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Hmm... Well I've finally arrived. That was a freakin' long walk. I wonder why he ever got involved with criminals this far from home.
Now to see if I can find the blighter.
The people here seem to be just getting by with what they have. Doubtful there will be any knowledge of the Orc, but maybe I'll ask around by the docks. See what there is to learn
Hmm... He was involved with transporting good back home, so I suppose the docks are as good a spot to look for him as any.
Closing the door behind her, Serila looks up at the sky. A flock of birds passes over her as she steps forward and sights.
Where to start?
An illness had spread over Falchon's Hollow. Serila had tried to cure the people suffering from it, but her powers didn't help against the illness. It was yesterday that Laurel, the herbalist, and Sheriff Baleson had asked Serila to help find a cure that would help.
Let's see if Laurel has some clues. He's the one who discovered where the illness originated from.
Serila starts moving toward the herbalist shop, Roots and Remedies. Instead of taking the road, she moves around her own house and walks through the grass. There's only a small distance of a few feet in between the two buildings. When she arrives at the herbalist's shop she enters, hoping to find Laurel inside.
Or so was the plan, but the door doesn't open. Serila looks at the window next to the door, and sees a sign with the word 'Closed' on the other side of the window.
Hmm... He must be out. No wonder with all the ill people. Laurel's been at it day and night, trying to find a cure.
Serila moves on toward the Low Market, and then proceeds to the docks. She takes in the sight of boats sailing the water, as she does so often when she comes out here. When Serila turns her head she sees a man on the docks east of her. The man doesn't look familiar to Serila, but that's nothing unusual with all the boats that arrive from faraway places. His red hair and many scars do stand out though, but Serila decides it's rude to stare and continues to look at the boats.
Wonder how he got those scars...
I had the same problem when I tried using it the first time.
“Ah, I smell the sweet smell of alcohol,” said Keanan. “This will be another wonderful day.”
Keanan ventures forth with the smell of drinks and the sound of some kind of hustle and bustle coming from a building with a sign reading The Sitting Duck. How appropriate he thought. He might as well be a sitting duck standing out here instead of being in there!
Moving forward slowly, he tells his trusty lion to hang out around back. Entering this fine establishment of jolly drinks, Keanan looks around for a barkeep, hoping to inform him of his tame lion hanging out back and not to hurt his animal.
The thin young man walks into the Sitting Duck. He is clad in light brown and dark green and sports shoulder length reddish brown hair.
Although still a young man, he appears grim as if the weight of the world rests solely on his shoulders. He glances around the tavern and strolls to the bar to speak with the bartender, "Is Yangrit available? I wanted to see if she needed me to run any errands for her today?
Alperion glances around the room while waiting for a reply, only briefly noting the appearance of a new dwarf in town.
Turning his head back and forth looking for the barkeep to maintains this establishment, Keanan notices this half elf appears to know who runs this establishment.
Keanan saunters up to the half-elf. “Dear sir your first task should be to eat and drink with me. You look like skin and bones and a hearty meal might ward off this foul sickness going around.” Keanan tugs at the clothes of the elf and motions for him to come to his table. “Also, do you know who runs this establishment, for I have a tame lion tied out back and I don’t wish for the locals to become worried about their safety. I fear this town has enough to worry about without getting frightened by Balazar.”
Keanan sits down at his table and picks up his eating utensils eagerly awaiting service of food and drink (well, mostly drink). It has been a long morning and stoutfolk don’t like to wait when it comes to drinking!
"Your offer is a generous one, but I must decline. I have pressing business which requires my attention. Many in this town, including my own kin, are grievously ill and I must do what I can to alleviate the suffering."
Alperion then leaves the tavern as quickly as he entered.
Current Map: Alperion heads towards Laurel's home
Well, no wonder they are all sick, thought Keanan, the thin ones don’t even bother to eat a proper breakfast and rush out to their duties. If they would eat a proper meal, maybe none of this would be happening to them. Elves never could focus on the task at hand, such as eating a good meal. Just looking at that poor skinny fellow just made Keanan wonder what kind of priorities people have around here.
“Well, when in Falcon’s Hallow, do as the Falcon Hallower’s do I suppose is how the saying goes.” Keanan laughs at his not-so-quick witty comment since nobody else does and slowly leaves the establishment, hoping beyond hope that perhaps the barkeep might show up before he leaves the exit to offer more food and drink; or at least a drink. Moving a bit more slowly and then he pauses at the door. “Well, yes, I guess I’m off without a good meal,” Keanan says in an unusually loud voice in the hopes someone hears his plea for food and drink.
