A brief smile flickered on Twilight's lips at Nargun's words.
"He is so close. If he can just get past the human's fixation on Callistria's carnal desires, he would see that She has so much more to offer him.
His passion burns brightest when he is pursuing vengeance on behalf of another. He just needs to embrace that, make it his new purpose. I need to show him that Callistria would better suit his new life."
After a moment to settle himself he gives Nargun a hesitant nod before turning his attention to Mirela. Describing the list of guests and staff you are certain you have found the remains of all but your target. Lord Carowyn notes "I did hear the mad woman talking about someone named Rolth, it sounded like maybe he was her employer or partner or lover... I'm not sure exactly, but if you haven't found young Ruan then I would guess he either managed to escape or perhaps she captured him for some other purpose involving this Rolth character."
Devan's eyes flashed with recognition at the name Rolth, though it took him a minute to place it. "That was the wizard in the Dead Warrens who was collecting body parts. We fought the derros there..." Actually, I think people had mentioned Rolth as a necromancer, which the musician was pretty sure had something to do with the dead. With all the recently deceased piling up it would be a paradise to someone like the sick sorcerer.
It seemed like the young man wasn't accounted for. If he had escaped, he surely would have went home to his sister, which meant he had likely been captured for some other purpose. "Lord Carowyn, we're sorry for your loss. We'll make sure the guard is alerted to the...mess...here so it can be sorted out." If anyone else wanted to question the man further, Devan was willing to stay put, but otherwise was ready to depart and inform their patron of the situation.
Mirela gasps as Devan jogs her memory
So the Jester is another associate of this Roth just like the crazy dwarves. If that is the kind of associates that this Roth 'as, I worry what else he might do.
Wait didn't 'e be the one that we found the other key knife with? Could 'e 'ave been behind the serial murders?
Something is odd here... Can't be a coincidence.They are all in cahots, but for what purpose? Why would Ruan be singled out for Rolth? I doubt it's for his musical talents. If he'd escaped, he would have gone to his sister, I guess. Wheter he could have reached her is another question, of course.
The professor writes everything down to collect his thoughts.
"There has to be a connection. We need more facts. I think we should really start to get them alive!"
'Ow? She did be jumping out a second story window when we got close.
Devan smirked at Atticus's suggestion, though he did offer to Mirela. "We tend to leave the bad guys in a rather poor state, usually." The musician made sure to not glance Nargun's way when he spoke, lest he take it as an insult.
"As for Ruan, who knows? He could have a face that the sick man is just itching to put on his next meat puppet. We know where this Rolth might be, though. We could check out his lair in the Dead Warrens, again, on the off chance he's still there." The young man shrugged.
Thinking on his lover's statement, he nodded. "Yes, we did find the second key lock knife in Rolth's possession, and we found the first with that despicable...", Devan glanced at the barbarian and continued, "person who wronged us all. Maybe it wasn't just a single killer."
"Lamm was connected to Rolth, and now Rolth is connected to the elven jester. Rolth had taken the pains to recover and animate Lamm's corps if you recall. Why does that man's influence continue to plague us long after his death."
Twilight frowned "It seems like we may need to be more vigilant in hunting down his associates if we want to truly put an end to his legacy."
Twilight sighed and shook her head "Let's escort Lord Carowyn to the guards and make our report there, then give the news to the Ruan's sister. He wasn't among the dead so they took him somewhere for some reason, there may still be hope that he is alive. We can figure out what to do after that."
There are links to follow. And people to kill bloodily all the way long, for all the pain and misery they brought to this town . I'm in.
Good Idea. I think we did do all we can be doing here. We need to report this.
'mmmm, Do you be thinking that Kroft 'as a way to track the Jester across the city?
"I don't know, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. We could also see if those rats we helped might know something about this as well."
Seeing that a consensus had been reached and wanting to get moving so as to unload Lord Carowyn on Kroft and her guards, Devan clapped the man on the shoulder in a friendly way. "Well, let's get you over to the guard so we can report on this whole situation and you can get settled in somewhere safe."
The musician glanced over at the others, clearly worried. The City was on a downward slope to the Nine Hells, it seemed, and the little pockets of resistance were doing little to stem the tide. Devan wanted to get moving on this quickly, as finding the jester seemed to be a link to find this mysterious Rolth figure.
