(1866-01-20) The Bloody Aftermath
The Bloody Aftermath
Summary: Elrick visits the bloodied and bruised hunting party in the Healer's Den.
Date: 01/22/20
Related: http://eternalcrusade.wikidot.com/log:1865-01-20-the-great-mauling
NPCs: {$npc}
Players:
Artos  Elrick  Evelyn  Joffrey  Nadine  Stellan  

Aequor - Mastings - Healer's Den

A long narrow building off the marketplace the healer's den is kept almost stifling warm smells of herbs and poultices. The center of the long hall features a fire pit, with the chains and hooks to hang a cauldron above the flame for cooking meals. The back of the hall is given over to the healer's quarters and workshop, in this case an elderly woman and a quartet of apprentices, two boys, two girls who tend to the day to day running of the den, their numbers bolstered by the healers that have come with the army. The workshop as it stands is a pair of long tables strewn with herbs, mortars and pestles, and a healthy supply of prepared herbs and ready dressings for the coming wounded.

The bulk of the hall has been given over to low bedrolls and cots which have been supplied by the legion. Each of them laid with blankets and furs. Above them the rafters are hung with drying herbs. Near the back, wash basins sit ready to wash dressings which are later hung by the fire.

1/20/1866

It's been hours, since the ordeal, and that is putting it mildly. The majority of the group, save one of the hunting party, lay in the healing tent. Even one particularly recognizable Elementi Warhound, whose side is wrapped in cloth thick and tight, and whimpering quietly at the foot of the bed of the woman therein, one Lady Evelyn al'Mordran. But she isn't sleeping. Instead, she is staring at Marcus al'Slynethar's body, who looks as if he'd been in an accident with a medicinal closet and the closet one, so wrapped is he. Strangely, the woman of banter and many words is grimly silent.

Sir Joffrey d'Synclarre took the time while the healers worked to clean himself off as best he could and change into a clean set of warm winter clothing. He's now seated quietly beside the bed that Nadine d'Cadri occupies. He doesn't look entirely grim, but he's clearly tired from the ordeal, even if he's doing his best not to let it slow him down. With this many people bedridden, a large portion of the day-to-day running of the camp is likely to fall on his shoulders for a while. Thankfully he's well-respected, or it would be an even more difficult job. He knows he can't stay here terribly long, but he did want to check in on his Liege-lord's daughter.

Artos is in bed, with a bandage on his neck that makes it appear as if he had a second head growing out of his neck. He is awake right now, though a cup of wine rests in his hand, only a third full, with a book in his lap, unopened for now. While the cuts are deep, he should be fine, though the baron will likely be resting for the next few days.

The passing hours is enough time for Elrick's patrol to return, one that was not hurried as no news of the hunt had reached him while he was out looking for barbarians instead of deer. However, when he arrived back at the d'Tremaine encampment, word reached him quickly and he immediately made his way to the healers tent, still in his padded full maile armor. After stepping inside, he can see that the hunt had indeed gone terribly wrong, and the word he received was not over-exaggerating. "By the One…" He manages a half whisper, gaze slowly moving over all the wounded occupants.

Nadine's sword hand is wrapped tightly and splinted— it had been broken and set, at least, though adrenaline allowed her to ignore the injury until the end of the battle.

Her expression is quite grim, as she blames herself for the debacle that was this hunting expedition.

Stellan is expecting Elrick to arrive, and lifts a hand in his direction when he does to give him a lazy wave and crooked smile. "Hey… it wasn't just deer and birds, after all," he jests in an effort to lighten the mood. It may fail for the others. "How did the patrol go?"

Oddly, Nadine isn't the only one blaming herself. "I am sorry," comes the flat words from Evelyn's lips. It's quiet. Barely heard, perhaps. But she speaks them. It was her idea, afterall. She'd pushed for it. Suggested it, and twisted Nadine into going with them. She looks towards Marcus, as she says this the first time. As if to apologize, directly to him. But then she looks to the others. "I am -sorry-," she says, looking to each of them. And lastly, to Blaze. "I don't know what I would do without you, old friend. I shouldn't have drug you into this either." Blaze at least, with the faitfulness of a animal companion, only nuzzles her hand, and wags his tail just a little sensing Evelyn's pain.