Hmm, no such luck.
He opens the door and stares into the sky in a mocking prayer says, “Work is harder on an empty stomach, but sometimes the sacrifice is paid in full three times over.” Maybe Gozreh is listening, but probably not.
After staring out over the river for some time Serila turn around, ready to move back to Laurel's shop and see if she's there by now. She then notices the red-haired man is still at the docks, and so is another man looking like a warrior.
Are they looking for someone? Is that why they hang around here?
Serila walks toward Nebdel and Augustine. "Are you lost?", she asks to both of them. "I'm local, and could provide directions."
Just as you are about to leave the tavern you hear a loud scream come from the rear of the building that carries into the main room. A few seconds later a female dwarf with a brown apron over a blue dress comes stomping out of the kitchen behind the bar."Nice joke guys. That scared me half to death. Where did you guys get a lion from and now what are we going to do with it?"
Everyone else in the bar is staring at her like she is crazy. (which is not unusual for Yangrit)
A young portly human man behind the bar goes over to her, whispers in her ear and points in your direction.
Apparently asking for triple rewards was a bit too much for Gozreh Keanan thought to himself.
“By Gozreh’s giblets woman, I need a drink! Oh, my lion companion Balazar, she’s harmless, er, sort of. Please pay her no mind. I’m here to have a great drink, a decent meal, and uncover what ails this fine community.”
Keanan wanders back to the table and picks up the eating utensils again, eagerly awaiting the drink and meal he had imagined in his head a few minutes ago.
Yangrit stares at Keanan and shows a playful smile."So the lion is your's? Well then you can have a drink after you fetch some wood from the pile your lion is resting against. And be quick, I have other customers beside you that would like a hot meal."
The docks are are empty compared to normal. The news of the current affliction has obviously reached the other towns and the river traffic has grained to a halt. A few boats are unloading supplies for the Lumber Consortium but most of the dock workers are sitting around waiting on work.
Hmm... Well these docks are deserted. The lumber mill is too much like real work for that lazy wretch. Suppose I can head over and see if anything is happening at the market.
I'll save the tavern for a last resort. Don't want to chance losing track of myself again.
“Hmph. Don’t remember asking him to guard the place. Balazar, get in here. Now!”
Balazar politely walks in and sit at Keanan’s foot; Keanan smiles at the woman. “How about that drink?”
Yangrit watches the beast walk in. "Well that is something you don't see every day." A few of the other patrons give the lion concered looks and move to other tables but for the most part everyone goes back to what they where doing. She slaps a tankard of ale in front of Keanan. "Here is my newest Darkmoon Stout. Tell me what you think. She turns and yells back into the kitchen."Start up a meal for the dwarf I'm sure he is hungry."
A feel of despair hangs over the market.
The market is busier then the docks but the people that are here have there faces covered and are hurrying about their business not stay to long or talk to much.
“Very thirsty, and I guess hungry too. Never drink on an empty stomach, unless you have nothing to eat. HA!”
“Now, mind you, I understand that some of your fellow citizens might have been getting very sick lately. Please tell me if you know of when this started. And also, please forgive me but given the sickness I must be most careful on everything I ingest.”
Keanan begins to stare closely at the Darkmoon Stout and begins saying something in Druidic and moves his hands over the drink.
"This sickness started a few weeks ago and its not good, not good at all. I have already lost a good friend and now one of my servers has it and she was in a bad place to begin with so it doesn't look good. The local herbalist and sheriff are trying to find a cure but nothing yet. If you want to help talk to them. Roots and Remedies is south along the road just out my door. The sheriff can be found at the town hall called the Hollow Tribunal, it's just south of the Roots and Remedies "
something is clearly not right around here. I didn't expect to find much, but even this is disappointing.
The last few days on the road has been hard. I might was well look for a room and some food.
“Well then fine lady, I swear on my father’s beard that I shall do my best in assisting in finding a cure. But of course, finding a cure usually involves finding the source of this foul plague first.” Keanan tosses a few copper coins onto the table and takes Yangrit by the hand and holds it gently. “My dear woman, thank you for such a fine ale and good company. Your sorrows will soon be over, I promise.”
