ones body, so he took up his purse and moved towards the street, looking for a contact willing to let him scribe the recipy. It was money well spent!
"A restoration spell would cure the damage from the negative energy before it has a chance to leave a scar. Or, we can wait to see if everyone can heal naturally on their own. Lets go see how the others feel."
Twilight follows Mirela into the common room and waits for everyone else to gather. "Before we head to the Grand Vault and then on to report to Kroft, I just wanted to see if anyone wanted me to ask for Priestess Joy to tend to any lingering effects from the vampire spawn's touch.
Contact with negative energy, the energy of unlife, is always dangerous. It can heal naturally over time without intervention, but there is a chance that it leaves a permanent scar that will weaken ones spirit.
Just let me know and I will make the arrangements before we leave. Otherwise, is there anything else we need to take care of before we go?"
Devan smiled at the two ladies as they entered the room, though he gave Mirela a questioning look. The two didn't seem too distressed, so hopefully things weren't so bad. As the discussion turned to their brush with the undead the previous day, the musician DID feel a bit sluggish and more worn than he would have thought, especially being free of the drink the night previous. He thought it over, but ultimately shook his head.
As the talk turned to their already busy day, the young man said, "Perhaps the Professor could take a look at Lavender's supposed cure while we're out and about, if he doesn't mind?" The bard gave Atticus an inquiring look before continuing.
"After all that, I don't know...I guess we'll regroup once all that's taken care of and see. I feel like we're just waiting for something else to happen. I'd rather make some progress into the origins of this plague!" Devan felt irritated at the relatively helpless state of the City. It was almost certainly being sabotaged by someone or a group, but the perpetrator was proving elusive.
As the group talks Mirela casually makes her way over by Devan. Standing near him she pipes up.
That do be a good idea. I can’t be imagining there is too much danger at the Grand Vault or the Citadel. And we really need to see if that cure do be just stealing good peoples money or is part of whatever plan that Urgathoa‘s cult ‘as.
As she finishes and the conversation moves on she smiles at Devan and leans into him whispering
Twilight says I do be safe.
While Atticus gets setup to examine the concoction they received from Lavenders the rest of the group decides to head off and speak to Kroft.
Heading to the Citadel, the streets are mostly empty, however you notice something a bit odd, there are several dark plumes of black smoke rising from the distance on the southern skyline, obviously originating from the Gray district.
Even once you have reached the citadel it doesn't seem to be fully manned, with just a few guards here and there. You make your way to Kroft's office and find the woman behind her desk looking over maps and various paperwork. She looks tired and worn down. As she notices your entry she looks up and forces a smile. "Glad you lot still look to be doing ok while the city goes to hell..."
Preparing an extract of crafters fortune Atticus opens his recipy book, carefully selects his ingredients and starts the burner.
Measuring here, grinding in a mortar there, cooking over there he starts to prepare his first concotation.
Devan pulled Mirela close and gave her a squeeze, leaning over and kissing her forehead. "Thank the gods. I couldn't imagine losing you." The young man embraced her a few moments more before the group parted ways with the studious professor and headed to the Citadel.
Once there, the musician noted the worn look of Kroft and sighed. The woman was trying to work a miracle, even as her resources were surely being siphoned off to the new Maidens. "We have some good news...we were able to take care of the bodies being carted off into the alleys, as requested. There were some horrific undead lurking about, but my brave companions took care of that threat, as well."
Devan, We did be ‘earring about the bodies being dumped by the Ware-rats. I think The Commander may be needing a little background.
A lesser person would curse now, but Atticus just shakes his head in sadness. It was as they had already suspected, this was just coloured water, a method to drain the little coins in the poor.
Worse, it was river water, the most important part of this citys sewage system.
Nevertheless, it was time to gather some supplies because one never knew when he might need them.
Especially the Bears endurance recipy.
Kroft quirks her brow in confusion when Devan starts talking about bodies in an alley and as Mirela chimes in she nods "Indeed, what is this all about now?"
