Perched at the edge of civilized lands, the small
town of Falcon’s Hollow has always had to
rely on itself to solve its problems. Meanwhile,
the uncaring lumber barons squeeze the common folk for every last copper, deaf to their
pleas. Now the hacking coughs of the sick are
heard throughout town. The plague has come
to Falcon’s Hollow and the town’s leaders can’t
be bothered to stop it
You have been to plenty small towns in the middle of nowhere before, Walls partially sound the town. The river strangely has no one out fishing and you heard this was a logging town. Maybe its an off day. The caravan you were traveling with has no intention of staying. One other person, Arlin, goes into town with you.
He smiles, ”Good luck here. If you make it to Almas someday I hope to see you.” Pointing to a tall two story building, ”Should be able to find a room there.” And Arlin head up to the smaller walled in part of town.
Town like this at midday should be more active than this. Just up the road looks like a half the townsfolk are gathered.
The town has always had a fair amount of disinterest in the teaching of Iomedea that Lady Cirthana has been trying to spread though this town. Recently though people have been getting sick. A nasty cough is starting to make its way though the frontier town. Deep and painful coughs that turns bloody rather quickly. Despite her attempts the locals do not want Lady Cirthana attempts to help.
The elderly and the young seem to be getting it the worst. But no one is safe. Its been making its way though town the last week, best anyone can guess. No one is quite sure when it started and how long it takes to set in.
Lady Cirthanahas been a bundle of anxiety. These damn people don’t trust her and she just wants to help. At least the sheriff let her help. He just sealed off the well. But everyone trusts Laurel.
Cirthana looks tired, ”I can’t be seen there. Sweetie will you see if Laurel will take my help?”
Sheriff just boarded up the well. Sealing that up doesn’t magically cure anyone. The drunkards are the best off, drinking from that well was making people sick. No ones has died yet but from what you over hear some folks are looking like they might not make it. The Sitting Duck is closed for the first time you have ever seen. No shops are open except Roots and Remedies. That line is curling around the building.
You were out hunting, had quiet a bit of luck too. A field dressed boar is slung over Sir Pounce’s back and you have few rabbits as well. The town should noisier than it is. Heading towards the butchers.
But the lights are off. You have a key and know where to put the meat so it keeps. Sitting on the floor is Colbrin Jabbs. He looks up tiredly at you, ”Normally I’d help you. You’ve been out of out in the woods. Got lucky. Something with the well.”
Rubbing his eyes, ”Think you could check at Roots? Mikra’s coughing up blood.”
Pushing himself up and coughing, “”I’ll pay you back.”
The town of Falcons Hollow is typically very active during the day. But as you walk into town its strangely quiet. The Sitting Duck, right next to the wall, is dark. Its never closed.
There is a huge crowd around Roots and Remedies just down the road. You have a bag full of various plants Laurel asked for the last time you were in town. No one looks like they are not going to let you go in ahead of them. Couple people are talking about the well getting seal up.
The pale gnome is all smiles as she wishes Arlin a very pleasant goodbye.
Once he's gone, she puts on her hard-lined, slightly unhinged, 'game face' and *hrumphs* as she glances at the empty street, then regards the (likely) boarding house, and finally turns her golden eyes on the crowd up the road.
Rooms will still be here later. Let's see what's the brouhaha. Might be insightful.
Decision made, Odelai strolls toward the crowd - carved hanbo in hand - and getting all 'witchy' with her white hair flowing (well... simulating a flowing motion) in a non-existent wind. Odelai had been practicing the hair thing for six months now and she was feeling pretty good about how real it looks.
Penelope was sweeping the temple, wondering just how the place got so dusty with no one in it most days. She was developing a theory about the grains of dust actually being the blessing of the goddess, clinging the faithful for grace and protection, and without a flock the dust just settled on the floor.
Others might contest her theory, saying that Penelope just wasn't good at housework. Which would make the young would look indignant, but unable to deny it.
She was pulling a lock of her pale blonde hair behind her pointed ear, when her guardian broke her out of her musings. "I can." she looked over at the anxious Cirthana, and gave her a slightly guilty smile. Penelope's, the priestess' own ward, hadn't adopted her religion, so who would expect normal townsfolk to. Cirthana had never said this, WOULD never say this, but Penelope's guilt said it enough for both of them.
