Characters: Julian, Terus, Balin, Anthony, Grim.
NPCs: The Zaz Council of Lords, Apthorus the Mystic Theurge of Mystra, Constal Joseph Throffson, Azikiwe the Lobi-Tongo Prophet, Lobi-Tongo chieftain Runako Tangela, Kadan Swordswreath the Herald of Zaz, Corporal Earnluf of the Cleansing Flame, Dying Illmaterian, Gullac Forhv & family, 2 Hezrou Plague Demons, sergeant Moran of the Cleansing Flame.
E 25 Alturiak 1374 - M 25 Alturiak
3600 XP
After the trial the rest of the Zaz District Lords as well as the Lobi-Tongo diplomats entered the courtroom. An exhausted Joseph Throffson came in some minutes later after having quelled the riot and imprisoned the remaining Wainwrights rioters. It was past midnight and many of those present began to all asleep in their chairs. The main opponents of the party in the past meeting such as Duchess Hhune, and Arbos Fullstein used the opportunity to verbally batter the party and the rest of the Council Lords. Some of the party including Balin, Terus, and Julian responded with blatant accusations against Hhune, Azikiwe, and Fullstein. Constal Throffson put the meeting back under control and those present began to discuss the troubling problem of missing resources, especially food. Due to the shortage of available manpower, the party offered their services to the Council in investigating this matter further. The meeting was adjourned and afterwards, Julian spoke privately with Lord Nassir and Lord Exar.Once the party had re-joined with Julian they met with Throffson in his personal quarters to discuss the limitations on their magical abilities. Without the use of powerful Teleportation magic, Throffson gave the party horses to travel. Then they headed back towards the Wainwrights District to rest at the Firehawk Inn. On their way through the Markets however, the party came across a desperate plague victim in the streets. The Illmaterian acolyte spoke of the fall of the House of Tears just hours ago; he begged for them to take him back to that he may die on the formerly hallowed ground of the Suffering God. They rode at full speed and found the massive pile of marble rubble which used to be the Illmaterian mission. A disturbing site indeed, for if they had only more rest, equipment, and time the structure and those still unevacuated could have been saved. After that bleak site however, the party still tired moved back to the Firehawk and began to rest. Both Balin and Grim had contracted the deadly Bloodfever and thus stayed in the abandoned dwelling adjacent to the inn.
After just a couple hours of rest the party in both locations was shaken awake by a stentorian blast of demonic chanting. The walls of the Firehawk began to shake apart, and the party realized they had been ambushed by 2 plague-ridden Hezrou demons. The greenish stink from their infected bodies clouted the senses of all but Anthony. The Hezrou demons ripped into Balin and Anthony, as Grim, Terus, and Julian stumbled away vomiting. Anthony battled against the Hezrou while Balin struggled, and was thrashed down attempting to escape. Terus moved back and guarded Anthony just before he would have fallen, and Julian landed a devastating sneak attack. The Hezrou demons had taken enough and immediately Teleported away, leaving a glowing greenish cloud of disease in their wake. After the battle Anthony attended to Balin while Julian checked on the inn keeper Gullac. In addition to their bloody wounds, Terus had contracted Blinding Sickness, Julian contracted the Shakes, and Grim contracted Slimey Doom, and the Forhv family had contracted the Red Aches. By the time the Moran and his Cleansing Flame Knights arrived there was little anyone could do.The party explained to both Moran, and then Throffson after having being sent for. In addition, Terus and Julian implored Throffson to allow them to break quarantine to heal their wounds and diseases. However, the experienced plague-fighter would not allow it, refusing on the grounds that the unforeseen consequences could harm thousands in the process. Instead Throffson gave each of them java "dawn" beans to chew so that their fatigue may be lessened, and additionally, a white lichen called Crusader's Moss which could be eaten to fight off the worsening effects of their illnesses. Finally, Throffson offered the suggestion that perhaps they should apply their abilities in espionage and concealment to learn more about the past ten day's deadly foul-play. Although their bodies are wrought with exhaustion, illness, and wounds the party continued on. For the past 28 hours had been the bloodiest day Zaz had seen in nearly a century and if the coming day was to not worsen there was much to be done.
