Merchants and mishaps

Over the last week, within the slowly rebuilding town of Shadowdale, a few caravans from the various neighbouring Dales have trickled into the town over the past tenday. Small at first with little to sell and often not buying, these first few merchants only stayed in town for a day or so, before leaving and heading back home.

However, several days later, the same and new merchants returned in large numbers with more wares to sell. Apparently the first few were merely seeing the state of the liberated Dale, and whether or not business was worth doing here. The merchants mostly brought with them general goods, tools, food, building materials and other such items which a town in the state of Shadowdale would need most. Obviously the prices of these goods were higher than they should of been, and the farmers themselves couldn't afford much at all with only the gold they had to spare.

The people of Shadowdale didn't have much to sell to these new merchants though, due to the recent drought and spending most of their resources on fixing the town up. However as has been in the past, the merchants that have arrived are looking to buy magical odds and ends from the many adventurers that have always been present in the town.

They didn't have a large amount of guards with them when they arrived, meaning they must have come from one of the more quieter Dales such as Featherdale, which hasn't been plagued by Drow, Zhents or other such undesirable groups. Most got what few lodgings that were available in the Skull whilst they stayed in the town.

During this return of trade to Shadowdale, the Cormyrians that had arrived with the Rebellion and liberated the town began their packing to travel home. Having tended to their wounded and rested for some time, it seems they were more than eager to leave. But would be staying in town for a few more days to buy supplies from the coming merchants first.

More worrisome news arrived during this time as well, apparently a few groups of houses in the northern farms had been afflicted with some sort of disease as neighbours and militia checked up on the families that lived there when they didn't come out during the day, only to find bodies in their wake. A few individuals who had been working the northern vales of town had been reportedly staggering about clumsily, tripping over there own feet and such before turning very pale and falling to the ground, dead. Along with this, a barn full of livestock had become very temperamental, with the animals behaving in aggressive and quite frankly strange ways. All of them seemed weak and sickly as well, but not so much as to kill them. The locals have mostly been avoiding said barn and group of houses in the north of Shadowdale, the more paranoid citing 'Zhent spies', and the more superstitious saying 'ill omens'.

One of the local brewers in the northern vales, Tom Baderie, also reportedly died outside his brewing shed. It seems he was sampling some ale before getting ready to sell it to the merchants that were arriving and died shortly afterwards when returning to his house. The militia have barred entry to the place now, deeming the alcohol 'unsafe' for drinking. It is unknown whether or not any of it was sold before he died as the shed was missing a few barrels. Coupled with the other dead farmers, it seems just over a dozen people have died so far.

All in all, the past tenday has been seen as a rather busy time for the town.

As a Lathanderite priest assigned to "Priestly Duties" in Shadowdale by his Dawn Marhsal, Cleophus Kinn would involve himself by tending to grieving families and burying the dead who were devotees of Lathander.

In so doing, he would carefully note whatever specific information he might glean from them, if any, regarding: what was consumed, initial symptoms, later symptoms, condition of bodies, where bodies were found.

The farmers that were afflicted (indirectly of course) weren't very talkative, they thanked the priest for his concern and his help though.

Those that did speak, said that people were found dead in their homes in the afternoon when people wondered why they weren't out and working. They couldn't tell why themselves, assuming it was poison of some sort "like what got Tom", but apart from that they didn't have anything useful to say.

Kathryn, the young priestess of Ilmater, notices the sick and the dying during one of her ventures into Shadowdale with journey cakes and food stuffs. She does all she can to aid the sick, and possible ease their passing through prayer and comfort. ((Heal skill of 20))

As the merchants began to start slowly coming in, Vincent would try to introduce himself to those he could as Deputy Mayor, and attempt to make their stay as pleasant as possible. Seeing most of the farmers unable to purchase much, he'd offer buying anything they may need despite the high prices. Also, if able Vincent would try to sell some things he'd be holding onto as well, items varying from weapons, gems, armors, and jewelry.

Though, once he hears news of the sick to the North, Vincent would go to visit them though not being a healer he wouldn't be able to aid them much. Just giving them company and trying to comfort those as they were tended to.

After agreeing to investigate under Deputy Mayor Vincent's orders and being appointed Deputy by Sheriff Mara Brinsbane, Detective Wakefield begins questioning the farmers and any other local law involved. Focusing on mapping the progression of the disease (such as it is), he inquires about the locations of the dead and approximate times of death.

