"Maybe I should look for this Khalibi and see if he’s hiring. Maybe the gods would like it if I got an honest job."
"There is never any harm done in finding honest work, but I'm more interested in finding a way to heal you and heal any with whom you've come in contact. Tell me about this Matala. What she a human? Did she start becoming an ooze after coming in contact with you?"
Pazúr looks on with a touch of envy as Sir Holton effortlessly cleans the blood and slime off himself, then thanks the broad-shouldered orc for the healing he provides. "Thanks, Holton. I keep saying it - those things hit hard." Pazúr's fur is still matted with blood in a couple of places where the ooze's acid burned through his skin.
"Matala is... was? a human woman yes. She did not become an ooze. I do not know what became of her. Maybe she is an ooze. Maybe Numu can help. Maybe Khalibi."
Khalibi isn't a who, it's a what: the Khalibi Caravan House.
”What kind of work does Khalibi offer? Is he a benevolent employer, or closer to a slave master?”
”Grisshuk, my friend. Khalibi sounds like the caravan house. Although I support you getting honest work, perhaps it would be wiser for you not to go to a caravan house until we figure out this curse. It would be a shame to lose more people to the ooze. What do you know about Bwamandu Camp and this healer, Numu?”
|
Pazúr looks on with a touch of envy as Sir Holton effortlessly cleans the blood and slime off himself, then thanks the broad-shouldered orc for the healing he provides. "Thanks, Holton. I keep saying it - those things hit hard." Pazúr's fur is still matted with blood in a couple of places where the ooze's acid burned through his skin.
Heyou! pulls out a lesser elixir of life, and hands it to Pazur.
He then hands a second elixir to the catfolk. "If you needs this, go ahead and drink."
The party takes some time to heal up.
Pazúr holds up a meaty paw and waves off Heyou's offer of a second elixir, saying, "I feel a lot better now, thanks. Sure was lucky we met you two after that first ooze fight." He pauses thoughtfully a moment, then adds, "Never in my life did I think I'd have to specify exactly which fight with an ooze in a particular day I'm talking about, but there it is."
Tuning back in to the conversation, Pazúr sums up what he's heard, "If we want to do something about this ooze-making sickness, which seems like a good way to keep them from killing us eventually, it looks like we should head to the caravan house or this Bwamandu camp." About to lay a companionable paw on the orc's shoulder, then thinking better of it, lest he get turned into an ooze, Pazúr asks, "Grisshuk, can you tell us where these places are? Are they both here in the city? If Matala got sick at the caravan house, seems that's where we should start."
Grisshuk doesn't know about Khalibi's, but can help with the Bwamandu camp.
"I think it best for me to stay completely away from as many people as possible."
"Well, if we only know where one of them is, I suggest we go to that one," Pazúr offers.
"Well, my friend, if you know where Bwamadu camp is located, I would be happy to get your directions."
"Grisshuk, my friend. You have been through a great ordeal, but I think the Dawnflower will shine her light down upon you. My companions and I will work to solve the mystery of this curse. In the meantime, be kind go yourself."
"I shall try. I cannot promise more."
-------
Later that day, now close to dinner, the party makes the jaunt to the the camp. Once a tiny site of tents and huts occupied by refugees fortunate enough to have escaped Usaro, the Bwamandu Camp has recently exploded in size. Fresh upheaval in Usaro has made escaping it easier, and many have fled here. The Bwamandu Camp has done what it can to welcome this influx, but its resources are clearly and badly strained.
People point you to a group of four large tents, telling you that Numu turned them into a hospital. When you enter the tent, you can immediately tell who Numu is based on her comportment. She's clearly overworked, stressed, and feeling good about her work. She moving about doing too many things at once. she barely glances up, "Can I help you? Are you injured?"
”Hi, Namu. I’m Ferrun and these are my friends. We are trying to get to the bottom of the ooze mystery and what’s amusing it. Do you recall helping a woman named Matala? She was a friend of an orc named Grisshuck and we understand that she may have turned to ooze unless you were able to help her. Are you able to heal people of this awful affliction?”
She gives an exasperated sigh, "I've seen people die from ...whatever it is, and that I'm glad I never stopped carrying my mace. Needed it in Usaro to crush slavers’ heads. I would like to talk more, especially if you're looking into it, but I have several people who require immediate care. If you're are willing to help, I’ll have more time for further discussion."
"Absolutely. We are happy to help however we can, especially if you need us to crush slavers' heads. What can we do for you?"
Her face brightens a bit, "The sick and injured are spread out among three different tents." She points to the different areas.
"I have plenty of kits, so don't worry there. Do what you can! That tent is all the straight up injured, hope blood doesn't make you squeamish. Over there are the diseased, don't worry, no oozes. The last one I think is all poison from spider bites. I haven't had time for triage."
Tent 1:
Triage: Injury
Status: Needs help.
Tent 2:
Triage: Disease
Status: Needs help.
