The half-orc, likewise, gathers information within the city.
As you speak with the locals, many of whom are reluctant to speak with you. Those that do choose their words carefully, glancing around from time to time, in an effort to determine who may be overhearing them. You learn that Xin-Edasseril was trapped outside of time for what seemed to the locals to be the period of a week. Only later did they realize that the city had been trapped for about ten thousand years, the result of Belimarius' efforts to avoid the catastrophe of Earthfall.
You gain the sense that many of the city's residents are proud and unwilling to acknowledge how out of touch they are with the modern world.
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Guntram chuckles and mutters to himself, Sure, I'll keep my hands in my pockets, when he's told to keep his weapons stowed.
Inside the city, he observes a few of his companions as they attempt to get the lay of the land.
After getting oriented, Guntram will suggest they work their way down the list and head to Envy Row.
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"The Emerald Guard... That sounds familiar. I'll consult my ancestors." Zaza begins a now familiar action as she casts Ancestral Memories to gain training in Thassilon Lore.
"Ah yes. The Emerald Guard. The highly-trained and capable city guard of Xin-Edasseril. Present throughout the city and riddled with graft and corruption. A few well-placed and well-timed bribes will do wonders for our mission."
"As for the people of Xin-Edasseril themselves, well, the ones that I managed to get to speak with me were very carful with their words and fearful of being overheard. I suspect that they were uneasy in voicing anything that might be seen as criticizing the current regime. At any rate the thousand years trapped outside of time felt like merely a week to them. They seem a proud people, unwilling to acknowledge how out of touch they are with the modern world."
Zaza rubs her hands together and looks at her companions. "Well now that that's done where shall we head first? Filtch's flat in Envy Row East? Or maybe the Ministry of Tithes and our wealthy friend Themolin? We'll also need to secure lodging. Perhaps our friend Yuleg at the Rockfish Inn can provide us with somewhere to stay during curfew?"
Making your way through the bustling city is time consuming as you are forced to pause at times as the crowds halt before passing patrols. Your travel is held up further as you find yourselves waiting in lines at additional check points within the city or, in some cases, spending time looking for back alleys and ways to circumvent them.
After about two hours, you find yourself in front of a sturdily-built, stone building with a meticulously thatched roof. It is marked by a hand-carved, wooden sign with silver inlays that declare the building to be The Rockfish Inn.
All of the windows of the inn are shuttered and there is a sign upon the door.
Next to the inn is a table.
After trying the door and knocking, the party hears a series of heavy footfalls coming the interior of the building. A series of noises suggests the turning and sliding of a number of locks, before the door opens and reveals a red-bearded dwarf wearing spectacles.
"I'm very sorry, very sorry. But, The Rockfish Inn is closed at present. My daughter, Vurna, is very ill." says the dwarf as he shakes his head in apology. "As much as I would like to tend to guests, I'm afraid her sickness demands my time and, while I do not think her contagious, the last thing I would want is to risk any of my fine patrons getting sick. Thank you for your interest and do come again."
He raises a meaty hand in a pleasant wave as a sendoff and then prepares to close the door.
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Zaza steps forward, her foot in the door. "Are you certain you cannot accomidate us? Cousin Guaril reccomended your establishment so highly. 'You simply must visit my friend Yuleg's inn. It's a great escape from the oppression of modern existance.' he said. Additionally during our stay I'm sure Dr Falk here could see to your daughter's illness." She gestures towards Guntram.
"You should be careful to watch your words." says dwarf, before stating quite loudly. "Well, if you are willing to take the risk, I suppose I could use the coin. Come in, please. Quickly, before you catch a cold."
The dwarf ushers you out of the street and into the inn, before shutting the door and locking it tightly. "Guaril send you, then? I should have known. Still, it is not safe to speak so openly out in the streets. There could be spies anywhere."
Once convinced that the door is adequately locked, the dwarf turns to you all. "My apologies. I am Yuleg. Yuleg Bluingot. I thought the plan had fallen through when I heard that Emerald Guard was looking for Guaril. But, alas, regardless, I am afraid that I am in no position now to travel. You see, my daughter Vurna truly is sick and I fear that she may not last the next few nights, let alone a trip overseas. I appreciate the efforts that you must have gone through to get here, but I simply will not risk my daughter's life, not leave her here to fend for herself in the city. You must carry out whatever plans you have without me, I am afraid."
