Adroushan lays a certain hand on Mahonrai's arm.
If you would allow us; we would like to see that book.
The raven-haired woman shakes her head. "No, on both counts, I'm afraid. I saw no one but you when I opened the door. And you say there's a sickness about? I'm surprised no one else has come here to the kirk for treatment. Are you feeling well? What are the symptoms?" She reaches out to put a hand on Zegneva's forehead.
Laurel replies
"Sorry, but the book is old and needs to be handled with care, that and some of the hand written notes are hard to read."
She walks over to the book
"I can fill you in though."
As soon as Ashlyn's hand reaches for Zegenva's forehead, she snaps back and drops into a slight crouch. However, realizing that the priestess was simply trying to help, and not to pull back her hood (which she hoped still concealed her horns, especially after the strange womans' statement), she stands back up and addresses Ashlyn.
Sorry about that. It's just that I don't like bein' touched. To answer your questions, no, I'm not sick. As for what it does to people, all I've seen is that it makes 'em cough somethin' awful. Most people seem to be goin' to the Roots and Remedies, if that helps at all.
”This book...can I see it? Even if it is just over your shoulder...” The desire in her voice is palatable.
Ashlyn steps back to give her space. "Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like to come in? The Lady will be ready soon. I've made a pot of tea, would you like some?"
And Laurel is right
the hand writing in the book is horrible.
Nodding, Zegenva will reply to Ashlyn
Yes, I would like to come in. As for the tea, I've never had any. I guess that now is as good a time as any to try it though.
Brunhild looks at the book in frustration. It would take her a week, if that, to make sense of the scribblings. She crossed her arms, feeling like the apprenticeship was one big hoax. So far she felt like she was learning to be a maid more than anything else. She glanced over at the angel. Maybe I am going about this wrong. Perhaps it is less what Laurel can teach me, and more what I can learn myself. Who knows what kind of knowledge an actual angel has...this must be fate.
Laurel replies
"Now the medicine uses some rare roots and concentrations, most of which I have here, but there’s three I don’t.
Elderwood moss, which I’ve never heard of, but granny says the stuff only grows on the oldest tree in a forest.
A specially pickled root called rat’s tail, again, sounds like hoojoo to me.
And seven ironbloom mushrooms, stunty little things that only grow in dark places thick with metal, a favorite among dwarves, or so I hear"
"Before I get out of your hair Lady Cirthana, is there anyone else in town that might know something of interest to me? It's a pleasant enough town and it sure would be nice to find an excuse to stay a while."
"I'm afraid not, as records in town are sparse and rare, and you've already likely looked through the small library we have.
Though there are folks who did live else where that might know some of the legends or records of where they came from."
"The closest divine like story from another town in town I know of is from the only Gnome in town, Brickasnurd Hildrinsocks."
Ashlyn stays wary around the gray-skinned man, but keeps at her self-appointed duties diligently. She makes sure everyone's tea cups are filled if they wish, and supplies a fresh cup to Zegenva.
"Sorry to interrupt, but this woman has come by to let us know that there is a sickness going around town." She steps aside and lets Zegenva fill in the details.
Ashlyn, Wis or Int check
Is there a way to cleanse the well so that no more people get sick in the first place? I would like to stop the cause first, because the people will need water. After that, perhaps we could help you by going to find the rare ingredients?
"That strange man who visited mentioned to me that a gnome might know something -- something about history repeating itself?" Ashlyn decides not to mention the slumbering evil in front of the man who noticed she was in the body of a devil.
"If you don't have any solutions, perhaps you should speak with Brickasnurd," she ventures.
Carth glances at the newcomer. but doesn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary.
"The man in the blue robes? Now that you mention it, he said something strange to me too. Lady Cirthana, who was that man before?"
If you are willing, I think that I could find these ingredients. Also, I can create water for you, but I am still only beginning my training.I could also cast a spell to confirm your diagnosis, if you want.[/b]
As Mahonrai waits for an answer from Laurel, he smiles, glad that Adroushan is willing to undertake such a task as well.
He sees the ... apprentice? ... looking at him, and wonders if he could ask her to come along as well. Surely she would know the plants if they came across them. They would need her knowledge, if Laurel could spare her for a while.
"Let's just say, I don't have patrons with influence and there are no real options.
Since your new here, I doubt you know how bad it can get outside of town with the Fey and other creatures of the forest attacking places.
You can sleep easy in town, but not outside of town."
Hearing Ashlyn's words
"Oh this is not going to be good, Brickasnurd Hildrinsocks you can say is only one of a few survivors of his old home town."
"I've been working hard to make sure we avoid that fate.
It's also the reason Brickasnurd Hildrinsocks helps me, he does not want history repeating it self."
Lady Cirthana replies to Carth's question
"He comes around every month for the past 7 months now and drops off a large tithe,
which perfectly covers repair costs of the month from any damage we get from those that dislike the Church.