With that, he motions for Balazar to follow him out the door. Keanan burps rather loudly. “Mighty good ale, Balazar. Mighty good ale. Let’s see what we can do. Stay close now, don’t want to frighten the locals like the last village.” Keanan pets Balazar on the head and they both slowly walk down the street to Roots and Remedies.
While still liking his lips from the leftover taste from his latest burp, Keanan sees sees a muscular human with beard (always a good trait for a human) heading towards The Sitting Duck with a bedroll over his back. Probably not a local chap, he's far too strong and the bedroll doesn't makes sense either. Maybe he's heard the call for help as well.
"The lady serves a tasty ale young man. Best to get a full stomach of drink before helping these folks. Me and Balazar have been told that perhaps the Roots and Remedies might be a good place to start. After your meal, perhaps you should join me and Balazar at the local shop."
Down the street, Keanan sees that same skinny half elf who ran out of the tavern a little while ago. "Better hurry up in there lad and get the drink, the skinny elf down the street is going to beat us to the cure!"
Feeling somewhat ignored by Nebdel and Augustine, Serila watches both of the men walk off without replying to her.
Uhhh... okay...?
Serila shrugs and starts walking toward Laurel's shop again. On her way to the herbalist she sees one of the man again, but figuring he doesn't want to talk Serila stays away from him. In front of Roots and Remedies Serila sees yet another stranger. "Hi! You've also come for Laurel?"
After checking if the sign 'closed' is gone now, Serila will check to see if the door opens. If it does, she enters Roots and Remedies.
Just looking for someone I once thought I knew well. Don't need directions yet. Maybe if I don't find him at the markets.
Not finding the one he seeks, Nebdel stides on toward the other market that he overheard a few people talking about. Well he always liked to think of himself as one of the rich folks. Let's see if there is any sign of him at the high market.
He notices that the ground seems hard.
Keanan notices that the skinny half elf has been joined by a short human woman outside the herbalist shop. Seems like a rush to find a cure, I better hurry up, Keanan thought to himself. “Balazar, looks like the locals have called in quite a few folks to help. It must be dire indeed.”
Keanan walks down the street and stops outside the shop and bows slightly towards the young lady. “Hello my dear, my name is Keanan and this is Balazar” (petting his lion companion) “and I’m told this shop was a good place to start in looking for a cure. Are you here for the same reason?” Keanan accidently burps under his breath right after he says this (wow, that was some strong ale!) “Uh, pardon me little lady, the ale tasted almost as good coming up as it did going down.”
Catching sight of the local girl who has so kindly aided his mother in her illness, Alperion gives a quick deferential nod and keeping his eyes downcast says, "Good morning, Ms Gudlinck, my mother sends her regards. I also wish to express my gratitude for the attention you have shown her. Many in your situation would not be so kind." He then proceeds to hold the door to Laurel's shop open for her, "After you, please, mistress."
"Good day, men", Serila says and nods slightly at both Keanan and Alperion. "Please send your mother my regards as well, Alperion. An illness like this is awful, no matter what social status one may have. It's only natural I should attempt to provide help wherever I can. Sarenrae must have given me my powers for such reason."
Having addressed Alperion first, Serila turns to Keanan. "I beg my pardon, sir. My name is Serila Gudlinck. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Serila holds out her hand to Keanan for a handshake. "I've been trying to heal those who've fallen ill in Falchon's Hollow. So far, without any luck. I've come her for Laurel, the herbalist, in hope she's had a new insight on where to find a cure."
Serila looks at Balazar next. "My, is that a lioness? How has she become so tame?"
"Let's continue our conversation inside", Serila says, nodding once again at Alperion. "Thank you, Alperion." She then steps into the shop.
It would be rude to let him stand there, holding the door open for me.
Keanan shakes Serila’s hand “My dear, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Your beauty reminds me of my lovely Codee I left back home.” Keanan sighs slightly and seems to gaze off to the distance for just a second as he recalls his love he left back home. “Now, Balazar here, she’s just a friendly companion sent by the Gozreh. She’s harmless, er, well, sort of. She can play a mean game of tug of war if you put your arm in her mouth. HA!” Keanan is immensely amused by his own comments, unaware of anyone else’s reaction.
Turning to the lion, Keanan says, “Now Balazar, don’t frighten anyone and go lay down by the side of this store. I’ll be back in a minute.” Keanan adjusts his scimitar at his side and steps through the front door of the store.
