Round 1
Kilo and Nalo advance towards the creature; Kilo with his short blades drawn and a determined look on his face, Nalo with a less violent purpose in mind.
As soon as both close within close range of the plant, those crimson flowers release a cloud of very pleasant smelling pollen.
The unexpected face full of toxins go a long way towards knocking Kilo off target; both blades seem to skid off the thick hide of the creature even as one of its vines lashes out to catch the Glaive with its thorns.
Nalo looks as though she may attack, but the feint turns into a quick duck under the swinging vines as she tries to snatch the strange belt from the plant monster. She successfully avoids the toxin cloud, but is unsuccessful in her attempt to unclasp the mechanism.
Panamax turns away from the fight to focus on helping the now mostly-plant looking Miyuki. She makes a frightened "eep" noise through wooden lips as the healer slides the patch along her neck to an open spot of flesh, activating it as soon as it sticks. There's not an immediate change in how she looks, but it's clear that the process of changing into a plant has immediately halted.
Mathias stands aside to let Panamax heal Miyuki, and throws up his hands towards the plant monster. To the plant, and anyone near it, it looks as though Panamax, Mathias, and Miyuki have disappeared from the clearing.
Zoa, daggers out, advances towards the monster just behind Kilo.
She, too, manages to avoid a face full of the pollen as she flanks the beast. In her haste to dodge the vines and pollen, however, her attacks bounce harmlessly off the thick trunk.
Goosebumps rise on Ceri's arm as his breath brushes over her skin. She lets out a little "oh".
The machinery running through her body isn't quite like machines he may have gotten close to in the past. Rather than words, what he gets a sense of is her heart rate (on the rise), that she's a little nervous, and for a brief moment, something that falls between thoughts and emotions. A sense of loss, a sense of a physical reaction to his closeness. There's also extra bioelectric activity that he wouldn't be able to sense from someone who didn't have bits and pieces of machines inside of them, like a secondary pulse.
"What's the verdict?" She asks, voice a little hoarse. She clears her throat. "Am I a robot, doc?"
Her eyes distance, speculative, "I've never encountered a machine that is able to twist logic to breaking the way people can..."
"I'm all for you getting to change what you were made into something that pleases you," Nalo touches Ceri's hand gently, "I'd just hate for you to lose what remains of the person that existed before that hoʻo mānaʻonaʻo did what they did."
[ooc]And still at +1 armor.
"Even before my abilities manifested themselves in Standifer, I was an apprentice mid-husband slash mid-wife. Most of what we learned was base human, but anytime someone had troubles and non-standard parts, all the apprentices were called in."
Panamax shrugs. "After my abilities manifested, I was called for healer services more and more. The person with the cracked ovipositor, Steve, didn't really give details about how it happened."
Panamax thinks some more.
"I probably have better stories."
Panamax nods and continues talking quietly with Nalo, pointing at himself, then at her.
"Esha doesn't know anyone else. I chose you as its most likely inheritor since you expressed some sympathy towards its plight. I think it was in that conduit since the Sixth World. I can't imagine what that was like, and I don't want to ask for fear that it might show me."
Panamax looks away from Nalo for a moment, then back toward her. "All it wants is someone to talk to. I had to try and explain what sleep and dreams are. Its understanding is very different from mine. If you would like an introduction, or want to carry around its container and talk to it for a while, I think it would like that."
Panamax frowns. "It hasn't needed to eat again since it nearly ate me."
"Nice night," he says. "Pleasant fire."
I often do not remember what I dream when I am asleep, but if you have any questions, please ask.
I will answer.
Panamax shakes his head at the other question. "I have no sense from the bodies and minds I am healing. Your secrets are safe from me. I am sharing my energy with you and boosting your body into healing itself -- maybe -- I think. I only knew about the wires under your skin because I felt them with my hands the boring way."
Panamax gestures with his hands. The boring way.
He steps toward Tavene and begins pulling the leaves out of her hair, combing them out with his fingers, or picking them out as necessary.
"I have seen that when I banter with Jarris, you seem uncomfortable. I feel bad about this. I guess that isn't a question."
He looks at Jarris' hands. "When I was attacked by Esha, you were the first one there to defend me. And you, not a fighter."
Sip of tea. Panamax looks off to the side. "You were sent away -- I think as far away as a person can be sent. And it was on my behalf."
Sip of tea. Panamax looks back to Jarris' face. "Thank you," he says. "It means a lot to me."
