Brienna’s eyes go wide and she shakes, a little frightened. Tayce frowns even harder, but doesn’t act. She looks at Vera, ”is this true? How could you know such things?” She looks Vera up and down, ”you must be one of those harrowers - with some magics.” She turns to Brienna, ”bean, you won’t get punished if you tell them. I promise.”
Brienna looks fearfully to those in the room, and shakes her head. Tayce comes close, and Brienna whispers something to her. The mother sighs, ”she says she found some silver coins in a pouch nearby. She spent the coins on treats and is convinced that she was sick because she didn’t share her find.” She looks at Brienna, who shakes her head again. ”That’s all she knows.”
Grau stays downstairs during this, though he listens to Erasmo talking to him, he doesn’t respond. Ishani looks concerned for Brienna.
Vera nods gratefully. "Thank you, Brienna. I promise you didn't get sick because you hid what you found. Do you remember exactly where you found the coins, and what they looked like? Was there anything different about them from most coins? Like did the design look different, or was it really old looking?"
She wondered if this was all for nothing, though she was glad the truth came out without Brienna's mom getting mad.
Brienna looks frightened but shakes her head and says, ”I don’t know, they were just coins. They were in a sack in an alley, a few blocks away.”
Magda frowns a bit at the little girl, knowing that is hard but feeling like she was betrayed for believing her. Clucking to cat, she decides it is time to check on Yazi "You all want to check on those places its okay, but I'm headed to Yazi's place to make sure she is okay first."
"Yes--we'll take a look at the alley, just in case," agrees Vera at the offer.
Once folks are ready to move outside, Vera mentions the places Brienna had in mind. "Brienna had a few bags of candy from Sammy’s Sweets, a cake from Mauretzio’s, and a toy from Tazl’s."
She then checks in with their cleric friend. "So Ishani, what'll you do next? I know we're an odd bunch, but we're trying to solve the city's mysteries--both this illness and that really strange ship that sailed into the harbor. I don't know if you believe in the Harrow, but we all were warned that there's a sickness coming, so seeing Brienna get sick with a mysterious new illness is really worrying."
Erasmo nods, satisfied that they get the truth behind the story. "And just like that you little girl saved the day." Erasmo thanks. He nods to Tayce, in order to make sure there is no hard feelings then leaves the house with the others.
Once outside, he points to Vera. "I'll go with you to the alley." He then turns to Magda. "Wait for us at Yazi's. Well head there once we are finished."
Tayce looks standoffish towards Erasmo, "keep your money, I do not need it. Just leave my home." She gestures for him and the others to go. The little girl looks miserable as if she's on the verge of tears. Nothing that was said has reassured her, and as the party closes the door, Tayce shakes her head, and returns to Brienna's side, stroking the little girl's head to reassure her.
--------
Grau says, when they reach the living room, "well, I'm not an investigative, but I guess you found what you wanted. I think it'd be best if you guys finished up around here, though." He waves halfheartedly, in thanks, and the party can hear the sound of crying coming from the little room above. The guardsman smiles weakly, "nothing to be done about this, I suppose." He looks at Vera, a little frightened, "I hope... that spell you used on her, didn't hurt her ... but I guess only time will tell. In any event, thanks for your help." He extends a hand briefly in thanks, but then ushers everyone out.
-------
Ishani collects himself and stands in the muddy street awkwardly for a moment. When Vera asks for what he wanted to do, he responds and cocks his head, "hmm? Well, as I had said, I intended to try to use my magic on your companion." He says quietly, "I did not wish to say anything before with the Soldado family present, but I have heard of people getting sick - places nowhere near those that Brienna mentioned... So though you intend to investigate this alley, I had hoped that we could go to the Grand Vault together. It may be worthwhile to speak there, away from prying ears and eyes." He gestures to Magda, "the magic you used - others may use the same. If any person can overhear us, then the city can draw upon that sound and find out what you know. But the vault is secure."
