Louinor notices the priestess eying her butterfly amulet around her neck,
"Yes and I would like to help but I have not reached the point of curing diseases but I think I will talk to the herbalist, Thank you."
"How long has this illness been here, Lady?"
JAK'A'NAPES -
Bobek quickly spins toward the window and sticks his tongue out at the group of children, then gives them a rogueish grin.
Then, turning to the bartender, "Friend, I need something to warm my belly; something with a strong kick to it." And, leaning in somewhat confidentially to the haggard looking barkeep, "And you look like you could use a bit of the same yourself!"
JAK'A'NAPES -
Bobek quickly spins toward the window and sticks his tongue out at the group of children, then gives them a rogueish grin.
Then, turning to the bartender, "Friend, I need something to warm my belly; something with a strong kick to it." And, leaning in somewhat confidentially to the haggard looking barkeep, "And you look like you could use a bit of the same yourself!"
CHURCH - "You can find the constable in the low market likely, just follow this road to the west." She paused, and seemed to hesitate for a second before continuing. "He is a good man. But a bit gruff, tread lightly around him. He has been pushed to the limits lately, as if his job wasn't tough enough."
She bid her farewell and answered Oso's question, mentioning the taint had been around for perhaps 2 weeks.
JAK'A'NAPES - The kids do not scurry or titter, but instead look concerned and eventually ease away from the window. Chalen watches them go, as a wild haired young man pushes past towards the bartender and begins to chat him up.
The bartender speaks, his voice thick and heavy "Aye, could use a drink, some gold, you name it." He look's Bobek straight in the eye, "Times are tough around here son. I've got a sick wife, a friend who's missing his son; it's like a curse has hit us here in the Hollow. But enough about me. What ya drinking?"
(Bobek is so not suave...)
CHURCH - "You can find the constable in the low market likely, just follow this road to the west." She paused, and seemed to hesitate for a second before continuing. "He is a good man. But a bit gruff, tread lightly around him. He has been pushed to the limits lately, as if his job wasn't tough enough."
She bid her farewell and answered Oso's question, mentioning the taint had been around for perhaps 2 weeks.
Malleon turns to Louinor and Oso. "Shall we seek out the constable to offer our aid? Or do you think we should seek out this herbalist, Laurel, to learn more of this blackscout taint?"
(Bobek is so not suave...)
Chalen quietly hands the bartender 3 sp without explanation. While he waits for his wine, he inquires as tot he whereabouts of one Tomas Petrov.
CHURCH - Oso immediately answers, "the children I can help with."
"An ale would suit me just fine." Bobek glances at the strange man at the bar next to him, and wrinkles his brow in concentration. Tomas Petrov... have I heard that name about town before?
Malleon turns to Louinor and Oso. "Shall we seek out the constable to offer our aid? Or do you think we should seek out this herbalist, Laurel, to learn more of this blackscout taint?"
"I would like to go talk to the herbalist and see if I can help her with this disease, honor and renown is not use if your dead from some disease."
Louinor looks around at all the people hacking and coughing "Besides these people need some help and I can feel Desna pushing me towards this herbalist."
"I wouldn't mind speaking with this Laurel as well. Even if I am unable to help with the blackscour taint directly, I would like to learn more about it, and how it came to infect the town."
JAK'A'NAPES -
The bartender looks you over. "Sure thing, he come by every Moonday to see if anyone's taken him up on his bulletin. But between you and me stranger, he works for Vade, and working for Vade ain't a good idea."
"I don't think I have 5 days to wait him out by the look of things about town. Any idea where he might spend his days off, or where I might make inquiries of this Vade?"
Noticing Bobek for the first time, "Hello there, are you following me?"
CHURCH - Oso looks at the other two.
"They are weak townsfolk, who live in dirt and rarely wash. Their disease is their own fault. You see this herbswoman."
"Perhaps I meet you later in Inn when I know more? Good luck as your people say. Jak Inn was said to me before."
Oso nods to both and strides off, asking people where the constable may be.
Noticing Bobek for the first time, "Hello there, are you following me?"
Bobek smiles and raises his tankard, "That all depends, stranger... is there any profit to be gained in following you?"
Sounds correct to me, although Malleon wanted to go see the constable after as well, to ask about the missing children. But seeing as how it seems like a plague has hit Falcon's Hollow, its a bit of enlightened self-interest to check with this Laurel about the blackscour taint first.
JAK'A'NAPES - The bartender hands Chalen his wine. "Sorry son, but Vade, and therefore Petrov, do not take visitors. Lest you wishing to go and lose your head for some reason." He chuckles softly. "So apparently looking for work though, huh?" The bartender rests his elbows on the bar between Bobek and Chalen.