The group makes their way back through town to the Citadel with Lord Carowyn in tow. As they give their report Kroft just rubs the bridge of her nose in frustration. She calls in a couple of guards to go with Lord Carowyn to see to the mess at his estate. After you are alone with Kroft she slams her fists down on her desk "Damnit all! This plague is completely out of hand. Blood veil continues to ravage Korvosa and it only seems to bring the worst out in people. The Queen's "Physicians" either simply aren’t very good at their job or are deliberately avoiding attempts to cure it for Gods knows what reason..."
She pauses a takes a deep breath as she looks to you all "Sorry for the outburst. I haven't been getting much sleep. Maybe you all could head to the Hospice of the Blessed Maiden? Check and see what they are actually doing?"
After the unpleasant business at the Carowyn manor, Twilight had been looking forward to a little rest for the rest of the day. Unfortunately that didn't seem like it was going to happen.
"Is there anything you could do to help find the missing bard or the jester? I would imagine that a fool running through town might attract someone's attention."
She frowned for a moment "When you ask us to 'check and see what they are actually doing', do you want us to be above board and knock on their door, or would you prefer the investigation to be a little more subtle?"
No matter 'ow we do be approaching the place, do there be anything you can tell us besides that it do be the base for the Queen's Phaysicians?
Devan could certainly understand Kroft’s frustration. The Guard had basically been reduced down to a token force, its authority and financing usurped by the Grey Maidens. With Blood Veil running rampant and no resources to stem it, all the Field Marshal could do was helplessly watch as the city was consumed.
The musician was a bit alarmed at how the conversation was playing out as talk turned to the Hospice. While the party had uncovered what seemed to be a plot to bring the plague to Korvosa, surely the doctors weren’t involved. Eyebrows furrowing, he looked to Kroft to see how she answered the ladies’ questions. That would tell him how grave it was.
Kroft offers a brief smile as the group at least seems open to looking into it and begins to answer their questions in turn "I will send word out through the ranks for the guard to be on the lookout for anyone matching your description. Past that, there isn't a lot more I can do with how thinly spread we are."
"As to your investigation, that is up to you how you approach it. Obviously, if they are just incompetent or this plague is so bad they can't handle it then above board would do well. However, if there is anything more... troublesome... going on perhaps a more subtle approach would be better. At this point I honestly don't know either way, all I know is something isn't right. I hope I'm wrong and maybe this is just too much for them to handle, maybe some helping hands like your could make a difference if you could work with them directly. I just know they haven't been all that friendly or helpful with my people and this plague is only getting worse. With the other discoveries you have made I does give me pause as to if there isn't something worse going on here."
Turning to Mirela she continues "I don't know a lot about the Hospice. I do know it used to be a warehouse for the Arkona family, but at some point it was sold and now the Queen's Physicians have claimed it as their base of operations. Lots of the sick are taken there to be treated, so obviously you'll want to be cautious when investigating that you don't expose yourself too much to the plague."
Nargun eyes sparkle dangerously
Out of curiosity... You say lots of the sick are taken in that Hospice, but how many get out? I know that many die, but do someone, anyone ever get out healthy, or at least alive? I suppose your guards would know that... and if we meet troubles, how are we supposed to react? Do we have to fight back? Do we strike to kill?
(ooc]Lest I forget, maybe add eventual spell bonus (resistance?)[/ooc]
Atticus nods and adds."I bet it was a hard week. But Abadar gives every person the load his shoulders can carry!"
Looking at the others as Kroft elaborates on the assignment he just looks positivly worried. "This will be no task to take on the light shoulder. How bad is it... truly!"
It do be sounding to me like there should be at least an attempt to scout this area before we do be approaching openly. I do be guessing that if they are not 'elpful to you, then they would not be friendly to people like us.
Devan frowned as everyone spoke, offering, "Sounds like subtle investigation it is, then. The Maidens and Physicians work for the Queen, not Korvosa. Even if they are on the up and up, they're not likely to view our meddling favorably."
The musician looked at Nargun, adding, "If we find wrong-doing, we stop it. If the worst is happening, they are actively killing the people of this city. Any means necessary." The young man's lips pressed into a grim line at the thought, wondering if the group was overreacting.
The physicians might just be inept, or overwhelmed and too late to stop the spread of the terrible disease. Still, they DID know that someone was actively spreading Blood Veil, they just didn't know who was involved beyond this Andaisin person.
"If we get into a confrontation with the Queen's physicians, there won't by any crowds to grant us anonymity, we will definitely be attracting Her Highness' attention. I agree with Mirela. Lets go have a look around to see what we are dealing with."
Since we do be seeming open to looking into this for the Captain. Do we want to be doing this now or should we wait up and scout this out tonight?
She looks at how the rest of the group is holding up then glances at the tired looking captain.