"Well, in exchange for helping some socially disadvantaged residents of the city, they told us about an illicit dumping ground for unscrupulous corpse collectors."
Twilight gestured in the direction of the Grey district and the plumes of black smoke. "It seems that the Grey Lady's followers already have more than they can handle and it was more convenient for these collectors to simply dump the bodies in an alley. This in turn attracted some foul undead.
The undead were dispatched, but unfortunately the ones who left the corpses there to begin with were nowhere to be found. We made sure that the bodies were sent to their proper rest and were going to do a little more investigation into the matter. The undead seem to be connecgted to Ustalav and there was one other odd aspect about the situation that we are looking into."
There were enough bodies there, so whoever was dumping them probably did be doing it lots of times. So if your guards see who does be doing this, it would probably be good for them to encourage them to do their jobs right.
I would imagine even most of your guards would be 'aving their 'ands full if they did be stumbling across Vampire Spawn unexpectedly.
Kroft puts the palm of her hand on her forehead and rubs her temples in frustration before taking in a deep breath "I appreciate you letting me know about this. I had heard the church of Abadar started to offer discounts on its healing services to those who serve Korvosa as plague carters. From the sounds of it someone was being lazy and in so doing putting even more lives at risk. I'm glad you were able to take care of it though you said there were vampire spawn?"
She shakes her head and writes down a brief note. "Where was this occurring? I'll see if I can put a contingent of guards together to look into the matter and make sure whoever was being negligent has their actions corrected..."
Once you give her the details she writes down a few more notes and sets the paper to the side for now before riffling through some other documents and pulling one out of a large stack. "Since you are here, I actually have something I was hoping you could investigate when you have time. For days, Deyanira Mirukova has pleaded at the gates of Citadel Volshyenek, begging for help in finding her brother, Ruan. The young Varisians live together in an apartment off Overton Way, not far from the Marbledome. She said her brother got a job to perform at a private masquerade at Carowyn Manor, home of the well-known patrons of the arts. However, he apparently never returned, Deyanira went to the Carowyn estate, only to find it seemingly abandoned. We've been stretched past the breaking point already and I can't spare anyone to look into this right now, perhaps you could check when you have an opportunity?"
Devan nodded at Mirela when she mentioned he needed to add context, exasperated with himself. Fortunately, Twilight seemed up to the challenge of filling in the Field Marshal and hopefully giving the worn woman a bit of hope that things would turn out ok. When Kroft asked for the location, Devan offered the address of the toymaker's shop where they had found the corpses.
The musician listened to Kroft speak of the Mirukova woman, shaking his head near the end. If the man had been at the Manor and it seemed abandoned, he was likely either dead or had abandoned Korvosa and the plague currently wreaking havoc on the city. The young man thought the group's talents could handle more complex tasks than the recovery of a single missing young man, but if that was the biggest problem on Kroft's plate at the moment perhaps things were on the upswing.
"We've got a couple other things to take care of, but we'll likely look into it this afternoon, ma'am."
"Lets head to the Grand Vault to see what this key opens, then pick up Aticus and check out this estate. Shall we?"
Twilight got up and made her way to the door.
Kroft nods to Devan "I'm sure she will appreciate the assistance. Maybe stop by and let her know you will plan to look into it, just so she doesn't bother continuing to come and ask for our help when we can't provide it? I know it may seem like a small thing, but my guards are so tied up with everything else I can't spare anyone to look into this but I want to the woman to get help if she can, so I appreciate you being willing to assist."
As Twilight suggests you depart Kroft gives you all a nod of thanks and turns her attention back to the mountains of paperwork on her desk and lets out a frustrated sigh.
Heading to the Grand Vault you show the key to one of the clerks there, he takes you to a small room and asks you to wait as he retrieves the lockbox for the key. After a few moments he returns with a small metal box and sets it on a counter in front of you then leaves you to your business. Using the key to open the box, inside you find 68 gold, a set of masterwork thieves’ tools, a pair of boots of striding and springing, and a sheaf of papers detailing the creation of dozens of poorly designed toys. It looks like this was the poor mans life savings.
