Chillel wrote: Chillel looks awkward at being kissed on the cheek by Jakk, but gives him a fleeting hug with one hand to show things are alright. She takes the breakfast, originally out of politeness as she had eaten, but then tucks in as the smell of the food hits her.
She listens as Kimi's absence is discussed, waits until she has swallowed the mouthful of ham she was chewing then replies If Kimi has not appeared by when we have finished eating, we will go and see if we can find her. Hopefully she has just been delayed. Chillel looks at Baradim to see if he concurs.
I don't know that there's any cause to worry just yet. Kimi has camped out with her friends on occasion and been gone for more than a day before. The only thing that concerns me is that she almost always checks in with Kitani every so often.
After listening to the back and forth of Kairon and Illiam, Lady Cirthana says, I may have a solution that will satisfy you both. I am a healer of no small skill myself, and I am allowed into The Perch, I've tried helping Master Figueroa already, but I did not have a potential cure to aid me before. Perhaps I should be the one to take a dose, or perhaps two, up to the good Master? Then Kreed will not know you are back, if that worries you so. Would you both be okay with that? She looks back and forth from the human to the halfling in question. She also takes a moment to look at Dolok and say, Your family are fine Dolok, or at least they were the last time I saw them, they were buying some things at the Goose 'n Gander two days ago. I know you want to see your Master, but perhaps if I can bring him the cure, to keep your arrival a secret for just a bit more, it will make things easier?
Lady Cirthana draws Kairon up from the floor and plants a much more ladylike kiss upon his brow. There is no forgiveness needed. You have only ever done that which you thought best to help Falcon's Hollow, and I cannot find any fault in that. I am on the side of good, on the side of Falcon's Hollow, and on your side Kairon Daaltin. Your efforts, she turns from him then to look at everyone in the room, all your efforts, have given the Hollow hope, and it is something that has been in short supply. She then turns to Illiam. I'm certain that between Jak and myself we can find messengers enough to spread the word. I can think of one young lady who will be sore upset that Lunarinus has not returned, but I'm certain she will still be eager to help. Which reminds me, where is Kitani? Penny said Hildy was going to get her and Caelis?
Lady Cirthana looks at Kairon carefully as he implies a lack of trust. She walks away from him, silently, goes to one of Jak's cupboards and starts taking down plates for Jak to put his famous flapjacks on. When she looks at Kairon again her face shows concern and care. The nature of this disease tells me that there is definitely cause for concern, and, perhaps, distrust. Certainly there is some element that is trying to destroy our way of life. She takes a filled plate and walks to him with that same casual grace she's always exhibited before. I do not think that Kreed or any of his guards would be in league with such a person or force. What profit is there in a dead town? Or perhaps you are referring to some others? She says, handing him the plate with two pancakes on it, and a fork she grabbed from the among the drying dishes on the way across the room. She points across the kitchen to a tall stone jug, and says, The syrup is kept there. Next to the jug is a tin ladle, obviously used for dipping. Careful how much you use, too much drowns out the spicy bite of the cinnamon, and defeats the power of the recipe.
Iomedae's cleric blushes once she realizes everyone is staring at her after her out of character emotional outburst. She takes a step back from Kairon and adjusts her silver, linen, fitted dress to smooth out any wrinkles she incurred during her moment of weakness. She looks at Chillel and says, Lunarinus has left? For Almas? How?
Hildana stops working and turns around reaching both hands up and pulling on her ponytail with alternating strokes, obviously some kind of nervous routine. She says, Well that's too bad. Never seen a feller quite as pretty, and rich, as that one.
Lady Cirthana clicks her tongue at Hildana's uncouth talk, but doesn't comment. She, instead, turns to address Baradim. I'm not certain that what's happening is any bigger than the disease. She pauses for a moment and again looks directly in Kairon's eyes. Eleven more people have died since you left, and I had to convince all of their families that burning the bodies was necessary. People are upset, and rightfully so! This disease threatens the very existence of Falcon's Hollow. I'm fairly certain Kreed just wanted to give people someone to be angry at besides him. Laurel is a scapegoat, nothing more. I'm certain, if this cure does work, she'll be released as soon as we tell him that she was instrumental in getting it made. Which brings me to the most important question. It looks like you've already been brewing the curative. Do you know if it works? She says looking around at the barrels and stacks of ingredients.
Don't forget about me Jak! Lady Cirthana says, and then, after she takes a look at the scene, recognizing who is all here, and seeing the barrels and ingredients from Laurel's place, she does one of the most unladylike things anyone can imagine. She runs across the cluttered kitchen and practically leaps into the arms of Kairon Daaltin. She buries her face in his neck, lips pressed tight to his cheek and mumbles, Praise Iomedae, you're back, and... with the ingredients we needed?! She says it both as a statement and a question.
