P A R A G O N
The quickest way to recover was achieved primarily through three things. The first was adequate rest. There in the heart of a military encampment with soldiers and battlemages all abuzz, there was little real chance of that. Sporadic rest was more likely but it was better than nothing. The second was to get one’s fill of nutrient rich foods. The rations that had been brought with them were not the richest in terms of taste but they provided adequate nutrient intake given they had been made primarily for Avialae. As men of not inconsiderable size who often went into the Warrens for days on end, they did the job. Even if they tasted bland. The final thing was to be looked at by a healer. So it was with her dismissal, that Helena tacked on orders to be seen by the camp healers.
The group had two medics. Sitka, an Avialae who was particularly good at alchemy and was responsible for many of the poultices, elixirs, and substances that kept the group going. Then there was Melody. She was a spitfire middle-aged human woman who had been with the Sky Guard for…well…for a long time. While none would go so far as to call her a master surgeon, she was good at what she did. Which was patching people up, getting them back on their feet long enough to survive, and moved to the more methodical healers in a safer place. She had saved many a life in her time and she brokered little in the way of arguments with her remedies. The woman had single-handedly stopped more than one rowdy soldier with a withering look after stitches she’d placed had popped loose. That was usually all it took to get them in line.
Arriving at the medic’s tent, things were surprisingly quiet. Soldiers were standing guard dutifully. Several battle-robed mages were also standing watch albeit at a distance. The collection of Zaichaeri prisoners were gathered in a makeshift holding area that was under the protection of a cloth awning. Sitka was gently pouring broth into the mouth of one of the prisoners who drank it down quietly. Melody on the other hand, was standing beside a cot holding what appeared to be the wrapped appendage of a soldier who had been severed from it. The man was covered in sweat. He was groaning and looked to be in obvious pain. Restlessness was evident in his whole form, tense with agony and clinging to life. The bloody stump of where his leg used to be was covered in soaked bandages. Melody was silent but her eyes were fixed, not upon the wounded man, but someone else. Rising from a nearby cot was an elven woman with distinctly Hytori features. Her hair was a wheat gold that seemed to be crowned with a soft light. She wore robes of emerald green beneath which was a white gown trimmed with gold.
Turning, the Hytori woman came to the cot where the soldier with the bloody stump was resting. She brought up a hand, gently placing it upon the wounded man’s forehead. As soon as she touched him, he stilled. His whole body went limp as all tension flowed out of him. The Hytori woman looked up to Melody who brought forward the stump. She set it down just mere inches from where it had been severed. Melody then quickly began unwrapping the bloody stump. As she moved, the Zaichaeri soldier whimpered.
“Please. Please.” What he was begging for, only the gods knew. The Hytori woman’s face softened as though she understood. She brushed away some of his sweaty hair and made soft shushing sounds. Once the bloody stump was unwrapped, Melody stepped back, holding the soiled bandages tightly. The Hytori woman did not hesitate. She brought her hands over the severed limb. As soon as she did, golden light began to emit from her hands. Immediately, the severed limb and the stump moved. First the cracked and broken bones began to shift and move. They extended until the ends touched, drawing each other together piece by piece. Blood vessels began spawning or extending, attaching to their correct anatomical pathways, pulling the limb into place. Muscle and sinew quickly followed, setting the limb and bringing it back into its correct anatomical position for the man’s body. Skin quickly regrew and the severed limb was reattached. Color and health spread through the limb and some of the man’s color returned to him. The soldier sagged into the cot, head falling to the side. His chest rose and fell steadily as though he were in slumber.
The Hytori woman withdrew her hands. She stared at the limb for a moment as though studying it before letting out a breath. When she moved to get up, another figure stepped forward. A darker skinned Dratori man. He was tall and broad with dark hair. He wore armor that was native to neither Kalzasi nor Zaichaer. It did not seem native to any of the Free Cities at all. Where the Hytori woman exuded peace, tranquility and healing, this Dratori man was built for war and bloodshed. Every inch of him rippled with controlled power as though with a single movement, he could slaughter legions. Even his eyes were a deep blood red that, while stern, were surprisingly gentle as they stared at the woman. He extended a hand which she took. With exquisite tenderness he wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her to her feet. She looked only mildly unsteady as she leaned on him for support for a brief moment. The two of them shared a silent look before stepping away from the cot.
