The logger who remained silent tightens the grip on the splitting axe he is holding. He looks at you, suspicious. “Boy, there ain’t one normal fella among you, ah?” he says “coupl’a pointy ears, we don’t see many of them ‘round here no more… and what in Kuthon’s name are you, boy? Are those horns?” his voice sounds raspy when he adresses Taldash.
The one that greeted you seems a bit friendlier. He swaps the sweat from his brow while listening to Taldash “Now, now, Gordon, that’s no way to greet trav’lers! You gotta a tall stunning one here, too… from oop North, seems to me… bet’ya don’t have a beef with her, ah?” he winks at his companion and makes a sorry excuse for a bow towards Titania “You gotta forgive me friend, he ain’t too well these days. My name’s Brecht, and this ol’ grump is Gordon.”
** spoiler omitted **
Brecht continues “There’s nothing festive about them fires, fellers. They’re there ta scare off the shadow fever. Not a time for celebration ‘round here, no sir…” his mood darkens a bit “Unless you call a celebration what’s happening to them three shadow people in the big square. Heh!” he smiles a dark and cynical smile “Wish I could be there ta see them basterds kick the bucket, but I gotta work… c’mon Gordon, we need’ta take down them four pines ‘fore comes lunchtime.” he tips his hat “Nice meeting ya, fellers!”
Taldash nods - "Yes sir, these are horns. As to who or what I am, I guess you could call me many things - half-breed, outcast, bastard of a she-demon. Personally I would rather you would simply use my name, which is Taldash"
The tiefling speaks in a frontal, matter of fact way, no irony and no threat in his voice - "And what about you Master Gordon? What are you? And what is that around your neck? Are you hurt - we may be able to help"
At Brecht's comments, Taldash retorts - Shadow Fever? I apologize, but I do not know what you are referring to... Could you perhaps explain a little more in detail?"
"Please, before you leave friend, if it is not imposing with too many questions - what do you mean by shadow people? And what is going to happen to them exactly?"
Turning to his dwarf companion, he comments- "I think you are probably right Ihro"
Dario waits until the men have moved off to explain. "The 'Shadow People' are Fletchlings. Mortals who have some part of the Plane of Shadow in their blood. No doubt these people fear them and may even be willing to kill them. Their closeness with the Shadow Plane gives Fletchlings an ability to sneak and hide in the darkness, but they are not demons." He shakes his head.
"Perhaps we should just go into the town now. See what they done to the Fletchlings."
"And what about you Master Gordon? What are you? And what is that around your neck? Are you hurt - we may be able to help"
Gordon immediately pulls his scarf up, to cover the infected flesh around his throat "Mind yer own business, boy… ain’t nobody asking you freaks fer help ‘round here."
As it happened before, Brecht is way more accommodating “Shadow fever is nasty thing we have going ‘round the town, fellers… ain’t nobody who knows a thing about getting’ rid of it, but most folks thinks it’s them shadowy fetchlings who infect us good people. Ol' Gordon here is always been a grump, but th'fever ain't doing him any favors, I tell ya.”"[...]what do you mean by shadow people? And what is going to happen to them exactly?"
“Heh. I guess Lucian finally got some of’em with th’ dirty hands in the cookie jar!” Brecht winks at you “It’s gonna have them kick th’ bucket, do a little hanging dance, if you know what I mean, roight? Damn shame we gotta take down them pines, it’s been a while since we had a good show here in town… heh heh!” Brecht is joined by Gordon in a cynical chuckle.
"Are you sure, sir? That does not look well."
"Ahh, yes, fetchlings! Fascinating what happened to them. There have been many books written about their... affliction, and, of course, I have read them all! As a matter of fact..." Saravyn goes on to recite, from memory, the first histories of the fetchlings, not realizing it if he is being ignored.
