Our story starts in a small little sleep town of Falcon's Hollow. The town is known for three things specifically; its booming lumbering harvest, it's dangerous creatures and the festival which happens once per year.

The town is mostly populated by humans with some elves, half-elves and gnomes. It's mostly a peaceful town that has an assortment of traders coming in and out of the small village. The adventure begins shortly after the festival has taken place. You have come in the village for different reasons but on the morning after the festival you are greeted with a rude awakening.

The city is rumbling with people yelling in the streets and running everywhere. There appears no direct attack or monster but yet something more sinister. The people in the streets are alive and most people have little time to talk.

However, outside one specific shop, it seems a line of people have formed all impatiently waiting to get into the shop.

OOC: Who attended the festival?

Sigrun has spent most of her time during the festival ministering to the needs to the poor, healing where she can, and cooking meals for children. At dawn each day she leads a prayer meeting convened around the local smith's forge to thank Torag for the gift of . . . everything. As the festivities have come to an end, she is starting to plan her next destination on her pilgrimage, a year long journey to visit the major shrines of Torag as part of her initiation into the dwarven cult.

She has made several friends during the festival, and some she expects to be traveling with as they all move on. She salutes them now as she makes her way to the busy shop to see what the hubbub is all about.

The atmosphere is bubbling with anticipation, or is that anxiety, but she's not sure what it is all about.

As she approaches the shop, she stands aside from the line so that no one will think she is pushing into the queue, and asks some of the folk standing in wait.

"What's going on? Do they have something special to sell?"

She looks the place over, trying to remember what this establishment sells.

Menzar grudging had to admit to himself that he liked sleeping in a bed. Granted after several days in any given town the gnome got a little stir crazy, but that first night. On a soft bed. That was the best thing about returning to town. But instead of sleeping in the quiet of the morning after the festival, Menzar was woken by the commotion in the streets.

Reluctantly he got up from his bed Menzar hurried through his morning needs and made his way out into the street.

Not sure what the commotion was about, he watched and followed the general flow of the locals to find them queueing up outside only one of the shops. As he made his way over, the gnome spotted a semi-familiar face, _{Sigom, Sigrin, what is her name...}

When he got to the shop and the line he approached the cleric, "Morning. Do you have any idea of what is going on with this town?"

---

OOC: Menzar would have been in town for the festival.

Serafina rode in on a broken down, borrowed (she was supposed to return it to the innkeeper here, some kind of exchange they had going on apparently) old horse that she dare not press too hard, but it had served her purpose.  She had a begruding respect for the old animal.  Its joints must hurt and its eyes must be getting cataracts, but it kept going.  She admired that as well as pitied it.

She'd had no idea what to expect after leaving the monastery, or even exactly where she was going.  And she had no idea what had happened in this town either.  But there sure was a lot about, and many stirring.

It sunk in then how utterly mad she must be.  How was she going to accomplish this goal?  She had no idea how.  Or with who.  Or by what means.  She had some mail and a sword and a few other bits, it wasn't anything even close to what she'd need.  If she even know what she'd need.

She could not help but notice a line of people.  Going to a shop?  Why?  What was going on here?

Even if she didn't care, and she did for this was most curious, they blocked her from returning the poor horse.  Serafina carefully approached at a slow walk and halted the animal.

She picked a friendly (she hoped) face, and called out.  "Hail friend, I have ridden into a curiosity.  I don't suppose I could inconvenience you enough to ask whether this is Falcon's Hollow?"

Responder can be anyone in line or near the store, figured that might give someone else a hook to respond to.

Having left the temple island months ago now, the young elf Camara had traveled far and wide. She traveled to an area where she has experienced something new to her, actual seasons. The climate is colder than she is used to, and her temperature tolerance has been found less than adequate, and so a cloak has been added to her usual attire.

Even with the slight discomfort, the festival is a welcome distraction which allows her to learn more of other cultures.

She notices the people lined up and just looks on curiously.

When a woman hails with a question inquiring the name of the town, she responds, "It is, yes."

Jackdaw had attended the festival though nearer the end then the beginning. He had needed a chance to relax and take his mind off of things, so it was a welcome excuse.

As he wandered the streets, he started to see and hear a bit of panic, and he wondered what might be going on. He stopped outside of a shop where some people seemed to be gathering - he wasn't even sure what kind of shop it was, what it sold or anything. It didn't matter. He wasn't there to shop.

He listened as others began talking but it didn't answer his question so he piped up in his lightly accented Common, "Hail. Something seems to be amiss. Does anyone know what's going on?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:04, Wed 06 Oct 2021.

One of the men in line turn to the group, "A plague has come to our town. Last nit' me own wife is bed ridden with horrible gut pain. Other's sons and daughters are suffering. Only Laurel from Root's and Remedies has any idea what this is. The res' o the clerics are snuff."

The man points towards the street of people and you can see a number of people leaning against things and obviously are seriously ill.

"Are you infected with the plague also?"

The line to Root's and Remedies is packed with about an hours worth of people waiting to get in. The line is moving but it's going to take sometime to get inside and find out what is happening.

A slightly thin, tall but athletic looking man could be seen walking down the street. People looked his way then moved to one side to let him pass. It wasn't his appearance, though the long jet black hair, piercing blue eyes, dark clothes and scarf wrapped about the lower half of his face made them move. Not not that at all, it was his companion that walked along side him.

