DEVA AF FFS, part 11
Log Info
- Title: DEVA AF FFS, part 11
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Thurid , Mikilos, Shalethiste, Seldan, Merek
- Place: H01: Kultari Road - DEVA Station
- Time: Sunday, February 28, 2021, 2:00 PM
- Summary: High level Clerical assistance arrives and they start to treat the various disease victims with a lot of magic. The Coward's Disease patients are cured first, and then told they will need to be observed for a week. Shalethiste wisely recognizes that a mixed group might cause problems, and separates them. The Black Bog Patients are the next to recover, but while they are doing so, Thurid has an unsettling dream where she sees the vampire that Urbarra raised and believes he may see her. Mikilos is doing community service, under guard, and helping out which is fortuitous as Urbarra and Urtur are recovered enough that a solution to their warped joints is now possible. Mikilos uses 'Polymorph any Object' to fix their joints; hopefully the spell won't dismiss any time soon. Next, civilians from Stone Talon want to settle in Alexandria, and flock to Sentinel Toshi to get his approval. The Egalrin says he will contact the temple, and that all are welcome, but they must wait. The former Bloody Fingers patients have been waiting for several weeks, and their caravan master, Major Kreemo isn't sure soldiers will be given the same offer. In the middle of the night, all of them flee the camp and sneak into Alexandria. This is discovered in the morning, and the group pursues but fail to catch them at the Western gates. They enter Alexandria to look around, searching the gardens and various temples, but it is fruitless. Meanwhile, the DEVA Temples agree, the Civilians can settle in Alexandria. Many choose to do so, selling off their (ruined) Stone Talon mansions to the unsuspecting.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Thurid 7'1" 249 Lb Giantborn Female Bright-eyed, muscular, blond Giantborn woman. Mikilos 6'8" 180 Lb Dawn Elf Male Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome. Shalethiste 4'6" 96 Lb Shadow Elf Female A copper maned elf maiden, hued in the night sky. Seldan 5'11" 187 Lb Human Male Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol. Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
DEVA Station
Experienced clerical help arrives the day after Sentinel Kira sends her detailed letter. This is a problem that can be solved with magic, a lot of magic. Sunguard Sagma Zigan, Seer Tivos al-Khasati, a shrouded Mourner, and the round and feathery Sentinel Toshitake Ryuuzouji arrive to provide it. Familiar with Kira and Geir's summation, they meet for an in-person briefing and decide their strategy.
As the Coward's Sickness requires Remove Disease or a Heal followed by restorative spells to undo the mental damage, but is effectively 'one and done' after this treatment, they will tackle it first. The number of patients is daunting, eighty seven of the now one hundred and thirty seven still suffer it. With their prayers, including with Kira's and Merek's, every patient is cured by the end of the second day.
Sunguard Sagmi Zigan leads the charge on this. She is an older woman, fully dedicated to her temple and 'married to Daeus' as she puts it. Each patient gets a personal conversation while her healing is conducted, and the other clerics follow her lead.
GAME: Thurid rolls heal: (5)+13: 18 GAME: Thurid rolls fortitude+2+1+4+4: (1)+8+2+1+4+4: 20 (EPIC FAIL)
Thurid has been pretty much out of it for the past few days- after contracting the plague, she had continued working with the plagued patients until she grew too unwell and was coaxed to bedrest by her fellow healers. Since then, she has been focusing on getting better- but the disease is proving stubborn, even with her own competent treatment and the benefits of the magnificent mansion, she has been hovering back and forth between mild and moderate symptoms. She seems to be on the mend, but her body is having a really tough time fighting of this particular disease.
Not only that, but she has a really strange dream. Possibly influenced by the details that Cyrmryl and Urbarra gave her. She's in a cemetery, a necropolis. She goes down into a tomb, opens the secret door, fights ghouls. She finds a crypt and conducts a ceremony. Urbarra is there, Cymryl, it feels like Thurid is in charge, perhaps playing the role of Voils. The vampire is awoken, he drinks from her, everyone. The eyes. His eyes are impossible to forget - really staring deep, like he sees her.
Urbarra sleeps badly that night but won't say why beyond 'bad dreams'.'
'A problem that can be solved with magic, a lot of magic.' To Mikilos, that's every problem. But is own version of magic isn't the best for treating illness. It is, however, quite handy to assist those who do cast divine magics, and the wizard does his best to assist, providing stable assistance and infrastructure to work with. Which isn't to say the tall elf doesn't do other things as well. Like get himself into trouble with the law in a small matter of a riot. Thankfully the Watch is rather understanding of the whole situation and has allowed the magus to continue his efforts, though now under guard and escorted to and from the cell where he's typically kept. It's a little like a sentence of community service.
