"How would you do that?" The merchant raises a quizzical eyebrow. "Do you know how many coins flow in and out of this market a day? And this is just a small one." He shrugs.

Before you can answer you hear a voice behind you. "Hey. Aren't you guys tha ones who did those jobs for Commander Kroft?" Coming down the lane between the peddlars is one of the Guard Officers. He nods to each of you in turn. "Sorry to interrupt. But there's someone lookin' for you. You guys know Vencarlo Orsini?"

Tarrov, Selvin, and Vaddis may recall the dueling instructor quite well. Izzick, you know him by reputation. A well known duelist who runs a sword school here in town.

The officer continues. "He's good friends with a lot of us in the Guard. Many of us trained with him. Anyway...he let it be known that if we saw you we should let you know he's lookin' for you."

While Izzick did not want to speak for his new allies, he explained, "We unfortunately have quite a lot on our plates right now," trying to be polite, "But thank you for telling us. I believe I know where he trains though. We shall try to make a stop at some point." Once the man had left, Izzick turned to his allies, "Right now, I think we may have more pressing matters. But, perhaps helping a friend of the guards could earn us a few favors in the current situation." He hadn't wanted to fully  dismiss the request, but accepting it now seemed more trouble than it would be worth.

Selvin's face scrunched up a bit. He wasn't sure about what to do. "On the one hand, we really needed to keep looking into the plague. On the other hand, what if Vencarlo Orsini has information that might help with this, as much as I doubt it?" Selvin realized it was likely Orsini wanting them for some completely unrelated task but...

---

---

Tarrov shrugged at the others.  "It certainly seems that we have hit something of a brick wall when it comes to investigating this illness."  He straightened the sleeves of his tunic.  "Perhaps we can talk to Vencarlo and see what he wants.  Not only might we be able to kill two birds with one stone, but it's entirely possible he might have some perspective on our current problem that we ourselves do not.  He is a man reputed for his wisdom, after all."

---

---

"I hope he has good news, we know getting a coin out of circulation once in is virtually impossible, there is no way of stopping the disease that way."

Vencarlo's school is in Old Korvosa. The island just off the northern shore of the peninsula. You don't have far to walk and soon cross one of the numerous bridges that lead from the mainland potion of the city, over the river, and on to the island.

None of you have ever really spent much time in Old Korvosa. It's not that it's so much different...one section is for the rich, the rest for the poor. But somehow it seems more tired. The houses are older. The people walk a bit more heavily. The smell of the river washes over everything.

The gate to Vencarlo's school is closed. A sign hangs on it stating classes are cancelled for the week. You pull on the chord of the old brass bell hanging out front. Soon Vencarlo himself swings open the gate and quietly nods you all in. He glances at Izzick, and then at the rest of you, silently asking if this guy is alright. He seems satisfied with the answer and slaps the half orc on the back after he's shut the gate and nods towards the front door. "Thank you all for coming. I wasn't sure who else to turn to."

He says little else until you are all inside and he's shut the door. He gestures for you all to sit and then chews his lip. "Well...might as well get to it..." He asks you to waot a moment and then leaves the room. When he comes back he isn't alone.

Trinia Sabor looks fairly good for someone who was supposed to be executed for assassinating a king just a couple of days ago. She is a bit wary as she looks around at all of you. But she nods as she stands close to the doorway. Vencarlo nears a pitcher of wine. "Will one of you grab those cups over there? I think you all know Ms Sabor." He begins to fill the cups with wine and pass them out. "You can probably imagine why I sent for you. When I came home after that debacle of a trial and..." He glances at Trinia. "...uh...'show' afterwards, I found an old friend of mine waiting in my home with Ms. Sabor. I've had dealings with Black Jack over the years. Anyway. He asked me to harbor Ms. Sabor and help her escape the city. I have made arrangements for her to stay with some friends in the town of Harse. Getting her to Harse shouldn't be a problem. Ot's not a far ride. Getting her out of Korvosa is another matter. My usual contacts have all gone to ground. Things these days are...well. You know how things are these days. The Guard and the Sable Company are searching for her. As are those new...'troops' of the Queen. The Gray Maidens. Have you seen them?"

He must be speaking of those female soldiers who wear the odd full face plate masks.

Vaddis nods they have and waits for him to continue.

---

---

"Indeed," Tarrov affirmed Vaddis' silent nod.  "But we're dealing with another pressing issue right now as well.  It seems that a strange disease has come to Korvosa, one spread by coins in boxes we believe were distributed by that shipwreck in the harbor."  The bard gestured in that general direction.  "We were hoping that you might have some insight into how to combat this illness, or at least stop its spread."  Tarrov gave the swordmaster a sober look.  "It is extremely virulent."