“Melody?” The woman spoke and the medic stepped forward, looking almost meek.
“Yes, my Lady?” Melody had wide eyes as though she were staring at some mythical figure.
“Are there any others?” The woman looked as though she were about to start walking the encampment looking for wounded but Melody shook her head.
“You have tended to the most urgent, my Lady. Most of the others simply need time and rest. As for the ones with the enchantment upon them? I will go looking for--” Melody stopped short as she caught sight of Charlie and Avamande. Her gaze hardened as she stared at Charlie.
“Just who I was about to come searching for.”
The group had two medics. Sitka, an Avialae who was particularly good at alchemy and was responsible for many of the poultices, elixirs, and substances that kept the group going. Then there was Melody. She was a spitfire middle-aged human woman who had been with the Sky Guard for…well…for a long time. While none would go so far as to call her a master surgeon, she was good at what she did. Which was patching people up, getting them back on their feet long enough to survive, and moved to the more methodical healers in a safer place. She had saved many a life in her time and she brokered little in the way of arguments with her remedies. The woman had single-handedly stopped more than one rowdy soldier with a withering look after stitches she’d placed had popped loose. That was usually all it took to get them in line.
Arriving at the medic’s tent, things were surprisingly quiet. Soldiers were standing guard dutifully. Several battle-robed mages were also standing watch albeit at a distance. The collection of Zaichaeri prisoners were gathered in a makeshift holding area that was under the protection of a cloth awning. Sitka was gently pouring broth into the mouth of one of the prisoners who drank it down quietly. Melody on the other hand, was standing beside a cot holding what appeared to be the wrapped appendage of a soldier who had been severed from it. The man was covered in sweat. He was groaning and looked to be in obvious pain. Restlessness was evident in his whole form, tense with agony and clinging to life. The bloody stump of where his leg used to be was covered in soaked bandages. Melody was silent but her eyes were fixed, not upon the wounded man, but someone else. Rising from a nearby cot was an elven woman with distinctly Hytori features. Her hair was a wheat gold that seemed to be crowned with a soft light. She wore robes of emerald green beneath which was a white gown trimmed with gold.
Turning, the Hytori woman came to the cot where the soldier with the bloody stump was resting. She brought up a hand, gently placing it upon the wounded man’s forehead. As soon as she touched him, he stilled. His whole body went limp as all tension flowed out of him. The Hytori woman looked up to Melody who brought forward the stump. She set it down just mere inches from where it had been severed. Melody then quickly began unwrapping the bloody stump. As she moved, the Zaichaeri soldier whimpered.
“Please. Please.” What he was begging for, only the gods knew. The Hytori woman’s face softened as though she understood. She brushed away some of his sweaty hair and made soft shushing sounds. Once the bloody stump was unwrapped, Melody stepped back, holding the soiled bandages tightly. The Hytori woman did not hesitate. She brought her hands over the severed limb. As soon as she did, golden light began to emit from her hands. Immediately, the severed limb and the stump moved. First the cracked and broken bones began to shift and move. They extended until the ends touched, drawing each other together piece by piece. Blood vessels began spawning or extending, attaching to their correct anatomical pathways, pulling the limb into place. Muscle and sinew quickly followed, setting the limb and bringing it back into its correct anatomical position for the man’s body. Skin quickly regrew and the severed limb was reattached. Color and health spread through the limb and some of the man’s color returned to him. The soldier sagged into the cot, head falling to the side. His chest rose and fell steadily as though he were in slumber.
“Melody?” The woman spoke and the medic stepped forward, looking almost meek.
“Yes, my Lady?” Melody had wide eyes as though she were staring at some mythical figure.
“Are there any others?” The woman looked as though she were about to start walking the encampment looking for wounded but Melody shook her head.
“You have tended to the most urgent, my Lady. Most of the others simply need time and rest. As for the ones with the enchantment upon them? I will go looking for--” Melody stopped short as she caught sight of Charlie and Avamande. Her gaze hardened as she stared at Charlie.
“Just who I was about to come searching for.”