Once you're all out of whatever that room once was, Korriban tries the door to the right. It seems to be heavily stuck, though; he puts his shoulder into it...
...but the door doesn't budge.
Korriban struggles with the door. But it doesn't move. He groans. "Great. The door won't move now. Hold on a moment." He looks over the door.
Korriban smirks. "I think I have an idea. Hold on." He then sees if he can remove the door off of its hinges.
After a few minutes' work, Korriban manages to jimmy the rusty pins out of their hinges, leaving the door free to be pulled away by your combined strength and revealing...
A room that was once clearly a bedroom, still occupied by a four-poster bed tilted sideways (bolted to the once-floor, now the right-hand wall). A swirl of detritus--mostly personal objects and shattered wood--circles the room slowly, but tangled in the floating sheets is the unmoving body of a man. And the man wears a now familiar mask: that of the strange, bird-like Queen's Physicians!
"OH TEODOR IS CRAZY! HE'S A DRUG ADDLED LUNATIC! THE QUEEN WOULDN'T POISON HER OWN PEOPLE! ...TOLD YOU SO! We've got to get word to your friend Krofft these 'physicians' are part of the problem."
Korriban smirks as he manages to to jimmy the door open. However, at the sight of the corpse, Korriban's face turns to fear and he screams. Afterwards, his face turns red in embarrassment as he looks at his two companions. When Teodor begins saying his piece, Korriban turns to him. "I didn't think you were crazy! To be honest, I had my suspicions too. Something about these Physicians weren't right. Come on! Let's search the room, grab everything we found, and get out of here! We need to figure out just what the hell is going on!" He swims in the room and begins to search it throughly.
Though Korriban searches the room thoroughly, he doesn't find anything much of interest...until he begins (tentatively) to search the corpse wrapped up in the sheets. Beneath its mask, the man appears to be an ordinary human, if rather pale and (you think) originally pretty skinny. But folded into his robe, you find something worth noting: a bronze symbol on a chain. It looks like some sort of fly or moth, with a skull-like design on its folded wings.
Your search of the wreck done (shining your sunrod into the shattered other half of the wreck reveals nothing valuable or of import, only some very irate-looking eels), you make your way slowly back to the surface, emerging into the pouring rain once more with a cough as your lungs re-adjust to breathing air. You clamber up onto the nearest unoccupied dock and catch your breath, contemplating the choices before you.
Korriban digs through the corpse's clothing. He finds the odd symbol. He looks it over carefully.
His eyes widen as he recognizes it. He turns to the others. "Guys. This is the unholy sign of Urgathoa, the goddess of disease, undeath, and gluttony. This is serious. If this guy was a priest and is wearing the garb of those Physicians, then they all might be priests. We've got to grab everything and get to the surface." He racks his brain for more information on the fell goddess.
He grabs the corpse and the coffers and tries to aid in getting them to the surface. When they all get to the dock, Korriban is bent over, panting and struggling with his wounds. He looks at Teodor and Lantressa. "I'm thinking that we should have Majenko get Kroft over to us so we can present the evidence. Maybe the churches as well. We may have found the source of the blood veil."
The most recent discovery had Lantressa reeling, Urgathoa?! "That certainly explains a lot doesn't it?" She considered the implications a moment before she said, "I think we should finish our exploration while we still can, discussion can wait until we're safe again."
Korriban looks at Lantressa and nods. "Right. Let's get everything, the coffers and the corpse, and get to 3 Lancet to try and figure out our next move. Might be difficult taking a corpse with us. But we need it for evidence."
Struggling through the rain, your group makes their way back to Zellara's old home at 3 Lancet Street. It's surprisingly easy to make your way through the streets unnoticed--it's not far to go, but more importantly, everyone seems to be inordinately distracted. People are fleeing south away from something; not running, but definitely hurrying, and there's a lot of shouting. From what you can gather, it sounds like somebody tried to set off a small explosive under one of the bridges leading into Old Korvosa.