Addressing the lovely Serila inside the store Keanan says, “No luck healing? I doubt it has much to do with luck as it might have to do with knowing the cause of the illness. If we don’t know the cause, hard to know the cure. Perhaps the only cure is to just avoid what is causing it. Dragons are pretty deadly, so the best cure is just avoiding them, if you get what I mean.”
As you reach the opening at the top of the hill going into the Perch you are stopped by two man-at-arms on guard. One steps up to you.
"Where do you think you are going? You need a pass to get into the high market and by the looks of you I doubt you have one."
The other guard readies a spear at you.
Creeping ivy and full window boxes cover the facade of the rugged-looking, two-story shop bearing the faded sign “Roots and Remedies.” As you approached you see a few people lying and standing around waiting for the store to open.
The smell of burnt earth and spicy incense chokes the air of the cramped, mud-tracked shop. Bunches of dried herbs hang from the ceiling, along with dangling pots, presses, alchemical apparatuses, and glassware of more arcane purposes. Pouches of rare plants, jars of colored glass, and all manner of dried, preserved, and jellied animal parts fill high shelves and tables doing double duty as displays and workspaces. In the shop’s rear, a rail-thin woman with severe-looking spectacles and hair pulled back tightly bus¬ies herself between an over packed rack of herbs, a table covered in stray powders and measuring equipment, and a pot loudly bubbling over with thick gray froth. Over the din of her work and without looking up, the woman impatiently shouts.
”Can I get any peace so I can get some work done? I thought I locked the door, I guess not. So what’s your problem?”
As you move closer to talk to the women you notice large bags under her eyes and exhausted posture.
You make your way to the tavern called The Sitting Duck. When you enter you see a few customers but the scene at the bar catches your eye. Two dwarfs, a male and female, are talking/arguing over something and a large lion sits on the floor next to the male dwarf. The other patrons are paying no attention to the conversation.
Serila laughs as she replies to Keanan. "You're too kind to me, sir. Though it seems you truly love and miss Codee. I hope for you to reunite soon."
"Laurel, it's Serila. Alperion and this good man have come too." Serila moves her hand into Keanan's direction. "He seems to be looking for a cure, like we do."
Walking up to Laurel, Serila notices the bags under the herbalist's eyes. "Have you been sleeping, Laurel? You're wearing yourself down..."
"M-m-my apologies mistress Laurel, I was the one who led us into your workshop. I failed to notice that you were not yet open for the day" Aplerion stammers contritely.
"I can only offer as excuse for my carelessness, that the anxiety over my mother's illness has caused me to forget my place. I also was eager to speak with you because I have heard rumor that you wish to send out a group to seek for a cure for the plague that has afflicted The Hollow."
Alperion continues, "My mother is gravely ill (as you know) and I desperately want to assist in the search for a cure to this blight."
Appologies guardsman. I have no desire to circumvent the proper authorities. The one that informed me of the high market did not mention that a pass was needed. may I know where such a pass could be obtained?
Hmm... Exclusive area. definitely the kind of place tha would attract a man that thinks he is above all others. Definitely worth checking out at some point. I don't know that he will have made it inside, but I know that he will want to get inside.
I also have business with the local constable. Where would he be located?
Keanan turns to the skinny half-elf and says, “Mother’s ill, eh? Guess that’s why you’re hopping around like a rabbit. It looks like Lady Laurel has had as much luck in deriving a cure as the fair maiden Serila. Might I suggest that we postpone the search for the cure until we know the source of the cause? Appears to me that the cart is before the, uh, before the, uh, wagon or something. Anyhow, I know searching for the cure sounds important, but searching for the cause is probably the fastest solution. I have come to pledge my service in this regard. I have a special knack for detecting poisons, you might say. I’ve already ruled out that amazing ale served at the tavern as one suspect. More likely to give the humans a headache than anything else.”
Keanan looks around the shop, amazed that nature could provide so much to a community in so many different ways. Medicine, food, and the wood to build the building, all provided by nature!
Turning towards Laurel Keanan inquires, “Are you aware of anyone else looking to help in this endeavor? I’ve been told it has been going on for a few weeks.”
"Passes are only handed out by Mr. Kreed. Good luck trying to get one half-breed." He gives you a disgusted smug look and the guard behind him chuckles a little. "You can find the sheriff on your. Now get out of my face!"
Laruel is reading from a large, very old looking book that has pages sticking out in all directions. At the sound of Serila's voice she looks up.