The grey black scaled monitor lizard, sleek and graceful, moved purposefully next to him her tail swishing from side to side, her tongue tasting the air as they moved.
There was a presence about her that was both captivating but also menacing.

Whenever the man stopped to look in a shop or at items on a stall. The lizard pressed against his leg her tail wrapped slightly round it. while he looked forward her head was forever moving from side to side. If you looked carefully if someone approached too close the tail flexed slightly to warn her master. He never looked up still viewing this item or that but under his fringe his eyes took in the person, assessing if they were dangerous or not.
If he body relaxed so did the lizard. Eventually he came level with the line of people on one side and the small gathering of individuals on the other. He decided the small group were more interesting than the line as he overheard the comment about the plague. Interested peaked he turned to the group " so I arrive in town and into a supposed plague to boot....this day seems to be getting more interesting by the minute"

The lizard studied each person in turn tongue flicking out tasting their scent. She then reared up on her back legs and placed her front paws on his thigh he looked down and stroked her head "its ok lady I agree if there is a plague will will move on after all we've nearly got all the supplies we need"

Sigrun looks over at the sick people and moves towards the youngest of them. Her intention is to use her Healer skill to determine what is wrong with them. If she thinks she can help with skill alone, she will do so. If it seems worse than that she will attempt a Healing spell by calling on the power of her god. But looking around the many sick folks in the village, she does not think she will be able to heal all of them that way.

"Find out what is going on inside the shop," she suggests to Serafina and Camara, the two women closest to her. "How are they treating this sickness? Why is it called a plague?"

Shifting her weapons to the back of her belt, she holds up her holy symbol of Torag and whispers a quick prayer for His guidance.

"I am a healer," she calls out loud. "Let me pass."

Morton watched the healer move forward and suddenly saw a very big problem turning to the half orc "my friend the healer means well but as soon as these poor people see her work she could be mobbed even torn apart in their rush to be cured. I think she might need a protector while she does her business....what say you me and my lady here" he points to the lizard at his feet " go see that she is not harmed."

With that he moved off to follow the healer

The elf woman says, "We may have to wait. These people are waiting for a cure to this plague. With patience, we can learn more about it."

"Thank you-"

Before Serafina could say more, the news came in a hurry and Serafina saw a great crisis afoot.  She ignored the man's question about her infection out of sheer necessity.  Though she had her own difficulties with the gods, for what gods worthy of her praise could allow what had happened, she did not project her problem into others, and still recognized a holy symbol as something of considerable morale improvement, even if the wielder was somehow incompetent.

"You there."  She pointed to the self-appointed healer.  "On me, that man is quite correct.  Keep on the opposite side of the horse, let it shield you, I will move slowly.  Come, there's no time."

Then she alighted her eyes on the man who had given the warning.  "You who recognize the danger, come as well, we push up.  And you fair elf, if you wish to learn, while patience is a virtue something bold must be tried."

Why on earth any of these people should listen to her, she had no idea, but Serafina felt like she had to try something.

Serafina gently moved the horse up and called out as loudly as she could manage.

"Good people of Falcon's Hollow."  She called out.  Her pitch was clear and her manner stiff and regal and standoffish.  "I beg your attention.  I know I am a stranger, but I feel I must help you as I am able.  I am called Serafina.  Your character is made clear to me by your willingness to organize and queue in a time of dire crisis.  But your hearts must be heavy, for they must be at such a time as this.  I shall be brief with my points.

"I've an assemblage with me who may be able to render aid to this cleric Laurel, who must surely be exhausted if not supported and helped.  I have no plague, they have no plague, and may I be cursed if I lie in the matter.  I've no interest in consuming precious healing that I do not need, and neither do they.  My business here cannot conclude until this crisis is managed, so my interests are your interests, though I am a stranger to you.

"Also, though I commend you all for assembling here and attending to the crisis, surely you recognize a better system must be made, for there is a chokepoint here.  Your suffering loved ones need your hands and attention in so many ways, much time of such prominent and hard working citizens is wasted when more than ever, you are needed.  I can arrange a fair alternative that preserves the order you have established without your having to remain here, but I must speak to Laurel.  A few minutes may save you needless hours of remaining here idle.  The aid will come as soon as it can, there is no need for you to waste your precious time until then.

"Let us pass, I beg you.  We wish to help, and the situation is dire.  I realize I ask very much, but you are good people and deserve what succor may be found in this trying time.  Please, we need but a moment with Laurel and a chance to fetch a bit of ink and parchment."

It was pompous, a bit inflated perhaps, but earnestly said.

Jackdaw shook his head in response to the question about being sick, pointing a thumb at himself. "Not me!" He then thumped his chest with one fist. "Healthier than an ox!"

One of the men asked for his help in getting a healer safely inside the shop. He gave a shrug and nodded. "No problem." He strode forward past Sigrun to help gently but firmly clear a path. "Healer coming through!"

Menzar saw the group of obvious visitors to the hollow forming up and organizing around the proclaimed healer. Seeing a murmur of another healer in town ripple its way through the line, the gnome shook his head slightly and wormed his way between the villagers to join the priest and her protectors.

Once at the clustered group, Menzar made his way to the cleric. "How can I be of assistance? I may not have a divine gift for treating the sick and injured, but I have a woodsman's sense of herbs and healing."

