1629, Fire Season, Stasis Week, Windsday
Context
Mellia has settled into life in Wilmskirk after a few days there. Then a man fell out of a storm onto Silor’s roof. Session 5.W-13
Events
Back by the house there are several people milling around; the crashes attracted some attention, even from the drunkards and the very badly dehydrated. A duck that looks curiously like Devolin is being sick against the wall.
Nobody out here is doing anything useful, but when Mellia approaches, she does get offered a cloak. It seems like they were leaving her alone with a patient, and now that the man has left they are going to look at the damage.
Thenaya is now giving people drinks and reassuring them. The singing is still going on, but slowly, as if everyone involved is falling asleep.
Mellia gratefully accepts the cloak. She wishes the party were in shape to fight, but they are not. So she hurries off to the hospital.
As she walks, there are more flashes of lightning, and the rolls of thunder are constant. Then, as she is about half a minute from the Hospital, they all stop.
She can see women in white outside, several with bags in their hands, looking ready to go. Chalana Arroy may be a pacifist who relies on the goodwill of others, but she is not a fool.
“Thanks be that you are ready,” Mellia tells her colleagues. “King Vamastal is back and is being chased by a storm giant. We probably need to get to the center of town.”
One of them sighs. “Oh, how wonderful,” murmurs the voice of Jaldis. She is in the crowd. A moment later she is walking forwards, with little sign of nerves. Others follow. “Isn’t it marvellous we have such a visitor?” a young acolyte asks Mellia.
“It would be if the giant was not angry,” Mellia says to the acolyte. She follows the other healers.
“I meant Lady Jaldis, silly!” The young woman looks ahead to where Jaldis is speeding up a little – just enough to stay ahead.
Mellia just smiles and goes a little bit faster.
The open area at the middle of town looks rather battered. Already damaged by Wolf Pirates, it is a little bit on fire again. People are picking each other up, and in some cases picking bits of building up.
Strangely, there now seems to be a small hill there, that was not present before. It rises where the Temple of Orlanth was, higher than the gentle rise that was there yesterday.
“What in Glorantha?!?!”
“Oh my,” someone else murmurs.
Jaldis wastes no time, and is already bullying Orlanthi into movement, getting a First Aid station set up. “Mellia dear, you stay here and keep this place. We’ll send you walking wounded.” And off she goes, all efficiency. Behind her flutter several white-clad women, and she sends them to fan out as she walks.
Mellia knows what to reply: “Yes, Lady Jaldis.” Mellia tries to make herself comfortable while she waits for patients.
There are a lot, but Mellia knows how to run this sort of station, and she has plenty of helpers. For walking wounded, most of what she has to do is be certain they can get to the hospital on their own, and look after a few who cannot. Some are brought in by friends, and others should not be designated as walking, but somehow managed to get here.
Then Mellia sees a familiar shape. Silor is walking next to a couple of strong men holding a stretcher. The figure on it is dressed like Venlar. Is Venlar’s size. Has the right hair.
Mellia blanches. She calls, “Father? Don’t stop walking, but what happened?”
Silor raises his hand. “We were too close to a cyclone. Your husband lives but will need your care.” He is keeping his right arm still, and it is tucked into his belt. It is likely broken.
Venlar is palely asleep. His right leg is horribly twisted, the bone broken in many places. Either the pain or a head injury is keeping him unconscious. He looks far more scuffed than Silor does.
Mellia tells her helpers, “Take over for a bit.” She then checks Venlar for a head injury.
His pupils are the same size, but unfocussed. There is a bump behind his ear where he must have hit the ground or a building pretty hard.
Silor lets Mellia look after her patient, and sends the stretcher bearers to look for others, but while his actions are sensible, there is strain in his voice.
Mellia uses spirit magic1Heal 6 on that nasty head wound. She hopes that will deal with the worst of the damage.
His eyes flicker open. He is tough. Mellia gets a smile, and then Venlar’s face creases in pain, and the air is sullied with some very bad words. “…damndamndamn that hurts. S’abad one, Mellie…” There is apparently still feeling in his leg.
“I am going to set your leg now, love. Swear all you want.”
“Bite this,” Silor says, handing over a folded bit of cloth. “It’ll protect your teeth.”
Venlar gives him a look, and ignores the cloth, holding onto the stretcher he is on. “Do it,” he murmurs to Mellia.
Mellia sets all the breaks in Venlar’s right leg as fast as she can. “There, my love, that should help. Will you forgive me if I send you to the hospital at this point?”
There are a couple she can handle, but this will need magic too. The hospital is the right place for him, given she needs to keep her ability to help others, but he is hurting right now.
Venlar whimpers. It is probably a yes.
Silor is looking oddly pained, as if seeing that hurt.
Mellia turns to Silor. “Let me set that arm before you go to the hospital.”
Silor nods. “I landed badly. Nothing more.” He loosens his belt to get the hand free. “Thank you, White Lady.” The distraction, even the pain, seems to help.
“Sometimes that’s all it takes.”
The bones are cleanly broken, but she can put them back into place. As long as he does not try to use the hand or arm, all should be well. A quick splint to make sure of their positioning, and she is done. Silor gives her a careful kiss on the hairline. “Thank you.” He might not just mean for his own healing.
Mellia smiles, but there’s pain in her eyes. “Others need me now , or I would do more. You are welcome.”
New carriers have picked up Venlar. The Hospital has no shortage of volunteers, in a time of crisis. Silor watches after his son, but stays with Mellia.
- 1Heal 6
