Tereze moves out of the way and Vicard immediately tosses his acid vial where she once stood. The acid burns what's left of the spiders and deals some splash damage to Urbar.
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Vicard sighs with relief as the spiders die and the last few skitter off.
"Everyone OK? I kinda feel bad about the acid..." he says while Urbar heals himself.
"We got enough healing for everyone?". Vicard moves past the spider-zone and looks around the fallen stones at the intersection.
"Forward and onward?"
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Gwen slips the acid flask back into her bandolier and glances down at the myriad red bumps and welts over all her arms. "Don't worry about it, Vic. It stings a little, but its better than getting bite to death by spiders." She shudders again. "Fiona, I would gladly take some of that ointment..." She lets out a sigh as the healing ointment goes to work. "Thanks, Fiona. I agree about the bugs."
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Still shaking spiders out from under her breastplate Tereze makes her way over to Fiona.
I can use some of zat salve if you don't mind.she says pulling down her high boots to reveal seven angry red spider bites.
At Ery's comment she looks over. What? she shakes her head then softly says. Gwen and Urbar? I just don't get it...
Seeing as going west isn't possible, you travel east from the sewer junction. It doesn't take long before you reach another intersection, where a minor sewer line flows into the main line from the south. Graffiti covers much of the walls here, most of it simple drawings.
Prominent among the drawings is a large stylized drawing of a wyvern in shiny gray paint. Also among them is an image of a skull crawling with bugs and an arrow pointing back to the west, perhaps a warning about the spider swarms at the previous junction, and a representation of a beggar's bowl holding a coin and a key with an arrow pointing to the south. Underneath the picture of the bowl is the word "Almsman."
Ahead a faint light glimmers in the dark. Slowly it resolves into a crude lantern held by a toothless old beggar who holds a chair leg in his other hand. Beside him stands a scrawny youth, similarly armed but obviously terrified. Behind the two derelicts is an open door bearing the symbol of the beggar's bowl, coin, and key.
"If yer intentions be peaceful, Abadar makes you welcome," the old man says as he eyes you warily during your approach.
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Behind the others Tereze reaches into her pack and pulls out two of her trail rations, she then steps up next Vicard.
Looking at the pair she says: If you are also willing to tell us the protocol within your sanctuary, as well as find out of anyone here has seen any strange events hereabouts, I would happily give you zis food. I know it is not a feast, but it is all I have, and most likely quite a bit better zen what you normally get to eat.
There's some confusion on the face of the two when Eryzule mentions tea.
Tereze then moves up and gives both one of her trail rations, which they happily accept. "Thank you, that's very kind," the old man says as he visibly eases up.
The man gives the boy a shove and the boy stammers "Y-yes! Thank you, miss!"
The old man blinks when Fiona tries her hex on him. He then runs for his life, screaming like a banshee. "Something was inside my heeeaaad!"
The boy's face spells confusion, but he steps aside to let you pass. "Uhm... You can, uh... Go inside, if you want...?"
Beyond the door, a short flight of steps leads up into what appears to be the basement crypt of a church of Abadar. Perhaps two dozen beggars huddle among sarcophagi, some sleeping, some haggling over bits of junk or scraps of food laid out on blankets.
A tall man in clean robes wearing a plain copper mask walks among the beggars. As you enter he regards you coolly and says, "If you respect this sanctuary, I offer you what sanctuary I can. Otherwise, begone!"
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Vicard gives Fiona a hard look. Can you save the hexes for when we really need them? It isn't ethical to just try and enchant every random person we come across. he says a bit sourly as they climb the stairs.
We respect it, Almsman. We only seek your aid in our own quest. In exchange we would be happy to aid your mission here. Vicard says, hoping this is truly the Almsman.
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Addressing the Priest she says:
To expand on what my companion said: We have no wish to disrupt you work of spreading ze blessing of Abadar to zose who need it here. Rather we have come to your sanctuary as we have heard of a zreat far greater then the Steel Wyverns whom I am sure you are familiar with. We have solid intelligence zat extraplaner creatures may have appeared near zis area of ze sewer and are attacking zose zey find. Ze last person we know of zat was attacked by zem claims to have fallen in ze sewer and floated past your entrance. He claims to have tried to pull himself up on a bridge but succeeded only in pulling a board down on himself. He zen floated out of ze sewer on ze board.
We wish to track zese creatures down before zey attack any other innocents.
She looks pointedly at the assembled beggars in the room.
If you or any of ze people who take sanctuary here can tell us something zat allows us to track zese creatures back, we will endevor to make sure your good work is not troubled by zese creatures.
"My dear lady, I have no idea what you're talking about," the Almsman tells Tereze.
"Who gave you this solid intelligence?"
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Gwen glances at Vicard when they are approached by the Almsman, noticing the strange copper mask he wears. "I met a man who wore a mask like yours in Absalom; he was a silk merchant." She seems to muse aloud for a moment, then follows up to the Almsman's question with her own answer. "Some ancient, touched fool who considered himself to Gandros, the long-lost Prince of Augustana or some such. Despite his insane claims, he did sport some rather nasty wounds that he likely received down here in the sewers. It is possible there is some dangerous creatures roaming the area. Have you heard anything about such things from your charges, good sir Almsman?
