Paper.
Zal was not expecting you this early, so was indulging in his usual vice.
Make a spot check.
Dc 15
Dc 20
Paper frowns at the smell of hashish in the air.
Paper thinks to himself, vaguely embarrased by the home's deserted look and the smell of cheap slave drugs in the air.
Examining his patient's wounds properly for the first time, Isat draws a sharp breath.
This is horrific, worse than I thought ...
He speaks quickly. "Whatever made the wounds was small, but lethally sharp. The real danger is infection. See here, the intestines have been pierced. I need to clean the wound thoroughly and stitch as much together as I can. There isn't going to be a lot of time."
A mixture of fear and exaltation fills him. Without doubt this is will be the hardest piece of surgery he's ever attempted. And if I can save this one, I can really call myself a doctor. Greek Ascelpius himself would bow to me.
"I need boiling water and alcohol. Now." he says over his shoulder, his mind already on his work.
"Nice place, Paper. When did you last see your family?"
Zalmoxis the slave brings alcohol and hot water to the makeshift surgery. A lamp is lit with the good oil, which gives the illumination Isat needs. It takes an hour and half of very nervous work, and all of your hemp twine, but the jigsaw puzzle of the man's guts slowly comes together. After the job is completed, the man's breathing grows steadier and he shows signs of recovery. He will need rest and supervision, but after a few nights of bandage changes, his body will mend the damage. Rufinus Galsius watched the operation with avid interest. He seems very relieved that the man will live.
Hrothgar sees Modius. In a low voice, "Did you know that they have hashish in this place?"
Hrothgar sees Modius. In a low voice, "Did you know that they have hashish in this place?"
"You've a good nose, Hrothgar. Perhaps you can sniff in out and we could partake."
"You think we should ask Paper for some. Makes it easier."
"Hey Paper, it smells nice in here, would you be hiding some hashish by any chance?"
"Yeah... give us some."
Assured that his patient is stable and understandably pleased with himself, Isat emerges from the room.
"Rufinus - my thanks. You're a good assistant. Modius tends to black out and Red gets easily distracted. We did good work there, I think he'll live if he gets reasonable care."
He shakes his head sadly at his ruined robe. "I paid a lot for this. It'll never be the same."
"Rufinus, we need to find Paper and make sure there is someone able to look after our wounded friend. Then as a matter of extreme urgency I need a bath, food and some time to relax a little while we all talk. You too I think, if you'll forgive my saying so."
Isat sniffs the air delicately. After their recent activities, neither he nor Rufinus look or smell good.
Paper looks at Modius
"My father and brother are currently exploring business opportunities in Alexandria. My mother and sisters are in Rome at our main villa. Zalmoxius is a caretaker of this villa, and I fear I am taxing his abilities by using this villa as a resting place."
Paper looks at his new acquaintences and frowns
"If you wish to partake in that particular vice you will have to beseech my slave. I can offer you some nice Chian wine or some good old fashioned vinegar."
"Paper. My apologies for my appearance and for turning your villa into a hospital. The man should live, given careful care."
Isat is sincerely pained to be appearing in this condition.
"If I may impose further? A bath is essential before I'm fit for civilised company. If you can provide me with that and perhaps a glass of the Chian wine you surely keep, then I think we all need to talk."
The rain above is a constant roar on the rooftops. The best rain in months. As Rufinus and Isat come aching from the small surgery, Zal the slave cooks a proper meal for guests, this time with some variety.
vinegar and rosepetal soup. Hummus and flat breads in the hebrew style. Olive paste and goat milk cheese with cumin and coreander.
The smell of roasting lamb and lemon comes wafting form the kitchen.
Rufinus has found the wooden bathtubs and gone out into the rain to bring buckets of water from the shadouf in the courtyard.
Those who wish to bath may do so now.
The old housekeeper has also washed the clothes that were brought to his attention and is drying them on the side of the clay oven in the kitchen.
He approaches Paper and whispers into his ear.
Looking pleased with something, Rufinus is humming to himself as he carries water for everyone.
He approaches Isat quietly and speaks to him.
I am going to rule that Hrothgar and Modius have managed to get some hashish if they so desire. Food has been presented, the victim is safe, and now is a good time for all to come together, clean and fed and discuss their next moves. Two hours have passed. It is now three in the afternoon. The rain shows no sign of letting up. The room is warm with two braziers in the corners and flat morrocan cushioned rugs are laid on the wooden benches. Paper has a high backed chair at the head of a low quartz inlaid table loaded with meditteranean food.
