"May I be damned. What on earth is happening?" says the dwarf.
He continues to wave his hands and his left forearm begins to shine with energy. A disk of energy can be seen next to his forearm. With the second hand, he reaches for his clan dagger.
Giggett looks at the masked figures and calls out to him/her:
"What are you doing with that, you are scaring the bees. We just had to burn a whole bunch of them as they were attacking us out of fear."
I'm not sure that the guy is happy with what we've done to the bees...
Says Tamerius
Natsume is about to act, but--
--"Oh my, oh my! Don't any of you ever go into Nature? Just crack a smokestick and you'd be fine."
The person pulls her protective mask back, and you recognize Amora Kasillan, the cook.
"Bees are pacified by smoke. If they're swarming they will dissipate."
She waves her basic smoke-machinen.
Her head-to-toe suit of padded armor is obviously to protect her from the bees.
"I hope you're not stung too bad... come, come, come with me."
She leads the way to her little place, waving her smoke-can around if you ever come near a hive, but she is good at navigating the old orchard.
They are a lot of hives.
Amora invites you to her home.
It is a shack, but she has obviously had work done on it, and it is very clean inside, with comfortable silk cushions, among the more basic furniture.
She offering up remedies for any stings you might have suffered: "Some salve."
Then she serves a platter of delicious looking biscuits, covered in honey: "Harvested from the beehives!"
You notice that she kind of moves her platter around, without looking at it, and grabs a biscuit randomly, and starts munching on it.
"So... what do you wish to know?"
Dragh seeing that it is Amora hidden in the armor hides his dagger and disperse any magic remaining around him. He follows her to the shack and accepts a biscuit.
"Can you tell us who and how served a potion of porridge to Bort? Did he get any special bowl or spoon?" asks interested dwarf.
Giggett shows her arms and face:
"It doesn't hurt enough to be a nuisance, but they bite me severely. If you can calm the pain, it'd be much appreciated."
Giggett doesn't feel much such little pain, but she wants to see how Amora uses medicine. After all, we're looking for some 'doctor'.
You notice that she kind of moves her platter around, without looking at it, and grabs a biscuit randomly, and starts munching on it.
Natsume, who figures Amora isn't casually picking a biscuit at random if one of them is poisoned, happily accepts a biscuit herself... though she does wait a minute before taking a second bite, presumably to talk and listen.
"Thanks much!" she grins.
At the house, Amora removes all her protections, which you imagine are for - or against - the bees.
Dragh realizes the biscuits are extremely good. Nice fresh cake, rather light, soaked in honey.
And Natsume enjoys her too.
Looking back at the attack, Giggett has the feeling that the bees were swarming and moving or doing something, and felt threatened when you walked right up to their tree.
But, maybe some Wolf-Summoner is also a Bee-Tamer? That is possible...
Amora hands some kind of balm, in a clay pot, to Giggett.
It calms the burns-- but does not really heal anything.
It seems that Amora is no medical expert.
Giggett asks Tamerius if he can heal the group a bit, with his kit.
As for her moving the platter around and such, Giggett does believe she might have some kind of blindness--
--but Dragh whispers: "She is taking her food at random, without looking at what she is selecting. I imagine it is a way to show us this is not poisoned food, since she is eating it without picking what to eat."
Amora looks at Bort, and nods: "About Bort, well, I imagine you checked his bowl? After his sad death, I told Delma that the kitchen should be closed immediately, just in case it was the food. I am sure that Bort’s death must be foul play because simple food poisoning doesn’t work that fast and isn’t as deadly. Besides, I pride myself on serving fresh food. And am careful while cooking. Anyhow, I had his bowl and what was left in it, kept for you.
I, of course, am the one who prepared the dessert, crushed turnips, with milk and butter, and sweetened with my honey.
Then Phinick plated it, dishing out the portions.
And Trin served it.
I do not think anyone else was in the kitchen at the time, even though I went out more than once to empty the slop bucket.
I hope this was not the dessert that killed him, but, it seems so... this is terrible! Terrible!"
She looks sad and hurt.
"People will no longer want to eat my desserts."