Tess thinks to herself
"I hope the affliction has a hard time spreading, and is not air-born or water-born"
Taldashs' eyes open wide at the response he gets from the two men - "Hanging dance... They are going to be executed... - he whispers, eyes flaring red at the lighthearted and jocose way how they addressed the death of another.
He welcomes Saravyn's recount of his vast knowledge, as it serves not only as learning, but also as a way for him to calm down - "Saravyn and all, shall we get going? I want to see with my own eyes exactly what is happening"
As he turns around to leave, he adds to their interlopers - "Thank you for your information, and I do hope you get better from your ailment soon, lest you be doing some grave dancing soon..." - his voice now much colder.
Saravyn has a brief look of surprise on his face at Taldash's rapt attention, "Usually my sermons go ignored, Taldash. I am quite elated to know that there are others out there who wish to learn. I agree, though, it is time we be off. However, before we go..."
Saravyn attempts to discreetly cast a spell while Taldash bids the two humans goodbye.
Dario seems surprised by the elf's knowledge of the Fletchlings. "Well, I'm impressed. A learned man, are you? Researcher?"
"Yes, let's see these Shadow People ourselves and see what kind of predicament they're in. Perhaps we can appeal to the Baron's senses if he still has them." He follows Taldash towards the town.
As they trudge towards town, Taldash listens to Dario's words, and replies - "As of yet, I cannot take sides, or even pretend to understand what is going on in this settlement - as far as we know, the ones being executed deserve it"
Shaking his head, he continues - "What concerns me is the callous tone which the ones we have just met used to address the whole situation... It immediately sounds like prejudice to me, but I am no one to judge anything before we witness the situation with our own eyes"
"I find Anya and find out why the letters to her parents have stopped."
Once again, Saravyn looks pleased that his skills are being recognized,"I felt that the best use of my time would be to study the military tactics and strategies of all races, not just my own. This led to a healthy dose of history as well, as history is generally written by military victors.
"I must admit, though, that while the Fetchlings don't have the most organized or efficient militaries, they do prove to be quite fascinating with their links to humankind and the Shadow Plane." Saravyn looks toward the town, "It will be quite interesting to meet a Fetchling, even if they are not long for the world."
Leaving the loggers to their work and entering into the town, you immediately hear a din of shouting crowd. The streets are mostly empty but for a few workers – a woman carrying a sack of potatoes, the scent of freshly baked bread coming from a baker’s stall, the rhythmic hammering coming from a carpenter’s workshop.
Following the crowd’s noise – your only clue that something is amiss in an otherwise sleepy and boring town – you get in the main square.
An inn, a smithy and a carriage house mark the three sides of this square, poorly paved with uneven and cracked cobblestones. A gnarled, leafless oak tree grows in the northeast corner. The crowd seems to be gathered around the tree, and it’s easy to see why – three ropes dangle from it.
As you get close, you notice a large man close to fifty years of age, dressed with a chainmail and carrying a warmace, standing atop a crate and speaking to the crowd.
“… jus’ li’l girl, I tell y’all, and they took her from me! They use our kids to make some bones magic, I tell’y’all, or for some dark rituals!” as he shouts, it is very easy to notice on him the same symptoms Gordon was trying to hide – an enlarged, grotesquely swollen and darkened throat.
The crowd eats up the words of the man “Yes! And they bring the shadow fever! Hang’em!” someone shouts “Make them do the rope dance, Lucian! Make them pay!” another voice from the crowd.
Between the crowd and the large man kneel three figures – a man, a woman and a boy – which look pretty much like thin humans but for their skin, which is a deep gray color. The hands of all three are tied behind their back.
Ihro grabs the nearest person "Why are they being hung?"
Dario works his way through the crowd, trying to get a better view of the Fletchlings. "They took his daughter?" he asks someone standing beside him. "Who is he some warrior of the town?"
Tess adds
"The man is just upset and blinded by grief and is likely not seeing the truth of the cause.
When crap hits the fan people do stupid crap based on their emotions."