"Modius, how much do you think we'd get for this hashish?"
Paper.
Isat.
Modius
Hrothgar
Rufinus
"You flatter me too much Rufinus. I admit I'm proud of the work I did today and grateful, very grateful for the help you gave me. I will most willingly teach you what I know, but you must understand that there are ... I suppose mysteries is the word ... yes, mysteries involved. Whether I can teach you those is not in my power to say. The practical skills I can and will gladly share with you."
Isat pauses and reverts to his more familiar cynical self.
"With Modius and Hrothgar around, we're not likely to need any other patients for you to practice on. They attract trouble the way honey attracts wasps."
Isat bathes gratefully and joins the others for their meal. Sniffing the air he takes a long look at Modius and Hrothgar.
"You two have been enjoying yourselves I see. Paper, my tastes are less exotic - could you pour me some wine and accept my thanks for the bath and the meal?"
He sips carefully and slowly, always keeping one eye on his patient.
"Rufinus, watch that the pulse does not quicken unduly. At this stage we can do little, but if fever develops, we will need to act. Rufinus was an able assistant this afternoon." he adds to the table at large.
"Modius, how much do you think we'd get for this hashish?"
"This is too much for one man. It couldn't all be his. It even too much for you Hrothgar. Smells good too."
When he gets a chance to speak to Paper surreptitiously he will comment on the quantity and quality of hashish. Is there a hookah or pipe about? Or if he can find a red hot poker in the fire he'll break off a little piece and try it out. He'll even reimburse the slave if this turns out to be an honest patime.
Paper whispers to Zal
"Aye, best that we get the beds aired. I imagine they will stay."
Paper follows the slave with a frown on his face as he leaves.
Paper thinks to himself
Paper acts the gracious host, pouring Isat some Chian wine and ignoring the social gaffes of the hashish scroungers. While eating he takes a moment to cast his gaze around the villa, his suspicious soldier's mind smelling something fishy in Constantinople
For Taliesin
The man in the infirmary lifts his arms and starts to call out.
"Ruth!" "Ruth!"
He is looking aghast at his surroundings and seems to not notice his terrible injuries.
Isat can see that the man is short sighted, which contributes to his obvious terror at his new surroundings.
The man is in his fifties. He is clearly not a man who labours for his keep. His hands are soft and uncallussed. He has thin arms and a fat belly. Being stabbed in the belly is what saved him, but he lost a lot of blood. His only calluses are from holding a pen. His clothes were not fashionable, but were well made and possibly Thracian or Macedonian in cut.
He calls out again, in Koine.
"Who are you people and what do you want with me? You cannot have them!"
He sees the wreckage of his stomach and starts to pray. His prayers are in Hebrew, but he was not wearing any of the jewish paraphernalia of faith.
Isat: Knowledge Religion or Arcane check please.
Modius: Deception check.
Paper: Knowledge local or nobility check.
These checks are all free actions, and you are all free to react however you see fit.
Hrothgar is closest to the man and can act fastest.
Zalmoxis has gone to attend to the bedding and is not in the room.
For Paper.
"You are at a safe place. None will harm you here."
"Relax, brother. You would be a dead man had the Lord not brought us to you."
Deception: 1d20 5=6
"Stay still," commands Isat. "You are safe here, but your wounds will open again if you move." And if they do, I doubt I can patch you up a second time. "Tell us how we can help you."
"Your Ruth is safe. And you will be too, if you don't move too much. But what do I know, I'm no healer."
Hrothgar maintains a distance of a few feet from the injured man. He does not want to provoke the injured man into doing something stupid, like fighting him, as he'll knock him down no questions asked.
The man lifts his hands to the stumps of his ears. He seems to hear you all fine though. The only one who is close enough to the man for his bleary eyes to see is Hrothgar. His eyes fix on Hrothgar's face and he seems reassured.
"The enemy does not have truck with Goths. Are you senator Hibernius' men? You say there is a doctor here? Please come close so I can see you."
The man's voice is clear and trained. His labourer guise does not fit the voice. He is clearly disguised.
Isat. There is a patch of blood on the man's bandages. He moved too much, but there is no urgency. It can get fixed any time in the next hour or so. There is twine in the kitchen, but you will need to boil it and coat it with some beeswax. You have plenty of beeswax.
Hrothgar. The man seemed relieved to see you. It was like a weight off his shoulders to see a Goth. You are not used to that reaction.