Shalethiste continues plying her somewhat tenuous balance of welcome aid through her Eluna given aura of fear suppression, and unfortunate paranoia fuel tendencies from a people being so blissfully nestled in the tread of Taara's boot.
As ever, she escorts the newly arrived healers to their particular triages. She's also tried to make a point of checking in on Thurid and Merek as word of their afflictions came to light, but keeping her tilt of boon vs bane is enough of a struggle that it doesn't leave her a surfeit of free time.
GAME: Shalethiste rolls sense motive: (20)+7: 27 GAME: Shalethiste rolls diplomacy: (20)+1: 21
It takes two days to cure all the Coward's Disease Patients, after which they will sit around for a week waiting to be sure they're cured. Now that they're fully awake, no longer afraid of their own shadow and aware of each other, with nothing to do, the mix of Blar and Bludguni soldiers and civilians will cause a problem and a fight unless they are split up.
The infrastructure is greatly appreciated, aiding as it does in the recovery of the Bog Plague patients, and holding two prisoners as well. The mood in the camp is hopeful, and a little tense. Mikilos is carefully watched by his nervous escorts, who feel they are playing the roll of Mine Canary more than Guard. Should the mage do something, they probably won't be able to stop him, but they'll make for nice evidence.
On the morning of the third day, with Coward's Disease patient recovered, the clerics move them onto the observation stage. No relapses are anticipated. All the former patients settle down for several days of waiting and observation. The lay healers and acolytes that were attending to them are distributed to the other treatment wards, or allowed relaxed duties.
The Sleeping Sickness becomes the main focus now, with Seer Tivos al-Khasati taking charge. Not as skilled as others at healing the physical body, his magics instead focus on a more unusual source -- aiding those suffering from the Sleeping Sickness by utilizing his goddess' gifts to journey into the Dreamrealm. There, illness-brought nightmares are shattered to aid the healing process from within. Often sharing the same tents as the sufferers, his skills are hardly diminished by the Sickness; rather, they empower and strengthen him. He often spends more time asleep than awake.
His efforts are backed up by the healing miracles of the other clerics. The Sleeping Sickness has tenacious, lingering nature. Remove Disease and Heal do not so much eliminate it as beat it back a little. The spells are only so effective. Repeated castings, day after day are required to fully eliminate the symptoms, followed by a week of casting after apparent recover to ensure that the cure sticks. The patients are a small number, only twenty, yet in the end will require more castings than the Coward's Disease did. Based on Seer Merek's sickness, it is projected it will take two weeks to ensure recovery and prevent relapses.
This will be the longest effort of the visiting clerics.
Thurid wakes in a cold sweat- which makes a difference, from the feverish sweat she had been waking in most days with this disease. After cleaning herself off, and examining her sores and finding them largely scabbed up and healing, she heads out- going to speak with Urbarra. She tells him of the dream that she had- and he that he had a 'bad dream' as well, though no more detail than that.
The Jotunorn cleric takes it upon herself to visit other plague victims, to see if any of them have had similar dreams. Starting with Voils.
GAME: Thurid rolls sense motive: (10)+10: 20 GAME: Thurid rolls diplomacy: (20)+7: 27
Mikilos pointedly avoids mentioning the many, many ways magic can destory or muddle evidence, focusing instead on doing his part while trying to offer the Guardsmen oppertunities to feel useful without distracting from their duties. Can keep an eye on someone while folding towels, right?
The Mul'niessa, planting her steps by the Sky Singers melody, manages to dance through the threefold minefield presented by the composition of Coward's Disease victims. Blarite besiegers, Bludgunni occupiers, and hapless civilians, all with skin in the game and spleens in need of venting now that the affliction's been taken care of.
Her peculiarly Mul'niessan demeanor, velvet and steel in tactful measure, manage to earn her enough clout that though the assistance of several holy blades and assorted lay to set up separated quartering, Shelly manages to keep a three part recipe from turning into alchemists' fire in their collective lap. Certain of each group, chosen for their way with their peoples as much as their willingness to be reasonable, are established as liasons to see any medical or logistic crises are handled without the general populations risking a blend into mischief. There's been too much death and horror for them all without allowing more.
