Chapter 1: Disturbance

[horrizon]

Late spring brought a smoldering wave of heat to the region, but Saldaña wasn't surprised by it. People got up earlier, worked later, and the time for siesta significantly stretched out, without anyone ordering it or saying a word. The whole town was resting in the shades during the midday sun's bright light, when something unusual happened.

 

The west gate opened (it's been an issue for a few years, everyone could hear it for miles), and folks in the market disapprovingly looked up in the direction of the approaching commotion: a small group of people came in, with an ox cart, shouting very loudly, disturbing the peace. Some fidgety people actually stood up, and went out into the sun, shading their eyes with their hands for better view.

Edited June 19, 2022 by horrizon (see edit history)

[wtaylorjr2001]

It wasn't cool at night, but it wasn't the hell during the late spring day. Henry woke in a puddle of sweat to one of his conjured rats tickling the souls of his feet. He swung into a sitting position on the cot in Sara's aunt's house. He was staying there until he could get onto his feet. He was silent as he reached for his spell-book and read off the spell for food and water, and a bowl of plain porridge and a cup of water appeared. He ate. He. picked up his two conjured sacks and put his spell-book in one.

 

It was still dark when he and his rats left by the east gate as the west would wake the dead. Health potions could make him silver. Health potions could be made from Zela leaves and Brasca roots, each had a unique scent that the rats could search for, and search they did by his command. His rats spread out around him and he searched the area himself. When he found the leaves he let three rats smell them and they went off in search of leaves while he put the leaves into the other sack. He then searched for roots and did the same thing with the last three rats. He then continued searching for the roots and leaves himself.

 

It was hot after hours of searching, he took what he and what his rats led him to back to town. He nodded to the guards at the east gate and entered the town. There was an unholy noise that could only be the east gate. With a silent command 6 rats hid and stealthily moved towards the west gate as Henry, spell-book over shoulder with the bounty in two sacks, also moved towards the west gate. There was a commotion.

 

"Can I be of assistance?" Henry called. 

 

"There you are, did you find any herbs?" Sara asked, startling Henry.

[Jades]

Paula yawned as she opened her eyes and woke from her siesta, and wiping the blurriness from her eyes with the back of her hands.  Seeing others stand, she followed suit.  As others walked towards the moving commotion she decided it was best that she do the same.  Her left hand brushed against her sword, passively checking to see if she'd brought it with her today.  She always had it, but it was always a good idea to check.

[CharmingSatyr]

Timoteo was making the rounds through the marketplace.  Surely today someone would have need of his services.  Work had been hard to come by of late -- not because of any shortage of opportunities or monies.  No, that would be too easy.  He had simply worn out his welcome in this little town -- as he had so many others before.  The last botched job wasn't his fault at all.  How was he supposed to know that his mustachio'd employer was a "Miss" and not a "Mister".  It wasn't fair!

 

The noise at the gate catches his attention.  Looking around to gauge the mood of the market, he decides it's safe enough as long as he takes a precaution or two.  He joins the crowd, staying safely well within the middle of the curious onlookers, and gravitates towards the commotion with the rest of the crowd. 

 

"Maybe, if my sour reputation hasn't traveled that far, just maybe I'll be able to find some work."

[horrizon]

As the cart and its company drew closer, the indistinct shouts gradually became words and phrases:

- "Help! Bring the healers!"

- "Beware! Close the doors, before they get in!"

- "Someone wake up the healers!"

 

In contrast to the desperation in the voices who made the shouts, few people actually did anything, still gaping at the unbelievable scene. One person started to walk towards the Cruz Roja hall, and one asked no-one in general The Dragón Dorado? quietly, but otherwise everyone waited to see what nonsense this was about to turn out.

 

Henry's question wasn't in vain, though: a large, muscled man shouted back frantically, all the while waving widely. "Yes, please, he's dying!!!"

[wtaylorjr2001]

Henry responds quickly. He takes out his book from the conjured sack as he races to the injured man in the cart. His heart races as he looks over the man the large muscled man indicates. Henry's goal is to stabilize the patient. He quickly casts a health returning spell from his black grimoire on the injured man. Though he is quick, he is careful, there will be no mistakes. Henry's brown eyes search the man who hopefully responds well to his healing.

 

"I have begun to heal him to the best of my ability. I just got herbs that I was going to sell at the market, healing herbs. I have summoned health into his body, let us see how he reacts. I can do this some more as needed." Henry says after the spell is cast.

 

Using his knowledge of Lore, Henry examines the hopefully closing wounds to ascertain what did this. 

[horrizon]

The tools they have on the cart, their clothes and physique now make it clear that they are loggers, which means they've traveled this way a few days.