You make it inside and lock the door. Gadriel, perched on a rafter, stares down as you lay the corpse on the table in the entryway. "One of the bad men. It's a good thing Abu's not here. He does not like those men."
Majenko appears within a few minutes, if summoned. What up, Korriban-friend?
Korriban opens the door as he moves the corpse and the coffers into the house. He quickly locks the door and closes the shutters of the windows. He moves to the kitchen and proceeds to light some candles. He then places the corpse on the table. He looks at Gadriel as she speaks. "The Physicians? Have they been here, Gadriel? Also, where is Abu?"
When Majenko arrives, Korriban feeds him some dried meat and says, 'Majenko. We need you to go to Kroft and have her come here. Tell her it's very important. I'm sorry for making you get out into the rain again. I'll dry you off when you get back.'
While the group waits for Kroft to arrive, Korriban shrugs out of his coat and puts it on the nearby coat rack. He puts his bandana on the table and releases his hair from it's upright style. His hair falls to his mid back as he tries to dry his clothes and hair, wringing the water out. When he comes to his shirt, he takes it off and wrings it outside the window. He bears some serious new scars from his fight against the ugly woman. When he realizes that he's in the company of women, his face turns red and he quickly puts his shirt back on. He sits in a chair and takes off the magic boots he put back on at the dock. He's panting a bit from the stress and the fight. If the others ask, he simply says, "I'm fine. Just need a breather. And some healing. And a day where nothing crazy happens. Seriously, first we find this stuff. Now the bridges to Old Korvosa are being blown up. This is not good. I may need to get my family to safety before something really bad happens." He leans back in his seat and puts his hands on his head, taking a couple of deep breaths. "By the way, I just remembered that Urgathoa has a small shrine in the Pantheon of Many. It's not that well tended."
Lantressa was annoyed at the rain when they came back to the surface and, rather than get her dry clothes soaked on the trip to Zellara's old home, she stayed in her swim wear and pulled her cloak tight about her body. When they reached the safety of the house she set her pack down and began pulling her clothing from it while Korriban was talking to Majenko. It wasn't until her mentioned the shrine of Urgathoa that he realized Tressa had stripped off the swim wear and was facing away from both him and Teodor, naked, as she was beginning to put her undergarments on. She seemed to have no issue with the situation but she had a secret smile on her face as she waited for Korriban's reaction to this one and dressed herself.
Gadriel bares her teeth. "The bad bird-men came here, but we hid. Abu went out to see what they're doing other places. They didn't find us."
Majenko just shrugs. Rain not too big a deal, Korriban-friend. I tell Kroft-Lady. Maybe she give me food again! With a flap of his wings, the little pseudodragon exits through the window he came in.
An hour or so passes quietly in the house on Lancet Street, though Teodor disappears for some time--mingling among the diseased and downtrodden, he whispers in their ears that their affliction may be the Queen's doing. Most look at him as if he were mad (and who knows, they may be right), but a few stare at him as though he's revealed a deeply felt truth, and the rumor seems sure to spread...
Then you hear a tapping on the window. It's Majenko, returned, and he looks somewhat distressed. Kroft-Lady would not come, Korriban-friend! Says that she is too busy with big blow-up by the bridge to the north. Says come talk to her tomorrow--she see you in the morning. Is OK?
"We need to contact the trustworthy priests and inform them these false physicians of the false queen are spreaders, not curers."
Lantressa was annoyed at the rain when they came back to the surface and, rather than get her dry clothes soaked on the trip to Zellara's old home, she stayed in her swim wear and pulled her cloak tight about her body. When they reached the safety of the house she set her pack down and began pulling her clothing from it while Korriban was talking to Majenko. It wasn't until her mentioned the shrine of Urgathoa that he realized Tressa had stripped off the swim wear and was facing away from both him and Teodor, naked, as she was beginning to put her undergarments on. She seemed to have no issue with the situation but she had a secret smile on her face as she waited for Korriban's reaction to this one and dressed herself.
