Sara greets the wakers with a smile and a slop of gruel from their magical spoon. "Good morning. Ready to face more Rats and dead things in walls and carved circles on nonsense?"
[spoiler=Sara and Capricia]Rossana shakes her head at Sara's denial. "You can't count being mind controlled. Any one of us could have fallen for it. If it didn't involve violence, I would have thought it a great prank."
"Our family is a minor house, so we probably won't be troubled by the betrayal more than anyone living here," Rossana says. "Besides, doesn't this mean that the Princess will now be crowned soon? Things actually look pretty good."
"Good for our fighters then. Capricia? Since our poet has the breastplate?" Sara suggests.
Otavio frowns at the notion that a poet might not need an amulet of natural armor. He bemusedly whispers, "... but what good is a writer without a thick enough skin to withstand all the criticism they will get from untalented critics? ..."
"I thought the breastplate was just a temporary loan, no?" Capricia replies, adding that she's already got a bit of magical protection from the ring of protection found earlier.
Sara gives a low formal curtsey, as a light hearted apology.
"Thank you, Master Ficklebopper" Sara says, though turns a little pink as she recognizes the spell results at least that he cast, realizing she also has the ability to do that very same thing. She shoves the hat in her makeshift satchel (made from the sheet she's been carrying around)
"I don't think we are far from getting out." Sara tries to help assure them. "The capable blades of Lady Capricia, Otavio, and Lady Trant, the archery of Marcus and Lady Rossana, and the magic of Master Ficklebopper will keep us all safe."
"My family is a safe distance from the capital," Capricia chimes in. "They should be safe."
Upon Bimbles request Zubari calls on his god to heal the group again. The healing energies wash over everyone sealing some of the wounds received from the previous day.
As everyone starts to get ready it is apparent something is off with Sara. She is moving really slowly, sweating and appears out of breath.
As Bimble talks to the nobles they agree to follow along at a safe distance since you believe you are close to finding a way out.
"Sara, are you alright? You don't look like you're doing too well," Rossana points out. "Let me check you real quick."
Rossana inspects Sara, noticing the ill effects. It takes her a few minutes but she finally realizes that Sara has contracted Filth Fever, very likely from being bitten by the rats.
"It looks like the rats from yesterday were carrying a disease," Rossana explains, a bit disheartened. "It's Filth Fever. It can pass in a few days, but can be deadly for those without great immune systems. Unfortunately, I can't use any magic powerful enough to cleanse it yet."
"Hrm, if and when we get out here, we need to make sure Sara gets some proper treatment. I've seen men succumb to rather innocent looking infections because they were too busy finding an enemy sword to fall on."
"Rats are horrible. Truly. I grew up in the Narrows so we're acquainted." Sara managed a slight smile. "Thank you both." she tells Rossana and Otavio. Despite feeling like utter poop, she is slightly warmed at the idea that once they all managed to get out of here, it wouldn't just be split up and done's done. It was just a simple comment about getting her help... but still...
"Oh, that is a brilliant idea. Can we stop there first?"
"It's worth a try, I say. While our escape might be a hallway away, we might very well be days or even weeks away from escaping this place if luck decides it isn't on our side."
"Alright. Let's do that," Rossana says, relieved at the sudden answer to their situation. "I'll try to see if anyone might have gotten sick. Who all was bitten?"
Rossana goes around check everyone out for symptoms but she can't tell if anyone else is sick or not.
The group makes their way back to the library to see the planar being still there tidying up some of the books that you all had knocked over in your previous fight. When he sees you coming he waves "You have come to return your borrowed items?"
Sara waves back, "Partially. We are coming to trade in the battle ax, for the wand. If that is still allowed."
Factor 12 replies "Yes." He takes the battleaxe and brings you the wand.
"Thank you sir." she'll hand the thing to... pauses in thought... unsure. "Who can use this thing?"
"I believe I can," Rossana states. Taking the wand, Rossana turns to Sara and the rest and begins to direct the healing energy toward each. "Let's hope this works."
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Otavio jumps up when the wand's energy manages to tickle him most unexpected places. "Gods, that feels weird!" However, not everyone seems to be reacting the same way to the cleansing magics. Had he spent too much time with ladies of ill repute?!
"Thank you Rossana![/b]" Sara sighes "I do feel better... a little at least."
Turning to Factor, "Can we trade in the wand back for the ax? Also how long do we have before the items have to be returned?"
Rossana goes around activating the wand on the various people bitten by the rats. When she tries to use it on Zubari though it no longer activates, apparently having run out of charges. Sara still looks to be in pretty bad shape, but still does feel a little bit better, her body trying to fight off the disease.
When you bring the wand back Factor 12 lets you borrow the battleaxe once again and answers Sara's question "One week."
Otavio inadvertently frowns and reflects on Bimble's words. "If blessings were more common and bountiful, we probably wouldn't be knee-deep in the mess we're in now. It's a good thing, however, that we have one another. Perhaps that's where the true blessing resides - in companionship, in friends and family. Anyways, before I succumb to melodrama, let us get a move on. It might be that we're only a couple of doors away from fresh air!"
The group moves back to the large circular room, it is much as you left it though it has started to smell worse between the corpse of the oversized rat and all the other smaller dead rats you killed. Upon a quick look, it looks like the only other exit is the door to to the east.
Bimble Detect Magic
Marcus moves up and checks out the door when everyone is ready. He doesn't find anything or note so lets Capricia open it up. Dust-covered couches cover some of the walls in this rectangular chamber. Another door exits the area to the east and a hallway leads south briefly before turning back to the west.
While Marcus checks on the next door, Rossana moves to the short hall, curious. "I wonder why this hall to nowhere is here for."
"Rossana? Where did Rossana go?" Sara calls out.
Bimble Detect Magic
Bimble Detect Magic
Marcus checks out the door as Rossana heads off downt he hallway. Rossana finds that it just dead ends into a wall.
Marcus doesn't find any threats on the door allowing Capricia to open it. Almost directly behind that door is another. Marcus checks that one as well but this time finds a trap. He takes some time and disables what would have been a pretty nasty surprise of daggers flying out to stab anyone in front of the trap. He gives Capricia the ok to open the door. On the other side you find two halflings talking to each other, they jump a bit when you open the door and promptly stand looking toward a door to the north as if ready to run. "Who are you?"
The halfing in the lead responds "Oh, we were at the gala. We lost our friend when all the chaos upstairs broke out. We went through some of the servants tunnels and found steps leading down here. At least there weren't any of the crazy people trying to attack us so we thought maybe there was a means of escape this way. We've just been waiting things out for now though. If you are trying to get back to the Senate it is just that way." He points to the door in the northern wall. "So their aren't any other exits back the way you came? Who are you people anyway?"
When the halfling tells the group about the servants' tunnels, Otavio triumphantly raises a fist. "A-ha, so we've made it! Great, though, I am ever so sorry to hear you lost your friend. We've been stuck down here, you see, and it hasn't been the most pleasant of experiences, so do forgive me my outburst. It was wise of you to not move further into these halls. Oh, right, the name is Otavio," and he inclines his head at the halflings, giving his companions a chance to introduce themselves - if they are so inclined.
Sara's elation at being almost out is mingled with the horror at having to face what happened up there now. She gives a curtsy to the halflings, and a distracted greeting of "I am Sara, it is lovely to meet you both." then looks curiously at Bimble, wondering about the question.