After Dragon!-ish
Log Info
- Title: After Dragon!-ish
- Emitter: Paenitia
- Characters: Paenitia, Jinks, Halani, Aimarra, Seyardu
- Place: A06: The Soldier's Defense
- Time: Thursday, November 25, 2021, 9:40 PM
- Summary: Paenitia and Ramirez arrive at the Soldier's Defense with their poisoned comrades. The little lucht knight gets them beds, and attention from the healers present. Halani is already present, having broken her nose in the coliseum, and with Jinks injured, she sets it herself them comes to check on him. Aimarra and Seyardu arrive some time later, having had to walk back with an injured pony, and manage paperwork at the guild. Dax sleeps, Jinks is in good spirits, mostly, and jokes with Halani. Their encounter is discussed, and then the gnome grows tired and they group disperses. Except Halani, who sits vigil.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A06: The Soldier's Defense *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
This hospital is composed of rock from the surrounding Redridge, which lends it a comfortable feeling of solidity. Inside, frescos line the walls. They depict warm, cheerful scenes intended to encourage healing among the sick and ailing. A small fountain towards the back of the foyer is fed by the nearby river, and a number of benches surround it, providing a place for conversation.
The entrance to the hospital is guarded often by Sunblades, its interiors tended to by the Hearthguards. Older Hearthguards tend to patients and oversee its operation, while for the younger it is an opportunity to practice their skills and hone their trade. The servants garb themselves in Althea's colors, with a stole representing the City of Alexandria on the outside, to recognize their service to both.
The building itself is quite large, though built in a way to make it appear to be a collection of smallar buildings rather than one large one. The Soldier's Defense is known for its ability to feel "like home." While it is still a hospital, it arguably accomplishes this feeling of peace and serenity better than many counterparts, with the benefits passed on to its patients. Across one of the walls are a series of paintings depicting the hospital's many benefactors over the years. The first in line is the painted face of an unknown soldier, who the hospital was first dedicated to.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. Halani 5'4" 120 Lb Human/Xian Female Shortish, dusky skinned woman with almond shaped eyes. Aimarra 5'1" 128 Lb Half-Elf Female Brown hair and eyes, breastplate, leathers, pointed ears. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
"Hola! I have the emergency!"
A little Red Knight in adamantine armour kicks open the main doors and clanks in. Behind her, an Ivory Steed that is half-peacock, half-horse, is scrunching himself down to wiggle in. He's careful, for across his saddle are two patients. A pirate lass, and a gnome minstrel.
Both in bad shape, both barely conscious. The flight was swift and soft. It is not the first time Ramirez has bourn fallen comrades.
"They succumb to Wyvern poison. The Anti-toxin, it mix quick, it have not the strength. The damage is done." The Red Knight explains further, "they will need the strong spells."
Orderlies appear, with stretchers, and the two are taken down and to beds in a ward. They're not contagious, so isolation isn't needed. Dax ends up in the bed beside, but also falls asleep. Paenitia follows as Jinks is transported, dragging a stool so she can stand and see him once he is laid out.
Ramirez, is momentarily overlooked, as much as a horse-sized peacock in the lobby can be. His head turns from side to side. No one has told him to leave, following his mistress seems impossible. 'Ruaaaah?'
Jinks' sweat has turned cold and his skin is clammy and pale. If 'death's door' has a look this is it. His heavy eyelids droop when they aren't closed tight in a grimace. His breathing is labored when it doesn't hitch along with the wince as his guts continue to knot.
The wound at the gnome's shoulder is angry but the bleeding has stopped and the torn flesh healed over with fresh, off-color skin. Finally settled into the bed, he shakes his head mildly and manages a simple, 'fuck' of complaint.
Paenitia stays out of the way, as a healer comes to check on Jinks and spends some time assessing. The little lucht's diagnosis is ignored so they can see for themselves. This prompts no reaction from the Red Knight, although she's quite silent in her armour.
