As the sun rises over Falcon's Hollow, a small town in the nation of Andoran, on Rova 2, 4713 in Golarion, the birds begin to chirp and a few people around town begin to stir. The bright light of the sun glistens off of Diamond Lake, and not a cloud can be seen overhead.
Unfortunately for the residents of Falcon's Hollow, the sunshine does not ensure good fortune, and the current days are harder even than those most in the town are used to. The hacking coughs of the sick are heard throughout town—the plague has come to Falcon's Hollow.
Today is the day. I'm going to talk to her. No more delays. Vaashti had been saying this for two days now. It wasn't that she thought her distant relative would be hateful, or harmful. It was really more the thought of rejection. That sense of 'oh, isn't that nice? Now leave'. Still, she had to talk to the woman soon. It wasn't as if Falcon's Hollow were a big enough place for Vaashti to blend into the crowd.
She finished getting ready, and threw on her cloak. The garment served a number of useful purposes, primary of which was hiding her horns, tail, and wings from casual observation. There was little she could do about the dark purplish skin and exotic features, but then, she wasn't here to completely hide from all others...just simply not make too much of a spectacle initially.
The tiefling made her way downstairs to the common room of the Jak'a'Napes. She found her a table in a dark corner and ordered bread, cheese, and apples to eat. When the serving girl frowned at her choice of drink - water, please - the tiefling smiled at her and laid a couple of coppers on the table as a tip. She wasn't drinking water for her pocketbook's sake.
She listened to the currents of conversation around her. Of course she had heard about the plague hereabouts, and she hoped that she might be able to work with Laurel to help the afflicted. Of course, her talents weren't well-trained to remove illness, but she could provide some comforts.
If nothing major happens during breakfast, Vaashti will head to Laurel's shop as soon as she finishes eating.
Ruhk, having slept in the common room at the inn slowly stirred as he heard a nearby rooster crow.
Nngh...You have exactly one chance to avoid becoming breakfast, and that is if you shut up now.
Sadly, for all the alcohol induced malice he projects towards the offending poultry, the crowing continues, and eventually Ruhk is forced to open his eyes.
Owe...it still hurts.. He thinks to himself as he gently feels his black eye from two days ago.
But being young and fairly fit, Ruhks mood soon clears and he orders in breakfast.
By halfway point through his second loaf of dark bread he feels fully restored. The cheese, ale, butter and cold ham certainly didn't detract from the experience.
As he leaned back in his chair and started taking a look at the other early risers in the inn, he spotted the exotic looking woman sitting by herself.
Savvy enough to realize that a person sitting alone often wants to be left that way, he merely smiles and raises his tankard at her in greetings when she looks up, but makes no other move to intrude.
Flirting is best done with a completely clear head anyway.
A large bundle of green and brown clothes that smell of pine and sweat begins to move before transforming into a grumpy half-orc. Rakarech lets out a large yawn, his yellow tusks gleaming in the bright dawn light. Stepping over a few half-asleep bodies, he moves to a window and opens the shutters.
"Grobu! Rokta!" he calls out.
"Grobu, come!"
A sort of whining-honk sounds from the boughs of an oak tree near the inn, and a small bear swings to the under side of a branch before dropping down to the ground. Rakarech heads out of the inn, meeting up with his bear, whom he hands some food before treeing it again.
He then stomps into the inn looking every bit the savage, covered in heavy furs with his hair in tangles and tusks protruding proudly. Finding a space where he can sit alone, Rakarech hunkers down to order food. He looks curiously at the purple-tinged tiefling a little longer than is polite.
"Strange creatures live here. Living in this wooden cage disturbs me, and every day I am in this filthy town I am in danger of catching the plague. But the logging cannot continue as is. I must find a way for the forest and the town to co-exist."
Sutandir heads out of his small home in the miner's district, munching one of his last apples. As he heads toward Roots and Remedies, he notices activity in and around the inn.
Several travelers in town ... if I'm lucky, they might have news to share, or even better be looking for remedies or gear they can spend coin on. I'll have to send Cayden down to find out what he can about them.
Much as he would have liked to stop in and see the travelers for himself, he knew Laurel would give him a good tongue lashing if he didn't get the store opened on time. With a slight sigh, he passes the inn and unlocks the door and sets out the "Please Come In!" sign, turning it at an angle to signal his Halfling friend to drop by.
So, what tasks has Laurel left for me to start the day with?
"Hey! I don't know what you've gotten used to, but those of us with JOBS have to get up in the morning! Get outta bed!" The teenager talks while he pulls the blanket off of his older brother and kicks the bed until he gets an acknowledgement.
"Mmmph! I'ma . . . wake. Can't stay up with Ralla and get up with you!" The young man rolls off of the bed and stands as he gets that first coherent sentence out.
