Razz recoils a bit at the coughing fit.
"You know... erm... Gwendolyn? No... uh... Santhia? Santhia. I'd love to but actually I need to figure out what's up with that nasty cough you–and everyone else–seems to have. You should uh... go rest. Keep you bed warm for me when I get back."
He turns and whispers to the group. "Well hopefully that rules out at least two or three means of transmission. Lets get over to Laurel and figure out how to cure this damn thing."
After Razz's dear Gwendolyn or Santhia or whoever passes by, Fin will whispers to Razz loud enough that some of the group could hear,"Soo glad I conceded her to you last night dear brother, probally the smartest thing I've done in awhile haha." Then whispers real low and says to Razz,"Hopefully our sister didn't hear or you shall feel her wrath as well."
Lokti walks with the group towards Laurel's eager at the chance to be able to help with such a pressing issue. He thinks to himself about how it is such a pity that the sickness had to happen in the first place.
Lokti is puzzled, however, by the siblings camaraderie with each other. Despite taking jabs at each other all the time, they are obviously great friends. Most of Lokti's siblings were dead and those that were alive were just another part of the tribe, no one special. This whole idea that being closely related to someone made them more important in your life was new to him. He keeps his mouth shut about it for now, not wanting to offend anyone.
Lokti does, however, decide to ask about the young lady. He walks over to Razz. "Was that your mate? I am sure she is very beautiful for a human."
Ghadame gets back to the party just as the girl leaves. 'Lord...these two are going to be the death of me' she thinks as she approaches the group. "Who was...you know what I think ignorance is bliss...but she looked to be infected with the taint so if you were..." she pauses a little, obviously uncomfortable talking about this particular subject "involved with her I would suggest that you get checked out while we're at Laurel's shop." She then turns to the rest of the group "Well lets get moving."
She guides the rest of the group to the shop, your conversations continuing as you move. After a few minutes you arrive at a building. Creeping ivy and full window boxes cover the façade of the rugged-looking, two-story shop bearing the faded sign “Roots and Remedies.” A
line of twenty-some somber townsfolk—some with pale, wheezing children, others seeming to be precipitously near tears—stretches from the open door.
"Great theirs a line..." Ghadame says from the front of the group. A few of the people well enough to run do so, as they notice Thor, screaming "WOLF!!!!!" but the rest of the people are to stubborn to move and their screams seem to fall on deaf ears. "I'll never understand that reaction...Thor poses no threat to people" she says and then reaches down and scratches him behind the ear.
The barbarian becomes a bit noticably uncomfortable as the brother's conquest briefly greets the group. As a (secret) poet he saw love, both physical and emotional, as something to be respected and lasting, whereas generally warlords and their male offsprings were expected to take the women they wanted without a second thought and regardless of the lady's wants. Here, the topic of love and bedsharing, he conflicted heavily with his father on numerous occasions for many reasons.
Little Horn smiles a bit as he sees the crowd thin, but feels bad for it only seconds later. Though if the situation was humorous, he shouldn't feel joy at the expense of the ill, even if that was not was incited the disbeliving grin. Social communities do not live by rule of the survival of the fittest. At least not in the traditional sense that he was used to on the steppes.
"Your's are fascinating people."
The teenaged barbarian commented quietly. Where he was from people would live harmoniously with animals, especially those of their totems - the half-orc would be more likely to incite a frenzy in the populace than a wolf. And he wasn't sure what his tribe would do about the Grippli; probably kill him on sight. Yuma counted himself lucky for once that he wasn't of a like mind with the vast majority of his people.
"How long does it take to treat each one? I don't want to make the sick wait longer than they need, but if we are to hurry to save them and don't know how long the town can sustain the illness, we may have to push ahead. Hopefully they won't be upset."
Looking at the line of people before him Fisnis says "I agree with Yuma Ahote. We cannot wait if we are to cure the cause of illness.Them being upset has nothing to do with it if we stop the illness everyone will be better for it."
Razz first responds to Lokti.
"Definitely on the attractive side," he begins with a smirk, "though she looked better after a few drinks. Humans, at least around here, usually don't stick with one mate until after... uh... trying a few out first. I'm still looking for the right one."