The group of town's people seem to block the door. Some heavy set men stand in the way.

"Healer o' not your not getting in here! We've all waiting to Ms. Laurel. The healers have done us a lot of good in this region." says the man snidely.

A lady from in front of him chimes up, "Wait your turn! I got youngins wit dis."

OOC: The crowd seems to hold their stance even at the sight of the half-orc. If you would like to make a roll based upon what some of you said. Go ahead and roll the skill you want to use. If someone wants to support someone else they can also add to a person's roll if they wish.

If you want to physically move into the crowd there is a chance they will turn on you.

Sigrun is more interested in helping any child she can who has the disease than she is in forcing her way in to see what Ms. Laurel is doing differently than other healers. She doesn't know what the sickness is, but even if her skills at healing are not up to the challenge, she is certain that her god will grant relief through her -- though not for very many. This is why she is focusing on children who seem most at risk.

When the lady speaks of her young ones, she replies to her.

"I am a cleric of Torag. Will you let me give my god's blessings to your children?"

She does not react in any way to man's snide tone about healers.

Morton stayed back slightly, lady once again at his side. He tapped her gently onthe head with his fingers to most people it looked like he was stroking her head but the fingers were tapping in an exact pattern. The lizard looked at him as if to say you will get us into trouble but he just smiled and continued.

After a moment he clicked his fingers and looked off into the distance.



19:02, Today: Morton Slumber rolled 4,3 using D8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,3.  illusion spell.

Illusion 3 points.

area 1 point

movement 24" 2 points

sound 1 point




From the north s small speck appeared growing bigger and bigger as it flew forward. soon a roaring noise could be heard and Morton looked up wit a look of horror on his face " my god a dragon!!" he cried out pointing up as the creature headed over the town  "everybody find shelter it might pass if it doesn't see a meal to have"

Looking down at the lizard he mentally connected with her" ok a little dramatic maybe"
but only shrugged his shoulders with a slight twinkle in his eyes
This message was last edited by the player at 16:17, Fri 08 Oct 2021.

The people see the where Morton is pointing too with wide eyes.

"Is that...?"

The man covers his vision but hears the creature getting closer. "By the gods. He's right, it is a dragon...RRRRRUNNN!"

The crowd scatters as the beast gets closer to the town.

You have temporarily cleared the crowd from the doors but I can't think you have too much time until they realize that this is a hoax.

Morton moved quickly to the door knocked on it then opened it to allow lady in to have a look about before opening it wider and stepping to one side waved his hand forward to signal the others to enter

So, because it was done earlier I'll roll for Serafina's appeal, but I have no idea what to do with her until I know if she's affected by the illusion or not.

14:24, Today: Serafina rolled 2,2 using d8+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 1,1.  Persuasion.

Wow.  Okay, it's just as well, no one was buying that.  They probably want to hang me now.

In reply to Serafina (msg # 20):

OOC: They simply would've have ignored you and if you continued they would be hostile towards you.

_{But there aren't any dragons in this area...} Then the gnome caught a glimpse of the human and figured he had something to do with the drake's sudden appearance.

Hurrying up to the healer's door with the rest of the outlanders, Menzar voiced his concerns about the ploy, "You've bought us a moment, sorcerer, but once they figure it out we had best be off the streets. The locals of Falcon's Hollow may tolerate outsiders better than most, but they have no patience for ones they feel made them look foolish!"

In reply to Menzar the Badger (msg # 22):

"I understand you concern that's why we best get inside and close the door" he offered in reply.

"I agree it was heavy handed and not up to my usual subtly but I needed something quick to clear the street... Apologies to all if my illusion caused any of you distress. I suggest we quickly ask the healer out questions and slip out the back... Lady will keep an eye out so the coast will be clear"

With that something passed between the man and his familiar who moved off to find a rear exit

Camara stares in awe at the dragon for a moment until she looks closer. It is no dragon she has ever seen before.

Then she hears the mage claim it is a dragon, and she looks disappointed. She asks, "It's not real?"

Then she sighs, "I was hoping it might be a friendly dragon willing to give it's knowledge and wisdom."

OOC: As a special note for those who made speeches before. Fear not they will come into play soon. :) They did not go to waste even those yummy failures.

IC: The smell of burnt earth and spicy incense chokes the air of the cramped, mud-tracked shop. Bunches of dried herbs hang from the ceiling, along with dangling pots, presses, alchemical apparatuses, and glassware of more arcane purposes. Pouches of rare plants, jars of colored glass, and all manner of dried, preserved, and jellied animal parts fill high shelves and tables doing double duty as displays and workspaces.

In the shop’s rear, a rail-thin woman with severe-looking spectacles and hair pulled back
tightly busies herself between an overpacked rack of herbs, a table covered in stray powders
and measuring equipment, and a pot loudly bubbling over with thick gray froth. Over the
din of her work and without looking up, the woman impatiently shouts, “And what’s your problem?”

"Not so much of a problem as a question," calls Sigrun over the noise.

"The villagers say there's a plague only you can cure. What is that? Why only you? Is it a real sickness?"

OOC: Having the Healing skill herself, does this look like a Healer's setup or more like an Alchemist's shop? The cleric is a bit worried she's stepped into some arcane pretense at healing.