Major Voils remains dead, and cremated, so it is unlikely he's had any dreams and there's no corpse that would be able to answer questions. However, Cyrmyrl and the others also report having bad dreams. None of them can remember exactly what, Cyrmyrl remembers a little more, something about Voils and the necropolis they were in. She admits to feeling afraid, which is an unusual thing for a Hobgoblin soldier to do. The soldiers that recovered from the Bog Plague had undisturbed sleep, so it's only the four remaining, plus Thurid, that had some kind of experience that night.
GAME: Mikilos rolls diplomacy: (15)+18: 33
The Mul'niessa's adept diplomacy and segregation works well. Instead of being focused on each other, and potential duties or revenges that could be undertaken, the groups devote time and thought to what the next steps will be. They don't share those details, but organized into separate smaller camps they soon start handling their own logistics, a couple volunteer to prepare food, cards and dice are requested. It seems that a week won't be too long to wait.
And Mikilos' watchbirds are very happy to fold towels! They're being useful! And Watchful! They wouldn't want to see something they'd have to report, and they're great to have around. It's not as if they're taking orders from the mage, oh no, they're still on guard. They're simply not getting in the way.
The visiting clerics, for the most part, leave the Black Bog Plague patients to recover through the mundane methods currently being used on them. Mild orisons of blessing seem able to sneak by and assist where direct magical cures worsen it. Overall their journey will be a rougher one depending on their own resilience.
The Vardamite amongst the visiting group devotes himself to their care. Originally planning to work mainly in disposal, the Shrouded one ensues that an amount of ashes is placed in a simple brass urn to be carried back to their families of these lost soldiers. Next, attention turns to the still living, concentrating on burning the infected items and conducting small magical tests to determine where contamination lingers and the best ways to destroy it.
And by the end of the fifth day, the solem dignity and efforts of the Shrouded Vardamite along with the other healers have brought the remaining six back to full health. Nineteen in total have recovered. A few more days rest and a test with healing spells will be all that remains to ensure they are completely cured.
The news that the others involved directly in the ritual have had dreams as well is troubling. But aside from galavanting across the country to go vampire slaying she's not sure what she can really do about it. And so she focuses her attention on assisting where she can in nursing the remaining patients back to health- she does inform the experienced Vardamite of the shared dream, but notes it is not all of the victims suffering it.
Mikilos doesn't sleep, he waits. Well, not so much waiting either, the mage tends to keep active, his magics having reduced not only his need for food, but sleep as well. While the elf does still need the occasional nap, it leaves little time for dreaming. Does make for an extra shift of watchful guardsmen, but Mikilos tends to spend his night hours reading quietly. No need to disrupt those who do sleep.
The Vardamite carefully considers Thurid's story, then offers an opinion. "I've heard of similar things. There are spells, talents, which transfer injuries. It's possible, especially as we're dealing with a vampire and tainted blood, that this Bog Plague provided him with a continuous reservoir to pull from, and with it cured, that is broken."
"It would result in a vampire that's very hard to kill if he's established a network closer to himself. This connection should have been broken with the cure."
So, hopeful news!
The community service officers watching Mikilos become a small, regular number. Being assigned to watch a dangerous, fireball happy mage in a disease camp was not considered a prime duty. The ones put to the task soon find it's rather sedate, and there aren't a lot of sick people about. There's a token amount of serious gruffness when each arrives, and then they relax. Overnight is very sedate.
Once in a while one of them suggests, "We should take you back to your cell now, so they don't think anything is wrong." They need to assert that they're still in charge of him somehow.
Seldan has been noticeably absent for the last several days, nearly a week now, and asking after him gets the answer that the Silver Guard has been called away on another errand. He might, then, startle a few people when he abruptly appears, out of nowhere, with a golden-white sparkle and a stagger, outside the quarantine line and a little distance from where the wagons tend to be. He staggers, pauses, stiffens, looks around him, and as he seems to get his bearings, a boyish grin spreads across his face, the grim of one most pleased with themselves.
Thurid accepts the explanation, though with some head-scratching. She isn't quite sure why they were sent here to be cured, if their illness strengthens the vampire. But, she doesn't pretend to understand Bludguni politics or scheming, either. She'll leave that to the professionals. With the patients beginning to thin, she is able to offer more acute care to those remaining. She also gets in touch with those pair of researchers who arrived to look into Urbarra and Urtur, and let them know the pair of Bugbears are ready and willing to undergo procedures to have their fused limbs repaired.
