CH. 10: Queen of Harts

[BishGada]

"Well, I guess we would have to go by a small boat of our own in any case, either to catch the Bullring or the pirates. And for that matter I happened to meet a sailor from my homeland that might be qualified for the task." Baeros says between bites of bread an meat.

[JadedDM]

A few minutes later, Andar steps downstairs, looking cleaner and now clean-shaved, as well. He nods to Jocelyn weakly when she notices him, indicating he is ready.

[HorizonsDream]

"Or we could hire another ship to take us to the Bullring," Jocelyn points out after she notices Andar. "I assume this is what Ouragana wants to talk about later on tonight," she adds as she stands up from her chair. "Anyway, I need to go to the temple. Enjoy the rest of your meal."

[BishGada]

"Wait." Baeros says quickly. "I've almost finished, I'll walk with you outside. I plan to check some stores here and I can escort you to the temple. Your... err... 'ex-friends'... might have more... err... 'messengers' around here." Baeros says in a low voice looking carefully around. "Besides, I'd like to give a small contribution to Octhanus, as you saved our life back there." Stuffing the lasts of the bread and meat into his mouth then forcing it down his throat with a large sip of ale, Baeros gets up and joins Jocelyn and Andar, his dogs following them outside then running forward.

[JadedDM]

Baeros quickly wolfs down the rest of his food as a small group of people step inside from the rain. They remove the hoods of their cloaks, shaking off the rain, laughing and talking. They head up to the front desk and a couple of servants show up to take their wet cloaks.

Finished with his meal, Baeros and his dogs join Jocelyn and Andar at the door. They prepare to step out into the rain, when Andar stumbles, vomits, then falls to his knees. He kneels there, shivering, wiping his mouth.

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn pauses looking down at Andar in complete surprise. "...Are you okay?" she asks as she kneels down beside him and wraps her arm around his shivering body. It was clear he wasn't okay, but she didn't know what was going on with him. She was sure that he was safe from the poison of the ettercap, but she couldn't help but think that maybe he wasn't.

[BishGada]

"What is it? Too much ale?" Baeros ask Andar while helping him to straighten. "Maybe we should put him back at his bed?" he asks Jocelyn, thinking it to be a simple nausea.

[JadedDM]

When Jocelyn touches Andar, she notices right away that his skin is very hot. Something is very clearly wrong.

"Is he okay?" asks the receptionist. One of the four who just entered--an elven woman--places her hand on the only man in the group and says, "Captain."

Following her gaze, the 'captain' sees Andar and walks over. He has brown hair, elven features, and a beard. "Everything alright?" he asks.

The elven woman follows and pulls out a wand. She starts to move it up and down over Andar.

"Looks like marsh fever, sometimes called yellow sickness," the half-elf male says. "It's usually passed by mosquitoes. It takes several days to incubate." He feels Andar's forehead. "He's burning up."

The elven woman checks her wand. "Confirmed, Captain. Marsh fever, as you said."

"Hold still, lad; this won't hurt at all," the half-elf says. He places a hand on Andar and concentrates. His eyes begin to glow blue. "Octhanus, Mother of all Life, I beseech you...purge all sickness from this man. Cleanse all toxins with your healing waters."

A blue glow envelops the half-elf, then moves down his arm, through his hand, and into Andar. Within moments, he stops shaking and a bit of color returns to his skin.

The elf woman waves her wand around Andar again and nods. "No trace of the disease remains," she confirms.

Helping Andar to his feet, the half-elf nods to the elven woman, then to Jocelyn and Baeros. "He should be alright; but a bit of rest might help nonetheless."

[HorizonsDream]

"Uh, thank you," Jocelyn says in amazement. "You're a follower of Octhanus and a captain?" she asks. "Andar, why don't you go ahead and go back to your room. Get some rest. I didn't know you were sick, otherwise I wouldn't have asked you to go with me."

[BishGada]

Baeros looks at the whole episode in amazement. "Are you sure he will be fine? Wait, did you say mosquitoes?" Baeros gaze shifts to Jocelyn as he continues, "He wasn't the only one that got stung in jungle by those mosquitoes... Maybe we should check everyone?"

[JadedDM]

Andar nods and heads back upstairs to his room, passing by the bathing area where Val presumably is still standing.

The half-elf nods to the elven woman and she waves her wand over Jocelyn and Baeros. "No signs of infection, they're both clean," she reports.

The half-elf then looks to Jocelyn. "That's right, Pastor. I've never seen you before, so you're either new or not from this city. I'm Friar Saren, a pleasure to meet you."

He is a tall man, around six feet in height, making him tower over his three female companions. He has brown hair and a goatee and fair skin. His eyes are an azure blue.

Saren.jpg (63 KiB) Viewed 5505 times

"That's the trouble with mosquitoes, they spread quite a bit of disease with their bites. Most people don't realize that, and think they just are mildly annoying," he says.

[HorizonsDream]

"Pastor Jocelyn Blaine," she says with a bow of her head. "And, no, I'm not from here. My group and I traveled here from Condletun. I don't think I've seen a Friar such as yourself. You are a captain?" she asks.

[BishGada]

Baeros eyes the elven woman wand suspiciously as she waves it around. "Err.. Thanks. Don't think you miss any spot." he says in what seems to him a polite manner. When Jocelyn reminds Condeltun, Baeros interrupts and suggests, "If you are into nature and have the time, you should visit the reef there. It's amazing." he says enthusiastically.

[JadedDM]

Saren chuckles. "I can't say I've ever visited Condletun, but I'll try and check it out when I get the chance. And yes, I am the captain of a caravel. Actually, I think I get called 'captain' far more than I get called 'friar.' In any case, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Pastor Blaine. And you, as well," he adds to Baeros.

[HorizonsDream]

"A pleasure for us as well," Jocelyn assures the man. "Do you plan on staying here long?"