Anya: There... I've done all I could...
Anya managed to make use of the doctor's herbs and other supplies to treat Faya's wound, but...
Anya: She needs a proper antidote, though... Without it, I'm afraid she won't be able to recover...
Virno and Jargen look at each other.
Virno: Does that mean...?
Anya nods.
Anya: Without the antidote, I don't think she has more than one or two weeks to live.
Jargen: Dammit...
Virno: One week is plenty, Jargen... We gotta stay positive. We'll find it.
Jargen looks at Virno.
Jargen: Yeah... You're right. Good head on your shoulders, kid.
He pats Virno on the back.
Anya: He's been trying very hard lately... Maybe too hard...
She says, as she looks at the bandages covering her son's torso.
Virno: Mother, c'mon...
He says, embarrassed. Jargen laughs.
Jargen: Don't you worry about a thing lady Anya, we'll be keeping your boy safe from now on! He's one of us already. Well, you both are, really!
Anya smiles and bows her head.
Anya: Thank you, Jargen... It's good to know we're not alone.
He shakes his head.
Jargen: Don't mention it, you've shown that you're both good folk. If you're ever in trouble, you can count on us around here to help.
Virno gives him the side-eye.
Virno: Even people like Tyssa...?
Jargen: Bah, don't worry about her! She's been through a lot... But she's family. Everyone here is. She knows you never hurt family.
Virno: If you say so...
Anya seems a bit confused.
Anya: Tyssa...? Isn't that the girl who showed us around the orphanage? Do you not trust her, Virno...?
Virno: She seems to like Cabdan a bit too much, is all...
Jargen shakes his head.
Jargen: Hers is a complicated situation... But Tyssa's a kind girl. Don't worry about her, alright?
They hear footsteps quickly coming down the hallway, and someone's loud voice. They didn't seem too pleased.
Rel: You have got to be kidding me... To leave her alone in her state?! What are you thinking?!
Nurse: She is already being taken care of by someone else, don't go in there! They cannot be disturbed!
Rel: Who did you-
As Rel and Punjo enter the room, they see Anya, Virno and Jargen. Virno waves.
Rel: Oh... It's you guys! So the person who's treating her is miss Anya...?
Anya nods.
Anya: I've done what I could, but without an antidote she won't survive...
Virno: We've a week to find it. Any idea where Cabdan might be?
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Punjo: Well...
Rel and Punjo tell the rest of the group what they discovered.
Virno: That bastard... Taking care of Barr but leaving Faya to die...? That's just sick...!
Rel: It's just a hunch, but I'm pretty sure Cabdan is behind this. So if we want to get that antidote, we seem to have no choice but to find him...
They nod in accordance.
Punjo: So what's our plan, fellas?
Jargen: Well, the sooner we find him the better. I say we split up and patrol around the places he's usually at, until he shows up.
Rel and Punjo didn't seem too comfortable.
Virno: What's the matter, you two?
Rel: Well, it's just...
Punjo: Ya see, we went t'one of the places where he usually spends a lotta his time. It's uh...
Rel: It's...
Jargen: Come on then, spit it out!
Punjo: It seems t'be his prostitution ring.
Rel: Underage prostitution ring, to be exact...
Jargen shakes his head, but it seems like he anticipated this somewhat. Virno and Anya were caught completely by surprise, however.
Virno: That's... I don't even...
Anya: I had no idea...
Virno stands up from the chair he was sitting on.
Virno: That's it... Cabdan's got to go.
Anya: Virno!
Virno: Mother, that man is the reason why everyone's lives are so shitty around here! He's most likely the reason Faya's in this state...!
Jargen: As much as it sounds terrible to say lady Anya, it's not something the people in the slums haven't thought of before... Killing Cabdan would put an end to a lot of our worries. But he's a resourceful man... We would never manage.
Rel: Not true, Jargen. We're all just too afraid to go after him, but if we all band together... Surely we can do it.
Punjo: I do agree with ya Rel, but how'd we manage that? A lot of these people depend entirely on Cabdan's coin to survive... To rebel against him could mean their deaths, or the deaths of their loved ones...
