The Heart of the Matter

[Mr. X]

Here is the continuation of the events which began in 'The World's Largest Dungeon: Group 2'

That sight may be found here:WLD (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?217427-Group-2-The-World-s-Largest-Dungeon-IC&p=17254636#post17254636)
The OOC shall remain unchanged, for now, and may be found here: WLD OOC (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?216514-Group-2-The-World-s-Largest-Dungeon-OOC&p=17264965#post17264965)

[Mr. X]

"Oh, I'm afraid I don't know sir. The alchemists are always very hush hush with their formulas, an I'm sure I wouldn't make sense o' then anyway, even if I knew what was in 'em."

She laughs,

"Anyhow, the alchemists we have here alway go on about 'It's how ye treat the sub-stance' that brings out its healin' qualities. Most times, just chewin' on the herbs won't do ye any more good than eatin' a salad would.

Though ye should always be sure to be eatin' enough fresh greens. The vitamins'll keep ye as heathy as any alchemist's tincture, an the two together, so much more so."


For Elias:

The contents of the powder are unrecognizable at a glance, and even the smell (though you detect the aromas of a variety of herbs), defies direct labeling.

It's sort of like looking at a multi-vitamin. If you had a list of ingredients, you might recognize a number of them, but in its usable form, it's anyone's guess as to what might be contained within.

[Simba]

Listening to the priest Vlorah is not sure if she is genuine. She has no idea what the stuff in front of her might be but it does look harmless to her, especially as she's not pregnant anyway.

"Thank you!" she says, smiling. "DO you have a place we could stay for a few minutes? I feel like I need to rest a little, you know? It would be real nice of you."


Sense Motive: [roll0]
Heal (on the off chance...): [roll1]

[Mr. X]

The woman shakes her head, her face softening apologetically.

"Oh my dear, I am sorry, we don't have rooms for visitors... Usually myself and the other wives make house calls. People usually only come here to make preliminary arrangements...

We had a few beds, for emergency cases, but we've already taken in some of the poor an' sick, an' haven't room for anymore."

She wrings her hands,

"If'n ye don't have a place to stay, and can't afford an inn, there's a chapel to Lathander not far away, I'm sure the chaplain will help you."

She quickly spoons a few more scoops into the pouch, before cinching it closed and pressing it into your hands, looking conspiratorially over her shoulder.

"An' just take this. Don't worry about the money, I'll take care o' it for ye this time... That should cover ye fer about a week.

Mix it into warm water, and take it mornin' an' night. Don't boil the water though, that'll make it lose its effectiv'ness. It might take as much as three days a'fore ye start te feel any difference, so be patient with it."

She stands, and starts ushering you towards the door.

"Good luck te the both o' ye."

For Vlorah:

Without proper analysis, it is difficult to tell alchemical tincture from another, though like Elias, you catch the familiar aromas of a number of familiar herbs.

The woman is being mostly honest with you... You can tell she chose the words of her excuse quite carefully, which implies that, while what she says is doubtless true, there may be more to her situation here than she would have you think.

Exactly what, though, you cannot say.

[Quakes]

You are too generous by far, my lady, and your help is much appreciated. We will have money for you next week, do not doubt. But in the meantime, we have experience in helping the sick and wounded. Perhaps there is something we can do to help you, if only for today? Certainly, you and the others work too hard, and could use some assistance changing bandages, making compresses, and the like?

At the very least, we would like to thank the alchemist for his hard work, and congratulate him for finding something effective against whatever it is that is going around. Seems to be everywhere these days.

Elias looks around, trying to see where the boy could have gone, and where an alchemist's lab may be.

would go by smell for finding a lab and/or treatment rooms....i guess spot will have to do.
[roll0]

[Mr. X]

"Oh, I'll look forward to it. And ne'er ye worry about aidin' us here. I appreciate the offer, but we're fully staffed. Can't have too many cooks in the kitchen, eh?

If'n ye can help, I'd point ye again to Lathander's chapel. Chaplain Brown is always got work fer idle hands."