"I'll need to see to the men." Joffrey says quietly to Nadine. Mindful of the d'Cadri knight's injury, he leans over and gives her a brief, warm embrace. "Rest. And eat and drink. I'll let your officers know that you will recover. Do you want me to send any other messages?" He speaks to Nadine with long-standing familiarity, withdrawing from the brief embrace and simply awaiting her answer before departing.

No one seems to be dead, though Elrick can see that the almost mummified Marcus is not in good shape nor is Evelyn who is watching over said mummy. He catches Stellan's wave and the d'Tremaine Heir goes to speak with his cousin, shaking his head as he nears, "I should have turned my patrol towards your hunt, it looks as if you all ran into a barbarian ambush." His tone is low, not wanting to disturb anyone who may be resting. "Damn. I should've sent you to lead the patrol instead." He doesn't ask for details of what happened, at least not here and not yet. Elrick's gaze looks over to the other occupants again, Artos who had wisely advised against going after more fearsome game, and then to where Nadine and Joffrey are, the former recovering in a cot.

"I'll be fine," Nadine replies, with a frown. "I'll be up soon enough, even if I cannot wield a sword for some time." She breaks the sibling-like hug from Joffrey. "One watch over you, Joff."

She notes Elrick's presence, and looks away, embarrassed. She'd allowed them all to come to such injury.

The squire shifts on his cot to get more comfortable while he converses with his cousin. "I think I prefer the barbarians, truthfully." The bears DID ultimately do him more harm. He shakes his head. "But there's no way we could have anticipated this… you made the right call with the patrol. They need you." And normally it would be considered the more dangerous job. "I mean, can you really see me doing it?" He was likely half the age of some of their men. He looks to the others, noting the somberness in the air. "It was no one's fault, so there's nothing to apologize for, and we will be fine." Even mummy Marcus.

"An ambush by angry Icebears is not something anyone can fully plan for." Joffrey notes, more towards Elrick but quite audible to Nadine as well. "And you as well" He returns to the latter with a faint smile, before turning to head from the tents, giving Elrick a nod in passing. And then it's off to business.

Evelyn looks to Nadine, then to Joffrey. "He certainly did watch over Sir Joffrey," she conceeds. "I can only be thankful no one perished." She, in her own right, looks away as Stellan tells her there is nothing to apologize for. She, clearly, does not believe this is the case. She was the one suggesting - even if only half-jokingly, that it might be fun to hunt down an ice bear. She taunted fate. And it reacted. She nods to Joffrey, "Be well."

A smirk appeared as Elrick looks back to Stellan, "My patrol needed me like it needed another ten men, we didn't take any barbarians prisoner, was another incident free ride." Words spoken out of frustration, the heir knows that it was the right choice, duty called and he answered. There are times, like this, he wishes he didn't have to listen to duty. As Joffrey passes by, Elrick returns the nod with the same, remaining quiet for now.

Stellan closes his eyes and nods to Elrick. "I'm not going to complain about that. An incident free patrol is the best patrol." He was all for boring patrols for the barony's heir, even if it may frustrate Elrick. "I think I will be out of action for awhile myself, sadly. I think I almost dropped by stomach on the way back here." An exaggeration, but not by much. "So you'll have to make snarky remarks in my place."

Nadine rises from her bed and moves over towards the two d'Tremaine. "Squire Stellan is correct," she says coolly. "Patrols without incident keep you in one piece."

Shaking his head again, Elrick can only release a sigh of resignation, knowing that what's done is done and he cannot change the past. "If you wanted to get out of courier duty so badly, I'll have to tell you a different way of doing so then getting yourself almost disemboweled." Then when Nadine approaches, the d'Tremaine nods his head in greeting, "Commander. I agree, keeps my men in one piece too." There is a pause before he glances down at her bandage mitten hand, "How bad is it?" The shape of a hand can be seen from the bandaging, so it was safe to assume it wasn't torn off.