"I'm sure she will have something for us to do." the young woman assured, but lacked confidence. Then she grabbed her bow (in case she spotted a rabbit), and hurried out after a quick enforced hug.
"Well, where the hell am I supposed to grab a pint now?" Jenkin mumbled as he looked at the locked door of the Sitting Duck. Well, that's when you can absolutely tell when things were going to crap, when you didn't even have a place to drown your sorrows. Or whet your joys. All the same. Still, maybe being forced to spend a few days not on a bar stool couldn't hurt... his tab was getting to be a bit uncomfortable, for someone currently living off of what he stashed away. In fact... he grinned to himself, cought up in one of his brilliant ideas, albeit with some grim inspiration behind it. This could be an opportunity. With half the town falling ill, there was undoubtedly work needing to be done and a shortage of hands to do it. A healthy fellow looking for some money might be able to find a few odd jobs, nothing major, just enough to keep oil in the hurricane lamp, so to speak. And if there was a line around the block at the herbalist... well, a crowd was as good a place to ask as any. Jenkin gave one last mournful sigh for the alcohol buzz he wouldn't be enjoying today and set out to earn enough to keep his tankard full another night.
Walking into the town, Elowen is greeted by the usual bombardment of scents that come along with the town, too many people, the smells of fire, and cooking and of course, the ever present smell of lumber. Puzzled at the sight of The Sitting Duck dark, the growing foreboding feeling rising in her only builds as she sees the unusual crowd in front of Laurel's shop.
The town apothecary always had steady business as far as she could tell, but the large crowd was both unusual and unsettling. Not to mention way too many people at once.
Moving closer to the crowd, she listens, hoping to catch some mention of what the fuss was all about, ignoring the mixture of looks she received from those amassed, some puzzled or amused, others accustomed to her appearance after all this time.
She could even feel that चढ़ाई पौधा was uneasy as well, the rustle of her leaves reacting to the tension in the area, vines restlessly coiling along her arm and shoulder.
At first no one seems to notice you or you splendidly flowing white hair. The people at the end of the line and talking among themselves. "Sealed it up this morning, he did." "We supposed to drink from the river?" "The duck is closed so I guess so."
But once you are close enough to hear them one green eyed human notice you. Looks young enough to be gullible and old enough to hopefully have coin of his own, "You new here? Can't say I've seen your face before. Your group leave you behind?"
Cirthana's smile almost reaches her eyes, "Thank you sweetheart. They trust her and if I showed up they might trust no one."
Anxiously watching you get ready, "Please be careful."
It's a bit of a walk but you can shorten it by moving between houses instead of on the dirt road. Normally people would be out tending to their little gardens, children would be playing, but no one is outside of their house. You can hear coughing in a house you pass by.
Your short cut brings you right behind Roots and Remedies with its fenced in garden. And you can see people lined up outside. Clearly waiting in line for some curative concoction.
The town has been getting quieter over the last couple of days and this is the stillest its been in your whole life. Once people started coughing up blood the adventuring groups left to continue their journeys, far away from people coughing up blood. Seems like something happened that made all the business close up except for Roots and Remedies. Though you are sure up on The Perch the richer folk are suffering less.
It is a bit of a walk as the line runs the opposite direction you are coming from. You can hear people grumbling about the lack of action from the mayor and general anxiety about people getting sick so fast. A few wave to you as you walk past. The line is moving but it will take some time. But Laurel is clearly going to have coin to spare for some odd jobs and everyone here has the potential to need something.
You are just familiar enough to not make people warry. But it's very clear something is wrong. Walking past the long line as its very clear no will let anyone head of them you hear a enough to start piecing things together.
"Hasn't been out of bed the last two days." "Mayor has said nothing. Hiding in his manor." "Why was the well sealed up?" "Someone poisoned it and that what caused it" "How they gonna fix that?" "I'll take dirnkin fish water over spewing blood." "Don't know if she is gonna make it." "My boy just started coughin, Laurel has always taken such good care of us."
You dont look well, I can only heal wounds not diseases, but I can give it a go.
She nods to him.
