Soliana seems to be the most seriously injured member of the party after Jerukh, so Vigny augments his treatment of her with magic as well.
"Leechwort?" She chirps curiously, "What an interesting name." She offers up her leg for treatment and watches the healer ply his trade.
More to herself than anyone else she offers, "Master Proudtump suggested Megan's path has seen little use lately. And now we know the goblins hunt along it... It seems reasonable that the witch may be dead, fled, or locked up in her home."
"I suppose six more dead goblins is nothing to moan about, but this wasn't great timing. My healing is finished for the day now, so let's hope her house is not too far. Another serious fight could be bad for us.
If you're right about Megus, she should be somewhere between glad to see us and not caring at all. That's a good start at least. The goblin village itself might have to wait until tomorrow though."
Jerukh tries to focus on Reiko's leg and the application of the Leechwort
Focus. Prove your worth
:
... but most of the herbal powder ends up falling into her boot top as the big alchemist fails to apply it correctly.
He curses under his breath and shakes his head slowly as he rises, clearly frustrated.
"I... Ach. I... My skill fails me. Fails you all."
Vigny rolls her eyes, out of Jerukh's line of sight. Something something about honey and vinegar...
Then she speaks to him in a calm, soothing voice. "You dropped some powder, that's all. Just do it again. Don't ever believe there aren't second chances."
Jerukh looks down at Vigny with a hard stare;
"I cannot. I failed to apply the Leechwort correctly..."
The half-orc grabs his pack roughly, clearly angry at himself as he grumbles at all (and none);
"Best we move on."
Reiko brushes aside the alchemist's self-criticism. "The wound is clean now, so I'm better than I was. Thank you." She sets off along the trail, taking the lead again. To distract Jerukh from his dark mood, Reiko teases, "I think the sight of my firm thigh was just too much for you. It's a curse being this beautiful. Right, Emi?"
"I hafe alvays thought of it as a blessing" Emi answers Reiko rather immodestly.
though apparently not enough of a blessing this time... she reflects looking down at her own untreated wounds, I haven't had any time to properly take care of myself out here... I hope it's just that and not that I'm aging poorly...
As they walk along the overgrown path, the young Varisian removes a turtleshell comb from a pocket in one of her scarves and begins working it through her long, dark hair.
The trail is overgrown, but still clear enough to follow, distractingly firm thighs or no. The afternoon slowly grows deeper as the group crosses another rickety bridge.
You hear what sounds like shouting off the trail ahead. From what you can tell, it's like there's a heated argument between three people.
Vigny hurries forward and taps the other to stop them and get their attention.
"Do you hear that? It sounds like there are people up ahead arguing."
The trail is overgrown, but still clear enough to follow, distractingly firm thighs or no.
"Next time we've got some free time, will you tell me more about how you found yourself on the path that you did?"
Reiko hesitates and considers for a long moment, as if the question was a weighty matter. "Yes, I will." She adds with a rueful smile, "I grew up in a paddy field like this... with more heat and more snakes, but fewer goblins."
Her hatted head nods politely to Soli before she continues to the head of the column.
At Vigny's warning, Reiko draws her sword and whispers, "It may be the other hunters. I'll go see. Get ready." The ronin creeps forward trying to catch sight of the arguers through the bracken.
"If its people do ve really need to sneak?" Emi asks slipping her comb back into its scarf pocket. When she sees exactly how Reiko is 'creeping' she adds, "Nefermind. I'll go vith her in case its somevon ve can talk to..."
Emi starts out walking normally but decides it might seem rather odd if only one of them appears to be trying to move quietly, and begins creeping too.
Jerukh scowls at the sounds;
I'll not be laid low this time... Not. This. Time.
The alchemist's hand retrieves a vial from his belt, whilst his other hovers near the pommel of his longsword.
Taking the lead from the others he too tries to move forward with as much stealth as he can muster;
:
Even with Reiko making some noise on accident, Jerukh, Emiliana, and the swordswoman are able to get quite close to the small clearing that a camp has been set up in. There are only two tents and two bedrolls and a small unlit cookfire between them. There are three men, a human, an elf, and a half-orc standing up and shouting at each other while a fourth form lies motionless on one of the bedrolls. This appears to be the missing band that went into Brinestump a few days ago.