Erasmo takes his coin back and leaves the house. As he voiced before, he could live with Tayce disliking him. Erasmo remembered about his father and one time when he had stolen some chickens from a neighbor and got caught on a lie. He massages his left butt cheek, as it has never been the same since then.
"I promise my magics haven't done any harm," Vera responds to Grau, though it's hard to feel reassured about that with Brienna crying. "Be safe, and if the disease comes back, please find us!" Vera explains where she lives.
* * *
Ishani's revelation comes as a shock. "Oh no, there really are more cases? I agree, let's get Yaziyah back in shape and then we should head to the Grand Vault. A lot more useful than exploring an alley and some sweet shops."
The trip to the Community Center is relatively brief, and uneventful.
Travelling across the north bridge, and then across one of the many smaller bridges separating Old Korvosa from the rest of the city - it takes on an odd edge. People who have an odd color to them, or itch themselves, or cough - even from smoke nearby - take on a menacing air. Majenko joins the group when they enter the city again, and flies between Vera and Magda.
But something does seem off. There are fewer people on the street than normal. It is unsettling - the vibrant city seems to be muted, somewhat.
Yaziyah is sequestered in a room alone within the center. Ishani searchers for her, and knocks on the door, asking the others to stay outside, "erm, this will only be a moment - Magda, I will ask for your help if I need it." He retrieves another pair of seemingly clean gloves, and puts them on with a snap. "May Abadar bless us - right?"
Ishani comes into the room where Yazi is alone, and takes a look at her, "this is troubling, a small touch was enough to infect you." He wiggles his fingered gloves, "maybe this will help? Much of this is new to me. Please sit there for a moment."
He waits for her to sit down, and then approaches. Chanting a few words of a prayer, his hands glow with positive energy, as if he is channeling the power not of Golarion, and he holds the hands in front of him, making an 'A' shape, and then touches Yazi on the forhead with the tips of his fingers.
The red welts fade a little, and look much less angry. Ishani tilts his head, "as far as I can tell, it is gone. Come - let us let your friends confirm this." He unrolls the gloves and puts them into a pouch at his belt.
After a moment, the door to the room opens, and Ishani emerges, "I believe it worked - the blessings of the Golden Vault are powerful, and true." He smiles, "let us all avoid getting sick again until tomorrow, yes?"
"Don't come in! Sickness dwells here!"
After recognizing Ishani, she gets up to remove the long shaft of her hammer which she had placed across the door to prevent it from opening - a very flimsy barricade, but hopefully one that would get the point across. Being cooped up has made her even more irritable than usual, but she suffers the priest's ministrations in silence, rewarding him with a gruff "thank you" at the end.
Yaziyah emerges from her room, the rash already fading on her skin, and stops short at the sight of the others. "Why did you all come here? If a sickness emerges, it spreads here most of all, you could all get ill!" She scrutinizes Magda and Vera. "Did you get sick? You spent the most time with the girl." At their negative answers, she tsks and shakes her head. "Figures it would be the old woman to catch it. Come, let us go somewhere else. I'll leave word to be alerted if anyone shows up here with the signs, perhaps we can do something to slow the spreading."
Vera waves excitedly at the house drake. "Majenko! Good to see you again! This is Ishani--he's a cleric who is helping us investigate a mysterious sickness. We were helping a girl recover, and she's better now but then Yaziyah got sick. So we're going to try and help her now, too. Have you heard any rumors about the sickness--or that ship? The city feels a little . . . different . . . doesn't it?"
* * *
Vera is delighted to see Yaziyah quickly healing. "We can't just leave you! And Ishani here is a master at driving out disease. I think we're all fine for now. Brienna's all better too thanks to Ishani--though we had a real adventure prying out a little 9-year-old's secret. I'll tell you about it on the road. But there's rumors of more disease--it's as the cards foretold."
Erasmo walks around town with his handkerchief covering his nose and mouth. He avoids getting too close to people as well.
"I'm good" Magda assures Yazi in the wake of her concern "I've... been through this before, I think. A plague I mean. I don't get sick much either, maybe because."
"Well, good that you are not sick." Yaziyah busies herself for a few moments, gathering her things. Her room is sparsely furnished, with a bedroll instead of a bed, a low table with cushions around it and several utility items. The walls are decorated with rugs and totems, and a few pieces of wood serve as shelves for her few possessions. Her equipment is in a locked chest in the corner of the room, while her hammer is leaning against the wall behind the door.
"Where to now? Do we know of anyone else who is sick?"
Erasmo heads to the place where Brienna said there were the coins. It had been a few days since she found the coins. The alley was between two squat buildings made of less-expensive material (sheet metal, crumbling brick foundations) than found elsewhere in Korvosa. The alley is shrouded in shadow this morning, as the light is still low on the horizon. He waits a few moments for his eyes to adjust.
It's got some debris and detrius in it, but is relatively well-kept. There are only a handful of footprints here and there.
The debris is nothing more than building materials, a bale of straw, and the like. A pretty thorough investigation of the alley doesn't find any secret doors or hidden compartments.
It's not easy for Erasmo to follow the tracks, not having training in survival. He sees the outlines quite well, and notes that there seem to be some smaller footprints mixed in with the others, but he doesn't know where they lead, or which came first or second. There are larger tracks here and there that move through the alley - in both directions. It looks like it is occasionally used as a shortcut.
While Erasmo is in the area, it doesn't look like any of the local thugs come through, though. They seem to give the party a very wide berth, almost as if they are ignoring everyone (they're not afraid or menacing).
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He then leaves the alley, moving towards someone that he was sure had noticed what he was doing. "Sooo... hum... do you know if someone around here lost a pouch of silver coins in that alley?" He asks, pretending to be both in trouble and afraid. "A girl found it and died a day later... she spend some coins from the pouch and anyone that touched it have also died. There is some talk about them being from that ghost ship from the other night and that they might be cursed!" He adds, wide eyed and then tries to gouge the reaction of his lie, trying to catch anyone too worried.
The young woman looks up from her nails that she was filing as she leaned against the wall of a nearby building. She then looks down again, at Erasmo. She flexes herself and stretches, languidly.
”Whats it to you, eh?” She sniffs a bit ”you’ve got the look of a guard, you do.”
When Erasmo explains, she blanches a bit, then raises an eyebrow. ”who? Who died? We know everyone here in the End.” But she seems to put her guard down a bit, ”Eh? Haven’t seen anyone move in or out of that alley, not but locals and the like, but I don’t always hang around here.”
A bigger fellow nearby folds his arms, adding in a low voice ”we don’t much talk to outsiders, but we know you helped Tayce and Brienna. I can ask around though, or you can.” He extends his hand as if to say go ahead. ”No need to fib about Brienna, unless you were talking about someone else...” He looks a little confused.
Erasmo spents a few hours with the thugs and disreputable folk of Trail's End, who are pleasant enough when the party seems to be on their good side. It seems that they are actually open with him, and are willing to say what they've seen. A few have noted that others that aren't Sczarni have passed through from time to time, but nobody is remembered specifically passing through this alley around when Brienna found the coins. It's a relatively exausting search. Whoever left the coins there must have done son when either nobody was watching, or had more skill at hiding than the largely human population of Trail's end had skill at spotting.
Some folks swear they saw small, hoofed humanoid creatures with dark cloaks creeping around. Others seem to think there were a few suspicious Shoanti who passed through. Still others would tell you that they glanced humans crouching on the roof in the moonlight. When pressed, it isn't clear which is reliable and which is not. It even seems like some of the thugs are telling fanciful stories to impress Erasmo and Magda.
****************************
Towering over the surrounding buildings, the Grand Vault of Abadar offers a radiant vision of divine luxuriance amid a sea of mortal troubles. As its gray-veined white marble reflects the midday sun, there’s little question that this place is the house of a god.