She eyes the long que at roots and remedies, writes something on a scroll and hands it to the first in line.
Hi Laurel,
Its more productive if I search herbs for you then wait in line. Write a description, and ill seek to get it. Reward is a dose of what you think works for Mirka. Deal?
Svetlana.
The tremor of communal worry as well as the tenor of the few comments she overheard strike the small gnome.
What in the nine Hells is going on? What’s got this town afraid?
To the young man’s questions, Odelai stalls by pretending to stop and listen to unheard voices before responding with ‘witchy sh!t’ while prying for more details. ”New to this town, yes, but old to this world I am, child.” She chuckles lightly, ”But do not worry, I am not alone. I am never alone. I am a daughter of starlight and moonlight. The winds whisper secrets to me, the elements are my brethren, and the Fae of the Court Unseen are my friends.”
”The Fates have guided me here, on this day, at this precise hour. But why? What manner of ill has befallen your town that the Fates would require my service or my witness?”
[spoiler=Svetlana "Tigress" Ulyanova]
Colbrin offers you a tired smile, "Thanks."
The tired looking woman you hand the scroll too looks you up and down, "line isn't that long. I need to get back to my mother."
A couple of the others around her look annoyed. Clearly everyone is far to stressed for niceties. [/spoiler]
He raises an eyebrow, "You one of those traveling priestesses?"
Shrugging, "Something happened to the well, the one everyone drinks from. Sheriff boarded it up. All the old folk and most of the younens have a nasty cough that. Takes maybe a day before they are coughin up blood. Other folk got it too but its the kids and old folk I'm worried about."
Crossing his arms, "My ma and pa have always been healthy and now they can't leave the house."
A young half-elf woman in various shades of purple from skirt to sleeveless coat, finds herself behind a white-haired gnome who is talking to one of those brothers she can never remember the name of. "If you boil the water from the river, there isn't a problem drinking from it." she answers matter of fact, then gives the newcomer a slight quick smile, enjoying the pleasant sheen to her stark white hair for a moment. One must take a moment here and there, Erastil says, to enjoy the world.
Then a cough shatters that small moment, Penelope nods to the brother with the misplaced name and the newcomer and rushes to the end of the line.
Look, do you want me to be up and about getting more herbs for her, which will also benefit you, or do you want me to wait in line twiddling my thumbs? She makes a fairly reasonable request.
"Or you can just drink beer instead of water..." Jenkin interjects nonchalantly and completely uninvitedly as he passes Purple Penny and a gnome lady on the street. "It's why it doesn't make sense to go closing down the taverns! A good drunk keeps the sick away, everyone knows that! You get enough alchohol in you, there's no room for the plague to sneak in. Or something like that, I don't know exactly how it works..."
Nodding to many of the deeply concerned or frightened townsfolk crowding around Roots and Remedies, Elowen moves forward, speaking up. "Please, let me by. I have herbs and medicinal plants for Laurel, that might be able to help."
Even to those unaware that she regularly supplied the herbalist, the sight of her, exposed skin bearing marks and swirls resembling wood grain, Her vibrant green hair, fragrant and resembling leaves interspersed with blossoms, there was no doubt she was likely the expert on herbs.
As she moves towards the front she notices Svetlana, the huntress and her tiger companion she’d encountered a few times in the wilds, hunting for the townsfolk or patrolling the outskirts, speaking to someone in line.
He raises an eyebrow, "You one of those traveling priestesses?"
Definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed. Odelai’s eyes twinkle, ”I’m not that kind of priestess.”
"If you boil the water from the river, there isn't a problem drinking from it." she answers matter of fact, then gives the newcomer a slight quick smile, enjoying the pleasant sheen to her stark white hair for a moment.
Odelai returns the smile and gives the half-elven woman a small curtsy before Penelope hustles away.
Quite certain she wouldn’t get any more useful information from the boy, Odelai raises her voice just enough so that other locals in line can hear her, ”Your priests have checked the well for poison and disease, yes? What did they find?”
A few people stands Kitani Eavewalker who calls out to the both of you, "You can go in with me."
She holds out her hand for the scroll, "If you wait I'll bring it out unless you wanna talk with her yourself."