Jackdaw whirled and tensed, starting to go for a weapon when the dragon appeared. It seemed...unlikely for a dragon to suddenly be there, but...he started to move towards it, but some of the others seemed to not consider it a threat, moving unconcernedly.

He hesitated, and then slowly stepped backwards towards the shop, moving warily.

OOC: It appears more of a healers hut than magical. Judging from what you gathered from the townsfolk they don't trust clerics much but they do trust this lady.

IC: The woman approaches the counter watching people walk in one by one. "Well your a rather old lot. I'm assuming that you didn't attend the festival? None of you appear to have the blackscour."

The woman works tediously while you see her grabbing herbs and reading out of a tomb of some sort.

"Sorry, my so short there are number of people who are infected with blackscour taint and my grandmothers book seems to be the only thing that has mention of some kind of brew. Truth be told, I don't believe it in much and I certainly don't have all the ingredients to cure this town."

Camara simply asks, "What would you need to cure the town?"

[OOC: Camara rolled 5 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,5.  Disbelieve dragon illusion.

It was wrong. The color was off according to description, the anatomy was off from diagrams... It was a heavily scaled snake with one overdeveloped arm! One star. Would not recommend.]

18:08, Today: Serafina rolled 7,1 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,1.  Smarts!

Serafina was about ready to charge the dragon... and then realized it wasn't there.

She groaned, and realized she'd been left outside.  She caught up quickly, coalescing on the shop.

She joined them.  "I don't know who did it, but I suspect someone here summoned that... 'dragon'.  We are all going to be hung for that stunt, or wind up defending ourselves against helpless villagers, unless you have some brilliant words for them."

When the woman Serafina assumes to be the one they were all waiting to see admits she doesn't have enough, she groans, figuring that was the case.

"Look, who is in charge here?  This is a crisis, and I haven't seen one public official."

The woman turns the book of her grandmothers towards you showing you the specific medicine that is needed to cure the blackscour taint.

"Well, for the elderwood moss, there’s gotta be an oldest tree in the vale. Damned if I know whereit is, though.

The rat’s tail and mushrooms are even longer shots. Way north, toward the mountains, people
say there used to be a bunch of dwarves. They’re not there anymore, but I’d bet their forges are. If you can find ironbloom anywhere around here, that’d be your best bet.

As for the rat’s tail, who knows? Well, actually, Ulizmila, the witch that lives deep in the woods might. She’s a crafty, mean thing that knows all sorts of strangeness. She might even have some, but I doubt it’d come cheap. My grandmother traded her sight to the old crone for a few pages of what she knew and that was years and years back. I don’t know a soul who got any nicer as they got older, do you?

I can’t tell you how to get to those places, but Milon Rhoddam at the Lumber Consortium Camp might be able to. They know every inch of those woods.”

As soon as the healer started talking about the surrounding area, Manzar paid closer attention. Nodding along as she went on about this and that that she needed to heal this taint. Wracking his brain he tried to place any of these locations she mentioned.

---

OOC:
09:29, Today: Menzar the Badger rolled 5 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5.  smarts local lay of land.
09:28, Today: Menzar the Badger rolled 3 using 1d4, rerolling max with rolls of 3.  c. Know. dwarves.

Jackdaw slowly moved inside the shop with the others and listened to what was said. He knew the area outside of town a little so might be able to help with finding and gathering some of the things requested. So he listened really intently.

OOC: If applicable...
10:15, Today: Jackdaw rolled 7,4 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (4+3)7,4.  Survival for where to find herbs/things.

"Blackscour?" Sigrun murmurs as she looks closely at the book the healer is showing them. "Maybe I know it as something else."

She reads the ingredient list as well as the instructions for brewing the medicine.

OOC: Roll vs Healing skill to see if she knows what the disease might be.

12:31, Today: Sigrun Goll rolled 5,4 using 1d6,1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,4.  Roll vs Healing skill to recognize disease.

"Elderwood moss, ironbloom, mushrooms and rat's tail?" she says aloud as she tries to memorize what she's reading -- at least long enough to make notes when she has a chance.

"Surely rats and their associated tails are a common enough thing in any grain storage unity?" she suggests. "And these mushrooms? Anything special about them?"

Camara takes out a journal and quill and ink and proceeds to note everything. She lists the ingredients with note of what they are and speculates that rat's tail isn't the tails of rats. She also notes the witch and the lumber consortium as potential sources of knowledge.

[OOC: Camara rolled 8 using d8+2,d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 6,5.  Academics on the ingredients.

I'll guess ironbloom are the mushrooms. Also thinking rat's tail is a plant of some sort and not the actual tails of rats.]

Morton listened but allowed the others to take notes for him the interest was in the mention of the witch.... If they had to go up against one he best know all he could about her
"so this, witch powerful is she? What type of witch is she? Good bad indifferent.... Easy to anger?" he didn't like going up against other users of magic but he realised he'd just been pulled into the affairs of the town and the company of those around him so he might as well lend his abilities to the endeavour before them

Seeing she was just being ignored here, and fair enough, no one owed her anything, Serafina turned to see the state of the village.  She has half tempted to just tie the horse to the side of the inn and get the hell out.  There was a serious problem here, and the locals couldn't be bothered to respond to it, and no one seemed to actually care about the practical logistical considerations of the immediate situation either, and somebody was willing to recklessly frighten the locals.  But she sighed inwardly, knowing she wouldn't let herself be that practical.