Twilight examined the contents of the box. After identifying the magic on the boots she thumbed through the designs. "It looks like our toymaker had other talents." she said while turning over the lockpicks. "It seems like a sad end to his story, I still wonder how he got tangled up with vampire spawn. Perhaps he was a smuggler who ran afoul of his client's special cargo?"
She sighed as she put down the picks and looked through the coins. "This is but a pittance to us at this point. I am inclined to take a trip to the boneyard in the off chance that the priests haven't gotten around to cremating the toymaker yet and putting the man's last coins towards something a little more dignified than being tossed on a mass pyre. But..." She cinched up the coin purse and gathered up the rest of the items "...we can discus this with everyone when we get back to the inn."
Twilight makes ready to leave to the Yellow Juggler.
Those boots don't be seeming like a pittance. I think Devan should be talking them as 'e does be moving around lots in fights.
And the coins, if we do be giving them away, I would rather be 'elping the living then worry about some monument for the dead. There will be many children in need after the blood veil does be done taking their parents.
The musician looked over the toymaker's possessions somberly, thinking of the corpse they had found. A lifetime accumulating wealth bit by bit, only for it to be found by complete strangers who happened upon his mortal shell. Twilight was right...it was a sad end to the poor man.
Looking over the boots, the young man eyed his magic footware appraisingly. He had purchased them to assist him in maneuvering and being more daring in battle, but in the heat of the moment he rarely remembered the trigger to activate their magic. Perhaps the newer boots would be a better fit for him. He smiled at Mirela, but didn't speak on it for now. They could discuss all of it back at the Inn after they learned what the Professor might have found out.
Good idea you have ,Huntress. He did toys for children, maybe he would appreciate having his gold given to children too, to bring them some joy and happiness in these gloomy day. As for the boots, I'm sure my feet won't fit, and Devan is a better choice. I'm sure he's even able to make a song about them.
Nargun walks near Twilight
Hate to have to ask you that, Princess, but do you have an idea how much money is needed for that spell you talked about earlier, you know, to gimme back some energy after the fight with the bloodsuckers? And maybe someone else might need it too...
"Oh, the boots are quite the find. I meant the purse of coins. Fair enough, helping the orphans sounds like a noble enough cause."
As they walked back to the Inn Twilight idly perused the sheaf of toy designs from the box. She was a little surprised when Nargun asked about the cost of healing. Of any of them he was the one most likely to recover without further intervention. However, there was nothing wrong with an abundance of caution.
"I don't know the price for certain, especially under these circumstances, but I will see if she is available and make arrangements."
She continued to look at the designs "You know, as much as I disparaged the toymaker's skills, I think I was in the wrong. Judging by these designs, he was actually quite competent at crafting his toys. It was his ideas that were unusual to begin with."
Once back at the Yellow Juggler, Twilight made some inquiries about the availability of Priestess Joy to tend to the casting of the necessary restoration spell and its cost. Once that was done, she rejoined the group to find out what Atticus had discovered about Lavender's "cure".
Twilight makes some inquiries into the availability of her mentor to find that the woman should be available later this afternoon, luckily a bit before the 24 hour mark of the affliction. However, when she makes a request for her aid Priestess Joy writes a brief note back stating she will only be able to cast it twice today and it will be 460 gold per casting.
Twilight frowned after hearing Atticus' findings. "At least its not actively harmful, except maybe for the water source. Compared to what the entrepreneurs at the butcher shop were doing this is largely benign."
Twilight gave a little shrug. "Do we want to take care of this ourselves, or send word to Kroft so she can add it to the list of things the guard needs to take care of? We can write the report and have it sent by runner if that is how we want to handle it.
Either way, we should get going. We were supposed to stop by Deyanira's like Kroft suggested and see if there is anything more she can tell us about her brother's disappearance."
