While Ruperta takes the shocked man into the living area of his shop to examine him and and his coughing wife, Pai checks the till. Unfortunately for her, the coins all seem to be perfectly normal, with nothing to distinguish any of them, though some seem to be of a recent minting. When asked about the coins, Ollam shrugs. "They were relatively new coins and didn't seem suspicious or different at all. The box she gave me is behind the desk there; it looked strange so I kept it. I wanted to see if I could sell it and give the proceeds to her mother." He smiles sadly. "But then this illness hit me and I'm afraid I haven't felt well enough to get to it yet. I knew her father, you see. He was a good man was Tarny Soldado. He died when a caravan he was guarding was attacked by bandits. Took an arrow to the throat, poor man. I tried to look after his widow and children as much as I can. Tilda and I never had children, so we treated them like our niece and nephews. They're all good souls and Tayce does her best for them."
Ruperta does her best in examining Ollam and his wife, Tilda, but her ministrations don't seem to do any good. They both seem to have the characteristic rash and pustules on the face as well as the racking cough.
As Pai finds the cask, she discovers it's a small chest made of wood covered in metal, only 4 inches tall by 6 inches wide and 4 inches deep. The wood is stained a deep red and the metal cover is carved with an image of farming reaping wheat while skeletons dance beside him. A simple clasp holds it shut. It radiates no magic, but it does have a faint smell of rot inside.
Pai doesn't chance to touch the poisonous box, but instead looks to Ruperta. "I figure we need to get this out of here. The question is how to do so without all of us falling ill. Any suggestions? We also need to separate the newer coins from the older ones, unless they are all poisonous now..." The gnome was quite flummoxed by the predicament.
"How much money there is? I will reimburse it to them, and we will take the coins with us. We need to take them out of circulation. And we need to check on the other store, too."
To Ollam and his wife he tells them to stay inside, the store closed, and that she will came tomorrow to check on them.
Ollam reluctantly nods at the suggestion to close his store, and he and his wife retreat to the living quarters to rest.
Once on the street outside, you are dismayed to note that several passers-by are coughing wetly and a few others have faint red rashes developing on their faces.
The next store to see is Estelle's near the horse and lion statue, a bakery with an open counter front from which issues the smells of baking cookies. The proprietor, the titular Estelle, is a plump dwarven woman wearing a simple blue dress and a white apron covered with flour. She hums a jaunty tune as she works inside. As you approach, she stops humming and wipes her hands on her apron. "What can I do fer you, my darlings?"
Pai gives the usual refrain...the coins might be poisoned, looking for any newer coins, etc. She uses mostly the same speech Ruperta gave earlier, warning the dwarf her shop might need to be closed for a couple days.
No matter the response, she tries to speak to Ruperta privately. "What are we to do? THe outbreak is in the streets now. Gathering these coins isn't going to stop anything, unfortunately."
"We're not going to stop anything now. Best to just warn the higher ups."
The dwarf woman laughs at the suggestion of closing. "Lass, I serve upwards o' a hunnert people a day. Me bread and me sweets are an institution 'round here. I'm fit as a fiddle and nothin's gonna get me to stop, missy! Folks round here depend on me!"
Pai holds her head in her hands. "Who is a higher up that can do anything about this, Slumper," the gnome asks through threaded fingers. "If its bad enough, this could take the city!"
"Estelle, there is a plague in the city. Probably we will need food for many people in the future. Maybe you won't get sick, and I am glad for it. But I really think is better if you close the shop, for now, and start making as much bread as you can."
She gets out, and speaks their friends.
"Corbyn is right, the guard should know and start taking measures for this. We should go as fast as we can. I wonder if the coins are really to blame. Maybe the disease came from other place. But is our best clue."
She hurry them to go and let their boss know.
"Do you think it could have been the box and not the coins?"
"We need to warn the capn'"
"Or even other thing... We will need to check the workplace of the girl after telling the captain."
"Remember, Pax, dwarves are a hardy race. Diseases rarely affect them."
Estelle shakes her head. "Girl, this city's been through more'n plague in its day. Sick, poor, none of it's gonna take her down. Korvosa's a stone cold b!tch, lass. She'll live on. Now if yer not buyin' get along! Yer scaring away me customers!"
Heading back to the Citadel, you're relieved to see no further evidence of the sickness on a the faces of those you pass. By the time you arrive, it's full dark and you're escorted into Marshall Kroft's offices. She sits behind her desk, muttering quietly to herself as she reads over dispatches, field reports and endless forms requiring her signature. Seeing you, she gestures for you to sit down. "What seems to be the issue? The page who said you were asking for me seemed slightly disturbed."
"Well, we might be exaggerating things, as we aren't sure, but it seems that something from the plague ship made it to shore, and an infection appears to be spreading like wildfire throughout the streets. We don't know how virulent the condition is, but several people in the streets have clear signs of the trouble."
The Marshall pauses and looks at each of you carefully. "A plague? In Korvosa. Are you absolutely sure?" She sounds very calm, but you sense it's a measured response rather than neglect.
