Worshippers of the Dragon Queen
Painted murals coat the full extent of the cave walls. A dragon with two heads stretches across the stone. Stalagmites rise from the ground as stalagtites drip from the ceiling. Hulil’s mutterings are husky and not discernable. A lean elf steps up from the shadows and introduces himself as Raegrin Mau. His shaved head excentuates the black inked dragon wing tatoos across his face. Mau is otherwise clothed plainly, in black robes.
“I am an apprentice to Master Hulil.” Mau explains in a flat, whispered voice. “She fell ill recently.”
Sensing that Mau is worried, despite his stoic expression, he adventurers tell Mau and Hulil of their meeting with Tulgi. Hulil doesn’t show much remorse for her sister. However, the party is able to convince the elf and the dwarf that they are willing to help them. If only Hulil share what she knows.
Reluctantly, Hulil nods to Mau, allowing him to tell her story.
Hulil’s story
After breaking into Pelk’s shop, the sisters Hulil and Tulgi sold their Eiselcross wares to a traveller heading to Palebank. But not before they had been exposed to the blue powder in a cracked vial. This traveller was a human man traveling with his husband and two small tiefling children.
Hulil and Mau had heard of the malady before, nicknamed “Frigid Woe”. “First come the blue veins.” Mau gestures to Hulil. “Then the chills.” He looks to the roaring hearth. “If there was an antidote, it would come from Eiselcross, where the blue material came from initially.”
Mau has been praying to his deity, Tiamat, for Hulil’s recovery. “But her power can only reach so far.” He laments.
She remains imprisoned, in the 1st layer of the Hells.”
Xavi recalls stories of Tiamat, the Betrayer God. He thinks she is imprisoned in the first layer of the nine Hells. It’s probably a good thing she is there.
Thanking Mau and Hulil for their help, the party returns to the bat cave to rest. They will need to hurry back to Palebank to stop the further spread of this Frigid Woe, and get the new information to the Glassblades’ commander.
Back to Palebank
The weather is favourable as the party wakes the next day. On their hurried trek back to Palebank, they pass through their old camp spot. The ground is heavily tracked with giant footprints, the body of the slain wolf has been dragged away.
“I’m glad we didn’t meet whatever that was.” Lindy remarkes nervously.
Chadrae considers the terrain momentarily, before divulging to her fellow adventurers why she is out here in the first place. “My family.” she explains. “I am from Rohsohna, in Xhorhas. But I’m not a good fit for the big city and the politics that come with it.” The others learn of Chadrae’s quest to find out information about her family. It has so far led her here, near Palebank.
The Bookseller
Safely back in town and at the Jolly Dwarf Inn, the party doesn’t have to search long to find the fancily clad men Mau spoke of. Two tiefling girls, no more than 10 years old, run through the inn playfully as brief introductions are made.
“I am Irvin, and this is my husband Fentin.” Irvin is a travelling bookseller, interested in the north. “These two are Honour,” he points to a pinkish-red tiefling girl, with firey orange eyes. “and Magic.” The younger tiefling is pink with grey eyes.
None of the family has evidence of blue veins, but Xavi remains wary. “This blue material, is very dangerous.” He doesn’t want anyone to panic, but needs to stress how important it is for Irvin to give up the vial.
Larkin brings over a round of fish head ales and Chadrae buys a round of ‘three salts and a dog’. “It’s best to drink it in one go.” Chadrae explains, handing out the shot glasses to the adults.
Xavi carefully handles the vials with gloved hands, inspecting the material thorougly. Spore-like electric blue powder, as fine as the finest of sand, airily drifts in the glass vial. He detects an aura of transmutation magic, but can’t glean how quickly one would contract a disease from it. He wraps the vials carefully and hands them to Larkin to keep in the bag of holding.
The adventure continues
Before it gets too late, they venture over to the barracks in search of Elrot the tracker and ranking officer. Green and pink auroras dance on the horizon. Sounds are muffled by the surrounding snow. It’s beautiful, and for just a moment Xavi and his friends can forget they are facing the threat of a dangerous epidemic.
Elrot is found at the administration building, across the training field. His serious manner is cold. He means all business.
“I have not heard of this ‘Frigid Woe’ you speak of. But I do not like it.” Elrot turns the vial carefully in his hand, then quickly hands it back to Larkin. He counts out the remaining 200 gold of their payment, thanking them for the information. “I don’t suppose you want to make some more coin in going searching for a cure, do you?”