"Perhaps if you had done your job, we wouldn't be in this mess," the human man shouts at the half-orc.
"Dere's only so much Hy ken do, Caesar! Hy's tried to help Iona. Hy's tried to help Mueller, bot Hy's ken only do so much ven haffink to cover for hyur stoopedity," the half-orc fires back.
"Caesar is a very capable man and very educa—" the elf tries to get out, but is cut off by a vicious snarl from the half-orc.
"Jah! He's capable ov gettink us into trobble! Hy sed ve should get supplies! Iona sed ve should prepare for dis! He vouldn't listen und now ve iz in dis swamp vit no food, no vasser, und no vay out ov dis place," the already angry half-orc snaps.
"Maybe if you and that bleeding heart b@#!! would actually pull your weight," the elf says, biting off every word, "then we wouldn't be in this mess."
It's quite clear that unless someone intervenes, this is about to come to blows as the half-orc snarls and begins to stalk towards the elf.
"It's the other adfenturers," Emi declares, standing up and walking into the clearing.
"Don't vorry," she cries out, "ve are here to help. Vhen you didn't return as quickly as you said you vould, ve vere asked to come and aid you... and it looks like, maybe, you could use some aid?"
The ronin lowers (but doesn't sheathe) her sword and gratefully follows Emi's lead, adding helpfully. "You aren't lost. The path that leads to the main trail is back this way. I can show you the way, if you are intent on leaving." She indicates the correct direction casually with her sword.
Jerukh lowers his blade and stores his strange elixir.
He points toward the adventurer prone and abed, gruffly speaking;
"Are they hurt? I am a healer."
:
The three of them turn to look at you as you make you're presence known. While they are all surprised, the expressions on the faces of the human and the elf are very different from the one on the half-orc's face. The handsome, well muscled half-orc opens his mouth to reply, but is cut off by the human, Caesar.
"Ah, I see," he says, whether in response to Emiliana, Reiko, or Jerukh isn't easy to guess. "And your parents let the three of you come out here," he asks in a voice dripping with condescension. The elf merely eyes the trio with barely concealed disdain, and the half-orc is visibly restraining himself from causing another scene..
"Fery vell," Emi answers with a shrug, "I guess ve vere wrong to vorry. Vell, ve'll just head off then... of course... if any of you vant to come vith us... ve hafe a little extra food, and I'm sure ve could use a hand killing a few more goblins?"
Nonplussed by the response, Reiko smiles at Emi's response. "Let's continue on." Reiko seems more than willing to leave this crew with their wounded comrade festering in the swamp.
"Vait! VAIT," The half-orc shouts as he pushes his way past Caesar and the elf. Now that the hunters have a clearer look at him, it's clear that he's in pretty rough shape, though both Caesar and the elf are unhurt.
"Please," he pleads with the group, "Iona needs hyur help. De goblins, dey put something on their blades und it made her veak. Hy'll do vhatever hyu ask, bot don't leave her here to die! She– she deserves better den dot."
Behind him, the other two scoff at the half-orc's words, but he is on his knees, a desperate look in his eyes.
"Howefer ve can help," Emi answers placing a hand reassuringly on the half-orc's shoulder. Then she calls out, "Jerukh, there is somevon ofer here in need of your serfices!"
Looking with some sadness at the four lost adventurers she meekly asks, "veren't there fife of you vhen you left?"
Jerukh nods and moves toward the ailing Iona.
He kneels beside her placing his large hand gently on her brow.
:
Ai mamă. She burns up.
He then unpacks several pouches and items, including a small jar, before pulling back her blanket and clothing seeking to find the location of her wound (whilst protecting her modesty).
"She may have been înveninat . I can help."
:
Reiko frowns and sheathes her blade. She grabs the half-orc by his armor and drags him onto his feet. She looks at the man hard in the eye and speaks quietly, "We're warriors... We don't kneel. If you need our help, you have it." The ronin looks the man over and keeps a hand on him to ensure he's steady on his feet. "Jerukh, after you finish with the woman, this man could use your skills as well."