An orderly carrying blankets is startled when Seldan teleports in, jumping several feet. The other Silverguards are happy to see Seldan again and provide a quick update. There's been a bit more security issues with most of the patients recovered and waiting out an observation period. Bored soldiers can cause problems. Quick action by Silverguard Shalethiste, in re-organizing and separating the groups seems to have quelled this for now.
Shalethiste does what she can to see the liason's needs are handled expediently as may be, without crippling other, more urgent efforts. With the separation going so well, she has more time to help elsewhere a little more. the words she's getting about the developments are troubling, but somewhat hopeful, insofar as the vampire being stymied by curing the plague.
As Urbarra and Urtur have recovered from their respective diseases, and per Thurid's instructions, they are brought together. Enough guards are on hand with the Jotun that the Bugbears won't start any friendly wrasseling. The two arcanists, the elderly elf Janna, and the bespeckled gnome Borzi are found, and have eagerly been awaiting this moment. They explain the various options available, a couple times. It's clear the Bugbear brothers have similar priorities, even if they're not terribly articulate abou them. They're also indecisive.
"No Metal! Metal breaks." Urtur insists, slapping at his permanently fused kneed.
"Adam-Man ok. Inside okay." Urbarra qualifies. His younger brother stares at him, then nods.
"So if I understand correctly," Borzi says, hitching up his pants, holding his suspenders, adjusting a lens on his hat down in front of his eye, "You don't want artifice limb replacements. You would find internal joint replacements acceptable, as long as your regular flesh was on top of it. You're also willing to accept amputation and regeneration, in the hopes that the joints come back more flexible, or even flesh-shaping, if we can location someone willing to do that."
Urbarra and Urtur stare at the gnome, then look at each other. Urtur says, "Yes...?"
"Oh Borzi, don't show off with so many words." Jenna admonishes, then turns to the two large goblinoids. She is surprisingly delicate, and old, in comparison. Her explanation involves tapping, Urtur's knee and arm, Urbarra's hand. "New knee, new elbow, new knuckles. Lots knife. Lots pain. Or, chop-chop, chop-chop, spells. Cut off, grow back. Also lots pain. Or spels. Pain, pain, and more pain."
Urbarra snarls happily at her, "Not afraid of pain."
Urtur isn't about to be outdone, "Not afraid of pain, pain, and more pain."
Both of them chuckle, then, look around. Urbarra asks, "What you think do?"
Mikilos offers a potential alternative. Polymorph. From a damaged body, into a healthy body of the same species, gender, and build. Or different, he's not picky. But neither is he positive the change will last.
It doesn't take long for Seldan to re-orient himself, and he listens carefully to the updates, nodding. "Well done, Shalethiste," he agrees. "I was told that a vampire may be involved in the last of the illnesses?" There's no hesitation in the question, nor in his demeanor. "And if so, how may I be of assistance?"
Mikilos idly ponders if the dispellability changes... like, and hour later, spell is easily broken, but a year on, the magic has 'sunk in' and become real. Something to test perhaps.
Thurid scratches her head, "I've seen artifice do wonders, but I don't really trust it very much, myself. Besides, real flesh and blood and bone- you can strengthen that with training and hard work. With artifice, only using better metals or stronger magic can make it stronger." she gives her own opinion. "So flesh and blood options are better." she settles, her own two cents.
"Urbarra raise vampire," The elder Bugbear answers Seldan. He points at Thurid, smiling, "Tell her, she knows."
"It might become permanent eventually," Borzi speculates with Mikilos, "Also, their disease is hereditary, but the condition might have been activated by something local. So a regrown limb wouldn't necessary come out exactly the same as it was, especially if the spell was ensuring it was the best it could be."
"Urtur okay with best spell," the other Bugbear says.
Shalethiste meets the praise from Ser Seldan with a small bow, "Thank you, Sir." she replies with a little relief at the corner of her lips that mostly remains even with talk of the vampire, "Going in after it would be problematic, though the political hurdle could be lightened if the case was presented well." Hmmm, "The sickness itself rebuffs mystical treatment, but more holistic approaches have met with some success. I believe we can augment a patient, just not address the disease directly."
GAME: Thurid rolls sense motive: (6)+10: 16 GAME: Seldan rolls sense motive: (6)+18: 24 GAME: Shalethiste rolls sense motive: (6)+7: 13
Mikilos is perfectly happy to utilize the powerful magic, in no small part as he hasn't had opportunity to really test the spell. After confirming what exactly the pair want to change into, the magus makes two castings, polymorphing the injured bodies into whole ones. Now to wait, and see if it lasts.