Modius. Your roll was poor. I am going to rule that you misread this guy and think he is exactly what he first appeared to be. A labourer in the wrong place with coins.
Isat.
"Red, come with me. You seem to be a calming influence - oddly enough." There is a touch of Isat's usual cynicism in the last remark as he tries to mask his extreme unease at hearing the wounded man's "prayer".
"Rufinus - can you find clean twine and boil it for me? Then coat it with beeswax from my bag."
Moving close enough to the man so his face can be seen and his words followed easily, Isat says
"We will help you if we can, but you must help yourself by ceasing to struggle. Shortly I will be able to look at your wound again, but while we wait for my assistant to return, tell us what you fear. As you see, Red is large enough to flatten anyone foolish enough to try and attack you here."
Rufinus was looking intently at the man. He starts when he hears Isat's voice.
" I will do that. I will make the twine thin, like what you used to sew the man."
"My name is Levi. I am from far away. Judea of old. There are men after me. Are you sure this place is safe?"
"Red? You and Modius had more chance to look around than me. Is it?"
"Safe? It is safe. I am here"
Modius. As you walk out to check the house, you see no one obviously threatening. The rain has cleared most people from the street. The exception is a youth of about fourteen or sixteen who sits across the street, looking at the housefront and the green door. You have gone out the alley door and can see him watching. It does not look like idle curiosity either. No door is that interesting. I am assuming that you have chosen to keep a low profile in your reconnoiter. You are peeking past the edge of the alley into the square in front. There is almost no light on you, so there is no need for a hide check. The boy only pauses once, to spit onto the ground. He is chewing on some mint leaves or aniseed or something. He reaches down into the box he is sitting on to check something. He has a wooden whistle clutched in his fist. Lucky for you, he chose his hide when the light was different and did not notice the shift after the sun moved. He has a skinny scrawny street look to him, and a scar on his scalp. A verandah on a tenement is what shelters him from the rain.
"The last thing I remember was Rafi stabbing me before I could get to the senator. Everything went black. I thought I was on my way to the other side. I did not feel him cut my ears off. Is He here? Hibernius is here?"
The man looks like the blood loss has affected him more than he knows. His hands clutch reflexively at his side, like they are used to finding something there but it is missing. He suddenly looks scared again.
"Who are you? You want to find them don't you?"
Modius.
Hrothgar, Paper, Isat and Rufinus need to make Perception (listen) checks.
DC 19 for Isat and Hrothgar.
DC 17 for Paper and Rufinus.
Concentrating on Levi, Isat is oblivious to the world beyond the small room.
Perception [2,6] = (8)
Modius. ** spoiler omitted **
Will, Stealth: (1d20=19, 1d20 7=20)
Modius slinks back into the house as briskly and quietly as possible.
Modius.
Paper.
Paper, and anyone who passes the perception check.
Paper suddenly hears Zalmoxis talking in whispers to someone in one of the sealed bedrooms. The whisper was unmistakeably the words "No, Please, No." You are chilled to hear another voice in your house whisper "Yes". No-one has entered. The stranger has been here the whole time.
Paper only.
When your family visited this house in Springs gone by, you could always hear the servant gossip in your sister's room because of a weird acoustic trick of the house. Zal would know that you can hear him, but someone not of the house would not.
"Levi, what were you carrying when they attacked you?"
Aside to Red
"He's not going to rest until he's told us what he knows. If he doesn't rest he won't heal. Man's guts are a mess - I can't put them back together again."
At least not in any way I can explain.
My post has dissapeared, so here is a new one.
I asked for initiative. Thank you to both of you.
Initiative will help us keep things in sync.
Here is a summary of how things stand.
In the southwest corner of the house is the room where Levi Bram the victim, Isat, Hrothgar and Rufinus are. Levi is calling out in fear and asking again who is there.
In the next room, the lounge, Paper is in his chair. He and Hrothgar and Rufinus have all heard voices in a room to the northwest. It is one room removed from the room Levi is in. Paper knows that the people in the room include one stranger who has been hidden here the whole time.
Modius has just come in the kitchen door. He saw some things he will need to tell you all about pretty quickly. The kitchen door is to the East of the house, and opens up into a small slave alley.
To the south of the house, there is a square. Enemies are gathered there. I know that these lines somehow rhyme. It happens to me all the time.
Combat has not begun. Initiative is solely so we can keep track of events.
Thanks Fezzik. Whenever Modius arrives inside again: