"It is quite alright Aniica. You were only give facts. It was painful!" Talin chuckled, but he stopped as the memories of the fight flashed through his mind.
"I do have these herbs that ward off the dead, though," Talin says. "It annoys the Barrow Wights, and they will not touch you. Indeed, Anglomir got some serious cold burns from the mere touch."
"Hmm, strange indeed..." says Baronar.
"As for your question, Aniica, we in Cardolan are dependant on one thing- whilst Arthedain stands, the Witch-King is focussed on THEM, not us. Cardolan is prey to any number of lose raiders and paillagers but strong parts like mine are safe. Should Arthedain fall, though, war would come here and I could NOT hold."
Ok, I am assuming Vardalain has gone to the Sick Room to check the patients.
"How bad is it?" asks Gorlim.
"Pretty bad," says Baronar. Gorlim nods.
"How many recover when they catch it?" Baronar hesitates to answer.
"None," he says. "Everyone who gets it dies." Gorlim's eyes widen.
(Cholera kills one in two)
You can have been inspecting the sick, Vardalain, and talking to one of the overworked young nurses.
She tells you that it came about a month ago, out of nowhere. About a dozen cases sprung up overnight, they have had ten or more people gettign infected every day since. It kills in about two days.
When you hear that none of the surrounding villages have been infected you are even more tempted to blame the water supply but you have checked- it is clean. You would, then, suspect some odd form of food poisoning but there is no common link.
You have not seen a choleric disease like this before- but then you have not spent too much time with man. You should be able to treat it, though as it stands you have only the herbs to cure a test case.
Well, Phoe, you guys had a bad time fighting thie things on the Downs- which were Wights. You and newcomer Itarilde worked out together that the Downs had been cursed- presumably by the Witch-King. And it was this curse on the land, which you are so sensitive to, that was making you feel so ill. Away from the Downs you now feel better.
There are a lot of sick and dying to tend to, Aiwendil. They die afraid, in a lot of pain.
You don't like this, Aiwendil, and not only for the obvious reasons.
You are damned if you can find anything, Palanfirith. You certainly don't think there were any unduly unsanitary practices that led to it all. Mind you, you aren't an expert on urban life.
Baronar smiles.
"Weapons of the Dunadain, Argentis! Impressive things indeed."
"Like mine," says Gorlim, brandishing it for all to see.
Now you have a good look at it, Talin- that sword is mithril edged. No wonder it went through the armour easily.
And Itarilde, as a Mage, you know there is a little more to that weapon than just a sharp piece of metal. You ALSO know that the Dunadain in the North are well known for knowing many of the crafting ways of their Numenorean ancestors. It was, after all, a sword of Man that killed Sauron. They are impressive weapons that Men can make.