GAME: Mikilos rolls craft/sculpture: (19)+13: 32 <OOC> Mikilos IS a master craftsman... <OOC> Cryosanthia is totally coming to you for adjustments <OOC> Thurid says, "Craft (Flesh) was an appropriate craft specialty in Exalted."
The Bugbears want to be themselves, they're even interested in keeping their scars. The goal is 'improving' their fused joints, so they bend. It's not 'fixing' them, as they would refuse to admit something is wrong, that's weak. However, getting stronger is just fine. A working knee, working elbow, hands that can flex and hold things, these allow for a lot more combat options.
Urbarra has fewer calcified joints, so he goes first. Along with his hand there are a few bone-knots that haven't troubled him much but might as well be eliminated.
Urtur takes longer, to fix knee, elbow, adjust muscles. In the end, the magic and the Mage's skill as a master craftsman re-shapes both of them.
Now that they are perfect, Urtur jumps Urbarra.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (2)+5: 7 (Urtur CMB to grapple Urbarra)
Urtur lunges for his brother but Urbarra was ready for it. Grinning, the elder turns, shrugging off the grab. The younger brother isn't used to having all four limbs bendable, it throws off his game.
Mikilos is not entirely surprised by the rough housing, and stands well back. Might jump in if things turn lethal, but a little rigorous testing of the repaired forms should be fine, right?
Thurid laughs boisterously as the pair of bugbears have at it, and she folds her arms across her chest as she watches them launch into a wrassling match with their newfound flexibility. "Don't go breaking those new bones of yours." she offers the pair of them cheerily. She spares a glance for the others, "They're not like to harm anyone. Let them fight." she suggests.
How did I see that one coming? Seldan's rueful look fairly screams, but he gestures everyone to back up and give them space. "The Warrior is right," he calls. "Give them space and down them if they harm another!" He suits actions to words, backpedaling several steps and gesturing that others should do the same.
Merek seems to be assisting with the people in that illness while others are doing their own thing. The man seems to be working with that while he takes the time to generally check on people.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (7)+5: 12 (Urbarra Grapple) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (4)+5: 9 (Urtur Grapple) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (20)+5: 25 (Urbarra Grapple)
Urbarra is on his feet. His first action is to attempt a grab with his new hand. He's never done this before. He's not successful on his first try.
Obeying the Warrior and the Silverguard, the other guards back up and let them fight.
Urtur steps and finds a bending knee needs more attention than a fused one, he drops low and misses his grab. This leaves him open for Urbarra to get him in a bugbear hug, and hold him.
RRRRRR! RRRAAAAAAAH!
Finally Urtur growls, "Give, give," and is released. Both of them slap each other on the shoulder, then punch each other, and it looks like it's about to go further when they stop and laugh.
Now Mikilos gets the bugbear hug. Two of them. It's very tight. They could use a bath...
Mikilos wheezes softly as he's hugged, but grins. A few cracked ribs is sometimes the price of helping others.
Thurid lets out a cheer for the victor, and watches with a gap-toothed grin as they head over to try and bearhug Mikilos to unconsciousness. She dips her head at Seldan in silent thanks for letting the scrap go ahead, and seems genuinely pleased for the brothers' recovery.
As the first week comes to a close all the Sleeping Sickness patients are no longer symptomatic, the second week will be ensuring they stay that way. Fully awake for the first time in months, they all wish to leave their beds and do... something.
Off to one side in that grouping, a small bubble of turmoil rises. A child.. no a halfling woman tried to speak with one of the health workers. The worker masked and hands on hips with a obvious disbelieving stance.
"I swear miss.. I'm not sick you see...I have always been like ....this.." The halfling woman nodding off between her words. Somehow managing to stay up on her feet despite falling asleep." The health worker shakes his head and urges the woman back to bed. "Come on, miss. You're not fooling anyone, you know." Further protests are punctuated by yawns and more sleepy moments.
Meanwhile, the recovered Coward's Disease patients have already had their week of observation. They're restless. They aren't the only ones. A subset of them, a collection of Bludguni civilians from Stone Talon have surrounded Sentinel Toshitake Ryuuzouji. 'Toshi' is a round and fluffy Egalrin who resembles spotted owl in Althea's vestments. He does not have glasses, but his large eyes, feather ruffs, and small beak still make him seem rather scholarly.