Folks behind her grumble about "Respecting folks that been waiting." and "Hill folk don't know any better." but don't get particularly loud about it.
He smiles a bit more comfortably knowing the newcomer isn't that kind of priestess He offers his hand down, "I'm Tristan."
Turning to nod at Penelope, "Don't change that I know folk relieve themselves out there when fishing."
Jenkin gets a few chuckles and a friendly punch to the shoulder, "Man's got the right idea."
"Think Ergin got it. Either that or he can't be bothered when its the locals. Prick only cares about the adventurers and their coin."
Tristans smile turns sheepish though at the mention of priests but before he can say anything another voice, a few ahead in the line, joins in, "No one trusts that preachy old hag."
Scowling he hollers back, much louder than necessary, "Quiet you raggedy bat. Things are miserable enough without havin to hear your squawkin."
Penelope greets Jenkin warmly, only giving him a slight roll of her eyes at the drinking comments. Then she glares at the voice that yells about her guardian. She wants to yell back, to fight if needed, but she KNEW Cirthana would not like that, even if it was for her. Then Tristan yells for her, and he gets a thankful smile. "'raggedy bat' I like that one, will have to keep it for later use." she said so the raggedy bat wouldn't hear.
He smiles a bit more comfortably knowing the newcomer isn't that kind of priestess He offers his hand down, "I'm Tristan."
The gnome takes the offered hand in the firmest grip she can muster… which isn’t much. ”Well met, Tristan. I’m Odelai.”
Tristan’s smile turns sheepish though at the mention of priests but before he can say anything another voice, a few ahead in the line, joins in, "No one trusts that preachy old hag."
Scowling he hollers back, much louder than necessary, "Quiet you raggedy bat. Things are miserable enough without havin to hear your squawkin."
Odelai’s eyes narrow. ‘Hag’ was often a euphemism for people like her… and it rarely ended well. Her hair twitches like a medusa’s as she is tempted to have her white tresses pin the speaker to the ground.
She nods her thanks for Tristan’s reply before speaking her own mind in a measured tone. ”Hag is an ignorant word for Crone… and the Crone possesses wisdom only the foolish ignore. If she will, I would speak with this wise woman. Where can she be found?”
"She is at the temple, but please don't call her a crone. Or a hag." Penelope asks quickly, then offers "I could take you, once I've talked to Ms. Gebre."
Odelai inclines her head in agreement. "I would appreciate your guidance. Also, I never refer to a wise-woman as a 'hag'. And 'crone' is... a compliment only to some. I will be on my best behavior with your friend."
"...Granny?" Jenkin suggests playfully.
Ignoring the comments, Elowen gives Kitani a smile, nodding in thanks as she joins the seamstress in heading in to the shop.
Penelope seems to appreciate the gnome woman's comments. She gives Jenkin a glare at his suggestion but a familiar one, mild and resigned, and nothing like the one she threw at the bat "You are probably too old for her to box your ears, and we're both too old for me to attempt to tackle you." the latter only worked the first few years, before his size grew way past hers. She sighed, then turned her attention back to the newcomer. "I'm Penelope Pinch, and this... person... is Jenkins. He's harmless but don't listen to him unless its about which ale is cheapest and still worth a drink."
My thanks Mrs. Kitani Svetlana speaks as she enters alongside her
Пожалуйста, подождите снаружи, сэр.
::Please wait outside Sir::
She says in Irriseni to her tiger, who, on account of the mass coughing, doesnt seem to be in the mood for demanding his tribute in tummy rubs.
The line continues to move forward. Creeping ivy and full window boxes cover the façade of the rugged-looking, two-story shop bearing the faded sign “Roots and Remedies.” Laurel is clearly trying to get people in an out of her shop as quickly as possible. Everyone that leaves has a small pouch or bottle in their hands.
Nodding to Penelope, "Can't let her think she can just say what she wants no matter how folks think about the Church."
Smiling at the banter and moving forwards as the line moves. Waving you all along the few paces closer you get. "Not much to drink with the Duck closed. Only a few people left. Im hopin she has something to help left."
Kitani smiles at both of you, "You are willing to go into the woods if Laurel needs so that will hopefully put an end to all this before it gets worse."
