If none of this works, Seren will cast invisibility on Cherias.
The illusory priest gets the attention you desire, and a large part of the crowd turns its way. Several rush in that direction, while most stand to watch or idle in confusion. A few still wrangle to reach Cherias, but the distraction is enough to make them manageable and breach a passage to the temple gates.
As you reach the temple guards, the crowd starts to realize the illusion is not what it seems.
"Run now," Absinthe suggests. "Time to get some thick doors between us and the sickened. And to disguise Cherias."
Cherias's weak leg doesn't collapse on him, but it certainly doesn't help him as he does the best he can to dodge through to the door, following the others.
Segang moves through the crowd with ease, looking for ways to divert it or to simply slow it down. He will be the last of the group to enter the temple gates.
The gates are closed and blocked by the guards, who eye you with suspicion.
"We're here to see Brother Dhatri. He's in the Grand Vault. You are to let us in per his request. Preferrably before we are crushed by the mob of people behind us."
"Please! I assure you that we are expected and friends of the temple, even if we are not Adabarians ourselves. We shall cause no trouble. "
The guard eyes Seren and Cherias up and down, glances at the agitated crowd, then back to you. With a sigh, he nods, "We were told to expect you." They communicate to the inner guards, who throw the lock and open the gate to let you inside.
The gates slam behind you, resounding through the airy hall. The walls are thick enough to dull the cries of the crowd outside to a low buzz. Priests and patrons eye each other and you newcomers warily, and every footfall upon the marbled hall echoes through a nervous silence. One of the guards directs you to one of the temple's western meeting rooms.
You find Brother Dhatri there. He looks grave as he greets you.
"Thank you for coming. I assume you already suspect my reasons for calling, having seen the crowd outside -- poor lot. You recognize the symptoms too, I'm sure. I had hoped that the Soldado case was isolated, but apparently we have a bigger problem on our hands than I'd feared."
"I'm concerned for the city, but also for my brethren here. After visiting the Soldado home, I came to the temple to hear that three of my brothers awoke with similar symptoms, although they had already been healed. I spoke to each, and aside from their usual duties in the temple, none have had any dealings with the sick. Later that day, more of my brothers --vaultkeepers, guards and acolytes -- developed symptoms, and folk from throughout the city began arriving in search of healing. It's been more than a little bit frightening. They're calling the sickness 'blood veil'. An apt enough name, I suppose."
Segang listens with concern. Where did such a sickness begin? he asks. Did someone bring it to the city?
"Blood veil ... it's been named, that in and of itself will start to create panic. This is a ne'er before seen disease? Not even an ancient one from old times? It seems hard to believe that something this severe would just 'pop' up so quickly. Is it killing it's victims or is it causing something else?" Seren queries, truly invested in the possibility of an epidemic for the first time.
"None of us have seen these symptoms before. Pox, influenza, and similar ones, yes... but not like this," Ishani shakes his head and frowns. "This affliction has spread fast, yet I'm not yet sure how. Most of the patients we're treating have come from North Point and Old Korvosa. The disease seems to have spread fastest through the lower classes."
"None have died yet, that I know of. The Soldado girl is the most advanced I've seen, but several other victims were just as bad. For them, it is only a matter of time."
"Has anyone been to the Soldado's and checked on her? The healing I gave her... *cough* should have helped her fight off the affliction."
"As for the others, don't you all have enough restoration magic to help your own people, at least, if not everyone outside?"
"It's possible I've been exposed. That's why I'm wearing this mask."
"Cherias, you sweet little fool. You need to heal yourself first." Melianthe's eyes blaze with concern and anger at the same time.
She smoothly switches back to Brother Dhatri. "Wait--did you say the priests had been healed? Did Cherias' spells not have an effect on the Soldado girl? And we don't know the vector of transmission? It has to be through the air. And I think we have seen worse, Brother. We briefly...left the city, and there was a beggar with boils and a cough. It could have been the same thing. Right at the gates. If he was more advanced, perhaps the disease came from without. Or, worse, headed out with an outbound caravan."
She paces back and forth, long grey fingers delineating points.
"We need all the information you have. And a map of where cases were discovered; exactly where in North Point and Old Korvosa. And we absolutely need to quell that crowd, and do some sort of triage for the unwell. Is there a place we can quarantine them? We have to try, and we have to alert the Crown. The town should shutter itself. And Brother Dhatri, I'm afraid the Temple of Abadar will also have to close. You have too many sick people here. They must sequester themselves. Cherias!" she barks suddenly. "For the love of dead Aroden, we need to put you in a room and heal you. Sun blasted healer getting sick."
