Gared, mildly impressed with Silas' dealing of the thugs, decides to help the spellcaster with their newfound friend before returning to the Sheriff's office. There, he'll intend to gather what information he can, as well as memorise the map of the area.
Well into his rhythm now, Silas exclaims, "No way, you've been to Almas too? Do tell, I'm all ears! Oh really, she did what?! To whom? Getaway! That's just blazen, with the whole tavern watching I bet!
Well now one good tale deserves another, I was there a mere ten day or so ago and you'll never believe what happened to Fr Brimshaw! I heard from a friend who has a cousin in the watch that Brimshaw was found by the morning patrol red faced under comprising circumstances in a ditch. Apparently he was only wearing his wig and he was unable to explain the comatose presence of a councilor's son..."
I'll have Hamby's life story before the night's out, good chance he'll let slip something he shouldn't. I'll use the old drinking tricks to stay sober - toping my ale up with weak root beer - it looks and smells like the real thing, while he stays firmly on the strong stuff.
Lucanor mutters to Hector in amazement, "I did not see things going down like that. I think I'll head to the sheriff's office now while I still can without much trouble."
With that in mind, he'll head to the Sheriff's office
Hecktor decides to go along with Lucanor. Since the man in the tavern did pull Hecktor aside briefly.
"All right, I'm coming along as well."
Ok so
Silas, Gared going to bar. Gared you get carried away with Silas' antics and stay out waaaay too late to see the Sheriff.
Percival going to bed
Michael going home
Hecktor, Lucanor going to Sheriff Baleson.
Hecktor discusses some of the info with Lucanor:
"Well, we know now the when it started. I'm no healer, but i reckon it grows deadlier as time goes on. If in 6 days 4 die and he expects deaths on a daily basis, this town'll be empty in no time. Which ofcourse leads to that PayDay being interested in a cure. Way i see it; if the common folk die daily, there'll be less people to work at the woods, as well less people to extort money from. People in power use servants. If those would get sick they might spread it within his own place.
And on the topic of the cure; a child could conclude that, since the sherrif lacks manpower to search for it, we are to be that manpower."
Hecktor thinks about what effect the disease has on his mission.
"And the less people in this town, the harder it's going to be to get information around here concerning that assassin's note."
"By Desna I need a fry up!", Silas looking slightly worse for ware strides into the room and orders some food. There's a ghost of a smile on his face when he sits down next to you.
"Hecktor you seem like a man who knows a thing or two about Mercenaries. How much would it cost to hire a squad from saaay, oh I don't know, Alma's for example and send them up here to cause some mischief? I'm guessing that doesn't come cheap, and its not the sort of thing you do on a whim either right?"
@ Hecktor Assumptions safe, yes the Sheriff did want to see someone not in the pay of the Consortium. He is actually waiting on one of his deputies to check in *cough* Gared *cough* with more information. My advice would be for everyone to compare notes, I've given you guys a bunch of information but not to the entire party at once, each person has different parts of the overall story. However this much is certain, you know what the ingredients are, you know "Basically" where to go to get them but need a map, Baleson has a map. You still have not answered Teedum's note.
Hecktor looks up as Silas comes walking towards the table.
"Good morning Silas."
Looking slightly surprised by the question;
"Mercs you say, from Almas? Now there's an interesting topic. I don't know if my looks have anything to do with it, but yes, i have met some mercs in Almas. There's what is casually called "The Freelancers Hall". But that's just a fancy name for the gathering hall for mercs. But prices depend on the squad size and reputation of said squad's affiliated group. Squads are just a part of a group. If it's mischief, it would not be so expensive. But that should be seen loosely, they are hired men afterall, the more ddifficult the job the more expensive.
Last time i visited Almas, i overheard a group for such a task would cost 100gp. A quartet of the type of goons we met yesterday."
"Well now, mercs from Almas, things are certainly taking an interesting turn."
Silas nods and asks, "Oh and riddle me this - what do you call a Payday goon who thinks Payday is a halfling? Oh and if that goon was a fan of a certain Fr Brimshaw's sermons what would you call him then?"
