Darkmarrow Plague Investigation - Guldorand Y.170

Sample Examination

Samples resemble humanoid femur. Deformation of bone makes original gender/race unknown. Bulges appear scattered across the bone structure. Potential causes include breaking and poor care after breaking, alchemical stimulants to induce growth, and transmutive inducement of growth.

Opening the outside structure reveals remnant of marrow. Rot and decay present. Maggots feeding upon said rot and decay are present as well. No signs of any other infections or presence of plague. Current findings: Bone has been deformed and perhaps purposefully left to rot and fester. Prominent smell and appearance. No more threat than any other form of rotten organic remains has been detected.

Will continue observing until further notice.

        Day 16, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 170 AR
        Jacob Swift       

Report: Plague Threats (1/4)

This document contains a report and description of all the information gathered so far to the author's awareness. For accessing the full versions of the documents, please refer to the proper binder marked "Darkmarrow Plague Investigation - Guldorand | y.170". A copy may be requested from the Cultural Delegate herself or another Office member if need be.

--- 1) Posters ---

++ Initial:

Written in a strange way. Quotes of potential interest:

"...of Dread Talona whose symptoms may be inferred from this name given it by ye little Effigies of Wax and Silt."

"Multiple Sightings of Body Barges leaving the port,(...) laden by Darkmarrow victims removed by teams of smugglers."

"A mass of worms writhing in a body. You are worms! We are worms!"

The last quote suggests that even though the marrow taint and the worms might be separate, there is a connection of the two.

++ Recent: (at the time of writing)

The poster describes three figures.

  Rag and bone sickly man - the one who's been witnessed to put up these posters. Supposed name: Udurgh, though we can't be sure.

  Raven monk of Long Death - potentially the one who's been leaving posters on the main board of Guldorand as well, but on a different matter?

  Priestess - possibly Agonice? Those connected to nature are able to conjure a stable and quickly propagating infestation of maggots in a living being. She is said to be a naturewalker, which would also support this.

--- 2) Liberties Taken ---

  The Garrison has been allowed search, investigation and taking necessary steps to ensure the public safety. Such has been requested by Marshal Ferdamann and approved by the only State Office member present, myself. (Fjarna)

  Should any fines for the Garrison arise from these actions, I intend on paying them.

(...)

        Day 1, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 170 AR
        Fjarna Arvdingsdottir Villrein       

Report: Plague Threats (2/4)

(...)

--- 3) Report of Investigation ---

The person pinning the posters has been a man in a dark greyish attire and a hood with a mask, tattered cloak and muddy boots. Human, with a cough.

Based on Shield Avalri's report, upon asking to leave the city he got defensive, claiming that he's a man of science and that keeps his instuments and equipment clean. The tunic he's worn at that time looks similar to that of a Watch on patrol, and as far as we know his name is Udurgh.

It's likely he's been the one, or the main one, scattering the remains about. He was seen entering the elven halls, from which he then fled shortly and left behind a blackened tooth.

Sir Tera'thiel Eldafire and Marshal Ferdamann have led the search amazingly.

The first two finds have been misshapen, blackened bones. They have been contained in a warded alchemical box by sir Tera'thiel, and then looked at by Shield Ain and several others outside the city gates.

Then the forces and aid gathered have spread among the districts and the sewers. I've been assigned to the Elven District along with sir Tera'thiel. We soon received the word via a messenger that the Coronal has begun investigating as well. In the Elven District we found one of the blackened teeth and the blanked riddled with writhing maggots. The other tooth has been found by the elven party within their halls.

According to the verbal reports, the Freeport was clear, the Crypts and Sewers as well. No tracks have been found either.

Afterwards, we met with sir Giscard in the Garrison, and he shared:

  He spoke of Theu, the "Queen of Worms", a drow hag almost 900 years old who is a follower of Jubilex and the Pale Night. She sent a slave to Guldorand as a response to an encounter with sir Giscard. Infested with a demonic sort of maggot up to a length of a human forearm. The slave has been sent as a taunt.

(...)

        Day 1, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 170 AR
        Fjarna Arvdingsdottir Villrein       

Report: Plague Threats (3/4)

(...)

Later on, she sent two other slaves and they encountered them in Bendir. This time the infestation has been a maggots, and the other one hosted spiders. They've been treated.

The hag has also stated that she plans to invade Bendir.

She considers herself a 'mother' of the Ragged Banner goblins.

In case we had patients appearing, the Sanctuary of Dawn has offered quarters for them and treatment.

++ Evidence Gathered

  Blackened misshapen bones, blackened singular teeth, maggot-infested blanket smelling of rot.

  The origin of the body parts is unknown. At least I haven't been reported any clear statement.

--- 4) Potential Allies (and likely contacts) ---

- Aegis (Yeneselle)

- Garrison of Guldorand (Derristan)

- Cordorian Fleet (Tera'thiel)

- Sanctuary of Dawn (Giscard)

- The Gauntlet (Tristan)

- Skull Crags Rangers (Leena)

- Jacob Swift, a master surgeon and a lector at the Winter's Rest

--- 5) Further Summaries ---

++ From Knight-Commander Tristan

Cordor is being affected as well, though there have been no infected so far. A strange idol has been found near the Lotus, adorned with non-tainted bones. A poster by an alleged servant of Talona: "We all need to repent and pray to her."

++ From Maeglin Arnatuile

This information is a guess. There might be two separate plagues - the worms and the bone rot. The parasites are being spread by an elven woman named Agonice. There are rumors and speculations that some of the Heartwood Grove might be under Talona's Sway.

