[Game Thread] Chapter Four: Complications

[Makenshi]

Schakri glares at Morgan. "I was talking to the soldiers. Not to you. I couldn't exactly expect you to know, could I?" The last part was more than a little snarky. Clearly the usual cheerful or at least composed Schakri was not in the building at the moment.

Esiard seems perplexed by Morgan's question before realisation strikes. Stroking his chin he thinks for a moment before replying. "He's with the dead infected, or potential infected. We didn't know if he was or not or if the illness could be spread from the dead. I suggest you don't touch any of the bodies until we're sure. They're being kept in what I have been told was the west sparring room. I'll send a soldier with you so you won't be bothered by others, though I'll have him waiting outside if you wish."

Lord Inaha stands up, casting an aside glance towards Esiard. "Archmage Wainraith, would you protest if I were to accompany you? I can you fill you in on some of the events while we walk. I'm sure you've many questions."

OOC We'll take this to your journal once you leave spat.

Nevh finds all but one of the Quallish students accounted for in the great hall, however the others explain that he is being seen to by the healers after having had a run in with one of the 'mad dragons', as they termed it, while trying to seek out safety though his life wasn't in danger to their knowledge.

~MTWC

[Blue]

It was a relief that no casualties or critical damage had been done on their side. It could have complicated everything.
She tried to be reassuring to the students, and wished for nothing less than getting them out of here within the hour.
"I'll be back soon. You all stay here and get ready to leave - I am bringing you all back to the embassy, and to your families on the morrow if some of you would wish to return to them. I won't be long."

Going back, she approached the one in charge.
"General Emlyn, I would have my injured countryman returned to me. We have healers of our own and would have yours tend to your people for the while. I'd appreciate if he could be brought to me, or if I could go fetch him."

[SpatulaOdoom]

"Of course not Lord Inaha. I take it from your composure that Lady Lily is unharmed?"
No need to let him know that Morgan had advance warning.

Morgan finds it interesting that Esiard somehow knew of his brief association with Valen. Was the Old Man was keeping an eye on him as well, or had the information come from someone else?

Eloise focuses on something else.

Originally Posted by Esiard

"He's with the dead infected, or potential infected. We didn't know if he was or not or if the illness could be spread from the dead."

"Did not know. Why not? Is it difficult to tell who is infected and who is not?"
Now that was an interesting question. Was it possible that no-one had witnessed Valen's end?
"Do you have your kit?"
"But of course. Only one pair of gloves though."
Morgan shrugs.
"We'll make do."
He turns his attention to Schakri.
"When precisely did this event begin, as close as anyone knows?"

[Makenshi]

Esiard nods. "I'll have some soldiers fetch him and bring him here for you if he's able. If not I'll have the healers fix him enough so he can." He sends off a messenger to get one of the squads to go.

Jarlan nods. "She is. Physically at least. Needless to say she is...upset."

Schakri sighs in the manner of someone who has had to repeat themselves a lot recently. "In my half-brother's case it is a matter of not knowing if he has a strong enough Ruby heritage to be infected. And yes, it is difficult to tell who is infected by sight. The first sympton is bleeding and other minor injuries when one uses magic. The longer it goes on the worse it gets - that's what's wrong with Aiden's older brother and the 'actual' head of the familyEdan. When others started getting sick too, starting a week or so after the Demon's Moon's End celebration we realised it wasn't simply an assassination attempt against Edan. It wasn't until today that madness emerged as a symptom, even among some we were not aware were sick." He gives a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Pride. Most likely they didn't want to admit to the sickness because it would mean they would not be able to continue using magic. Even Aiden didn't consider himself immune to that rule when he became sick and it became evident any use of magic made it worse."

Phyre looks worried. "Aiden's sick too? Where is he? How is he?"

Schakri shrugs. "Somewhere in the estates, he didn't say where, just that he was helping to contain the mad Dragonblaze." Phyre waits expectantly for him to answer her last question, but it is obvious he has no intention of doing so.

~MTWC

[Watcher]

Syltar remained silent, listening, observing. He pulled back his hood to uncover his face, his identity now known. The explanations for the sickness were troubling, but at least there was some working knowledge on how the infection - as it were - was passed from one individual to the next. Thankfully it was through physical touch, which meant that Phyre and himself weren't condemned to the madness like so many other Dragonblaze. Still, it made Syltar wonder at the reasons for why only those of Ruby-touched inclination were being affected, as certainly all dragons had much in common...