Giggett takes a concerned voice and articulate well every words:
"Amora, you'll understand that, considering your position, any information you have would be greatly appreciated. If you remember anything, maybe someone else in the kitchen than you, Phinick and Trin, we would love to know that."
Giggett takes a pause:
"Also, I'll have to ask you some questions:
- Do you live here alone?
- Sorry for this one, but how old are you?
- When you served the porridge, did you know it was for Bort or were you just asked to serve one porridge?
- Who brings the orders to you?
- Do you have a vegetable garden?
- Is it ok if we make a quick check of your house. We won't search, but just to see some details?"
"When Cooky went into the kitchen to say hello, did he tried the dishes? What happened when he was there?" asks Dragh
Amora seems from another continent, the mysterious Tian Xia.
She has nice silk cushions from that land too.
"No, as I said there was no one in the kitchen, that I saw. But I did go out now and then."
Looking at Dragh:
"Cooky...yes, he tasted the dishes. And we exchanged some comments. I prepared a meal for him, and he was off. Did not stay long. He was out just before we started serving the main dish."
Back to Giggett:
"Yes, I live alone, honey... why? You fancy me?
And, trust me, I am young enough to give you some excitement."
She smiles...
Then she answers the other questions:
"No, I did not know it was for Bort, I just prepared the porridge, and gave the pot to Phinick. I did not serve the porridges. As I said, he plated everything.
I am not even sure he knew which was for Bort, when he gave the plates to Trin.
But he could have known, or told her which was which... he might have, if he did give a bigger helping.
As for the orders, the waiters tell me how many people there are.
But, well, it's always the same number, except for the added visitors.
I get my vegetables from the farmers. Turnips mainly. Then the odd extra thing.
I make honey.
And, you can have a look around my... house."
She shows the small shack, which is basically one room.
There is a place to make honey outside.
Giggett winks to Amora:
"I like exotic dishes, but it's not the best moment for honey tasting."
Giggett looks around the shack. First, she searches for sources of light. If Amora has sight issues, she's certainly not using much of it.
Then Giggett looks at Amora cooking ingredients while speaking, trying to find some strange things:
"Amora..."
Giggett spoke a little bit louder to attract everyone's attention, and, looking closely at Amora's reaction, she continues:
"Have you ever heard of Violet Breath? Maybe this herb grows in your homeland?"
Natsume exchanges a look with... well, whoever, really. Tamerius, presumably, is the most primed to exchange suspicious looks with.
"Miss Amora, I hate to impose, but... do you happen to have any tea? It's been very long since I've spoken with someone from back East in more than passing, and I'd love to enjoy a cup with you while the others poke around!" grins Natsume.
Amora thinks for a second, and then answers Giggett: "I have heard of Violet Breath, but it is not a plant. That is a poison, which is said to be harvested from violet fungus. Which are some sort of dangerous mushroom, from the Underdark or whatever. Quite rare and expensive. I guess it can be find underground in many places."
She then smiles at Natsume:
"Why, of course dear... tea!"
Amora gets some water to boil and prepares tea.
Giggett can see there is not much of a kitchen here, just a small thing for herself.
The cakes she offered you must have been baked elsewhere, at the inn for example.
Soon the smell of black tea raises as she prepares bowls, that she offers to all, taking one herself.
Before going further, Tamerius tends the wounds of his comrades.
But Tamerius still tiredm is unable to do it properly...
Tamerius looks around the place, trying to find anything out of place for the woman.
After the last incident Tamerius don’t eat anything he has not prepared himself or his comrades, and politely refuse to eat or even the tea.
Thank you, but you can understand that after yesterday’s incident I avoid anything I’ve not prepared myself.
As she approach with the tea, he asks Have you seen anything out of place when preparing the meal? Do you know Bort personally?
Natsume takes a moment to sniff the tea; provided she doesn’t smell poisonous mushrooms, she takes a sip.
She offers a kind smile.
You are still all a bit battered, at Amora's, but Tamerius knows that he can try to heal them again later.
Amora nods: "Yes, of course, I understand you are wary about eating things. These were baked before, and I am eating them too, but I understand.
No, I saw nothing special nor out of place while making the dinner yesterday.
And I don't really know Bort. I do not think anyone does here. I mean, we see him twice a year, when he passes through, and he always tells - err... told! - such beautiful stories."
