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Post by Midori on Nov 6, 2016 17:35:02 GMT -6
On the fringes of the Araphen border
This was the first time Midori had ever been this far west of her Clan's territory. This far west from the Bernese territory to be honest. They were so far west in the border that they were practically in Lycia. Or at least that's what the map said. Lady Lucy, their leader, was busy, leading the way of the small troop of Chaklai. She was a former Ilian who joined the Chaklai ages ago. She was Midori's mentor and a Valkyrie of renown among the tribe. A woman who was a seasoned guide and fighter. The rest of the group consisted of Midori, Skai, and two other Chaklai warriors. Skai was one of Midori's childhood friends. An accomplished sniper and resident flirt. The two other warriors were also seasoned veterans of the Chaklai. A woman who could cast anima magic. And a warrior who was bother her brother and guard.
The group was out on one of their charity missions. One where they go around town to town healing those who need it for free. They spread the word of the Chaklai's philosophy and peaceful ways through these free healing. They continued down the path. In front of them, in the far distance they could see smoke. Long wisps of smoke that usually came from a house. There were several of them which meant that they were nearing a village or town. This was good. The small caravan of Chaklai were growing weary from their long travels through the country side. Perhaps after a good meal and some rest they could begin the journey back to home.
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Inese Ozols
Troubadour
Posts: 21
Profession: Wandering Troubadour
Affiliation: N/A
Guild: N/A
OoC Alias: Inese
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Post by Inese Ozols on Nov 6, 2016 18:27:39 GMT -6
Inese sighed as she leaned over the woman on the ground, staring down at the merchant with a look that betrayed her apathy all to well. Robbed by bandits and left for dead. So close to a village, as well. Pitiful. Hopefully, said village had good enough protection for an attack should it occur. She really just wanted to sleep in an actual bed for once this week.
She had been traveling from Laus in order to deliver an antique to one of her relatives. Father's will and all that. How dreadfully boring, really. She had been doing this for at least two months now. Inese didn't have the greatest sense of the passage of time, but the seasons were already beginning to turn. It was her duty to deliver the family heirlooms, however, and she would see it through to the end.
The troubadour poked the woman with her staff. A cough and gurgling of blood. Good. Still responsive, unlike the guardsman that was sprawled on the ground a few feet away with a mass of arrows clumped in his chest. Inese knelt down, looking into the merchant's eyes. On the brink of consciousness, and most likely death. She was not talented enough to actually heal these wounds fully, but hopefully her work would be enough to get the woman to the village so that she could seek medical attention from perhaps someone more skilled.
Inese placed her stave onto the traveler's stomach, waves of weak healing emanating from it. The pain should go away soon enough, and she would drift into a sleep. Whether she woke or not would be determined if Inese could find a cleric in the town a half kilometer or so away, a matter which didn't much concern her. She would simply drop the woman off and move on. She would perform her obligation, her duty, and continue.
The sound of trotting horses began to fill Inese's ears, and she immediately turned to her own horse, Caliburn. He stood tied to a nearby tree, silent and unmoving. Hmph. Someone else was coming down the path. Inese turned to the source of the sound as it came around a corner hidden by trees.
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Post by Midori on Nov 7, 2016 12:15:06 GMT -6
The small troop off Chaklai came across the ruined caravan. Almost immediately the group of them spread out and firmed a small circle around those who had fallen. Midori and Lady Lucy were tasked with checking the bodies for signs of life. The guard whom became a human arrow cushion was dead. But the woman on the ground was not. Midori immediately got off her horse to assess the woman.
Midori carefully checked her face. The woman was barely conscious and probably very close to death. Her eyes were glossy and very dark. Midori didnt have much time. Skai and the warrior were already clearing a spot for her in the wagon. The pair of them arguing over where the stretcher was. Lady Lucy and the other mage were on surveillance duty. Lucy swore she saw another rider here a moment ago a survivor or a looter. Midori herself wasn't as skilled as Lucy in the terms of healing. But, this woman's injuries were something she could mend. It would be up to the woman herself to stay alive.
Once Midori realized the woman was alive she started talking. Orders were being barked. She then turned her attention back to the woman on the ground. She spoke to her in a calm voice. She explained everything she was going to do to save her. That she would save her. She wanted to reach into this woman's spirit.. to encourage her to live. Midori quietly pulled out her staff. A warm glow of healing magics emanated from the staff and slowly closed the woman's wounds. They would be red and raw for a few days. Midori then went to work on trying to heal the woman's internal wounds. This was something that would be hard to do. She could not see through the body so she needed to use her senses to figure out what was wrong where. Her fingers carefully felt around for spots of tenderness. Her eyes scanned for bruises. She had something nasty on her side. Probably a place where an arrow was wedged.