Then she says thoughtfully. Ow about we be getting out of the Captain’s ‘air while we talk about ‘ow we want to do this?
I do be betting the Captain ‘as other things she needs to be dealing with.
"I think we should wait until this evening before we do any serious investigation, but a quick walk by of the location during the day would be valuable in helping figure out the best way to approach the building"
Once the group had left Kroft's vicinity, Devan joined the discussion. "Yes, just to get a glimpse of how many guards there seems to be, how active the place is, how many entry points, that sort of thing. That will help us plan what we do later on tonight."
Devan was a little fearful of the task before them, as it might put the group directly against the Queen's forces, but he mainly felt invigorated, as he was always much more a man of action than waiting. They'd gather their intelligence and then delve into the Hospice and figure out exactly what was going on in the place.
I'm not known for my subtelty, but if things get tough, I'll be tougher.
Atticus strokes his chin at the others words.
"We will for sure benefit from the recon. I would be careful there. I could imagine that not all guards have an uniform?"
As the group walks out of the Citadel, they find that the afternoon is gloomy and there is the smell of cookfires. Which could perhaps have something to do with the columns of black smoke rising from the southwest of you as the wind is blowing from that direction. You would estimate the smoke is coming from somewhere in the Grey district.
You know from Commander Kroft that the Hospice is north west of you in the West Docks area. You would estimate that it is not all that far from Zellara's old home. As you begin to walk that direction the streets are still uncomfortably quiet with almost nobody on the the streets. Those few people who are, seem to walk far around you to avoid coming in contact with a group as large as yours.
As you are walking you notice that some of the the doors to the building you pass have dark red splashes of paint on them and notes nailed into them.
As you near the spot where you were directed to, you find yourself surrounded by warehouses in a rough part of town. This area seems to have a few more people are on the street. Many of these people have the look of Sailors from far off, but even here the people walk alone or in very small groups trying to stay away from others. Even in broad daylight, it feels like the pulse of the city is slowly dying.
The Hospice itself is a large warehouse which seems to take up the entire block to itself. The warehouse is in good repair and sits right off the main road bordering the West Docks. At first glance the building itself is nothing special to look at, with no windows and simply a wooden door facing the main road over which has been painted the words "The Hospice of the Blessed Maiden".
As you near the place, you recognize it from your dark days. There is a "Dive Bar" a block or so over that you went to a few times. It was called the Bailor's Retreat. You have vague memories of this being a very rough tavern that was the favorite haunt of recently released prisoners from Citadel Volshyenek’s jails. Not the kind of place that you would ever take any of the women to, but it was a reliable place to find a fight. Given how close it is, it might have a view of the back of this building if you could clear up one of the filthy windows.
Atticus quickly moves closer and reads the notes.
He then looks at Nargun and shakes his head."It is spreading like wildfire!"
Nargun nods and adds
That sickness is worse than anything. I remember a place, the Bailor's Retreat, not too far. A stinkhole where people went to find a fight, and maybe a few drinks. The scum of city went there, some criminals recently freed from the jail, not really a place for women I'll say, no disrepect meant. But the Bailor's was just at the back of that so called Hospice, so we might get a discreet look once a window is cleaned. What do you think? Worth trying?
When Atticus calls your attention to them everyone sees that there are doors to different buildings marked with red paint and a simple note on them.
The note reads:
"This building has been found to contain people suffering from the "Blood Veil". By order of the Queen's Physicians and Grey Maidens this building is under quarantine until further notice. Anyone entering or exiting this building will be arrested."
It's not on most buildings, but more then you expected. In fact now that you see them, you notice at least a dozen of the buildings marked this way just on the rest of your walk between the Citadel and the Hospice.
Just before the group heads off to investigate the warehouse, Twilight found a discreet place to change into more mundane clothing. A touch of dirt here and there and some peasant clothes and she would easily be overlooked.
With her disguise set, she lagged behind the group a short distance when they got closer to the hospice.
As Nargun and Atticus paused, she veered around them, giving the party a wide berth much like everyone else on the streets had. She purposefully chose to step closer to the hospice itself, and continued to walk along the wall, listening to see if she could hear anything from inside.
Once she got to the corner of the building, she glanced down the other side to see if there was anything else of interest. As she did so, she looked back to see what where the rest of the party was headed before wandering in that direction herself to meet back up with them.
As you walk past the building, you hear nothing of note. Just the quiet sounds of those walking on the street.
