Potions and Poisons (Kala)

[Laveriel]

Potions and Poisons

86th of Ash, Year 120 AS

Iselya had the habit of coming to work far too early. This had started when she discovered that walking through the Tranquil Gardens when there was no one else around was more soothing than she could ever imagine. It was not the most beautiful place she had ever seen, but she was fond of it anyways. Even in the season of ash, the colors were still as vibrant as ever. As she walked pass a shrub of rosemary, the healer knelt and gathered a handful of them.

She proceeded to make her way to the main entrance, her robes billowing behind her. There were only a few attendants greeting her as she passed, all clad in emerald of the House Ahvitin.

The door to clinic suddenly open and Heowynne slipped out of the room, eyes wide and blonde hair disheveled. No doubt she woke up late and only rushed to tidy the room when she saw Iselya was coming from afar. From all the assistants she had dealt with, Heowynne was certainly the most driven. It also did not hurt that she could stomach necromancy. The young human straightened and flipping through the charts in her arm. “Healer d’Svaris, you have five appointments so far. Most of them in the evenings.”

Iselya nodded in acknowledgement. “Thank you, Heowynne. You should go get yourself some breakfast from the cafeteria.”

Nodding gratefully, the aspiring young healer quickly bid her farewell, promising to return with some tea. The Siltori slipped into the room and took a quick look as she placed the rosemary on her worktable. All her tools were already arranged neatly the way she wanted it to, ready for use. Heowynne may not be the brightest, but she certainly listened well. The sheets on the examination bed was slightly askew and the healer tucked it into place.

As she sank into her chair, the Siltori let out a soft sigh and looked around the room that she had called her office for three seasons. It was considerably smaller than her working space in Ailos, but it was more than enough for her to stock everything she needed. Large windows that went from floor to ceiling filtered in the soft sunlight, showering her in a gentle warmth. On the other side, the wall was line with cupboards hiding dozens of containers filled with her ichor. While her necromantic magic was greatly appreciated, Iselya had been specifically instructed to keep the more gruesome part of it well away from plain sight. After all, jarred blood certainly didn’t exactly scream tranquility. Meanwhile, more mundane potions are proudly displayed, their diverse colors glistening under the sun.

Iselya wondered how long she would be able to stay, playing healer to the people of Kalzasi. Some days she was sure that this was it, that this was her chance to finally settle down and no one would find her here. Other days she could see it clearly in her mind, Gelerian soldiers breaking through the door and ready to capture her. Iselya reached for a book detailing the various properties of medicinal herbs – tedious reading always worked to take her mind of things.

She didn’t know how much time had passed but two knocks broke her focus. It was time for her to start the day.

[Kala Leukos]

It was early enough in the day that Kala rose to go about her day. There was something about night that was intoxicating to her that had nothing to do with the intoxicants people imbibed when bright sunlight ceded the land to the seductive glow of night. The stars had been her friends since childhood, but there were things that could only be accomplished in daylight — her classes at the Academy for one. Of course, she had studied already. But if she wanted to get through all her errands without being rushed to get to class or to spar with her brother, then she needed to exist on a strict schedule.

Though she was a young lady of means, her mother's servants saw to the efficient administration of their home in Kalzasi. They were not at her beck and call. In any case, there were some things that were too important to leave to chance. If one wanted a thing done a certain way, one ought to do it themselves. Of course, she could spot helpful herbs on the Mountain, but any child in the area could. That didn't make her an herbalist or a healer, just a person with eyes. And so she had come here after doing some research around the city. There were plenty of herbalists and healers in the city, but the Warren March wasn't scheduled until next season and so she had invested time and energy in searching for exactly what she needed, though even that would require some negotiation and education still.

After spending some time looking out over Lake Udori from the Tranquil Gardens' vantage, she sought out an attendant for directions and found herself knocking at a particular door. When she heard footsteps approaching from the other side of the door, she gave her shoulders a quick shake and let them relax and her spine straighten. When one had so little height to work with, one learned to perfect one's posture to take advantage of every inch. A tempest could rage behind her serene smile and only her brother would know. Plenty of people back home found her strange, though she and her brother were beloved — Avialae twins who survived gestation, birth, and childhood were a sign from the Gods for many.