I'll even he is a cryptic man, but it also seems like he knows more,
but can't say more and is forced to be cryptic."
Laurel replies
"Well, for the elderwood mold, there’s gotta be an oldest tree in the vale. Damned if I know where it is, though.
The rat’s tail and mushrooms are even longer shots. Way north, toward the mountains, people say there used to live a bunch of dwarves.
They’re not there anymore, but I’d bet their forges are. If you can find ironbloom anywhere around here, that’d be your best bet.
As for the rat’s tail, who knows? Well.
Actually. Ulizmila, the witch that lives deep in the woods might. 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."
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”I’ll go with them. They’ll need someone who can be sure that we are getting the right ingredients.” She looked from Laurel to the cleric and angel. ”It must be fate that brought you two here. But the deep woods are not safe. We will need more traveling companions. Especially if the fey isn’t...reasonable.”
Ashlyn frowns, her dark eyes looking concerned. "Brickasnurd's home town was destroyed by plague? Then news of this sickness will be doubly hard for him. I'll watch the temple if you wish to go speak with him," she tells Lady Cirthana.
Approaching Lady Cirthana, but stopping at about two arm-lengths away from her, Zegenva will ask her
Do you know what this sickness is? Is it really bad enough to wipe out an entire town? If so that is bad, cause I'd say that at least half the town is sick. I've seen what sicknesses can do to people. It's not pretty. She shudders, remembering the bodies in the alleys of Almas after a particularly bad pestilence a few winters back.
Lady Cirthana replies
"No, Is home was not destroyed by plague, though an outbreak could be considered a warning sign.
His home was destroyed by the sins of it's people.
The sins grew enough that a divine hand destroyed the place.
Best you hear the tale from him."
To Brunhild:
I think you are probably right that we need more help. Do you have any suggestions... um, sorry, I don't believe that I know your name.
To Adroushan:
I think that we also need to make sure that the well is blocked off and that the village has an alternative source of water, or the problem will only grow. Any thoughts? Do you know where the well is?
Adroushan looks at Laurel.
If I may have some parchment and ink, so that, I may record your words.
The hunter smiles.
I am more at home in the woods, but it is sensible to take more people.
”Brunhild. And don’t worry about the well. The sheriff can handle it. As for who to bring along, well...there is that girl who works at the tavern. Zagenva. She’s small, but looks strong enough. Didn’t strike me as a bad sort, even with that tail and horns of hers. I don’t know anyone in town who comes across as capable in a fight as her.”
"Hmmm, he told me I wouldn't find answers here in the hollow. Lady Cirthana, are there any ruins nearby? The man may be cryptic but its the best lead I've heard yet."
Lady Cirthana replies
"Yes, there are ruins in the area though most of them are dwarven.
I believe one was a dwarven monastery."
Ashlyn grows pale at the mention of dwarven ruins. "Oh. Oh, no. The man mentioned something else to me. That we should avoid waking the evil that slumbers underneath the dwarven monastery." She reaches up and rubs a spot on her holy symbol that was worn smooth, evidence of a nervous or comforting habit.
"Well then, I'll go and talk to this Brickasnurd fellow, and then see what I can find in the ruins. If mysterious men are warning people about them, you can bet your left arm there's something interesting in there. Where can I find him? And come to think of it, where can I find that dwarven monestary?"
Carth looks at Ashlyn. "Ashlyn, I understand you may be bit hesitant to leave the Kirk, but a companion would be welcome if you're interested, especially if I'm to enter these ruins." to Zegeneva "And I didn't catch your name, but your welcome as well. I figure everyone wants to know whats going on with this sickness."
Lady Cirthana replies
"Mr Hildrinsocks runs the Goose n Gander, and I don't know where that dwarven monastery is.
You can ask folks who work at the lumber camps for that information."
Ashlyn looks shocked at Carth's invitation to come along. "You want me--?" she starts, then leans in, uncertain. "Are you sure? You're not worried about the, um, you know..." she points over to the tea.
To Carth,
My name is Zegenva. I will accompany you, simply cause there is little work for a bouncer when everyone round town is sick. Turning to Ashlyn when she asks Carth her question, she asks her What about the tea? Does bein' a tea brewer make you unfit for adventure?
"Well you might want some anti-plague, as something is up.
A Line at the Roots and Remedies is generally a sign somethings blown into town."
Good to meet you, Brunhild. I thought you were worried about current measures being inadequate, but if you have confidence in the sheriff handling the source of the disease, I will trust your judgment. And this Zegenva sounds like a good choice.
Mahonrai hands Adroushan his Journal and an ink pen, so that he can take the notes about the ingredients that he wanted to take.
Ashlyn abruptly shakes her head. "No. It's just that the first batch was too hot. I was careless. I could have been burned."
I will need about an hour to pray for Erastil's blessings.