"It's Wyvern poison, this weakens the body."
"Yes. I see it sting him. I have no doubt. We have the stinger but i leave it on the other mount." Paenitia responds. She has removed her gauntlets, she pats Jinks' arm. "You will be okay. You are not the sturdy warhorse, but the good hands are here."
Reassuring words. The hands are there, but do take some time arriving to render assistance. He's not dying, right now, a little suffering would do him some good.
Not the Paladina's opinion, but she was not consulted.
Halani is already there.. though not settled with any of the critically injured, or dying. There's an acolyte fussing over her... it looks like the islander has been roughed over a fair bit. A black eye, traces of dried blood.. a nose that looks slightly out of place. The frustrated pugilist finally bats the acolyte away, however, frustrated.. and, putting her thumbs on other side of her nose, she.. pushes. Maybe there's a sound... maybe it's just something that's imagined.. but the woman shudders as her nose straightens out. Mostly. She lets out a sigh then, leaning back.. just in time to see the latest arrivals. Her gaze is only moderately interested.. until she recognizes the gnome, which has her leaping to her feet in alarm.
Among the things that Aimarra had brought back and left with the group were - trophies. Claws, teeth, the stinger in question. All things that are helpful for the healers to see, as well as things to be turned into mementos, should anyone desire such a thing. Upon reaching the city walls, though, she had departed, leaving Seyardu to see to the injured among the group while she turned her steps towards the Guildhall, to handle their paperwork, do the group's debrief, and collect their pay. "I'll see you at the Soldier's Defense when I'm done," she'd said.
Jinks offers a shallow nod at Paenitia's words of comfort. He blinks and just continues to focus on breathing. The muscle spasms and cramps have been slowly (so, so very slowly) fading away to just leave him feeling drained and hollow. Deep breaths feel half-empty and the sheets on the bed especially scratchy.
And then there's a familiar tallman looming closeby. "If you died again and got sent by the Harpist to take me you're gonna have to carry me," he takes a breath here and there, mumbling the words. He does manage the tiniest ghost of a smile.
With Paenitia having taken off on her hippogryph, Seyardu had little to do save for make her return on foot. It was slow going to return, especially when having to escort a badly poisoned pony in the process. But eventually they manage to get to the city again, with Enness being stabled and seen to outside while Seyardu ventured inwards. With the temple of Vardama out of commission, the next biggest gathering of mourners was likely at the Soldier's Defense, which was a boon for the cleric who already had plans there.
Into she went, passing through quickly and looking around until she could find where those she was with were taken, awkwardly carrying a bundle of jewel encrusted barding materials in her hands.
Of course, it doesn't necessarily do to have too many people hovering... Jinks's recent companions would likely get a pass, considering their witnessing of the attack and their knowledge of the fiend which did this.. Halani has no such claim. But somehow she always manages to be there. She scowls, first, at Jinks's joke.. then it melts into a grin resembling her usual, if a bit lopsided. "If this time is yours, Jinks, probably be disappointed if I'm the one you're seeing, yeah? But you're too tough to let.." she trails off, looking at his wound, recalling some of Paenitia's words.. "let a weak little poison take you away, yeah?"
"Hola," Paenitia turns and looks at Halani, taking in the tall woman. She keeps a hand on the man's arm, monitoring his warmth, the pulse on the inside of his elbow. She pats again, "She have to fight me to take you to the halls."
Her mask grins down at the gnome, then up at the islander. "The women fight over you, the all man dream, yes?" She chuckles, her voice sounding more serious than it should with her mask, "it the weak poison, but the big stinger. It right sized for him. He very brave, step into the fight."
It's over an hour before Aimarra finally joins the group. She no longer bears sword, bow, or armor, only hunting leathers, secured with a belt, and a fingerless glove on her left hand that disappears into the sleeve of the leathers. She bears in her other hand a small leather sack, and appears to have cleaned herself and her gear on the way over, at least cursorily. There's no blood, anyway.
