You barely leave the horses, when you see Othmar already rushing towards you. His worried expression turns to confusion, as he makes out the bundles of silverbark on your horses. Ellesmera quickly explains: "The others followed a day or two behind. Thia was ill, but the tonic helped. Tarian and Gyselle know how to make it." WIth that, she hands the bale of silverbark over to Othmar, and looking at Tarian and Gyselle excuses herself to tend to the horses, report to the Marshal and get some rest herself.

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Arc, your concentrated work on your plans for the new propulsion system are suddenly interrupted by a humdrum of activity from the entrance to the hamlet-cum-military-camp. Getting up from your work, you quickly hear some of the soldiers pass along the word that the riders were back. It was either Brandt or the others, having returned from the borderlands- hopefully with good news.

Gyselle makes her way somewhere that’s suitable for making the antidote. 

Arc, hearing that the others were finally back, rolls up his before tying them up and pocketing them in his bag. Making sure he got all his things, he'd begin making his way towards where he heard the party was, so he could greet them. After pausing to ask for their location a few times, Arc eventually managed to spot those that hadn't separated yet, and waves, giving a light smile. "It's good to see you're all alright. It has been a few days."

(Hello again, everyone!)

Brandt returns to the camp at the front of the band of lancers, with Hadrari bound and gagged behind him. His horse slowly passes through the camp until he makes it to the Marshal's tent. He then dismounts and very unceremoniously pushes Hadrari off his horse so that the poisoner falls to the ground like a sack. "Tell your boss that I got her poisoner for her. She can do whatever she wants with them. Interrogate 'em, torture 'em, execute 'em, I don't care. I did my job, it's not my concern what comes next. Now where were the others that I came with? You didn't do anything to 'em, did you?"

The Steelguards Soldier in front of Brandt gives a sharp salute, before stuttering: "No-o sir, they left for a mission, to the Cyrean borderlands. The first of them returned and are probably with Leech as we speak."

"Right. I've been gone for a while. Mind showing me where Leech is?"

With the Steelguard in front, Arc and Brandt are led to Othmar's tent, where Gyselle and Tarian are already unloading the bundles of silverbark. Gyselle and Tarian both have deep bags under their eyes  and Gyselle in particular seems exhausted, but all three of them have a feverish focus as the pour over a stack of sheats and are busy prepping the remedies according to the scrawled instructions and the occasional comment from Tarian or Gyselle.

Judging by the moans and smells from the adjacent sick and injured in the field hospital, it was a very wise decision to make haste for the camp, as some likely wouldn't have survived if you had stayed together.

As you enter, the Steelguard slams the but end of his speer against his breastplate: "The chief engineer and... I'm sorry what's your name... Brandt present!"

Tarian absently nodded, only half-paying attention as the Steelguard made the announcement. Having Arc be announced in such a way was unsurprising, but…

“Wait, ‘Brandt’?” Tarian stopped, and turned around to see the gunner there. “’A swift hound makes short work of prey,’ they say. Or, well, I assume you got who you were after.” She showed one gloved hand to Brandt briefly before returning to her work. “Welcome back. I’d offer to share a drink while you tell me what happened out there, but this is delicate work. A mistake here could mean death.” She nudged her head toward the sick. “And not just theirs.” She looked back and forth between the silverbark, and Brandt. “As soon as I’m done, though.”

Tarian started back with her work, but only for a moment before she stopped again. “But actually, Mister Cannith, I do have a request for you, if you’ve time. It’s… kind of a delicate issue, so if I could have your ear for a moment?”

Arc was happy to see everyone back safely, though he'd wished that the situation was better for it. Hearing Tarian's request, however, he'd raise an eyebrow before nodding, "Certainly, but I'll ask that you come with me to my tent then, I had something I wanted to show the party anyhow."

Tarian looked between the silverbark and the patients. “That’s… fair, I suppose.” She sighed. “I suppose it can wait, then. As soon as I’m done here—well, maybe it can wait until morning. Processing the silverbark might take a while.”

Gyselle pretends not to be listening as Tarian and Arc converse. But she is very curious what they want to speak about privately...

Othmar interjects: “Gyselle, Tarian- you’ve been a tremendous help an’ gettin’ these supplies... well, let me just say that you have saved many a life today. But take a rest and come find me tomorrow- I think I understood the formula and anyway we prepared enough for a first batch.”

he smiles kindly, then looks to Arc and Brandt.