He then speaks to the rest of the group. "We're doing these people a favor by moving them out of the way. Mister Fisnis is absolutely right."
Razz looks at Thor for a moment. "And y'know Ghad, if you just got a dog instead you wouldn't freak so many people out. Also, I get the feeling Thor doesn't like me, though I'm betting he's just more sensitive to the... spirits... than most."
Razz tails Ghadame to be the second into Laurel's shop. He decides he'll talk before his sister gets a chance.
"Miss Laurel," he says, "the Sheriff has hired us to assist you in creating a cure for this sickness the town is facing. He said you could tell us what ingredients you'd need, and where we might find them. Is that so?"
"Agreed." Andern sidesteps the line and attempts to squeeze inside. Looking inside the door he calls out, "My name is Andern. I come on urgent business at the request of Sheriff Baleson. I need to speak with Miss Laurel immediately!"
"That mutt doesn't like anybody but sis!"Finik replies to Razz.
As he sees his brother cut in front of Ghadame, he could feel her annoyance from here. He just had to see if she would blow up on Razz. So Fin moves into the place as well, but first he pulls his cloak hood up and then covers his mouth with it as well. Although he is curious about how his sister will react he is now a little paranoid of getting the illness. He will push in to get a view of his siblings.
The crowed outside grumbles and complains as the party pushes their way into the shop. "Hey I was next" a man says but then, as if being told to do so by Ghadame, Thor gives him a look and sits down at the mans feet, looking into the mans feet. "Okay...they were next" he said. A woman behind him gives a scoff and then says "Coward" and then errupts into a coughing fit, spitting a black substance onto the ground at Finik's feet.
As Razz pushes to be second in the building and the first to talk Ghadame's eyes glimmer with anger and she elbows him in the stomach as he finishes talking.
"As my brother so rudely was saying we were sent here by the sheriff to help you gather what you need to cure the taint that has devastated so many people. What will we need to gather for you?"
"For the love of Aroden why would..." Razz pauses for a moment as he considers how he might calm the woman down.
"Look, Miss Laurel, sorry for barging in like this. I know this is a hard time and we're not trying to make it any worse. You know me and my siblings. Ghadame and I would never thing to rob you and Finik... well, he's learning. At any rate, these our are companions and I will speak on their behalf.
"And my friend Andern here, though he looks imposing, wouldn't hurt a fly. Now, like I was trying to say, the Sheriff wants us, as the few available healthy folks, to venture out and get whatever you need to help cure this damn thing. We're not asking for any payment from you, just a direction."
"Please, we don't mean any harm. We are here to help you help the sick. [Concerned Yuma holds up his hands, palms out.] Just a bit of direction and we will quickly be on our way and just as quickly return with your much needed ingrediants. And I garuntee you that if I saw anybody attempt to lay an unprovoked hand upon you I would immediately jump to your defense."
At least sudden distrust was something Yuma was used too; he had experience in attempting to defuse such delicate situations in his travels.
Fin adjusts his cloak back to normal, noticing that there are no sick people inside the building. He sees the healer on the offense since his siblings barge in and assualt each other. "My dear miss Laurel, I need to apologize for my older siblings they are a little immature for there age. Can you believe I'm the youngest, these two get in alot of trouble but they mean well. The sheriff has sent all of us to help with saving the town can you please give us the directions so we can help you save everybody from the illness" He finishes and tries his best to hold back a smile at his siblings
"Ma'am, I'm sorry to have startled you, but we had to get past the line somehow." Andern continues sheepishly, "Could you tell us how to get to the witch's old home? That would appear to me to be the most difficult item to find on the list, unless you are aware of someone else who knows how to make it."
As Laurel reminds Fin of his last visit here, his facial expression freezes and he slowly moves to the back of the group. As he does that he mumbles,"That night is still a little hazy..."Fin gives a forced chuckle. He looks down at the ground and tries to figure out what he did with that spice he stole. He will ponder this until they leave the shop.
Lokti moves up from behind the rest of the group finally into view of Laurel and speaks, "Madam, you speak of the oldest tree in the forest. I imagine this tree would be the largest as well? Do you know of any easy way to find it?"
