Hollow's Last Hope [IC]

[hero4hire]

His smile having fled at the barkeep's words, Cyryn nods in grim thanks to the man. Turning to Jared, he salutes the priest with his mug, "Seems you've got the right idea. Let's go see this Laurel."

Jared returns the salute with a slight dip of his head. He downs the drink thirstily, more akin to one who worked a forge all day then some cloistered cleric. He wipes the frothy foam from his marred lips. "I will consider us even on the silver then." he says with a slight smirk as he follows the man towards the door.

 

[Azgulor]

Jared returns the salute with a slight dip of his head. He downs the drink thirstily, more akin to one who worked a forge all day then some cloistered cleric. He wipes the frothy foam from his marred lips. "I will consider us even on the silver then." he says with a slight smirk as he follows the man towards the door.

As Cyryn exits the tavern he says to the cleric, shaking his head, "A bet's a bet. I'm no healer but I can see the sense in talking to someone who makes medicines for a living. It doesn't mean she'll tell us more than we already know."

But even as he headed toward the apothecary's shop, Cyryn was willing to bet another silver that he'd owe the cleric before the end of the afternoon.

 

[YeOldeAlbatross]

Roots and Remedies - Outside

The warm sunshine of early summer illuminates the road outside as the five adventurers step forth from The Sitting Duck, eager to learn more of the plague afflicting Falcon's Hollow. Cyryn and Jared lead the way, with Loricallior and Jebbo right behind. For a moment, it seems that Hakkara hesitates, but then she too follows the others out of the tavern.

True to the barkeep's word, it's only a short distance down the road to the herbalist's shop. Creeping ivy and full window boxes cover the façade of the rugged-looking, two-story shop bearing the faded sign “Roots and Remedies.” A line of twenty-some somber townsfolk—some with pale, wheezing children, others seeming to be precipitously near tears—stretches from the open door.

A heavy mood hangs over this long line of haggard folk, a few of whom look up with dull eyes at the approach of the adventurers. Most, however, seem focused on the door to the shop and the slim hope that waits inside.

 

[hero4hire]

The corners of Jared's mouth turn downwards at the sobering sight. So much suffering.
The priest looks at each person as he walks parallel to the line and approaches the door, trying to remember each face, each tortured look of pain. They were the reason he was doing this. "The whole thing seems less grand doesn't it? All those lofty words...The Proselytizing...when you see wee ones like those suffering. Mayhaps the color of gold brought some of you here. But shiny coins will seem dim compared to the light in the eyes of a child whose pain was eased from our actions."

 

[YeOldeAlbatross]

The corners of Jared's mouth turn downwards at the sobering sight. So much suffering.
The priest looks at each person as he walks parallel to the line and approaches the door, trying to remember each face, each tortured look of pain. They were the reason he was doing this. "The whole thing seems less grand doesn't it? All those lofty words...The Proselytizing...when you see wee ones like those suffering. Mayhaps the color of gold brought some of you here. But shiny coins will seem dim compared to the light in the eyes of a child whose pain was eased from our actions."

As Jared bypasses the line, and heads directly for the door, the crowd begins to mutter and complain, interspersed with violent bouts of coughing.

"Hey! Back of the line, with ya, Priest! Who do you think you are!"

"Yeah! We were here first! Get in line, the lot of you!"

The people in line are growing very angry in response to Jared's actions. It seems clear from their agitation that they will not willingly tolerate line jumpers.

 

[Azgulor]

Shaking his head in disbelief, Cyryn falls in at the end of the line and hopes the townsfolk don't realize Jared arrived with him and the others.

Turning to the others, he lowers his voice and says "If they try to lynch him, I'm leaning towards letting them."

 

[Nazhkandrias]

Jebbo shakes his head. "Y'know he means well. We can't let 'em hurt 'im." Jebbo steps out to the side of the line, pulls up a wooden box, and stands on it to catch the crowd's attention. He raises his voice over the din, keeping a friendly tone. "Now, please listen, y'all. He's a healer, he's only tryin' t'help. We want t'help, too. If'n y'let us through, maybe we could do some good for y'all! Maybe we could go 'bout findin' some sorta cure! We promise that we won't take none a'ya time. So? What d'ya say?" Jebbo looks at the crowd, hoping for a favorable response.

[sblock=OOC]OK, I'm trying a Diplomacy check on the crowd. All I want is for them to understand that we want to help, and let us through for a brief chat. This is assuming, of course, that a Diplomacy check is even possible in such circumstances. If it doesn't work, maybe Hakkara could try an Intimidate check? [/sblock]

 

[Insight]

Hakkara looks over the crowd with disdain. And they dare to call MY people uncivilized?

Looking to Cyryn, the barbarian puts her hand to sword, waiting for the call to strike, if necessary. "Say the word," she says to her fellow warrior.

 

[YeOldeAlbatross]

Jebbo shakes his head. "Y'know he means well. We can't let 'em hurt 'im." Jebbo steps out to the side of the line, pulls up a wooden box, and stands on it to catch the crowd's attention. He raises his voice over the din, keeping a friendly tone. "Now, please listen, y'all. He's a healer, he's only tryin' t'help. We want t'help, too. If'n y'let us through, maybe we could do some good for y'all! Maybe we could go 'bout findin' some sorta cure! We promise that we won't take none a'ya time. So? What d'ya say?" Jebbo looks at the crowd, hoping for a favorable response.

[sblock=Jebbo: Diplomacy Check]Diplomacy Roll 7+6=13. Not quite good enough to sway this crowd, Nazh. Looks like it's the back of the line for you. [/sblock]
Unfortunately, Jebbo's impassioned plea falls on deaf ears. Apparently, the sick of Falcon's Hollow have been disappointed by too many false promises already. Their wheezy shouts and catcalls drive the halfling from his literal soapbox.

"Yeah, sure! Just like all the other holier-than-thou types in this town?"

"They can't do nothing about this plague, and neither can you! We need to see Laurel!"

"Get to the back of the line and wait your turn!"

The mind of the crowd appears to be set. Further attempts to pass to the front of the line seem likely to only incite these plague victims further.

 

[Azgulor]

Cyryn quickly interposes himself between Hakarra and the crowd to prevent anyone seeing her hand move to her weapon.

"Easy. My comment was a jest. A poor one, perhaps, which happens occasionally when I'm frustrated. These people have been waiting a long time, perhaps hours, and with good cause by the looks of them. Morningstar's intentions may be good, but his self-righteous attitude isn't going to make him many friends among these folk. I've got an idea that may calm them down and teach our friend some respect for others."

Cyryn turns to face the crowd. As he speaks he moves towards Jared but never takes his eyes from the crowd.

Good people! My apologies. My friend speaks true, this man is a healer. He is a man of faith and compassion and it was only his fury at seeing such good folk as yourselves suffer that caused him to forget to explain his purpose. While it is true he wishes to speak with the apothecary immediately so that we can try and help find a cure for this plague, he was merely counting how many of you were here so that he could distribute alms."

Arriving at Jared, Cyryn puts his arm around the priest as if a long-time brother-in-arms. While still smiling at the crowd, Cyryn whispers to Jared, "I think a silver a head should cover it, don't you? Better get moving 'friar', you're looking a little too much like a noble to these folk."


OOC: Gamespeak posted over in the OOC thread.