[IMG]https://picload.org/image/rpocagri/markerjaelnec.png[/IMG]
[h3]Outside the southern gates of Zerul City[/h3]
“No one knows what it eats,” Thomas admitted with a shrug, “since animals seem to avoid the fog around the mountain. There are loads of people who think its long dead – last time it was officially seen was over six hundred years ago – but others seem convinced that Djubei is still alive, and every now and then someone comes back from the mountain saying they saw Djubei, or heard it speak to them, or felt its presence or something.”
“It’s probably a coincidence,” Jaelnec mused. “I have a hard time believing that some monster just happens to fill the air with something that cures the Withering. But if this guy got better, there must be [I]something[/I] there.” He looked at Thomas. “So, have you sent anyone?”
“Me?” the boy exclaimed, apparently shocked by the idea. “I’m just the son of a count, it’s not like I have any power around here; I’m basically a glorified messenger. That being said, I [I]did[/I] send out word that we’re looking for volunteers for a trip to Mount Zerul, for an experiment that might cure the Withering.”
Jaelnec frowned. “But you haven’t sent them there yet?”
“Of course not! We have people with the Withering literally dying to stand in line to go there, but I can’t very well just send a bunch of deathly sick people to live in the wilderness on their own. Most of them can barely even walk, let alone take care of themselves; cure or no cure, they’d be more likely to end up dead than anything else. Normally it probably wouldn’t be a problem to just send a detachment of the Ducal Guard with them, but...” He made a vague gesture with both hands encompassing the area around them. “The guards have too much on their hands already, they can’t spare anyone else.”
Thomas sighed. “I’ve been looking for healthy volunteers to escort the afflicted, too, but [I]that[/I] line is about as short as it gets. Leave their livelihoods behind for at least several days, going to an area where people supposedly disappear mysteriously, [I]and[/I] expose themselves to the Withering?” He shook his head. “There might be a few, but not enough.”