OOC:

Menzer: You are aware of a Dwarven monastery that she talks of. You know an approximate location of where it is located on the map.

Sigrun: Blackscour is a fungus not of this area. You aren't familiar with it more than that but you know that it can cause serious illness which requires other meaning of healing.

Camara: You are not familiar with the ingredients themselves but something that stands out to you is the Eldest Tree which is a tree you have heard of in your travels. You know the exact location on the map for where it is located.

Jackdaw: You are familiar with the herbs that she speaks of and upon seeing them could identify them without a roll.

IC: Laurel looks to the heroes and tries answering all the different questions at one time.

"I am not sure about the ingredients. These are what my grandmother suggested and she was a master herbalist who could cure anything. These all are items which grow in very specific areas but the herbs themselves are not rare but uncommon to this area."

Laurel grabs some herbs and starts working on something.

"The witch has long since been gone from that area but that doesn't mean that it is empty. There's a damn good chance something has taken home in her hut. If you need help figuring out the rest of the ingredients I would suggest reaching out Milton from the Lumber Consortium. He is going to be your best contact as I said before."

She turns away to finish what she is doing but then turns her head away from you.

"Time is of the essence, people are dying daily and its only bound to get worse."

Serafina you notice that outside the crowd of villages is making their way back to the shop and they don't look happy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:10, Tue 12 Oct 2021.

Camara says, "I know the location of this Eldest Tree. On my way here, I passed it. It is a lovely tree."

On hearing just how dire the situation is, the young elf says, "Then we should prepare quickly and leave as soon as we can."

She blows on the pages of her journal gently to quickly dry the ink before putting it away and readying herself mentally for travel.

Menzar looked over at Camara as she noted her familiarity with the tree. Nodding along he added, "And I"m familiar with the Dwarven Monastery. While I didn't pass it on my way into town I have been near it on several occasions. Like you said, up near the mountains... I could point it out, ruffly, if someone has a map handy."

Serafina sighed.  "You don't have enough to treat everyone.  I'm going to try, and I emphasize try, to get them to see reason and not kill whoever pulled that stunt.  If you have a cure for a ropeburn around the neck I'll be eager to purchase it."  And with that she went back outside to intercept the mob.

Jackdaw spoke up after a moment. "I believe I'm familiar with the herbs that she speaks of and upon seeing them could identify them." He gave a small shrug. "I've been wandering around in the wilderness a bit before coming here."

Morton gave a light whistle and lady repaired from under one of the counters "excuse me do you happen to have a back door I think I might have upset your town slightly."

He turned to the others "I will just be on my way and will meet you outside the main gate so we can get what is needed and sort this whole sorry mess out"

"Guess we need to go see Milton from the Lumber Consortium," shrugs Sigrun. "He can tell us where to find the ingredients to cure a disease no one knows but our friend here. She knows the formula but lacks the ingredients: elderwood moss from the oldest tree in the valley, mushrooms called ironbloom from the dwarf forges. And Ulizmila, the witch that lives deep in the woods, may be able to help us find rat's tail -- if she's still alive.

"That about it?"

Laurel looks at the group with a sign of relief on her face.

"Yes, with these items I would be able to cure those who are left alive. The sickness takes three days to manifest. In the mean time people will experience pain from stomachs as it grows inside of them. Because we do not yet know the source of the sickness I suggest hurrying as fast as you can."

She walks around the counter with a more serious look on her face. "Some of you were at the festival. So far the only thing we have managed to figure out is that most of these people attended it which could be happenstance. You, yours might be infected with blackscour taint."

She points Morton to a back door area behind her herb room which is filled with all manner of things from large to small. Potions and smells sting your nose as you enter and quickly leave.

OOC: Morton go ahead and make a stealth roll against the mob, even though you are exiting the back of the building there is chance they could notice you since they are all over.

Serafina due to your earlier speech to the townsfolk, they trust you more (+2 to roll). You can make a roll to calm them. Right now they would hang Morton upon finding him.

Anyone who wants to help Serafina can also make a roll and small speech.

Finally, for the ones who went to the festival. I am going to make a secret roll. It could mean that some or all of you are infect with the Blackscour taint.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:54, Wed 13 Oct 2021.

Serafina went outside, and finding all kinds of debris and whatnot scattered by the aftermath of a festival that hadn't been cleaned up, found a small overturned crate.  She guessed it was for milk or eggs, because it wasn't very tall, but it was wide and quite sturdy.  It was already muddy, so she turned it over and made herself a small platform.  It added little to her height, but she would take what they could get.

Once a few got closer, she raised her hands and called out.  "Come, come, gather.  Please, please gather.  Laurel is tired by her efforts and asks me to speak to you on her behalf, since I have no need of her services.  Come all, come together."

Once she thought she had the best semblance of orders she was going to get, and Serafina suspected she wasn't getting much if anything out of this town or indeed anyone she'd seen so far, she made her best pitch.  She felt a little lousy throwing in some... creative interpretation of the truth, but she would do what she thought was best.  She wasn't lying, but she was perhaps lying by omission or bias.

Her idea was simple, turn them toward their own anxiety, and make them try to deal with it.  Specifically, in a way that would satisfy and yet disperse this crowd.  Crowds were dangerous.  A person could be smart.  People, in the aggregate, were naught but stupid.

