>You are Nazrin, a newly inducted member of the Seeker's Guild, and you are dying.
>While investigating a series of cattle disappearances around the village of Easthaven, you uncovered a nest of giant spiders. Your subsequent investigation of their lair had dire and lasting consequences when a wild spider youkai, furious with you for killing a dozen of her kin, infected you with a supernaturally virulent disease. You narrowly eascaped death that very day due to the sheltering power of Kumokirimaru and Minoriko's creative thinking. Still, she was unable to halt the progression of the disease and insists that you have no more than a week or two to live. Determined that you will survive this ordeal, you have set out in search of a cure.
>Your investigation has brought you back to Braston, where you spent most of this last evening looking for information about either your disease, or the sword that you found within their lair, in the hopes that any clue of its origin may lead to an answer for the blight. Unfortunately, no one you've spoken with yet has any familiarity with your disease, nor knowledge of the war which the spider youkai spoke of. Nor can any of them read the inscription found on Kumokirimaru's guard, though you've learned that its script matches that of the dig site recently established on an islet off the north edge of Estval. An archeology student associated with that dig has promised to contact her supervisor, Professor Kamishirasawa, and ask if you can be taken to the site to speak with her about this.
>At your request, Marisa has departed for Easthaven to defeat the spider youkai who infected you and deliver her to Ichirin, in the hope that
she may be able to convince the youkai where you failed, and perhaps offer her a better future than the one which awaits her now.
>You also spoke with Yuugi Hoshiguma, who expressed an interest in meeting you after your encounter with Yuzu earlier in the week. She offered to get a crude scabbard made for your sword, and said it would probably be ready by tomorrow afternoon.
>You are currently in the home and practice of a mage physician, who has offered to craft a magical cure for your ailment. While she is the first yet to suggest any treatment at all for this disease, you find something about the encounter leaves you wary, and have decided to investigate other options before agreeing to her price.
>Hm. Maybe she ain't so bad. Either that, or she knows how to play folks. But we'll keep her in mind if our other leads dry up.
>"Well, I thank you for your time. And your concern, as well, I appreciate it."
>Assuming she doesn't stop us, depart and continue running down leads.
>Well, it wasn't blatant salesmanship, and she clearly knows at least a couple tricks. You decide it's worth keeping her in mind, at least.
>She nods. "Of course."
>You take your leave and return to following up names on Rinnosuke's list.
>Arriving at the location of the second name, you find all the house's windows dark. You knock just the same. And then again. When complete silence from inside is your only answer, you decide they're either away, or soundly (and quietly) asleep. Well, you can always check back later.
>Your fourth stop is at the home of a heavy-set middle aged woman, her hair a little dishevelled and with tired rings under her eyes. You are fairly certain that you woke her up with your knocking, though this seems to bother her little. As it turns out, she is the doctor who travelled to Easthaven to tend to you while you lay feverish and unconscious. She tells you that she is very glad to see you on your feet, the unsaid implication of her tone being that she didn't expect there was any hope you ever would again.
>Unfortunately, she can only reiterate what Ichirin and Minoriko already told you: that she knows nothing of this disease, nor any treatment that she can reasonably expect would be effective, given her earlier attempts. She actually directs you towards the first man you spoke with this evening, and slumps a little when you explain that he had already drawn a blank as well. With a shurg and a sigh, you thank her for her time and let her get back to bed.
>It's getting quite late now, and most of the city is quiet around you. To the far north, you can still hear the night-long sounds of the oni, almost gentle at this distance.
>How many guilders do we currently have?
>You currently have 455 guilders.