Looking surprised at the level of enthusiasm for the haste, Lady Cirthana says, I am encouraged by the willingness of some to go so quickly, and I would do whatever I can to aid you. I can talk to Vamros alone if I must, and if he won't listen to reason, I'll find Deldrin Baleson and I'm certain he'll do what's necessary. Does everyone have the equipment they would need with them? If not, I can certainly have some of the Jacks in town bring out whatever you have left behind. She pauses for a moment looking at the sun's position barely descending in the western sky. I am usually not one for such haste, but I feel that in these circumstances it is warranted.
If people left gear behind somewhere I will make sure that it arrives at the main camp before you all want to head into the woods. NOt that I want to railroad anyone into this hasty move to the Consortium's main camp, but I know some people are eager indeed to get to the combat part of this adventure... You guys figure it out and let me know.
After listening to the conversation from a distance, Lady Cirthana approaches, but you can tell she refuses to look at Sennetta's corpse. Lunarinus, if you would accompany me back to Harg's tribunal and let him know what your paladin senses detected, I hope that will be enough to convince him to give us authority for what is necessary here. If not, I will go to Sheriff Baleson, I am certain, permission or not, he will gather his deputies and see to this dark work. Regardless, Sarenrae's envoy has done more than enough in this regard. We do not need for you to waste time and energy digging up corpses, we need you to find a cure. If you are willing, I think it would be a good idea to go to the Consortium's main camp this evening still. You should have just enough daylight left to make it there. Milon Rhoddam usually spends the night there giving his reports to Jarlben Trookshavits, then heads back out in the morning for his scouting forays. I realize this means you would be forgoing the comfort of Jak's inn rooms, but I do feel that time is one of our greatest enemies here, and the sooner you can enter the woods, the sooner you can return. Cirthana's voice is tremulous with emotion and urgency, and though she seems to address Lunarinus with her eyes, it seems she is addressing everyone with her words.
What say you?
No. The Medins were childless. It was a great sorrow as they were both such sweet people, and many among us thought they would have made great parents. The whole town mourned their loss, as they had taken to acting as surrogate grandparents to many of the children. In fact, Sennetta actually got sick because... she was... helping to tend to some of the other families' little ones... As Lady Cirthana talks about the acts of kindness of the widow Sennetta, she breaks down into tears and sobs. She turns away from the group then, and uses the long drape of her dress's sleeve to wipe away the wet from her face. After a moment, she returns to looking at the men. I'm sorry. She apologizes. As a cleric I'm used to the transition of death, but... she pauses for a moment again to collect herself, this disease has taken a toll on us all.
As the envoy, with Baradim accompanying, leave the tribunal, Lady Cirthana seems to relax quite a bit. That went better than I thought it would, actually. She says, then begins walking immediately east, off the road and onto the grass heading toward the steep hill that acts as the town's eastern bulwark. There should be enough shovels in the gravediggers' shed, in the heart of the cemetery. She says to alleviate everyone's fears about digging implements.
Descending the steep hill requires one to almost sit down and slide, or to just give in and run down full force, slowing after reaching the bottom. Lady Cirthana takes the first approach, leaning back with one hand on the ground, and sliding in short controlled bursts until she reaches the bottom. She then leads her coterie of men to the heart of the cemetery to what would best be described as a lean-to. It is a slapped together shed of left over scrap lumber, held together with rope and nails. Inside, just as the Lady said, there are several picks and shovels, and even a couple saws, undoubtedly for any roots that are too thick to break with a shovel edge. After everyone that is so inclined grabs a shovel, Lady Cirthana leads the group through the forest of stone grave markers to a row that is near the middle and on the northern end. As the entourage stops at the marker you see two stones next to each other. On the first is marked: "Here lies Tholan Medin lumberjack, husband, friend of the Hollow. 4647 - 4706 AR" On the other gravestone is etched: "Here lies Sennetta Medin wife of Tholan. 4646 - 4712 AR"
Sennetta's grave is obviously fresh, black dirt still sits atop it somewhat settled by five days of exposure. Well... the Lady says, this is it.
Before the group can begin shoveling, though, Baradim snaps alert as he sees Kanga sniffing at something near the grave. She sniffs around for just a moment on the north side of the grave, and then growls a low rumbling growl deep in her throat and looks up at the treeline in the distance. Examining the ground Kairon finds a faded, but still visible, set of footprints in the grass nearby. Thankfully the weather lately has been seasonable and dry, leaving the impressions of someone's footwear clearly in the grass. As he gets down to examine closer, Kairon realizes the footprints approached from the north, the woods, and then returned the same way.