Yet for a deity of law, the steep stairs and ramps leading up to the temple’s great bronze doors offer a strangely discordant scene. Dozens of citizens—mostly of the working class, although the silks of a few merchants show through the crowd—throng the entry, scarcely being held back by a group of gold-armored Abadaran clerics. All seem intent on gaining entry to the temple, but the clerics turn away nearly all comers. The clerics’ reasoning becomes clear as one desperate believer is turned away, his pitiful countenance mottled with violent red sores.
Ishani puts his hand on his face. "Well, this is a bad development." He sighs and smiles wanly and Vera, "I did not expect this, I am sorry." A few of the crowd see him in his priestly garb, and point at him, whispering to people nearby. They begin to approach quietly.
Vera looks on the scene with alarm. "Yes, very bad!" agrees Vera. "There's not enough magic for all of these cases. I'm worried about going into the temple now--there might not be an easy way out if we do! Besides avoiding attention, is there a specific reason you wanted us to come here, Ishani?"
As a few members of the crowd latch on to Ishani, Vera gives him a nudge. "We better decide fast if we're going or leaving. Is there way into the temple that's not so obvious?" She tries to judge if the quietly approaching crowd members seem friendly.
As the crowd comes into view, Yaziyah feels like her heart drops into the pit of her stomach. So many of them, and even if the priests could heal them all, most of them could probably not afford those services.
She leans towards Ishani. "Is there another entrance to the temple? I do not think that trying to go through these people just now."
He shakes his head, "no, no, it is a Bank, a Vault, remember? There may be other ways in, but they are not known to me. If it were - I think that my vows would prohibit sharing such knowledge, anyway." He shakes his head, "listen, we cannot help these people now - and I need to speak to my superiors." He gestures and shouts for the gold-armored guards to help them, but the sea of people and thrum of the crowd make this almost impossible. They are focused on peaceably keeping people away from the doors, and trying to get them to line up. They seem to be somewhat successful at this - nobody is hurt and tempers haven't flared.
Ishani turns to everyone, "well... that also is not good - could you all help me - " he makes a motion with his hands "help me push my way through, please?"
Marcus grunts, and eyes the crowd, "I'll have to hold back it looks like - I could crush most of these folks if I'm not careful." Ishani shakes his head, nervously, "No! I mean, they haven't done anything, and even if they had, it isn't our place to kill them in the street - we just need to push past, I think."
Yaziyah nods at Marcus. "You are right, we cannot use force, or we risk this turning very ugly indeed. And we have no right to do so, in any case - they are simply sick, desperate, terrified souls." She shoots an anguished look at the crowd. "I wish I could help them, but I could barely help myself. Perhaps we can convince them to let us past."
"A little persuasion, a little intimidation, a little shoving. We could try. But if it gets too messy, better to fall back than risk your life just to report in."
He shakes his head, "I am not afraid of these people, there is no risk. They just wish for help." He looks towards the vault, "and I have obligations. It is not a matter of coming back later. 'An ordered society is a just society', were I to wander off - it would violate my obligations towards that order, and the trust that Korvosa has placed in me." He bows his head, mutters something and then looks up, "come."
Marcus spends a little while positioning himself to not trample the sick citizens, and the press of these poor people is too much for him. He frowns, holding back his strength as he gingerly tries to get through them. They see the shine of his armor, and the glow of some of his items, and they know at least that he, and you all have wealth. But it's particularly hard for him to keep them away from Ishani, as they are grabbing the priest, begging for help. The man smiles at each in turn, and closes his eyes as he tries to follow Marcus, seemingly blessing all that he can with whatever measure of power he can muster.
He gestures at Vera and Yazi to follow.
They are able to get through the crowd and Ishani wearily marches up to the top of the steps.
Magda whispers to Erasmo "Why are they huffing and puffing up their stories, trying to impress Us? You're a guard through and through no matter if it be your job or not, and I'm just me. Not the kind that would be wanting be higher in our eyes. You think?" Magda's a bit confused about that.