"Good people, I shan't waste your time.  Two grave matters must be brought to your attention.  Several-"  She almost paused too long before deciding on the word. "-constables have been appointed to deal with the problem of the miscreant who summoned that accursed illusion which disrupted the peace.  However, the attempt to disrupt the proceedings failed utterly, as Laurel is safe and her practice undisturbed, and you have all returned after taking disciplined precautions.  It is unfortunate such rogues can waste the time of citizens in crisis, but threats simply have to be taken seriously, always or the darkness wins.  Vigilance is the price of the common liberty."

Serafina could feel the bile taste of excrement in her mouth, but she pressed on.

"But a more grave concern faces us.  Laurel needs more supplies.  At her advice, we have recalled the constables, who will deal with the criminal in due time, to instead acquire the necessary supplies Laurel needs.  However, there must a concerted effort.  Who among you will speak, we need venerable elders, wise mothers and distinguished men of great maturity, in any combination.  No more than three, because more than three people cannot make a decision quickly."

And more than one is still pushing it.

"It does no good for all of you to stand here, Laurel can only work so quickly, and we must cure all who have this malady.  I beg you, if you will send forth those you trust the most to help complete this great labor and trust in their judgment.  The sick still need attending, and a great deal else must go on besides if we are to overcome this evil.  Overwhelming a strained resource will not help.  All of you trying to negotiate this by yourselves will not help.  Your needs are all equally important, but it's simply not possible to do what must be done in a stroke."

Serafina wondered how many times her father must have done this.  And whether anyone ever listened to him.  Obviously it hadn't worked or she wouldn't be here now.

"I know what I ask is difficult, but it must be done if we are to cure everyone.  Now I ask, who will speak for you all?  I promise you will each have a role to play, but we must organize.  We simply must, or this is already a failure."

And she stood, waiting to be ignored, torn to pieces, trampled, or some combination thereof.

19:53, Today: Serafina rolled 6,6 using d8+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 3,3.  Try to Persuade Again.

Well, it's not a Crit Fail so that's progress.  Thank goodness for modifiers lol

Jackdaw stood at the door to the shop as Serafina spoke outside, mostly in case some folk tried to rush it or push their way in or something. He listened to what she had to say, but a frown creased his face.

He turned back towards the inside of the shop and quietly asked Sigun and Camara, "She keeps talking about 'constables'. We haven't seen any around that I know of. Who's she talking about?"

Camara answers the orc, "I believe she means us. We are the constables. It took her a notable pause before using that word."

She listens as she stands just outside the door and leans on her staff enough that someone might think she needs to do so.

Listening with the rest of the motley group in the healer's shack, Menzar had to stifle a laugh when the chatty one called the group constables before the angry villagers. Then to go on and ask for assistance...

The gnome looked to the backdoor furtively and his body moved ever so slightly towards the exit.

Morton and lady nodded thank you to the healer then proceeded to quietly sneak out the back door and away from the crowd



13:41, Today: Morton Slumber rolled 4,2 using D6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,2.  Stealth.

OOC: You guys have done so well making this first scene interesting. +1 Benny to everyone for excellent roleplaying.

IC: The mob gathers around Serafina. They listen to your speech intensely and the group seems to part when they hear about the elders. Up walk two different elders of the village, one man and one woman who have obviously be around for sometime.

"We shall take on your task." says the male Elder.

The crowd seems less angry based upon your speech and seems to calmed some. Waiting for the next move.

Morton on the other hand manages to make it out the back door and isn't noticed by the mob thanks to Serafina. However, he is noticed by one of the villages dogs who comes over to him with his tail wagging furiously.

The dog stops short and almost as if your lizard is making him jumpy...which could make him bark.

Menzar roll stealth to not get caught by the crowd or freak out the dog.

Morton reached into his pocket and pulled out some dried meat which he throw over the head of the dog hoping it would turn to get it allowing him time to continue his quiet exit from the area.




21:22, Today: Morton Slumber rolled 3,2 using D6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 3,2.  stealth

...and bumped into some unknown object hanging off the edge of one of the healer's overcrowded workbenches. "Bugger!"

---

OOC:
17:19, Today: Menzar the Badger rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1.  stealth.

8:25, Today: Menzar the Badger rolled 2 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2.  forgotten Wild Die.

Not an auspicious start...

^{Edit: added Wild Die roll. No other edit to post.}
This message was last edited by the player at 12:26, Fri 15 Oct 2021.

Serafina called the three closer.

"We have to get rid of this crowd before we make introductions, much less any plans.  This is a difficult situation, and a crowd is only as smart as its stupidest member.  Surely there is one fool amongst you normally?  The sick at home need to be tended to, and illness or not, I am sure you all like to eat.  Life must go on.  The work will help as a distraction and a sense of normalcy."

She phrased that carefully, because she was feeling pretty foolish herself right now.  She couldn't believe that had worked however.

"Let's go find Milton at the Lumber Consortium," suggests Sigrun. She's not happy about leaving sick people, especially children, behind, but she realizes the larger good of finding a supply of ingredients of the cure outweighs the momentary salve to her conscience of healing one or two children and then having nothing left to offer.

She leaves the healer's hut by the front door to stand with Serafina. If she sees any sick children in the crowd she will offer to try a divine healing. If she does not she will ask the directions to the Lumber Consortium.