Now that's odd. I know it's a bit late, but I'd expect someone to still be awake with a candle burning.
Upon dismounting he approaches the door only to find it unlatched, and able to swing open with the slightest touch. Unable to see inside because of the darkness, he simply calls out.
"Mom? Dad? Anyone home?
Receiving no answer he returns to his horse. Digging through his saddlebags he pulls out a lantern and lights it before returning to the house. When he reaches the door his fears have been confirmed. The house is nearly empty, with just a few minor belongings scattered throughout. He's too late; They've already been evicted. Letting loose an angry yell, he storms out of the house, giving the door a solid kick on the way out. He returns to his horse, retrieves a length of rope from his saddlebags and ties her to a post outside. He then strips her of her saddle, barding, and saddlebags, placing them inside the house. After giving her a quick check for sores, he goes into the house, closes the door, puts out his lantern, and settles in for the night.
Waking up at daybreak, Michael steps outside the house. He gives Adrienne a quick brushing while waiting to see if the rest of the group shows up. After brushing her, he dresses her in all of her gear once more. Then he returns inside, dons his armor, and makes ready to leave. As he double checks his gear, he notices that he's out of lantern oil and low on rations.
Looks like I need to make another stop in town after all...
He unties Adrienne, coils the rope, and packs it back into her saddlebag. He then mounts and starts making his way back to town, hoping he runs into everyone else on his way.
Lucanor's face turns a bit grimmer when he hears how many have already been claimed but he nods. Shedding tears for the lost, however appropriate, isn't going to help the still living. Action will.
"Anything you can do to help us out, Sheriff, and we'll do what we can to help find what we need."
Hecktor discusses some of the info with Lucanor:
"Well, we know now the when it started. I'm no healer, but i reckon it grows deadlier as time goes on. If in 6 days 4 die and he expects deaths on a daily basis, this town'll be empty in no time. Which ofcourse leads to that PayDay being interested in a cure. Way i see it; if the common folk die daily, there'll be less people to work at the woods, as well less people to extort money from. People in power use servants. If those would get sick they might spread it within his own place.
And on the topic of the cure; a child could conclude that, since the sherrif lacks manpower to search for it, we are to be that manpower."
Hecktor thinks about what effect the disease has on his mission.
"And the less people in this town, the harder it's going to be to get information around here concerning that assassin's note."
"Not a thing I disagree with there, and thought the very same myself on others. It'll take the youngest and oldest first, but no one is fully safe. Hard as some of the men are worked, their bodies won't be as up to fighting it if they catch it. Looks like we're in all the way on finding this, or at least I am and seems you are. We'll see how the others come about."
He listens to Silas and Hecktor chatter about mercs and seems to be half dozing as he does. The keyword is seems. He keeps his ears out and glances between half slit eyes from time to time to see if they're being eavesdropped on.
Hecktor looks at Silas' question and casually answers:
"1: A fool
2: A fool as perverted as Brimshaw. With Brimshaw's reputation, not just anybody attends a sermon of his.
No specific name for that kind of people."
Silas nods again, "Seems to me a plague of fools could be worse than the taint. Perhaps some fool started it deliberate like, although I can't fathom why a man would do such a thing... One thing's for sure, we're going to need some supplies before we go and I'm getting low on coin. I've got enough for a tenday's trail rations but that's it, I'm glad now that xenophobic landlord made me pay up in advance."
Gared arrives shortly after Silas. As he'd been spectating, he'd only sipped at a mug of ale the entire night and felt fine.
"We need to get a move on then," he says after everyone finishes their piece, "We should pick up Michael and be on our way."
"I'm packed, but I and some of the others need to pick up trail rations, where do you recommend for that? I hope we can find a stream out of town to fill up our canteens too."
"Either of the Markets would be able to provide some form of sustenance," Gared replies, "And there are a couple of streams that feed into the River Foam for clean drinking water."