Lady Cirthana waves at the speedy Dolok, with Illiam and Chillel following close behind. She calls to his back to remind him, as they turn the corner of the low market, right next to the magistrate's tribunal: Don't forget that Illiam and Chillel won't get into the hill district without your vouching Dolok! Then she turns to the entrance of the tribunal, looking to Lunarinus, Kairon, Baradim, and Goruck. I hope we are able to convince Vamros of the need to burn the recently deceased. She pauses and peers into the smoke filled antechamber that serves as the tribunal's entryway and waiting room. He's not the most understanding of men.
We'll definitely need the magistrate's consent before exhuming bodies. I don't think Kreed need know about it at all. None of the people that have died so far are lumberjacks or of any particular concern to him. Vamros Harg is the law in town, so his consent is all we need. As for the town and their concern with the exhuming, funeral ceremony and pyre. In this particular instance, I'm inclined to be of the mind that what they don't know can't hurt them. The cemetery is on the downside of the hill outside of town. The new graves will be easy to find because of the recently churned earth. There's been maybe just over a dozen deaths so far, and many of those were elderly or already sick of other ailments. I'm not sure how familiar you are with small towns Kairon, but we tend to let news spread slowly from person to person, rather than making grandiose announcements. If people see us burning the bodies, we'll explain to them why we're doing it, and within a day or two, the whole town will know anyway. She takes a step back then and looks out the window into the street. As for knowledge of the woods, and the ingredients, Ulizmilla may be our best contact, but we'll need someone to point out where she's been living lately, and for that I think we'll need to talk to the Consortium's ranger Milon Rhoddam. He's usually at the main lumber camp in the morning, it might be your best bet to try and find him there then, and let him know what's happening.
I know nothing more about it than the title suggests. Lady Cirthana says, and then begins to walk back toward the slightly hidden door to the cellar. If you'll follow me. She leads Kairon down a, clearly, rarely used set of dusty wooden stairs that lead to a dank, mildew covered cellar of the church. There are casks, barrels, and odd crates laying about haphazardly, but there are also several double sided rows of books. Approaching closer it becomes apparent that most of the titles are of various religious and philosophy texts, but there are other tomes mixed in. Lady Cirthana goes to a middle shelf and pulls out a thick dusty copy of The Birth of Light and Truth with gold leafed edges, and a gold leaf inscription on the front cover of the angel ankh. The book, before it came to rest in the cellar, was well used, and the front cover has marked, "Property of Nuthor Calene" in black ink. The rear of the book is also filled with a compliment of Nuthor's various musings and notes about folk-medicine he came across in his travels. There you are, a right beautiful copy, if I do say so myself. Lady C, says. I could let you have it for, say... three gold pieces? She looks at him quizzically wondering if the price might be a titch too high.
I have a busy afternoon, and won't be able to post again for a few hours. Kairon if you want to just grab the book and continue posting, go for it.
Yikes, the dice algorithm clearly likes Lunarinus! Woof.
That young gentleman was Jurin Kreed, and he was asking about a copy of Deepwood Fey Encounters by the well known Pathfinder Tessino Welisarne, on his father's behalf. She says nonchalantly. The Birth of Light and Truth? You're in luck, twice, having just been in the book cellar I was reminded that an old cleric of Sarenrae, the very one that setup her shrine here, coincidentally, left his copy with the church. I could certainly let you borrow it. Or, I might even be able to be convinced to sell it to you for a price? Lady Cirthana says and bats her eyelashes at Kairon in a slightly coy way.
That was the most thoroughly satisfying narration of praying for spells I've ever read. Good show.
Kimi Eaveswalker is nowhere to be found, and at first blush it appears that Lady Cirthana is not about either, but then you hear her talking to someone, her voice echoing in some narrow chamber, and then you see her appear from a door that is in a somewhat hidden alcove in the front of the church. Ugh! That book cellar is going to be the death of me if this Blackscour isn't, she says to a tall slim youth, with just the barest growth of a burgeoning mustache. Tell your dad I'm sorry I don't have a copy of that book. She iterates, and then the youth takes off out the door. Seeing Kairon finishing up prayers from across the church she saunters over. Why...She pauses for a moment, seemingly stuck to remember your name. Kiron is it? What brings you back so soon? How did things go with Kreed? With Laurel?
Lady Cirthana treats Lunarinus kiss on her hand with the aloof distance that only a beautiful lady can. She nods at Kairon and Goruck, and says, Gentelmen, it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance. However, we must dispense with pleasantries and ceremony, for the situation here is dire, much more dire than when I sent summons to Almas for aid. She asks Lunarinus to show her his papers from Bishop Trenysyr, and after checking the seal of his signet ring, she rolls the parchment back up and returns it to him. She then begins to walk toward the altar, and gestures for all three men to follow her, talking as she walks. I appreciate your arrival gentleman. You look like capable servants of the gods. While I would love nothing more than to share a meal and conversation, there is no time for such things. Perhaps when this ailment has been purged, we can spend some time getting to know one another. For now, though, I must give you all the information you need, and send you immediately on your way.