Korriban sees the naked Lantressa and his mind stops. His thoughts are nothing but blank as he witnesses the sight of her wet nude form in the light of the candles and the sunrod. "Uh... uh... um..." He barely notices that Teodor has completely vanished and that he's alone with her (aside from Gadriel, of course). He fidgets a bit as he stands quickly, grabs his coat, goes back to the table and sits, crossing his legs and pulling out some of the items and equipment on him, trying to dry them off. He also takes the empty potion vials and proceeds to break them, turning the to glass shards and puts them into a pouch.
Gadriel bares her teeth. "The bad bird-men came here, but we hid. Abu went out to see what they're doing other places. They didn't find us."
Korriban is shocked by the news. "They've been here? It's a good thing that they didn't find you. But, if they catch on that this is where we hang out, then there might be trouble."
Majenko just shrugs. Rain not too big a deal, Korriban-friend. I tell Kroft-Lady. Maybe she give me food again! With a flap of his wings, the little pseudodragon exits through the window he came in.
Korriban nods at his friend. 'Very well. I wish you well.'
Then you hear a tapping on the window. It's Majenko, returned, and he looks somewhat distressed. Kroft-Lady would not come, Korriban-friend! Says that she is too busy with big blow-up by the bridge to the north. Says come talk to her tomorrow--she see you in the morning. Is OK?
Korriban runs to the window and opens it, letting Majenko in. When Majenko comes in with his report, Korriban sighs. "That's right. I guess with the explosions at the bridge, she would be focused on that." He looks at Majenko and nods. 'Yeah. That'll be okay.'
When Teodor returns, Korriban looks at him and asks, "Hey, Teodor. Where did you go?"
"We need to contact the trustworthy priests and inform them these false physicians of the false queen are spreaders, not curers."
Korriban looks at Teodor when he shares his idea. "That's a good idea. We need to get to Ishani as soon as possible tonight. That way, the priests know and they might be able to help us deal with the items we have."
Korriban looks at his friends. "Guys, I don't know if we should stick around here or disperse. We need to make sure that what we found isn't taken by those Doctors. But, we need to make sure things at home are okay. I feel like I need to check on my family with everything going on."
Lantressa heard Korriban's stammer and began pulling her clothing on. She listened as he began to distract himself by crushing up glass and talking to Majenko. Once she'd finished dressing she walked over and listened. At the mention of the visit b the "birdmen" she felt concerned and said, "It's both a good and bad thing they showed up, it means we're on the right track and they're worried. It would be best to warn any loved ones so that they are aware they might be visited by these so called doctors."
Once Teodor returned with his suggestion the lovely tiefling nodded and said, "Yes, I think it would be wise to do that. Are you taking care of it then?"
Once their plans were made and Korriban made his observation of whether to stay or disperse she said, "I think we should go warn those we care about tonight and gather again in the morning to discuss what to do. Especially with the bridge being destroyed, the quicker we get across to our respective homes the better. I'm heading back to Eel's End to at least warn Madame Halvara that trouble is looming and not to trust the so called physicians." She gave the others an inquiring look then and asked, "What about the two of you? I assume you're going home, Korriban, to warn them. What about you Teodor?"
Gadriel shrugs. "We are not sure they were looking for us, or you. They stopped at many houses on the street and all around." She, too, looks toward Korriban and Teodor, eager to see their responses.
Korriban nods at Gadriel as she explains. "It sounds like they were making routine patrols, looking for the sick. Though, what they're doing with the sick is anyone's guess."
When Lantressa makes her suggestion about informing their loved ones, Korriban nods. "You're right. I better head back to the Rosa and let my family know and get my wounds treated. It's just that... what should we do with the corpse and the coffers? If the Physicians come back and they find these things, they might take our only evidence. Then we might have the Physicians on us and we're back to square one."
"Well," she considered the situation, "the coffers could be taken with us but then we might be searched and be caught with them. As for the body, not much we can do about that one. Is there a place here that we can hide them all safely? Some hard to reach crawl space maybe?" She shrugged her shoulders and said, "This is really more your kind of problem than mine I think Korriban."