"Perhaps we could work together on both of these projects, fighting the illness and spiriting Ms. Sabor past the Gray Maidens together?"

---

---

Selvin sat down and waited as things unfolded. He did, however, stand up when Trinia was brought in. He gave her a smile and a small bow, before fetching the cup asked for. Only after that did he sit back down. "I think we all agree that we'd love t'help Trinia out again if we can. We jus' also wanna make sure that these...boxes with coins in them are stopped."

Vencarlo frowns. "Boxes? Illness? Please explain..."

He listens quietly to your words, asking questions to make sure he understands. The Swordsmaster considers for a moment. "You are right. This is serious. But if the coins are in circulation...Hmmm. I will talk to some of my contacts. First, to start spreading caution about these boxes. And second, to see if we can get some kind of plan put together about treating this disease before it spreads too far." He smiles. "Perhaps we can offer a bounty for the boxes. Control where they get delivered. And cure those who handle them before they pass it on."

Vencarlo takes a deep drink from his cup. "Do you think it would be worthwhile to investigste this ship? If it has sunk you wojld need the appropriate...uh...equipment...to investigate. I may know someone who can help. As for Ms. Sabor...if you can get her outside the city gates, the rest has been arranged. It is only getting her from here to there that's the problem."

"We'll use the Hat of Disguise again, she saw Toke, make herself look like him and no one will be the wiser. We walk right through them."

Selvin nodded and shrugged at the same time. "I think investigating the ship is worthwhile. I mean, if we can stop more of the boxes from coming out in addition to containing the ones already in circulation somehow, that would be best, right? And see if this is deliberate or not, maybe stop whoever's behind it."

Vencarlo nods. "I will gather what information I can for you on the ship and these boxes then. When you leave the gate, head across the bridge and look for a small inn a half mile from the bridge called the Sailor's Hike. The barkeep there will knpw what to do."

Trinia fidgets under the hat, but soon is looking very Toke-like. She sighs and then, after thanking Vencarlo again, follows you from the house.

The walk to the gate won't take long. And no one seems to be paying you much mind. Trinia shies away from contact though, staying closer to Izzick than the rest of you. She finally asks, "You guys aren't gonna turn me back in. Are you?"

Selvin stopped himself from glaring at Trinia and bit back an angry retort at her words. "You were in the room, I believe, when we were told you would get a fair trial, right?" He gave a snort and waved a hand. "Nevermind. You wouldn't understand. No, we're not gonna turn you in. Hence the disguise."

And he went silent after having said his piece, not really caring to continue the conversation.

"You are under my protection. The only way they get you back is over my dead body. I'm not suicidal."

Izzick seemed concerned as to why she shy'ed closer to him, but then again, he realized he'd had much less contact with the watch than they. "Don't worry, I believe the queen's actions have left all of us quite a bit displeased, as of late." While not the best at reassuring, he tried to promise, "</darkgreen>While you are with us, you'll be fine.</darkgreen>"

---

---

Tarrov gave a sour look to no one in particular as they walked along.  "We were assured you would have a fair trial.  We trusted someone who apparently didn't have as much power as we thought she did.  Or even that she thought she did.  There are a lot of people who aren't happy with that sham of a trial, milady.  And we are foremost among them."

---

---

Trinia glances around then looks down at the ground. "Yeah. That was kinda stupid of me. Sorry. It's just been a rough week. Ya know?" She glances up. "I saw the Queen. The night before...well. She came by my cell. She just sorta looked at me. She said, 'Not so good lookng now. Are you?' I didn't know what to say. " She sighs. "Anyway. Thank you. I relly do appreciate it. I guess we all've been screwed lately."

Getting through the gate is remarkably easy. No one looks at you twice. Just more people passing to and fro.

The inn is easy to fond as well. The barkeep nods when you mention Vencarlo's name. He leads you into a back hallway. Tinia takes off the hat and passes it to one of you. "Thanks again." She frowns and then stands on tip toe to give each of you...at leadt those who allow it...a kiss on the cheek. "For luck. I think you guys are gonna need it."

The trip back is also fairly uneventful. As you near the shore, you look to see if there are any black boxes wshed ashore. Sadly, the current does not seem to have carried them here. There's no news at the inn either. Vencarlo is probably busy checking into the things he told you about...he's probably trustworthy enough to keep his word. Not even Kroft has sent you word. Though that may be a blessing in your current mood. You all turn in early. Whether you can sleep or not is up to you.