With that Lady Cirthana delivers a narrative of how the current troubles started just under a month previous. At first only a few people were sick, and nothing was thought of it, but soon the number of ill people began to become worrisome, and that is when she sent for aid. Now, by Lady Cirthana's estimation, more people are sick than are well, and likely there are many who are sick but are not showing symptoms. It was determined, after some investigation by Gavel Thuldrin Kreed's Rangers that a particularly pernicious fungus, Blackscour, had begun to grow deep in the bowels of the town's only well: Brookman's well, located just outside of town. After some coercion Lady Cirthana in conjunction with Laurel Usessa, a local herbalist and healer, they were able to convince Kreed to post a notice and a guard to prevent people from using the well. That has come with the problem of creating scarce drinking water. The River Foam, being choked with particulates from all the lumber that floats on it, must have its water filtered through a cloth and then boiled before drinking, and Lady Cirthana's own power to create water has proved incapable of keeping up with the town's need, even if she cast her spells from dawn to dark.
So now the problem is indeed dire, for the disease initially caused by the Blackscour seems to be being spread from person to person with little to halt it. Those that are ill require fresh water to keep them from worsening symptoms by dehydration, but Gavel Kreed seems either unable or unwilling to do anything about clearing the well, or providing men to work at filtering and boiling the river's water. All this has meant death, more than a dozen citizens so far, mostly the elderly, or those that were infirm already, but death will spread, of that Cirthana is certain.
One note of brightness amidst the gloom is that Laurel seems to remember there being a reference to Blackscour in her mother's journal, a book full of remedies and herbal uses, some magical, and some mundane. Her problem is two-fold: the first being time, she's had very little since the disease began spreading so rapidly; and secondarily many of the entries in her mother's book are written in scripts and languages she does not understand. She's guessed that the book was not only her mother's but perhaps her grandmothers, or some other local that has lived the life of a healer. Regardless, she neither has the time nor knowledge to search the book for a possible cure.
Therefore lady Cirthana's instructions are as follows. First, go to Gavel Thuldrin Kreed's mansion, she says Bishop Trenysyr's papers of passage should be good enough to get past his guards at the high market gate.
His consent to move about town unhindered, and, should needs be, to enter into the forest in search of ingredients, is necessary. If Thuldrin Kreed does not give his consent for your outings, we are already ruined. The Lady Cirthana says, and when she does so her eyes fall in such a way as to pull at your heartstrings, and make you desire, very strongly to aid her.
Secondly, once you have the Gavel's permissions, you should go to Laurel's shop, Roots and Remedies. Tell her I sent you, and that you are our promise of aid from Almas. Get her book, and see if indeed there is a cure to be found. I have prayed that Iomedae will lead you to the knowledge you seek. I know she will answer my prayers. Seemingly on cue, the group has arrived at Iomedae's altar, and the sunlight glints down from one circular stained glass window whose design is the sun in an azure setting. Bright rays fall upon the altar and glint off of the miniature sword and sun that rests there.
I appreciate your aid gentlemen, as quickly as possible. Kimi Eaveswalker, the girl that brought you here, can show you around town, should that be necessary. If you need me, I will be here, or at my private residence down the street. For now, I bid you welcome to Falcon's Hollow, good luck, and gods' speed. It is apparent as Lady Cirthana finishes her long speech, that she is done with you, and you have her permission to go post haste.
Lady Cirthana, by conventional standards, is beautiful. Softly curving features, bright, almond-shaped eyes adorned with simple makeup to accentuate their curve, full lips, and a petite nose make her visage easy to look upon. At her side is a heavy mace, the only item she carries. As she walks down the center aisle her grace and elegance are obvious. Lady Cirthana is clearly a true lady of some noble blood. When she speaks it is strong, but no less feminine.
Thank you Kimi. If you wouldn't mind waiting outside, I'm sure our envoy will need help finding their way to their other destinations shortly? She says it as a question, but you can tell it is a command, and Kimi immediately obeys, heading out the double doors and shutting them behind her.
I wish I could bid you good morrow, friends, but our days have been filled with trouble. I do hope Iomedae has sent you as our relief from that trouble. I am Lady Cirthana. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking? She says, looking directly at Lunarinus, who stands flanked by Kairon and Goruck. She offers her hand in greeting, upturned, just as a lady would when presenting it to be kissed.
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