It seemed a targeted attack, in that instance, unlike what Schakri seemed to think.

With Phyre asking questions, Syltar waited for a moment when he could interject with his own. Several concerns were addressed, such as symptoms, who had been infected, and the state of Aiden. Though, given Morgan and Syltar's brief meeting, perhaps the original reasons for seeing his cousin had changed somewhat; still, that didn't mean the young mage didn't want to ensure his kin were safe, or at least as safe as possible.

Schakri, it's good to see you alive," Syltar said, offering a faint smile from where he stood a distance away. He dared not close the range, for fear of becoming infected. "How many did we lose? What of Professor Frask?"

The news would undoubtedly be saddening, but the noble hoped that his old mentor had survived the chaos. Frask had always been a trusted colleague, one whom had helped Syltar flourish in his abilities, and had often been there to answer all kinds of questions... him having died would be a sad thing, indeed.

"You mentioned Aiden was sick," Syltar said, red eyes narrowed as he looked to the other young man. Unlike Phyre, Syltar didn't care about his location so much as other more pressing concerns. "Do you know how long he's been infected?"

If Schakri's answer was more than two-to-three weeks ago, Syltar could very well be in danger. Phyre too, especially if Syltar's meetings with Aiden over the last month had coincided with his being sick and spreading it to his kin. The situation was certainly bleak, and Syltar wondered over whether he should test some magic use to see if he displayed symptoms... but seeing as how he had been well with the Ancestor, having gone through intense training on a daily basis, chances were the young mage was not afflicted.

Surely the symptoms would have been realized during that time, He thought, frowning as he glanced to Phyre. I wonder when she last tested magic use...?

Either way, Syltar had a few more questions, and he wouldn't stand for Schakri's poor temper or mood. In fact, at this point, given that the initial madness had passed and everyone was in the aftermath, now was a time for calm and afterthought.

"Cousin, how quickly do the symptoms show once someone begins using magic?" Syltar asked, looking back to Schakri and feeling better that at least someone he had been on friendly terms with had survived. "Is it a general period, or can if vary? My concern being that if it's immediate, it could be a plausible way to test for sickness. Whereas if it's random, it would be considerably harder to determine between the infected."

Finally, with a tap of his own staff on the stone ground, Syltar raised an eyebrow.

"And we must know Aiden's location. And his status. It's important."

[Makenshi]

Originally Posted by Watcher

"How many did we lose? What of Professor Frask?"

"Thirteen of the dead here are ours that I know of. All but two were under the influence of the sickness. Frask is being healed but isn't in any danger I don't think."

Originally Posted by Watcher

"You mentioned Aiden was sick," Syltar said, red eyes narrowed as he looked to the other young man. Unlike Phyre, Syltar didn't care about his location so much as other more pressing concerns. "Do you know how long he's been infected?"

"Almost two weeks we think. But we aren't sure."

Originally Posted by Watcher

"Cousin, how quickly do the symptoms show once someone begins using magic?" Syltar asked, looking back to Schakri and feeling better that at least someone he had been on friendly terms with had survived. "Is it a general period, or can if vary? My concern being that if it's immediate, it could be a plausible way to test for sickness. Whereas if it's random, it would be considerably harder to determine between the infected."

"It varies, but somewhat predictably. The factors we're aware of are the strength of the Ruby Dragon blood (the stronger the connection, the worse hit you seem to be by the sickness), how powerful a mage you are (again, the stronger you are, the worse hit) and, of course, the health of the person, which either delays the onset of it or helps lessen the chance you catch it, we're not sure which."

Originally Posted by Watcher

"And we must know Aiden's location. And his status. It's important."

Schakri gives Syltar an annoyed look. "Didn't I just say that I don't know? Do you think I'm a seer? That I have some special insight into what he's doing and how he is right now? Well I don't, but he isn't going to be in a good condition when he returns. Shifting to his draconic form always bites him back when he reverts, albeit not as much as if he was using actual spells."

Phyre blows smoke out of her nose, seemingly getting annoyed at Schakri's manner. "What's wrong with you Schakri? We're trying to help. To understand. Stop snapping at us."