Serafina manages to get the elders to start talking to the crowd. Meanwhile the gnome comes out the door bumping into Morton. Luckily due to the speech by Serafina the crowd ignores the small commotion in the back of the shop. The dog playful ruffs at both men and the lizard but doesn't do much of anything else.

The crowd begins to back to their home, dispersing as quickly as they came. This leaves the heroes with only the two elders left waiting to hear from our heroes.

Serafina continues.  "Good, all right, you need to arrange an acceptable way to triage the sufferers.  Even if the expedition to get more supplies succeeds, Laurel can't treat everyone at once, and doing it first come first serve, while it seems fair, isn't very smart if the objective is to save people.  And... if you have to, make some work for people who you think need to be seen helping or who have to get involved.  Make them draw water, or enforce quarantine."

The old elder looks at Serafina questionably.

"What about Laurel's guidance. She has told us that someone will need to travel to gather the supplies she needs? Are you that someone? It seems your group is rather new to our little town?"

Sigrun steps forward, holding up her holy symbol, the Hammer of Torag.

"We are leaving even now to fetch the ingredients your healer needs to face the scourge," she speaks in the voice she practices for sermons, designed to be heard in the back benches.

"Listen to Serafina. Her advice is sound. Bring only the sickest for treatment. We will be back as quickly as we can. My god commands me to help the needy."

If the elders are satisfied with this option, she will ask in a more normal voice if they can tell them where to find the Lumber Consortium and what Milton might look like when they get there.

"It's more of an accident than a group.  To that end... I hate to ask it, but any mounts would help if there is to be an errand.  I don't think the sick can spare us being slow.  And I think we all better go, out of sight out of mind.  But you must get the people busy, pick three others you trust, send them to Laurel for advice on triage.  Send midwives or other healers if you have such, someone the others will trust to be impartial.  Get people active, make them draw water and chop wood if you have to, if they question tell them Laurel needs it.  But you must keep them occupied or they will worry themselves into another crowd, and that crowd will be more desperate and more likely to start doing something stupid."

Serafina really didn't mean to lecture an elder, she kept her tone soft even if the words were authoritative.

The elven lass leans in to Serafina and says, "We might want a cart or wagon. I cannot ride which is why I walk."

"It would mean taking fewer animals, and we are gathering supplies.  Having a way to bring them back would be useful."  Serafina admitted.

Things were moving faster, but people were going in different directions. He opted, finally, not to follow the two shadier-looking people out the back door. He was offering his aid, not skulking about.

He nodded. "Yes. I am happy to help identify and gather the herbs, as well as carry them, but if we are getting a large amount, then a wagon might be helpful."

Camara chimes in, "We should get as much as we are able without doing harm to the sources."

Having recovered- somewhat- from his failed attempt at stealth, the gnome scratched his jaw as he considered the various options being thrown about. "I don't know that a wagon would get through some of the tracks that I'm thinking of to get to the old forges. A pack animal would be ideal though. Mounts and a pack animal if we are in a hurry."

OOC: So we are at a point where we can discuss out of character. Because of what has taken place the village will supply you with horses or a wagon.

Horses allow easier navigation through places a wagon can not but a wagon allows faster travel due to the amount of power behind it. In game terms here is the gist of what takes place if you take either or...

Foot 24/miles per 8 hours
Horse 30/miles per 8 hours
Cart (per beast) 30/miles per beast8 hours

So you could most likely get a wagon with two horses carrying you. As I said through the woods  is going to be hard. From the map that you have most of your journey will be going through the forest.

I will draw up a map this evening so that you can see where you are going.

Where do you want to go first?

Another consideration. Unlike normal adventures this one is timed. Every day that you are going d4 people will die from the Blackscour taint. Right now based upon the map on foot it would take you three days barring any camping that might be need or depending on the route you take.

OOC:
So; 3 days on foot, 2+ days on horseback, or 1 day with 2 horse wagon-- if it can navigate the path. Yes?

I would vote for horses. Plus a pack animal if we think we'll be gathering great quantities.

Yup. That's pretty close to the timings.

As the others discuss transportation, Sigrun will approach the youngest person she can find who has the Blackscour taint and attempt to invoke the Healing of Torag to see if her divine powers will even work on the sickness.

OOC: If she can heal someone with her divine gifts she has an obligation to stay. She can probably cure that many people (1d4) each day if she spends all of her energy doing it. If she can't do it, then she will go with the others to find the ingredients that will.

BTW: If we had a wagon with four horses could we travel 120 miles each day? Just being silly, really. The Apaches always seemed to be able to catch the stagecoach with ease.

OOC: The healing does not work.

*If* you could gather four horses, yes. And *if* you could travel on road. Yes.

Probably is as you will see most of the area that you will travel goes through dense forest. Which will likely be rough terrain.

Okay, do we need a wagon or cart to haul all of this?  How much stuff is it?  If it's making medicine we might not need like huge quantities of it and the horses might do.

Can we borrow a plowhorse?  One of us can't ride a horse, might have to double up.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:06, Wed 20 Oct 2021.

OOC: While you don't know what the material itself looks like a quick talk with Jackdaw would tell you that you can carry it in a backpack. So no need for a cart.

Jackdaw frowned at the thought of a wagon and shook his head. "We do not need a wagon, I think." He gave a small shrug. "If we need to secure transportation, horses should be fine, for speed more than anything else."