"If you can help here, then I would very much in your debt." Yuleg replies. "If you are a healer, then I will take you to her room. As for the rest of you, please, make yourselves at home. You are welcome to stay here as long as you need to. We have plenty of linens and simple amenities that you would, I hope, expect from a modest inn."
"As I had been planning to leave, I don't have much in the way of foodstuffs, I'm afraid, and I haven't left Vurna's side to get any more since she fell ill." The dwarf then gestures over to a row of six, large barrels. "I do, however, still have most of my stock of pickled fish, if you wish to help yourselves." Each barrel is filled to the brim with a briny mixture.
Yuleg then heads to a nearby room, where a young, red-haired dwarf lies atop a wooden bed beneath a pile of quilted covers. Yuleg reaches into a basin of cold water and retrieves a wet cloth that he then places on the young woman's forehead. "This is Vurna. When Guaril failed to appear, she began heading into the sewers nightly, hoping to spot a nearby ship in the cove. A couple days ago, she came home feeling sick. She has only gotten worse, I'm afraid."
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Zaza opens one of the barrels and helps herself to some of the pickled fish, then frowns."Interesting taste." She pulls out a few more fish and finishes them off as well."I don't exactly like this but I can't seem to stop eating. I wonder what that says about me?"
"While you're tending to the woman I'll be over here. She then sits herself in a chair and begins meditating, occasionally speaking softly to herself."
"It looks to me as if you are as helpless to help her as I am." says Yuleg, the once hopeful look on his face having now faded as the Pathfinders are unable to diagnose his daughter's condition. "It was too much for this old inn keeper to hope for, I suppose."
"As you can plainly see, dear Vurna is in no condition to travel and, as I have said, I will not leave her side." he laments. "I appreciate your efforts to come for us and understand that it has put your lives in jeopardy. I am a man of my word. You may stay the night and avail yourselves of the meager amenities that I have to offer. But, come morning, you should probably leave and seek out the others that you may have a chance to free."
"Well I may not be a doctor but I do have some coin in my purse. Yuleg, Where might I be able to purchase some antiplague for your daughter?"
"Medicinals and supplies may, I fear, not be as ready to come by as in those parts of the world from where you regularly tend." notes Yuleg. "The Runelord of Envy takes what is best for herself and her minions and officials oft do the same. However, I have heard rumors of a confectionary shop that is not all that it seems. I have heard it spoken of only in whispers, but from what I have heard, it is said that, within its shop, one can find the tonics and elixirs designed to vanquish one's ills or otherwise bring an end to a source of misery. I've heard, also, that it is secretly frequented by bureaucrats and other officials within the city."
The dwarf leans forward and speaks quietly, "It is called, Sweetest Dreams." Yuleg scrawls a rough map of the city, providing the shop's general location.
Map of City now updated to include location of Sweetest Dreams.
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"I guess it's decided then. Let's go to Sweetest Dreams. I must admit I find 'one can find the tonics and elixirs designed to vanquish one's ills or otherwise bring an end to a source of misery' rather ominous. I hope this place isn't some sort of secret poisoner's guild.
We should have enough time to get the antiplague and be back before curfew. Then one of our medics can treat her disease during the night."
The party makes their way towards the location for the confectionary shop that was indicated by Yuleg on the map. En route, Zaza makes inquiry about the shop.
Zaza hears that Sweetest Dreams offers a delightful, spiced bonbon that a woman insists that the half-orc simply must try. However, the Pathfinder is unable to obtain any additional information.
The directions lead you to a simple confectionery shop where a ruddy faced is placing a tray filled with dark fudge on a nearby counter.
"May I help you?" he asks as you enter, before looking up. Upon spying the assorted persons in the party, he notes pensively, "You are not quite locals, are you?"
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"I'm afraid we'll need more than dark chocolate, Casey. It's hardly a substitute for actual medicine, or better yet an alchemical antiplague. I realize this city is 10,000 years out of date but you'd think you could actually buy somthing like that here. It's like these people just don't like gold."
Zaza turns to the ruddy faced person. "I'm sorry that was rude of me to ignore you like that. You are correct we are not quite locals although I'm told I have ancestors that lived in this very city. Possibly they could even be alive today although my arts have failed to illuminate the matter further."