"Field Marshall Kroft?"
Suddenly genuinely happy for the first time in what felt like ages (even though it was not) Zalen smiles huegely as he spreads his arms wide saying ¨Grau! That is fantastic news my friend. Congratulations! It could not have happened to a better man!" his smile somewhat diminished by the reality behind his next words he continues "Nor could it have happened at a better time."
The young man gives a concerned look towards Grau and then Alandra and Elian as he finishes " I did not want to say so aloud before, but it is fitting that you be here to here this as well, Captian. Alhough I as of yet have no proof, based on all I have heard so far, I have the sinking sensation that this..disease, may actually be some form of new attack against Korvosa by her enemies. If this is true, and this malady is as dangerous as I fear, we must work very quickly indeed to get to the bottom of things. For otherwise I think this could be a blow from which Korvosa may never recover..."
Grau actually was moving in to hug Zalen when his grim prediction took all the wind from his sails, and left him standing halfway towards him. His face twisted in a mixture of fear and incredulous disbelief. "Not you too. That Brother whom we met could not stop talking about an epidemic, and now you've jumped on that idea as well."
Somewhat less sure in his own invulernability (And after stiffling another caugh) he added. "Do you have any proof for this? Anything we might go by?"
"We do not yet, but both Alandra and I are feeling unwell and it seems very contagious. I think we should investigate the boat as quickly as possible, we may find clues about the origin of this diseaseif it's where it comes from.
But for that, we need a way to go down there. Alandra, do you thing we could find something at your temple, as Pharasma rules on the rivers and seas?"
"Do you have any proof for this? Anything we might go by?"
"Only vague omens and prophecies I'm afraid, Captain." Grunhild says while holding his bearded chin. "But the disease, at least, is true enough. It's also very contagious if Alandra's and Elian's feelings as well as ... your own coughing are to taken as early stages of it."
The fresh-made captain scratched his neck, a little too long and too vigorous to be completely natural - it seemed the inflammation of the skin was already beginning there. Yet the man seemed intent on not acknowledging it. "Well, I guess you might as well check it. It was signalling as a plague ship, after all. But for the moment, the Field Marshal wants to keep things quiet, I suppose the riots are still fresh on everyone's mind."
After a moment of consideration, he added "You might wish to speak to the Abbadaran priest as well. He's all up in arms about this issue, and tries to get the Bank of Abbadar to formally offer aid to Queen Illeosa."
Crossing the distance between them and putting his hand on Grau's shoulder Zalen says "I am sorry Grau, I did not mean to take away from your good news. But this matter has the potential to be very serious indeed. I swear to you though, whatever happens, we are all in this together." and he gives the muscled shoulder a squeeze before dropping his hand.
Turning to include the others he continues with a smile "Well, perhaps our new Captain here can take us down to the ship and we can begin investigating this matter? And as well, Alandra, it strikes me that if we are to be getting deeper into this case, any means we have at our disposal to prevent or cure diseases may be a wise investment. Of course I am willing to pour whatever profits the Emporium is garnering to that effort. Do you think a quick stop at your temple might be wise first?"
"I was just about to suggest that very thing, Z."
"What about the priests of Abadar? They seem pretty eager to help, from what the good captain said."
"Yes, it may bear fruit to visit them at some point as well, but as we have our own priestess of Pharasma here, and one that is already well respected within her organization at that, I would much prefer to visit there first."
"But let us be off my friends, we can continue to converse as we walk. Grau, will your new duties allow you to accompany us, or shall we meet with you at another time to see the ship?"
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My first shift on the new job will just start tomorrow morning, so I'm free for the day. I'd... rather not visit Grey today. Call it a supersitition, but I'd rather stay away from there for a while longer He smiled a wonderfully naive smile, and suddenly looked more like an overgrown boy rather than man who nearly wrecked his life over a woman who would never reciprocate.
The group prepared for their trip towards Grey. The city was waking again, stirring to fitful life. The streets filled with commerce once more... and before too long, Pharasmas grand cathedral filled the view.
Zalen looks to Alandra and nods and smiles at her to take the lead in her the domain of her temple home. His casual manner makes it appear that his suggesting so has nothing whatsoever to do with walking into the temple of the Goddess of Death on the morn of a possible plague outbreak...or at least he almost does.
Alandra leads the group to the temple and seeks out Mother Maple.
"Mother, I talked to that ghost again and she warned of terrible things happening to the city! One of them is a bad disease, and I think I have it, and my friend too. We caught it from a girl we tried to help, and Sergeant Grau said it came from a ship that sank in the river."
Mother Maple stood by one of the reliquaries, lighting a small stick of incense before closing the shrine again. She turned towards Alandra with her usual detached expression, the public face expected of her. Alandra knew the aging woman cared deeply for her, but she had been telling people about impending death for so long, she found it hard to act any other way. She motioned the young priestess to calm herself.
"A disease, you say. Yes, that would be... expected" She folded her hands, and smiled a sad half-smile. "We have noticed this, Alandra - read the signs and examined the omens. We are preparing. If as many die as we fear, we need to bury swiftly and decisively. A dead body can infect as surely as a living one."
Looking over the others present, she added. "But I think you might not wish to merely wait this out, am I correct? Not content with speeding the dead along their passage, intent on keeping them alive longer."
Looking over the others present, she added. "But I think you might not wish to merely wait this out, am I correct? Not content with speeding the dead along their passage, intent on keeping them alive longer."
Under the gaze of the priestess, Elian licks nervously his lips and answers: "This disease does not look natural and it may originate from a sunken ship. If it does, it will infect the harbour and the city over and over. That is what we want to prevent."
"Yes, Mother. Elian speaks the truth, we are planning to investigate the ship. But I was hoping first we could get the disease removed from ourselves. I can pay."
Grunhild responds to the priestess. "I'm rarely content speeding anyone's death to be honest. Living people are usually much more interesting then their corpses. Besides, the ghost Alandra spoke of warned us of this disease and said 'the healing will come' or some such. Perhaps it's our fate to find a cure for the city."
Mother Maple grimmassed. "Disease is just another bringer of death, and any who believe otherwise are... misguided, at best. Deceived, more often, and frequently altogether corrupt. I would much prefer the omens to not play out as we fear they will. So yes, I will aid you as best I can."
She tilted her head, in thought. "I will see to it that you are cured from any disease afflicting you. Normally, this would be quite expensive, but I am certain your involvement will be worth that expense. Beyond that, I am afraid, I can not offer you much compensation without consulting with my brothers and sisters. But I can and will provide you with supplies for your expedition. The ship was flying plague lights, after all - it makes much sense to assume that it was the spark that lit this flask of oil."
"...But I can and will provide you with supplies for your expedition. The ship was flying plague lights, after all - it makes much sense to assume that it was the spark that lit this flask of oil."
"Most excellent!" replies Grunhild with some restrained enthusiasm. Somehow, it didn't seem right to express much joy and excitement in this Gothic church of the Lady of Graves. "We will, in turn, keep you informed of what we may find. I'm eager and curious to see this plague ship. Now, since the ship is at the bottom of the harbor, I presume we will need to dive do explore it. Perhaps you can help us with this with your 'supplies'? Some magical way to breath underwater would indeed be helpful."
Grunhild is tempted to loudly play his brass horn ... Maybe it will wake some.