His story is well known among the Altheans, and soon anyone in camp whose beside he attended. Reviled and exiled, Toshi's parents relocated to the Hayatiento Aerie on Fate's Spire from an undisclosed and distant land. It was rumoured that they dared make a blood-red pottery glaze from the rare Hope's Flower, a result that while desirable, hastens the extinction of the hard to find flower and metaphysically dooms the owner of any vessel painted with such. His parents scoffed at such things, and did own a vast collection of red pottery. Perhaps some truth lies in this supersition, as this was their daily dinnerware and he was an exceptionally rare Only Egg. As an Eagalet, Toshi won the 'Young Fliers of Promise' contest, gaining him a medallion of which he was excessively proud. After many hours staring into it, he started to receive revelations, visions of the future. A future which would start with stealing a blood-red chalice from the Temple of Althea. Ironically, an object donated by his parents. He did so, and this future did come about, although he didn't forsee his punishment. Required to repay the Temple of Althea in deed, he did so as an acolyte, and then rose through the ranks. It has been a long time since he was a dynamic flyer, but he grew into his role as a fluffy father hen for his human flock. Meticulous and concerned for the future, he's known to have had several inconsequential romantic relationships which have never blossomed into anything stronger. He remains devoted to his church, a kind-hearted, soft-feathered, patriarch with a discerning eye, a meticulour manner and he keeps his chalice close.
Perhaps this is why he's selected as a 'soft' target.
"So," An elderly Arvek Nar with a noble bearing and a hospital gown, addresses Toshi, "We feel we're refugees. We didn't ask to be brought to Alexandria and our home city has been destroyed, so there's nothing to return too. It would be far better, and easier, for us to be allowed to shelter in Alexandria's goblin-quarter and receive assistance, then branch out to the Merkabah settlement once we have our feet under us. Would the Temple of Heaven's Mother be supportive of this?"
"Of course!" Toshi spreads his wings wide, "All are welcome! We will manage this."
His offer seems genuine, he always looks surprised. His Owlish stares past the Arvek Nar at the nearby healers aren't a plea for assistance, are they?
Thurid, for her part, doesn't see much problem with the request- she's a child of ex slaves and one time refugees, herself, after all. However, she eyeballs the Arvek. Narrows her eyes. She peers at him curiously, "I remember you!" she calls out, and then laughs. "You seem to have settled down, since I dragged you out of that manner house. You were threatening to bite my ears off the whole way back to camp!" she calls out cheerily.
"Haha! Well, sometimes you have to drag someone kicking and screaming." The noble laughs, with a bitey sort of smile. "I had a think, and it's much nicer here. So, thanks for that."
Mikilos isn't a refugee, but neither was he born local. Others should have the same opportunity.
Seldan folds his arms and steps forward, once the fighting is done and this discussion has broken out. "Telmentar's Temple would be the better people to ask," he offers evenly, looking for face to face. "None here have the authority to say you yea or nay on the matter. Would you have us send the query to Alexandria?"
"Well, yes, I suppose that would be appropriate," Sentinel Toshi says, assuring the Arvek Nar that they will be seen to, "We'll have an answer for you tomorrow, just be patient."
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (11)+19: 30
The Egalrin's helpful gestures and the Silverguard's forthrightness convince the Stone Talon civilians to wait and see.
Others like the idea of leaving and are less official about it. It's early in the second week when the visiting Druid arrives with an announcement.
"They're gone!" Ovola Thistleborne announces. A Druidess of the Green Circle, her main interest was the Bloody Fingers disease. As this was completely cured, there was little to do except speak with the recovered patients about their new wooden limbs. When she was torn away from that, she assisted with the Coward's Disease and then the Sleeping Sickness.
"Every single one of them, and the little goblin Major Kreemo and the caravan crew. They left, some time in the night." Ovola seems genuinely shocked, both that the escaped without raising alarm, and that they wouldn't confide their plans. She spent so much time talking to them about trees! She thought they bonded. Still, there is one promising sign, "They took their saplings with them."
Thurid blinks in bemusement at this announcement, and then frowns, "I know a couple of them spoke about wanting to visit Alexandria... and many and more spoke of wishing to visit the druids grove, or else somewhere else they might encounter a Dryad." she recalls them. "Have they left any tracks to follow?" she wonders. Not particularly outdoorsy, she assumes the Druid is- at least somewhat.
Mikilos is somewhat surprised by the news, but is in a position to do little about it. Well, not with guards trying to keep an eye on him. Heading off into the wilds is exactly what they're here to stop. Or at least report on.
