The Best Medicine

Lumina is one of the many Hearthguards fluttering about. Her enthusiasm and energy have no doubt been appreciated by her elders, and she has a bright smile on her lips, despite how long they've all been working. The little half elf is even humming as she bounces about, flashing Mikilos a bright smile as he deposits supplies on a cart, "Many thanks!" And she promptly rummages through the cart looking for something.

"Boy! It has been forever since I got sick! I hope I do not get sick," Boshter is here, of course. He is helping the Heartguards, and the others, tend to the ill. The hospital is swollen with people. Just endless hordes of them needing assistance. Most of them are young, of course. It's always the kids who get sick first.

They say that laughter is the best medicine. So of course, Jibbom was on the scene as soon as he heard about the illness sweeping Alexandria. "Have no fear, citizens!" He declares, far too loudly for a place of healing and rest. "Steel Von Ironblood, Bane of the Night, is here to end this foul plague!" Oh no.

"Which are you looking for?" Mikilos inquires of Lumina. Having just washed most of the pans and supplies, the elf isn't too eager to see them soiled again, but such it their purpose. Glancing towards the two clowns (that would be Boshter and Jibbom) he smiles. "Remember to wash your hands, frequently, with soap and hot water, and you'll be less likely to get sick."

Lumina startles when Jibbom announces his arrival, turning to give him a disapproving glance. Then, she beams a smile at Mikilos, pulling a pan and a rag from the cart, "Oh, these. Thank you, again." She then mms, and quirks a smile at Boshter, "I hope you don't get sick either!"

"Ah, Book Noser!" Jibbom greets with a broad grin. "And my good anarchist friend Lumina. How good to see you both. I hope neither of you have fallen victim to this plague I've been hearing so much chatter about? Apparently it is to blame for the gambling hall being so empty today." Priorities!

And then there is Jibbom. "Oh!" Boshter calls this from the front area of the hospital where he's been washing linens in a wash basin, of course. Jibbom is eyed. "It is the strongest Halfling ever! In the world!" He points at Jibbom. POINTS at him!

Mikilos grins, and shakes his head. "I am not ill, merely offering assistance." At Boshter's pronunciation, the elf glances to the halfer again, skeptical, but unprotesting.

With Rumors of a strange flu going through the streets of Alexandria, Savannah's first stop is to the Soldier's defense hospital. She already has her bow on her back. But, she chuckles at hearing Jibbom and Boshter inside already. "You know what you two? You two are the strangest, but kindest pair I've ever met." She says nudging her way past them both, seeing what she can do to offer her own help with the hospital, especially with her limited knowledge of first aid.

Jibbom grins brightly at Mikilos. "That is good to hear, Book Noser! I am still anxiously awaiting your assuredly fine wares." Then Boshter greets him, much to the halfling's delight. "Orange friend! It is always a pleasure to see a worthy challenger again. I hope this plague has not claimed you as well?" Then there's Savannah. "Have you met my Apprentice, Lady Savvy?"

Zalara comes in wearing a mask over her nose and mouth. It's easy to hear her breathing as the small bellows move in and out. She has her tool box with her and she spots the others just standing about. "Hello there." Her voice is muffed but still easy to hear. "Are you all here to be treated?"

It's not that strange a flu. It really IS just the flu. It happens, after all. Boshter looks towards Jibbom, though, "Yes, indeed! I am orange! You have got that right." A thumbs up is given to him and then he adds, "She looks familiar! Is she one of your maybe-wives?"

Lumina is fluttering about, tending to the various patients that are there. When Jibbom gives her another title, she smirks, and shakes her head. Her dark eyes glance about, curiously looking between Boshter and Jibbom, quirking a smile at Boshter's question before she shakes her head.

Savannah blinks at Jibbom. "Aren't.....apprentices supposed to learn stuff from their teachers?" She says softly before looking to Zalara. "I'm actually here to help if I may." She says quietly. "I know a little bit about first aid, but less about long term care." She then looks at Boshter, then at Jibbom. "Ew....no."

Mikilos grins, and nods. "The latest enchantments take time to sink in before I can continue the process. I'll return to them once finished here." Glancing to Savannah, he shrugs lightly. "The general rules of teaching and learning, even cause and effect, may be set aside when it comes to the Bane of Night." He's really got to stop encouraging this sort of thing.

Jibbom gives the masked artificer a little wave. "Hello, clockwork lady. Fear not. Steel Von Ironblood, Bane of the Night, is here to treat all the afflicted." An ordinary flu it may be, but just try telling that to Jibbom. "Now then. In my experience, plagues such as this are usually the work of foul necromancers or other despicable types. Have we got any leads on the source of the problem?" He gives Mikilos another grin. "Ah, of course, quality work takes time." His question about Savannah causes him to eye the much taller woman, as if considering his answer. "No. It would not be proper to maybe-marry an apprentice." He decides with a nod, despite Savannah's protests regarding her 'apprentice' status.

A woman with a sick child is now talking to Lumina -- taking a moment to ask for advice on how to help handle the rather sick (and pukey, but thankfully not ON Lumina) infant that she's carrying with her. "So, ice him down then? Where am I going to get ice in the summer?"

Boshter pauses for a moment, and eyes Jibbom, "It is just a flu, you know," he tells him. "They happen every year without the help of necromancefrs." A solemn nod at Jibbom is given by the hobgoblin as he picks up the laundry he's been wrestling.