The warrior came to her aid. Together the pair of them gently turned the woman to her side. Midori worked quickly. Her nimble fingers found the tweezers in her bag and she eventually dug into the flesh of the woman to retrieve the arrow head. A small stream of antiseptic wine was placed over the wound and eventually sealed with a cloth bandage. She'd heal the woman some more once they were out of danger.
"Found the stretcher!" Skai exclaimed.
"Quickly let's load her onto the wagon. She might have a chance if we can get to town."
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Inese Ozols
Troubadour
Posts: 21
Profession: Wandering Troubadour
Affiliation: N/A
Guild: N/A
OoC Alias: Inese
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Post by Inese Ozols on Nov 7, 2016 18:25:53 GMT -6
As the sound of the wagons got closer, Inese moved off of the path and into the shade with her horse. It would be a bad idea to be seen with a cadaver next to her, and she’d rather not try and get into a fight with whomever it was coming down the road. Watching the commotion and hustle happen to try and save the woman from her spot in the foliage, the Lycian troubadour silently smiled. She didn’t have to do all the work. A faint sigh of relief as she began to mount Caliburn, trotting out of her hiding place in the shrubbery and onto the beaten path while the tribe attempted to get the merchant onto a stretcher.
She was certain she’d been spotted, as one of the women in the group seemed to look around as if she was searching for something in particular. She’d look bad if she didn’t ask. It’d be suspicious, and she didn’t want to end up as much a pincushion as the guardsman. Ugh. Inese strode up to the side of one of the healers, staring down at Midori with a disgruntled scowl and expressionless eyes. “Excuse me, can I be of any any assistance?” Her voice was soft and calm, yet it held every last bit of vitriol it possibly could. “I am a novice in the healing arts, but I noticed you attempting to help the woman and I couldn’t simply go on my way in good conscience.”
Midori saw the rather basic heal stave strapped to the other troubadour’s back, worn and splintered after seeing what seemed to be countless years of use, matching her torn cloth wrappings and dirtied dress. Her brown eyes were what drew attention the most, as they were the one thing on her not caked in mud and dried blood, yet they seemed devoid of any care in the world as to what was going on around her.
Inese slowly pet the mane of her steed, looking past Midori to the woman being loaded onto the stretcher. “So, is there anything I can do to help?”
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Post by Midori on Nov 9, 2016 19:43:35 GMT -6
Lady Lucy turned to face the newcomer to the group. The horse and rider she had seen earlier. In her hands was a small orb of light magic, ready to fire whenever needed. Lady Lucy was not about to let anyone sneak around and attack her troop. Midori was a bit too focused on trying to save the maiden. Her staff was glowing again. Warm whips of light this time, they appeared to hover over the injured woman's body. The whips of light seemed to surround the woman with small glitter like specks. They whirred around her like tiny strands of ribbon in the wind. Midori was trying to heal wounds she couldn't see. The little whips of glitter light would bunch up in areas where Midori thought there would be the most damage. This particular method of healing was somewhat unique, one tied to a staff skill called physic. It was like a concentrated version of a standard heal spell.
The bloodied woman looked hopeless. Her breathing was barely visible and her eyes.. perhaps they were what stuck out at Midori the most. Lady Lucy spoke for Midori. She glanced at the new comer. Another healer. A novice. Lady Lucy's work horse gave a bit of a snort and foot stomp at the unknown horse. It was just as cautious as her rider.
"See what you can scavenge from her belongings. Gold, bandages, potions, maybe something that would help us gather her identity. Or perhaps the identity of her caravan." She spoke with a bit of a coldness in her voice. She didn't trust this new woman. And if she was merely a looter then letting her loot was the best thing to do. The looter would be distracted by the baubles while they focused on saving what they could.
"Please." Midori added. She looked up at the new woman. Midori's face paler then what it was a moment ago. She was a bit drained from the second healing.
Skai and her slowly loaded her onto the stretcher. The warrior held one end of the stretcher and the sister the other. Together they loaded her onto the flat end of the Chaklai's wagon. Midori went to the guards man who lay dead on the road. She muttered a prayer for him then quietly moved him away. His corpse now lay on the side of the road. If they had the time they will return to bury him.