The front receiving room you are in is closed off on all sides, so you can't see into the rest of the building. The smell of pungent herbs and simmering alcohols weighs heavily over the air throughout, leaving no doubt as to the presence of an active alchemist's lab (possibly more than one), but you cannot see where it is.

As the woman ushers you out the door, she leans in to Vlorah, saying

"Oh, one other thing, the tincture might give ye a bit o' a rash when it starts te take effect. Not to worry. It's just a mild side-effect, an' the itch'll go away in just a few days."

[Quakes]

Well thank you again. And we'll see you soon.

(assuming she's ready) Elias escorts Vlorah out of the house and walks on as if their problems are solved. Once they are far away and reasonably sure no one has followed:

So this rash...do the sisters know what it is? And who are these alchemists that are distributing it? I think we need to get in there and see who's behind this tincture.

[Simba]

"Sorry for being silent in there, I was thinking. The boy went in there just a little time before us. He can't be a patient, right? So what is he? Assistant Alchemist? Whatever. We need to get in there, take a look behind the curtain. Are you ready to go tonight? I can see in the dark just fine. And I would like to get this medicine analyzed somehow. Maybe Lathander can help me with it. Let's go to the temple, ok?"

[Mr. X]

The chapel is easily found, but is rather lack-luster to look upon.

A small brick edifice, wedged in beneath two larger buildings, with a short bell-tower steeple that reaches skyward, but only just barely manages to see over the roofs of the buildings next door...

The gate into the chapel is badly rotted, the steps leading to it are littered with garbage, and the filthy walls are heavily graffitied.

Most the painted inscriptions are illegible, but a few you can make out...

One most pointedly reads:

"F**** the Gods!!"

[Simba]

"This is sad." Vlorah says, her eyes taking in the details, looking for hidden dangers "Let's see who keeps this mess running, shall we?"

Spot: [roll0]
Listen: [roll1]

[Quakes]

If it's running at all. Doesn't seem like many people want to come here.

[Mr. X]

The gate opens on creaking hinges, to reveal a similarly dilapidated interior.

The chapel is little more than a short hall with a few rickety pews, facing an plain alter, bearing a wooden carving of the Morninglord.

A number of candelabras line the chapel, mostly cold, but with a few lit candles.

There is no one present, save an old man sitting still as a statue in the first pew, hunched over, with his head bowed. Wearing threadbare priest's robes, it is apparent that this man is the chaplain.

For a moment, you fear he might be dead, but as you approach closer, you hear from him quiet and irregular snores.

It appears that he is only sleeping.

Creeping down the isle, and around to get a better look at him, you see that he is mostly bald. His face lined with care, and his nose heavily purpled (doubtless from the regular overconsumption of wine).

Despite the dilapidated state of the chapel, you can feel a certain reverence held by the building... You are clearly standing upon sanctified ground.

Behind the alter, in the back wall on either side, are battered doors that likely lead into the chaplain's offices and chambers.

[Quakes]

I don't know how much this man can tell us. But anything is more than we know now...

Elias approaches the man and gently prods his shoulder.

[Simba]

Vlorah walks towards the altar, then stops and falls to her knees to pray.

[Mr. X]

The priest twitches at your touch, jerking awake, and fumbling over his robes.

"W-what?!" He stammers, prying his bloodshot eyes open, "Oh! Visitors! Forgive me. W-welcome to the h-house o' the Morning Lord."

For Vlorah:

What do you pray?

[Simba]

Kneepling in front of the altar, Vlorah silently offers her thanky to Lathander:

"Holy Lathander, greatest of Gods, bringer of light, caretaker of the lost and hopeless, Your most humble servant thanks You for all You do. Gladly I offer all I have to You and in Your holy name to those in need, to the lost and hopeless, the poor and downtrodden, the sick and suffering. Please shed your light on our work and give us direction and the strength needed to do Your work in these desperate times. Thank You."

After a few seconds Vlorah gets up from her knees and bows towards the altar before turning to face the aging priest.