Serafina discretely leaned over to Camara.  "I think we are going to have to take the horses for the sake of mobility.  I am... fair, upon a horse.  We could ride double, but take two horses, resting each half the day."

So basically, my vote is the 4 horses.  Assuming this solution works for Camara.  Serafina's only a d6 Riding, but hey.

OOC: Where would you like to go first? You have three different options and you are unsure where the hut is.

Sigrun has no experience riding a horse, but she's willing to give it a try if it means they get help sooner for the villagers.

As they get ready she reviews again their options, speaking with the others in snatches of conversation as the animals are brought forward, saddles and bridles are put in place.

"Elderwood moss from the oldest tree in the valley -- Camara knows where it is.

"Ironbloom -- mushrooms from the old dwarf forges -- Menzer knows where they are.

"Rat's tail -- Ulizmila, the witch that lives deep in the woods might know where -- but where is her cottage and is she still alive?

"Milon Rhoddam at the Lumber Consortium Camp knows every inch of those woods."

She will ask Camera and Menzer where the tree is and where the old forges are. If they are in the same direction, that would be a stroke of luck. And she repeats the healer's suggestion that they speak with Milon.

"She said it twice, so it is probably important."

OOC:
Well, it depends on the relative locations of each option. Do we:

  -Go to the furthest and work our way back?
  -Take the closest one as they come?
  -Make our way clockwise/counterclockwise?

If the locations are mostly in a single line from Falcon's Hollow I'd say take them as they come. If they are more distributed in an arc from the hollow I'd vote for picking one end and working our way around.

Oh, and Menzar will need to double up with someone on horseback. Small and no die in riding...

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/5KSWfPP/SWPF-Hollows-Last-Hope.jpg" alt="SWPF-Hollows-Last-Hope" border="0">

Guide:
A= LUMBER CONSORTIUM CAMP
B= ??
C= FOREST ELDER
D= ??
☆= LUMBER CAMPS

Let me know if that image doesn't work
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:23, Thu 21 Oct 2021.

Looks like lumber camp is on way to at least one location and Intel may save us time?

[OOC: Is B or D the tree?]

OOC: C is the Forest Elder Tree
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:16, Thu 21 Oct 2021.

Looking over the sketch map drawn in the dirt (?) Sigrun used her dagger to point out a possible route.

"We ride from here to the Lumber Consortium camp along the road, say 10 to 12 miles. From there we strike through the woods to the Elder Tree, and then on to the ancient dwarf monastery. Faster than going around the woods, and we have to go into the woods anyway to reach the elder tree.

"Hopefully Milon can tell us where to find the old witch's hut in the forest."

"That seems reasonable.  If there's any intelligence, it may speed this task up.  If it's safe to go to two places at once, that'd be ideal.  Which is why I suspect that won't be the case."  Serafina considered.

OOC: Keep in mind if you are going around it will take longer. Going across the river will require you to have a raft of some sort and it will be a dangerous to cross but it does speed up the process.

"Agreed. It can't be more that 10 miles to the camp. Should be easy enough. We find this Milon and head into the woods. Either to the tree or the hut, whichever is next on the path." Menzar scratched his chin as he contemplated the map further.

"If we had a raft," he traced along the line of the rivers, "We could just ride the current back into town." Cracking a grin he adds, "We'll need to be on the lookout for one of those."

Camara asks, "Which of the three camps is Milon at?"

She then points to the three lumber camps on the map.

Then she inquires, "There is no bridge across or ford to cross the river in the forest?"

[OOC: Now that I'm awake, B or D is the witch.]

"Looks like we'll have to skirt the river to the northeast in the forest, but that's still the most direct route to the elder tree," says Sigrun. "Unless Milon knows a better way."

OOC: I'm assuming the sketch map does not have mysterious letters superimposed. Is it a sketch in the dirt? Or does someone have an actual map?

OOC: You would be correct. The letters are not on the map itself. You only know where things are because you have knowledge of them. However the lumber areas are marked so that is not an issue.

No bridge across the water. You would have to physically build a raft which would take time and then if you made it across without anything happening then you could proceed on foot without horses the rest of the way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:50, Fri 22 Oct 2021.

Jackdaw looked...only a little uncertain. He was no skilled horseman, though he had ridden before and knew enough to not get tossed off or kicked. Mostly. A raft, though, that was not his area of expertise. His people had some boats but there were specific craftsman for that.

He gave a shrug. "I can swim, but I'm no raft builder."

"Times wasting," Sigrun declares. "Let's get on the road to the lumber consortium and deal with the problems as we face them."

She will approach whatever mount she has been provided with gentle caution.

OOC: I'm hoping that in a world where horseback is a primary means of transportation that we can at least ride the horses at a normal trot (canter?)without a specific skill level. Skill rolls will be required for unexpected events and be made vs Ag at a penalty? Also, someone with skill will have to show us how to deal with tack -- saddles, bridles, and the like -- when we camp at night? Do we have someone with at least a d4?

OOC: No roll required for getting on a horse or just causally riding. Fast riding, jumping, etc would cause a roll.

"Agreed! Would you happen to have space for a gnome, Little One?"

---

OOC: Menzar isn't particular about who he shares the course with.

So in order to move this part I think its safe to say your heading to the Lumber Consortium first. Please continue the next part of the story in Chapter 2.