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Inese Ozols
Troubadour
Posts: 21
Profession: Wandering Troubadour
Affiliation: N/A
Guild: N/A
OoC Alias: Inese
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Post by Inese Ozols on Nov 10, 2016 12:18:34 GMT -6
Inese turned her gaze to the supposed leader of the small group, disgust being written on her face. Her eyes locked onto the small mote of light in her hands as soon as she saw it, lips pursing and eyes narrowing in contempt. "... of course, Madame. Anything to help." Turning, she dismounted from her steed once more and began to poke around the remains of the wooden wagon, stepping over the dead horses in the front to enter the caravan.
By the gods, the stench. She covered her nose with a small bloodied cloth, using her free hand to sift through a few piles of furs. Hmn. Such a boring trade. In any case, there seemed to be nothing here besides goods. She moved on to the other side of the caravan, looking for a logbook or journal or any form of identification. Absently searching, her mind wandered.
Who was that woman who thought herself so high and mighty to threaten her? Inese was not only clearly unarmed and in the profession of a healer, but also had come up slowly and with a message of peace. If she actually had a weapon, she might have thought about using it right then and there on that arrogant, haughty, stuck-up...
"... I found something!" Inese slowly exited from the caravan after about a minute of searching, removing the cloth from her face to speak. "A journal. Read it yourself." As she approached the group, she tossed the book at Lucy haphazardly. "I assume that's all you'll need from me, Madame? If so, I'll take my leave."
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Post by Midori on Nov 23, 2016 7:30:52 GMT -6
Lady Lucy had to extinguish the light of her spell quickly so as to not damage the book. She was caught off guard by the sudden toss. She also hadn't expected the newcomer to actually scavenge the remains for something useful. The book flew through the air and hit her in the chest. It toppled over her minor armor, off her horse's saddle, and into the mud. Well that's just great. The battle hardened woman told herself. Now she had to get off her horse and pick up the book. Why couldn't the woman just hand it to her.
The men were busy loading the woman into the wagon. Midori returned to the group after praying for the guards spirit. She prayed it found peace inspire of its body's grizzly demise. That his soul returns to the hereafter and is reborn into something else. Something that would grow and prosper in a world without suffering or pain. Lucy got off her steed and picked up the log book. She shook off what muck she could and started reading. She skimmed through the pages of the book.
“Traders. Furs. Some spices.." She muttered out loud to herself. Midori got off of her own horse and handed the reigns over to Skai. Midori couldn't ride Ashes. She needed to be in the back of the wagon to help tend to the woman.
“Skai. Please.” She pleaded with the blue haired man. He sighed and nodded. Ashes the horse didn't quite appreciate the change of hands. But, the spotted horse knew Skai. She trusted him. Not as much as she trusted Midori. But, enough trust so that she'd let him ride her. Although the horde would have preferred it if Lucy or the other female tribesman rode her.
“It's only for a little bit Ashes.” Midori petted her horse on the side.
“You are another healer yes? If.. you aren't pressed for time or anything.. I could use some help.” Midori asked.
“It is alright if you cannot. I thank you for your help already.” She bowed softly. The pink haired healer walked away quickly and hopped into the wagon. The woman was paler than before. A quick check of her gums told her that she was bleeding out.
“Oh no.” She quickly muttered under her breath. The staff started to glow and she pumped more healing magics into the woman's body. The staff couldn't replace blood. The staff was a tool to help keep a person's blood in them. But, she hadn't any more options available to her. She couldn't magic blood into the woman's body. She couldn't give her her own blood. Most she could do is give her a tonic of liver to help restore blood. But, that took time to work. The Chaklai’s healers were skilled medics but there were some things that were simply beyond them.
“If you want to join us into town you are welcome to.” Lady Lucy spoke. She had found a page in the logbook that gave her a name. The name of their most recent client whom lived in the nearby town.
“We will be moving quickly.” The woman then tugged at the reigns. She glanced back at her troop. Everyone was ready to go.
“If you want our protection I suggest you move quickly too.” He flicked the reigns and her horse started to move. The wagon soon followed. They would head to town at a brisk pace.
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Inese Ozols
Troubadour
Posts: 21
Profession: Wandering Troubadour
Affiliation: N/A
Guild: N/A
OoC Alias: Inese
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Post by Inese Ozols on Dec 7, 2016 19:56:54 GMT -6
As Lucy read the book out, Inese was preparing to leave. She fetched Caliburn from the woods, hopping atop the horse once more. Ugh. This was growing tiresome. Trotting out onto the main path, she was about to head off when one of the other women talked to her. The troubadour's eyes narrowed as she looked back at Midori, her frown somehow growing even more.
"... yes, I am. I am a novice at the healing arts, however, and don't think I would be of much assistance to you in this situation." Inese spoke calmly, her voice as distant as it always was. Her pursed lips slowly began to fade for a moment, however, as she looked behind the woman towards the leader of the group. "... ah. On second thought, even though I'm not very good, I'm certain I can find some way to be useful." This small group of misfits, no matter how coarse it was, did offer protection. And considering what had happened to the merchant, well...
