Just before midnight, the evening’s peace is shattered by a wooden screech, followed by the thunder of a trebuchet being fired. Again and again the sounds echo from the Wall of Eodred near North Bridge, waking nearly all of North Point. Across the river in Trail’s End, citizens wake just in time to see a sleek brig burn and swiftly sink into the wine-dark waters. The rest of the night passes in breathless anticipation of the wall-weapons’ further use, which fortuitously never comes.

Next morning, gossip buzzes through the city and fanciful tales run wild. Every tavern and street corner is abuzz with rumors of pirate raiders and ghost ships. The Crimson Throne remains quiet on the matter, though, with even the loosest-tongued politicos seemingly knowing nothing of the previous night’s incident. With so many far wilder and more interesting tales circulating, the facts of the matter become lost among the frenzied gossip.

OOC: If anyone would like, make a Diplomacy (Gather Information) check to hear the latest gossip about what happened the previous night.

Figus will spend some time gathering the latest gossip about what happened the previous night, but knows not to put too much stock into it.

15:16, Today: Figus Dva rolled 13 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 12.  Diplomacy (Gather Information).

OOC: Interestingly enough Favored Terrain Urban does not seem to aid in Gathering Information in an Urban area.

Despite the fact that many shun the Tengu, Kraw is surprisingly adept at ferreting out rumors.

12:22, Today: Kraw rolled 17 using 1d20-2 with rolls of 19.  Diplomacy, Gather Information

Almost a Nat 20!

Kyra listens to the city itself for information on what happened.

Ears of the City
23:09, Today: Kyra rolled 27 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 18.  Perception (Gather Information).

Over the course of the following day the rumors are wild. The most common theory is that it was a group of smugglers or pirates trying to sneak into the city. Other more radical theories abound like it was a secret Chelaxian invasion, a ghost ship, or even a mimic of colossal scale that devoured three ships before being sunk.

Through Kyra and their contacts on the guard, however, the group is able to get in contact with Grau Soldado, a guard who had actually been on watch over the harbor the last night. He had long been a friendly face to Figus and Kyra, a welcome drinking buddy and diversion from the corruption on their own patrol team.

"Yeah I was there, saw the whole thing. A lone ship came drifting in. Ignored all the signals and when a patrol boat went out to intercept it there didn't appear to be anyone onboard so when it neared the North Bridge and still hadn't responded the call was made to sink it. Don't know what happened to the crew but we watched the water all night long waiting for something to pop up but nothing ever did. It was creepy, I tell you. Never seen a ghost ship like that before.

I overheard the harbormaster saying that if it was hanging a single lantern like the boatsmen thought it was, then that's the signal for a ship under quarantine. Maybe everyone onboard got sick and died? Maybe a something ate everyone on board and then starved to death or drowned? Can't say but the guard says the matter is closed so I guess that's that."

"I can't believe that everyone onboard was dead. Someone would have had to steer the ship all the way to North Bridge. But, sinking it was probably the best course. Setting it on fire before hand would have been better. You know just fly above it and bombard it with fireballs. Its the only way to be sure."

The story was chilling, but it not seem to have anything to do with the current situation in the city.

After that burst of excitement the city seems to go back to normal. A couple days pass without much note going on. The group is activated a couple of times to track down problems that the guard wouldn't normally handle but they all turn out to be duds. Mysterious disappearances in the night turn out to just be a classic press gang. A monster in the sewer turns out to just be a sick dog whining in a pipe that provided unusual amounts of amplification and resonance.

Grau intercepts the group on patrol looking worried sick. He looks like hasn't slept since the last time they spoke to him

"My niece is sick. I don’t know what she has and neither does anyone in Trail’s End. She’s broken out all over in red pocks and can barely keep down food, or even the swill that good-for-nothing herbalist gave her. Her mother’s talking about going to the Bank of Abadar to afford some real medicine, but her family can’t afford to pay the prices their clerics would demand. Then I remembered how you and your friends handled yourselves during the riots,
and how you helped out the guard, and I figured maybe you all could help. A bunch of resourceful folk like you, I’d bet if you don’t already have a way to fix this you must know who can. Surely you can’t just sit by while a child suffers, can you?"

"Hmm, I been spending some time practicing some first aid and stuff, certainly no healing priest and all, but can take a look. So sure."

Figus nods to Kyra "Perhaps we should grab that book we found along. It may prove to be useful sooner than I certainly thought."

