Tales of the Jewel

After Haddar's words two days back, Faruq had thought again and again on that expression. 'The doctor's curse'.

Did he put himself in more danger than necessary? He didn't think so. More than most people? Maybe. More than most wealthy citizens of the Jewel, most likely - but that was in large part what kept things as they were.

Change meant risk. Healing meant risk.

So, while coming to this of all places after the chaos of the previous night might seem like an unecessary risk, for him it made perfect sense. The people here were no strangers to suffering, and if the whole city suffered the night before, how much would these people have suffered...?

A new Keffiyeh, as similar as possible to the previous one, adorning his head, he once again came through the streets of the cursed quarter walking slowly, placed a cloth on the ground, and this time examined the fruit he had brought with him on a basket before placing it on the cloth - he remembered all too well how the fruit had suddenly gone bad one of the last times he came here.

Food, water and supplies settled, he waited with open arms and open heart.

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EDIT: 10 pool spent on fruit and water to offer any who come for help!

(Khesir Check | 1k1 ⇒ 1 (TN: ?))

Faruq saw no hide nor hair of a living soul and, as he hears a familiar snarling in the distance, he begins to suspect why. It made sense that not all of the restless dead were defeated in a single night and they had to go somewhere if they would not return to the sewers.

(Neither Faruq nor the ghul(s?) have eyes on each other yet so no combat yet)

The Khesir quarter was very prone to odd things happening, that much was a given.

But no-one around? That couldn't be right...

He had been waiting for a day much like the others he'd been here. Food going bad. Weird buzzing. People out of their minds, maybe.

But nothing?

Slowly, he started packing his things up... maybe he should move his help elsewhere.

Then he heard the snarling, and hastened his packing. He didn't know where it came from exactly, but the faster he moved... elsewhere, the better.

Could he hear anyone around? Hopefully nobody had been trapped with the creature here...

He hears nothing except the scrambling of claws slowly growing closer.

Getting his things, hopefully fast enough, he tried to attune his ears to the sounds. Could he know which direction the creature was in? Was there anywhere he could hide?

And. .. was there anyone around to see what was happening?

He knows it is coming from somewhere behind him to figure out more would require lingering and paying extra attention.

There are rubble choked alleys around where one could potentially hide and there does not appear to be anyone else around.

Lingering around did not sound like the best idea right now... so instead he stores the cloth he had put on the ground, gets the basket with food - or at least whatever he manages to - and quickly scurries to one of the alleys. Hopefully he can lay low there...

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Preempting a Stealth roll in case it makes sense just to move things along - please ignore if not allowed!

D3 EE - Stealth/Agi | 7k3 ⇒ 29 (TN: ?)

Hidden where he is Faruq cannot see where the ghul might be. He can hear scraping and scuffling. Sniffing and growling. But he can simply crouch and hope, heart racing, that the beast cannot see him either.

He's not sure how long he waits, frozen in shadow, until the sounds begin to recede.

It seems he's safe... at least for the moment.

(D3, EE: Find the treat? | 5k2 ⇒ 26 (TN: 29))

Sniffing and growling. Not good.

Not seeing where the creature was. Not good.

Sounds receding... better.

Slowly, carefully, he steps out of the recession on the wall he'd stepped into, and tries his best to listen. Are there any signs of the people who live here? Any sign of anyone in need of... any help that doesn't involve sending the stray soul back to the ground?

The Khesir was barely populated at the best of times - lepers, thieves, and other outcasts. Those who could flee the area when the ghul arrived likely already had, those who could not... well... he at least didn't see nor hear any signs of what might result.