Dismounting again (was it the third or fourth time now?) and glancing at the other members of the small group, Skai and... the other woman, she spoke in as loud a voice as she could muster. "Could someone watch Caliburn, please, while we march?" With that, she headed off from the midnight horse, towards the rickety wooden wagon. It may as well have been in shambles with how poorly it was constructed. Was this driftwood?
Climbing aboard the rather briskly moving wagon awkwardly, she heaved herself up and towards Midori. There was silence as she glanced at the trader, staring at the skin which had become as white as snow. A sigh as she readied her staff, beginning her rather slow work of healing. It wasn't going to do much, if anything at all, but there wasn't much else she could do. Even if she was the most talented healer of all time, what would pumping magic into a near-exsanguinated corpse accomplish?
"... is there anything you need help with specifically?" She asked as she worked as diligently as possible, though that wasn't saying much. She glanced up at Midori, eyes peering past matted hair and dirt. "I don't exactly think this is going to work. I don't have much experience, but she looks like she's a cadaver by now. Or, at least, she will be soon." With a quick motion, she jabbed the staff into the side of the merchant once more. Hopefully, there would be a twitch, or at least some responsive motion.
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Post by Midori on Dec 19, 2016 19:23:34 GMT -6
OOC- Fun fact. Apparently needles have been around since the 1st century in rome. --- The male guard nodded as he took the horse's reigns. The black haired maiden's steed would be well guarded as they made their way into town. There was a small frown on Midori's face as she stared into the pale body of the merchant woman. She knew there was not much else she could do. This woman fate with death was all but sealed. The other healer's jab with the staff seemed to drive home the point that the woman wasn't going to survive. And yet, she still wanted to do something more.
"I think you are right. She is too close to death." She spoke with a sad voice. As if she had failed in her duty to help people. She knew of a way to keep the body holding on for a little longer. And that was infusing the blood with a mixture of water, sugar, and salts. Needles and syringes were rare. Clean ones even rarer. The whole process was messy as it would involve repeated injections of the liquid.
"I know of a way to give her blood fluids.. as a means to bide some time. But.. I run the risk of infection. And this rickety wagon.. is not the best place for this sort of thing." She shook her head.
"The process would also thin the blood further." She sighed.
"I know.. the answer I must choose is a grim one. But, I'd still like to hear your opinion on the matter."
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Inese Ozols
Troubadour
Posts: 21
Profession: Wandering Troubadour
Affiliation: N/A
Guild: N/A
OoC Alias: Inese
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Post by Inese Ozols on Dec 29, 2016 0:09:55 GMT -6
She glanced at the dying woman, then back at Midori. There was a pause as the other healer was done speaking, a silence that echoed through the air, before Inese closed her eyes with a sigh. "There is no choice. She deserves at least an attempt from every last available option. Everyone deserves the chance to live."
Ugh. She had planned on leaving this woman be, but since she was dragged back in, it was her duty to do as much as she could. Opening her eyes once more, she stared into the merchant's face. "There may be a chance that this woman won't live past the process, and there may be a chance that she may die afterwards due to complications. But it is certain she will die if nothing is done. You are a healer, no? So you should do what is best for the ailed. She won't be long for the grave unless a miracle is performed right now."
"Tell me, what is this process, and how do we perform it?" Inese's gaze drifted outside of the wagon, a despondent, deadpan look upon her face. She fell silent once more. Should the woman not make it, she supposed she'd take the journal back from the leader of this barbarian clan and see if this merchant had a home. It wouldn't be the first time Inese delivered a corpse, and it would not be the last.
"To be completely honest, I've never even heard of such a process. Giving blood to someone is an impossible feat. The only way to do so would be through dark magic, and that only works for the user of said magic. Blood is a sacred thing, and it is more than unlikely that any sort of transferal between people outside of the influence of the gods or Nether is conceivable."
Leaning back, she sat down now, placing her staff on the floor next to her. Waiting for Midori to explain what would need to be done, she clasped her hands in front of her and began muttering beneath her breath. This was hopeless. Inese would do the best she could to send this merchant off peacefully and move on.
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Post by Midori on Dec 30, 2016 19:40:17 GMT -6
Midori smiled softly at Inese. Her support in this tricky situation made her feel better. Midori reached over and grabbed a clear glass bottle. The black haired healer was interested to know how the whole process worked.