---

OOC: Too funny, just dropped a skill point into Heal and picked up some items for poison and disease.

Kyra shrugs. "I know little more than the basics myself. The books we found could help a little, but I am still not sure it would be wise to gamble a life of a child on that. Priests of Abadar, money grubbing bastards though they are, would still be be a safer bet. How much gold would they ask for?"

There's a whole shelf of book on the topic that Kyra carted to her home. Not very portable, though she did buy a small Bag of Holding from her cut of the loot. There are also some witch spells that could come in handy here, like Diagnose Disease. Kyra does not know them (of course), but she could go hunting for scrolls or other witches that do know them.

Grau nods and when everyone is ready he leads them out of the city towards Trail's End. On their way towards the North Bridge the party passes by several fliers posted prominently in major intersections: WANTED: BLACKJACK. In the days after the failed execution the Korvosan guard had been tasked with sweeping the city to find Blackjack and Trinia but the performance of the guard had been lackluster at best. Many in the city, the guard included, viewed Blackjack as a legendary guardian of the city and while everyone was confused why he had suddenly emerged after nearly a decade out of sight to rescue the woman accused of killing the king, many still viewed him as a hero.

Frustrated with the perception that the guard didn't really want Blackjack to be found, the Queen had issued a royal bounty on Blackjack of 5,000gp hoping some scoundrel or mercenary would deliver. Since then the rumors and stories have been fodder for gossip and by now the way the story of Trinia's rescue is told Blackjack single handedly defeated the entire Queen's guard, including Sabine, before planting a kiss on the Queen and absconding with her crown jewels. It has gotten to the point where the actual event bears very little resemblance to the stories being told.

---

Crossing over the North Bridge the party can see the giant trebuchets that defend the water but the river looks calm and still. Days later there seems to be no sign of any disturbance that might have once been a pirate or smuggler ship. Once over the bridge it is a short walk north to Trail's End, a small encampment of mainly Varisians, that cropped up across the river. While the rumors are that it is poor and dangerous where someone will just as likely mug you as say hello, the truth is it feels more like a small town in the countryside and from the way the townsfolk interact with one another seems to have a stronger sense of community than any district found in Korvosa. That being said there is definitely a criminal presence and it is impossible to ignore the faces of dozens of Sczarni thugs and brutes loitering on the street corners.

Grau explains about the family on his way there, his voice equal parts love and worry.

"My brother...he died a long time ago. Murdered by highwaymen. His wife, Tayce, was Varisian and her and her three young ones made a home for themselves here. I try to stop by when I can and help when I can. Tayce works as a washerwoman and the children help out when they can. My niece, Brienna, is the oldest and works as a maid. The two boys, Charlo and Rello, do odd jobs mainly for wheelwright friend of the family. I worry about them with...well...you know..."

He nods at the Sczarni thugs who are keeping a careful eye on the guardsmen walking in their midst. They recognize Grau though and don't make any moves of hostility but their show of force is on fully display as the group walks through Trail's End.

OOC: On the map you're heading to H5 in the upper right corner

Only a crooked block away from the Jeggare shore, the Soldado home is a squat, two-story wooden building in desperate need of repair and gardening. Overall, the building feels like the home of a family too busy living to bother with tedious chores. Grau doesn't hesitate, walking right up to the door and walking inside. The interior of the house is remarkably clean and well-kept, filled with worn, well-used furniture and decorated with the crafts and scribblings of children. Charlo and Rello are playing quietly in the living room while upstairs a mother's worried voice can be heard trying to talk around spams of ragged coughing that bark through the air.

An acolyte from the Bank of Abadar is in the kitchen with a bag of herbs brewing a concoction that smells like cinnamon and anise. Seeing the acoylte, Grau looks displeased and marches right up the stairs to the second floor.

Grau disappears but occasionally his muffled voice is heard from the second floor.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:40, Tue 04 Aug 2020.

The acolyte looks up from his brew and smiles awkwardly at the gathered crowd in the living room. His dark features mark him as coming from farther to the South, likely Vudrani and although he appears to be in his 30s his robes still mark him as a low-level priest among the church of Abadar.

"Hello, greetings. I suppose you are the help Grau promised? He...he does not like my presence here but please let me assure you I only care about healing the girl. If it is you or I that does so, it is of no matter."

He gives another smile and a nod before going back to his brew.