The elf and Caesar look on in with annoyed expressions, though they get a little more angry at the mention of their missing fifth member. They move to the other side of the clearing and sulk there.
The half-orc meanwhile looks to the three hunters in the clearing a look of solemn gratitude on his face.
"Danke ," he says to Jerukh before turning to Reiko.
"Nein," he says, "Hy em a friend beggink for his friend's life."
After a moment, he looks at Emiliana, his eyes dark and his shoulders bowed.
"Jah, dere vas vun ov de little folk, he vas hurt like Iona, und den taken in de middle ov de night two days ago," he answers, "he vas Mueller Threestride."
Iona is covered in about dozen shallow cuts, but it was a deep stab in her side that likely did her in. She's pale, and does indeed show the signs of being poisoned, though you can't tell what kind of poison it was. The bandages binding her wounds were done by an ametuer, though they did manage to stop the bleeding.
On another note, you pretty much have to either undress her or rip the holes in her clothes wider to get at her wounds. Fortunately, her underclothes help protect her modesty.
This also is going to take about fifteen to twenty minutes to treat her wounds and begin flushing what's left of the poison out of her body. Thankfully, assuming she can get to a proper place to rest, she should begin to recover and regain consciousness in a day or so.
Vigny looks at Soliana.
So,... they've been gone for a while now. Do you think we've guarded these trees long enough now?"
"Oh great, there's more of you," Caesar more asks than says. "Did the council just decide to send all of it's children to kill the goblins?"
"Hmm, it would appear so," the elf answers. "How old are all of you? Ten? Twelve? It can be so hard to tell with the shorter-lived races."
He's trying to get a rise out of all of you. He knows you aren't that young.
Jerukh ignores the conversation around him, only pausing to acknowledge the orcish words of thanks.
He delicately removes clothing to reveal about a dozen cuts, focusing a particularly deep wound in her side.
"She will live."
The half orc cleans and dresses where possible, while applying leeches to her skin. The normally silent alchemist succinctly talks through his actions, as much for the benefit of himself, as fallen woman's companions:
"These little ones will extrage.. "draw out" the poison... but she will need rest and more attention..."
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After crashing out of the brush into the small clearing with Soliana, Vigny offers smiles and "hellos" all around. She recognizes the others from town.
"Oh, I'm so glad we found you! After we found the remains of your skirmish with the goblins on the edge of the swamp, we were worried about you."
Looking at the armored man she sympathetically tells him"I'm sorry about your horse, that must have been very difficult for you."
The barbs from the cavalier and elf are easy enough for her to understand. They are having a bad day,... or two. She's seen this sort of thing in taverns over and over. People come in feeling crappy and they think snapping at someone, making them feel crappy too, will help cheer themselves up. The best way to answer is to simply not take the bait. You can always fetch the big stick from behind the bar later if you need to.
Vigny decides to just take the comments at face value.
"No, we're all of them. The sheriff figures we're plenty to handle things."
To the elf she cheerily answers "I think we average about 20. I'm 19 myself. I understand how difficult it must be for you to figure out. I have the same problem. I'd guess you're a couple thousand years old, but appearances sometimes don't match expectations so I really have no idea."
Caesar, his pride obviously wounded by Vigny's remark about the sheriff's confidence in the small band from Sandpoint, throws his hand up in the air in frustration.
"Fine! FINE! I can see when I am not appreciated. You brats have fun, I think I can follow the stench the half-orc and the varisian left out of this stinking swamp," he shouts before storming out and nearly knocking Vigny and Soliana over as he shoulders past them.
The elf, on the other hand, just glares daggers at the Caydenite priestess as he passes. Both of them disappear beyond the brush, and Caesars cursing can be heard for a while.
The half-orc, meanwhile, motions to the unoccupied bedroll and waves the hunters to it.
"Dem chelish bastard," he mutters before turning his full attention to the five people that had come unexpectedly to his and his friend's aid. "Hy em in hyur debt, bot I need hyur help gettink her outta dis place."
After a moment, he motions for the others to take a seat on the bedroll and finds an overturned log to use as a seat for himself.