"Blood is sacred yes. It is needed to keep one alive. Through my clan's research we have learned the blood is composed of three basic factors. Water, salt, and sugar. In most cases a small steady dose of the mixture is enough to keep someone going for about twenty minutes." She paused.
"In severe cases those ingredients would be mixed with another person's blood and be funneled into the person's veins. It would require a very thin tube and a needle." She sighed softly. She glanced over at the woman. She was oddly still. There were no subtle signs of breathing.
"The process isn't very effective. We believe that there is some other factor we are missing when it comes to this transfusion of blood liquids. Only about a fifth of people we have used it on had survived. Something.. in the blood.. is rejected by the body. We aren't sure why. We know that siblings have a better chance of survival then random strangers. Nether magic has nothing to do with it." She shook her head softly.
"This process is rarely used. And only done when there is truly nothing left for us to try." Midori put the bottle back. Midori carefully put two fingers over the woman's neck in an attempt to find a pulse. There was nothing. No sound save for the rocking of the wagon.
"But.. it seems.. the option to do so is no longer avalible. She is gone." Midori closed her eyes. She pulled her hand back slowly and raised it up towards her chest. She had her hand arranged in a very specific manner. Her index finger and middle finger raised up. Her forth finger and pink tucked down towards her palm, with her thumb clasped over them. She prayed over the body.
"We will prepare funeral rites once we are in the village. I am so sorry.. I dragged you back here for nothing."
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Inese Ozols
Troubadour
Posts: 21
Profession: Wandering Troubadour
Affiliation: N/A
Guild: N/A
OoC Alias: Inese
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Post by Inese Ozols on Jan 29, 2017 15:02:48 GMT -6
Finishing her own prayer, Inese opened her eyes and stared at the corpse. "Perhaps the reason it failed is because the gods find it an abominable practice. After all, like I said, it is related in principle to magic of the Nether. I don't think the divine would appreciate such a thing."
The woman sat there, silent, still. There was little more that could be said, and there was nothing at all that could be done. Perhaps the merchant was fated to die here. If that was so, then Inese would not go against it. "And I am not the one who deserves an apology." She said grimly, sighing.
"But a funeral cannot be performed here. After all, it is highly possible that the woman has relatives. Should that journal she was carrying tell us anything about where she came from, then the body should be delivered quickly. Interring a corpse without the permission of relatives is sacrilege. Besides, they deserve to know the news anyways. One might as well kill two birds with one stone."
Inese leaned back against the walls of the cart now, looking out the side towards the road. "... and I would like to know her name, as well. She deserves to be referred to by name."
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Post by Midori on Jan 29, 2017 19:26:22 GMT -6
"I do not understand what you mean. It has nothing to do with the Nether. It is a mere fact of logic. If a body is weakened due to loss of blood.. then replacing the lost blood should make it healthy. No incantations or nether books are involved. But, I do not think that this is the discussion for right now." She shook her head lightly.
"I will see what more of the journal Lady Lucy can figure out once we arrive in town." She glanced down somberly at the body. Who ever she was, Midori was going to do what she can to set things right.
"You are right. We do have a right to learn her name. To send letters to relatives wherever and whomever they may be. Perhaps we should start with the last place she was. The last merchant she traded within town.. or the merchant she was going to trade with in town. Depending if she was coming or going to this place." Midori spoke her thought out loud before the bump in the road caused her to jump up slightly. Ever so slowly the world outside the wagon walls changed. The forest was put behind them. The roads smoothed out. And the gates could be seen. Lady Lucy did most of the talking when they arrived at the gate guards. She spoke of their situation. Of the urgency. The blonde haired woman had no idea that their extra passenger had already departed into the next world.
Midori took a moment to memorize the dead woman's appearance. She had dark red hair and black colored eyes. Her skin was pale almost like ivory or chalk. Her clothes gave her the appearance of a woman who was middle class. They weren't fine silks like those of the wealthy. They weren't patchy like some of Midori's pajamas. A simple dress. Good boots. And a good leather vest. And a plain black cloak. She even had some plain gold earrings on her. The earrings were tiny golden spheres Midori could see her reflection on.
The village guards eventually let the caravan in. The first place they would go would be to local doctor. Who doubled as the local priest. After a bit of time the group managed to identify the body. Apparently, she was part of a group of traders who had recently left the merchants of the area. One of the shopkeepers recognized the girl's description and the logo of the journal. Letters were to be arranged to be sent to the girl's families and remaining tradesmen. The local priest prepared the body for it's final resting place and she would be buried in the local cemetery. With their buisness done, Midori and the group departed the area. ---
OOC- due to lack of responses. I'm ending this thread.
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