"What now? We can ask those people that know things about small hoofed folks. Check up on the roof there to see if it looks like someone was sitting for a bit. We shouldn't go asking about suspicious Shoanti, cause that would just make people start thinking they are to blame, cause some people are just idiots like that."
Magda and Erasmo spend another four hours searching the roofs - both are nimble and sly enough to be able to move around without being bothered, and both are expert climbers. The roofs are made of corrugated metal, or wood in some places, but the houses aren’t quite close enough together to make a proper district like the Shingles. Regardless, after an exhaustive search, it’s clear that whoever was on the roof, if there ever was one - left no trace. It isn’t clear whether a trace was hidden, or if the people that talked to them were wrong, but finding a trail on solid ground like this would have been extraordinarily difficult even if they had been searching immediate after the phantom roof climber supposedly existed.
The hooded small creatures sound like dark creepers, a fabled race of strange humanoids from deep under Golarion in the Darklands. It seems extremely unlikely that they would be here, and on the surface, but Varisia is a strange and unlikely place. Magda gets the impression that the person who saw them probably saw a halfling, in the end, and were drunk.
The party confirms this, by speaking extensively with what must be 80% of the folks living in Trail’s end. Speaking to more sagacious and worldly types that are finally tracked down makes it clear that people probably did see various things, but because they weren’t actively looking out for anything in particular, they didn’t know to look for what was needed. Many folks travel on the roof, even here. Halflings travel all over the place. And people will harbor prejudice even when they may have common cause with those being oppressed.
The lead on the Shoanti is not followed, but it doesn’t seem likely.
"I believe it is safe to say that the coins were not the problem... we should scratch it from our list and perhaps look at the candy stores?" His belly rumbles after so many hours looking around the alley. "Even if we find nothing, we can at least eat."
"Excuse me, please. Pardon me."
Vera starts sliding her way forward following Marcus's lead.
It takes some persistence but she makes it to the front where Ishani invites her up the steps. "I guess that wasn't so bad."
Yaziyah grips the shaft of her hammer and uses it to gently push through the crowd - more of a deterrent than anything else.
On her first pass, Yazi is able to muscle her way through the crowd. Even though she appears shamanic, the citizens of the city are seemingly confused enough to focus mostly on Ishani as they travel.
Even after the clerics of Abadar manage to disperse the plague victims with promises of healing, the temple remains a place besieged. Within its airy hall, priests and patrons eye each other and every newcomer with suspicion, and every footfall upon the marble floor echoes through a frightened silence. Ishani escorts the the party to one of the temple’s western meeting rooms before excusing himself for a moment, "I must report in, and confer with my superiors, please wait here for a few minutes. I apologize." He bows to everyone, most deeply to Vera, and then leaves the room.
True to his word, he returns in a short while, concern etched onto his face, "Thank you again for your aid." He shakes his head sadly. "Poor lot. We recognize the symptoms, I’m sure. I suppose we had hoped that the Soldado case was isolated, but apparently we have a bigger problem on our hands than I’d feared."
"I’m concerned for the city, but also for my brethren here. This morning, after my first visit to the Soldado home, I came to the temple to hear that three of my brothers awoke with similar symptoms, although they had already been healed. I spoke to each, and aside from their usual duties in the temple, none have had any dealings with any who are ill. Apparently, while we were gone, later in the day, more of my fellow priests—acolytes, guards, vaultkeepers—developed symptoms, and folk from throughout the city began arriving in search of healing. It’s been more than a little bit frightening. They’re calling the sickness ‘blood veil’—an apt
enough name, I suppose."