"You didn't. I've had breakfast and stared the day's work already! Mistress Garthalk wants a specially carved headboard made. We've picked out the wood and are starting to form the piece before we begin carving. I wanted to pick up the sketches I made to see if I can talk Toran into using my design this time. Gotta run!" And off Hollin runs, still trying to make enough money to support the family.
Shartol leaves the small home to perform his stretches and morning kata in the street out front, gaining an audience of a few children. He improvises during a couple of kata simply to give a quick "jump" at the children, causing squeals of glee and much running.
Afterwards, Shartol goes back inside and has a hunk of yesterday's bread and some jerky as his breakfast, worrying himself over how little his sister and brother have, and how much of themselves they seem to give up to get it. I should go shopping. Buy them a few things. See if I can't get a GOOD meal ready for them both before Ralla heads off to work tonight. They don't seem to see much of each other anymore. That's a shame.
Kervos opened his eyes as a series of short coughs interrupted his dreams. Whatever images had been providing him respite from his exhaustion were immediately replaced by the sight of a young, pale blonde woman coughing in her bed. Rising from the chair in which he had slept, Kervos took a couple steps over to his sister Elze and sat on the edge of her bed. He gently lifted her up with his left arm into a position that allowed her to breathe a little easier. As her coughing eased and she afforded him a weak smile, Kervos snatched up a clay cup of water that rested on her nightstand and offered it to her. Once she had taken a small drink, he replaced the cup and once more lowered back onto her bed.
”Rest easy, Elze,” Kervos said, brushing sweat-soaked strands of hair out of his sister’s face. ”I will find a healer this morning and we’ll get this little matter sorted out for you.”
Elze had already fallen back asleep, her body clearly needing as much rest as possible to continue fighting what currently plagued her. Kervos watched her intently for a while longer, making sure another fit didn’t overtake her before he stood and moved out of the young woman’s room. Standing in the common area was his older sister, her dark hair and the dark circles under her eyes sharply contrasting with the rest of her features. Livia said nothing as Kervos moved around the room, gathering his things together before stopping in front of the small mirror the family had. Kervos spent a few minutes adjusting his appearance in the mirror, aiming to soften his features enough that he wouldn’t draw too much attention to himself in this town. Satisfied he could do all that he was able, he turned back to look at Livia, who still hadn’t moved.
”I’m going to go to that herb shop you told me about last night, find something for Elze. In the meantime,” Kervos said as he crossed the room, putting his hands gently on his sister’s shoulders, “you need to get some rest as well. We’ll get this all sorted out, I promise.” Livia nodded, trying to stifle a yawn with the back of her hand.
”Remember, you’re looking to speak with Laurel. And please, don’t go storming in there like you would when we were children…she's a good person.” Kervos smiled as she spoke, though it didn’t reach his eyes, and gently guided his sister over to a nearby chair, where she collapsed without much protest.
”My dear sister, were I a lesser person, your words would wound me. Trust me, I’m not looking to cause problems here. I just want to make sure Elze can get well, and then we can sort out everything else that needs to be sorted out. I promise you I will be charming to everyone I come across in this fair town.”
Livia rolled her eyes, dismissing Kervos with a wave as she curled up and proceeded to nod off. Kervos walked out of the small home, finding himself standing in the still waking lumber district of Falcon’s Hollow. Working off the directions Livia had given to him the night before during his flurry of questioning after he’d arrived, Kervos set off to find Roots and Remedies.
Although there weren't all that many customers at the Jak'a'Napes these days, Cally was still beginning to feel a little overwhelmed at trying to manage the inn while Jak was ill. Although the cook and the scullery boy were at work, the usual serving girl had sent word that her mother had contracted the plague too, so the inn was even more short-staffed than usual. That left Cally to pick up the slack, taking breakfast orders from the few guests and the lumber workers in the common room, and her temper was beginning to fray. Although it's not the folks wanting their breakfast, it's Jak I'm fretting about. Damn this plague! At least my parents are alright... so far.
Nodding to the cook, she gathered up the platters ready to be served to the waiting customers, and bustled back out into the common room, trailing the aromas of fresh-cooked bacon, eggs and warm bread. Placing the food on the table before a couple of muscular mill-workers and acknowledging their thanks with a nod and a forced smile, Cally surveyed the other patrons, looking for anyone else wanting to make an order or in need of something. When no-one waved or otherwise indicated an immediate need for attention, she allowed herself a small sigh of relief, and began piling up some of the emptied platters before returning to the kitchen.
"Morris! Shake a leg, you lazy bugger." she called out - half jokingly - to the scullery boy as she placed the pile of dirty plates on the barroom counter. When he scuttled out to collect them she gave him a wink. "Get these cleaned up and deal with any other orders for a few minutes. I'm going to go check on Jak and see to it that he's eaten something." With that Cally made her way back through the kitchens and across the stableyard to the small cottage on the far side. Before she'd even reached the door she could hear the hacking cough from within, accompanied by the clatter of falling cutlery and breaking crockery as the tray she'd brought Jak earlier hit the floorboards.
