[Shinyama Pavilion] A Poisonous Delivery (Duvalyon)

[Alses]

That was a surprise - Duvalyon Hellebore had a surprisingly nice laugh, low and deep and resonant, richly full of amusement, however fleeting it was. Well, it was progress – they'd moved on from 'ranting patient out of her head on poisonous herbery' and 'taciturn attending doctor', at least. “A cave?” Alses echoed quietly. “Kalinor? How lucky. Lhavit wasn't nearly so fortunate, even though we do have the skyglass.” She was talking mostly for the sake of it, something that staved off uncomfortable silence whilst the doctor carried out his duties and she regained her strength. Whatever had been in that tea she'd choked down – vile, foul stuff that it was (at least, to her stomach) – was certainly efficacious, even if Duvalyon had warned her that some effects might return as the purge worked its way through her body. It wasn't a perfect cure, evidently, just something to get rid of the worst excesses of the poison. For the moment, though, she felt quite hale. “Corrosive?” She tipped her head to one side, trying to get a better view of the doctor's face and the box both. “I'm not sure I follow. I suppose Voiding could be corrosive if you get it wrong – that's a cruel and messy death, getting nibbled to pieces by a thousand portals-” her voice trailed off and she shuddered, reflexively, speaking from horrific experience and going rather green at the gills with the memory “–but the Tower boxes are given protective enchantments. Not all magic is inimical.” To distract herself from the raw memory of her old master's disgusting demise, she volunteered: “I am. An aurist, I mean.” A wince – Duvalyon didn't seem to hold magic, and so, surely, by extension mages, in high regard, but she pushed on regardless – the words were out now anyway. “Not a particularly accomplished one, I admit, but I can at least read the broad physicalities, if you like.” Medicine seemed such an odd field of endeavour – all the more so because sickness of any sort was an alien world to her. “In any case, if you turn up at the Dusk Tower gates with a scrip, or seal, or crest – or whatever it is that you have to say you're employed here as a doctor – they'll be honour-bound to let you see the ill people, surely – that's how Lhavit works. The Tower has asked for the Pavilion's help, after all; they can't turn it away because it comes in the wrong shape.” She smiled, lopsided – at least there she could offer something useful. “That'd be...unwise, from what I know of the city. Honour and reputation – they truly matter here. The Tower would be insulting the Pavilion's integrity and trust if they refused you entry, and then a great many prideful people would suddenly get involved.” Alses paused, watching contemplatively as small bottles of various vital fluids were unloaded onto a nearby table. “Aren't there any tests you can run, though? To make sure it's not something completely trivial?” Her only benchmark of experience, after all, lay within the fields of magic, where experimentation and testing – either of personal abilities or an artifact – were the primary way to make real progress.

[Duvalyon Hellebore]

OOCBear with me. Miza medicine is about at Roman level of knowledge with a smattering of common sense, first aid, and a fantasy version of herbalism. "Tests?" Duvalyon lifted an eyebrow at the term, "This isn't philtering. And Silakrov requires blood be taken straight from a willing source." He closed the box's lid, a little irritated, "These tower residents have spent too long with magic. They forget the body is a corporeal and complicated thing. The presence of some symptom or taint is not indicative of the entire state. Answers are not so simple as that when dealing with something as complex as the body. I require the whole person," he finished in a murmur, "Not pieces." Duvalyon realized he was approaching verbosity, at least for him. The Ethaefal was deftly touching on the subjects his life was tethered to: his home, his blood and his work. Alses had a talent, either natural or learned, for discerning what a person valued, and approaching it respectfully. He was also seeking to make a good impression. If Laszlo asked him the same queries, he could have dismissed them with a look. Odd that a proof of friendship was the freedom to be ill-tempered with one another. Their belief in the other's character was already established, so a bout of being snide, or in Laszlo's case, pouting, could be overlooked. The disapproving tone of his mild lecture was removed when he spoke again. "Thank you for your offer, but I would prefer anyone in a delicate state not wield magic. It is dangerous to the caster, and unpredictable towards the object." He suspected their opinions on the matter were opposed, so his reply was phrased with the most courtesy his nature and mood could muster. In the ensuing silence, he drummed lightly on the box, his inscrutable face tilted toward an invisible puzzle. "Are you returning to the tower?" he finally asked. "Let me begin by saying I won’t be offended by reluctance..." the phrase sounded genuine, "But it would be expedient if I accompanied you. I will ensure you don't fall off a bridge and you will assure others I'm not there to eat their children." He looked at the window to gauge the time and shrugged, "Or I can send my impending replacement, instead."