"It looks like, most of the patients we’re treating have come from North Point and Old Korvosa. The disease seems to spread fastest through those who have less money. Although we here at the temple can heal some of the ill, I dread that the transmission of the disease will soon outpace our resources. The only way to stem the growing infection is to involve the entire city. We need to organize. We need to call upon the faiths of Sarenrae, Pharasma, and even Asmodeus to face this attack. Archbanker Tuttle and several of his assistants are out pursuing alliances with these other faiths, but even that won’t be enough. We need to involve the Korvosan Guard and the queen’s new agents, the Gray Maidens, at the very least. That’s where you come in. With the number of desperate souls growing, it’s not particularly safe for a priest to walk the streets of Korvosa. I... have heard that you have a good relationship with Field Marshal Cressida Kroft. Perhaps you would be willing to escort me to Citadel Volshyenek for an introduction? I have been tasked with enlisting her for this purpose."
He pulls out a sack of gold, and holds it up. "the church has offered 200 gold pieces per member of your group who can help - so one thousand total - your friends Magda and Erasmo aren't here but you can share when we see them next. Though..." He thinks, "is there a way to contact them to let them know where we are? Perhaps your friend there?" He nods at Majenko, who had been following Vera around. "I would not ask a fellow such as you to be a messenger, noble drake, but we may have few other options."
The little fellow salutes Ishani and says, "Is very good messenger sirs, yes, yous can count on Manjenko! He looks to fly off immediately, but then stops himself, "erm, Is not aware of the message yet."
Ishani looks to Vera, Marcus, and Yazi for confirmation that they will agree to help.
Marcus's frown deepens with concern. "Erasmo was right, a plague. Hmm." Suddenly Marcus's nostrils flare. "And we just pushed our way through a crowd of infected. We need to minimize our contact with other people until we are sure we're not infected ourselves."
"Yes, we will escort you. A plague trumps other squabbles, we should unite to beat this down before dealing with other problems."
Yaziyah grimaces at Marcus's observation - she had been all too aware of the proximity of so many sick people. "Let's hope that having it once builds up resistance against it," she mutters, but it's a slim hope. "Of course we will help. We cannot sit idle while there's a plague in the city."
"Majenko--tell the others that a lot of people are getting sick, and we're escorting Ishani to go see the Field Marshal and get help. See if they can meet us there--you should meet us there too."
Vera nods, ready to go.
Majenko flaps about happily and then salutes Vera again, taking flight over the city towards Trail's End
Ishani looks relieved, and he runs his hand through his hair, pushing it back. "Excellent, let us be on our way." As the party makes ready, Ishani disappears for a short while, returning wearing a fine chain shirt under his robes, with a shining steel shield on his back. He looks sheepish, "I do not usually wear armor, but... I think it may be best if we are to be traveling together." He glances at everyone, "you all are quite well equipped, but this is all I can muster from our stores, so it will have to do."
As the party departs, he notes a few more things, "I found out that the first cases were a barkeep and his wife from the Three Rings Tavern in North Point. They paid to be cured magically and left, but then within the next hour, three more showed up. Then even more did."
Many of the assembled on the steps have dispersed by the time the party leaves the Grand Vault, either to seek help elsewhere or because of fatigue. Those that remain seem to not be sick, but are nonetheless begging for assistance for their family and friends. They do not interfere as the party leaves the city. Ishani breathes a sigh of relief, "perhaps... Sarenrae was able to bless those other souls. I can only hope..."
Reaching Citadel Volshyenek poses little problem, despite Ishani’s fear to the contrary. Although many in the city seem to attempt to conduct life as normal, whispers and quiet conversations replace the raucous chatter of any normal business day, as if noise might attract the plague’s lethal notice.
The guards at the gate of courtyard the citadel greet the party warmly, now a relatively familiar set of faces to the group, even if they don't know the names of the particular guardsmen. One of the ones that usually stands on the left whispers, "eh, if you want to see the Queen's Physicians, you need to hurry to catch them in the courtyard."