Rushing through the door and across into the bedroom, she saw her master clutching his chest with pain as the racking convulsions almost threw him off the bed. Stepping over the broken crockery, Cally did her best to ease him back onto the pillow, grabbing the bottle of scented oils and dousing a clean cloth with it before holding it over Jak's nose and mouth. "Breathe it in, steady..." As he inhaled the pungent mixture his coughing stopped and the aging bard slumped back onto the pillow, immediately passing into unconsciousness again. The potion's almost used up. thought Cally as she replaced the bottle on the table next to the bed, and began picking up the pieces of crockery. I'd better get down to the apothecary and buy some more, if they haven't run out of the stuff yet...
Vaashti noticed the half-orc first, and she watched him carefully to see if he was one of those that had taken so much interest in her the previous night. He was staring at her, those eyes seeming to burn in that face that was half orc and half...something else. Human, maybe, but who knows. Maybe he doesn't even know himself, she thought, before realizing how deprecating and rude that was. After all, it's not like I have pristine parentage.
She nodded to the half-orc, just to acknowledge his interest, and then rose to go about her day. As she did so, a light-haired man nodded at her and smiled. I wonder how fast that smile would fly from his face if he saw what was hidden beneath the cloak.
On the way out, she saw the server - Cally, was it? "Thank you for the breakfast. It was most refreshing."
She headed for Laurel's shop, not knowing exactly when it was that the herbalist opened her doors. Of course, with the plague going around, it was likely she was either open all night, or not open at all. Still, she had seen the shop open yesterday, had almost gotten up the courage to go inside, but the line was long and she didn't want to make a scene. hopefully it would be a little shorter today.
What a surprise, thought Sutandir as he read the note from Laurel: "Mix as large a batch as possible of cough tonic and fever suppressor and begin bottling. Expect another long line. Be in later this morning."
The half-elf moved quickly around the room, opening the window shades and making sure the bottles on the shelf were arranged properly. Not that there were very many of them left ... he would have to remember to ask Laurel for a few coppers to pay the local children to collect the used bottles so he could clean and reuse them.
Satisfied the shop was ready for customers, he put on his apron and began gathering ingredients. Going to need more willow bark soon. Guess that means I'll have an excuse to take a couple of days to go visit Mum and Dad.
After measuring out the ingredients, he did a few quick calculations, then took the large buckets out to the sluice he had set up to bring water from the stream. That little innovation had greatly improved efficiency for producing tonics; Laurel had rewarded him with a percentage of the profit from each batch. He smiled at the memory, one of the few happy ones in recent times.
As he walked back to the shop to start the water to boiling, he saw the healthy miners and lumber workers getting ready to head out to their work days, and thought he saw a few familiar faces heading in his direction, along with one or two unfamiliar ones.
What to do today? I'm bored already...
Noticing the exotic woman getting up to leave, Ruhk slowly smiles to himself.
It may be too early to flirt, but not too early to practice my skills.
Who knows, she might be going somewhere fun.
Waiting long enough that she will have gotten a little head start, Ruhk then slips out the door and begins to follow the purplish woman on the sly.
Before he does, he makes sure to wink at both the cute little halfling server and the burly halforc sitting alone.
Being that there are plenty of people about already, he does his best to spend the majority of the time walking openly, not really expecting the lady to be looking over her shoulder.
Ah, Ruhk old son, you're doing it again. Remember LAST time? But you're not going to listen to me are you? Nah, go ahead, I'm sure it'll be fine THIS time.
Before long, Sutandir begins to regret putting out the "Please Come In" sign, as people from all over the city return to Roots and Remedies for a cure that just doesn't exist. Just an hour after dawn, the line already extends far beyond the open door on the shop, filled with pale, wheezing children and others seeming to be precipitously near tears. Sutandir is doing everything he can to help customers, leaving no time to do anything else.
Meanwhile, Vaashti and Kervos have arrived at Roots and Remedies, and are now just outside the door in line. Creeping ivy and full window boxes cover the facade of the rugged-looking, two-story shop.
Just before she stealthily enters the shop from the rear, Kervos notices a rail-thin woman with severe-looking spectacles and hair pulled back tightly hurrying from the more residential part of town into the shop.
As a few more customers are helped, the lines moves and you all move inside the shop. Sitting behind an overpacked rack of herbs, a table covered in stray powders and measuring equipment, and a pot loudly bubbling over with thick gray froth is a young, male half-elf, busy at work. The woman Kervos saw enter the shop is quickly removing her overcoat and hanging it on the back wall.
"Sutandir! I think I may have found something. Come here for a moment."
The woman, presumably Laurel, sounds excited as she speaks to her apprentice. And then, over the din of the complaining customers, Laurel turns stern again.
"Sorry folks, you'll just have to wait!"
Laurel tries to whisper to Sutandir, but in her excitement she speaks a bit louder than she was hoping.