Regardless, one of the innkeeper's sons is knocking on your door the next morning. You have a visitor. It is a young man, wearing the acolyte robs of Abadar. He seems nervous. "Uhm...hello. Vaultkeeper Dhatri asked me to come see you. He asked...if you could...could you come by the Vault. Er...uh..things are getting a bit ugly there... "

As you step out onto the street you can feel it. Tension. It's obvious among the people. They congregate in small clusters, talking excitedly. As you walk by a man in one group coughs. Everyone else goes silent and looks at him. He glances nervously around at all of them and mutters, "I just have a cold..." The crowd suddenly fractures. Everyone moves quickly away and heads in whatever direction will take them away from the cougher as quickly as possible.

The acoyte shakes his head. "Everyone's talkin' about it. Them that died in Northpoint last night." North Point would be the section of the city closest to the river where the ship supposedly sank. "And some  also fell in Sea Lick." That's a bit more odd. Sea Lick is a small ghetto on the western shore of the city. Almost the exact opposite end from North Point and Trail's End.

The Vault comes into view in a few more blocks. It rises above most of theothr buildings in town. A white, almost painfully so, square solid building that seems too pristine to be located in Korvosa. As you come down the road to the square before it, you can start to hear them. People. Shouts. Pleas. Not a large number. But enough so you her the before you're even in sight of the building.

There must be a hundred souls bunched up before the stairs to the Vault. Temple guards are stnding at the top of the stairs, regarding the crowd waryily. The crowd looks to be made up of mostly the poor. Though you spy the odd fine robe denoting some one who does well in their trade. Most disturbing are those who are laying down. A line of people...some on homemade stretchers and some just collapsed and dragged over to the area...laying on the street. They re in various stages of an illness. A couple seem to be bleeding from their noses, ears, and eyes. One woman is screaming in between coughs. Each chest wracking round of coughing sends a fine spray of blood shooting out of her mouth. The droplets form almst a mist in the ir before settling back down on her. Covering her like a veil.

The acolyte shakes his head. "There's more 'n there were an hour ago. Damn. " He points to the stair. " There's...there's no other way in. We gotta go through 'em.... "

The half-orc had never run with the best bunch, and he knew how to keep watch for pick pockets, but he still made sure to keep a good amount of coins in the hidden pocket of his scarf for safe keeping, all the while bringing the scarf to his mouth as they moved through the masses. If any of them were infected, it would only make their situation worse. "From the looks of it, things have escalated far quicker than we thought...Perhaps we were wrong to assume the boxes had to do with it. Or perhaps it's just been spread through unfortunate incident." Of course, he knew many plagues in history had started with just a single unfortunate infection, but it at least seemed like many were at least claiming the plague had affected them. Just a day ago, it was a case or two and now they had an army of beggars outside the church.

"And the church will let the poor die due to lack of funds I suppose?"

Selvin finished escorting Trinia in silence from then on. He accepted the cheek kiss and gave her a nod of goodbye but that was it. He slept fitfully that night and was awoke by a knocking on his door.

He looked surprised by the summons but nodded immediately, mumbling a quick prayer to his god Abadar. "Of course. Right away."

He followed after the acolyte and he frowned when he saw the mass of sick people and heard about the deaths. It was spreading quickly. "This is very bad."

He shot a sharp look at Vaddis. "I don't mock your god, do I? Show some respect even if you don't agree please."

Selvin began gently making his through the crowd, trying to offer words of comfort as he moved, trying to give a small measure of reassurance when he could.

"I was not mocking, I was asking a question, knowing that your faith does not allow clerics to perform work without pay."

The acolyte glares at Vaddis, but answers the question.

"Whether we can or can not, we have spent all last night and this morning healing. Removing illness is not something every brother can do. Abadar only bestows such skill on those with a high rank. And they can only do it so many times a day." He shrugs. "The same will be true for your faith as well as any other. It isn't a question of wanting to. It is a question of 'can you' and 'how often'." He shakes his head. "Vaultkeeper Dhatri I know is concerned. He has spoken up quite a bit. I would ask that you speak with him before passing judgement."

The ire fell off of Selvin's face at Vaddis' return words. "Oh. Sorry. I didn't mean to snap and take offense so quickly."

He listened to the acolyte and tilted his head to the side. That was news to him, but then he wasn't a cleric. "Well then. Let's go speak with the Vaultkeeper."

"Aye, let us speak to the Vaultkeeper."