Rolling her eyes at the quiet complaining behind her, "Beside I would never hear the end of it from Kimi if you didn't have some new story of you heroism to tell to her and the other kids."
A few minutes pass by uneventfully before Elowen and Svetlana are next. The door is wide open and the smell of burnt earth and spicy incense chokes the air of the cramped, mud-tracked shop. Bunches of dried herbs hang from the ceiling, along with dangling pots, presses, alchemical apparatuses, and glassware of more arcane purposes. Pouches of rare plants, jars of colored glass, and all manner of dried, preserved, and jellied animal parts fill high shelves and tables doing double duty as displays and workspaces.
In the shop’s rear, a rail-thin woman with severe-looking spectacles and hair pulled back tightly busies herself between an overpacked rack of herbs, a table covered in stray powders and measuring equipment, and a pot loudly bubbling over with thick gray froth. Smiling at the both of you, "Elowen! Swetlana! I am thrilled to see the both of you."
Rushing around the counter to look out at the smaller line. "Give me a few minutes to deal with the rest of them. I definitely want to talk with you both."
Offering a tired smile, "Please." Not fulling you a chance to respond she ushers Kitani in. A few copper coins are exchanged for a small pouch of herbs and a warning, "Won't work immediately but it should help a bit. Steep it for four minuets and a bit of honey if you have it will help." Tilting her head to the two of you, "Should be getting something to actually fix this now that these two are here." And that interaction is repeated with each person that comes in.
Tristian walks out with a little pouch and smiles, "Nice meeting you Odelai.
At the pause Laurel takes the chance to hold out her hands to Elowen, "I know you just got these but do you think, both of you, could got get some specific things. Its a shot in the dark from my mothers book but things are getting bad here."
Understood, a picture would help though if you could paint one. She says to Laurel
Watching the newcomers
We are searching something static, so it is good to be in numbers. I am Svetlana Ulyanova, or just Tigress, Sir Pounce outside is with me. I can fight reasonably well, and dont freak out if I grow claws and fangs. I can also heal others.
The blond, tall and quite well muscled women says.
As Jenkin passes by a bored looking arctic tiger outside of the door, the tiger perks up and makes a drinking motion, followed by a swaying/shaking motion, followed by making reaaaalllllyyy tiger-puppy big eyes at Jenkin
After listening to the talk and hearing references to a temple and the church, Odelai concludes – somewhat glumly – that the ‘crone’ in town is just a priestess of some sort, not a witch. And for some reason this priestess and maybe the church itself isn’t respected in this town. Very curious.
"I'm Penelope Pinch, and this... person... is Jenkin. He's harmless but don't listen to him unless its about which ale is cheapest and still worth a drink."
Odelai nods, ”I’m Odelai, sometimes called The White… for obvious reasons. It’s an honor to meet you both.” She smiles and adds, ”I don’t object to decent ale and I’m not harmless.”
"Nice meeting you Odelai."
”I enjoyed it. I hope your parents fare better with those medicines.”
The gnome’s golden eyes lock on the artic tiger – fascinated – as she passes the big cat and enters the store. She comments to herself or possibly to the tiger, ”Seems here I don’t own the market on white hair.”
The store itself overwhelms Odelai’s senses for a minute. She breathes the spice-laden air in deeply, with pleasure, and then inspects the pots, dried herbs, and bottles of preserved animal parts closely. She sniffs around some of the alchemical ‘Rube Goldberg’ contraptions with clear interest as well.
Tristian walks out with a little pouch and smiles, "Nice meeting you Odelai.
At the pause Laurel takes the chance to hold out her hands to Elowen, "I know you just got these but do you think, both of you, could got get some specific things. Its a shot in the dark from my mothers book but things are getting bad here."
"Absolutely! Whatever it is, I'm sure I'll be able to find it, and if there's any chance that it will help, it's worth it." Elowen replies, taking Laurel's hands earnestly.
Penelope enters the shop a little nervously, despite having been in the place countless times in her life time and liking Ms. Gebre. Just two many people upset, and upset people are usually looking for something to focus their anger at.
"Hello, Ms. Gebre. I'd like to help as well. My guardian would like to as well, but worries about her association would... cause distrust." she admits, seeing the others in the room, but decides that most know about her guardian's reputation.
