Infectious Encounters

Over the next few days it becomes apparant a Plague has come to Korvosa, and while the new Queen and her advisors bicker over how to address the calamity, fear takes hold on the streets.
As the number of sick folk grows, people take desperate measures to avoid the plague, shutting themselces within their homes, shunning the infected, and even seeking escape from the city.
The disease is prevalent in Korvosa's most impoverished ares, particularly Old Korvosa, blister-faced beggars and hacking common folk are visible on every corner.

At the start of the infection the four adventurers seek help from the greatest temple in the city; the Temple of Abadar.

Presided over by Archbanker Darb Tuttle, the Bank of Abadar is one of the more potent moderating factors in the city, ever eager to remind the government and nobility of their responsibilities to their citizens. Altough its acts might sometimes seem charitable, the church of Abadar is more concerned with the just enactment of the law and the continued flow of trade.
The Grand Vault of Abadar, a meticulously well-kept structure of white marble and gleaming bronze friezes, stands in the North Point district.
While the first floor holds a few small shrines and counseling chambers, the majority of its airy halls are given over to the business of banking, with acolytes of Abadar eager to serve any who have coin they would entrust to the temple's care, while armored clerics keep watch.
The floor above holds the God's sanctuary and the quarters of a small number of resident priests.
Finally, beneath the temple lies the physical vault, a heavily guarded storehouse where the clergy's considerable fortune, as well as the investments of thousands of citizens, are safely stored.
The priests are so trusted and respected that for decades these lower levels have also housed the presses that mint Korvosan coins.


When the adventurers arrive, things are not as expected.
Towering over the surrounding buildings, the Grand Vault offers a radiant vision of luxuriance amid a sea of mortal troubles.
As its gray-veined white marble reflects the midday sun, there;s little question that this place is the house of a God.
Yet, for a deity of law, the steep stairs and ramps leading up to the temple's great bronze doors offer a strangely discordant scene.
Dozens of citizens, mostly of the working class, although the silks of a few merchants show through the crowd, throng the entry, scarcely being held back by a group of gold-armored Abadan Clerics.
All seem intent on gaining entry, but the Clerics turn away nearly all comers.
The Cleric's reasoning becomes clear as one desperate believer is turned away, his pitiful countenance mottled with violent red sores..

The priests might have been able to help more, but have their own troubles; several of their acolytes, guards and vaultkeepers had developed symptoms. What little magic was left was quickly sold to a few wealthy and lucky worshipers.

Upon arriving, the scout, paladin, druid and samurai witness the temple guards turn away all comers who show signs of the disease.

The paladin, Rendain, stays behind trying to calm the public and help the clerics, while the others turn back to Citadel Volshyenek.
Ishani Dhatri spots the good Samaritan and orders the guards to let him enter.

(Almost 30 years of age, yet still a low-ranking priest in the church, Ishani was brought to Korvosa by his mother with his sister Vavana when he was 10 years old. Fleeing an outbreak of Scarlet Leprosy in Vudra that had already claimed his father. Taking the first ship they could find, the Dhatris found themselves on the return journey of an Arkona ship, and upon arrival in Korvosa their mother had to pay the price for said passage; 13 years of indentured service to the Arkonas.
She died a mere 4 months after arrival, leaving Ishani and Vavana orphaned. After Vavana secured enrollment in the Acadamae, she cut ties with Ishani, leaving the young man completely alone.
His experience in Vudra scarred him, and being on his own in a strange city threatened to overwhelm him. Rather than crumble under these fears and emotions, he found support and a purpose in the church of Abadar.
He's spent his life in Korvosa seeking to help the sick ever since.
Yet with each year, his frustrations with church restrictions on offering healing magic without payment grows.
He knows he can't offer actual healing without seeking payments, and the use of herbal remedies and other methods of fighting illness are his way of skirting the church's rates.)

When Rendain is escorted through the crowd, and enters the Grand Vault he is adressed by the young Cleric;
"Thank you for your aid, poor lot. I've seen these symptoms before in a young girl and had hoped it was an isolated case, but apparantly we have a big problem.
I'm concerned for the city, but also for my brethren here.
Many brothers woke with symptoms, I spoke with each, and aside from their usual duties in the temple, none have had any dealing with any who are ill.
Later in the day, more of my fellow priests developed symptoms and folk from throughout the city began arriving in search of healing.
They're calling the sickness 'Blood Veil', an apt enough name I suppose.
Most of the patients we're treating have come from North Point and Old Korvosa. The disease seems to spread fastest through the lower classes.
I dread that the transmission of the disease will soon outpace our resources.
The only way to stem the growing infection is to involve the entire city.
We need to call upon the faiths of Sarenrae, Pharasma, and even Asmodeus to face this attack.
Archbanker Tuttle and several of his assistants are out pursuing alliances with these other faiths, but even that won't be enough.
We need to involve the Korvosan Guard and the queen's new agents, the Gray Maidens, at the very least.
That's where I need your help, it's not particularly safe for a Priest to walk the streets.
I know of your contact with Field Marshal Cressida Kroft, would you be willing to escort me to Citadel Volshyenek?"