Where are the authorities...? - Taldash looks around, looking for someone that may represent the law - a sheriff, mayor, or similar.
He also approaches one of the locals - "What is happening? Who are these three?"
Some of the townsfolk are a bit surprised at seeing you: non-humans, non-fetchling are a rarity in the town.
While most of the crowd keeps shouting and barely notices you, a blond kid no older than seven, who is clearly enjoying the noise and chaos more than the actual incoming execution, finds you fascinating enough to talk to you. He cannot stop to stare, now at Taldash’s horns, now at Iroh’s beard, now at the pointy ears of the other three.
“Tha’s Lucian. Lucian is Great Captain of the City Guard, he is mighty!” he fakes a mighty punch in the air “I’m sorry that he got sick… mum says that I should always listen to Lucian… mister, can I touch your horns? Are they sharp?" he jumps a couple of times trying to grab Taldash's horns "Anyway, Lucian says that the shadowfolk have taken Olya, which is a shame because Olya is my friend and we play in the woods until dinnertime. But I don’t want Lucian to hurt Marius” he points at the youngest of the fetchlings “because I play with him too and he lets me play with him even if he’s older and always gives me hazelnuts when he finds them. Mum says I shouldn’t play with him ‘cause he’s shadowfolk and shadowfolk can’t be trusted and carry the fever, but he’s nice and gives me hazelnuts! Mister, you are really short!” says to Iroh “Are you a midget like the Vetsin’s cousin who lives in Yon's Hill? He’s shorter than you, but he’s a bit prettier I think! He can shave. You can’t shave because you are a midget?”
Even amidst the confusion, Taldash smiles at the kid – ”Of course child” – he answers while taking to one knee, and bowing his head for the youngster to touch his horns – ”There”
Standing up and trying to get the attention of one of the adults around, he speaks a tad louder – ”We are strangers in town, but we carry the missive of Lord Titos Tiboros – assigned by his command and request to visit, and offer our respect and honour to Lady Anyas's household and family. As we travelled to meet her, we were drawn by the commotion – apologies for the intrusion, but I cannot help but ask why is a young child...” – he points to the fetchling youngster – ”About to be hanged?”
Ihro laughs, evidently amused by the ignorance of the child "Nay, I am called a dwarf, child, we are a mighty and stout race. And as fer me beard, it is appalling fer any male dwarf to not grow one" he indicates it's ok for the child to play with the beard if he wants "So ye think Marcus is a good person eh? Tell me, when this fever struck, did anything else new happen other than the fletchlin's?"
Dario joins the others around the enthusiastic boy. He rub his chin in thought. "I don't think I've ever heard of Shadow Folk carrying a specific disease. What kind of fever is this?"
He speaks a little louder so others can hear him. "Why on earth would they want a little girl? If they're spread disease, they don't need a little girl to do it."
Tess asks aloud
"Do you have 100% proof and not a shadow of a doubt that shadowfolk are spreading the disease, as for all you know it could be rats that are spreading it, or heck the Fleas on the rats are the ones that spread it."
Saravyn looks around the square as he walks through, seeking advantageous positions in case trouble arises. He stays in the background, avoiding attention while doing so.
When hearing of the accusations against the Fetchlings, Saravyn thinks of the books he has read concerning them. "I am inclined to agree with you, Dario. I think that we must now convince those around us of this truth."
A few townsfolk look around, biting their lip. Lucian’s roaring accusations still spread through the square, but now there is the seed of doubt.
“I reckon it could be the rats, after all…”
“That’s nonsense! Them’s shadow people! The first folks who got the shadow fever were those who talked to them fetchlings who got fired from the Baron! Hogar was one of them, poor devil!”
“Yeah, and how comes no fetchling got sick? If it’s the rats, explain that!”
“But these strangers say… I mean, Marius is just a kid… and Sergei saved my Greta from the wolf last winter!”
“Don’t listen to them! Lucian says them’s guilty, isn’t that enough for ya?”
