Hilde checks the children, and finally stands in front of the oldest.
"You are brave. Good."
She exists the cellar and goes to stand guard outside.
"I don't know that we've met Rexel," says Dilwyn, shrugging. "So far the only people we've encountered with their wits about them have been the innkeeper at the Hapless Harpy and the Redthistle family, though they left town this morning. Honestly, I'm not sure what your best course of action is, at this point, but I think we'd be happy to escort you elsewhere if you can think of a good place, maybe the inn. If you wish to stay here I can temporarily top off your water barrel with conjured water. It won't last more than a day, but it will delay your depletion of your reserves."
Iskender refrains from making any other witty comments which might be considered detrimental to the young folks sanity or happiness.
Kit hopes that Rexel wasn't one of the farmers they first encountered while in town and killed. Do you know where your Da went to and how long he has been gone? Kit then hopes that these kids Da wasn't one of the farmers he killed either!
The boy smiles as Hilde tells him that he is brave. When Dilwyn says that they have not seen anyone called Rexel, Tevan replies to him, "Rexel is a short fella. Da called him a gnome. He lives in the tree house just north of town by the lake. He is an apo.., apot..., he makes drinks that do magic." He seems a bit embarrassed that he is stumbling over the word. "Could you take us to him?"
Responding to Kit, "the crazy ones broke down the front door and dragged ma and da out of the house, but we were down here already. Da told me not to come out before the door crashed in" and the boy starts tearing up, but he chokes it back, putting on a front for his younger siblings.
"That's one of the places we haven't got to yet," says Dilwyn. "But it's definitely a place I wanted to check out. We can take you there to make sure nothing happens to you on the way. It might be better if we go first to check it out, just in case. There's been a lot more bad news in this town than good."
Since we destroyed the door perhaps its best they come with us for now?
"I agree, I will keep an eye on them."
Deciding to take the children to the gnome Rexel, you head out. Passing near the huge white oak in the center of town, the boy tries and shield his younger siblings away from the sight of the bodies still laying on the ground that you had cut down off the tree. He whispers to Iskender, who is next to him, "that is ma and da", however he does his best to put on a brave front as you continue past.
The trail from Holver’s Ferry disappears into the woods for several dozen yards before ending abruptly at the foot of a great, gnarled sycamore tree. A narrow, wooden staircase wraps around the trunk a half-dozen times before reaching a small, two-story hut nestled between the branches thirty feet overhead. A simple sign at the base of the stairs reads: “Apothecary. Come on up.”
A voice from up in the tree, yells down "who are you and what do you want?"
Hilde stands back, keeping an eye for people following them.
"Sorry to hear that kid, but with the world ending soon, they won't be the last ones."
"We're travelers," Dilwyn calls back up to the voice. "We found some young folks who lost their parents. They said they should head here, and we wanted to make sure they made it safe and sound. Tevan Mulnarin and siblings. Do you know them?"
Iskender motions to the boy to take his siblings a little ways away before he tells Dilwyn, "yeah, so, it turns out the kids' parents were the ones that had been hung and we cut down. You can proceed now."
Kit whispers to his companions, he doesn't sound crazy at least!
"Tevan? Please come up." the voice responds. You head up the stairs and see a workshop, with collected broken junk. As the children reach the top, Tevan and the three younger ones run up to Rexel and throw their arms around him. "Uncle Rexel" the younger ones cry, and the old gnome (PICTURE) holds onto each one and soothes them. He then grips Tevan hand, treating him as a man, and tells him that he did good in saving his siblings.
After the hello are exchanged, Rexel looks to you. "Thank you for bring them here. I am Rexel, an apothecary. What brings you to this forsaken place?"
We..uh..were told that the end of the world starts here and we wanted to see it..uh..for ourselves. Kit stammers realizing how ghoulish it must sound.
Hilde will remain on the bottom of the tree, alert for any enemies.
Iskender smiles, "so far, the end of the world has proven less exciting than one might expect."