It takes her some time to find the others, and she looks around the room. "How are they doing?" she asks in a low tone.
Jinks sucks in another breath, eyes rolling back as he thinks. 'Stupid,' he corrects Paenitia, jaw flexing as he grinds his teeth at the recent and painful memory. '... and then just sitting there...'
"So close," Jinks whispers, abandoning Trade and closing his eyes eyes. He issues a sigh that twists into quiet sob. "I still haven't met them..." <gnomish>
While looking around, one of many aids recognizes the Althean cleric, and tells her where to find the several poisoned adventurers. She stops in the lobby to pat the hippogryph on the beak. "Peace, Rammirez, thank you for bringing the back so swiftly. Dame Paenitia should be fine, I will see to her, and the others. You should wait outside, and not wander out too far, okay?" She asks of the bird horse before moving to find the others. She is relatively professional when entering, and the jeweled harness and barding is set down on a chair. "They are recovering, yes?" She asks Paenitia. "The poison run it's course, leaving just the recovery."
Ramirez bobs his head when his beak is patted. He likes such things. They happen more often inside than outside. Also, his mistress... well she didn't say anything. 'Ruaaaah.' He appears to agree.
When the silverscale arrives, the little lucht looks up at her, "Dax in the bed there, behind the screen. She is the strong mount, she sleeping now. We all watch the troubadour now."
Halani's nose scrunches.. very briefly.. before she winces. Then she puts forth a hand to rest on Jinks's shoulder. "One day, little man," she promises. "But not yet, not yet, yeah?" She looks away from the near to death gnome, eyes finding Paenitia and the others. "What happened? What's a wyvern?"
Seeing that no-one answered her question, that there are a lot of people in the room, and that Jinks is muttering, Aimarra approaches Seyardu and taps her on the shoulder, then holds up the sack in her hand. "Our pay from the Guild," she says quietly. "Too many people in here, I'll check in later. I've got mine."
The sack, if peeked into, seems to have several small leather pouches in it, along with a signed agreement that shows the amount of pay per person and for the group. Checking the pouches will yield counts that match each other and the provided sheet.
"Dragonkin." Jinks answers Halani, swallowing and blinking away whatever it was that had shaken him briefly. A long, slow breath and he shrugs the knit shoulder. "Venomous stinger." He's getting better at pacing himself so he's not gasping between words or whispering. His grip on the bedding relaxes somewhat. "Supposed to be blue dragon."
A pause and a shallow sigh, "No hoard."
"Paenitia, you keep saying that." Seyardu chuckles weakly. "If you do, people may get the wrong idea, and think you and Dax are a couple."
Seyardu turns to Aimara and takes the bag with a nod. "Your hoard is right here Jinks, and yes, they should be alright. Well, as alright as Jinks can be with no carousing or bed rest. Your pony is alright by the way, I have the slip to retrieve them later."
The sack is indeed peeked into. Paenitia takes her allotment of pay, and the one for Jinks. She shows it to him, then heads over to the chair holding Enesses' barding and slips it into one of the pouches there. She returns to check off the 'payment accepted' parts on the list.
"Ha! None will come between Ramirez, but Dax, she is the smart horse-woman, with the little training she would be good indoors." Paenitia laughs, waving a finger at Jinks, then over her shoulder at the sleeper on the bed, "You both need learn, to let the monster attack me. I have the strong armour, the durable steed. To retreat, if you hurt too much."
She sighs, "Dax the capable fighter, but this, would could have handle with lance and arrows. Aimarra, she hit well, strike from the right place."
"Also Halani, it like he say, it a dragon kin, but not true dragon. The great stink, the poison." The Red Knight shakes her head. Halani scowls, though the expression doesn't sit well on her face, despite its current battered look. "Dragon hunting without me, then, yeah? No wonder you end up like this.." she says, a tone of mock disapproval. "When you're better, we'll have to get you up and training, yeah? Toughen you up so you can drink poison and laugh at your enemies."