“Lucian’s sick, maybe... I dunno, maybe he made a mistake…”
“What? Are in cahoots with them shadow folk? I’d punch you in the face!”
“Hang them, Lucian, hang them good!”
Even Lucian now notices you. “What’s going on? Who’s them strangers?”
"Please, please, everyone settle down. I am a researcher from the University of Egorian in Cheliax. I promise my friends and I will look into this disease. If need be, we can summon help if it does look like the disease is getting out of hand."
He looks to one of the villagers. "You said the fever started after the Baron fired several Fletchlings from his manor?" He looks over to the family of Shadow People. "Did any of you work for the Baron?"
"We have business with the Baron already. Let us go investigate and perhaps we can find out what's going on. Please, give us some time to get to the bottom of this. If you kill these people now, you cannot undo that act. Killing them will not bring Olya back."
"I do any of you know of the Blood Veil plague that Hit Korvosa, most people got sick and died from it.
A few records state that a good number of Varisians had an immunity to the this disease which apparently released by some corrupted officials trying to commit a genocide of lesser persons in their view which included Varisians.
It could be the same with the Shadow fever and the shadowfolk, with the shadowfolk having an immunity to it.
And since infected folks are walking around spreading it as much as your scapegoat for the problem."
While his companions are addressing the crowd, this time Taldash remains silent, but he does seize the opportunity to move towards the center, where the captives are located, and gain a position there.
Saravyn follows Taldash, keeping an eye on the rough crowd. He whispers to Taldash, "We must be careful, Taldash, do not get too close to the accused. It will not help us if we provoke these people, and they already know that we are not necessarily on their side."
One of the fetchling, the older-looking one, raises his head towards Dario. You can all see the deep cut on his forehead, dripping a greyish blood. “None of us did, sir, we jus’” a kick in the stomach , from Lucian, shuts him up. “Keep your filthy mouth shut, boy! You’re scum, taking my girl, and won’t speak ‘till you ready to confess!” a few people in the crowd cheer at this display of force from the guardsman.
“And you, lady… we don’t care about big city folks like Korsova or whatever. There’s no games, no secrets here: the only plot is th’one by these basterds” he spits on the ground near the fetchlings, and now more than ever is clearly visible the painful deformity the disease has brought upon him – the throat has swollen to the size and color of an eggplant, with bulging veins visible just below the skin. His brow is sweating profusely even with the brisk temperature of the late autumn, and his complexion is pale and sickly. “We welcomed them in our village, and this is how they repay us! They poison our food – they ‘nap our children to make strange rituals!” his voice is losing the booming tone of before, and is slowly shifting towards the desperate.
Increasingly more people, among the crowd, look at each other a bit ashamed. There’s still those who shout excited at every accusation Lucian throws at the fetchlings, but there’s just as many who take a step back – some even sneak out of the square, pretending to never be a part of the lynching mob.
“If these folks are educated fellers from the city, maybe they can cure th’ fever…”
“Yeah, and they said they’re pals with th’Baron. I think we should…”
“Bah! Th’ Baron’s gone crazy and these folks know nothing… what else can it be? You’re just agreeing with the girl ‘cause she’s tall an’ pretty, you don’t have no idea what a jenoside is…”
Ihro's knuckles crack as the child is kicked. He quietly murmurs to the party "We need to intervene"
Tess quietly replies
"I would prefer keeping the number involved down."
"Have you seen for yourself the strange rituals, do you have any solid proof that they have kidnapped any child, or any solid proof that they have poisoned your food."
"Heck someone with a intolerance for anyone different, like shadowfolk, and could attempt to poison their them, but instead poison an innocent and then use them as a scapegoat for their crime.
And yes, I do know what genocide means. It is the Killing of everyone of a specific group or groups."