A touch of smile slowly spreads across Panamax's face. "I believe the traditional reward is for the fair maiden to swoon into the arms of the dashing hero. But I am not a maiden."
He holds up the cup and takes another sip. "And I'm drinking tea."
No intake of breath, just a rush of words on the exhale, "One more time then arrows."
And she tumbles in to snag the belt with no subterfuge this time.
Nalo leans away from Panamax for a moment, then relaxes. Still speaking quietly she looks around, taking note of where people are. Then looks back at the healer, the fingers of her hands interlacing in front of her stomach. Another look around, more studied this time.
"I can't imagine what that was like, and I don't want to ask for fear that it might show me."
Nalo's eyes widen with the horror of that thought and she leans away from the healer, "Good call." Her posture relaxing.
"If you would like an introduction, or want to carry around its container and talk to it for a while, I think it would like that."
Nalo nods, "At least to see if they are willing to have me as a poor substitue." A pause, then, "Not tonight, maybe tomorrow? There is something that I really need to do." Her eyes dart up, looking for Anson, then continuing on when she sees the people around him. "Hopefully."
Panamax frowns. "It hasn't needed to eat again since it nearly ate me."
Her fingers interlace, moving slightly as she thinks, "Do they understand themselves well enough to ask before the situation becomes critical?" She looks around again, this time her gaze lingers on the most vunerable of the caravan.
Panamax nods. "Make you a deal. You don't attack me, I won't attack you. No extra fingers."
"Done"
"I'm Miyuki Azuma!" She sits down without being invited, eyes wide. "I haven't been to Kordech yet. It's why I'm with the caravan. I have a lot to catch up on, and traveling seems like the best way to do it."
"Why do you feel you have a lot to catch up on?" Kilo asks.
She gestures at the large group they're surrounded by. "Much like every other large group I've ever found myself in, I don't feel like I quite fit in here." She smiles a little then. "Although maybe that won't change. Maybe there won't ever be a large group I fit in with."
Kilo smiles wryly, "You may be right on that. I've never been with a large group for an extended period...well, not counting 'Ui's family, I mean." he ponders that for a few moments. "Guess I think it's just more likely they'll give me some information on this next Master I'm supposed to be searching for."
A strange half-smile begins to play around Kilo's lips as he stands his ground in front of the creature. It looks like he wants to say something, but has elected to hold his breath instead.
Panamax nods to Nalo, then looks thoughtful for a moment, and tips his head.
"We have discussed its hunger," Panamax says, "and it says it will be able to tell me before the hunger is too great. I will ask others to stand by when it feeds next. I am not about to sneak off and do it in secret. That would be..."
Panamax takes a moment to search for the correct word.
"...stupid."
He tips his head to Nalo.
"I won't keep from your other errands."
"I don't know how to turn it off!" The man sounds frantic, and looks pale and sweaty. "It wasn't meant to be opened yet!"
Inside the wagon, Anson sees that things haven't dissolved into total chaos, but most people look a range of concerned or confused to scared, and one kid is crying.
"There might be a code but..." his voice trembles, "I've no idea how to work this."
"What were you even doing with this out on your lap? You're traveling with kids, you were just asking for trouble." Ceri chastises him. "Give it here."
She crawls along the roof, even though gravity tells everyone that everything is normal. She leans over the side of the wagon, and the man hands a now open box through his window.
She grabs it, and immediately her eyes go unfocused when she has her hands on it. "Oh. I don't like this at all." She very clumsily slides the box towards Anson and shakes her head. "I think there's something in there that's not playing well with something I've got on me or in me."
The box is about eight inches to a side, and five deep. Inside, there's... a void. It's all swirling oil slick colors and occasionally, something that looks like lightning. After he listens for a moment, he doesn't get a sense that this is a machine.
The longer he looks into it, the stronger the sense of vertigo gets.
Kilo: does Edge impact damage received? If so, you'll only get hit for 1 damage. If not, it was 5 damage from the vine with 2 soaked by your medium armor.
Nalo: you cannot spend Effort more than once per round with an Effort of 1. But hey, you didn't get toxin'd!
Panamax: your math checks out!
Panamax nods to Nalo, then looks thoughtful for a moment, and tips his head.
Nalo shakes her head.
Nalo shakes her head, "I seem to still be waiting." She worries on her top lip for a moment, "Have they tested the containment unit?" Her voice too casual.