Jinks offers the silver sith-makar a heavy-lidded, thin-lipped look that lingers for a moment before he turns his head to glance between Paenitia and Halani again. "Usually a better dancer..." he tells the paladina. Then, "... just end't now," to the Xianese pugilist.
Retracing his way back through the conversation the gnome looks to find Aimarra through the small crowd and smiles thanks for her errands-running. "...'t least you skip the paperwork." He pauses and inhales before adding "like this."
Aimarra smirks at Paenitia, and nods, leaning against the wall right next to the door once she has handed the sack over. "There's a lot to be said for shooting from cover, and we had some. I've got to work on hitting fighting targets faster. Too many lost arrows, and I should have someone strengthen the enchantment on my bow." The smirk turns to a scowl. "At least we all made it out alive. Can I go back to sleep now?"
"Well, it was very short notice for the excursion, apologies. Your assistance would have been helpful, Halani." Seyardu sighs. "Yes, it was dangerous to be close to it, I was hoping to draw it's attention. I am sorry I did not manage that."
"I need the stronger bow also." Paenitia agrees with Aimarra, raises her arms and lets them drop, "the new armour comes with the new found strength!"
The Red Knight turns to face Seyardu, "Friend Dragon, that is foolish. I am the distracting one. You have the skill with healing. This is why I challenge, it is my vows, to get in the way."
She holds up a guantlet, "I know I am Tarien's little joke, but I think we have adventure enough together to know I get the last laugh. The fight that destroy my previous armour, the blessing of Althea very timely as the blessings of Tarien take their long time."
The ever grinning mask turns towards Jinks, "Okay, we make sure to tell all the friends, to come see you dancing. Halani the most, yes?"
Halani's scowl disappears into another grin, teeth flashing. "We'll end it in the sands of the coliseum, yeah? Learn my kind of dancing." She squeezes the gnome's shoulder again, then steps back. Jinks's quips reassuring her, perhaps, that he's not going to die... her worry having still been there, despite the claims of the others. Her fingers curl into and out of fists at her side as some details of the fight are offered. "Glad you brought him back.." she finally says, addressing the others more fully, waving away Seyardu's apology. "Glad you all made it back alive, yeah? And stronger for it, I hope."
Jinks' eyes droop shut, fluttering briefly. His lips move as if to shape words but there's no sound. They still, slack, and his breathing slows to a lazy rhythm. Whatever his thoughts on the matter will have to wait for tomorrow as today gets the better of him.
"Yes, but, this one is not frail. Well, relatively. This one has nowhere near the fortitude of Braelnoir or others they know, for certain." Seyardu nods, then sighs. "My blessing did little for poison, though. This one expected the blue dragon, not a wyvvern. And was ill prepared for that. I should prepare more to deal with such poisons in the future."
While the others are talking, Aimarra turns and slips out the door, with no further comment. She said she was leaving, right? So she does. "Haha! It will be ghosts next, or the fey. The gods have the great laugh that we never meet the fight we are prepare for." The Red Knight says cheerfully. There's a tilt of her head, as she peers at the gnome. He's asleep. She puts her guantlets back on. A glance towards Dax's bed confirms the same.
"Our brave warrior friends need they beauty rest. I think it time we tip-toe off." The heavily armoured lucht moves with odd silence as she steps away. There is one last look in the bag, for a trophy. "Come, we go!"
Down the halls of the hospital she goes, to be distantly heard saying, "Ramirez! What are you do on this floor! You cannot turn. Walk back. No! Not the tail. Ramirez! Look, I bring the thing for you. Be calm, we go outside. Yes? Yes."
The half-ling trails the half-elf, and departs.
Halani claps her hands together, then forms a fist with one hand and encloses it with the other, bowing her chin over it. "My thanks." She, however, does not leave.. instead, finding herself a chair to pull nearby Jinks's bed to sit vigil upon.