LOW MARKET - Oso wanders through the rain, drawing the eye of the locals. His blunt inquiries guide him to the low market, a series of vendors, stalls, and lean-to stores set in a circular clearing. Finally a local, a vendor of smoked fish, points to a tall, muscular, hulking half-elf. The man is armored and hefts an axe across his shoulders. With his free hand he eats an apple. His eyes are narrow and sharp and eye Oso up as he approaches the stall where the sheriff waits out the rain. He drops the apple core, "Sheriff Deldrin Baleson here. Can I help you stranger?" His gold eyes study the barbarian as he approaches.
ROOTS AND REMEDIES - Creeping ivy and full window boxes cover the facade of the rugged-looking, two-story shop bearing the faded sign "Roots and Remedies". A line of twenty or so somber townsfolk -- some with pale, wheezing children, others seemingly in tears -- brave the biting rain.
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 a thick gray froth. Over the din of her work and without looking up, the woman huffs, "And what is your problem?"
Chalen sits down in a huff, "Apparently, my scruffy companion, following me is most definitely "not" profitable. I wonder if that savage with the yakwine has had any better luck?”
Roots & Remedies:
"Hello Laurel. My name is Malleon, and this in Louinor.
We are newcomers to Falcon's Hollow, and Lady Cirthana of Iomedae said that we should speak with you to learn more of the blackscour taint.
What can you tell us about this affliction? And is there anything we can do to help?"
LOW MARKET - Oso wanders through the rain, drawing the eye of the locals. His blunt inquiries guide him to the low market, a series of vendors, stalls, and lean-to stores set in a circular clearing. Finally a local, a vendor of smoked fish, points to a tall, muscular, hulking half-elf. The man is armored and hefts an axe across his shoulders. With his free hand he eats an apple. His eyes are narrow and sharp and eye Oso up as he approaches the stall where the sheriff waits out the rain. He drops the apple core, "Sheriff Deldrin Baleson here. Can I help you stranger?" His gold eyes study the barbarian as he approaches.
"Yes, Sheriff you can. I am new here but have been told you have missing children? There was a noteboard with words on it.I would like to help find them. Please tell me all that will be useful."
Oso waits respectfully, he doesn't mind the rain.
Chalen sits down in a huff, "Apparently, my scruffy companion, following me is most definitely "not" profitable. I wonder if that savage with the yakwine has had any better luck?”
Bobek eyes the stranger once more. This one looks like he has some money tucked away...
"Well, sir, I find that a clever lad can turn almost any situation into a profitable one. If you're lookin' for a guide about town, or into the Vale itself, then you might profit from letting me lead the way! Bobek's the name, and for a silver piece, I'll take ya wherever ya need to go."
Bobek leans in and whispers, "I can even get ya in to the Rouge Lady, if some carousing is what yer after..."
As Malleon is talking to the herbalist Louinor has trouble paying attention to their conversation with all the interesting things hanging in the shop. Shaking her head she looks back to the herbalist 'Know is not the time to get distracted' she tells herself. "Yes I was hoping to bring the warmth of Desna's love to these people and help them with this problem."
Malleon will pull his notebook and inkpen out of the oilcloth pouch and take notes as he talks to Laurel.
“I have even less inclination for slumming than I do in wasting another second in this sty. Perhaps one of those Urchins can be convinced to tell me where I might locate Petrov.”
Chalen leaves his wine half finished and heads out to look for the children who were staring through the window a moment ago.
Hmmph!
As the stranger stalks out of the bar, Bobek rolls his eyes and chuckles to the barkeep, "Outsiders - who do they think they are, marching in here and insulting us. 'Slumming', indeed!" Bobek grabs the half-empty flask of Chalen's wine and downs it in a long gulp. "Ahhh. Well, I guess Outsiders are good for something, after all!"
Wiping his mouth, Bobek grins and squints at the barkeep, "Say, did you mention that you knew of some work? I'm always looking for a few more coins to line my pocket, and apparently there's no money to be made as a Guide in this town!"
LOW MARKET - Sheriff Baleson continues to eye you up. "Sure we had some kids run off. Things like that happen from time to time, but I am hopeful they will come back soon. This particular group of kids are a bunch of rapscallions, if you get my drift. If there not back by nightfall, we will round up some fella's and go take a look in the woods." He pauses. "You a tracker or something?"
JAK'A'NAPES - The innkeeper offers another forced smile. "No, no real work I can offer. Unless you are a healer or a tracker, son. Then the town might need you. As I said before, got people dying and kids missing. Ain't happy times here in the Hollow"
OUTSIDE JAK'A'NAPES - The kids, about 5 of them, look a little skittish and shy as Chalen actually approaches them. However, one of them finally makes eye contact, her voice a high pitched whisper of a thing. "Mister are you a hero? Are you gonna find Kimi and the guys?"
ROOTS AND REMEDIES - Laurel watches as Louinor studies the alchemical wares. "Don't touch that stuff. You break it, you buy it." She huffs as she turns back to Malleon, who now has his journal out. "So you're not buying anything, are you?"