She stood up and was in the process of putting her cloak "Oh, and I was able to obtain the services of Sister Joy to restore the vitality of anyone that still suffers from the spawn touch. She will meet us back here this evening. Her price was 460 gold sails and she is only able to tend to two people. If anyone else still needs to be treated, we will have to see if there is another priest that is able and willing to do this for us."
Nothing 'armful, if the water do not be what is spreading this. I still be thinking that must be where this came from. Even if it do not be, what about the people who do believe themselves protected?
If they do be taking risks and not being cautious, we could be making this worse. One single infected person in the bloody line do be possibly infecting 10 or 20 more with 'ow close they do be packed to the store.
I do be thinking we should at least sent a report to Kroft and tell 'er what do be 'appening. Then she can decide to 'ave the Guard be shutting this down, or if she wants us to be 'andling this we do it with 'er blessing after we do look for this Ruan.
After all, if we did try to stop this it would probably be a fight with the bullyboys Lavender's got running the line. Without protection from Kroft, we could just be arrested for assault.
Devan was about to suggest confronting the supposed potion dealer directly, but after hearing the ladies' points, he didn't argue any further. Perhaps he had caught a case of Nargun's fatalism, but he'd rather take the action himself than whisper in Kroft's ear and let her handle it. Still, they did have other things to worry with, and little real authority in the City, especially with the Maidens taking over much of the policing.
Devan smiled at Mirela, squeezing her shoulder gently before saying, "Well let's get our note to Kroft written so we can find this young man. Poor fool probably got trashed at the party and got himself into trouble." The musician had been there often enough until recently.
The young man thought over what he knew of the city and where this Carowyn Manor might be. "Maybe everyone had left and the nobles were sleeping it off. I imagine servants are harder to come by in all this mess."
Twilight nodded and asked one of the staff if they could fetch a runner willing to take a message to the Citadel.
"While we wait, Atticus can pen his findings. If Kroft has too much on her hands, I'm sure she will ask us to take care of the situation. Its something we would want to do in the evening anyway. I don't fancy the idea of trying to arrest the merchant of a miraculous cure in front of a large crowd of desperate people."
After the letter is written and sent, Twilight motions to the door. "Lets go pay Deyanira a visit. I hope you are right about the party Devan. It would be nice to just find out that after a few drinks the lord of the manor simply had enough and decided to up and take his household out of the city and our missing entertainer with them."
-------
Field Marshal Kroft
We have just concluded analyzing the final piece of evidence from our investigation of Lavender. Attached you will find the alchemical analysis performed by Atticus on a sample of the cure being sold along with his observations. In summary, it is a harmless mixture, but one of no value in warding off the plague.
Included with this letter is the remaining sample for evidence or further analysis as you see fit.
If you would like use to handle the matter and bring in Lavender for questioning, let us know and we will do so at the earliest opportunity. Otherwise, we will leave the matter in your capable hands.
Twilight & Company
-------
With the letter written and a runner found the group sets off on thier other task. Making their way to Wanton Way near the Marbledome which is just a few blocks south of Castle Korvosa. The streets are eerily quiet as they make their way through town, but eventually they find their way to their destination thanks to Kroft's instructions.
Knocking on the door you hear someone inside call out "Just a minute." After a bit a young woman comes to the door maybe eighteen or nineteen. She opens the door slightly to peek out "Is there something I can help you with?"
Mirela keeps Whisper at heel as she wanders the empty streets.
The city do be quiet. It is almost like everyone do be ‘olding their breath. I ‘ope everyone is just ‘iding in their ‘omes and not caring for the sick.
Later when they arrive at Deyanira’s home, Mirela calls from the back of the group.
We understand your brother ‘e do be missing?
The guard did be asking us to look into the matter for you. Do you ‘ave a place we can talk and find out about the details of ‘is disappearance?
She stands there a moment with the door only barely cracked open then exclaims "Oh... Oh yes! Please come in." Opening the door the rest of the way you see a small, cramped apartment. There's not a whole lot of space inside but almost everyone can find a seat around her dining table.