Smiling and nodding to the both of you, "Thank you both."
Getting up to go grab the book from a back room. Rushing out when
Svetlana greets people she had not clue were there. A massive and old book with papers stuffed in it a odd intervals.
"Just recruiting people?" Looking Odelai up and down, "Never seen you before. I'm Laurel Gebre. How can I help.." She trails off when she spots Penelope and Jenkin at her door.
Smiling at the potential opportunity in front of her. "You two looking from something helpful to do?"
"Yes mam" Penelope says politely, after pulling her eyes away from the tiger.
Odelai looks over the unusual cast of characters in the small shop, listening to the multiple conversations from people who obviously know each other. Odd man out... well, only one way to remedy that.
She finds a delicate fluted glass, wets a finger, and runs it along the rim of the glass until it starts 'singing'. The sound is piercing in the small space.
When the conversations quiet, she silences the glass with the palm of one hand. "Greetings all! My name is Odelai. I'm new to your town and this place is... unusual. As I understand it, there is a poison OR a plague that may or may NOT come from a closed well. There is some distrust of a priestess, or a church, or possibly both, based on little more than a lady possibly being a little crusty... which seems a silly reason to mistrust anyone. And apparently the only pub in town is closed."
She takes a breath then continues, "I'm more than a little confused but - despite being somewhat odd and crusty myself - I would like to help. Besides making glasses sing... I have skills, occult skills. SO, if I can be of service, please let me know."
She turns her golden eyes on Laurel, "Your shop is lovely, by the by. I'm inclined to buy many items, but this is probably not the time."
Jenkin follows the white-haired women into the shop, somehow having managed to tag along. "Well, you know me, Ms. Gebre, I'm always on the lokout for the odd job or two these days..." Then after a moment's thought, and considering the current situation the town is in, he follows up with, "Um. And helping out and being a active contributor to the community, yes indeed, that's what I'm all about." He nods, perhaps a bit too forcefully, unruly curly hair in need of a trim bouncing in his eyes. Those same eyes take in the other occupants of the shop and grow a bit wider. That's a BIG CAT!, he thinks.
The big Cat looks at Jenkins and sniffs a bit, its tail starts wagging hapily, then it looks through the window at the closed bar and all happyness leaves it as it visible deflates.
Clearly, actions need to be taken to restart the supply of tasty drinks!
It does not take a geninus in handle animal to derive its meaning.
You can drink water or milk you know? It doesnt have to be booze? Svetlana interjects into the cats display, and is completely ignored by it.
Smiling widely, "Wonderful. I do believe it is blackscour that got into the well."
Holding up the large book, "Took a bit to figure it out. My grandmother travel alot and that helped. Cause that fungus doesn't grow around here. But I have most of what I need. Most."
Starting to flip though the book, "I'll need Elderwood moss, which I’ve never heard of, but granny says the stuff only grows on the oldest tree in a forest. A specially pickled root called rat’s tail, again, sounds like hoojoo to me. And seven ironbloom mushrooms, stunty little things that only grow in dark places thick with metal, a favorite among dwarves, or so I hear"
She lifts up the book to show a thin mushroom, "Suposed to be a rust colored cap." Then a thin root in a jar. "She didn't say what the plant it was too but did mention where she got some. And the elderwood moss is supposed to be this green and grey in color."
Closing the book with a slam, "The elderwood mold, there’s gotta be an oldest tree in the vale. Damned if I know where it is, though.
The rat’s tail and mushrooms are even longer shots. Way north, toward the mountains, people say there used to live a bunch of dwarves. They’re not there anymore, but I’d bet their forges are. If you can find ironbloom anywhere around here, that’d be your best bet.
“As for the rat’s tail, Well. Ulizmila, the witch that lives deep in the woods might. She’s a crafty, mean thing that knows all sorts of strangeness. She might even have one. I don’t know what she might want for it, but I doubt it’d come cheap. My grandmother traded her sight to
the old crone for a few pages of what she knew, and that was years and years back, and I don’t know a soul who got any nicer as they got older."
The assembly of people now gathered at Roots and Remedies was definitely a bigger group than she was usually comfortable being around, but saving the people of Falcon's Hollow was worth the slight discomfort.