She begins scraping a brown jelly out of a jar. "Fine, fine. Blackscour taint is a fungus that essentially poisons water. I've never heard of it around these parts until now. The taint happens when you get the mold of Blackscour growing inside of you. It starts eating away in your chest and belly and is damned determined to stay. Your body practically tears itself up trying hack the stuff out, but all that does is cut your guts up . . .bad."
"Can you help? Ha! Can you heal, sir? Can you cure diseases? Ha! There isn't any cure I have in here for sure."
...
ROOTS AND REMEDIES - Laurel watches as Louinor studies the alchemical wares. "Don't touch that stuff. You break it, you buy it." She huffs as she turns back to Malleon, who now has his journal out. "So you're not buying anything, are you?"
She begins scraping a brown jelly out of a jar. "Fine, fine. Blackscour taint is a fungus that essentially poisons water. I've never heard of it around these parts until now. The taint happens when you get the mold of Blackscour growing inside of you. It starts eating away in your chest and belly and is damned determined to stay. Your body practically tears itself up trying hack the stuff out, but all that does is cut your guts up . . .bad.""Can you help? Ha! Can you heal, sir? Can you cure diseases? Ha! There isn't any cure I have in here for sure."
Malleon looks up from his scribbled notes.
"Laurel, I understand that you are extremely busy during this trying time. Would this be sufficient compensation for your time?
And you mentioned that you don't have a cure "in here". Is there somewhere else that might have a cure?"
"Mister are you a hero? Are you gonna find Kimi and the guys?"
"Today is your lucky day; I "am" a hero."
"Did you lose someone? I happen to have just met someone who claims to be a tracker of sorts.”
“Hmmm, I don't suppose their parents are influential here in town?"
ROOTS AND REMEDIES - Laurel watches as Louinor studies the alchemical wares. "Don't touch that stuff. You break it, you buy it."
Louinor quickly pulls her hands away from the jar she was going to pick up and clasps them behind her back "Is there nothing we can do for these people?" Her concern just barely covering the embarrassment from the scolding.
LOW MARKET - Sheriff Baleson continues to eye you up. "Sure we had some kids run off. Things like that happen from time to time, but I am hopeful they will come back soon. This particular group of kids are a bunch of rapscallions, if you get my drift. If there not back by nightfall, we will round up some fella's and go take a look in the woods." He pauses. "You a tracker or something?"
JAK'A'NAPES - The innkeeper offers another forced smile. "No, no real work I can offer. Unless you are a healer or a tracker, son. Then the town might need you. As I said before, got people dying and kids missing. Ain't happy times here in the Hollow"
Oso considers the sherrif's question and shakes his head in the end.
"I cannot lie, I am no tracker. But the wilds and I are companions. Perhaps when you go tomorrow for them you will have my help? I will stay at the inn near the ferry and wait your words."
"What is rapscallion? my tribe do not have this word."
LOW MARKET -- The sheriff nods his head and grins. "I will think on it, friend. Thank you for the offer." He turns but pauses and swivels back to face Oso. "I would not stay near the docks in this weather; an illness sweeps through the Hollows lately. You'd be better served getting a room at Jak's or the Lady."
JAK'A'NAPES - The kids begin to prance a bit, truly nervous in their telling. The child who does most of the speaking, an impish, chubby little guy has a voice that speeds like a wolf on the hunt, "Yeah . . Kimi, and Savram, and Jurin . . .his dad is real, real important. They went off to Elara's, but didn't come back. We heard the adults saying that someone would have to go looking for them . . .is it you?"
"Jak's."
Oso grins and retraces his steps to the Inn. He will try to get a room.
"It certainly is now. Jurin, was it? Excellent."
"Where might I find this Elara? Perhaps one of you could lead me there? There's a copper piece in it for you, in addition to helping find your friend."
JAK'A'NAPES - The innkeeper offers another forced smile. "No, no real work I can offer. Unless you are a healer or a tracker, son. Then the town might need you. As I said before, got people dying and kids missing. Ain't happy times here in the Hollow"
Bobek feels his tongue loosening as the beer and wine take hold, "Death and missing children? Sounds like the town is being punished! Spirits of the Darkwood trees... judging 'em... found 'em guilty! Guilty of hacking down good living wood."
Bobek frowns as he turns to see if the children outside the window are still there. "Shame about them missing kids, though. Innocent kids don't deserve no punishment for what their fathers done..."
ROOTS AND REMEDIES -- Laurel snatches the coins from your hand almost as soon as Malleon produces them, but then she shakes her head and sighs. She hands back one of the gold pieces . "You want to help? Well, there might be a way. My grandmother was a herbalist, but she bought into a lot of wierd things; a lot of it sounds more like hoojoo than real medicine."