Dilwyn had been quiet for a few moments, absorbing the news that Iskender had told them. It's quite tragic, but the only thing they could have possibly done differently in order to prevent it would have been arriving a few days earlier. And if they had done that... then they might have been here when the infection was spreading in earnest and things might have been differently bad and not better.
"A troll reading its own entrails in Kaer Maga foretold the doom of the world," he explains, realizing once more just how weird that is. "We all came for slightly different reasons, but I came to actively try to stop it rather than simply watch the world burn. Besides these kids to you, here, we've also helped the Redthistle family evacuate and locked some infected in the jail where they can't hurt themselves or others until we can figure out how to treat them." He pauses for a breath. "As one who trades in potions and alchemies, do you perhaps have any insight into the nature of this disease? So far it's nature has been beyond my ability to understand and the people we've met have been just as in the dark."
Zal follows along quietly, letting the others explain the situation though the hedgewitch does wince slightly at Kit's version of their arrival.
"I am glad the Redthistle family got out, thank you for helping them. Yes, I am an apothecary, and I’ve lived in this town and run this apothecary for the last 100 years." he replies to Dilwyn, and then continues. “A sickness hit town a few weeks ago. It weakened a lot of folks and drove some of them mad. It made some kill themselves or each other, driving them into a murderous rage. I’ve never heard or read of anything like it before. They tore the town apart in just a few days. And there was nothing Onessa, the town council, or militia could do about it. About a week ago, after driving them from my workshop, I locked myself up here."
"As far as the disease goes, I’ve taken samples from the bodies of the infected — those Onessa or the militia had to put down, and even some of the ones who took their own lives. So far, it only seems to affect humans. Everyone else is immune. Other than that, I can’t tell its origin, but it seems to spread through contact, weakening its victims’ minds and bodies, but without killing them — almost like it’s the first stage to something else. The sheriff and I think there may be something — or someone — behind it. Have you found anything of interest in the town?”
Zal cocks a noticeable eyebrow at the rest of the group, being the only non-human. Pausing for a moment the elf then address the gnome, Obviously some survivors. The children here and at the inn...plus some holed up in the church? Mostly we have been sweeping from place to place....that said...we did encounter some goblinoids. I think we assume they were affected like the others but if what you say is true perhaps they serve this someone?
"Is the sheriff alive?" Asks Dilwyn, content to let Zaladiel give the update on what they've found. "And who's Onessa? I suppose I should probably mention that the jail wasn't exactly open, so we kind of broke in." He shows a small, apologetic grin. "We were looking for information on what happened and a safe place to store a suicidal infected woman. While we were there we saw a map with two locations marked. Are those places you suspect might be the origin of this disease?"
"Also, I wouldn't get too excited about surviving thus far. We don't yet know how the world ending cataclysm will evidence itself. A quick death by hanging, disease, or crazed villagers may turn out to be preferable, should the world end by slowly heating up to burning temperatures over a span of time that allows each of us to survive long enough to feel our skin baking and falling away from our muscles. It really could be horrible."
Kit listens to Iskender's view of the end of days. Yikes! Sounds like I need to hole up in a tavern. If the tempretures get that high, then I'm going to be thirsty!
At Iskender statement, Rexel blanches, turns to Tevan, "take the children into the back room. There is food there, and a place to rest. I will keep you safe." He waits for the four children to leave, then turns to Iskender. "While I have seen many things in my life, and Tevan may just be old enough to hear what you said, have some heart where the little ones are concerned. That was uncalled for" and he turns away from the bard.
"Goblinoids you say. Unless they are part human I have found that the disease does not affect them. At least it has not so far. If it has mutated, then the world truly may come to an end."
“Onessa Jerreth. She’s the village sheriff and a good friend. She weathered the violence the same as me. We were working together to find out what caused it and where the disease came from, but then she up and vanished six days ago. Other villagers were vanishing, too, but not just the infected. It was always the ones who survived the sickness. Onessa thought she had a theory on why, but she never got around to sharing it with me. She might have collected some clues in her office, but the streets were always too dangerous — and I’m too slow and old — to make it there alone."