Gadriel swings down from the rafters. "We could put the dead man upstairs. The bad men didn't come in, they just knocked on the doors and looked in the windows. Only we look in the windows upstairs. We see a lot that way, around the city."
Saying your goodbyes, you each head out for the night. The drizzle is looking like it will let up soon, but the sky remains leaden and overcast.
The half-elf matron looks troubled when you come in, and she listens to your story without a word, sitting back in her seat. "I'm glad to hear that you're...making good use of your time outside these walls. You needn't have worried, though: Mr. Barvasi's men have kept not only the sick away, but those plague doctors as well. He wouldn't have them in here. Some of the girls may have gone to visit them when they fell sick, but they haven't been let back into Eel's End, and I can't keep them from going."
Just as you turn to go, relieved that there's no way for the sketchy doctors to get into your place of work, Halvara speaks again, her voice catching. "I'm afraid there's...something else we need to discuss, Lantressa."
"That's right," says a rough, familiar voice. Turning, you see a man emerge from behind the screen that partitions Halvara's room. You recognize him: Devargo Barvasi, the king of spiders, master of Eel's End itself. He approaches you slowly, boots thumping on the floor with each deliberate step. He smiles.
"Evenin', Lantressa--it is Lantressa, right? Mind if I call you Lannie? Good," he continues without waiting for your response. "You see, Lannie, it's come to my attention--thanks to your stories--that when you're not workin' here, making money for Madame Halvara who politely gives some o' that money over to me, that you're keepin' time with a couple of blokes I'm familiar with. A young man--dark-haired, scarred, and tattooed, cocky sucker--and an old one what's not entirely right in the head. Now, I don't think you knew this--matter of fact, I'm sure you didn't--but that don't matter. Those two, and some o' their friends, have done me a grievous wrong. Took somethin' of mine, a little pseudodragon, and in return gave me nothing but a magic knife what vanished within a week. And as you may very well know, if there's one thing that I can't abide, it's people who have the nerve to steal. From !"
He's quite close to you now, and suddenly swings one of his bladed guantlets. You start, but it whirls past your head and buries itself in the cabin's wall with a *thunk* and a small spray of splintered wood. Barvasi's face is inches away from yours now, and he leans in close, blue eyes staring into yours.
"I want to make one thing clear to you, whore: I own you. You and every girl and boy on this damned boat are here by my...largess. And my influence goes far beyond old Eel's End here. Every time you get one of the desperate men or women who come here off, every time you debase yourself for their pleasure or yours, I take my cut. But it could be far worse. A word from me, and you'd be out on the street turning tricks in the alley for pinch." He pulls back, suddenly smiling. "But I'm not gonna do that to you. Because I'm sure you have some worth beyond that fascinating body. So here's what you're gonna do for me: tomorrow, or the next day at the latest, you're gonna find an excuse to bring that boy and his friend here. If they still have it, you're gonna bring that pseudodragon as well. I don't care how you do it, so long as they don't know that they're comin' here to pay me back. And it'll be a...rough payment, to be sure." He smirks slightly. "Do your job well, and I might even visit you myself one o' these days--always been curious about a girl with a tail you can actually pull."
And with that, he bangs out of the cabin door and leaves you, his boots clomping up the stairs beyond and onto the main deck. Madame Halvara regards you sadly but impassively.
"I'd believe it," a gruff blacksmith hurrying home says when you stop him to whisper your news in his ear. "Just yesterday I'm told that a bunch of them Gray Maidens the Queen made slaughtered a group o' people who were trying to break a quarantine they'd set around a block in South Shore. Shouldn't have people breakin' quarantine, of course, but did they have to kill 'em all? These're bad times, brother. You stay safe, now."