Zalara ahs softly or as softly as one can when one is breathing through a mask, "Can I interesting you in one of these masks I have. Guaranteed to keep you from getting sick so long as you wear it and provided that you are not sick before hand." She looks to Jibbom and loudly hmms, "Well if you are looking for evil necromancers you better buy one of these then. You wouldn't want their undead sickness getting into your lungs and turning you from a zombie inside out."

Mikilos nods with Boshter. "I don't think this specific outbreak is a planned attack, Von Steel, but rather a small part of a larger effort of illness and rot, as planned by the Dark Gods in whole. A plan which has taken centuries in its course."

Savannah looks over to Jibbom. "Jibbom....it's just the flu. it's not a plague." She says as she looks over towards Lumina, then looks over to Mikilos. "I think we have our answer. "hey Mikilos? Think you could help us out a little bit?"

"That's what they /want/ you to think." Jibbom responds to Boshter and Mikilos, once again ignoring all logic. He considers Zalara's suggestion for a moment, stroking his chin. "Hrm. What proof can you offer that your strange device is indeed necromany-proof? Oh, wait, hang on a second..." He leans in Lumina's direction, blatantly eavesdropping. "Have no fear, innocent citizen! Steel Von Ironblood, Bane of the Night, shall soothe your child with his amazing magical powers! Apprentice Savvy, observe and learn!" Assuming the woman doesn't take her child and run off screaming, Jibbom waves his arms and magically chills as much of the child's clothing (or whatever the infant is wrapped in) as he can manage.

Mikilos opesns his moth to reply, and then there's Jibbom. The elf stands well back. Whatever happens, he's not accepting blame.

Zalara smiles as she points to the symbol of Reos that's on either side of her mask, "This is proof even against necronomic sickness. Unless you are all ready turning into a zombie then you should probably see your closest cleric they can help you with that."

Savannah facepalms at Jibbom. "Ironblood......sir." She accentuates 'sir'. "Don't you think it's a little over the top to freeze an infant?" She says softly as she takes a cloth, dunks it in water, wrings it out, then uses ray of frost to freeze it and goes to put it on the infant. "I think we should get it new clothes first."

"Ironblood," says Boshter, "Clearly, they need your sterling help with other things! Like making children laugh. Yes. You will be very good at that!" He beams at him. Then adds toSavanah, "It is probably a little."

"Pffft! That infant's blood was still well above a freezing temperature!" Jibbom says with a dismissive wave of his hand at Savannah. "Mark that down in your lessons, apprentice: when reducing infant temperature, never lower them below freezing level. Babies do not like being frozen." He beams with pride, knowing that he just delivered a truly insightful remark. Boshter's suggestion is met with a grin. "You are most right, orange friend! As the Coyote teaches us, laughter is an appropriate response to any and all situations, including necromantic plague."

"Ugh....." She groans at Jibbom as he goes to make others laugh. "One of these days...." She promises before looking to Boshter. "You have any knowledge of first aid, Boshter?" She says in all seriousness.....

"I know how to make someone sleep?" says Boshter, cheerfully. "First, you put your arm around their neck like *so*..." HE demonstrated, still holding the laundry.

Savannah says, "No! nono....not like that, Boshter. I mean like mending wounds and stuff like that?"

Jibbom attempts to delight the infant, which hopefully hasn't been terrified by his ability to conjure coldness, by making a variety of funny faces and farting noises through the use of his armpits.

Zalara hmms as she puts away her breathing mask and she looks at the baby and then over to Jibbom, "They do say that laughter is the best medicine, maybe you can make the necromancers laugh to end their plague."

"..not..like that?" says Boshter as Savannah departs. "..what other way is there? Oh. Wounds. No. Not really. I can apply a lot of pressure, but that is it." Then he turns to Jibbom and Zalara.

Jibbom finishes his attempts to delight the terrified children, then sighs heavily upon noticing that his 'apprentice' has departed. "I swear, orange friend, she's never going to finish her apprenticeship if she keeps running off in the middle of lessons like that."

Zalara gives a shrug, "I don't know. I usually leave the healing up to others they seem to have a better time at it than I do." Her mask is probably not helping to calm the children any with the look and the heavy breathing sounds.

"...It must be so!" Boshter nods his head at Jibbom. "I was not aware you had apprentices. You must have lots of them! Everyone wants a piece of Steel!"

"It is true!" Jibbom enthusiastically agrees with Boshter. "They come from far and wide to learn my wisdoms. But only a select few are accepted." He looks quizzically at Zalara. "What about you, purveyor of masks? Do you seek to learn the ways of the Ironblood?"

"You should. They are amazing ways!" Boshter says, cheerfully. No doubt bringing up a sore subject. Mazes.

Zalara gives a light shake of her head, "Thank you, but know I all ready set on my path of artifice mastery and manipulation. I wish I could claim credit for theses, but I cannot. My teacher Master Cogwash made these."

Why would it be a sore subject? Jibbom had a great time in the maze! It was a chance to test his heroic wit. He just beams at Boshter, which quickly turns to a disappointed frown at Zalara. "Ah, a shame. No matter! Other supplicants shall soon appear.

"No doubt. PErhaps some from the crowd of sick children whom you are here to entertain!" On task, Jibbom! Get back on task! Boshter keeps up that gentle pressure there.

Zalara shrugs her shoulders, "I'll just have to live with that regret that I couldn't become your apprentice."

"Do not worry. The pain will fade in time." Jibbom assures Zalara. Boshter succeeds in getting him back on task. "You're right, orange friend. For the children. Steel Von Ironblood, away!" He charges off to delight and/or horrify the children.