Furnok gets up and heads down for breakfast. Lots of bacon and coffee.
Cleo's eyes go wide, Yes sir. I'm sorry sir. Don't mean to- she bumbles and fumbles to her feet, waking the poor goblin, whom she pats on the head absentmindedly um... to be a bother sir. she backs out of the cell I should go to the inn, get cleaned up, or something. she bows four times, apologizes six more, then runs out all red faced and flustered.
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Giving a high, piteous moan, Vandra barely had the strength to roll over after flopping back into his bed. Chills and sweat dominated his body. His mother hovered over him, unsure what she should do. Nodding resolutely, she tried to make him comfortable before rushing down the stairs, looking frantically for her halfling companion. Upon finding Cleo, she grabbed her hand and started tugging, distressed sounds coming from her throat.
At first Jeaux running toward her puts Cleo in a panic, she knows flashing in her mind. She follows sees Vandra in such a state, bring relief and guilt for the relief. She immediately tries to figure out what is wrong
Furnok notices Jeux's nervousness and follows Cleo.
Good morning Furnok Cleo manages politeness while investigating the young man.
Did he catch a disease from down in the tunnels?
Ali yawns as he peaks in around the doorframe towards Cleo and Furnok dealing with Vandra. He takes a step in to the room and glanced down at the man, frowning and screwing up his face in worry and disgust.
"Thank the gods we have Cleo with us hey? Maybe some food would help make him better? I could get some chicken broth or something? Or booze? Something strong to drive out the poison."
Cleo isn't sure what the disease is exactly, but she can tell that this is very different from any normal cold or flu. What ever caused this was foul.
There are two ways to cure the disease:
1. Natural. Vandra rests all day and receives care from someone trained in Heal. This could be Cleo, but you could also hire or ask for a nurse or doctor. Prices are in the Sandpoint Shops link. I could also create some natural remedy that would aid in the recovery. You could go see Hannah the druid for more details.
2. Magical. You could have Zantus instantly remove the disease, but it would be for 150gp.
Let's go ask the drud, Hannah for help.
I hope not Furnok Cleo responds to the question about the disease. I can't tell what it is She winces at Ali's words Is anyone else sick, Ali could you check on Maria and Helgarr? To Furnok's suggestion. Probably a good idea, I'm... a novice at best. she laughs I can't even tell what it is, but I'll stay here and do what I can until she can come. Would you be willing to go see her?
I feel fine and I'll go fetch her right away. Furnok hustles to the druid.
As Furnok hustles to Hannah, he thinks Why is an elf named Hannah?
Hannah is usually found on the eastern most side of town, bordering the forest. She is known for her natural remedies, as well as her friendly demeanor. While she is capable of casting spells, she can only cast so many within a day. It's not like a cathedral that has a high priest and plenty of underlings.
When Furnok arrives, Hannah greets him happily. "Good morning Furnok! Is there something I can help you with?"
Cleo spends a few minutes trying to treat the disease, but unfortunately she really doesn't have a clue what she's doing. She tried bursting one of the horrendous pimples on Vandra's face, but it exploded in pus and blood, making Vandra scream and vomit.
Maria can hear the hustling, as well as Vandra screaming in pain.
Have an emergency, one of my friends caught some super nasty pox while we were fighting monsters down in the tunnels under the glassworks. Looks horrid and we need your help lickity split
"I'm with you." Hannah says as she grabs a medicine bag and rushes with Furnok to the Rusty Dragon.
Vandra looks up to see the elf Hannah come over to him. "Oh my. I've seen this once before, at least 30 years ago. I call it acne phage, a lesser cousin to blister phage. Okay, we need to wash his face first. Then, we should apply something acidic, like lemons or vinegar. After that settles down, we can wash his face again and apply tea tree oil. He will sweat constantly, so it's important to wash and then immediately apply the oil. We will have to do that over and over again until his sweating slows down. Do not pop the pimples until they are much smaller, it could leave permanent scars otherwise. Once the sweating slows down, I'll burn some incense to strengthen his mind, yes the disease weakens the mind as well."
She rolls up her sleeves and says "Okay, Furnok go to the market and get me something acidic like lemons or vinegar. Ali, please start a warm bath for Vandra. Jeaux, you're his mother so I think it's best if you help him with the washing and cleaning. Here Vandra, I'm giving you a little bit of turmeric to chew on. It should help combat the pain."
Cleo looks on happy Hannah is there, feeling more or less useless, when Maria bursts in, she'll tell the young woman everything she knows while Hannah takes control over treatment.