"Dot ken wait, dough. Hy em Gkirkhan und de lovely voman ist Iona. Might Hy know hyur names?"
Reiko watches the two men leave, only passively noting if they are heading in the right direction. "Good riddance." She says after they leave. To Gkirkhan, she replies amiably, "I'm Reiko."
Jerukh continues to administer his arts upon the prone Iona. He glances up briefly, looking back toward the other half orc then succinctly identifies himself;
"Jerukh."
:
Vigny is rather surprised, and a little disappointed, at the reactions from the cavalier and the elf. She was only trying to sympathize with them and give them the most accurate answers she could to their questions.
She had meant "we" to be inclusive of all the persons present, and elves do live a really long time she's sure. Had she guessed over or under? With a nicer expression on his face the wizard might have been a cutie.
Some people just insist on being foul tempered I guess. Oh well, if that's how they are going to be, it's just as well to make a clean break with them. Putting up with those kinds of attitudes is so tiresome after a while. Anyway..
"Hi, I'm Vigny, nice to meet you." she says to the half-orc while grabbing his hand to shake it.
Vigny takes off her backpack and digs out her other bottle of mead. We're all fortunate to have found each other. Now that we're united, we are stronger than ever. The Licktoad goblins ought to start packing up right now!"
Uncorking the bottle, she passes it to Soliana first. "Let's all have a tipple in respect for the Lucky Drunk, who has brought us together in our time of mutual need!"
Turning to the more practical, Vigny sits down with Gkirkhan and takes his hand.
OH MY GOD HE'S SO SWEET! He's totally in love with Iona. I wonder if she even knows? Mental gears whirl.
"We might just have the perfect solution for you and Iona. We're on our way to visit a witch who lives near here. She may be able to help Iona recover faster. That also means there may be shelter we can reach very soon, without having to trek all the way back out of the marsh and to town."
"I am Emiliana Fasilescu, but you can call me Emi," the beautiful Varisian woman answers as she shakes his hand, "I'm sorry for your loss--all of your losses--but did you say Mueller vas taken in the middle of the night? Do you hafe any idea vhat took him?"
You both spot a set of distinctive half-plate armor near Iona. It's been well used and bears the scars of numerous battles.
Both of you recognize the half-plate as the armor of the Gray Maidens, the personal army of the Mad Queen Ileosa during her mercifully brief rule of Korvosa.
Gkirkhan gives all of the hunters a tired, but thankful smile.
"Danke. Hy em truly in hyur debt, und et iz a pleasure to haff met all ov hyu, especially a fellow follower ov de Lucky Drunk," Gkirkhan says with a wink to Vigny. "If hyu vill help me get tings packed Hy vill tell hyu our sad, sad tale on de vay to dis hexe. "
As you minister to Iona's wounds, you notice she has dozens of thin, white scars all over her, but especially on her back. You also notice three long, thin scars on her left cheek running from near her left ear towards her chin and another thin scar over her right eye.
Around her neck is a silver chain with a beautifully crafted silver pendant in the shape of a thrush with seven long tail feathers circling above its head. It's almost identical to the symbol that Soliana wears.
Jerukh continues his administrations, pausing only for a second.
"Soilana. Could you assist me for a second please?"
When the paladin kneels down to assist him, the alchemist shows her the pendant upon Iona bearing the same symbol of Shelyn.
Jerukh rises then speaks to the group wearily;
"Once we are safe for the night I will see to all our wounds."
Emiliana has the same symbol tattooed in vivid color just below her right collarbone, next to a larger tattoo of a butterfly in the center of her chest that's bookended by a swan with multicolored sashes under her left collarbone; all are readily visible in her billowy, low-cut blouse.
Hey, no judgements here. I trust ya. :)
And sorry, I completely for got about that.
And indeed, it does match the image tattooed just below Emi's right collarbone.
With an affirmative nod Vigny helps the half-orc break camp.
As Vigny helps Gkirkhan ready to leave, she asks him "How did you and Iona meet?"
Knowledge is power.
Reiko pastes an open and interested look on her face, trying to put the warrior at his ease and get him talking.