Rel: So what's the alternative? To keep living in poverty as he kills those of us who inconvenience him the most...? Are we really choosing to live under his boot than try to be free? As a son, I would gladly join my father and my mother as they try to free themselves from his tyranny. Even if that means we might starve, or that we might meet a worse fate... To live as his slaves isn't a better life.
Jargen: Not everyone thinks like that, Rel...
Virno: Well, I do. I'm with Rel.
Anya: Young man, you cannot-
Virno: Mother... I must. You know it's not right to keep letting him do this. It could be me laying on that bed instead of Faya, or Rel... Or you. It could be any of us. Because of Cabdan so many people lose their sons, daughters, mothers, fathers... It has to stop. We have to make it stop. Together. I cannot back down. I will not.
Punjo stands up as well.
Punjo: Well, I ain't lettin' ya young'uns try to do that by yourselves. Count me in, but you can bet I'm stoppin' ya from doing anything stupid!
Jargen shakes his head.
Jargen: You kids have no idea what you're getting yourselves into... But I admire your drive. If Punjo is in, so am I.
Anya doesn't seem too happy with this.
Anya: But what exactly are you planning to do...?! You'll just get yourselves killed!
Virno: Right now, we just need to focus on getting people on our side. When there's enough of us... Then we can do some real damage.
Rel: And there's no better place to hurt Cabdan than his prostitution ring. Most of his income comes from there. If we wreck the place, he's sure to get mad. And if he gets mad...
Virno: He'll end up letting his guard down. When everyone is busy destroying his income streams, and while he's busy trying to deal with all of that...
Rel: We strike. We use the confusion to our advantage.
Virno and Rel look at each other and smile.
Jargen: Well, well... Look at you.
Punjo: Heheh! Got ourselves a coupla tacticians over 'ere!
Jargen: Right now, though, let's just focus on rallying people to our cause. Punjo and I know plenty of folk who long for the day their lives are free of Cabdan's greedy hands, I'm sure we can get them to help us out.
Punjo nods.
Rel: Alright, let's get organized then. First things first: we split up and look for Cabdan, since getting Faya's antidote is the top priority right now. Virno and I can scout the arena, can you two keep the prostitution ring under watch...?
Jarghen: Leave it to us. You better get your best suit on, Punjo... They won't let us anywhere near if we look like poor people!
Punjo laughs.
Punjo: I got yer suit right 'ere...
He makes an obscene gesture with his hand. Jargen laughs.
Punjo: I'll see what I can do. Leave it ta us, boys.
Rel: It's settled. If you two manage to find anyone willing to rebel against Cabdan be sure to try to get their attention, but that's secondary right now. We'll meet back here tomorrow evening to discuss what we managed to achieve. Does that sound good?
The three of them nod. Anya stands up.
Anya: I don't like this one bit... And who will be feeding you? How will you be earning enough to even survive if you're out doing all these things...?
Jargen and Punjo look at each other and laugh.
Jargen: Well, you don't need to worry about me and Punjo, lady Anya! Plenty of folk would gladly share their food with us for some heaving lifting and handy work, we'll manage.
Anya: I was more concerned with the young ones, here...
Rel: My family runs a store, we have plenty of food and other supplies there. I'm sure they won't mending helping you two out for a while, until things get better around here.
Virno: See, mother? It all works out...!
Anya shakes her head.
Anya: I appreciate the gesture young Rel, but I cannot accept it as it is. Let me at least pay you with what I can get from working around here... It may not be much, but one day we will cover all the expenses we may cause you. I promise.
Rel: Oh don't worry, miss Anya! It's fine, really...!
Anya: I insist.
Virno looks at Rel, shaking his head slightly as if to say it's pointless to argue.
Rel: Fine... It's a deal, then!
Virno: Alright! So, when do we start?
Rel: I'd say right now, but it's pretty late already... So, first thing in the morning tomorrow. Does that sound good to everyone?
They all agree.
Rel: Then best of luck, everyone!