"I know where "Prince" Gandros dwelt. As for the silk merchant... I might know the man and will gladly tell you of him once my sanctuary is secure," the Almsman tells Gwendallyn. "I'm currently in a rather desperate situation, you see..."
"The Steel Wyverns demand I pay a tribute to them every so often, but they keep raising how much they want me to pay. I can no longer afford it. Therefor they told me they'll destroy this sanctuary. I propose a deal, as I expect them to arrive within a few hours. Drive off the Steel Wyverns for me, and I'll tell you what you want to know."
Among the residents of the sanctuary Urbar spots three who appear to be ill, and are resting on blankets in one corner. One of the men looks like a native Osirian and has tattoos of a shepherd's crook on his right wrist and a threshing flail on his left wrist. The others look like native Andorens.
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"You want us to fight for you?" Vicard asks, then considers, looking at the others. Then he almost smiles, "I have no issue getting revenge on a bunch of low-lifes like the Steel Wyverns, but how do we know we can trust you and you aren't getting us into something worse?" Vicard adds, guards back up.
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"We will help you."
Urbar says as he walks past the man towards the sick people in the corner. He looks the Osirian man straight in the eyes.
"You look familiar to me. Have I seen you before?"
He moves closer, close enough to whisper to him. On the pretense of inspecting him he whispers in his ear.
"How can I help you?"
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Vicard nearly groans out loud as Urbar destroys any bargaining position they may have had. He takes out his frustration on Ery.
"Eryzule, for once in your life forget about the tea! We have climbed through filthy sewers, got attacked by thugs, found a bunch of desperate beggars and are negotiating for information on half of the Pathfinder Society. Forget your tea, which was never promised anyway!" Vicard says, letting his guard fall and turning some anger at the whole mess on the poor Sorcerer.
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Ery gasps in surprise, his hands rising to cover his open jaw. His eyes widen as he looks to Vicard, almost tearing up at his comment.
He remains silent only a moment before he regains his composure. Taking a knee, Ery unloads his tea set, quickly making up four cups of tea. himself, and three of the 'beggars' if desired. Offering these cups out, the elf takes a seat and sips casually.
"Well you heard the hostile human and his words of hate...Apparently tea isn't good enough for him. But yes, I'll also help you with the duel wielding meat machine. We'll kill off your 'protectors' and we'll all be happy. Yeah?"
The Almsman nods. "Splendid."
He picks up one of the tea cups and takes a McDonald's straw from one of his pockets. One end of the straw goes in the tea cup, and the other in a tiny hole in the Alsman's mask.
"Exquisite tea," the Almsman comments in between slurps.
"My name's Pteluit," the Osirian man tells Urbar. "I cannot remember you, but I'd appreciate help."
Pteluit coughs as he moves to sit straight up. "These two and I have filth fever," he says as he motions at the two Andorens. "Does any of you possess some skill in healing others?"
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Urbar gives the man a meaningful look and then shrugs.
"Did we have any of those potions against filth left?"
He asks the others, who are still talking to the Almsman.
"These lot might be able to help with the fighting if they look a little better."
Urbar in the meanwhile grabs his wand of lead blades, preparing for the imminent battle.
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Gwen smiles and nods to the Almsman. "I look forward to the tale." She the listens intently to the man's plight and resisting the urge to kick Vicard in the shins... "I will gladly aid you in driving off these damnable thugs. I cannot abide those prey upon the weakness of others."
At Urbar's question of the fever tonics, Gwen glances over to him. "Yes, I believe we found several of those. I think we could provide them to those who are in need of aid." She looks at the others with a shrug.
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Tereze shakes her head.
Why do zey always want people killed scared or driven off? Can people not learn to get along?
As Urbar asks about the potions Tereze perks up.
Listening to Gwen's answer Tereze Nods her head.
I would agree healing ze sick seems ze best use we can make of zose vials.
If we are really committed to driving zese Wyverns off and ignoring ze greater zreat, then we should probably plan how we want to approach zis.
We know where zey are coming from, so we could set up an ambush if we wished.
Fiona determines that the men indeed have filth fever. It'd take about eight hours to cure it with just her healing skill, but luckily there are the filth fever tonics you looted earlier. After the men have ingested the tonics Fiona uses her healing hex to alleviate some of their pains.
"Thank you," Pteluit says. "I'm feeling fine again. Though I fear I won't be of much help with the fighting. I'd be more likely to get in the way."
To avoid getting in the way Pteluit and the others, after thanking you once more, leave the sanctuary. Pteluit gives Urbar a knowing look as he exits.
"It's probably best if everyone else also leaves," the Almsman tells the present beggars while putting down his cup in time with Eryzule. "You'll be welcome when it's safe again, assuming these people can provide that."
After the beggars have left the almsman turns back to you. "I cannot fight, but let me know if there's anything else I can do."
The Almsman stares at Tereze. "Whoops... you may be correct..."