Upon hearing Natsume's words, Amora blushes, and bows her head.
Natsume does not smell anything similar to the scent from the porridge.
Giggett takes a cup of tea and blows on it for a minute, lost in her thoughts, then thanks Amora:
"Thank you, lady Amora, for your kindness. Do you happen to know any guardian of nature in the region? Druid, Ranger, anyone tending to wild animals and plants? Also, if by any chance you hear some strange rumor, don't hesitate to tell us. It's not sure to be of some help, but who knows."
Giggett drinks her cup and seems ready to leave if nobody has anything to add.
Dragh takes a sip of tea, looking funny with a small teacup held in big hands. He finds the taste odd, but play nice and smile while drinking, which is barely visible under that beard.
Amora looks at Dragh: "Maybe you would like some mead? It is home-made honey-wine. Not that potent, but stronger than tea."
Turning to Giggett: "We have no such folk in town. As you might have heard, bad things befell the town some twenty years ago and we lost most of the population, and have never recovered. Just a couple hundred simple folk here now.
There are sometimes rangers who come through now and then..."
"I would like some mead very much! As we are changing a topic, do you know if there are other dangerous parts of this village for town folks? Just like your beehives in the orchard?"
After drinking mead with more energy he asks:
"Do you know if Violet Breath is used for another purpose than to create poison? Like in gardening? In crafting as a dye? Or any other usage that would make someone have it?"
Ask dwarf happy of drinking something that is not a tea. He looks through the window thinking that he should get a good night's sleep.
Amora brings some nice mead for Dragh and who else wishes.
»I am sorry about the bees. Normally its not this dangerous, they are just splitting hives right now. But, no, no danger in town... normally.
As for Violet Breath, I only heard about it being used by people from the depths to use in hunting... »
Amora brings some nice mead for Dragh and who else wishes.
»I am sorry about the bees. Normally its not this dangerous, they are just splitting hives right now. But, no, no danger in town... normally.
As for Violet Breath, I only heard about it being used by people from the depths to use in hunting... »
"Oh my," says Amora, "I am starting to get tired, I'm rambling and saying the same things twice! I didn't sleep last night, I am sorry."
She pours herself some more tea.
"Do you have any questions, or is that all? I don't want to keep you, and if you are ready to leave, please accept some honey."
She pulls a couple pots of honey out to gift you, when you depart.
Dragh takes the honey and bows to Amora saying:
"That would be all from me. I would gladly rest now, it was a long day."
Says dwarf showing readiness to go and rest.
Giggett gets up after Dragh.
"We haven't slept either, we understand your fatigue. It's all for me. We will come back if we have more questions. Have a good night!"
Do the others wish to follow Dragh and Giggett--
--move back to the inn and wagons?
And do like Dragh--
--and retire for the night, to rest and recover?
Or something else to do?
Natsume nods, helping Amora to clean up the tea and mead once everyone's done. "Thank you for having us!"
Back at the wagons, she yawns.
"I can keep a watch," she slurs, "but only if you let me sleep in tomorrow. I am pooped!"
"Watch..."
Giggett sighs.
"I'm so tired I'm starting to like Bleachness. But you're right, that would be prudent. If you give me a few hours to get my eyes back in their orbits, I'll be able to take the second watch turn. I see in the dark, so, I'm good for middle of the night watches..."
"I can take the early morning shift."
So, if Tamerius follows along with you, you go back to the wagons, and go to sleep in your wagon, in the Feedmill's courtyard.
You arrange guard duty-- and see that the caravan people are also sleeping all together - Cooky included, whose wagon you are in - in the same wagon, and doing guard duty.
As Dragh is on the early morning shift, just as he looks up to see the first light turning the sky blue over the roof of the barn, he sees, coming straight towards him, out of the fading darkness--
Cooky is not sleeping in his wagon anymore. He is sleeping in another wagon with all the people from the caravan. Who are doing their guard duty.
Giggett can spend pretty much whatever time she wants to look around... but does not find anything she feels is out of the ordinary.
However-- she is not a cook, not a professional one, so maybe something is amiss.
Dragh looks into the darkness...
Tamerius can try to smell some of the things in Cooky's kitchen items.