"I found it in my grandmother's book. I think it might be a cure for the Blackscour, but there are some things in it that I don't have. They'd be in the Vale, though I'm not sure where. But who can I get to find them for me? I know you're very capable, but I won't send you into the Darkmoon Vale by yourself—that's not bravery, it's insanity."
Vaashti cranes her neck to see as the woman, probably Laurel, entered through the staff entrance. She had the right look, especially the spectacles, and the high, almost sharp, cheekbones. She stares at the woman, sure that she must be right. It is her.
As she was watching Laurel, she overheard Laurel talking about a cure for Blackscour. Is that what this plague is called? The ingredients sounded as if they were likely close to hand, though in a dangerous area. Without hesitation, or even thought at all if the trutch be told, she blurted out "I will go with him, cousin."
Vaashti's face flamed, and she looked uncertainly about her. Did I really say that out loud? The looks everyone around was giving her said more clearly than words that indeed she had.
Laurel looks up, surprised at being interrupted (since she didn't think anyone could hear her).
"And what...EXACTLY...is your problem?" she says to Vaashti, staring and seemingly ignoring the reference to some familial connection.
As though she just remembered her situation, however, she glances around the room and calms slightly.
"I do not take kindly to being interrupted or eavesdropped upon, but this situation may require some forgiveness. You're willing to go into the Vale with my apprentice here?"
Rakarech spoons up the rest of his meal and stares thoughtfully at the table.
"I need to ingratiate myself with these locals. Perhaps I can fetch herbs from the forest for that apothecary everyone is rambling about. It may also start to convince them of the good of the woodland. That won't stop any logging, but may make it easier to stop it later. Also, throtting Kreeg will just mean some new bastard comes in."
He finishes his food and grunts over to little server appreciatively before trundling outside. There, he fetches his bear from a tree and makes his way over to the herbalist. The sight of a half-orc covered in furs with a greataxe strapped to his back and a bear on hand causes some commotion, but the townsfolk have gradually become used to his presence.
Upon arriving, Rakarech is immediately dismayed at the long line and shouting customers. He mutters something under his breath and moves to the back of the line, keeping a good five feet from the next person, mindful of plague.
"My bear is friendly. Just don't pet him," says Rakarech in response to some of the fearful stares. Grobu whines and keeps very close to his burly companion, not liking this one bit.
Ruhk, having followed Vaashti to the staff entrace, and seemingly not been spotted, was listening for a little bit away.
Over the din of the customers, he wasn't able to hear too much, but he was able to hear Vaashtis side of the conversation.
It seemed like she was going to help the herbalist lady by traveling somehwere.
Hey! This sound grand, a chance to help out two women at once? Just the thing to ease my boredom.
Bold as brass, he then steps up besides Vasshti and exclaims with a friendly grin.
"Sounds good, when do we leave?"
As he waits for the probably mixed reactions to him suddenly popping out of nowhere he smiles a little and gently touches his black eye.
Best be out of town for a few days anyway, at least til that brute stops walking funny.
It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but then, when an angry brute stands over you with a table in his hands, ready to bash your skull in, you do tend to use what means you can to escape.
A boot in the groin was just the right medicine for that situation..
Startled by the woman's ferocity, Vaashti started to withdraw, then jerked herself up short. "I am, and I will. But, I have a price. I want to speak with you, in private, about my problem. Ten minutes of your time, that's all I need. After you close the shop, or we return with your herbs or whatever, is fine. I don't intend to to waste valuable time that these unfortunates need to get the remedies they seek."
She stared at the apprentice, noting his upturned ears and half-caste features. She smiled slightly. "At least, I will go with him if he chooses to allow me. You mentioned dangers in the Vale. I may not be the greatest fighter, but I do have certain small healing abilities, am well-versed in first aid, and can protect myself if the need arises...among other things."
The man she had seen watching out in the street suddenly popped in beside her and volunteered as well. Vaashti looked at him askance, but said nothing. There was no reason to worry about interruptions at this stage in the game. As for the look he gave her, she had seen the look on the man's face countless times before, and he seemed like a harmless flirt. If he turned out to be otherwise...well, she had experience with that sort as well.
Ruhk chuckles and sends Vaashti a grin.
"Not the greatest fighter eh? Don't you worry none luv', I've not met anything yet that survives a magic axe to the skull.
And if we do, well, you just make sure to get away while it eats my liver."
"So, where three already? Think we need more people?"
Kervos watched carefully as events began to rapidly unfold within the herbalist shop. Assuming this woman talking about a cure must be the Laurel his sister had sent him to find, there was no way he would let these people strike out for some sort of cure without him.
"Begging your pardon, Miss Laurel," Kervos said, "I don't mean to interrupt your conversation with these people. But if you intend to send people into the Vale, I must insist on being among them. I will not stand idly by while my sister suffers from this malady if I can lend my assistance."
Kervos looked to the woman and man who had already volunteered.
