The barkeeper looks dissapointed in this answer but he pours her some mead anyway.Lyssia soon brings out a plate of food from the kitchen and sits it down: its dark meat of some sort and stewed roots in a brown sauce.
With a grateful smile she sips the mead then starts eating the meal, avoiding the meat but enjoying the roots.
The call for water gets Iann a strange look and the barkeeper mutters something under his breath. Iann catches "why not milk,..mumble,mumble". But he hollers at the kid Iann sees sitting in the corner and tells him to take a pitcher out to the town well. Iann has seldom seen a boy so pale as this dark haired young man - he has un unwell palor. Nevertheless the boy takes the pitcher and mopes out the door after the water.Before the water comes, one of the serving girls brings him a plate of food.
Iann ignores the bartender for now, feeling a little guilty that the pale child had to get his water for him. He nods gratefully at the serving girl, but decides to wait for the water before he starts eating.
"... and what do you make of those two," adds Rall with a discreet nod of his head towards the newcomers.
Ildri slides the plate devoid of everything except the meat, which remains untouched, to the edge of the bar. Dropping a few coins on the counter she gathers her belongings and prepares to leave. With a glance at the creep who keeps starring at her she quips, "Does your mouth work as good as them eyes, can you tell me the way to Jaks Place?"
"Sure. But what's the hurry? I'm Rall. This is Bowen. And you are?"
Iann looks up at the sound of the sliding plate, and asks the woman, "Are you going to eat that?"
"Sure. But what's the hurry? I'm Rall. This is Bowen. And you are?"
Ildri stands guarded, wary of the strangers sudden politeness. "I am Ildri Safara." She cups her left hand over her right fist and gives a partial bow, never taking her eyes from his as she does.
Iann looks up at the sound of the sliding plate, and asks the woman, "Are you going to eat that?"
"It is not my custom to eat the flesh of animals, have it if you wish."
"It is not my custom to eat the flesh of animals, have it if you wish."
"Many thanks, Ildri." Iann nods, pulling the plate over to his side. "The name's Iann Malaque, if you ever want it."
He then calls out to the barkeep, asking for the price of his food. "And if there is any need for a blade or a pair of hands in this town." He adds, a little louder.
Discreetly, he hands a copper piece to the pale young lad who went out to fetch his water.
"It is not my custom to eat the flesh of animals, have it if you wish.""Many thanks, Ildri." Iann nods, pulling the plate over to his side. "The name's Iann Malaque, if you ever want it."
He then calls out to the barkeep, asking for the price of his food. "And if there is any need for a blade or a pair of hands in this town." He adds, a little louder.
Discreetly, he hands a copper piece to the pale young lad who went out to fetch his water.
"Well Met Iann Malaque." Ildri says as she notices the tenderness the seemingly gruff warrior displays in tipping the boy.
He then calls out to the barkeep, asking for the price of his food. "And if there is any need for a blade or a pair of hands in this town." He adds, a little louder.
"There's always a need for a blade in this town. I'd wear yours openly. In fact, going out without a weapon of some sort is locally known as 'looking for trouble' and you might force me to arrest you."
Iann blinked. "But I am wearing my blade openly." He gestures to the sheathed falchion laying loosely to one side, still within arms reach. "Too large to fit in the pack." He explains.
The water is brought in from the town well.
One of the serving women pours if for Iann.
She laughs as Ildri makes her statement about not eating animals. "They won't have any trouble eating you," she says jovially.
The boy who fetched the water returns sullenly to his corner.
One of the lumberjacks in the other corner starts coughing. Sweat breaks out on his forehead and he suddenly looks pale.
His companion looks at him worriedly, pushing his chair back (and away from the coughing).
The barkeeper says, "Better get him over to the healer."
Ildri hears the cough and glances over to the corner where the lumberjacks sit.
Rall glances over at the lumberjacks and then excuses himself from Bowen, Ildri, and Iann. He walks over to the bartender and says, "We've been up in the woods the past few days. Is there something going around?"
"Hope it isn't contagious." Iann frowns.
"... and what do you make of those two,"...
I wonder if the man wheres the equipment because he is on the run or if he is a bully and uses it to intimidate. The woman I have no opinion on other than she seams to not eat a full meal.
Ildri stands guarded, wary of the strangers sudden politeness. "I am Ildri Safara." She cups her left hand over her right fist and gives a partial bow, never taking her eyes from his as she does.