Looking down the side of the building, you see that this side also has no windows and no doors. The building is shorter on the north side of the building, only about 1 1/2 stories tall, compared to what you saw on the south side where it was at least two and a half stories.
As you glance down this street you see a group of three people walking in your direction. What draws your attention to the group is the leader. He, or she, is dressed in cowled robes of oily-looking leather, wears long gloves, and a wide black hat. The figure caries a dark satchel and wears a dark-goggled mask tapering to a pointed beak. The two figures behind are harder to make out at the distance, as they walk slowly with their heads down, but are not dressed like the leader. Rather they seem to be a tall and shorter man in standard tunic and trousers.
Devan's nose wrinkled at the smell of cooking meat, though once he saw where the black smoke was coming from he immediately lost his appetite. What a sad state for Korvosa and its citizens, that those lost to the Veil had to be fed to the fire and not properly interred with their family in attendance to send them off. Perhaps the Hospice would offer a glimmer of hope to the city.
The bard nodded at Nargun, smiling at the dwarf for remembering an astute detail like that. Devan could hardly remember anything from his weeks of gloom, drinking himself until the darkness claimed him. As Twilight fell behind, the musician looked behind, but when he saw her following from a distance, he forced himself to stop looking. It would only draw attention to her.
When Atticus pointed out the notes on the doors, Devan's face darkened as he read them. What a horrible state, to be isolated as the disease ravaged your body. He understood the need to keep healthy people away, but it was still a horrific thought. The young man briefly put an arm around Mirela's shoulder, kissing the mane of red hair on the side of her head before continuing with the others towards the rowdy tavern.
As the strange trio approach, Twilight briskly walks to the other side of the street to avoid getting too close. As they passed she studied them, giving furtively glances at them trying to portray a tentatively curious citizen.
Once passed, she sought out the rest of the party to relay what she had found.
The rest of the group sees Twilight stop and look down the side of the warehouse and then quickly move to the other side of the street.
She seems to be watching something. Which as you watch, the other people on the street who are passing by the street seems to either stop at the side street and join her in watching as little groups, or hurry on the way.
As you watch your realize this is not a group of three but a group of four. The Masked figure is leading the group, with the pair in the middle, and a Krovosan guards-woman walking behind, looking decidedly uncomfortable. The guards-woman has a scarf wrapped around the lower half of her face and seems to be trying to keep some distance to the pair in front of her.
As the group approach, you come to the conclusion that the middle pair is a adult male and a adolescent boy. Possibly a father and son. The older man glances up as he walks and his face is clearly red like one with a sunburn, while you can just make out the younger one having open blisters on the hands that peak out from are below his shirt. The younger one stumbles as he coughs violently for a moment but is held up by the older man. At the sound of coughing the Masked figure turns and motions for the others to continue but is says nothing, just watches until the pair continues. Then with its charges moving again it as it continues slowly up the street.
It takes about a minute for the group to make it up the street, and as it nears, you notice many of the others who have stopped near you on the main street step back, to put more distance between themselves and the approaching group.
Devan listened as Twilight spoke of what she had seen down the alley. "Maybe one or two of us should follow them and see if they're going to the Hospice. We could see which entrance is the main one used for entry. The others could continue on to the tavern and try to gain intel from there."
I'm not very good at stealthyness, but I can be useful as a bodyguard. You know where the tavern is, Devan, or should I give you directions?? People like us usely find the way in in any tavern. It's finding the entrance on our way out that gives us plenty of troubles.
Devan chuckled, nodding. "I understand, friend. Although I can't say that I was very particular about which tavern I ended up in. I was thinking that I'd follow them, though. Sometimes when you're entertaining you have to learn how to slip away from a rough crowd."
Reaching a hand out to grasp the dwarf's shoulder, he continued grinning. "Go ahead and lead them on to the Retreat and down a mug for me. I'm off to see what those fellows are up to."
Turning away, the musician offered the redheaded priestess a swift stroke on her arm, pausing for just a moment in case any others wanted to offer rebuke or assistance before taking off.
After more than a few pints, all the taverns look like one another.
As Devan stokes her arm, Mirela looks up with serious eyes.
Don't be doing anything stupid, while I'm not 'ere. This day 'as been bad enough.
Then she turns and grabs Nargun's arm. Come on Dwarf, show me this tavern I shouldn't be going to. I could really use a drink after seeing that mess of a 'ouse.
As the group starts to split up a figure rounds the corner of the street.
This figure is dressed in cowled robes of oily-looking leather, wears long gloves, and a wide black hat. He, or she, caries a dark satchel and wears a dark-goggled mask tapering to a pointed beak.