"I would assume there is no objection from the healer or the magic lumberjack?"
As he approaches the marketplace Shartol finds the line of people trying to purchase medicine from the apothecary dominating the area. A few of the other businesses aren't even open, and the line blocks access to some of those that are. The young man works his way to the butcher's shop, but finds the door secured, and no signs of movement within. Well THAT's a fine how-do-you-do. Shartol immediately regrets his thoughts, but feels relief they were only thoughts. I hope their family isn't suffering badly. This disease is certainly running the town at this point . . ..
His nose tells him that the bakery is still open, and Shartol finds himself trying to cut through the line in order to follow his nose. His timing could have been MUCH better as someone from inside the building loudly states what everyone (except the shop's owner) wants to hear, "A CURE! She said something about a CURE!" The line very quickly became a mild mob, pressing against the front of the apothecary. Brother Shartol found himself trapped in the press of bodies. Clearing a way out shouldn't be very difficult, but it would require putting all of these frightened people at risk of harm from the rest of the mob. My time's not that valuable. I'll work my way through. By the time he thinks he can work himself sideways without causing anyone else harm, he's been pressed up against the front window, and finds himself able to hear part of what's going on inside despite the growing roar of the crowd over the rumor of a cure. Snippets overheard include:
". . . get the remedies . . .."
". . . mentioned dangers in the Vale."
and
"Think we need more people?"
Shartol aborts trying to remove himself form the crowd, for now, and taps on the window, waving at those inside and trying to mouth words at them. He tries hard enough that even a trained lip reader couldn't understand him.
----
Ruhk Guffaws at being referred to as a "lumberjack" but sends a grin at the new arrival.
"Ouch, hark at him! Do I honestly look like I've ever done a honest day’s work in my life?” Here Ruhk puts his hand on his heart in mock indignation and fright. ” My father would disagree at that let me tell you.
But as for coming with, why I would never tell another they can't risk their lives if they want to, not good manners at all."
Ruhk places four fingers against his cheek and mouths, "Four..."
"Well if these people are interrupting..."
Rakarech watches Vaashti and Ruhk curiously, and his keen ears pick up parts of their conversation. Nodding once to himself, he starts cutting across the line, glowering at anybody who shouts at him. His bear stays close, which helps deter the angrier customers. He steps behind Ruhk and speaks up.
"I will join you in this task. I would learn the land here and am of great value in the wild."
"Hah! If the guy outside the window is as keen as I think he is, then we just became six, and look at us, why, we're a small army!"
Ruhk seizes up Rakarech and nods in approval.
"I'll tell you what I told the other guy, you want to risk your life, then it's your business.
But aside from that, you look like a hand person to have around in a scrap, welcome big guy."
He then turns back to the window and makes a "come on in" motion towards the guy knocking.
At Laurel's sudden call, Sutandir carefully sets down his work, confirms nothing will boil over in the next few minutes, then goes over to see what she has. The older herbalist mentions going into the woods for materials, and he starts to speak up.
"As it happens, I was going to suggest going out for some willow..."
Before he can complete his thought, though, several people volunteer to go along. Fairly quickly, word of Laurel's statements gets out into the crowd, starting a bit of a stir. Standing up on a chair, Sutandir raises his voice and addresses the people both inside and outside the shop.
"Friends, it appears that we have some good news, but I must ask you all to be patient as we confirm what Mistress Laurel has found. Roots and Remedies will be closing briefly while we assess our inventory and determine how best to proceed. Those of you in the shop, please make an orderly exit, and we will make an announcement as soon as we can."
The crowd hesitates at first, but disperses at Sutandir's words. Laurel walks over, removes the welcoming sign, and locks the door.
"Well, doesn't this look like a crack squad we have here. Are you all really as crazy as you sound? Oh well, who am I to question? What do you need from me?"
"And you—when you return from your adventure, we will talk. But for now, I must deal with only one problem at a time."
"You mentioned a cure and that there were some uncommon ingredients. A list of those and their physical descriptions would be essential, as would any directions you may have for where they would be located. Also, " and at this point Vaashti looked uncomfortable, "how much time do you think we have to find the components? Some of those people in line looked mighty sick, and I've heard rumors..."
She broke off, remembering that the half-orc had said that his sister was ill. She glanced at him, then quickly away. "Anyways, that's a start."
Ruhk once more grins, showing of remarkably clean and white teeth, in fact, with his white hair and good grooming, it gives him a remarkably mature appearance.
The only things marring his dignified appearance is indeed the boyish grin, the swollen black eye and the three o' clock shadow that he never seems to be able to rid himself off.
"Crazy? Madame, you wound me, of course I can only speak for myself in this, but a dull life is meaningless, and if I can help someone while having fun at the same time, so much the better."
Patting the haft of his trusty battle axe, Ruhk’s smile fades into neutrality as he speaks again.
"Me and Bethany stands ready to travel into danger if need be.