"Apparently a box coati ing several silver coins drifted, I suppose to the city. A child found them and spent them in two different stores. We consficated one supply of them,, and the box, but the remainder are already spread out amongst the people. Ollam appears to have already contracted the condition, as do several people we passed on the street. I fear it's too late to try and collect the silver...we need to find a way to deal with the affliction, since it is out now."
Slumper smiles grimly already knowing the answer "We'd be willing to show you or a delegation to the infected so you can see first hand..."
"And worse yet, the disease is not any we know of. And the treatment has not been effective. I fear we must act quickly if we are to prevent it to spread more."
The Marshall nods slowly. "What are you suggesting?"
"I honestly don't know. I don't think we could spare enough guards to quarantine the area. Are there any sages in town who might be able to give us some advice on diseases?"
"Let the people know, and try to prevent the infection to spread. Ask people to ramekin in their houses. Ask for the support of the churches. And try to find a cure."
The Marshall sighs. "We cannot let word of this get out. Have you ever seen a city in the midst of a panic? Riots will be the least of our worries. Unless and until we have evidence that this is more than a small outbreak, I must insist we keep this quiet. Until then, continue your research. I'll remove you from patrols until further notice."
"I just hope you are right, and this is the correct course of action. We will look for the place of work of the first sick people we know of."
Ruperta votes for looking for the "rich folks in North Point" Brienna works for and check there.
Pai nods at the cleric's suggestion. "Lets get on the search, then. If we find out something, we will return post haste, Marshall Kroft."
Taking advantage of the little time they have before going out to look for the employers, Ruperta get Slumper apart from the rest.
"Are you ok? I have hear you talk about your past with bitterness and sorrow. What happened to you?"
She raises her hand and touches his face scars with gentleness.
"Please, tell me your story. And then I will see it gets better form now on."
"Not much to tell, it was from one beating to the next my whole life. I grew up on the streets, and was taken in by Lam. He's... was.. a real piece of work. Paxs and Corbyn helped me get revenge on em... he'll never hurt another kid. He sold me into slavery where I had to fight my way out of the gladiator pits. Some scars are from fighting in the pits, most are from Lam and the streets."
"Slavery, I can't think on something worst to happen to me. If I was a slave a wouldn't be able to survive. I would die. But you are stronger than me. You were able not only to survive, but to grow into a good and brave man."
Ruperta then takes his hand, blushing.
"Remember the ring I gave you? It is for me to be able to share my life with you, and protect you at least a little. Whenever you feel sad, remember the ring, and let me share your sorrow so you don't have to carry it by yourself. I am happy and proud of having you with us. You are a good man. "
Slumper never a great one for words doesn't know what to say so he just gives his grimace like smile.
As the band heads out, they emerge into a quiet night. The sound of imp and pseudodragon wings flutter overhead as a great full moon hangs in the sky. The walk to Northpoint is pretty uneventful and quiet. You pass a patrol of guards, who nod at you with an air of familiarity.
Once in North Point, you find the house where Brienna works easily. When you knock, an elderly halfling in smart clothes answers the door. "Yes? May I assist you?"
"Good night. Did a human girl call Brienna works here? We are doing an investigation and need to talk to the master of the house, please."
The halfling pauses. "Yes, Brienna works here. However she is not here at the moment and the master and his family are indisposed at the moment. Perhaps I might be able to assist you." The halfling seems protective of the master and his family and also slightly concerned, thought about what you're not sure.
Ruperta face gets ashen again.
"Red rashes on the body, and blood in their coughs? I fear we don't have much time. It is really important I can talk to them, and the people in the house who had contact with Brienna if we are to cure your employers."
"I... No, that does not apply here. Now you may return at a civilized hour and inquire after the master and his family. But now is not a good time."[/b] The halfling does seem to have some flecks of blood on his immaculate white shirt under his dark butler's coat.
Sense motive
Sense motive
Sense Motive:
Corbyn steps close to the halfling and quietly says,
"Unless you want to be out of your cushy position due the death of your masters, you will let the cleric see them."
Ruperta shifts, somewhat uncomfortably, at Corbyn hard handedness, but thanking internally for his help.
The halfling shifts nervously, then sighs and...
Bolts. Into the street. Right past you. Running as fast as his tiny legs can carry him.
Slumper attemps to trip him as he goes by.
CMB
Ruperta casts "Expeditious Retreat" on herself and then goes after the halfling (70' movement)
As Ruperta begins casting, Slumper trips the halfling! He falls to the ground with a loud UMPH! and starts to scramble away on all fours. Ruperta and Slumper are both able to grab him and haul him bodily to his feet. He looks around frantically, then begins to sob uncontrollably.
"Now, settle down, you! We are just here to ask some questions, unless you make him mad," she says, pointing to Slumper. "If you do, he might want to do a bit more than that."
Slumper gives a grim grin at Pai's words.
Paxs summons Thrak and lets him get involved in the intimidation.
Ruperta asks for Desna's blessing and enter the house, looking for the owner and/or sick people. (Guidance on herself).
The man continues to weep uncontrollably, and maybe a bit insanely. Anyone looking into the house (whose door is now hanging wide open) sees a large pool of blood, sticky and partially congealed, coming from under a closed door to the right...
"Desna have Mercy!"
Ruperta enters the right door, trying not to step on the blood.