--
"Have you always been able to hear them?" Curiosity in her voice, but a relaxing of her shoulders when he is talking to her. An easing of a brittle tension which had been with her for a few days.
Round 2
Panamax, behind the illusory wall Mathias is maintaining, puts his fingers on Miyuki's neck alongside the dermal patch and concentrates on healing her. It feels as though he's trying to heal a tree that also happens to have a heartbeat, and she is unchanged for his efforts.
... Some of her leaves do yellow and fall to the ground, but it's more likely due to the patch he applied than his active healing.
With no intake of breath, just a rush of words on the exhale, "One more time then arrows." Nalo tumbles in to snag the belt with no subterfuge this time. She is rewarded for her speed when the belt unclasps and comes away in her hand, and she darts away from the whiplike vine as it lashes out.
When Nalo snatches the belt away, something seems to dim in the plant creature's eyes. It still attacks as it did before, but it's definitely... lesser.
A strange half-smile begins to play around Kilo's lips as he stands his ground in front of the creature. It looks like he wants to say something, but has elected to hold his breath instead.
Unless your Effort went up to 2, you can only expend Effort once per round. I'm applying it to your attacks, since your Defense roll didn't need it. Well... no rolls technically needed it, you rolled really well!
Both of his attacks pierce the thick hide of the plant beast, and its second attack lashes harmlessly off his armor. It makes a high keening noise in response. Zoa steps in to take advantage of Kilo's attack, holding her breath when she sees the other two do the same.
She breathes in no toxins, but lets out a frustrated growl when her daggers don't even scratch the monster. She stumbles backwards as she loses the breath she held.
A fierce smile lights Nalo's face as she dodges away from the monster, "'ware, it's attacks are going to be just as deadly but I don't think it will be using much in the way of tactics."
She slaps the belt to hang over her right shoulder, not wanting to put it on the ground, grabs her bow and draws an arrow.
While probably goes way past the creature into a hedge.
Nalo doesn't know much about the Empty Sanctum. In fact... most people don't. There are rumors and whispers about what's inside; a maze, a city, ghosts. She does know it's located about 300 miles east and a hundred more north of Kordech.
The Master of the Fifth Ring is rumored to be an extremely powerful teacher, only willing to pass his... or her... or its knowledge on to those deemed worthy enough.
He nods at Nalo's comment about everyone being more than they appear. "That's a fair point. But I've met plenty of people who aren't."
Ah yes," Panamax says. "For instance, I am a lover of tongues. Languages. Do you speak any other languages, Mathias? I am always looking to learn more."
Mathias smiles at this. "Just the two. Truth, and the tongue my Masters spoke in Qi. Qen, an old version of it, I believe." He shifts his body to face both of them, rather than just Nalo. "What languages have you gathered?"
I will have questions
Something like laughter.
Your pulse slows
Your thoughts scatter
You... dream of many things
Esha says this in lieu of a more traditional "good morning".
"That certainly is boring!" She replies with a grin. "I was just curious. Honestly, I'm not even sure what all is going on in there." She gestures to herself with a broad wave of her hand.
"Where is Standifer?"
"I mostly avoid mirrors," she agrees with his assessment about the difficulty. She freezes in place as he grooms her, a little blush coloring her cheeks again. At that range, she smells strongly, and not unpleasantly, of a forest.
"Oh, don't feel bad. He just... flirts. With everyone and anyone. I'm fairly private... you may have noticed." She says this with a wry smile. "It's hard to know a person's true feelings when they're masked by jokes, inappropriate comments, and flash."
She cocks her head. "But if it doesn't bother you, don't mind my discomfort. I'm not very adept at hiding how I feel about things. Any things."
After Panamax speaks, and thanks him, he shakes his head with a warm smile.
"It's a natural thing, for me to be there for those I care about." His tone is more gentle than it usually is, and there's a brief pause before the words "care about".
"Well if you're no maiden, and without a weapon, I'm not sure if I qualify as a hero... what would you suggest?" He takes a sip of his own tea, eyes twinkling. "If we ever get through these damned bottomless cups of tea."
She seems surprised by the question. "Oh! Well, the world seems so big, and I've seen so very little. I didn't even see a map until a few months ago. I thought the world was the size of my village and a little bit of the forest around it!"
She gestures vaguely to the west. "I spent weeks in Keford. Ate everything I could get my hands on. Tried on so many kinds of clothing, tried out new weapons..." she looks a little crestfallen, "I think my upbringing must be very abnormal. No one else seems as excited as I do about... anything. Except the kids in our caravan!" She brightens again.
