Bitter Rain - RPLOG
Participants
Date
29/7/477
Log
The village was as quiet as ever, a few of the tents that had once held the sick taken down, and packed away... Presumably all the remaining individuals left inside of the healer's building. The light rain filling the streets with mud, and providing a drull atmosphere as inside of the healer's building the Rat is seen working diligently, a box filled with tubes filled with dark black liquid on his desk. His front door is open, providing no impedence for the freeswords, as the majority of the remaining sick appear to be closing in on the doors of their lives themselves, stressing the urgency of the situation. The majority of the sick even appear to be children, making up fifteen of the nineteen remaining patients.
Cassidy makes her way through the rain, a black parasol held over her head and hat to ward off the rain. She didn't mind the weather too much, thought the mud was always annoying, so she floated lightly over the ground as she had the day before. As soon as she slips in the door, though, she touches down again and bows. "I have come to help the last, as promised."
Approaching the village once more, Thel has again abandoned his coat, scarf still over his face. Didn't learn his lesson then. A shovel is held in one hand, laying over his shoulder. Armed more heavily than last time, no musket, but an axe and sword have been added to his arsenal. Dredging through the mud, whistling the same dreary tune as he had previously. Stepping in through the doors, looking at the rat with the same mistrust he garnered recently, then glancing at the a forementioned door. Thel shrugs, waits to be told what to do.
Boxes in each hand, Dio quickly jogs towards the village, eager to escape the rain and the cursed fate of having a water dense mane! But considering the water dripping off his clothes and fur, it was too little too late. Eventually, the lion proceeds into the open building and gives his dripping head a little shake before settling the boxes upon the floor carefully. "Some dullin' potions an' other medical supplies if ya need 'em. I'm also usin' a medical based soul 'gain if ya need any 'elp with anythin'." Curiously, he looks towards the black vials and the remaining patients.
Natska makes her way through the warm, muggy rain, silently following Cassidy to the plauge-stricken village. In deferance to her expected work of the night she has added a white cloth mask of her own, covering her muzzle, but enough of her face is visible to tell she has a solemn expression. Inside the doctor's house she steps off to the side of the door, out of the way, and bows.
Fenris sits in the healer's house, resting his head for a moment on a table where he has settled for a brief rest after having spent the evening and most of the day scrambling to see to the needs of the few survivors. It had been painful to take down those tents, occupied only by the dead. The tiger only prayed that this cure would work. Seeing the others arrive he rises and adjusts his coat. His golem seems to be gone. Probably off on some errand. The tiger gives a sniff as he looks at the inky jar on the healer's desk.
Angus watches the rain drip off the brim of his hat, not minding the weather as he made his way steady towards the village. The rain itself actually calmed him for the most part, letting him focus on the task at hand as he steps into the village. He knew not what Traxico needed of them, but today he was prepared for anything as the butt of his staff thumps against the floor of the house as he walks in and turns to give the rat a nod.
The Rat looks up slowly from his spot to view the group that enters, Fenris' remaining presence having aided him some in the tasks, though if the Tiger saw Traxico sleep at all during that time... The Rat's dilligence and determination wearing greatly on him, as those tired eyes appear just a bit more dulled from behind the mask as he takes a slow breath before speaking. "Thank you. I wish I could have not asked for such help, but those that did not go to the swamp the other day took their opportunity to finally leave. I am afraid all that's left of the village, is myself and these remaining." Traxico pushing himself to his feet slowly with a slight groan as he leans on his cane and moves to the bottles of black liquid. "I've made as much as I could, and need able hands to help feed them to the sick... Hopefully, it shall clear the illness in a few hours I pray... Any else who are willing, I have a grim task I wished to not ask, but I've not the strength to aid in burying the bodies but... Respectful burials would be appreciated." The Rat's gaze falling to the floor as he speaks.
Cassidy gives a quiet nod to her friends and sets her umbrella aside by the door and reaches up to remove her hat. "I'm willing to help you administer the cure, yes. Though if you would rather have my hands elsewhere, I can do my best to dig, as well. I am not so great at that kind of thing, however."
Thelergramor nods. "I'll bury the bodies. I brought a shovel for that, anyway." He gain glances at the door to the other room, curiosity. "But, yes, where are the bodies?" He scratches his bare chest, then puts his hand in a pocket.
Dio walks towards the series of vials and casts a curious gaze upon them. He mulls over the liquid within his mind for a few moments and smiles warmly. "I think I see the logic yer gettin' at with this medicine, lad," he claims before pulling back and looking towards the rat. "Usin' negatives to cancel out the disease o' somethin' o' the sort. That's some good thinkin'. I wish ya the best o' luck." After hearing the old man's task, Dio begins heading for the door, but stops at the doorframe to look over his shoulder for a moment. "Very well. We'll get right to it. A bit o' elbow grease an' earth magic an' we'll be givin' those beings the burial they deserve," he says firmly before walking out and preparing to assist in the grave digging.
"It will be done," Natska replies, her tone strictly business, and nods her head again. She turns then, and follows Dio back out into the rain, ears folding as she follows the lion's lead on the burial detail.
"I have done all I can do here, sir," Fenris says to Traxico, "Your alchemy is flawless and the theory is good. I will leave the living in your hands and help with the dead." He thinks sadly on the rows of dead laid out, waiting to be returned to the dust of Promise. A bitter flashback to old losses. The tiger fetches his broad-brimmed hat and looks out at the rain. "Unless you think I would be any more use here?" he asks wearily, noting the full grave detail and secretly a bit relieved at the idea of avoiding the dead today.
Angus gives the rat a solem nod as he looks to those going out for grave detail. "It would be better to burn the bodies, make sure no one ever has to deal with this disease once more." He states quietly. His ears then flick as he turns to the bottles once more. "How do you wish us to distrubt them?"