Bowen lets Rall talk for him and only gives a small nod to the woman at the mention of his name and again in response to her bow.
The barkeeper says, "Better get him over to the healer."
Sense Motive
Without a word Bowen gets up and moves to help the man pulling his arm onto Bowen's shoulders to support carry-walking him.
The bartender answers Rall, "This sickness has everyone worried. Already two dead from it. Can't tell who it will affect."
Bowen and Ildri:
The man's companion moves to help Bowen. The coughing man shakes them both off. "I can walk!" he growls. But its clear he is suddenly feverish. Another cough wracks his body.
The bartender answers Rall, "This sickness has everyone worried. Already two dead from it. Can't tell who it will affect."
Bowen and Ildri:
** spoiler omitted **The man's companion moves to help Bowen. The coughing man shakes them both off. "I can walk!" he growls. But its clear he is suddenly feverish. Another cough wracks his body.
"Two dead? That's fast," says Rall to the bartender.
"I'm sure you can walk. I'll just follow along though," says Rall. "I should find out what's happening."
Ildri slowly moves across the room to where the boy is sitting, looking down at the floor. Knowing a bit about feeling racked with guilt she softly speaks to him as she sits down, "Hey there, everything okay? I know it looks bad but I am sure the healer will cure it." With a soft touch and a gentle look she hopes to get him to open up.
Savram tries to smile at Ildri but he fails.
"No healer can cure this," he says and then, looking like he is on the the verge of tears, he runs for the door, ahead of the group going to the healers.
"Hey!" shouts the bartender at Ildri, "What did you say to him! Leave that poor boy alone. His dad just kicked him out of the house. He's having a real rough time of it.":
Rall glances back at the conversation between the newcomer and Savram but follows the lumberjack towards the healers.
Looking once more at the size of the lumberjack, Rall asks Iann, "Do you want to follow us? If he falls, we'll need someone to catch him."
Savram tries to smile at Ildri but he fails.
"No healer can cure this," he says and then, looking like he is on the the verge of tears, he runs for the door, ahead of the group going to the healers.
"Hey!" shouts the bartender at Ildri, "What did you say to him! Leave that poor boy alone. His dad just kicked him out of the house. He's having a real rough time of it.":
Ildri hears the barman, but ignores him and quickly chases the boy outside. "Hey wait! It's okay, I can help you. I know what it's like to be alone and afraid. You don't have to do it alone, I can help you. I want to help you." Overwhelmed by memories of her past, she feels driven to take this child under her wing and aid him anyway she can. "Hey, I'm new in town and I sure could use a local guide to help me find my way around. In exchange I'll give you a dry place to sleep and hot food to eat. What do you say, deal?"
Rall glances back at the conversation between the newcomer and Savram but follows the lumberjack towards the healers.
Looking once more at the size of the lumberjack, Rall asks Iann, "Do you want to follow us? If he falls, we'll need someone to catch him."
"Sure." Ibram shrugged, putting his pack on and moving to follow Rall and the others.
"Hey, I'm new in town and I sure could use a local guide to help me find my way around. In exchange I'll give you a dry place to sleep and hot food to eat. What do you say, deal?"
Ildri thinks that the boy hears her but he doesn't stop running. Ildri gets the feeling that it is not her he is actually running from.
The men push past her on their way to the healer's...
"Hey, I'm new in town and I sure could use a local guide to help me find my way around. In exchange I'll give you a dry place to sleep and hot food to eat. What do you say, deal?"Ildri thinks that the boy hears her but he doesn't stop running. Ildri gets the feeling that it is not her he is actually running from.
The men push past her on their way to the healer's...
Ildri can not explain the sudden desire to help the boy, all she knows is that she must. She follows after him to see where he is going.
The boy heads towards a small house near the north end of town. There is a long line of people forming at the door of this building. Savram sits morosely on a lag near another house, across the street.
Moment's later Rall and his troupe arrive carrying the sick man.
The building, Ildri surmises, houses the local healer and her business seems to be booming.
Sitting on the log next to the boy, Ildri digs a mix of nuts and raisins out of her pack and offers some to him. After some thoughtful time she says, "I was a bit younger than you when I lost my family... fire took them. I've been on my own for most of my life, and I know it ain't easy. I would have died if a kind soul had not found me and took me in. I guess I'm saying that if your on your own and scared of being alone, you don't have to be." Leaving the wax bag of rations, Ildri slowly get up to leave hesitating in hopes the boy will say something.
Iann leans toward the nearest local, asking "Is this place always this popular?"