Tavene looks somewhere between annoyed and sympathetic.
"Where are you from? How did you not... how was it you came to not know there was a larger world outside of your home?"
"Not sure of the name. None of my family gave it a name other than "home", and when I ask people if they know about it, no one seems to know anything. It's north of Keford by about two day's walk. I only left 'cause... well, something happened to everyone in the village." She abruptly stops talking and looks away from the two.
"Is there a specific Master you're looking for? Do you have a name?" She looks thoughtful, tugging at a piece of dark hair that's fallen out of her ponytail. "The Aulifex in Kordech might have information, if we can find him. Or if he's feeling helpful."
"What if my programming is just really good?" With a small movement, she lifts her free hand and runs her fingers lightly over the back of his hand, up his arm. Her face is turned up toward his, and with his fingers still over the patch of metal in her arm, he feels a little surge of electricity. Just enough to feel like a static shock.
She casts a sideways look at the rest of the camp. "Too much more of this, Anson Arkadius, and we may become the after hours entertainment for the night." Funny enough, she doesn't seem particular concerned about the idea.
On the second evening, as camps are being set up, Miyuki wanders over to where Anson is seated. "Hi!" She drops down next to him. "I've been meaning to tell you, I like your goggles. Where are you from? Does everyone wear goggles there?" Her questions are earnest. If Anson as been paying any attention during the caravan ride and subsequent camps, he's noticed that he's definitely not the first person she's been friendly with. She seems to be making a point to talk to everyone with the same level of enthusiasm.
Sometime on the second evening, as camps are in various states of set up, Miyuki approaches Nalo. "Hey, I like your skin. I've never seen skin such a pretty color before. Is there a city where everyone has green skin?"
Nalo, having paid attention to other travelers, would know Miyuki has enthusiastically been approaching everyone in the caravan systematically.
Panamax gestures widely, as to though to encompass the world. "But there must be so many more."
When approached by the terminally cheerful Miyuki early on the second night, Nalo gives a polite smile.
"Hey, I like your skin. I've never seen skin such a pretty color before. Is there a city where everyone has green skin?"
Nalo shakes her head, "At least not as far as I know." She continues, "There is a tiny village where a number of people are born with green skin."
"One of the theories has to do with heavy copper deposits in the land."
It isn't a lie, but anyone who can read Nalo can tell it isn't a theory that she believes.
Qi is the largest city in the Steadfast, the capital of Draolis (the country Kordech is found in), and is located near the sea in the southwest of the country. It's big enough that (even with a low roll) you'd know that much.. It's well known for not only its size, but that it's the seat of the Amber Pope himself, leader of the Order of Truth. Many people use dirigibles and hot air balloons to travel around the city, and its many markets are a famous place to visit as well. Over half a million people reside there, and most of them would be considered elitist... even the poor in the city.
Under the skin of Ceri's hand, Nalo feels slender wires along with the usual tendons. "I'm not sure who existed before he... got into experimenting." She looks into Nalo's eyes. "I don't mean to drag you down my memory lane. I swear I'm not inherently a miserable person, and I'm fully prepared to admit my desire to change, on my own terms, is probably not a healthy way to handle it." She shrugs. "But it is something I can control."
A more resolute look on her face. "What's that word you used to describe him? Manao... mano...?"
Panamax gestures widely, as to though to encompass the world. "But there must be so many more."
"As I understand it, there are at least ten more." Mathias says with a chuckle. He looks to Nalo. "How about you? Do you speak more than the Truth?"
Nalo shakes her head, "At least not as far as I know." She continues, "There is a tiny village where a number of people are born with green skin."
"One of the theories has to do with heavy copper deposits in the land."
"Ooh, interesting." She looks thoughtful, chewing on her lip. "Are you from that village, then?" She goes on, "Ceri must be from a place where they have purple skin. I wonder if that's a mineral or metal deposit thing, too."
"As I understand it, there are at least ten more." Mathias says with a chuckle. He looks to Nalo. "How about you? Do you speak more than the Truth?"
Nalo comes back to herself with only a little effort, she shakes her head, "Only a family tongue. Not useful for much of anything."
"I've been to Qi, or rather I was in a boat in its harbor. The dirigibles were a wonder. What were you studying there?"