GAME: Seldan rolls survival: (12)+24: 36
"Oh! Yes. Of course I can do that. I thought you'd like to know." Ovola says. She seems a little... well, breezy.
She tracks for anyone interested in following. The trail isn't hard to find, or follow. It's only challenging to trace a single set of footprints among the dozens. Through the woods, past some exploded trees, then angling back to the road and heading towards Alexandria.
By the signs and the way some of the footprints have melted, it's been a couple hours. Likely they timed their arrival at dawn when the gates open. If they made it past the gate guards, they're likely lost.
Seldan's entire demeanor and bearing freeze, going impassive in a way that several here have seen before and can easily read as displeasure bordering on anger. "Tracks? Yes, a caravan leaves tracks a blind man can follow." He paces out towards the road, looking for such traces. "Even so. They make for Alexandria. We must move swiftly." He looks among the group. "The ill must remain here ...."
Thurid nods her head to Seldan, "Some of the sick expressed desires to abandon the war and go to the city." she tells him, then. "Although, most were concerned about what would happen to their families, if they did. Mayhap they've decided to go through with it anyway?" she wonders, clearly hoping for the best. Still, she follows along behind the Paladin.
Very few ill remain in camp. A few, less than ten, remain in an observation period. Everyone else has been judged cured, free of disease for days and the 'Bloody Fingers' were cured weeks ago. Even Thurid, Merek, haven't shown signs of their disease in a week. It's safe for them to pursue.
Moving swiftly gets everyone to the gates of Alexandria within the hour. The deserting patients aren't encountered along the way, and the gate guards admit to letting a bunch of Arvek Nars through in the early morning. Some sort of pilgrimage, was the explanation for their similar dress and bare feet.
Consternation gliters behind violet eyes, and, as the discreet exodus makes itself known, Shelly spends a certain amount of time apprising the other paladins of the sudden absence, and delegating to another that she may join to sortie to retrieve their errant guests...
She looks to Seldan as they get the skinny on the pilgrims from the guard and, "I would hasten to the temples to advise them and perhaps get more trained eyes on the search. By your leave?"
Thurid asks the guards, "Did the Arvek said where their destination was?"
"Serriel's temple," is the quick answer, "That's a very popular Goddess for Arvek Nar. Even if she looks human here."
Thurid nods at the information given, "Well, I suppose we may as well see if they have gone where they said they will. We ought also visit the memorial gardens, given their penchant for greenery since their treatment." she suggests to the others. "If you're headed to the temples, I'll visit the gardens." she offers Shale.
"As you will, you needn't ask my leave," Seldan smiles down at Shalethiste. "Your judgment is good." He turns back to the guards, and tells them, "They are refugees from a quarantine camp. They are no longer ill, but I cannot guarantee that they are not free of disease." Even, calm, and plain, he lays it out in no uncertain terms. "I shall warn Telmentar's temple."
"Ah. Oh. The camp down the road? They're been put for weeks." The guard says, looking worried. He attempts to reassure the Silverguard, "They looks healthy, as much as anyone walking up. Uh, okay."
The other guards nod, letting the one talk.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "So, Diplomacy DC10 at Althea's and Serriel's Temple, GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy: (20)+19: 39 GAME: Shalethiste rolls diplomacy: (11)+1: 12 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Perception DC20 Thurid" GAME: Thurid rolls perception: (5)+9: 14
Giving a little bow on Seldan's assent, "As you say, then. May the Sky Dancer light our way." Shalethiste replies, taking off after her rhyme with all the haste she can muster.
Thurid separates from the other two, diverting towards the gardens to see if any of the pilgrims have headed that way, but she has no luck. After some time spent searching, she eventually heads back towards the temple district- looking vaguely disappointed and thoroughly confused, to share her findings- or non-findings- with Seldan and Shale.
Athea's temple is appraised, roughly, of what was going on at the camp, and did get the info from the letter Kira and Geir sent. They understand that the 'Bloody Fingers' was all cured by a Dryad quite some time ago. Thus, they aren't concerned regarding the disease being spread - as long as - it was only the Bloody Fingers grouping. They're a little worried that the soldiers will turn to thieving and aren't properly documented if they plan on staying, but will try to outreach and find them.
Overall it might be a civil authority problem, and more 'ministering to the poor' for them. They don't think that disease spreading is a concern if it hasn't been seen in camp for weeks - and it hasn't.