She turned her gaze back to Madame Halvara, her eyes had gone from a dull red to a color more reminiscent of tiny red suns as her anger came close to taking over, and realized just how close she was to losing control when the woman, home she'd never seen afraid of anyone but Devargo, scooted backwards and paled at the sight. Swallowing down her ire for now, she took a step forward and put her hands on the back of the chair before the Madame's desk as she asked, "Just what is he planning to do to them? How serious and how permanent will it be?" Her words were practically ground out from between her teeth.
She swallows slightly. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you out there, dear, but when it comes to Devargo I have little power or control...he pulls all the strings in Eel's End."
Tressa paused a moment as she thought, she had no real options left to her, the best she could do is flee. She gave the woman a sad smile and said, "I'm sorry Halvara, you've been good to me, and I appreciate it more than I can say. If I can ever do anything to help you know that I will if I can. Right now I'm afraid I have to leave this establishment. I know where I can go and find employment and where I might be at least moderately safe from Devargo. I just hope you can forgive me the treason of changing places of work like this." She rose then and said, "I'll get what few things I have in my room and be on my way. As far as his men are concerned I never discussed this with you, I don't want you to get in any trouble on my behalf." There were tears in her eyes as she gave the Madame a smile and said, "I'll see you around." With that she rose and slipped out of the office. To head to her room to gather a few things and be on her way.
Korriban nods at Gadriel. "Very well. We'll hide the body and coffers upstairs for safekeeping. Thanks for offering."
Korriban makes to leaves. However, before he does, he whispers to Lantressa. "Uh... Later, Tress. By the way... uh... you look good." He then bolts out into the night, tired and bleeding.
In your room, you discover that the object she gave you is a beautiful golden apple. It's mesmerizing, but you tear your gaze away quickly--the plague curfew will soon be in force. Packing your belongings takes only a few minutes and, with your cloak drawn around you and your hood up, you make it safely out of Eel's End and into the city...
Once she'd finished gathering her meager possessions she made her way to the Rosa, the hour getting late when she knocked on the door.
That night you sleep well, waking refreshed.
Just as you're about to head to bed, Falko knocks on your door. "'Scuse me, young Master, but your friend Lantressa is waiting in the common room..."
Korriban looks surprised. He hadn't expected any company, let alone Lantressa, at this time of night. He nods at Falko. "Thank you, Falko. I'll go downstairs downstairs to meet her." He then proceeds to head downstairs.
When Korriban descends the stairs, he finds Lantressa swaddled in her cloak in front of the fire. Lidda's just come in, too, and perches on the end of the table. "What's up, Lantressa?" the halfling asks.
Korriban arrives downstairs and heads into the common room. He's currently in his sleepwear. A set of roughspun pants, a shirt that's several sizes too big for him, and barefoot with his hair down, the left side of his face covered by a curtain of ebony locks. He looks slightly better. Some of his wounds are closed and he isn't covered in his own blood. He sees that Lidda and Lantressa are in deep conversation. "Tress? What's going on? I thought you were going back to Eel's End."
"Indeed we can," a voice says from the doorway. Turning, the three of you see Lialda Balros standing there, still clad in her yellow-and-black Calistrian garb. Apparently unruffled, she crosses straight to Lantressa and takes the tiefling's hands in her own. "Lantressa, I'm always more than happy to give a girl work who wants it. More importantly, though, any friend of Korriban's can always find shelter here. I'm having some of Falko's men make up our spare bed. You can spend the night there, and we can talk about your employment soon enough. Right now, from what my son tells me, you and your friends have more...immediately pressing matters to attend to. With the Field Marshall and her lot." Rising, she lifts Lantressa up by the hand as well. "Now, let's all of us head to bed; these are trying times, and we all need our sleep."
Toilday, 15th of Rova, 4708 AR
The rain has stopped by morning, but the sky remains overcast and gray. Teodor, awaking in see Rat devouring an actual rat, makes his morning prayers in peace before heading on to the townhouse at 3 Lancet Street. In Old Korvosa, at the Rosa in Fiore, Lantressa wakes up in a strange bed and, emerging, finds another prayer session in place: this one's a multi-person affair, led by Lialda and supplicating the Savored Sting to heal Korriban's wounds.
Once the prayer session is over, Lantressa and Korriban head south to Lancet Street, where Gadriel lets the three of you in. She's brought the corpse and the coffers back into the main room (which is a little creepy, given that she's twelve).
[spoilre=At the Rosa]Tressa rose as she accepted Lialda's hands and hugged the woman as she said quietly in her ear, "Thank you so much, I hoped that would be your answer." She stepped back then and said, "Of course you're right, there are far more important things to deal with, and if your business is doing as bad as Madame Halvara's you likely have little work just now for an extra girl." She looked to Korriban then and said, "I think we need to make sure to do something about that Korriban."
Shouldering her pack with her few belonging she said, "If someone would show me to a place to sleep I'd appreciate it. We can always talk more in the morning."[/spoiler]
She stepped back then and said, "Of course you're right, there are far more important things to deal with, and if your business is doing as bad as Madame Halvara's you likely have little work just now for an extra girl." She looked to Korriban then and said, "I think we need to make sure to do something about that Korriban."
Korriban nods about that. "Yeah. We definitely need to drum up more business. This plague is really hitting us hard."
Shouldering her pack with her few belonging she said, "If someone would show me to a place to sleep I'd appreciate it. We can always talk more in the morning."
Korriban steps up. "I'll show you to where we have the spare bed. Follow me."
Korriban is shocked and disgusted by the wound on him. "Ew!" He tries to see if he can identify just what is going on.
Korriban joins in the prayer. When the healing energy flows over him, Korriban takes a deep breath and breathes out. Korriban is quick to move out the door and to 3 Lancet. When he arrives and sees that Gadriel brought down the coffers and the corpse, he slowly turns to her and says, "Gadriel? How did you move these things by yourself?"
Gadriel just grins. "Abu helped us with magic. Don't worry about it."
When Korriban came down she could tell at once that something was still wrong. She gave him a worried frown and asked, "Are you going to be alright Korriban? Is there anything I can do to help you?"
Korriban nods at Gadriel. "I'll take your word for it."
It's been some time since you last saw your old friends, the Mirukovas. Your families have been close for decades, though your lifestyles are very different: the Mirukovas are performers born,, particularly the latest generation, which you're closest to. Deyanira and her younger brother, Ruan, are both full-time performers, and have been supporting themselves by working at Marbledome for a couple of years now, since their mother died.
Deyanira showed up at your doorstep last night, though, nearly panicked and clearly distraught. Ruan has gone missing, and apparently she hasn't had much luck getting people to pay attention so far. She's going to try to go directly to Field Marshall Cressida Kroft today, and (not feeling completely comfortable going by herself) she asked you to accompany her. Not wanting to let your friend down, you agreed.
Citadel Volshyenek seems more somber than it normally does, the Guard on the battlements reduced and weary but clearly still vigilant. This plague--"blood veil," as people have started to call it--is clearly taking its toll on the Guard as well as the citizenry. Fortunately for whatever reason, you and your family seem to be immune to its ravages...
Deyanira is hovering outside the main gate to the Citadel, and waves you down immediately. "Riceak! Thank you so much. I just can't believe that no one's even looked into it yet, I'm sure I can get the Field Marshall to help if I only explain the situation to her..." She glances around worriedly. "I asked another friend to come and help me, I don't think you've met...oh! There she is! Callie!" She waves frantically toward a woman approaching.
When Marta first introduced you to the Mirukova siblings almost a year ago, you didn't think much of it--they seemed nice enough (and clearly talented--Marta met them playing at Marbledome), but you know lots of nice Varisian showmen. Then you heard Ruan play. You may not be much of a musician, but that kid knows how to do things with an ocarina that would blow anyone's mind.
You've been mostly keeping out of the way as the Korvosan Guard and these new orders of government agents--the Queen's Physicians and Gray Maidens--deal with the plague that's broken out, which people are calling "blood veil." Still, you can't help but think that both groups are being rougher on the ordinary folk than they really need to be. It doesn't sit right with you, and you're worried that the ordinary people's complaints might slip through the cracks in this crisis.