“The day after the violence wound down, villagers started disappearing one after another. The folks just vanished from their homes, and left everything behind, untouched. That’s what convinced Onessa and me there’s something evil behind it. These people are being taken...for something. But we still haven’t found out who or what’s behind it. And now, whoever caused it probably has Onessa, too!”
"The closest place on the map is Mother Oddle’s orphanage and lies about four miles from here, along a cart path that also continues to the ruins of Arvarenhode Manor where the other mark is. If you are interested in solving this mystery, then I would investigate the orphanage, and then perhaps the Arvarenhode Manor ruins."
"Even though the mad villagers ruined most of my equipment, I still have two extracts that you can use if you need. One is a cure wounds potions, and the other restores damage that is done by ghouls and the like" and he offers a Cure Light Wounds and Lessor Restoration extract (one each).
Thank you! And in case we get boiled alive on our way to the orphange he nudges Iskender with his elbow good-naturedly Will you look after the sick in the jail?
"Rexel, since you're the master of sensitivity, how about we leave it to you to let the young ones know that their parents were hung right over there." Iskender points as he references the area in question.
Dilwyn stands for a moment, flabbergasted by Iskender's lack of tact. And I'm the one who lives away from civilization, he muses to himself before finally getting his mind back on track, and thanking Rexel for the aid and information.
"The innkeeper, Vessa, offered to take care of them," Dilwyn reminds Kit. "Though it's possible she may fall into the pattern of the uninfected disappearing. I think it's about time that we check out this orphanage, and perhaps beyond, before that has a chance to happen. Does anyone object to heading there immediately? I think I have enough abilities left at my disposal for today."
Zal motions to Dilwyn to take the potions as he needs them, [b]I agree we should proceed but we should be careful too. We have used much of our magic and we continue to risk injury with every action. I worry that we might not have the resources to face whatever is in the orphanage without rest.[/ooc]
"I don't object to the prudence of resting first. I don't know how the rest of you are faring, but I left many of my rations behind in the cells with the lady. I still have food for another day or two, but if the rest of you are low or depleted as well I can start enhancing the nutrition of local berries, as early as tomorrow, to help stretch our resources."
When the others come down, Hilde will move towards Silverstone Hall.
Dilwyn shrugs and does his best to keep up with Hilde. He keeps his one remaining spell ready in his mind in case they need to cover a hasty retreat from the place after their second try and gaining entrance.
What? No stealth? Kit chuckles as he follows the others to Silverstone Hall.
Offering a smirk at the suddenly quiet Iskender, Zal follows behind Kit shaking his head, Maybe a bit of both. Some to distract while others are sneaky.
I think this group is distracting enough! Kit says with a chuckle in respose to Zal.
Leaving the gnome tree house and apothecary shop, you head back along the path to Silverstone Hall, supposedly the temple of Abadar, the god of merchants and wealth. Approaching the building, you see polished, metal sheets adorn the exterior of this domed, stone building, each embossed with decorative symbols of coins, trade, and commerce. It seems to have weathered the violence much better than other buildings in town. Solid, oak boards seal every window, and the great entry door is reinforced with an iron gate.
Hilde goes to the door, and knocks on it.
Zal waits in anticipation of the response to the knock...
Kit smiles as Hilde knocks on the door amazed how she can be subtle one moment and like a bull the next. He grips his axe tightly waiting for whomever or whatever might open the door.
Given how well his attempts at getting those inside to acknowledge him went last time, Dilwyn will stand back and let Hilde try annoying them into opening up by knocking until they do. He focuses on the tingling in his fingers as he waits, keeping his connection to the ambient electrical energy in case they open up the door and attack Hilde.
"So, if they won't open it, and you can't open it, I probably can."
Or my axe can! Kit helpfully offers.
"Or your head, I suppose. As I said, as a last resort, I can give it a go."