With a smile she offers you all water if you like and then notes "So the guard is hiring outsiders to help huh? I'm just glad someone has come. My brothers been missing for awhile now and I had no where else to turn."
The woman, after have gotten any who wish it drinks, comes to stand near where you are all sitting. "I don't know how much you know so I'll just start from the beginning. My brother Ruan is quite the skilled musician, a master of the ocarina. Several days ago he came home in a state of excitement, delighted he had been personally requested to perform at a private masquerade at Carowyn Manor, home of the well-known patrons of the arts. He bought a new outfit, practiced a challenging new arrangement, and left early the evening of the event.
When Ruan didn’t return the entire next day, Deyanira went to the Carowyn estate, only to find it seemingly abandoned—its entrance locked, its windows tightly curtained, and a sickly smell issuing from behind the heavy door. I couldn't get in and no one would answer so I came to request aid from the guard, but they have been too busy."
She is barely holding herself together as she relates this to you and with teary eyes she adds "I have little money to offer as a reward, but..." she goes into the other room and returns moments later with a scarf wrapped around several items. She unfulrs it to show common goods and family heirlooms worth slightly less than one hundred gold.
Tears streaming down her cheeks she continues "Please, its not much, but it is everything I have. Will you please find out what has happened to my brother?"
Nargun doesnt even know what an ocarina is, happy to let Devan know that kind of stuff.
The offer of beverages is accepted gleefully, but the desperation of the woman stops the dwarf's thirst. Which, as you all know by now, is no small feat indeed.
As far as I am concerned, and I only speak for myself, there's no need for that, young one. In fact, in these troubled times, you might need it even more than me. Have your brother dropped a name about who asked him to perform?
At the door Twilight nodded as Deyanira greeted them "I wouldn't say that we are outsiders, but it is true that the guard has been overwhelmed and have called in extra help. You can be assured that we have plenty of experience handling investigations."
She sat down in the crowded apartment and politely accepted the offered drink. She listened to the woman's story but shook her head and waved off the reward "The guard is compensating us for our time, there is no need for you sell off your heirlooms. If a reward is insisted on, the only one I would ask is an evening performance."
Twilight waited a moment to see if anyone had any questions before continuing. "This sounds like a simple enough task. We will have a look and let you know as soon as we find anything."
Despite her optimistic words, the fact that there was a smell strong enough to be detected outside and odd enough to warrant mentioning worried her.
The woman looks to the dwarf slightly surprised at not wanting payment but replies in kind as she wipes away some of her tears "I... I think he said it was Lady Carowyn herself who mad the request."
When twilight chimes in she smiles and with a bit of a hop in her step she rushes back into the other room and comes out with several tickets "Oh, performances I can do. I have season passes to the Marbledome. I'm not sure when they will start performances again, but you are welcome to them!"
Mirela says from where she is seated.
The fact nobody responded at the door is a bit worrying. I would ‘ave thought a servant at least would ‘ave shouted for you to go away....
I ‘ave been out of the city for a while, so I am not up in social events, what do you know about the family that do be living in Carowyn estate? ‘As your brother ever performed for them before?
Also do you ‘ave any of your brothers clothing?. She puts her hand on Whisper’s back and starts petting her. Which sets her tail wagging clunking against the chair Mirela is sitting in. Whisper ‘ere can track by scent, so if she can get ’is smell, she can be ‘elping us find ‘im.
Like Twilight, Devan is disturbed by the fact that there was a smell coming from the Manor. Raucous revelry had its own distinct aroma afterwards, usually, but it rarely smelled like Deyanira had described. When the woman offered a reward, the musician smiled politely, but let the others speak for the group. While he didn't expect a happy ending for poor Ruan, even if they found the young man, taking the little wealth from a girl barely old enough to be called a woman seemed wrong.
Thinking back to his years in taverns, the fact that Ruan played an ocarina likely would have meant he'd never had the pleasure of hearing the fellow musician. Devan had mainly played in the more rowdy taverns in Korvosa, while the ocarina was a more delicate instrument played for a more sophisticated audience, usually. He turned his attention back to Deyanira, waiting to see if she had any more information to divulge before they set off.