The greeting Shalethiste gets at the Temple of Serriel being what it is only gets under her skin, but stays hidden thereunder. With due grace, she affords the Vanguard a little bow and a soft, "thank you, that will be most helpful." She spends the time between assent, and the arrival of her assigned Lancer, sharing what symptom and treatment protocols are fitting as well as a note to look for someone carrying saplings. She even manages not to fidget over the last part before she ventures to the temple of Eluna for a quick update, then begin the search in earnest...
Seldan asks only to be on the lookout for them, and he will tip the civil authorities off. "We don't think they're sick but they are deserters from an army...."
Seldan isn't in the temple of Althea for all that long, but when he emerges is his usual steady self, looking around for the others. While he waits, he pauses, looking around for any Alexandrian guard that may be in the area.
A guard finds Seldan. "Hello! Good to see you Silverguard. How are things?"
His face is familiar, then it clicks. He's the patroller that was shot in the foot by devils. He seems to be doing well.
Thurid makes her way over towards Seldan as he too returns to the market, "Any luck?" she calls out to him. "I found none in the gardens, nor any whod seen them. You'd think they'd be easier to find, memorable at least, given they have wooden limbs and carry live saplings." she muses. "I had a passing strange encounter, mind. Can't quite fathom the meaning of it."
Shalethiste spends a bit going through the temples she hadn't heard on anyone else's list, the extra eyes of her Lancer assuring her that she hasn't overlooked anything in her haste before she rturns to the rendeavoux point for a quick confab, where she introduces her tagalong, a Sir Preno, to the others, but is forced to explain, "We've seen nothing of them as yet, but... perhaps the temples of the Mountain and the Blood Maker would be more fruitful options?"
She takes in the Warrior's words and, "How do you mean?"
"Well, good sir, and yet do we have something of perhaps minor trouble. Naught as of now, and yet would it be well, were it reported. Refugees from the quarantine camp have made their way to Alexandria and disappeared within. They are not thought to be ill, nor to carry disease, but they are deserters of an army, and have not leave to be in Alexandria."
"Well, good sir, and yet do we have something of perhaps minor trouble. Naught as of now, and yet would it be well, were it reported. Refugees from the quarantine camp have made their way to Alexandria and disappeared within. They are not thought to be ill, nor to carry disease, but they are deserters of an army, and have not leave to be in Alexandria." Seldan explains his situation swiftly and evenly to the guard.
Thurid tilts her head towards Shale, "Old Oruch, told me I am holding onto something I need to let go." she says then. "Something I can't do anything about. Always thought I was quite good at not dwelling, but mayhaps I ought to do a bit of introspection, eh?" she wonders, spirits fair enough but clearly a bit confused by the situation. "I'll pay a visit to the mountain." she replies, "Best I show my face as I'm in the city, at any rate."
"Oh, uh, yes. I'll let the Watch Commander know." The guard speaking to Seldan says. He nods to the others, then heads off.
It is clear that wherever the deserting soldiers and former patients went, they are not standing around in the Temple Square. Some searching will be required, and a few areas have been identified as deserving a look.
The group splits up for now to try and track them down. The authorities, Religious and Civil have been informed and will take their own actions.
Back at camp, Sentinel Toshi receives a reply. The Civilians from Stone Talon are allowed to enter and stay in Alexandria. This reduces the population of the camp significantly. Most stop off by one of the temples to get some decent clothes, and boots. They are offered a ticket home but most opt to stay, working to permanently relocate their wealth and families to Alexandria.
Soon, "I've got a Villa to sell you in Stone Talon," becomes a frequently heard phrase. It hasn't acquired the air of a con.
Yet.
Gamestuffs
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "So, free re-roll for Merek, Mikilos, Shalethiste and Thurid, and Kira if she shows up soon, since she said hello earlier"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "This will be a little unusual, as it will be 2 weeks IC time passing, for 1 week RL. I'll progress through the days and you can react as you like. A few things will need your input. I'll ask for rolls where appropriate, but you can always ask if something applies. Generally, everyone should respond for one of mine, though I may do a few one-on-ones. If it's your turn and I haven't heard anything in 5 minutes, or it's been more than fifteen minutes since I posed, I'll remind but will be moving on as I hope to cover a lot of time."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Fort Save DC18 Thurid, +2 for 'recovered previously', +1 for Resistance, +4 for staying in the MMMM, and if you make a Heal DC18 and stay in bed, you get another +4"