"I be hoping to see a happy smiling girl, Brienna was on the track to being up and about. But p'haps she can shed light on some of her friends. I have the names here of several others who may be fevered. Maybe we should visit them all to gather names and make sure we get the best picture of what be happening here. Can't be hurting to show me face and such. Maybe Ishani's rare herbs of Abadar are the solution?"
The man Kenan mentally gears up to go see more sick and infirm.
To my understanding the plan is:
Jeorik and Emerion to search farther down the bank.
Istas to check the Voe household for a box.
Kenan to see patients, including Brienna
and Heather?
I'll try to move things at lunch or tonight.
"I'll come with you Istas...there's nothing I can do here that Emerion can't do better"
"Very well then, we shall catch up with you later, my lady," Emerion doffs his hat and bows to Heather and Istas.
Perception check for searching:
Jeorik and Emerion head north, downriver, scouting the slippery muddy bank. You're soon cold and wet from the knees down. Some places you're cutting a path through heavy underbrush; other's, scrabbling along steep slopes. Occasionally there's a clear flat patch which is easier going, but those tend to be wet and marshy. The bells from Seawatch Tower are just chiming the third hour of the afternoon, and you're just thinking of turning around and taking the road back, when Emerion sees a box-like something lying just above the waterline on a narrow stretch of sand at the bottom of a steep slope.
Istas, Heather, Kenan: Telisha Voe opens the door at your knock. "Istas!" she says excitedly. "I'm so glad you're here. I think Mama has the sickness. " She ushers you in.
At the back of the room, Tauni Voe lies in the bed Telisha was in two days ago, pale and sweating. An examination shows that although she's ill, she's in pretty good shape for now. The sores aren't bad and she's not coughing up blood.
"There!" Emerion points at the object. "Hold on, we want to be careful ..." he finds a couple of sticks to try and hook the box up onto the bank without touching it himself.
Kenan stays behind Istas, "morning to you, madam, I be Kenan O'Flarna, at your service. Tis terrible to hear what has befallen your dear ma."
The man almost hops from one foot to the other ready to get healing the woman, but this is Istas' case so he waits. Healing etiquette demands the Shoanti gets first crack at the illness in this house.
"Istas!...I'm so glad you're here. I think Mama has the sickness."
Istas frowns grimly at the news and follows Telisha inside.
At the back of the room, Tauni Voe lies in the bed Telisha was in two days ago, pale and sweating. An examination shows that although she's ill, she's in pretty good shape for now. The sores aren't bad and she's not coughing up blood.
"Not advanced yet," she reassures Tauni, "So we still have time to properly treat you. But this sickness is spreading. Have you seen Sinner around? I think the illness may have something to do with that box of silver he 'found'..."
The priestess reaches for her purse. "I'll gladly give you my own coins in exchange for it, so you don't go wanting," she explains, "Once we have you back on your feet, you can buy yourself something nice."
"Kenan?" she looks over her shoulder, "Would you like to try your remedy first? If that doesn't take, we may need to accompany Tauni to the Grey District, much like we did with Telisha."
"There!" Emerion points at the object. "Hold on, we want to be careful ..." he finds a couple of sticks to try and hook the box up onto the bank without touching it himself.
"I'll get it. Erastil will watch over me, I'm sure. You have any rope? If not, I'll hold the other end of your stick."
Jeorik attempts to slide down the slope to get the box after ensuring he will be able to get back up afterwards.
Emerion knots a silk rope around your waist and assist by paying out the other end carefully.
"Take care, my friend, and whatever you do, do not open that box."
Jeorik and Emerion: Retreiving the box is well within the capabilities of two hale men working together.
As you walk back to town via the river path a steady sea breeze blows up. The setting sun silhouettes the Korvosan skyline. You catch a glimpse of three griffon-mounted Sable Marines returning to Seawatch tower. But, wet feet mean cold bodies.
Kenan, Heather, Istas: Tauni is still quite early. A bit of Ishani's brew may set her up. It's probably wait and see. Telisha is willing to part with the box for a few coins, but Tauni forbids its sale. "Ungrateful child, give them the box. Surely your cure was worth at least that."
Kenan:
The Soldado household is doing well. No new infections. Donitello is not around. Tayce thanks you. The other children are noisy.
If you want the box, it's yours for 5 gold. Tayce is sorry. She doesn't want to seem ungrateful, but she can't afford to let a potential windfall like that slip through her fingers. Times are hard for a single woman with a family. Since Donitello isn't her husband, he doesn't feel obliged to provide them with real support.
Other patients: You're batting about 60%. Most are doing better; some are failing. One patient, an ancient old man, reaches the last stage. The sores are oozing freely, pus, fresh lymph, and blood. A red flush overcomes his pallor and his coughing is constant, violent and bloody. He chokes out his last breath as you watch, helpless.
"Uck, I hate cold feet, friend Jeorik. My esteemed family's home is on our route, let's call in and get some clean foot-ware at least," Emerion suggests.
Heather stays outside the small dwelling..she is aware enough not to expose herself to the disease any more than she has to..
Kenan will eventually show Istas that Brienna is doing fine and buys their wooden box for the necessary five gold. The healer is far too happy to take it off their hands to mind that Tayce wants paying. He keeps well out of the disagreement with her partner over simply handing it over for free.
As for visiting others, it quickly becomes apparent that the illness, the fevers and sores are spreading and that not everyone is as strong as Brienna. Kenan spends three hours tending to each individual, but of the ten he sees, six seem to be responding to the care, three look to be too far gone and one dies in Kenan's hands. That death spoils the mood of the healer and he tries not to blame himself for the loss.
"Istas, I be seeing far too many deaths to let this one get me down but I be thinking that there be plenty more to come. Three that I doubt be seeing the next week in this life. Tis a shame.
"Uck, I hate cold feet, friend Jeorik. My esteemed family's home is on our route, let's call in and get some clean foot-ware at least," Emerion suggests.
"That sounds good to me."
But first Jeorik examines the box to see what it is they have pulled up from the riverbank.
"Whatever you do, my friend, don't open it - here, let's bind it up with this rope, less chance of any accidents."
"Istas, I be seeing far too many deaths to let this one get me down but I be thinking that there be plenty more to come. Three that I doubt be seeing the next week in this life. Tis a shame.
"Death comes for everyone," Istas replies, "But only at its appointed time and place, according to the fate Pharasma selects for us all. Unfortunately, Urgathoa's followers revel in speeding up the process, invoking death on their terms with such illnesses and plagues. And then they further pervert the cycle of life and death with their vile necromancy so they can torture souls with undeath."
"They are my enemy," she explains, "As surely as any blood-oath sworn by the Skoan-Quah, I will not rest until I find them and end this taint. Sadly, many innocent people will die here in Korvosa...mostly the young or elderly...and we'll be helpless to prevent those deaths, Kenan. We must brace ourselves for them, and press onward until we find those who caused this outbreak. If anyone should die, it should be them. And by Pharasma's hand, I will ensure they suffer that fate as long as I draw breath...or Pharasma sees fit to bring me back from the dead to carry out her will."
She taps Sinner Voe's wooden box and then nods at the one Kenan secured from Brienna. "We've got what we need now to help us divine the source of the problem," she tells him, "Let's find the others and return to the Grey District so we can seek the wisdom of Father Corvin and Bishop d'Bear."
Arriving at the Temple of Pharasma, we ask for Istas, or failing her Father Corvin.
Kenan nods. And leaves, after making sure that the body will be disposed of carefully.
Heather finds the conditions at Trails End not to her liking.."The Queen should do more to help there people " she mutters as the others deal with the sick...She coughs slightly to relieve a tickle in her throat..
It's easy enough to get a meeting with all of you and Father Corvin. Bishop d'Bear is not immediately available.
The good father greets you all courteously. He suggests his cell for the meeting as he has a brazier of warming coals already going and the evening is likely to be cool. He is anxious to hear what you have to say.
"Good Father Corvin," Emerion greets the priest courteously. "We may have found much about the source of this ailment. When Istas mentioned that one family had in their possession a small carved wooden box, found by the riverside and containing pieces of silver, Kenan recalled that another had the same. We searched the bank, Jeorik and I, and found one that had gone unclaimed. More, we found a storyteller who told us much: these boxes washed up on shore after a ship was sunk a few days ago by the Grey Maidens upon the city defences. There were many of them ... you can imagine the result, the poor of Trail's End have gathered many."
"It be a pleasure to see you again. father, but this be a sore problem and no mistake. Of the twelve people I have tended today, Brienna and Istas' wee girl are recovering, one has died, and three more could very well be about to die to. That means a thurd dying. Now dis is just the people I know of today, there may be many more spreading the poison or curse or whatever it is. It be easy to pass along from what we seen in there be a mother of one child who has the furst signs of the ague. My healing is limited and I know that Ishani of the Abadar Bank used an elixir successfully, but it had the rare herbs and such in that infusion so dat's a non starter for the people."
"Father, I fear my vision is coming true," Istas adds, "You recall the words Stannus and I obtained by interrogating the derro. And our Lady continues to send me dreams...or warnings really, about what's happening."
"As Kenan and Emerion have surmised, these boxes appear to be the source," she continues, "And even if we know followers of the Pallid Princess are behind this outbreak, we don't know where they are. So, I would advise we approach this problem in multiple ways."
"First," she suggests, "Someone must see to the sick and ease their suffering. Many will die, I suspect. But we should still do what we can to save as many as we can. The Pharasmen should contact the church of Abadar. Together we represent two of the strongest liturgical influences on Korvosa. If we organize a massive response in treating the sick, others will follow our lead."
"Second," she goes on, "We need to research this illness and see if we can find a cure. In our exploration of the necromancer's lair below Potter's Ward, I found a tome I believe could help us. At the time, it worried me to find a book so thorough in its detailing of disease and ailments. But, in this case, it might offer some insight. I'd like to study it and then leave it in your care in the hopes it will aid us."
"Lastly," she finishes, "I think we need to take this fight to the Urgathoans. We need to find this ship that sunk, see if we can learn who commissioned its arrival in Korvosa. Even if we do nothing but find the deceased bodies of its crew, surely we can bring one of them back. Stannus and I can then perform the ritual by which we can question its departed spirit. And hopefully, that can lead us to our true enemy before its too late."
Heather coughs to clear her throat.
"Istas is not the only one to have visions of disaster father..I was given a glimpse through the Harrow..there is some force other than Urgoatha connected with this..the whole of Korvosa could be in danger.Something has to be done and Istas is right..we have to investigate the ship..though how we can do so at the bottom of the river I do not know..my powers will not stretch to allowing us to breath water"
Father Corvin nods and listens as he examines the boxes. "The scythe and bone and skull carvings on these are not propitious. You'd think people would hesitate to open them, but if there were coins inside ...."
***
"Kenan, I've researched the ingredients in Ishani's elixir. While they might ameliorate the symptoms, I don't believe they will actually effect a cure. Easing the severity of the symptoms may enable the victims of the disease to retain enough strength to fight off the disease. But the weak, the old, the very young -- they will still be very vulnerable."
"And you are right about the expense. Should the disease become widespread, it will require the royal treasury to finance elixir to treat half the city. But far more fatal will be the lack of ingredients. I doubt there are enough of some of these spices and herbs in the city to create more than a few hundred doses of the elixir."
***
"Istas, you may be right. " Father Corvin smiles at some private joke before continuing soberly, "But I will pray tonight that you are not."
"It can not hurt to contact the Bank. I suggest that you start with Ishani. He seems concerned about this already. We will also talk to the Bishop. She may have something to say. "
"I, too, would gladly study that book. Did you not recover several such volumes from the Warrens? Sarenrae's temple may have something of help also."
***
"Regarding the ship, the church may be able to supply some potions to enable respiration in the water. I will look into it for you."
"I will go and speak to Alina at the Temple of Sarenrae as soon as I can"
Kenan nods as the Father speaks, "I be willing to see Ishani."
"I hate to raise this question, yet raise it I must. If the most likely to grow sick are those close to those already sick, should we not engage the guard in isolating those houses and areas where the sickness already has hold?" Emerion asks reluctantly.
"Good," the old priest replies to Kenan and Heather.
"I'll bring the tomes from the Dead Warrens while the others spread word to the remaining churches. Together, maybe we can work faster in deciphering their contents," Istas suggests.
"Emerion has a point your Grace..you should inform the Field Marshal of the situation as soon as possible..though I fear the Guard will be over stretched to set up a quarantine"
Heather also mentions Silena to Istas before she sets off for the Temple of the Dawnflower
Heather also mentions Silena to Istas before she sets off for the Temple of the Dawnflower
"Silena who?" Istas seems perplexed.
Jeorik is mostly interested in the box, not being overly familiar with the names being mentioned.
"Is there any way to safely open the box and see what is within?. We do not know for sure, do we, that the box is connected with the disease.
Corvin's reply is cut short when there is a knock on the door, followed by the door swinging open to reveal a tall heavyset woman with silver hair. She wears the black robes of an acolyte of Pharasma, but the jeweled dagger hanging from a chain around her neck is no mere acolyte's.
She steps into the room and looks around. "I am Bishop d'Bear." She is followed by a tall well-muscled man in breastplate with a greatsword strapped to his back. "And this is Stannus."
Father Corvin quickly introduces you and fills her in on the conversation thus far. d'Bear follows it atttentively. Stannus leans on the door frame and stares at each of you in turn. Emerion draws his gaze first, a studied examination of his gear and limbs. Kenan he glances at quickly, then moves on to Jeorik. Appraisal and challenge are in his gaze, as he stares at the ILsurian a long time. He smirks then measures Heather from toe to head and back again with a leering grin.
d'Bear comments after Corvin has finished, "It is still early to tell. A blue shroud obscures the future from me. If this is the plague of Istas' vision, and if it can kill a third of the city, we can not hope to cure them all, not even a portion. "
"Your idea to isolate the affected areas is sound. You three are our best contact with the Guard. It would be well if Marshal Croft had time to plan.
"But it would be best, politically, if such a request came from the Bank of Abadar. Arch-banker Tuttle holds more sway at court and among the nobles than we do. He views me as a rival and Pharasma as a challenge to Abadar's primacy in Korvosa. He would not support us. But if it were his idea .... Kenan, would broach the subject with Ishani?"
Heather notes Stannus' leer and ignores him pointedly.
"The gods preserve us from Church politics..." she mutters at the Bishop's comment..
"So we must go to the Bank and the Citadel and the Temple of the Dawnflower..and retrieve those other books from the catacombs. There's a lot to do today and time is pressing. Where do we start?"
"Then we must divide our efforts. If Keenan can speak to the bankers, Jeorik I understand you know the Marshal? I have my own contact in the guard, though he is not so highly connected. Then Heather can go to the temple of the Dawflower, and if you Pharasmen are not poorly thought of there, Istas can accompany you. I'll go with friend Kenan here, perhaps I can help his words carry weight - especially if we can take this," Emerion taps the tightly wrapped box, "with us as evidence."
"Kenan O'Flarna, at your service. And I'll see what I can do with young Ishani."
"Then we must divide our efforts. If Keenan can speak to the bankers, Jeorik I understand you know the Marshal? I have my own contact in the guard, though he is not so highly connected. Then Heather can go to the temple of the Dawflower, and if you Pharasmen are not poorly thought of there, Istas can accompany you. I'll go with friend Kenan here, perhaps I can help his words carry weight - especially if we can take this," Emerion taps the tightly wrapped box, "with us as evidence."
Father Corvin shifts in his chair. "I'd like an opportunity to better examine the boxes, especially the unopened one. I am not prepared today, but I can be ready tomorrow. I would be done by noon."
"Kenan O'Flarna, at your service. And I'll see what I can do with young Ishani."
The bishop smiles and quietly thanks you.
"Then we can leave that one with yourself, good father," Emerion agrees. "We can always take them the other, and tell the Bankers of this one after they think they have got one up on you," he grins easily.
"I have taken Istas to the Dawnflowers temple before now..and she knows Alina..unless she has too much to read already ogff course in which case I'll make my way there alone"
"It's late afternoon here now, shall we meet back up here this evening - with your permission, your Grace," Emerion nods respectfully to the Bishop, "and assess how well we are doing at acomplishing them all? Most should not take more than a few hours to achieve."
The bishop closes her eyes and nods her assent.