The woman hands the season passes out to each of you before replying to Mirela's questions "Well, the Carowyn's are serious patrons of the arts here in Korvosa. They have contributed thousands of gold to seasons at the Kendall Ampitheaters and have standing box seat reservations at the Marbledome, but are probably best known for their galas they host at their South Shore estate. From what I heard, as word of this plague started to circulate they had made a plan to avoid the gloom and dread by holding a fantastic party. This is what my brother was commissioned for, was to perform at the party. He is quite masterful even for his young age, a bit of a prodigy or so I've heard others say."
She shakes her head as she continues "He was so excited because he had never been invited to perform directly at such an event, though no doubt they had hear his work some time or another at the Marbledome."
She wipes away another tear, obviously running over her fears in her head as she turns her thoughts to Mirela's final inquiry "As for clothes, sure. We live here together so I have plenty of things." She disappears into one of the adjoining rooms for a few moments and you can drawers open and close and eventually she returns hugging a vibrant blue shirt. She holds it for a moment before handing it over to Mirela "This was his favorite shirt. Hopefully it can help."
"Thank you. We should get going" Twilight said as she got up and headed for the door.
"Its been a few days and the situation she describes doesn't sound promising. That was a great idea though, having Whisper track our missing musician. Can whisper track someone after so long?" she asked, genuinely curious.
Mirela takes the shirt and carefully folds it up and puts it under her arm.
Thank you. We will do all we can.
As she stands to leave she calls Whisper to heel and moves to the door with Twilight.
Well I think so. But if nothing else it can't 'urt. I 'ope at least it will tell us if 'e left the building or only went in.
The group sets out for Shoreline Way, in Southshore. After passing through the gate which separates Southshore from the rest of the city, it's almost like you are in an entirely different city. Much more open than most of the rest of the city, South Shore hosts many of Korvosa’s new nobility. With large estates, spacious yards and lots of green if you didn't know better you would almost think you were in the countryside rather in the midst of a large city. Even so, things are quiet here with almost no one outside or on the streets.
Coming up on the estate you see the property includes the manor house itself, a smaller detached building a high hedge grows along the border of the estate, blocking sight to what is on the other side, though you can see several large trees spaced out through what you would imagine is a large back yard over the hedges.
Festooned with cinderberry garlands and brightred drapery, the limestone facade of Carowyn Manor faces Shoreline Way. The sturdy front doors are made of Bloodsworn mahogany and are locked. The brass banisters of a balcony rise 15 feet above the front door. All of the windows have been shuddered and the curtains drawn.
Nargun looks at the door, weighting their options and his axe at the same time
So, what do we start with? Polite knocking? Picking the lock? Breaking and entering?
Atticus finishes his research and just waits for the others.
Wizard 0: Acid splash, Mage hand, prestidigitation, read magic. 1:Mage armour, Vanish, Magic weapon, (S)Colour spray.2:Spectral hand, Spectral hand, (S)Blur | Subtle misdirection 6/6. Bonded item 1/1. Pearl Lv1 1/1, Lv2 1/1
"Why don't we poke around the grounds a little bit before heading into the manor proper. We might find some clues about what we are about to get ourselves into."
Twilight uttered a quick enchantment and she was bathed in a faint blue glow for a moment before it faded leaving behind an invisible aura of protective force.
"That building over there might be a stables or a servant's quarters. We can see if there are any clues as to whether the residents are still here or have perhaps fled."
Let me try something first..
Mirela pulls out the shirt and holds it in front of Whisper. Where did he go Girl, can you find 'im?
Mirela then tries bring Whisper around the outside of the property to see if the there is anyplace that she gets the scent besides near the front gate.
Walking the perimeter you find that the hedge surrounds the entire property between the two houses blocking any direct access to the back. The building off from the main house doesn't have any windows or means of entry on your side of the hedges.
Whisper sniffs about the whole place but the only spot she picks up anything is near the front door.