"Ooh, interesting." She looks thoughtful, chewing on her lip. "Are you from that village, then?" She goes on, "Ceri must be from a place where they have purple skin. I wonder if that's a mineral or metal deposit thing, too."Nalo shakes her head, "At least not as far as I know." She continues, "There is a tiny village where a number of people are born with green skin."
"One of the theories has to do with heavy copper deposits in the land."
Nalo shrugs.
"Ho o maaa na ona o" She says the word slowly, carefully enunciating the sounds, both elongated and absent, then again at her normal speaking pace, "hoʻo mā naʻonaʻo." the language with far too many vowels lyrical. "I couldn't think of an appropriate curse for one in Truth, it's the causing of the sensation grief, sorrow. Nightmare." A shrug, "Bastard is almost fitting for the one you spoke of, but it wasn't quite right. You'd have overcome a simple bastard no problem."
"...besides Qen?" Panamax adds to Mathias.
"I probably have better stories."
"I don't know," replies Sherine. "I thought it was a fine story."
Panamax takes a step or two away from Mathias and toward the melee.
He raises his hands. "Trees don't have flesh." He lowers his hands.
He quickly scans the battlefield, .
Kilo: does Edge impact damage received? If so, you'll only get hit for 1 damage. If not, it was 5 damage from the vine with 2 soaked by your medium armor.
Player's Guide says, "When something requires you to spend points from a stat Pool, your Edge for that stat reduces the cost." That being said, based on what Mana told me earlier, I don't think it actually applies to damage. I'll look into it more later and assume Kilo soaks the damage. Ouch!
Unless your Effort went up to 2, you can only expend Effort once per round. I'm applying it to your attacks, since your Defense roll didn't need it. Well... no rolls technically needed it, you rolled really well!
Yeah, I know right? Wish I could do that at will. Would be nice.
Once per round? I had seen "once per roll", and with Edge "once per action" but had no idea what an "action" actually consisted of. Okay, now I know.
Anson, still holding onto the wagon, says, "Oh, so you thought you'd just bring a void-in-a-box on a little trip?" He turns his attention on the rest of the people inside. "All right. Who touched it and how did you touch it? Either we do the same thing again, or we do it in reverse. Maybe that will work."
A pause, mind racing then her eyes drop down with self conscious noise, "And now everything I can think of saying would make me sound as bad as the terminally cheerful Miyuki." A moment of thought, a deep breath, then seriously, "Did I do anything to give the impression that Kilo was more..."
Panamax thoughtfully considers Nalo's question, then shrugs.
"Esha says it can't get out on its own," Panamax says eventually.
"I don't think it would live long if it escaped," Panamax shrugs. "But that is more guess than anything else."
"I don't know, I thought it was a fine story."
"Thank you," Panamax smiles at the compliment.
A period of quiet.
"Is there one you have to tell?"
Panamax thoughtfully considers Nalo's question, then shrugs.
Nalo looks extremely dubious at the healer's words. "You don't think..." In her shock, Nalo's voice rises from the whisper, at least until a shout from one of the children reminds her why she is being quiet.
After a deep breath she speaks quietly but intently. Then her head tilts to the side.
She takes a deep breath. "Leaving them alone especially after it was likely so abused would have been beyond wrong, but Esha is a light predator. There is no known means to kill Esha."
Then her head tilts, "Unless you know something?"
Anson sighs. "Kilo's probably grown up just thinking that he'll eventually end up with you. He doesn't strike me as the most social of people anyway. With any luck he'll meet someone else. Hell, you could encourage him. It looked like he and Tavene were hitting it off. Just don't think this is something you're doing wrong. You're an innocent bystander here."
She seems surprised by the question. "Oh! Well, the world seems so big, and I've seen so very little. I didn't even see a map until a few months ago. I thought the world was the size of my village and a little bit of the forest around it!"
She gestures vaguely to the west. "I spent weeks in Keford. Ate everything I could get my hands on. Tried on so many kinds of clothing, tried out new weapons..." she looks a little crestfallen, "I think my upbringing must be very abnormal. No one else seems as excited as I do about... anything. Except the kids in our caravan!" She brightens again."
Kilo nods, a hint of amusement and perhaps even solidarity playing on his features.
Tavene looks somewhere between annoyed and sympathetic.
"Where are you from? How did you not... how was it you came to not know there was a larger world outside of your home?"