 

The injured man is lying on the cart, convulsing slightly, and sweating profoundly. His eyes are milky with some weird, sickly yellowish substance, though he can still see Henry, as he makes his examination. The wounds start to heal slowly, but they are all lined in a feverish dark purple, and seem to be claw marks.

 

A third man is also on the cart, squatting in the corner, staring into nothing with glassy eyes. He suddenly starts shouting combat warnings and instruction in a terrified high-pitched voice, still staring into nothing, talking to some imagined people.

 

The small crowd that gathered slowly encircles the scene, watching with increasing curiosity.

[CharmingSatyr]

Timoteo Augusto Montemorado (W: 2; R: 2; M: 6; HP: 8/8; MANA: 12/12; DEF: 7)

---

Timoteo is relieved when he sees a healer tending to the injured lumberjack.  Continuing to keep his distance, he peers out past the gates, looking for some sign of whatever it is the workers were so fervently fleeting.  Using his hand to shield his eyes against the bright rays of the sun, he scans the landscape for signs of danger. 

Edited June 20, 2022 by CharmingSatyr (see edit history)

[wtaylorjr2001]

Henry frowns, he looks at the injured man's eye discoloration.  He then looks at the wounds. What could this be. Claw marks shouldn't give this discoloration. Is this something that is new? This other man stares into space and screams warnings. What has happened here? Do we face something dangerous? What should he do? He needs more information. He doesn't know if the herbs he has on him would work on this illness. He has the bad feeling this poison isn't something his magic can fully handle. He decides.

 

He takes out his book of spells and puts one hand on the torn and bloody shirt. In a loud voice he commands, "By the power of Gishanti I command you to show me how this happened." With these words a mystic path opens before his eyes so that he can divine the recent past of the torn and bloody shirt. He looks at the shirts past and gathers knowledge of what has done this ravishing. As he watches he has one question. Will healing be enough to cure this illness. It is a yes or no answer. 

[Jades]

Paula looked to the injury and moves towards the gates.  She casts a glance behind her before picking up her speed.  She runs <i>towards</i> the danger, stopping just after passing through the gate.  With her sword drawn, she braces herself for the two possibilities.  "Close the gate!" she shouts to the nearest people.  If she could move back into the city before both the creature arrives and the gates close, she will.  But if she has to slow the creature down, she is ready for it. 

[horrizon]

Contrary to what the passengers of the cart are saying - or screaming, rather, - nothing moves within sight of Timoteo's shielded eyes. Whatever they are afraid of is either not nearby, or hiding efficiently.

 

After activating his magic, Henry gets a glimpse of disgustingly filthy and rotting claws tearing into the man's side and chest, leaving savage marks in the flesh. The physical wounds look manageable by his healing magic, but the infection that already shows in his eyes is a very bad sign, considering it originated from the upper body and has already spread to the head. And his state, including both the infection and the wound seems to be about a week old.

 

The Dragon Dorado guards suddenly explode into motion from their curious staring as Paula's shout reminds them they are on duty, but nothing is there outside as far as she can see. The path behind them is as clear as is usual for the time of day. No person in their right mind wants to travel in such heat. Nonetheless, the gate gets closed quickly.

Edited June 29, 2022 by horrizon (see edit history)

[wtaylorjr2001]

Henry turns to the guy he was talking to, "my god man, what was it you fought, zombies? You are lucky to be alive. How did you survive that? But first things first," and he turns to the crowd. In a loud, commanding voice Henry demands, "Assemble the town's leaders, we may be in big trouble. Dead things that are rotten came back to life and attacked these people."s

Edited July 1, 2022 by wtaylorjr2001 (see edit history)

[CharmingSatyr]

Timoteo Augusto Montemorado (W: 2; R: 2; M: 6; HP: 8/8; MANA: 12/12; DEF: 7)

---

Timoteo breathes a sigh of relief once people move to close the gate, and another once the gate is fully closed and secured. 

 

"H-how ... " he asks.  He pauses, clearing his throat to make himself heard over the raucous noise of the agitated crowd.  "How do we know they're not infected, too?"  He peers suspiciously at the wagon, as if all manner of undead abominations could burst out of it at any moment.  "We need to be sure."

[horrizon]

The people on the cart look at Timoteo with alarm and surprise.

"Hey, what the hell you're talking?"

"Yeah, we're not wounded! So no infection, either!"

 

Meanwhile, the guards who reacted to Paula's unofficial instructions, look around hesitantly. They seem to be unsure whether they should disturb the lady's siesta, because that's something not many dare to do in town.

[Jades]

Paula steps back and watches from behind the gate as it closes.  Once it is secured, she turns and moves towards the wagon.  "Nothing was at the gate.  What is all of this all about?"