Ihro continues to talk quietly, knowing that when he intervenes in delicate matters it often bodes ill "I hope ye know what yer doin, cus if he hit's that child again then I'm gonna break his foot"
Dario rounds on Lucian after he kicks the child. "Now sir! If you're so certain these Fletchlings carry disease, why are you touching one of them? I'm certain whatever happened to your darter, this young boy didn't do it. Now, if you will allow us to speak to the Baron and the Fletchlings, we may be able to sort this out without any more deaths."
He looks around the crowd. "Now what was that about the Baron being crazy? What on earth has been going on in this place? What about the Baroness? Is she still here?"
Saravyn looks quite tense after seeing Lucian kick the child. "I do not want to risk spellcasting in the middle of this crowd," he whispers to Taldash. "Be warned, though, that if he does strike the child again, I will not hesitate to use my magic. How close do you think you can get to the Fetchlings without provoking him more? Dario and Titania seem to have the crowd under control, but I do not trust Lucian."
The crowd is now diminished, and among the remaining townsfolk very are those actively cheering for Lucian. Most seems just neutrally curious, and some are apologizing for their behavior and actively trying to convince the others too.
Lucian, instead, seems unswayable. His rage seems to mount even more as he addresses his fellow citizens “Don’t… don’t listen to these freaks! They’re strangers! They don’t know the shadow folk like we do! They don’t know how sneaky, how untrustworthy…” the plead dies in his mouth when he sees most of the crowd turning around and going home, ashamed. Anger and desperation now equally show on his deformed face. “Please! You… you know they’re guilty! They took Olya… they will take others... our children… they will make dark rituals with their bones, we will all get sick…”
One of the few citizens left look up at Lucian “Lucian, you know… we’re all very sorry for you and your girl… and we’re all weary and down ‘cause of this damn fever… but, maybe these folks really can help. Maybe you can listen to them. Just… just listen, ok? They’re freaks, yeah, but they seem wise.”
Pretty much everyone left now. The three fetchlings look around as far as their restrains allow them to, hopeful and curious. Lucian grabs his mace “Fine! Fine! I’ll do it meself! Cowards! Weak, tha’s what you are.” he raises the mace, then takes it down. He raises it again. His arm is shaking. He puts down the mace and grab the older fetchling by the shirt “I’ll do it I swear I’ll do it tell me where she is" he starts punching the fetchling, but his blows are weak and tired, and he is barely coherent anymore. "tell me where she is what did you do to her you basterd I’ll kill you I’ll swear to the Midnight Lord I’ll kill you give her back to me...”
Tess approaches Lucian and speaks in a calm diplomatic voice.
"I would stop right now, Lucian.
As the Shadowfolk your currently threatening likely does not know where she is, as do any of the other shadowfolk you put up here.
I know it's hard, but randomly targeting people is not going to get you anywhere.
To find the truth you need to be logical, not emotional."
Ihro waves down Saravyn before he starts manipulating the elements, and he makes his way up with Titania. He puts a firm hand on Lucians shoulder, then places himself between Lucian and the fetchlings, letting Titania do the talking but giving the clear impression that he will not tolerate any more violence
Saravyn discreetly pockets the spell components he had drawn in anticipation of an intervention and nods at Ihro. He stands near the Fetchlings, without making a move to untie them, and stands protectively over them.
Dario moves beside Ihro and tries to talk Lucian down. "Sir! I promise we will do everything we can to find your daughter. I may be a professor, but I'm also quite adept at locating odd objects. I think I can extend this to finding a girl too."
Hoping to distract him, he tries to lead the man away from the Fletchlings. "Now, Lucian, is it? Just tell me what happened to your daughter? Where did you last see her and what we she doing?"
Taldash takes advantage of the protective positions taken by Ihro and Saravyn, but does not hesitate in kneeling down next to the fetchlings.
"Are you ok? What is going on here? Why are all these accusations being thrown at you?" - he asks firmly - "Speak truthfully, in the belief that truth is what we are looking for. Deception will offer you no help now"