So, where are we going and how much of what you need do you need?
Sutandir looks at Vashti. "We should go as quickly as possible. As you say, some people have been sick quite a while, and we don't want anyone to have to suffer needlessly."
As everyone gathers to hear what Laurel has to say, Sutandir locates a journal and a pen and thrusts it into the first pair of hands that will take them, saying, "Write down whatever Laurel asks for while I get my travel kit ready."
He then moves back to his bubbling pot, stirring and checking its contents. Keeping one eye on it as he moves around, he starts stuffing various small vials and bottles into the numerous pockets of his apron, and adds larger items to a nearby backpack.
Rakarech kneels by his extremely stressed bear, muttering to it in Orcish. He bends his knees, and picks up the heavy bear with both hands. who clings to Rakarech's shoulders and whines. Rakarech slowly rocks the nervous bear and roughs its neck roughly. This seems to calm it.
"I was going to explore the Vale anyways. This makes it easier and I will find what you need. What is dangerous in the Vale?"
Like a salmon swimming upstream, the young man struggles against the crowd, trying to get into the building while others are trying to get out, and the majority are trying to figure out what's really happening.
Eventually, he pops through the doorway like a cork.
"Something about trying to make a cure, right? That would be a really good thing to have. So, the Vale? What are we supposed to gather? Does anybody who is going know how to identify what we'll be looking for?"
He looks around at the others and his face flushes. "Let me guess. Everything I'm asking has already been asked."
Kervos quietly observed the back and forth between the motley group, taking initial stock of the personalities with whom he would be traveling. After having a journal and pen shoved into his hands, Kervos fiddled with the journal until he had it open and was ready to write down whatever list Laurel was going to relate. As he waited for the list and description of ingredients, Kervos absently stroked the back of the crude wooden symbol of The Everbloom that hung around his neck with his thumb.
Goddess, please watch over my sister until I can bring her the cure she so desperately needs...
Upon the young man from outside's arrival and flurry of questions, Kervos turned his gaze to the young man and afforded him as much of a re-assuring smile as he could manage.
"The questions have been asked, friend. But the answers have not yet been given, there is time for you yet to hear them."
Laurel looks around at the barrage of people asking her questions, but regains her composure quickly and starts to speak.
"I have most of what I need, but there are still a few things. The book says that I need Elderwood moss, which I've never heard of, but granny says the stuff only grows on the oldest tree in a forest. No idea where that is in the Vale, though."
"It also mentions a specially pickled root called rat's tail—sounds like hoojoo to me. The witch, Ulizmila, that lives deep in the woods might know what that is. She's a crafty, mean thing that knows all sorts of strangeness. She might even have one. I don't know what she might want for it, but I doubt it'd come cheap. My grandmother traded her sight to the old crone for a few pages of what she knew, and that was years and years back, and I don't know a soul who got any nicer as they got older."
"Finally, I'm going to need seven ironbloom mushrooms, stunty little things that only grow in dark places thick with metal, a favorite among dwarves, or so I hear. Way north, toward the mountains, people say there used to live a bunch of dwarves. They're not there anymore, but I'd be their forges are. If you can find ironbloom anywhere around here, that'd be your best bet."
Laurel looks down at her hands after finishing, saddened by some thought.
"You don't have much time to find these. Folks are dying every day. All we can hope to do now is treat who we can and hope to save the gravedigger some work. Be careful, though. I don't know of all the dangers in the Vale, but many who enter do not return. If you stop by the Lumber Consortium camp just south of the Vale, they might be able to give you some idea."
"Right, Ruhk nods, all business now, so we need to hurry up. In other words, no foraging as we travel, so we'll have to stock up on food before we leave."
"Does anyone come from these parts? If we want to save time we'll need to find out where we need to go and chart the best way there.
If none of you know, then that lumber camp Madame Laurel mentioned is probably our best bet yes?"
"Guess we might want to sort of pool our talents too, mine is fighting and magic. Offensive magic, even if I don't have any big bangs in my arsenal just yet."
Ruhk pats his axe affectionately once more.
"And this is Bethany, she's my best gal, a real hand lill' lady in a fight."
Sutandir glances up to make sure the half-orc is writing everything down, but doesn't interrupt Laurel.
After she speaks, he shoulders his pack. "I'm Sutandir, Laurel's assistant. I'll be making sure what we find matches her description as best I can, and preserving the specimens we find. I carry a few volatiles for defense, as well as some other chemical aids we may find use of. I'll be relying on you folks with the big weapons to watch out for danger."
He cocks his head slightly and adds, "My father is a forrester, go figure." (At that last comment, he gestures to his pointed ears, apparently a joke about his elven heritage.) "If our path goes near his cabin, and he happens to be at home, he may be able to give us some direction."
After Ruhk introduces himself, he steps over to the Ulfen and says in a quieter voice, "A man of magic, eh? One of my hobbies is finding ways to replicate magical effects with alchemical extracts. I'd like to chat with you more about that once we're on the road."