Percival looks through his new tools and smiles to himself, stowing it all carefully away. Discarding his armor and weapons, he falls into bed for some much-needed sleep.
Rising shortly after sunrise, Percival spends the early morning carefully pouring substances together into beakers and vials, mixing liquids and solids together in a blur of alchemical dexterity. Final liquids brewed, he stows them away, packs up and heads out into town.
Once everyone is up and breakfasted Silas Says, "Let's get those trail rations from the market and head on out."
Since I'm going to the market I might as well pick up any local gossip too. Likely dominated by the taint but you never know...
I bet we're being watched, I wonder if anyone is sloppy enough for me to spot them at it...
"I take it we're not seeing This Payden fellow?" Lucanor asks in the morning. He doesn't seem upset by it, just amused.
Michael slowly trots into town and immediately sees everyone else doing their morning shopping. As he approaches them he says "I see I'm not the only one who forgot to check his supplies last night. I'm out of rations, out of lantern oil, have no feed for Adrienne here, and I'm lacking in a few other things as well."
Having gotten that out of the way, he takes the conversation to a more serious note.
"How'd things go last night? Did our little 'problem' get taken care of? And did you guys learn anything new from the sheriff?"
Michael slowly trots into town and immediately sees everyone else doing their morning shopping. As he approaches them he says "I see I'm not the only one who forgot to check his supplies last night. I'm out of rations, out of lantern oil, have no feed for Adrienne here, and I'm lacking in a few other things as well."
Having gotten that out of the way, he takes the conversation to a more serious note.
"How'd things go last night? Did our little 'problem' get taken care of? And did you guys learn anything new from the sheriff?"
"Brief summary? The Taint started six days ago. Four folks have died, and at least thirty got sick. He's pretty sure it's going to get worst each day after. This Payday Teedum fellow is also interested in a cure but the Sheriff hasn't a clue why. Hecktor has some theories on that. Vamos Harg was out of town in Olfden when the taint started and has just arrived today."
Silas shares a sardonic grin with Gared and suggests innocently that Hamby will be swearing off all drink for a couple of weeks more than likely. "Things are more complicated round here than we realized. I don't believe those fellows we met last night were sent by Payday, apparently it was a halfling with an attitude, sound like anyone you know?"
Noticing what Michael hasn't said, Silas gently asks, "How are you folks Michael, I trust they are well?"
Hecktor repeats his theory within the group.
"If the common folk die daily, there'll be less people to work at the woods, as well less people to extort money from. People in power use servants. If those would get sick they might spread it within his own place. Thus he'd have a good reason to cure it before it reaches his own house."
Then towards Silas;
"I don't know of any halfling with an "attitude". But if it's Almas where he's hired the mercs, we'd need to know from the mercs whom he paid a visit. But Almas isn't exactly at the next door."
Knowledge Local rolls please for all who heard Hecktor and Lucanor speak.
As the party mills about in the Low Market, they hear a cry erupt from the far end of the market. Sheriff Baleson and his deputies are driving a cart and mule forward. As it approaches, the assembled adventurers see 4 bodies piled in the cart.
Baleson breaks off from the route and walks over while the others continue on. He addresses himself to Lucanor and Hecktor
Four more died last night, its getting worse.
"Harg is the highest placed fellow out of the handful of halflings in this town, so I understand it and...
But he's cut off as he sees Baleson approach.
"That tears it, we have GOT to get moving for the ingredients."
Hecktor nods at Lucanor's statement.
"True enough, but which location is nearest?"
"We need all of them, but I believe the monastery is furthest away. We can either head there first and grab the rest of the things on the way back, or pick them up as we move," he replies, "I believe the Eldest Tree to be closest."
Once Baleson leaves, Gared watches his departing commander before turning to the rest of the group.
"If you need supplies, now is the time to get them. I need to pick up some thieves' tools," he says quickly, responding to any curious glances with, "Product of a wasted youth."
An amused look to Gared about the wasted youth, "You too, eh? " To the supplies, he says "I may get another day or two of rations, but other than that I'm good."