Iann leans toward the nearest local, asking "Is this place always this popular?"
Rall, the nearest local, tells Iann they are not.
The boy says nothing to Ildri, but she does not get the feeling he is mad at her. As she walks away, she notices he takes the food before sneaking off.
Rall has never seen so many people at the healers before. There are either a lot of sick people or a lot of people worried about getting sick.
The two story shop is covered with creeping vines and there are window boxes growing numerous herbs outside each window. The faded sign identifies the place as “Roots and Remedies.”
Rall:
Ildri lets the boy wander off reminding herself that she must have patience if she wants to wants to help the lad. Turning her attention to the ill amassing at the healers she ponders what would cause so many to be ill. Slowing her breathing to help focus her inner eye she scans the crowed while making a quick gesture and muttering softly, "Sja galdur."
There is no magic involved with the illness. The deputy, Rall, has some magical gear, as does Bowen and Iann, who are also assisting with the sick man.
After contemplating her arrival in this particular place at this particular time, Ildri accepts that Destiny has brought her here. The lonely boy and the growing number of infirm must mean she is here to do something to help. She enters the healers house and quickly says, "I am Ildri from the Temple of the Elemental Way. I am not a healer, but have helped the Temple's Wiseones in comforting the sick and dying. Let my hands and heart aid you in this growing time of need. I am at your service, what can I do to help?"
Rall figures he'll leave the lumberjack in line and follow Ildri inside.
People do not react well to the line jumping. There is an outbreak of hacking coughs and shouts. Mutters of "been here an hour already." break out." Nevertheless the deputy's fine profile is recognized and nobody takes after him with an axe handle.
'Hmmm, nobody's taking after me with an axe handle,' thinks Rall. 'This is a change.'
Iann looks at the annoyed line in front of him, and shrugs. "Wait up." He calls out, and jogs along inside.
Bowen gives a small almost pitying look to the line of people and goes to say something to them but sighs and follows Rall into the house.
"I wish there was something to help ease their discomforts but I fear I'd just make them angry at me. I miss the forest." The seems to be more of a loud thought then a declartion to the group.
"Laurie?" asks Rall as he enters, scanning the room for the healer.
The darkskinned woman is looking particularly harried as the group enters the house, "What do you want? Are you sick? Not that I could help you if you were. Worst case of Blackscourge Lungeater I have ever seen."
The darkskinned woman is looking particularly harried as the group enters the house, "What do you want? Are you sick? Not that I could help you if you were. Worst case of Blackscourge Lungeater I have ever seen."
"No," says Rall, nodding towards Bowen, "he's just spent too much time outdoors. I'm Rall Kirnast, the deputy. What's going on here, Laurie?"
"What are you, a fool? Shows it doesn't take much between the ears to get a badge. The whole town's come down with Blackscourge Lungeater. No doubt a judgment against it for some great evil. Pretty soon, half the sick are gonna be dead."
"What are you, a fool? Shows it doesn't take much between the ears to get a badge. The whole town's come down with Blackscourge Lungeater. No doubt a judgment against it for some great evil. Pretty soon, half the sick are gonna be dead."
"We've been up in the vale for the past week ... and these two are new. How bad is it Laurie? How many have died?"
Bowen eyes Rall at his comment and finally speaks.
"Laurie, I've brought you ingredients in the past. What can I do for the town now? Surely something can, at the very least, ease their suffering."
"I am at your service, just tell me what I can do to help you Miss Laurie" Ildri speaks sincerely and bows politely to the healer.
Iann simply nods towards the healer. "I am no healer, but if there is anything I could do to help.." He trails off, unsure of what to say next.
"Huh, What have we here? A collection of heroes. Truth be told I don't think I have the right ingredients for the medicine I need. I do have two things you could fetch for me. My grandmother had a recipe in her book that seems pretty strange but she claims it will work in cases like this. Needs Elderwood Moss and Twisted Blackroot though."
Ildri looks aghast that the healer assumes she is with the the brutish men that followed her in. "Miss Laurie, I am no hero. I am just a humble monk who wants to help. If these these can help ease the suffering of the townsfolk then I shall bring them to you. Where can I find the Elderwood Moss and Twisted Blackroot?" As she speaks, Ildri takes a step away from the men particularly the one who was staring at her in the tavern.
Rall searches his recollection of local rumours for any knowledge of Laurie or her grandmother.
Bowen notices the woman's move away from them and snorts.