Besides, even the new ones and those she barely knew seemed the decent sort.
Turning her attention back to Laurel, she moves to look at the huge old book, as Laurel describes the rare ingredients they'd need to find.
"Do you know how fast this blackscour taint acts? It may take days to gather some of these."
Penelope gives Elowen a quick wave, having talked to her only a handful of times in all the years she's been coming to Roots. None of which had been more that a few minutes. Laurel always talked about her nicely though.
She listened without interruption and compares with her own meager knowledge before asking anything.
Let me write this down, and also paint them according to your description. What else do we know? Do any of these lose their potency quickly after collected? Because this would certainly influence the order in which we attempt to get these! And we need to stock up on supplies!
Svetlana starts painting how she eppects things o look like, based on the description.
Adventurers don't avoid the Church so you have had the chance to listen to them outside of the drinking and boasting that happens in the Sitting Duck. You haven't been yourself but you recall hearing one of those adventurers, had to be a year or two ago, talk about this creepy house they saw in woods. Big clearing and just a little hovel. But the clearing was filled with scarecrows and totem like skulls. You know its straight north of here and most of the way though the woods. Not likely to go on a straight route due to the river but you have a good idea of where to look.
Chewing on her lib while thinking, "No one has died yet. I think it takes a day or two to get settled in. But once you start coughing its about a day before it gets bloody. Folks are weak. I think its so bad cause its mostly the elderly and the young. I do know it can kill but it should take a few days at least."
Hugging herself, "I know it will take a few days but as quick as you can get back the better. Is there anything you might need from me?"
"I think I have a good idea where Ulizmila is." Penelope says tentatively. "Straight north of here. At least that is what I've heard, since I've never been."
The half elf looks like she wants to comfort Laurel, but she's never been really great at that. " Don't worry, Ms. Gebre, we'll get the ingredients, we will." she knows she is promising for all of them, but We sounds much better than I at the moment in a hundred different ways.
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Jenkin is fully aware that this is an important community service, and the town needs help now before things get truly dire, and, with that in mind, only someone who was truly socially inept would bring up the notion of compensation. "So... does this pay anything?" he asks nonchalantly. Because if you ask nonchalantly, it doesn't look like you're being greedy, right?
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Penelope tensed next to Jenkin, then looked over at him with a stern look of 'what in the hells!'. But he wasn't looking at her, so she had to say, in a tight voice "It pays in the betterment of the community, AND to keep people from dying, but if that isn't enough, I'll buy you drinks for a whole month." she paused then decided she needed to be more clear, he was big and so she knew that statement would beggar her quickly "One drink a day for a whole month."
As irritated as she felt, she also knew they needed everyone they could get, and despite that irritation, she knew Jenkin Ternham better than any of the others here... and trusted him enough to make that mean something.
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Odelai gives Penelope a smile, grudgingly admiring the other woman's pluck. "I'll match that. A drink a day for a month... but if I hear you complaining that isn't enough at any point during this little trek, I will strangle you with my armpit hair." She concludes with only a hint of a smile.
Laurel looks irritated but Penelope is quicker. Sighing, [b]" Well, I suppose I’m not doing all this for free either. If nothing else, this whole
thing’s been good for business. How about this, I'm going to go rase hell with the mayor and get something out of this and I;ll make sure you all get some of that. And if he has nothing then I'll rally the town to get rid of the yellow-bellied waste. And give you all a cut anyways. Fair?”
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Jenkin looks at least modestly chagrined. "Well, of course I'd do it anyway, just asking..." he mumbles.
He looks at Odelai, gives his best just funning around grin, and gulps.
Ironblooms are probably in the old monastery. Semi haunted place.
Elowen smiles as Penelope waves, returning the gesture awkwardly, as one she wasn't all that used to.
”I know where to find the oldest tree in the forest, we could get there in a little less than two days..provided Odelai here has a ride or some other means of covering ground at the same pace.” Elowen advises.
She nods as Svetlana mentions the monastery ”Yes, the best chance of finding those is probably there, on the other side of the forest, so definitely a few days. It has been abandoned for as long as I have known of it…probably longer than I have been alive. Even the animals avoid it.”