Rakarech lowers Grobu tenderly to the ground, and the little bear goes to sleep at his feet.
"I am Rakarech. I follow the Green Way. I fight hard in battle and use the power of the land. A very old tree is in the north in the Vale, so say my people. Its roots will be very long. If I can find roots, I can find tree. Might be near the mushrooms."
He gestures to his snoozing bear. "This is Grobu, he is fierce in battle, but sleepy. Sutandir, Ruhk, good to meet."
It was almost an hour later before Cally was able to finish helping with cleaning and scrubbing the inn's kitchen and common room. Yelling out to the Jak'a'Nape's cook, "I'll be back in a bit, Vera. Gotta go get some of the cough elixir from Mistress Laurel for Jak.", Cally dropped her apron onto the counter and bustled out of the inn. It wasn't all that far to the apothecary's shop, but rather than the orderly line up to the door that she had become used to, the villagers needing medicines for those of their family with the sickness were clustered around the front, peering through the doorway and the windows. What's going on here, then?
With her curiosity aroused, the halfling girl wriggled and shoved her way past the other villagers, until she could get to the doorway and see inside - just in time for Laurel's apprentice to make his announcement and lock the door in her face. Hmpf! Oh no you don't laddie... While the rest of the crowd reluctantly dispersed, Cally instead made her way around to a side window which was still open, and from underneath the sill listened in to the conversation within. A cure for the sickness? Sounds like Laurel is clutching at straws, but any chance for Jak is better than no chance.
Standing up from her hiding place outside the window, Cally peers into the shop and examines those within, paying particular attention to the four strangers - and the bear - who seemed to be volunteering for the expedition. A pair of half-orcs, a tiefling and a human... very odd bunch to find in a place like Falcon's Hollow. Clambering up onto the sill and swinging her legs over into the room, she cleared her throat to interrupt. "Actually I think I may know where to find those mushrooms you're talking about, Laurel. Unless your apprentice wants to slam this window in my face as well as the door, of course."
Sutandir looks up in surprise as the Halfling appears in the window. Blushing slightly, he stammers, "C-Cally! I, uh, must not have seen you ... down ... there ...
His usual suave demeanor shuts down completely as he catches himself accidentally making a comment about her size.
"I mean ... that is, if I'd known you were there ..."
He coughs a bit, and finally manages to say, "If you know where the mushrooms might be, please come in and let us know. We definitely need the help."
Having finished taking notes, Kervos gently closed the journal and offered it and the pen back to Sutandir with a slight nod. He then turned to the newest arrival and proffered his hand to the halfling to help her down from the window. Looking at the rest of the group as he did so, he introduced himself.
"My name is Kervos. I am here on behalf of my sister, Elze Fletcher, who has fallen ill. If that means I need to fight to get what we need, so be it. If it means I need to call upon The Everbloom to aid us, then I will do so as well. I'm flexible in that regard." Kervos turned his gaze to Laurel.
"My only request is that my sister is looked after while I am away. I would not see her succumb to neglect while we rush to complete this task."
The young man looks around, seeming a little nervous, somewhat uncertain, but he grins when Cally "drops in".
"I am Shartol. I grew up down the road here, in the Timber district. I just came home last week. I've been . . . studying. I don't know that I can do anything special to help on this trip, but I will do my best to do what is needed when it is needed. My family needs the cure found as bad as anyone else who lives here, though not as urgently."
"Kervos? We could ask my sister to look after her. It would keep her from her . . . work, but that might be for the best."
He looks from one face to another. "When do we plan to leave?"
At the mention of Everbloom, Vaashti turned to the half-orc and stared hard. Then, she deliberately pulled her cloak off her right shoulder and displayed the bloody rose inked there not two months ago. "I am the Everbloom's daughter, and I certainly have no problems bringing her light to this place.."
After another moment's hesitation, she threw her cloak back to show horn, wings and tail. Might as well get it over with. She stretched for a moment, then met each person's eye in turn.
"I have some healing gifts, given to me by the Everbloom, and a few other abilities as well. If any of you get into a scrape...well, I can do a little more than simply bandage you up. As for leaving, all I must do is return to the inn for my traveling pack."
"You didn't see me down here, eh? Must be the lack of air at your height. Affects the mind." Cally looks up at Sutandir with one eyebrow raised. To the rest of the motley crew assembled in Laurel's shop, the halfling says "My master is ill with this plague too, so if Laurel can make a cure, but needs others to fetch the ingredients, I'll come along with you. But like this fella here says about his sister..." She waves at Kervos, "Someone will have to look after Jak while I'm gone. Since I'll have to close the Jak'a'Napes for the duration in any case, we could move her into a room there, and get Shartol's sister to look after them both, if she'd be willing."