Gyselle, exhausted, wanders off to find somewhere to sleep. (Her tent I imagine). 

Compared to the torturously drawn out days over the past week, the next few days pass in a blur of activity and rest. After instructing Othmar on how the tinctures are made, Corti, Tarian and Giselle take shifts to help produce as m ich of the medicine as possible under the careful auspices of Othmar and Thia, taking care to carefully log the progress of each patient as the doses are administered, including Thia herself. Despite the ui ihm gruelling pace of work, she can feel her strength slowly return and even though she still collapses onto jyjher cot at the end of her shifts.

Arc meanwhile has started work on a portable greenhouse to make sure that the saplings of the Silverbark trees can be preserved and transported back to Duskrock. As part of the ongoing negotiations between Commander Corsyr, the newly constituted Corphyrean Council and Marshall Arcineaux, she decided to make use of one of Arc’s working prototypes to send a lancer patrol to ride towards the city with some of the tinctures, some Silverbark saplings and the formula for more of the medicine, after Thia asked her to ensure that their home city would be taken care of as well.

Brandt meanwhile supported the Marshall and Tarian in trying to interrogate Hadrari and his accomplices in the camp, as well as working with Corti to decipher more of the recovered notes. Unfortunately, Hadrari or one of his accomplices had taken prevautions and although eventually tracked down by Brandt, he was found with his mind wiped blank, nothing more than a babbling fool. There was some satisfaction in seeing a man who prided himself on his intellect and arcane mastery being brought low, but as far as unravelling the conspiracy against Duskrock, the Cyrean refugees and the Garronian Forces under Marshall Arcineaux are concerned, he is of only limited usefulness. His catspaws in the camp where largely Crimson guard members, radicals who felt like the ignomious end of the Garronian Army was a scandal and who wanted to do something to avenge their everlasting shame amd honor the memory of sll the fallen Crendilians. Besides this fanaticism though, only fragmented elements emerge: Hadrari worked for an organisation referring to itself as the Shard; judging from his notes, it originated from a hardened military and naval component of the current Kalashtari government; and thirdly, cells of the organisation seem to be planning coordinated attacks, sabotage and even coups in Breland, Garronia and the Kalashtar Trade Republics themselves.

With most of the sick soldiers slowly recovering and a formal agreement between Commander Corsyr and Marshall Arcineaux reached, she asks all of you and the captains of her remaining companies to an official dinner close to the rebuilt mill. Thanks to Arc’s efforts, the collaboration between the army engineers and the villagers of the hamlet, the mill was restored and irrigation of the surrounding fields improved, so that a small feast is possible.

What do you wish to do before attending the dinner?

Gyselle is exhausted from all the hard work and back to her usual chipper self seeing Thia on the mend thanks to the medical treatment.

She thanks Arc for his efforts in creating an environment for the life saving tress to grow and thrive. (Besides that nothing really specific before dinner)

Thia didn't know why, but it felt a bit strange to see positive change. At first she was a bit apprehensive, but as patients started to feel better, and in turn herself, it was difficult for her not to feel a little uplifted. The alchemist was still cautious as to not get too ahead of herself. Though, nothing made her feel more proud than those who worked hard and came together for the collective good. She was sure to express her appreciation to all involved as they worked. Naturally, Thia gravitated and stuck close to Corti and her patients throughout most of the recovery process. It wasn't until there was reminder of Brandt's return and news of his reports that Thia would step away from the healers tent. She'd find herself waiting outside his tent before they were expected for the feast.

In response to Gyselle's thanks, Arc would shrug, "It wasn't too difficult, and I don't need thanks for something like this."

Before the dinner, Arc would be making sure to check inventories and double over some of his personal projects before securing them somewhere safe. Once that was done, he'd tidey himself up a little before beginning to make his way to the feast.

Brandt is heading back to his tent from a futile session of interrogating Hadrari when he notices Thia outside his tent. "How long have you been standing there, kiddo?"

Thia's nose would scrunch at 'kiddo' and she'd exhale before turning around to face Brandt. She was trying to get herself to tell him it was good to see him. "Not long." She'd respond instead. The medic had cleaned herself up of all the usual blood, gore, bodily fluids and alchemical smells. Though no matter how good a bath, she couldn't hide tired eyes from lack of sleep or having been sick for some time. "You came back." Even she wasn't sure if that was a statement or a question.

"Yep. You get up to something while I was gone? You look tired."