"I'm not suffering from it. It feels like a mild cold so far. I'll see if it gets worst and if so I'll use my spells on myself."
To Cherias, Ishani can only shake his head sadly. "I'm afraid you overestimate our resources. We have but a handful of clerics with minor restorative cures, and only two capable of removing the disease outright. Far too few to handle the scores of cases just outside. And then, how do we triage with such limitations?"
Ishani nods along with Melianthe's thoughts. "I agree we need to organize. We need to call upon the faiths of Sarenrae, Pharasma, and even Asmodeus to face this attack. Archbanker Tuttle and several of his assistants are out pursuing alliances with these churches, but even that won't be enough."
"It is my plan to involve the Korvosan Guard, at the very least. And that's where you come in -- with the number of desperate souls growing, it's not particularly safe for a priest to walk the streets. I hear that you have a good relationship with Field Marshal Cressida Kroft -- perhaps you would be willing to escort me to Citadel Volshyenek to introduce me to her?"
Absinthe's face twists into an ugly mask at the mention of the lord of devils, and her mouth works as if she wants to spit.
"Zjer exiges szissilat!" she snarls, the Infernal curse falling from her lips like bile. "I like this not. To incur such debts to the father of lies is to place a collar about your own neck."
The tiefling shakes herself, her expression slipping back into its usual smoothness. "One has no objection, but you would need a good disguise. Also, we would need to leave by the back door. In fact, it might be safer all 'round for you to write a message for us to deliver to the Marshal."
Ishani ponders a moment but shakes his head. "No, I need to go in person. If all goes as I hope, a letter will not suffice for plans and coordination."
"A disguise, then?"
Perhaps as one of the sick? Segang offers.
"Did someone say disguise! No problem, lets do this. Shorter/taller ... different race? What's the plan?" Seren breaks out his disguise kit, taking inventory of what's left.
"We can leave at night, and going as the diseased will certainly keep most people away," says Melianthe. "Should anyone challenge us, they will find we are in good health," she says with a bit of challenge in her voice. "...save for Cherias. Oh Cheri, we need to figure this out as soon as possible," her face marked with concern.
"I'll be alright. I'll get over it."
Cherias gets into a disguise again so that people outside don't recognize him as the one who was seen doing healing before.
"Time is of the essence," Ishani says. "I believe waiting until nightfall would be a mistake. Set me up as you will. A suffering victim would be a fair deterrent to trouble. Once we are ready, we should go."
Humming to himself, Seren dabs the makeup on Ishani and pulls out a wig and some fake whiskers. Finally, he roots around the temple and digs up some rags to wrap around the priest.
"Does the temple have a censer or something else that creates smoke or incense? I can lead the way as a doctor; no need for a disguise. How we get through the gates at Marshall Kroft's will be another matter," says Melianthe.
I would think now is not the time to appear as a doctor on the streets Mel. Our cover should be that we were turned away from this because their beds were already full and they can help no more.
Melianthe frowns. "Bandage my eyes, then, Seren; if I'm going to stumble around on the streets in broad daylight, I might as well enjoy being blind for once."
Seren's disguise work is outstanding, and even up close and knowing about it, you have a hard time recognizing Brother Dhatri beneath the makeup. A few minutes later, you exit the Grand Vault by a supply door on the back street (also heavily guarded), and begin your second disguised escort in as many days. The trip this time is trouble free. The city is muted, however. The regular raucous chatter of daily business has been replaced with stilted mumbling and nervous stares.
When you arrive at Citadel Volshyenek, the gate guards greet you warmly and indicate you should hurry inside. As you enter the courtyard, the echoes of forcefully spoken but still just-missed words resound off the imposing granite and iron walls. Dozens of red-and-silver armored guards stand in assembly upon the pitted stone mustering ground, mumbling in hushed, somber tones. Before them, atop the raised gibbet platform, paces Field Marshal Kroft, her eyebrows arched sternly as she momentarily tolerates the crowd's murmurs. As she sees you enter, she acknowledges with the briefest nod.
Behind her on the scaffold stand three grizzled veteran guardsmen at attention, as well as an ominous-looking group. These others wear cowled robes of oily leather, supple gloves and wide black hats. Some grip heavy canes, others dark satchels. Each of them, though, wears a dark-goggled mask tapering to a pointed beak, similar to Melianthe's mask.