The young Lord glares at Phyre, opens his mouth to speak but snaps it shut almost as quickly before standing up, knocking his chair over with his cane and storming off to the side of the room. Esiard cuts in before any of them can move to follow, his tone almost weary. "Give him space. Lord Schakri killed four of those thirteen Dragonblaze himself. One tried to kill him - the first he knew of what was going on - two had cornered a class of students and the fourth was trying to bring down and set fire to the academy, and doing a good job of it. I expect his anger is at himself and the situation, not you. Give him time. He'll come back. Until then I should be able to answer most of your questions."

~MTWC

[Blue]

Seeing that she was being ignored she decided that the general could well screw himself. She would go find the student on her own.
And so returned to the other students to have one guide her to the the place the last one is being tended to.

[Makenshi]

OOC He responded to you first Blue: Esiard nods. "I'll have some soldiers fetch him and bring him here for you if he's able. If not I'll have the healers fix him enough so he can." He sends off a messenger to get one of the squads to go. ~MTWC

[SpatulaOdoom]

"If Edan is the original carrier you can stop worrying about containment. I doubt there is anyone in the Dragonblaze family that hasn't come into contact with Edan while he was sick, or come into contact with someone else who has come in contact with him."
"Not quite. Not all diseases are immediately contagious. It's called the Latency Period. It could be the disease isn't contagious until the madness or other symptoms show up. We still need to be careful. Why don't you start tracking the progression and I'll borrow your kit and look out for our friend. If his body's been moved there's not much point in you doing it."
Eloise takes a leather handbag, containing a number of tools for investigating the scene of a crime, and hands it off to Morgan.

The mage leaves with Jarlan Inaha wile Eloise begins asking questions about the identity of the victims as well as the times and places of the various incidents. She checks to see if any of those maddened had been captured alive. Of particular interest is whether or not the incident of madness coincided with the capture of Scion.

ooc No need to go into details on Eloise's questioning unless it's relevant. If you prefer we can just say, she starts her investigation.

[Blue]

ooc That's what I get for thinking General Emlyn and General Esiard were two different persons.

Nevh returns to the students and beats the foot impatiently until the missing student is brought to her.

[Blue]

Seeing as it might take a while, Nevh considered she might as well make some use of the wasted time.
Taking out a tiny book, she resumes its read somewhere in the middle of it.

She was asking everyone in general, but the later question was mostly for Misa and Didina.
Anything new? Where have the Children been located?

[DoubleL1987]

Deciding to stick with the party involved in the less-complicated side of things, Morgan silently followed behind Nevh until he reached the gathering of Qualish students. He gave a small nod of his head in greeting to them before sidling up beside the reading ambassador. "It seems most of your kin are in good shape - that's a welcome bit of news at least."

[Blue]

She seems a little startled as Morgan slips in, embarrassed, even. With a swift sleight of hand she palms the small book and it 'disappears'.
Keeping her eyes on him, she tries to not to look at the Quallish students as she wondered what to say.
"Indeed. I'm glad for that much. It will still be troublesome, though. It might be difficult for some of their caretakers to keep enough trust in the Dragonblaze to let their care stay abroad to learn. I'll try to minimize the damage but... we are a kind that does no sway easily. Some of them are old enough to make that decision themselves, and I hope they'll see the merits in the long term of their maintained scholarship and reap a good lesson out of this experience."

She turned slightly their way.
"Seeing as your instructors are indisposed I'll have each of you write me an essay on the matter. You won't be graded, of course, but I'll make a report on you all and I'll have no slacking off."
It wasn't as if the Academy burning was any excuse to lay off for the rest of the day.

She palmed her front, sweating a little. Feeling uncomfortable but not quite nauseous. Returned her attention to Morgan.
"Are you busy tomorrow?"

[DoubleL1987]

Morgan noticed Nevh looking a little queasy and subtly handed her a neat white handkerchief he produced from inside his slacks. He briefly considered dabbing her forehead for he, but it was likely something she'd cook him for even if they were in private, let alone in front of the people for whom she held a high position. Still, the potential amusement would almost be worth it...

Her question made him mentally shuffle around what he could protentially have planned for the following day and he came up blank. The silver-haired Lakarn shook his head. "Unless something else comes up, I'm as always at your service."

[Makenshi]

Didina was the first to respond to Nevh's question in her usual almost flippant manner. "Other than the mad dragons? Nothing much that I'm aware of. No doubt Wainraith is getting himself into some kind of trouble though. The Children are in a safe place in Halvanna for now, but whether they'll be staying there or not is another matter. How did your meeting with the 'not-an-Elder-Demon' go?"

~MTWC