Thinking about the better path to take, "I'm forgetting things on the way. Dangerous world, might as well hedge our bets by getting items in hand as soon as possible rather than trusting them to still be there on the return. We're clearly not the only ones interested."
Hecktor has a grin on his face.
" A man of the law and thieving tools."
"The latter sounds good to me."
Sheriff Baleson, upon hearing Gared's voice steps closer and says
[b] Gared! Dammit son I'been looking all over for you. Sponsee said he last saw ya headin to Laurel's place. Baleson barks an order at the passing mule cart and a red faced youth runs up with a satchel. The Sheriff faces Gared and says
Look here fella, I knows you was brought up rough and nobody looked after ya much. But your the closest to a boy I've got. Take these here and go get those ingredients! Before more of our town dies.
In addition the satchel contains this map
Michael turns to Silas and answers his question.
"Couldn't tell you how they are. The house was empty when I got there, and looked like it had been for at least a few days. Best guess is that they've already gotten evicted and are living in one of the shanty towns set up by other workers on the outskirts of town."
"Anyway, I agree with the sheriff, Hecktor, and Lucanor. We've got to get moving as fast as possible. We're already burning daylight just standing around talking. Everyone, gather your supplies and meet back here in about 15 minutes. We'll figure out where we go first while we're making our way out of town.
With that, Michael makes his way to the stable and purchases some feed before heading elsewhere.
Silas packs away 10 days worth of trail rations, we intend to be quick but you never know how long we'll be away from town. The pack is somewhat heavy, oh well I need the exercise. Silas looks at the party, good everyone is here, "Everyone ready? Today looks like a good day for a long walk, don't know about the rest of you but I'm keen to get get going!"
Gared's throat clenches as the Sheriff speaks, and then he bobs his head in thanks for the ammunition.
"Thank you Sheriff, hopefully we won't need them but I'm grateful for the arrows nonetheless. Hopefully we'll manage to pick up these ingredients and make it back in plenty of time to prevent any further deaths," Gared retrieves the map and studies it for a moment.
"We should probably head for the Halfway House first and strike out from there," Gared says to the group before stowing the map in his backpack. "I need to grab some things from the market before we head out, but after I'm done let's get on our way."
Ok locations and time on horseback 50' movement to get there
30' movement multiply times 1.5
Old Dwarven Monastery 3 hours through woods
Elder Tree 2 hours from Falcon's Hollow through woods
Ulzmila's Hut/Clearing 2 hours from Falcon's Hollow
Lumber Camp (Payday) 1 hour on road
Halfway hour 30 mins on road
Just pick a destination and let me know
He nods at Gared's thoughts on the matter, "Then the halfway house it is."
"I just might Silas. When we got the ingredients, let me share some of this one of a kind whiskey. Brewed by a comrade of mine. It's usually consumed after an important task has been done. He has not named the stuff though."
"Well then, let's get to the Halfway House," he says, heading out of town towards the road that will take them there.
Joining the rest of the party, Percival nods a polite greetings to each. He agrees on the Halfway House as a destination.
The journey to Elara's Halfway House takes about 45 minutes. Once you arrive you see the plain building and 5 children ranging in age from 6 to 13. After shooing the children inside a woman, about mid 40's bustles out to meet the group.
Hello, my names Elara and this here is my orphanage. How can I help you?
"We are on our way to collect ingredients to cure the blackscour taint in Falcon's Hollow and thought we'd make this the first stop to see how the woods are recently," Gared states.
Elara looks a bit confused
Young Gared? That you? You know we don't venture out into the forest much....Why just last week we took in a young lady named Jeva who's parents were slain by wolves in the forest. She herself took a nasty bite. At this point Elara seems pensive and motions for the groundskeeper(who had ventured over) to come to her. She speaks into his ear for a moment and he scurries off. He returns a few minutes later with a wrapped bundle. She hands the bundle over to you.
Upon inspection the bundle contains a masterwork silver dagger and a bundle of wolvesbane (Sickens Lycanthropes DC 12 Fort)