"Not sure of the name. None of my family gave it a name other than "home", and when I ask people if they know about it, no one seems to know anything. It's north of Keford by about two day's walk. I only left 'cause... well, something happened to everyone in the village." She abruptly stops talking and looks away from the two.
"Something...happened..." Kilo repeats. Then merely waits.
"Is there a specific Master you're looking for? Do you have a name?" She looks thoughtful, tugging at a piece of dark hair that's fallen out of her ponytail. "The Aulifex in Kordech might have information, if we can find him. Or if he's feeling helpful."
"Well, the Not Cube said the Master you seek will be found in the Empty Sanctum. My interpretation of that would be it must be a Master of the Void. Grampa told me that the creator of the two sword style, and perhaps the greatest swordsman of all time, wrote a treatise entitled 'the Book of Five Rings'. The 5th Ring, or 5th Element, is the Void. It seems to make sense to me. But to paraphrase the Reluctant Messiah, everything I just said, might be wrong." Kilo grins. For him, that was a big speech.
Nalo looks extremely dubious at the healer's words. "You don't think..." In her shock, Nalo's voice rises from the whisper, at least until a shout from one of the children reminds her why she is being quiet.
After a deep breath she speaks quietly but intently. Then her head tilts to the side.
Panamax takes a half-step back, speaks quietly, and dips his head to Nalo.
"Get to know Esha," Panamax says. "Help me teach it how to human."
He dips his head to Nalo. "Please."
Your pulse slows
Your thoughts scatter
You... dream of many things
Esha says this in lieu of a more traditional "good morning".
Good morning. Are there any of these things that you have questions about?
Panamax attempts to remember his dreams, which seem to be right on the edge of memory -- but as he reaches for them mentally, they recede.
"Honestly, I'm not even sure what all is going on in there." She gestures to herself with a broad wave of her hand.
Panamax chuckles. "If you don't know, then I shouldn't be the one to tell you."
"Standifer is inland of here, and I think to the South. Couple days out from some hills."
Panamax thinks. Squints his eyes as he tries to envision a map. Shrugs. "I'll go back when I'm ready."
"But if it doesn't bother you, don't mind my discomfort. I'm not very adept at hiding how I feel about things. Any things."
Panamax finishes fishing the leaf fragments out of Tavene's hair. "There," he says, returning his hands to his sides. "I haven't been paying attention to the people around me as much as I should," Panamax admits. "There have been too many other nifty things to see."
"Jarris is easier to interact with, than, say, Kilo. Jarris flirts, I flirt back. It's a game, and who knows what lies underneath?"
Panamax hesitates, then adds "I may attempt to find out."
Another sip of tea. The cup is only half-full now, Panamax has to tilt his head to look at Jarris over the rim as he sips.
"But I am fair, and you are dashing. The least I can do is swoon into your arms and say my hero."
Another sip of tea, and a raised eyebrow. "The least. After we have finished our tea, of course."
Panamax nods and doesn't say anything for a while. Just stands near Kilo in companionable silence.
Moment stretch into minutes before Kilo finally breaks the silence. "When did you first learn you could..." a significant enough pause follows as Kilo searchest for the words, then finally settles on, "...do what you do."
After a deep breath she speaks quietly but intently. Then her head tilts to the side.Panamax takes a half-step back, speaks quietly, and dips his head to Nalo.
Nalo nods, and a helpless shrug in the middle of what she is saying.
"And help, hopefully." A deep breath, "But really we should help them be better than human. Human can be cruel and capricious, I think we want them to learn empathy and" a helpless shrug, "goodness?"
--
"I was worried that I'd unconsciously given you the wrong idea." She shakes her head, still keeping her eyes turned up, "If I play a game, I like it to be with willing friends, not to f&!~ with someone's head."
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"Short version?" His face goes through some interesting contortions (forehead wrinkles, lips purse, eyes look up and to the right and off into nothingness) as he edits the story in his head.
"I was an apprentice. Midwifing a difficult birth." As he tells the story, color comes into Panamax's cheeks and his jaw clenches. He pauses longer than usual between sentences. "The mother was my friend Quigley. It was bad. She was dying. I wanted her not to die very much."
He stops talking, and takes an unsteady breath. Then next breath is steadier, and then he is breathing normally again.
"I kept her from dying that day. She died a few days later, of infection."
Panamax wipes his eyes with the back of his hand.
Panamax is nodding at what Nalo says.
"It's older than I can imagine. We see what happens."
"Tomorrow." Nalo says quietly.