Which is why you were hardly surprised when you got a note yesterday from Deyanira, the older of the two Mirukova siblings, telling you that Ruan has gone missing--and apparently she hasn't had much luck getting the Guard to help her look for him. The note didn't say much more than that, although it did ask that you come with her, if you would, today when she goes to try to speak to the Field Marshall directly. "I'm not much of a speaker, but you are, and I'll need all the charm I can get," she wrote.
Not wanting to let your friend down--and bolstered by a sense that you were helping to write a wrong--you agreed to meet her here, and headed out to Citadel Volshyenek first thing this morning, trying carefully to avoid bumping into any plague victims. The Citadel seems more somber than it normally does, the Guard on the battlements reduced and weary but clearly still vigilant. This plague--"blood veil," as people have started to call it--is clearly taking its toll on the Guard as well as the citizenry.
As you approach, you spot Deyanira hovering near the main gate, speaking to a tall, pale, dark-haired man. She spots you at about the same time, calling you over. "Callie!"
Teodor makes his way to 3 Lancet, whistling tunelessly. "Hello, all. I--Korriban, you look like hell's vomit! What happened?"
Once they were ready to head out Lantressa cast her normal protective spell and then looked to Korriban and asked, "Shall we?" as she gestured towards the door.
When they reached 3 Lancet Tressa was rather surprised that things had been moved but when magic was mentioned she gave a nod of understanding. She found a place to sit and did so, her legs crossing at the knees and her tail swishing idly. She watched Teodor's reaction with amusement but otherwise kept silent for now so that Korriban could tell the strange man what ever he felt like.
"It's nothing Deyanira. I'm only happy to help. What with the chaos this city's been plunged into. And now, with this godsforsaken plague coming down on us all, we Varisians have to look after each other. I might not approve of how the Scarnzi act, but at least they aren't Desna damned them Chels," the Varisian swordsman said, straightening his sword belt.
"The plague hasn't had much of an impact on my family though. Strangely, this blood plague hasn't harmed us. Although, my brother, Serghe, has been doing a great deal of business with his Harrow deck. Actually, now that I think about it, he's actually hoping this plague ends soon as he has had too much business lately, what with everyone from our fellow Varisians to Abdarians to the city guard to even the Chel nobles asking for a reading. Of course, the nobles usually come disguise, but while they can disguise their clothes, they can't disguise their accents that's for sure," he said.
"Ah, hello Callie. It is good to see you," Riceak said waving at Callie.
Callie buzzes through the streets, cloak wrapped tight around her as she tries to evade plague victims and plague crew alike. As she approaches the gate, she sees the Mirukova sister standing by the tall armored fellow, and remembered seeing him at Ruan's performances before.
She waves to Dayanira to let her know she's seen her, and trundle over to the pair. She hears Riceak kvetching about nobles and their accents, and is glad she managed to neutralize hers years ago--nearly a decade in the streets and the market districts helped.
"Ah, Riceak, wasn't it? Good to see you as well. Are you helping too?"
She looks over to Dayanira, clapping her hand on the woman's shoulder in a friendly gesture. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting. What happened?"
When Lantressa gestures to the door, Korriban nods. "Let's go. A lot to do."
Korriban looks at Teodor with tired eyes. He gives a smirk. "Oh, you know. Getting stabbed repeatedly by an ugly water creature and getting filth fever from a wererat. The usual."
When Majenko arrives and asks his question, Korriban looks at his tiny friend and says, 'Yes, Majenko. Try and see if you can have Kroft come over here. If she can't, then let us know and one of us can try and get over to her.' He then relays what he said to his friends.
"Always wear protection with lycanthropes, my biy. Did they teach you nothing about the velvet arts?"
Korriban, used to the back and forth with Teodor, doesn't miss a beat. Smirking, he says, "Oh, they did. They just didn't tell me that lycanthropes have a tendency to bite."