Sounds like it will be a long day.
She looks up at Maria, about to suggest they both get out of the way when she notices the dark circles and pain in the girl's eyes. She reaches up to hold her hand. Imagine what would have happened if that thing had come out of the pool without any of us there... imagine it coming into the town maybe at night without anyone aware... how many would have died? she looks into her eyes Your plan was good. Both those men would agree I think. I do at least, if that means anything. she quirked a half smile.
Furnok hustles off to corner the market of lemons.
'Start a bath...?' Ali shrugs before heading off downstairs to inform Ameiko of what he had to do, and begin his task.
Cleo will follow Maria out It might help, talking and all. But I understand if you don't.
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Hannah says. "Blister Phage is much more dangerous, but thankfully Acne Phage is much easier to treat. Now up you get, it's bath time."
Once Vandra and Jeaux have stumbled off to the bath, and Ali and Furnok have returned, Hannah says "Around 30 years ago, there were a few people who came to me with this Acne Phage disease. They told me that they were miners who were excavating beneath the Glassworks to make a larger basement. I was a fool, and I believed them. The treatment worked very well, and I saved all of them from death. Unfortunately, one of them suffered permanent damage to the mind and became insane. I didn't know that the disease spread to the mind as well. Good news though, it isn't contagious from person to person. If we can make sure Vandra stays strong, he should be perfectly fine within four days, and could probably go back to adventuring by day 3, maybe 2 if desperate."
Furnok arches an eyebrow.
More? Cleo urges.
"So you treated people for this 30 years ago and all of them lived...? Are they alive now? Here in town still? Can I have their names please. Also the name of the insane individual."
Talk to me, Maria Cleo follows as best she can with much shorter legs I'm not the smartest, fastest, strongest or anything really, but even I can see you are suffering. I'd... like to help... please. she grips the girls hand if she can catch her.
The guards are not your FAULT! You think they'd want to sit back and let those things into their town, around their children. It was a good plan. she lowers her voice What family, Maria?
YOU ARE SAVING THEM! Cleo shouts, not following, just yelling Your PLAN worked! Without the guards, Vandra and his mother would be head. Probably many more of us as well. We were on the edge. Without YOUR plan, we would not have made it.
Cleo stands staring in worry and anger and confusion and just crap all over all the time. Suddenly very tired she retreats to her own room and sits.
Furnok heads back down to the main room
"Well, I know the men were hired by Mr. Kaijitsu, and that they were from Magnimar. He never hired workers from Sandpoint, always tried to take advantage of foreigners who would work for pinches. So they all went back home when they were done. But, the insane one is Peter Hendrake. He developed a mental condition where you didn't know if he was about to kill himself, or go on a rampage. Very dangerous man. So we sent him to the sanatorium south of here. Just follow Cougar Creek to the beginnings of Ashen Rise, and you'll find it. I've always felt bad, if I had known about the disease's mental afflictions, I would have been able to save him from being there."
Those who are in the main room see Sheriff Hemlock walk in. He looks quite weary, but he still walks tall and proud over to Furnok.
"Hello Furnok." He drags a chair over and sits down. "I want to catch up with what I've missed. Care for a drink?"
Much obliged. well it has been pretty rough, we went down into the catacombs under the glassworks and ran into a pack of monsters who killed two guardsmen who were accompanying us. We had to inform their families about the deaths and Vandra seems to have caught some nasty pox.
Helgarr cannot bring herself to eat while Vandra lies in his sick bed, so she stands watching over him.
As Vandra laid down in the bath, face red from a combination of his illness, the heat of the water, and embarrassment from his mother washing him down like a baby. "Please, don't bring this up around any women," he managed to get out as Jeaux's furry hands made quick work with the cloth.
"Too late for that my friend" - the barbarian manages a smile, and a wink at her companion.
"Very well" - the barbarian nods, moving over to Vandra, her massive frame next to him, hands reaching down... Then she ruffles his hair and moves away again with a smile - "Not today"
"That sounds terrible, Furnok." Sheriff Hemlock says as he brings a mug to his mouth. His eyes have dark bags around them. "Were you able to neutralize the catacombs?"
We haven't explored all of them due to the fight we had and Vandra's illness, but as soon as he is better we will head in.
The sheriff nods. "Right. Well I suppose I've made just as much progress as you have then. I hate Magnimar's diplomacy. Here I am with a Goblin invasion and an underground mystery on my hands, and after what feels like an eternity they give me six soldiers. If they were six strong, able soldiers that would be different, but these six have never seen a battle in their lives."