The warhound seems to have fallen asleep, and Evelyn, for her part looks briefly to her longtime friend, before glancing to the two d'Tremaine, and Nadine. "There were four of them, Sir Elrick. The battle would have been grevious were you there or not. I am only glad we had such those of stout spirit as we did in our party. And, the hunt, if not the encounter, was successful." Her eyes again stray towards Marcus, worriedly. Then she lays back on the bed, "And Sir Nadine had enought to …," she pauses, coughs a bit suddenly, sharply though she has no chest wound, only a heavy bandage on her head, "Enough skill," she says, calmly, quietly, "And command. As did others. She felled one of the creatures. I, another. Sir Gabriel and …," She pauses. "I don't remember who took the other." She shakes her head. Briefly exchanges a look with Nadine, then looks away.

"Indeed," Artos remarks, wincing after he turns his head, "Damn, still not used to that." He sets down his cup and tries, with some effort, to make himself a tiny bit more comfortable. "Not much could have been done unless we had an entire army, for a while it seems as if our blades did nothing to the beasts."

"In my defense, they only got me once. I was trying *really* hard not to get disemboweled," he retorts half-heartedly. He looks to the others who now join the conversation, grateful that the tense atmosphere was letting up a bit. His eyes drift to Nadine's wounded hand, too, but they don't linger; he knows how that feels, too, somewhat. He nods to Evelyn when she calls the hunt a success. "Our men will be eating hearty for awhile to come." His gaze darkens somewhat. "I suppose the adults may have been protecting their young, but… I thought they hibernated at this time." Alas, he was no bear expert. "I think it was an incredible amount of bad luck…"

"Ice bears are vicious and hardy," Nadine notes quietly. "Those of us who live here in the far north are quite aware of this." She frowns. "And they remain active through the winter. Not like southern bears." She offers Elrick a weak smile, more like a grimace. "My hand is broken, but it will heal, One willing.."

Still looking away from Nadine, and the others, Evelyn voices quietly, "The healers said it would, Sir Nadine. Your hand will heal. And you will remain the Snow Shield." She says it as much to Nadine, as to herself to assert her own confidence, and assuage her guilt that is presently waging a war within her mind with her logic. She moves her hand up to her head, lightly to the bandage. "I need a damn drink."

Elrick won't be the first to argue against what Evelyn said, hearing that there were four monstrous ice bears, it was probably better he wasn't there to be chewed up. "I'm glad that you all returned, if a group of ice bears cannot even kill our best, then the barbarians will have much to fear." Would be interesting if word got out of the camp that a group of brave Aequor warriors went out and took down four ice bears. Elrick then looks back to Nadine and at her hand briefly, a smile appearing, "As long as you rest it properly, Commander, so it looks like you will need to find someone else to write your reports." Then he glances down at Stellan, "Perhaps my cousin could be of service, since he will be in bed recovering for a while, yes?"

"I want a drink, too," Stellan admits, though that be a terrible idea in his current state and he knows it. Elrick's eagerness to offer up his penmanship services is regarded with an arched brow, but he doesn't seem turned off by the idea. "I wouldn't mind keeping busy while I'm here," he admits as he looks back to Nadine. "If you want it, I'd be happy to help, Commander." He cants his head curiously back at her. "Assuming you're not left-handed."

Nadine shakes her head at Stellan. "I will manage," she says simply. "You need to rest and heal." She looks to Evelyn, then folows her gaze to Marcus… and tilts her head curiously. "Drinking is ill-advised, Sir Evelyn. Following the instructions of your healers will heal you more quickly."

"Mm." Evelyn exhales, closes her eyes. Opens them, and then gives a short nod, then winces, and holds her hand up to her head again. "Damnation," she curses, under her breath. "I know. I said I wanted one. Not that I'd have one." At least, not now. Then, to Nadine, she expresses, "We should talk, soon. After we've both had some rest."

Hearing the magic word spoken from Evelyn, Elrick nods to the group, "I am sure the healers have already ordered you all to rest, I'm not healer but I am sure that is sound advice. I'll take my leave, and again, I'm glad you all returned safely." He may visit again later, just to check on everyone, but for now the d'Tremaine will return to his encampment, leaving the wounded be.

Stellan sighs in dismay. "True enough," he answers the commander. He gives Elrick another lazy wave when he announces his impending departure. "Be well, cousin. Feel free to drop by again, if you want to. I don't need to sleep all hours of the day."

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