"oh Hello Miss Gudlinck. No, I have not slept much since this whole mess started. I have been inundated with customers day and night and had to bar my door just to do some research about this without interruption. But since I forgot to relock my door that is not going to happen now.
Waving a half hearted hand at Alpherion.
"No need to apologizes Alphy. I understand and what is done is done.
Turning to Keanan she gives him a look of impatience.
"I have found the cause for the taint, Brookman’s well, a small spring on the edge of town and the sheriff has safeguarded the well to prevent its use but now the taint is spreading on its own...........Sorry I did not mean to be so short with you good sir."
Turning back to Alpherion with sadness in her eyes.
"Don't worry I will not give up... and I might have just found something......its a little unusual but we have to try anything since I have tried everything I know."
The dwarf female comes over to you. "What will it be?"
"A cheap Ale will be fine.....in a clean tankard. I see you've got some people a bit under the weather. I don't want none of that."
"Whats going on around here? I've been to my share a watering holes, and few of them have lions about. I was just at the docks looking for some information...and things weren't looking too great down there. This town seems like its seen better days."
She gets an ale for your and starts to tell you about the sickness.
"A sickness started a few weeks ago and its not good, not good at all. The local herbalist and sheriff are trying to find a cure but nothing yet. If you want to help talk to them. Roots and Remedies is south along the road just out my door. The sheriff can be found at the town hall called the Hollow Tribunal, it's just south of the Roots and Remedies."
Keanan smiles at Laruel. “I don’t mind people being short with me, makes it easier to look them straight in the eye. HA!” Again Keanan is rather amused with his levity in light of the dour circumstances.
“So, a spring on the edge of town that is no longer in use and now spreading to the town? Is it infecting the food grown nearby perhaps?” Keanan ponders the issue at hand. “Maybe the local sheriff would give me a chance just to look into the well and examine the poison, or do you have a sample from the spring on hand that I might examine?”
Looking at Keanan with tired eyes Laurel waves a hand to a bench to her right.
"I have a sample over there and all of my notes on Blackscour Taint. You can have a look if you want. The taint is not native to this region and I have tried all that I know.
Blackscour taint is an ingested disease with an incubation period of 1 to 3 days.
A fungus that’s not good for anything. Hard, bitter, and
sharp, it likes the water and gets you sick if
you drink it down.
It starts eating away in your
chest and belly and is damned determined
to stay. Your body near turns itself inside out
trying to hack the stuff up, but all that
does is cuts your guts up
As Keanan looks over the notes Laurel flips the book that she was reading around and points to a recipe.
"Have either of you heard of these?"
- Elderwood Moss
- Rat's Tail
- (7) Ironbloom Mushrooms
"I found this recipe in my grandmothers old book and it sounds like a bunch of hoojoo if you ask me but it can't hurt to try.
August finishes drinking his ale down, although eyes the bottom of his tankard suspiciously. His thoughts go back to the talk of this sickness spreading around town.
The last thing I need is to become sick. I'd best visit this herbalist to be sure I'm not at any risk before moving on from this small town.
Upon entering the small shop, August notices a small group of people gathered around a women with a large open book. At first glance they don't appear to be ill.
Maybe these people have the same idea. Figure out a cure for this sickness so that we all may walk away from this town on our own two feet.
"Greetings all. My name is August. May I be of aid here?
Creeping ivy and full window boxes cover the facade of the rugged-looking, two-story shop bearing the faded sign “Roots and Remedies.” A line of twenty-some somber townsfolk—some with pale, wheezing children, others seeming to be precipitously near tears—stretches from the open door. Some of the people are arguing with a tall half-elf man with a large axe strapped to his back and pointing to the door of the shop.
A teary eye woman with a small pale child at her knee is talking in a loud voice that you can over hear.
"Laurel has closed and would not let anyone in. Then a group of people which included Alpherion, Miss Gudlinck and a strange looking dwarf with a lion pet just barge right in. I think they picked the lock or something because I checked the door earlier and it was locked. I have been waiting for over an hour to see Laurel so that she may try and heal my son Jorn. It's not fair that they just barge in right past us. Sheriff you have to do something."
The half-elf reassures the women that he will take care of it and marches toward the door.
After a few minutes of being in the shop you hear people outside and some raised voices.
Laurel shakes her head.
"A new day begins. Alphy will you please flip the sign to open and open the door. It's going to be a long day."