You retire in the late afternoon, early evening. Thus, being tired, you eat a light dinner and go to sleep, tired, quite early.
So, when Dragh is on the last guard duty, you have all rested your 8 hours and regained health, and you will be able to make your daily preparations, which takes around 1 hour, before breakfast.
So, for the time being, Dragh is healed a bit but has not yet made his daily preparations.
So, your:
Giggett - 16/18 HP
Dragh Goldenoak - 16/18 HP
Tamerius Archilus - 9/16 HP
Natsume Ren - 13/18 HP
Becomes, if I am not mistaken:
Giggett - Full Health
Dragh Goldenoak - Full Health
Tamerius Archilus - 10/16 HP
Natsume Ren - 15/18 HP
@Tamerius: can you, will try some healing before the day is over, before bed?
Dragh looks into the darkness... and sees that this is a shape, a big humanoid shape, wrapped up in a cloak.
Could that be an orc...?!
Suddenly, the shape extends a hand, and the morning sun glints on something clear and shiny: is that a glass-vial this shape is raising?
Dragh looks into the darkness, and after spotting the glass-vial shape
yells "Wake up! Quick!"
And runs towards the Orc, pulling out his clan dagger.
"Stop there!"
"Dragh?! What's the danger, where?!", says Tamli, the half-orc, as she spins around, her warm cloak she was wrapped in billowing around her in the cold morning.
Not spotting any enemy, she steps away from Dragh: "You want to knife me?!"
In her hand is a small glass vial with a simple cork.
The vial is empty.
Giggett wakes up immediately, grabs her rapier, stands up quickly and rushes outside the wagon... in pajamas: Nice little wooly pajamas with a hat, looks quite comfy, but definitely not ideal for combat. Also, she's barefoot.
"What's happening, Dragh?"
Tamli eyes Dragh: "Yes, What's happening, Dragh?"
Dragh seeing Tamli hides his dagger
"Sorry Giggett and other I misjudged the situation. Tamli, I was not planning to knife you. I was thinking you were a treat sneaking to our wagon."
Then he reconsiders
"And what exactly are you doing here Tamli especially at that early hour of the day sneaking around? And what were you using that flask for?"
Tamli shakes her rather sturdy butt: "I do not sneak around... I am simply a slender and discreet person."
She hands the flask to Dragh, who sees that is indeed a small empty glass vial with a simple cork.
"I went out to... gaze at the morning sun. And, err... relieve myself. The beautiful morning sun.
And I found this in the grass near that back door that leads from the dining part of the main room, to here and the stables.
Thought it strange.
It is a nice vial. And has not been out there for long."
"Can I see the vial Tamli?"
If she gives Dragh the vial he grabs it through a piece of clothing, uncorks it and smells it to check if this is not the container of the poison.
Natsume mumbles and grumbles as she pulls herself out of bed, looking bleary-eyed and slouching as she rummages for her shield and flail before joining the discussion.
On Giggett's idea, Tamerius inspected Cooky's wagon, not convinced that the cook could be the culprit or that he will hide the ingredients of the poison in his wagon, but he preferred anyway to do it to be sure.
When Tamli came with the vial, Tamerius asks Can I smell it?
Tamli looks at Dragh: "Well, I am handing it to you, so... take it. Just don't knife me!"
Dragh sees that Tamli was in effect handing the flask to him.
Though Dragh's big nose would not fit inside, he does keep the flask at a distance.
Sniffing it, Dragh smells--
--traces of a floral-smelling liquid.
Although the vial is totally empty.
This does smell like the poison Tamerius had you check. Just a bit "stronger", in the sense that it must have been pure poison in here, not mixed with anything else.
Natsume arrives, yawning, and, seeing the situation, looks Tamli over, trying to tell whether Tamli's behavior is abnormal... is she being deceptive?
Of what you do not know, but she is ashamed of something.
A somewhat rested Tamerius arrives, and asks Dragh if he can smell the vial.
Giggett now looks at Dragh and Tamerius:
"It's the vial who contained the poison? It looks like a potion to me, I'm not sure if it's easy to find around here. Someone knows how to assess that?"
Giggett turns back at Tamli:
"Could you show us where you found it exactly?"