++ From Thirlhuiin

It looks like someone is trying to fabricate the evidence of a plague. No signs of barges with corpses in the night at the harbor. The sailor interviewed hasn't reported seeing anyone sickly.

It looks like the aim is to spread fear among the Guldorand's people. They might be Talonians - but also might only seek to put the blame on the faith.

(...)

        Day 1, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 170 AR
        Fjarna Arvdingsdottir Villrein       

Report: Plague Threats (4/4)

(...)

++ Medical Advice from Jacob Swift

The juice of cranberries as well as certain herbs meant to increase the spiciness of food might prove useful against the parasites. Mix in mintspear to try and counter the potential nausea.

(Jacob Swift has been provided contact on the person who's taken the tainted parts into keeping, so he can examine them in person.)

-- Words, Guesses and Rumors --

- Separately from this, Cordor had cases of people being ill and then being used as vessels to spawn demonic threats in the past. Provided by Tera'thiel.

- Information on Agonice being a nature walker and supporting the spreading of the plague/maggots has been provided by Nadine.

- In case there is a real plague, we've been advised to also monitor the Kenku. They might have it, and it might be getting stronger unwatched.

- A slave was seen by the main square fountain by Ranger Irreyll. And when next checking the area, he spotted a bone where the slave had been.

- The names of two of the slaves sent to sir Giscard are/have been Ezekiel and Tura, most likely.

Thank you for reading.

  - Fjarna A.V. | Cultural Delegate of Guldorand

        Day 1, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 170 AR
        Fjarna Arvdingsdottir Villrein       

The DARKMARROW AGUE strikes the City Port!

THREE NIGHTS PAST as of this writing marked the height of a terrible episode in this city's brief history:  DEATH did walk up and down the lanes and docks of the Port District, touching scores at whim and marking them with the DARKMARROW AGUE, a most terrible and deadly visitation of DREAD TALONA whose symptoms may be inferred from this name given it by ye little EFFIGIES of WAX and SILT.

Despite the best efforts of the noble WATCH to CONCEAL this AWFUL TRAGEDY from GULDORAND AT LARGE, there have been MULTIPLE SIGHTINGS of BODY BARGES quietly leaving port by cover of night, LADEN with DARKMARROW VICTIMS removed by teams of smugglers.

We pray feverishly to DREAD TALONA that this TERRIBLE PLAGUE may not make the crossing from Port to City Main!

Our heart ACHES!  We are ALL ONE!

A mass of WORMS WRITHING in a BODY.

YOU are WORMS! WE are WORMS!

PRAY!

        Day 12, Month 9 (Eleint), 170 AR
        "The High Talon"       

Copy of Plague Intel by Maeglin Arnatuile

Plague Intel

The following information may be incorrect or rendered out of date as new information is gleaned in the future.

There are two plagues. One is being spread by an Elven traitor named Agonice, who is some hexer of a fashion, and has been putting worms and parasites into people. This person is to be considered dangerous.

The other one is being spread or is being encouraged along by the work of agents of Talona. There is rumor and speculation that among the Druids of the Heartwood Forest there are those who are under Talona's sway.

        Day 18, Month 9 (Eleint), 170 AR
        Itzal Mayar       

Speculations about the apparent evidence of a plague

I have recently seen evidence that at first glance appears to point to the existence of a plague here in Guldorand.These items are: a bucket of disgusting bodily waste, a filthy blanket, and a blacked tooth.All three items were seen in the Elven Quarter.

On closer inspection, however, these items appear to be, not evidence of a plague, per se, but rather evidence that someone is attempting to fabricate evidence of a plague.

The bucket is in fact a simple bucket full of slop, such as can be found in any outhouse. The type street urchins often throw at one another.The blanket, while truthfully filthy, is in fact infested with fleas and -not- infested with any kind of disease. Nor is it soiled with bodily excrement produced by diseased individuals. It is only riddled with mundane fleas.And the blackened tooth is also not evidence of a fever, in fact. It does seem strangely large, and it is truly blackened, but it is not evidence of a fever by any means.

I have also inspected the harbor at the stroke of midnight, in search of any of the alleged 'barges full of dead'. I was there with Tera'thiel Eldafire. Neither of us saw -any- evidence of barges or of dead bodies.Sir Eldafire even spoke with a local sailor, who provided him a detailed account of everyone he had seen in the region, and none of them were sickly in the slightest.

These findings, combined with the message seen on our Message Board here in the trade region of town, lead me to conclude that someone is attempting to fabricate evidence of a plague.

To make it absolutely clear, if I do see evidence of a plague I will be as near to the front lines as I am physically able, and will make all attempts to eradicate it!However, at the present time, it seems to me that one or more individuals are attempting to spread fear among Guldorand's people.I speculate that these individuals may be Talosians (as evidenced by the message on the board), but they may also be merely -putting the blame- on Talosians.

        Day 13, Month 9 (Eleint), 170 AR
        Thirlhuiin       

Copy of "Report from Knight-Commander Tristan of the Gauntlet"

Tristan reports rumors of the plague spreading in Cordor however there are no confirmed cases of people with the plague in Cordor.

A strange idol was found by the docks near the Lotus. The altar was dressed in bones - normal ones and not blackened or diseased.

A message was posted on Cordorian public boards by a servant of Talona, stating: "We all need to repent and pray to her."

The altar was burned and jakdnyiaj for there was no scholar present.The Wardens, Cordorian Guard and The Gauntlet are all aware of this.

Report by Shield Sister Ryiah.

        Day 18, Month 9 (Eleint), 170 AR
        Itzal Mayar