Grau soon comes back downstairs accompanied by an older woman. Appearing to be nearly 40 and possessing a simple beauty is the mother, Tayce. She appears haggard and likely has not slept in several nights judging by the dark circles under her eyes.

"Grau thinks you might be able to help my little girl? Are you clerics or some kind? Alchemists maybe? He...he didn't really tell me much before dashing off this morning."

Figus shrugs a bit, his appearance surely makes him stand out and many rumors, both true and false, even Figus is not always aware of which is which, abound about his father's people.

"Yes, mam. A little bit of both actually. We take help and use whatever works be it of divine, arcane or of mundane nature. Let us speak to Ishani here, then we examine the girl and decide on how we can help."

Turning to the acolyte "I am Figus Dva, a member of the guard and have some knowledge of the healing arts. You have examined the girl, what can you tell us of her sickness and what you have attempted so far?"

Kraw bows slightly. "I have no knowledge of healing, but perhaps I can find out a few things. If you'll excuse me?" Kraw exits the home and makes his way to speak to the Sczarni.

Ishani nods at Figus, looking to Grau and Tayce for permission to speak which they give.

"Yes. Her symptoms appear to be a rash on her arms and face as well as a bad cough. If she continues to worsen at the same rate I would imagine that she will...struggle within two or three days time. What is troubling is that it appears to be both an illness that I have not seen before and is proving resilient to traditional remedies."

He then goes on to describe a bit more of the disease.

OOC: For a translation into mechanical terms the disease appears to attack Constitution and Charisma which means that it can prove fatal if untreated. It has a DC 16 Fort save which makes it a lot harder for people to fend off compared to normal diseases. For reference the Black Death has a fort DC of 17.

Kraw tries to get some information.

Kyra has her own questions for the acolyte and the girl's relatives. "Do you know if anyone else has fallen ill with similar symptoms lately? As for the cure, traditional remedies aside, what of an actual spell to cure the illness? Can the church of Abadar provide one, and if yes, at what price? Keeping in mind that we are all here to help the girl, of course."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Tue 04 Aug 2020.

Ishani shakes his head at Kyra.

"No, this is the first I've ever seen it and that is what troubles me. Korvosa is a big city and parts of it are quite unclean. I think we've had outbreaks of almost every known disease in the Inner Sea at one point or another. I've never seen it before but it might just be obscure or rare. Something that has come from farther away or maybe has laid dormant for ahwile."

At her follow up he looks down and sighs with frustration.

"If I had been sent for earlier perhaps I could, but I'm afraid that my duties at the Golden One's Vault required me to entreat him for similar miracles already this day. Even if I could, though, the tenets of my church force me to request a donation for Abadar's power, one that I suspect these simple folk could scarcely afford."

He nodded over to the pot simmering on the stove.

"The Vault is not so demanding when it comes to traditional remedies though. I had the boys run and gather some basic supplies so I can brew up something. It might not be magical but it might help give her the strength she needs to fight it."

OOC: He is preparing to make a Heal check, basically.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:40, Tue 04 Aug 2020.

Grau gives Tayce a nudge.

"Maybe we should let our heroes here see Breeze so they can formulate their own opinion instead of hearing it from this copper pincher."

He casts another dark look at the acolyte while Tayce nodes and turns to lead the party upstairs.

Having heard out the healer, Figus groans internally at the injustice of someones life being determined by their ability to pay the 'price'. But, he does not betrays his thoughts.

"Lets us go and see the girl. We can determine what to do after."

OOC: If the check is to be made once per day, how is it determined when it is to be made? Ideally would want to start helping her before she would need to make the next one.

The creaky steps open up into a bedroom loft above the main room of the Soldado home. A young girl with auburn hair lies in one of hte beds, her slight frame dwarfed by the bed's size and the pile of pillows, afghans, and quilts surrounding her. Splotches of an angry red rash cover her face and arms, appearing in irregular shapes and sizes. Suddenly her restlessness is interrupted by a violent fit of hacking coughs that jerk her entire frame, lifting her well off her pillows. The spasm passes after a moment, dropping her back to the bed but seemingly having done little to ease her breathing.

Tayce comes up to look at her daughter from the doorway.

"Yesterday she went to bed early not feeling very well and then the coughing started in the middle of the night. The rash has spread that far in less than a day."

OOC: Chances are she has already made her save but a dose of antiplague would trigger another one. Otherwise boosts and checks would get her prepared for the next day's check.