Laurel reaches underneath her counter and produces a heavy, worn volume and begins to flip through the browned and curled pages. "She mentions three items particularly. Elderwood Moss. Never heard of it, but granny says it would only be on the oldest trees in the forest. Some pickled root called rat's tail, again never heard of it. And seven Ironbloom Mushrooms, a favorite amongst the dwarves; it grows in places thick with metal or so I hear."
"As for where to look for it I am not sure. Elderwood moss has got to be in a grove of old trees, I reckon. I hear tell of an abandoned dwarven enclave well to the north, that is probably your best chance for the mushrooms. As for rat's tail, who knows?"
She pauses for a second. "Well actually Ulizmila, may know. That witch is crafty, mean, and deals with all kinds of strangeness."
Laurel mentions if you need some guidance that your best bet is the Lumber Camp and a gent named Milon.
OUTSIDE JAK'A'NAPES -
The chubby kid continues replying for the group. "Elara is dead mister. Her house is haunted, it is that way." He points aproximately northwest of town. "There is a trail that leads that way, but I ain't gonna show you mister, not after Kimi and them gone missing."
JAK'A'NAPES - The bartender politely ignores your outburst and leaves you to your bottle of wine.
"Once I find your friends, where do I find their parents?"
Calling inside after Bobek
"You there, what was your name again? There may just be coin in following me after all."
Well, well; it's the muscle with the Yakwine (shudder). He may not have any taste, but he'd be good to have along if something ate those brats.
To Oso: "Hello again! Were you able to find employment at the church?"
"Once I find your friends, where do I find their parents?"
Kimi's mom is the seamtress, she has a shop in the Low Market. Hollin lives with his sister [/ooc] this garners a blush from the boy and some adolescent sighs from the young men[/ooc]; she works at the Lady. Mikra's dad is a butcher. Jurin's dad is rich; he runs the lumber consortium. Savram's dad is weird."
Another kid interupts, "Mr. Vade is a wizard who lives in a cemetary!"
ROOTS AND REMEDIES
Malleon scribbles down notes. "Hmm... Elderwood Moss, Rat's Tail...but not a real rat's tail, but a kind of root instead. And 7 Ironbloom Mushrooms."
I'll check with the Lumber Camp and this Milon tommorrow, and then set out to try and find these for you.
But where does this witch... Malleon checks his notes ... Ulizmila live?
And where exactly is the lumber camp? Would it be possible to journey there today before nightfall?"
Malleon turns to Louinor with almost child-like glee evident on his face. "Finding the cure to this plague is the sort of quest that can make a reputation.
I've heard that Darkmoon Vale is dangerous, and just two of us will make it tiring to keep watch.
Should we seek out Oso and perhaps some others to aid us?"
"How is your time going?" asks the warrior.
Oso doesn't appear to have heard anything of the conversation with the children.
"I have spoken to the sherrif and he assures me that some children are not missing... yet. Tomorrow he may send out people to find them."
Calling inside after Bobek
"You there, what was your name again? There may just be coin in following me after all."
Bobek hustles out the door, back into the mud and rain, barely avoiding a collison with another very large and fierce looking man. "Yikes, sorry!" Then, finding Chalen standing by the kids, "Bobek at your service, stranger! Where'dya want to go?"
Flips a copper coin at the youth who spoke up about Mr. Vade.
"Wonderful! No wonder that bartender warned me away from him. Superstitious yokels."
"Well Oso, these children here appear to think differently. Besides, I'm sure the Sheriff has his hands full with all these sick folks, and can't be bothered to look for some wayward kids, no matter how important their parents might be. Interested in tagging along?"
"Hello again, uh, Bobek. Any idea where we might find Elara's place? It's too soon to tell what we might glean from this particular venture, but it looks promising. Still, cemeteries and hauntings; yokels or not, I've no intention of dying in this backwater. Perhaps we should recruit some religious types first?"
"I'm sure it's probably nothing, townspeople make up things like this all the time out of boredom."
"I see."
"And who is your friend? Is he some kind of a guide or tracker to this Elara?" finishes the cultured barbarian.
Just some drunk local I met in a bar probably isn't going to inspire confidence here...
"This is Bobek, my personal guide, and he's incredibly knowledgeable of all places in Falcon's Hollow."
I hope.
"This is Bobek, my personal guide, and he's incredibly knowledgeable of all places in Falcon's Hollow."
I hope.
Bobek nods vigorously. "You got that right, stranger. I know these lands like a flea knows a dog. Been runnin' through these woods since I was still suckin' at the teat. I can get ya where ya need to go."
I hope...
"If it's religious folk yer after, there's temples a-plenty in this town. Them that follow Iomedae are nice enough. Elara's place is a bit of a trek, as I recall, pretty far out of town, on the edge of the Vale itself... might want to wait 'til this weather clears up to visit there..."