"I suppose I should introduce myself to those of you who don't know me. The name is Calandria, but just call me Cally. I'm apprenticed to Jak Crimmy, proprietor of the local inn and master bard. While he's ill I'm sort of trying to run the Jack'a'Napes." Without waiting for anyone else, she heads for the front door and reaches up to unlock and open it. "Now unless there's anything else, I suggest we all go grab whatever gear and rations we'll need for a week or so in the Vale. We can meet up at the inn just after noon - I'll have a meal ready before we go." With that the little brunette halfling whirls out of the store and heads back to the inn to make her own preparations.
After Cally's departure, Kervos placed a hand upon Shartol's shoulder.
"It is a great kindness you offer, Shartol. I would not see your sister lose her ability to see to her own needs. If she is willing to watch over both my sister and Mister Crimmy, please let her know I will see to her lost wages personally." Moving away from the young man, Kervos stopped before Vaashti and offered her a slight nod along with a genuinely warm smile.
"It will be a pleasure to once more travel with another of Her followers. I have not had the chance to do so for some time, now." Looking to the rest of the group, Kervos continued, "I will be gathering my sister and making final preparations. As Cally has said, I will meet you all in the inn near noon." He once more nodded to his peers and then walked out of the shop, quickly pacing back to his sisters' home.
"We will see you shortly after noon. This vale will be interesting."
Rakarech snaps his fingers at his little bear, who wakes up and obediently follows behind him.
"There is much sadness here. These people desperately want to save their loved ones from this plague. I will find these ingredients to end this plague, and they will listen to what I have to say."
Making long, purposeful strides through the town, Rakarech makes his way out through the gates and keeps walking until he comes to a wooded area. There, he settles in the shade and meditates, allowing Grobu to explore and eat as he wishes. Hours pass as Rakarech lays still in utter tranquility, feeling the power of the wilds. Around noon, he awakes and returns to the town, refreshed and ready for battle.
Ruhk grins at the departing Cally, "Fiery little thing innit?"
He then proceeds to count on his fingers as he thinks to himself.
"So, a week did she say? Three days to the farthest item and three days back, one day to spare."
Looking at the others, Ruhk scratches his head.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'll probably get ten days, just to be on the safe side, after all, we don't have time to forage in there, Here he looks at Kervos, after all, someone has a sister to save and all."
As Vaashti reveals her true nature, Ruhk raises an eyebrow, but it seems more in fascination of her exotic nature than in any kind of fear or anger.
Lookie here, she's even more exotic than I thought, between her and Cally, I'm sure not going to be bored on this trip.
"Well, guess I'm going to the general store to get some rations, meet you at the inn, let's say one hour? Should be enough time to get supplies and say our goodbyes.
Anyone want to come with? Or is there anyone who needs me to get them some food while they do something else? I don't mind the extra weight."
"I will catch up to you, I need a few more things from here."
As the last of the group leaves, Sutandir takes a large book from his desk and opens it. Consulting the formulas there, he blends herbs and strange ingredients with some liquid drawn off of his bubbling pot. After they cool, he puts them into different colored vials and places them in a pocket. He then packs the book into his backpack along with the rest of his gear.
"Any last minute words for me, Laurel? Anything else I should know about this formula we're trying?"
Laurel looks upon Sutandir with a grim expression.
"Just find those herbs, and hope against hope that it works. I fear we're running out of time."
At that, she turns to her bubbling cauldron, signaling everyone there that she wishes them to leave.
Ruhk, having gone only a few steps away from the shop, is leaning against a nearby wall when Sutandir exits the shop.
"Took you long enough, you know, in all the excitement I quite forgot to even ask where the general store is. And since you are from these parts and all, why don't you lead the way eh?"
Ruhk slaps Sutandir on the back and falls into step besides him.
"So, that Laurel eh? Quite a lady, not much seems to rattle her, good boss to work for?"
Ruhk then stops and snaps his fingers.
"Oh, remind me to stop by the inn on the way out and buy a bottle of something alcoholic, strictly medicinal of course."
Sutandir nods in the direction of the general store. "Laurel? Yeah, we get along ok. I've learned a good bit from her, though I have had to supplement with some research of my own. She's been pretty engrossed in that book of hers trying to find something to help this plague, so I've gotten used to her being a bit terse lately."
After a short pause, he changes the topic. "You mentioned having studied some magic. I've been working on ways to replicate certain magical effects alchemically. So far I've managed to get a healing draught, though since I've only had myself to experiment with it only really seems to work on me. I've also worked out an old formula from my father's side of the family that helps me hide, even in plain sight. Eventually I'll figure out how to make them work for others. I'm not entirely sure what's different about my own system that lets them affect me, other than my mixed blood. Anyway, I've learned a bit of the code wizards use to record spells, perhaps in the evenings when we're travelling, you might let me look over your book? I'm always looking for new ideas."
As they reach the store, Sutandir opens the door for his new companion, then follows him in. Peering into his coin purse, he carefully selects a variety of dried fruits, jerkies, and crusty breads.