The echoes of forcefully spoken but unintelligible words resound off the imposing granite and iron walls of Citadel Volshyenek’s outer curtain. Dozens of red-and-silver armored guards stand in assembly upon the pitted stone mustering ground here, muttering in hushed, somber tones. Before them, atop a weathered wooden platform, paces Field Marshal Kroft, her eyebrows arched sternly as she momentarily tolerates the crowd’s murmurs. Behind her upon the scaffold stand three grizzled veteran guards, including Sonya, at attention, as well as an ominous-looking group. These newcomers wear cowled robes of oily-looking leather, supple gloves, and wide black hats. Some grip heavy canes, others dark satchels. Each of them, though, wears a dark-goggled mask tapering to a pointed beak.
Among them stand two others. The first is a middle-aged gentleman in a simple black overcoat with streaks of white gracing the sides of his short, dark hair. He watches the gathered guards with a soft, concerned expression, his hands tightly clasping a heavy looking doctor’s case. The second figure is an imposing one indeed—one of the queen’s new Gray Maidens, clad in her resplendent plate armor and crimson plume.
The Field Marshal’s fierce tone cuts through the rumble of whispers as she addresses her gathered guards.
As the assembly ends, the guards gathered in the courtyard break up into groups, many reporting for various duties while others loiter for a few moments to quietly gripe about their new orders.
Kroft and her staff move to head into the Citadel, along with the fellow who must be Doctor Davalus, and the heavily-armored woman.
It takes a while for Vera to absorb the scene. "Those are the Queen's physicians?" she asks, looking at the beak-masked physicians. "So creepy--who's going to want help from one of them?" Between them and the armored Grey Maiden, she stands there mesmerized.
It's only as Kroft and her retinue move away that Vera comes to her senses, hurries after them, and starts shouting--although her voice is hardly as powerful as Kroft's. "Miss Cress--er, Field Marshal Kroft!" she shouts, remembering a little too late to use a proper title in public. "One moment, please. We have a representative of the Bank of Abadar here who'd like to speak with you!"
"They may look creepy, but you saw it yourself how desperate people are getting. With the clerics overwhelmed, or serving only those who can afford their services, folks will take help from anyone who's offering." Yaziyah squints in sudden suspicion at the leather-clad physicians. "I do hope they're offering help, and not selling it, at least."
Kroft halts, and gestures for the party and Ishani to follow. She ushers them into her office, where Doctor Davalus stands with the heavily armored woman. Sonya is standing nearby, leaning on a bookcase.
She nods when everyone is assembled, and says politely, ”where are -? Hmm.” She shakes her head almost imperceptibly, and then extends her hand to Ishani, ”I’m glad the Vault sent someone - maybe we can come up with a plan. The good Doctor here has a number of ideas.”
The Doctor bows and tilts his head slightly, ”indeed, Field Marshal. I could not have said it better myself.” He extends a hand respectfully to everyone in the group, his eyes bright and curious as he takes in everyone’s garb and form. He clasps Ishani’s hand with both of his when the cleric cautiously extends his own. ”Ahh, Mr. Dhatri. Word is that you’ve seen this up close, yes?”
Ishani looks a little taken aback, but nods and says ”yes, in the northern part of the city - though I have mostly spent my time ministering to a family just outside of the city itself.”
The doctor watches Ishani’s face, thoughtfully, as Ishani explains what happened, and then puts his hand on his chin, ”well, I have seen some similar diseases in Egorian, though none that spread like this. And you say it passed to this woman, quickly?” He looks at Yazi with concern, ”Well, you seem to be somewhat on the mend, thankfully.” He closes his eyes and seems to be thinking for a moment. He then opens them, ”could someone fetch me a map?” Sonya nods at leaves the room to retrieve said map.
He turns to the party again, ”I am here at Illeosa’s behest to ease the concerns of as many as I can in this trying time. And hopefully to get control of the situation as quickly as possible - to save as many people as possible. That will require strategic thinking as some hard choices.” He shakes his head sadly, ”but if we work together now, the need for such choices will be minimized, I think.”
Yaziyah holds her hands behind her back as the doctor shakes Ishani's, greeting Davaulus with just a nod. "I have reason to believe that the illness spreads through touch, and I have contracted it recently so it is best to be cautious." Her speech is more formal than usual and her posture stiffer as she looks down at the Queen's physician.