Among them stand two others. The first is a middle-aged gentlemen in a simple black overcoat. Streaks of white grace the sides of his short black hair. He watches the gathered guards with a soft, concerned expression, his hands tightly clasping a heavy-looking doctor's case. The second figure is an imposing one indeed -- a woman dressed in full-plate armor, longsword and shield at her side, and her blank-faced helm supporting a bright red plume.
The Field Marshal's fierce tone cuts through the rumble of whispers. "You will escort Doctor Davaulus and his men in their royal duties wherever those might take them. Furthermore, you are to consider orders from any of the Queen's new order of Gray Maidens to be as binding as any from a superior officer in the Korvosan Guard or Sable Company."
"You are guardsmen of Korvosa. You will not balk. These are dire times and your city needs these healers. Your city needs you. Your patrol leaders have your assignments. Dismissed!"
The guardsmen gathered in the courtyard break up into groups, many reporting for various duties while a few others loiter for a few moments to gripe about their new orders. The armored woman quickly ends this with a few sharp words, and starts assigning orders. You see Marshal Kroft and her veteran attendants begin to head to her office with Doctor Davaulus and the other physicians in tow.
Field Marshal! A word? Segang bold voice cuts across the courtyard, hopefully gaining the desired attention.
Marshal Kroft slows her pace at the call, turning to greet you with a guarded smile. "I am glad you are here. My runner said you were not at the Three Rings when he arrived." She pauses for an awkward moment, then gestures to the dark-haired man. "May I introduce Doctor Reiner Davaulus. He is to head up the cadre of Queen's Physicians to help combat this crisis."
"We were asked to go to the Temple of Abadar, to escort Brother Dhatri to you," Cherias says, stifling a cough.
Absinthe gives the physicians a nod, but does not speak for the moment, apparently satisfied to stand, watch and listen while events unfold.
"Doctor Davaulus, a true pleasure to meet you. I am Melianthe, a healer of Korvosa. We would be happy to assist in any way with the affliction that is currently affecting the city." The dusk elf is eager to babble more to a fellow physician, but remembers her place and experience and checks herself.
Segang nods to the doctor, and then again to the lady in plate. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am glad this city has you to help her in this dark hour. Segang says to the man.
He then turns to the lady in plate. I am called Segang. Might I have your name?
Melianthe mentally cringes at Segang's bold offer of introduction, noting that Kroft did not introduce the mysterious woman, nor the doctors, but says nothing. It is good and bad to have a barbarian around...we'll see which one it is presently, she muses.
The armored woman glances at Segang as he walks over, but ignores his question. She continues speaking with the guard sergeants about their patrol plans.
***
Doctor Davaulus smiles and extends his hand in greeting to Melianthe and the group. "I am happy to provide whatever small aid I can in this trying time. I am sure our skills will be put to the test." He has a notable Cheliaxian accent.
Brother Dhatri removes his disguise and hurriedly explains his identity and mission. "I hope that we can coordinate efforts between the Korvosan guard, the churches, and now these doctors."
Segang asks Field Marshall Croft Who is miss friendly over there?
Melianthe gives Segang a warning glare, then smooths her feathers and turns again to the doctor. "Doctor, could you give us any idea of a plan? Are you aware of the disease's origin, its reach, method of transmission?"
Davaulus frowns and shakes his head. "Unfortunately, no to all of those questions. As for a plan, well... that is what we are here to discuss with Field Marshal Kroft." His eyes alight as he remembers something. After a moment's search in his satchel, he produces a flyer imprinted with the royal heraldry. "This may guide us in our planning. The Queen hired runners to paste hundreds of these up around the city by midday."
"I am Cherias, Doctor. I heal by faith, but I have some understanding of the science of disease as well. Do we know how it spreads? As you can see, I'm taking steps to protect against air-carried malignancies. The coughing might do it."
"I admit to a bit of curiosity about this notice. 'Harboring or hiding the sick' -- what do you mean by that?"
"Um, wow ... I don't know what to say about that " Seren glances over at the Grey Maiden nervously and tries to maintain a low profile.
"Doctor, I am a little confused by this document. Would merely keeping a sick person in doors be construed as harboring them? It sounds as if you may be moving the afflicted to a particular location, as they would not be in their homes."
Melianthe is careful to keep the body language and her speaking tone neutral. She keeps her gaze steady on the doctor, expecting an answer.
Absinthe's eyes widen a fraction of an inch when she reads the flyer.
'Madness!' she thinks. 'Phrasing the edicts like this is bound to cause resistance!'