Ghadame is quietly standing back letting her brothers do some of the talking, just observing if they can be diplomatic or not and seems rather impressed. She chuckles to her self as she see's Fin recoil in embarrassment. Maybe there's hope for him yet, he seems to be growing a bit of a conscience though...that reaction might just be because he got caught.
As the others are trying to ascertain the specific location of the items she has other questions forming in her head. After the others have spoken and Laurel gave her somewhat unhelpful answer she speaks up. "I have some questions on the taint its self. What is blackscour taint? And more importantly how is it transmitted?" She pauses and then decides to continue "There was some...interaction between my brother and some of the infected village people and I just want to make sure that he's okay." She gives a quick glance and a small smile to Razz.
Razz glances at his own feet, embarrassed that his sister is speaking on his behalf, and to another woman no less, about such matters. He can't handle it.
"Well, we'll find out soon enough, regardless. I think the more pressing matter is getting on finding this thing. Ghad, you like trees a lot right? You wouldn't happen to have seen the big one, have you?"
Yuma thought for a moment before leaving the shop and turned to face the apothecary and speaking up, finally starting to get comfortable with the group.
"I have some questions. Does this fungus grow naturally this deadly or does it need be altered by man?"
"And who would want to poison the water supply of a whole town if it requires intervention by people? Is your...tribe at war with another community? [He wonders aloud before he shakes his head in confusion.] I suppose you are right; the source is not the immediate problem."
The barbarian then scanned about the shop some more. After a bit of thought he did not think he much liked this woman, this Miss Laurel. He had a bad feeling about her. She seemed not cheerful, but not much worried to him either. And judging by what she attempted to hide upon walking in he would for the time being assume that she was charging for her cure; medicine men should not charge folks for their lives. Money does bad things to outlanders. He thought of another question.
"How have you not succumbed to the illness? You seem in better health than those you tend."
He does not mean to sound accusational, merely curious. His gut tells him that she likely keeps a supply of the best herbal remedies for herself and avoids the bad water, being easily able to recognize its taint through practice.
As Fin is leaning against the wall, he keeps his gaze towards the floor and asks Miss Laurel,"Do you have anything in your shop that we could use to test to see if water is tainted? So we can chart the poisons progress through the woods."
Finik thinks to himself, How many more damn questions can I come up with to delay having to talk with dad or the Lumber consortium. *sigh*
"I think it's getting to be about time for us to tackle this thing," Razz says, "Do you have anything that we might be well served to bring along with us for the journey? If you have good answers to Yuma and my brother's questions, I think they would help us, but if not, we can me on our way."
He glances from person to person among his new comrades. "We have some plants to find."
"Yes, agreed. It is quite important we get moving as soon as we can. I cannot bear the thought of our delay resulting in more deaths to this horrid disease.
Fisnis stands back to watch as the others talk with Miss Laurel. Noting to himself each of the three things that she needs for the cure. He than says "Let us be off than."
After hearing Finik's question Little Horn thought of another to add on:
"My waterskin will only hold a day's worth of water, and while I'm pretty sure I could go several days without [-actually a Sun Clan rite of passage for youths; surviving the harsh, hot craglands with no supplies for a week. Yuma Ahote had experience with the pain of great thirst and of great hunger-] I'd prefer to not need to. Is there anything you can give us that will help us drink possibly tainted water and not succumb to illness it causes?"
Fisnis looks at Yuma Ahote than says "I can make water. We do not need to drink any we find."
"You're a shaman? If that's true you look far different from most spirit speakers I've met."
...those being Shoanti guardians of the steppe who befriend animals and Asmodean clergy who wrap themselves in extravagent garb and request payment for any magical services rendered.
Fisnis shakes his head than says "If by shaman you mean someone who can cast magic yes I am one. If it is something else than no I am not a shaman in the sense you are thinking."