She raises an eyebrow at his use of the Queen's first name with no honorific, but seems mollified at the mention of helping as many people as possible. "I have some skill with healing, and I will do whatever I can to aid you."
Oh, this is one of those people around the queen. Can they really be trusted?
She calmly tries to study this new doctor as they continue the discussion.
"Egorian? That's an awfully faraway place. What brought you to Korvosa? And who are those assistants of yours?" The sudden appearance of these so-called doctors at the same time as this disease was rather strange.
Mhmm. The queen ascribes to the iron fist way of ruling.
Once inside Marcus makes a point or interposing himself between the two groups. "Handshakes later. We have a plague." And all but physically forces the groups apart with his hard frowns.
Smart Vera. Very convenient timing for them to arrive at the same time.
Davalus chuckles at Marcus' concern, "don't worry, young man, I can assure you that I am an expert on these matters. I would know if anyone here had contracted this blood veil. And nobody has. In addition, I can assure you that I am quite protected from the disease - expensive protection I can extend only to myself, unfortunately, but it would do no good if I were to fall ill, right?" But seeing how insistent Marcus is, he merely bows deeply.
A look of appreciation crosses his face, "oh, no I wouldn't dare trouble you, miss. We will handle the situation; we have extensive training, especially in disease. My understanding is that adventuring folks have general healing knowledge. Such a thing is useful in a pinch but it's my experience that you want a trained doctor dealing with matters such as these. Surely you have other matters to attend to, and I wouldn't wish to burden you." He does seem deeply appreciative for the offer.
When Vera notices how far away Egorian is, he brightens up, "well - that's true! I was the personal physician of the Queen's family, of course... you knew she was from there, originally, right?" He tilts his head, and inclines it, knowingly, "she had heard that there was a sickness spreading, a few days ago - out of an abundance of caution she had me teleported here then - and I have been here for a few days."
He gestures outside, "the other doctors, of course, wear the special doctor's masks - so I can understand your confusion - but many are locals, and those that aren't were rushed here from Harse, Palin's Cove, or Veldraine as soon as I arrived."
He claps his hands, "though, at this time, I think it would be best if I spoke with the field Marshal and this young man, Mr. Dhatri, and Kordaitra, to plan what we can about how best to distribute the supplies and the personnel we have." He chuckles, "surely - a dull task for experienced adventurers such as yourselves."
Kroft nods, and says to the party quietly, "thank you for your help, citizens, Ishani here will be out in a little while, I think, if you wish to wait for him." Ishani looks a little confused, but nods, and Doctor Davalus smiles, and says "of course! It won't be more than an hour or two of his time."
Davalus is very smart, very polite, and everything he says is true.
Mhmm. Seems we'll just be support in fixing this than. He waits for the others to chime in, but doesn't seem particularly on edge around the doctor.
A few days ago? Well that's a lot earlier than any of us knew.
"Oh, you're the Queen's personal physician? I'm glad the Queen thought to bring you here to help. So, do you know what we should do to protect ourselves from Blood Veil? I want to do my part and spread the word. I'm sure we all do!" She says this with all sincerity.
She wonders if she should stay or go. "Ishani, do you want us to meet you back here when your meeting is done? I can get you a late lunch."
Doctor Davalus says, "hmm, well, we don't want people getting confused - only my doctors should wear the mask and coat."
"Beyond that, I hear that Black Cumin helps wonders to stave off disease when put into food. Let me think..." He puts his hand up to his chin, and thinks, "of course, antiplague would help. We don't know how it spreads, so perhaps a filter mask would also work?"
"It would be no trouble at all to help, if I can. I'm no doctor, but surely yourself and your colleagues need some staff to prepare supplies, or take care of sick people until they can be treated."
Perhaps he wants to take all the credit for curing this plague, thinks Yaziyah.
"Well. Mr. Dhatri, we'll wait for you, in case you need an escort back to the temple."