Suddenly the people on the street seem to stepping back against the warehouses bordering the street. They seem to be instinctively giving the figure as much space as possible.
The figure is followed by a pair of townsfolk, a middle age man and an adolescent boy. At this close of range It's clear the boy is suffering for advanced Blood Veil. The man shows the rash indicating he is also infected.
The trio turns down the street walking in the groups direction.
A few moments later, a fourth figure turns the corner. This is a guardswoman who is clearly trying to keep her distance from the group ahead of her. She has a scarf wrapped around her mouth.
The quartet moves slowly to the door of the Hospice and the Queen's Physician opens the door, ushering the two males in. The woman seems to slow down as she nears the door and stops on the street visibly relaxing as the physician shuts the door behind the men. After looking at the door for a moment she lowers her scarf and takes a deep breath.
Twilight considered the scene for a moment before asking a few bystanders in a hushed voice "Has anyone ever recovered and come out of the hospice?"
She moved down the street until she could see the back of the building to see if there was a door on the other side before heading to the inn to discuss the matter further.
Devan looked at the guard for a moment, gauging whether he ought to go speak with the woman. Trusting that Kroft's guards were more or less the 'good guys', the musician waited until the woman had stepped away from the Hospice a bit before approaching her. "Well met, guardswoman. Bringing more of the sick to the Hospice, I see. Busy working on remedies in there to remove the plague?"
The young man had a hopeful look on his face, and he truly was hopeful. Just not expecting an affirmative answer. Devan's dark eyes scrutinized the woman's face and body posture, looking for tells that she might be lying or leaving something out of her response.
After you ask your question the bystanders sort of look at each other’s and while most just shake their heads and walk away one dock worker speaks up. I heard my sisters’ husbands best friend, he did catch the Veil. He went in there and came out a few days later cured but weaker then a two day old pup he did, but his wife she didn’t come out yet.
You don’t get much more from the crowd before they disperse, so you head down the side street. As you head to the back of the building you see three large doors set back a bit from the small cross street that runs behind the warehouse. The cobblestones run right up to these doors. All three doors look to be shut tight.
The Queens Physician clearly lead the group right past these doors to go in the smaller front door.
From where you are stopped to look at the doors you can clearly see the sign for the Bailor’s Retreat maybe 30 feet farther down this side street.
As you near the guardswoman you get the smell of Lavender coming from her scarf. She stops as you address her. She turns around and puts on a serious face as she addresses you.
For the good of the city I sure hope so Citizen....
She trails off as she gets a good look at your face.
Then her seem to focus suddenly and she continues in a much lower voice.
Wait, are you part of that group that keeps visiting the commander? The ones that Sergeant Soldado keeps talking about?
Was that your work in Racker's Alley?
You head to the tavern passing Twilight as you head down the side street. As you arrive at the tavern and it is a run down place.
The windows are filthy, the whitewash has almost worn off the boards, and the paint on the sign is peeling. But it's clear the Bailiffs Retreat is still open, as you can hear yells and laughter coming even through the closed door.
As you pull open the door a wall of sound hits you. It's a shock after all the horror and quiet over the past few days. The tavern feels alive like you have not felt in a while. You can see through the door the tavern is packed. People are drinking, laughing and clustered together around tables.
As you stand with the door open, you hear a gruff voice yell out.
Get in or get out, but close the damn door so the plague don't be coming in!
The young man inhaled the scent of lavender, wondering how effective it was against the smell of rot, sickness, and death. Probably not very, he would guess.
Devan let a small smile creep onto his face at the guardwoman's questions, nodding. "Part of it, yes. That sure was...that was some terrible business, in Racker's Alley. With all the problems in the city, who would do such a thing? Hopefully those cretins were dealt with!"
Letting the silence hang in the air for a couple moments, he continued, "Is this where they're treating the sick? Have they had any breakthroughs yet? I know there are high hopes for these Queen's Physicians..." The musician let the last word trail off a bit, giving the indication that he wasn't very hopeful himself.
Lets try to find a place in the tavern which isn't too crowded... An hard task, I know. But your eyes are keen, Huntress
Nargun closes the door, and, looking mean and in a foul mood (which is never too far from the truth), tries to clear a path for Mirela and Atticus
Following behind a few minutes after the others, Twilight slipped into the tavern. She quickly scanned the tables for her companions and took a seat.
"There doesn't seem to be many ways in, the one door in the front and the loading doors we can see from here. Unless someone wants to check the roof I was thinking that our were-rat contact might know something about the area, perhaps a way in from below?"