[Alses]

OOCHehe, I know, but Alses doesn’t. Never caught a disease in her life “Forgive us,” Alses murmured. “We know nothing of medicine or nursing, after all. And I must confess to never even having heard of Silakrov, either - is it some specialised subset of your profession?” All knowledge was useful, all of it interesting in some way; if she ever met another doctor, for whatever reason - it was foolish to assume, given an indefinite lifespan, that she’d never need the aid of another one - she’d at least be able to avoid some of the pitfalls and limitations of the field. What was that saying? Something about fool me once… Alses shook her head, to clear it of the useless and counterproductive thoughts that bubbled up from the depths of her compound mind, paying attention once more to the doctor’s words. Grudgingly, Alses admitted, in the roaring near-silence of her soul, that he might, just might, mind, have had a point. Magic was demanding, and horrifically cruel if something went wrong, so now probably wasn’t really the best of times to try it, so soon after being ministered to. So soon after being completely out of her head. He was the doctor, after all - surely he knew what he was doing. “As you command,” she sighed, slightly piqued despite Duvalyon‘s rather polite refusal. Whether it was for her own good or not, it was still rotten being useless. Ah, but then he mentioned a way she might become slightly less of a burden, and she brightened up at the prospect. “I suppose it would be politic to pop back to the Tower,” she allowed, thoughtful. “Mr. Secretary - or his night replacement, now that I come to think of the time - would probably like an explanation of why it took me, well, however many bells it’s been, to complete what should have been a simple delivery. I shudder to think.” She pulled a face. “I shall have to be suitably contrite, of course.” With a bit of effort, Alses levered herself off the wall she’d been leaning on, and shivered briefly when the cooler night air struck her skyglass-warmed skin. “If you did try to live up to the folk tales and eat anyone’s children, the Shinya would have tossed you off Lhavit long ago.” She raised one shoulder in a shrug. “The Tower has guards everywhere in any case - you’d not get far if you were foolish enough to munch on any of House Dusk‘s precious next generation.” With a sharp shake of her head, she changed the subject. “In any case, I’d be grateful for your company on the walk back, Duvalyon Hellebore.” A mildly sardonic smile. “Quite apart from the bridges you‘re so concerned about, the night and I, even such a bright one as Lhavit has, well, we don’t get on. A distraction - and a guide, for the darker streets - would be just the thing.” She followed Duvalyon’s gaze to the window, where Lhavit still blazed in nocturnal splendour - at least for the moment. Morning was impending, true, but exactly how far away she still couldn’t tell, senses dulled by poison, medicine and the shackles of her mortal chain. “No time like the present,” she said, tipping her head towards the door.

[Duvalyon Hellebore]

Duvalyon waited before answering Alses, watching the doorway for the familiar shadow of his replacement. "True, but I prefer knowing someone is here in my stead." He began to gather the vessels he had used into a small area to signify their need to be washed, and he scanned the shelf for any jars out of place. A trace distracted by his compulsion for order, he said, "It's a gnosis. Silakrov. From Viratas, the god of community and more notably, blood." He was within easy speaking distance again, now adding a few supplies to his personal kit for use at the Tower. "Also, the primary god of Symenestra." It was unique to hear him properly say the name of his people aloud. An entirely new accent arose that had been largely muffled in his common. It was a different pronunciation than a native common speaker's, the "r" was richer and the middle vowels withdrawn. His common resumed, immediately discarding the foreign music. "It allows for some information to be passed on in the blood." His replacement's arrival quieted him. There was minimal acknowledgment between them, like guards changing posts. Duvalyon slung his pack acros his body and nodded to Alses. Ever courteous, he wouldn't budge until she preceded him through each door until they broke into moonlight. Lhavit was glorious. The goddess's starry breath illuminated the skyglass through the night, and for that reason, Duvalyon sometimes hated the city. A Konti had nothing to fear from a Widow, so their company would not look overly strange. Regardless, the Symenestra had adapted a style of walking that was intended to show he meant no harm: arms behind the back, one hand clasping the opposite wrist. "We don't eat human children, by the way." He had a habit of picking up older conversation without warning. It often proved he had been listening when his audience would have sworn otherwise. "Very gamey, difficult to fit in pots." HIs face was a pristine deadpan until the last believable moment. The emotional equivalent of an eclipse followed: a humorous smile. Remembering the fangs it showed, Duvalyon put the expression away, letting gather dust for another season or so. The Dusk tower seemingly ran to meet them. After some persuasion and a timely production of the box Alses had delivered to him, the Symenestra was granted entry. Their odd company was on the cusp of being broken. Duvalyon dipped his head once and began to depart. Amid retreat he stopped. "I wouldn't recommend the city to someone who craves the sun, but if you ever find yourself curious about Kalinor, ask for me at the 'gates'. Or send word before you arrive." The Ethaefal had aided his passage in a realm that revered her. He would easily return the favor. Considering the precariousness of his own city, his promise had more weight than she knew. "Alses," his didactic tone returned, "Keep the wound clean. Age daily. Drink broth and water in early evening, even if you don't want to." It would be impossible to kill the medic in him. "Understood?" OOCThank you for a great thread! It shaped up to be more than I thought! Look me up if you're ever near Kalinor.

[Elysium]

Character: Alses
XP:
Running +2
Socialization +2
Observation +1

Lores:
The Symptoms of Kahuri
Advantages of Tanroa’s Blessing
How to Approach a Symenestra
Silakrov, the Gnosis of Viratas

★

Character: Duvalyon Hellebore
XP:
Medicine +2
Climbing +1
Socializing +1
Rhetoric +1

Lores:
Kahuri, The Antidote and its Application
Ethaefal Are Susceptible to Poison
Ground Hollyhock: An Herbal Poultice
The Honor-Bound Shinya

Other: This was an incredibly entertaining read. You wrote your affected state rather well, Alses. In addition, it was interesting to see Duvalyon speak so candidly about himself. Good job! I'd be happy to read another thread from either of you in the future.


and so, the journey continues...