If given permission, he'd take a sample of blood and flesh from some of the livestock for later alchemical testing. And, while troubling to talk about, the tall-ish halfling further asks permission to investigate one of the farmer's bodies in-depth, seeking to inspect the organs for a better understanding of what they're dealing with.

((Sorry for the OOC, but it's soo good to see your Cuuuute avatar posting again "Hinvestigator" ))

After hearing of the strange disease yesterday Karovir went to the northern Shadowdale at night. He would visit some houses if the farmers would let him in and if he finds anyone who is diseased he would cast his spells (remove disease, great restoration). He would also try to check the people and surroundings for any kind of curses as there was talk about witchcraft before (spellcraft 37). He would stay in the northern part of the city for quite a while and watch the people after they woke up and came out of their houses.

Justin approaches those collecting samples. "If my alchemical skills can be of any use to you in determining a cause of this disease, I am at your convenience." he says.

Valtore seeks out the new merchants and is seen haggling over the price of a few items he sells to them. A numerous of rare gems and odd items are sold. He tells them how there is more gold to be made by merchants who brave the trip to Shadowdale. Afterwards he checks on the 30 dwarves that Elder Grendal left in town to make sure none of them have gotten sick. Once he is sure they are well (after a quick visit to his good friend Julia) he once more leaves town.

Attracted to the new bustling business of Shadowdale as a crocodile is drawn to a watering hole frequented by exotic birds... Roman keeps his eye out for the expected cat purse, rogue, merc type that will soon follow the increased exchange of money. He often checks in with the Hin who stands by the wagon near the central fire and who only comes out at night asking if any prominent roguish types have been skulking about town and would ask for names or descriptions. ((the hin with the ghost necklace quest))

Hearing the tales of disease in the northern farms, he decides it best not to drink the ale from that area of town.

He also asks the seedier folks that mull about town if they've seen a cat with scars prancing around.

Don't worry Valtore, my good old friend,

I know you dwarves are tough, but I'll personally see that they all are well,

it's good to see you Val, very good indeed.

*She smiles and hugs him, before letting the Loremaster go she blesses him*

((Sorry for my lack of response to some of your posts regarding North SD in this thread and whatnot...
Would it be good if I say, this Wednesday at about 8pm GMT onwards I can run something in regards to all that? Turn up if your char is involved in this ))

One evening, Piak would visit Mara or Vincent, preferably both at once.

"If you want to foster trade with the other Dales again, you need to make sure the roads are safe. So I suggest you either have the militia patrol North Ride and other roads, or, maybe more efficient, open a kind of caravan office, where merchants can meet with private security services. I can help you organize a little if you want, but you know I get bored by work quickly.
If you did that already, I simply slept. Nevermind, then."

Cleophus Kinn walks amongst the empty farmhouses, remembering the dead who once lived there. He stops at the brewhouse well, now clear of the vile poison that had fatally wrenched his own gut mere hours ago. Now he drinks deeply from the bucket, flushing his system of the remnants of poisoned water.

"Clean again, but for how long?" The militia would send someone, soon, to guard the wells. Or at least patrol. Or perhaps seal or lock them. Until then, Kinn would wait and be watchful.

(((Unless he receives orders to the contrary from his superiors, Kinn will guard the wells in the northern vales until the militia can be informed and take appropriate measures.)))

After observing the merchants and the various wares they brought that the town was in need of, and hearing that they were eager to purchase magic items, Arjay was absent for some time.  When he returned, he was bearing several large trunks, which those who knew him might recognize (upon a brief glance inside) as the accumulated wealth from his adventures of the past years.  The merchants would manage, as he took the first offerings out of the chests, to catch a glimpse of various wands and scrolls, and even a sword-hilt, before the trunk was closed again.

The negotiations were going to prove to be very careful.  Arjay first offered a selection of scrolls that were commonly sought after by adventurers.  He then added a few more powerful scrolls, a handful of wands, and a couple rods to the table as he began to bargain with the merchants for building supplies for the town.  He had a good idea of the value of his goods (appraise 23), and it wouldn't take an incredibly smart trader to know that he was using this opening trade to feel the merchants out, and that the ones who tried to cheat him the least would be the ones to be able to trade for the more valuable goods he had.

((PM sent to Coffee with the scrolls and wands offered.))

After the negotiations, Arjay could be seen leaving with his chest a bit lighter, evidently pleased with the trade. The merchant, presumably, was rather pleased with it as well.