Hearing the big sword wielding caster talk about being able to create water, Fin remembers that his brother knows the same trick and the wheels in his mind start turning. He moves closer to the greatsword wielding gentleman and begins "Hey F.....(he pauses as he can't seem to remember the elf’s name) friend I got an offer for you, how about after we get these ingredients for the town you and I go into business selling non-tainted pure water. I know I know your thinking why would people pay for it when the cure is being made, but knowing how far it has spread it still might take awhile for it to fully disappear and there we will be offering a safe way to drink illness free, for a small profit of course. Just think about friend, with your powers and my connections we could make quite the fortune in a short time. Heck, the town will double grateful for saving it and giving them a safe way to drink as well. I don’t need an answer right now we got a whole journey for you to think about it.” After he gives his sales pitch to his hopefully new business partner, Fin gives him a reassuring wink then he goes back to his spot along the wall and dreams about what his future venture might bring in.
Little Horn narrows his eyes and glances towards the Derakht brother. He didn't look like the sort who would poison a whole town, especially if he was willing to go on a potentially dangerous journey to fix the problem. However offering to sell clean water for profit amidst such a tragedy struck the exiled Shoanti as just wrong. But he was no shaman and had no ability to weave spells. If he attempted to follow through with such a plan he would express his displeasure then. Yuma held up one of the red vials and inspected it curiously.
"What does it do?"
Ghadame looks at the group as the ask questions and Laurel does her best to answer questions. At Yuma's question Ghadame walks over to him and takes the vial. "I'm not sure but I think its a potion of some sort" she pulls the stopper and smells it and then starts coughing. "Well...if its a potion I sure hope it tastes better than it smells..." Laurel looks a bit puzzled "Your a druid...can't you identify those? They are potions and thats all I'm willing to say."
Ghadame looks at Laural, a little put off at her question. "Well...I just didn't prepare that spell today" she says, a slight blush creeping across her face as embarrassment sinks in.
"The shaman in my tribe occasionally distilled magical elixirs of healing and rejuvenation. They many times looked different, but had distinctive tastes. With a drop I may be able to tell, but if it a medicine of some sort I'm afraid that extends past my training."
Perception Rolls:
After he overhears the comments that Miss Laurel has said to Yuma. He says with a little of anger in his voice,"My dear Miss Laurel, I thought you a smart women but after hearing what you just said I see your a fool when it comes to anything but your plants. I might seem to you not to have respect for this town, but I hold it dear in my heart and besides why would I poison all my lovely ladies and destroy my local bars? My dear plant lady hopefully you will someday understand the logic of the siblings of Derakht, we may act different to rest of the town but when it comes to this area it is our home and we will protect it!" After his speech Fin marches to the door of the shop and right before he leaves he says to Laurel with all the anger gone and replaced by his usual charm,"Don't worry my dear plant lady I will comeback for you." with that comment Fin gives his best roguish smile and wink, and leaves the building and waits for the group outside.
After tasting a drop of each and feeling a small spark of magical energy, cluing his keen senses into their functions, Little Horn holds up the vials, seperated by color.
"These three will magically knit shallow wounds. And this will shield one's body like armor. [Yuma wrinkles his nose with distaste.] I don't think this last one was intended to be swallowed, or whatever spirit speaker who brewed it didn't add something necessary. [He takes a big drink from his waterskin to wash the taste away.] Perhaps we should split these up amongst us before we head into the wilderness?"
As Finik leaves the shop he sees that the line outside has grown to about 15 people and they don't seem to be bothered by Thor as he's just laying down waiting for Ghadame to get back. "So are you rude people done in their yet?" one of the towns people asks Finik.
Laurel just shakes her head as Finik leaves and Ghadame looks at the apothicary sharply. "I don't know what you said to my brother, but no one accuses him of anything other than me" she says and then storms out of the shop in a huff. "Wow..."Laurel says and then looks to Yuma once more "you are correct that wasn't meant to be swallowed" Laurel says and then chuckles to herself.
As they leave Andern mutters, "Who does that woman think she is? Accusing one of us of poison the water, we answered the damned summons to save the town didn't we? Healers and apothecaries should know better. We may not look like heroes from the bard's tales of her LONG ago youth, but we're all working for the same thing here."
"Let me see that oil Little Horn, I may be able to tell what they are. My mother taught me to indentify potions and oils. Some help, you can have these, but I'm not telling you what they are. The old crone probably doesn't know herself."