Tent 3:
Triage: Poison
Status: Needs help.
Party: Pick a tent and go!
Ferrun: ???
Pazúr: ???
Heyou!: ???
Holton: ???
Chivivit: ???
Kicsit: ???
"Well, medicine isn't my strong suit," Pazúr says in response to the unusual request, "I'm better suited to being charming. But I've certainly had to patch up friends after a fight, so I'll lend a helping hand."
His actions don't quite live up to his words, though he manages not to actually hurt anyone with his attempted ministrations.
Pazúr Sixclaw doesn't seem to make any progress, but Heyou! is right behind him. The plucky goblin manages to find the exact correct place to be as he works wonders! (He also notes that the wounds here look like they were all caused by a bar fight.)
Tent 2:
Triage: Disease
Status: Needs help.
Tent 3:
Triage: Poison
Status: Needs help.
Party: Pick a tent and go!
Ferrun: ???
Holton: ???
Chivivit: ???
Kicsit: ???
Ferrun goes to the second tent to help those afflicted with disease.
While he works, he sings a gentle song to ease the pain of the sick.
Having similar amounts of medical experience to Kicsit, he follows along with Ferrun and tries to help out.
Ferrun's skills in medicine aren't enough, but his bedside manner is a welcome respite from the pain of disease.
Meanwhile Holton checks on the poisoned patients and instantly recognizes the particular issue. It's all a simple spider venom. The treatment is basic and in no time he gets them all on the right side of healthy.
Sadly Kicsit and Chivivit struggle to help.
Numu keeps moving to and fro with speed and urgency with other patients. Only the patients suffering a disease escape her ministrations.
As before, Medicine, magic, items, or creativity:
Ferrun: ???
Pazúr: ???
Heyou!: ???
Holton: ???
Chivivit: ???
Kicsit: ???
Ferrun goes and checks with his underworld contacts to try and give the Bwamandu Camp the support of underworld operatives.
"Hey, those at the Bwamandu Camp can use a bit of help with supplies and medicines. Anything you can procure would be a big help!"
"Hold still, won't you?," Pazúr grumbles as he tries again to patch up one of the injured folks, with a bit more success this time.
Ferrun steps outside the tent, looking for some unsavory types, but there aren't any close by that can help. To make matters worse, Heyou! Pazur and Sir Holton all fail to deal with the disease.
Chivivit: ???
Kicsit: ???
Chivivit and Kicsit both lend what help they can.
Shocked at his own prowess, Chivivit works to handle the cleaning and prep work to deal with the disease.
Numu is extremely happy with your work. She has the time to wash her hands quickly and finally sit down. "Now, what can I do for you? I clearly owe you a favor, so how can I help?"
”Indeed, the goblin speaks true. We are trying to get to the source of some trouble. There is an orc named Grisshuk who believes he is cursed because he turns people To ooze. We are also looking for his friend, Matala. Do you hav envy information that could help us solve this problem with oozes?”
She says, "I've seen a few victims of the ooze transformation, and I can also can confirm that it’s a curse and not a disease. The very first victim was a woman named Matala, who wasn’t particularly lucid by the time she reached me." Numu sighs before continuing, "I could tell she was a laborer by trade. When I asked about the affliction, Matala only said “Crimson Asp” before dying; moments later, she swelled up into a gelatinous cube that we had to destroyed. And before you ask I don’t have any idea who or what the “Crimson Asp” is."
"Look, you helped her, far more than most. Here are Matala’s belongings, maybe there's a clue."
The party takes the belongings, which are nothing more than her clothes and a small key to who knows what.
"You have been most helpful, Namu. We cannot thank you enough for all of the work you are doing here. We will do what we can to get to the bottom of this, but it certainly seems like a mystery we have on our hands. Thanks for doing everything you could for Matala. I know Grisshuk would have appreciated it. May Desna's luck always be with you."
"Peace and long life. Good luck in your hunt. This is a terrible curse."
"Alright, my friends. Where shall we go? Perhaps the Khalabi caravan house? Let's see if we can find it."
Sir Holton gets a solid feel for the lay of the land, spending about 2 hours asking around. Eventually he finds reference to a caravan hose on Asp way that meets the description. By the time he grabs the address, the sun has set. It's been an extremely eventful day....
You head to the inn that Abayone recommended. Upon your arrive is a note of thanks from the Councilwoman.
Thank you heroes. I have arranged to pre-pay you a stipend of 5 days. If you complete your mission before then, consider any leftover a bonus from Kibwe.
The back contains 55 Gp.
”Agreed, my friend. This is a rather nice inn. I suppose we can all use the rest. Let’s all forget about slime and ooze for a while. Tomorrow we will venture to Asp Way. Do any of you have any ideas on removing curses? I’m thinking about poor Grisshuk and wondering how he is faring through all of this.”
Chivivit doesn't have too much to shop for.