Traxico shakes his head gently, hobbling forward some to pick up a bottle as he looks to Cassidy and Fenris. "You may aid inside if you wish, I've no qualms for more hands... But I will not see these bodies burned. They were friends, and like family to me... I will not desecrate what remains of them should this work." The Rat giving a gentle cough before picking up a bottle of the black liquid. "One to each of the sick, pour it slowly into their mouths, and make sure they swallow. If it looks like they are not swallowing, force them to, or you may accidentally drown them." The Rat nodding gently, before bowing softly to Dio. "Please my friend, between math and force, make thirty-one graves... That should hold all the dead. The bodies, are outside behind the building... The soil should be soft, and give way easily." The Rat nodding solemly before holding the bottle he picked up close, and motions those helping him to begin.
Cassidy takes up one of the bottles and moves over towards one of the far patients, leaning over to look down into their face as she pulls the stopper from the 'cure'. "Understood." She slips a hand under the afflicted patient's head, helping to prop them up a little to ease the passage as she brings the bottle up to slowly administer the mixture.
"31? More than my whole village." With that said, Thel heads outside. Making his way behind the building, he looks for a window into the locked room. Arriving with the corpses, the wolf shakes his head, removes his hat, mutters a small prayer, almost a poem, though the pronouns are changed for the large number of corpses: 'No words of love/just light the fire/for those who lie/upon this pyre. For mercy we pray/but for ourselves/not for them/they've left this hell.' While it may not be accurate, 'tis the only prayer the wolf knows. Setting his hat back on his head, he begins digging.
"Right then," Dio says as he walks and talks to meet up with the others behind the building. "Let's get started then. Make sure ya space 'em out nice an' even." Running a few calculations within his head, the lion begins digging out a graves within the dirt with a bit of earth magic.
Natska follows along, and stops behind the building to eye the pile of bodies. Her ears go even flatter, but she patiently waits for Dio to clear a hole in the ground. One the lion has the first hole completed she gives him a curt nod, then starts carefully moving bodies into their graves. "Keep digging, Dio. Thel, could you fill?"
Fenris takes up a bottle of the medicine. "Two poisons to combat another," he says, shaking his head, "With a bit of miracle stirred in, I hope." The tiger imitates Cassidy, carefully lifting the head and neck of one of the afflicted children. He slowly dribbles the serum into the little thing's slack mouth, then closes it and gently strokes their little throat to encourage them to swallow. One. He lays the little head back on its pillow and moves along to the next bed.
Angus shrugs his shoulders as he hides his grim frown under the brim of his hat. "It is not desecration, but I will conscede the point." He answers as he picks up one of the vials to do the same with one of the afflicted. He works slowly, making sure the child swallows every drop as he works quietly.
Traxico nods gently as the group begins working together, slowly moving himself to the back near the door. "I... I cannot watch my friends burn. I am sorry." His voice low and strained as he pushes open the door to a dark room, and bows his head to the group. "... Give me a moment respite, and I shall join in giving the medicine. I fear I will fall soon if I do not sit... And a miracle is what we need my friend." The door gently closing behind him.
Dio's work is easy, the soil parting like it was meant to cave for the bodies as the graves are made in quick succession, all that was left to be done being ensuring the bodies were inside before too much rain flooded it. Thel most certainly does see a window though, and soon enough a small dim light begins to illuminate it, though unfortunatly it's too high to see into.
Cassidy finishes with her first 'patient' and shuffles off to acquire another bottle of the medicine before moving off towards the next patient, repeating the process with the head lifting and the slow administration of the cure. "I do hope this stuff works. Few enough remain as is, and I don't want to lose them, too."
Thelergramor glances up at the window. "I'll fill in the holes, but first... Hold off on the burial for a moment, the dead aren't going anywhere." Sticking the shovel in the ground, He gestures at the window. "I'll be brief with you; I don't trust Traxico. Plague victims are always burned, don't know why, but the diseased are always burned. A doctor would know that. And the why of it. That room, up there? Was locked yesterday. I think. Now, I want to get a look inside. Magic could help, but I'll climb the wall if I have to." He folds his arms. "So, going to help me?" His eyes squint, looking at the other two.
Dio haults his earth magic and turns towards Thel. "The diseased 're traditionally burned, yes," Dio agrees with a solid nod of his head. "But in this case, it would seem the village ain't commin' back. They don't want to live near this swamp anyone an' I can't blame 'em. There's all sort o' nasty things out there. The healer is an interestin' sort, but I think the lad's got good intentions. I looked at the medicine an' it all checks out. It may not work, but it's 'bout the best anyone could do fer dealing with a plague. If he wanted to kill anyone, it would've been best not to call the freeswords o' tell us 'bout that uninfected family. That's just my guess. I've been too trustin' at times, but fer now, I'll continue burryin' these bodies." Giving a small shrug, the lion continues his task and once more puts his earth magic to use for more graves.
Natska turns her head to watch Thel, eyes narrowing. She does not stop her work, though, giving Dio a nod and continuing her task of gently depositing bodies in the holes in the ground.
"Traxico?" Fenris calls out as he moves to his next patient, "Are you alright back there?" He does not think he saw the poor old man rest even once last night. The rat must be on the verge of collapse. "Carry on here," he says to Cassidy and Angus, "I will go see if I can help Traxico." The tiger makes his way back to the old man's room, to see what he can do to make the healer comfortable.
Angus gives gives another solem nod. "As you wish." Is all he states as he grabs another bottle of medicine. Taking off his hat he sighs and walks over to the next kid, forcing them to swallow the medicine as he keeps his thoughts to himself.