When the door opened to reveal a Siltori woman, she offered a slight bow. Though an adult now, perhaps she was not quite used to it yet and the rise of her place in the world. Perhaps it was her upbringing, knowing she would serve her mother and later her brother as she served her people. Perhaps it was because most of her relationships in the city were with instructors and people of greater rank and importance. Perhaps she was just polite.

In any case, she said, "Healer d'Svaris? I am Kala Leukos. 'Tis a pleasure to meet you. Might I trouble you for a consultation?"

[Laveriel]

Heowynne always knocked three times, so that was enough to tell her that the assistant hadn’t returned from her food excursion. She would have to remind the girl while Iselya did not mind her wandering around when there was nothing to do, she should know to return to her post before any patients arrived. Though perhaps she shouldn’t be too stern – a lady from one of the lesser houses who apprenticed under her for a single month had protested to her parents that Iselya was too hard on her and that had bred all sorts of unpleasantness.

The healer placed down her book and stood to open the door for her first patient of the day. An unfamiliar young woman was standing there. From how she carried herself and the fine state of her clothing, she went on ahead to assume that she belonged to one of the noble houses. Even after a few years, the Siltori still had a little trouble with keeping all their names straight. “Lady Kala,” Iselya greeted with a smile as she stepped back so the light-haired woman could enter. Her hand gestured at the armchair situated in front of her wooden desk. “Please take a seat.”

Meanwhile, Iselya sat down on her own seat and took out a paper to jot down whatever came from this consultation. Her gray eyes turned back to Kala. “This is the first time we meet, right? I don’t think you’ve been a patient of mine before.” The Siltori was not quite the most popular healer in the Gardens, but what she had were particularly loyal regulars who decided to come to her since she first started working there. So a new patient always got her a bit more excited. “How can I help you today?”

Upon a quick observation, it did not seem to Iselya that Kala was suffering any maladies. Her voice was stronger than what her small stature would suggest and the glint in her blue eyes was bright. She wondered what had brought the girl to Tranquil Gardens today.

[Kala Leukos]

"Thank you," she said, perching on the edge of the armchair, ankles crossed beneath her long skirts. Her hands rested calmly in her lap and whenever she wasn't speaking, her face returned to its neutral, which was a faint smile—not enough to be artificially friendly, but enough to seem amiable.

"This is my first time to the Tranquil Gardens since I was an infant," she assured her. "My birth was difficult and so, when my mother, my twin, and I were hale enough to travel, we came here. My brother and I have recently returned to the city to further our educations and, more to the point of my presence, so my brother might pass his Warren March. We are both healthy enough, but the Warrens are dangerous and I don't intend on losing my brother to ours."

More correctly, it would be his. Women of their race became adults as a matter of course when they were old enough. It was only the men who had to prove themselves worthy. But Kala would prove herself worthy, wings or no wings. But that was neither here nor there.

"Of course, I fully intend to go into this well-prepared, but I was hoping to take more than a few bandages with us. I would like something or some things for emergencies. Should the worse occur, I would like to at least be able to stabilize him until he can receive proper healing." She already knew how to cauterize a wound with a bit of well-crafted Fire, but that could only staunch bleeding, not replenish blood, nor combat venom or any number of other eventualities. It didn't occur to Kala that she might be the one who incurred injury, that she might be more burden than help. No, she had always been the leader of the pair. They got through everything working together and that was how this must go, as well.

[Laveriel]

“Twin births are always tricky, your mother must have had quite the talented healer,” the dark-haired woman commented. Iselya listened intently as Kala told her story, making light notes on her paper.

It was most certainly a unique request, but a sensible one. Most warriors wouldn’t go as far as to consult a healer and stock up on life-saving potions. They tend to focus on how they could survive with their blade and admittedly Iselya was also guilty of it during her early years as a knight. All she knew was cutting down what was in front of her and doing everything to make herself stronger.

“If it was me, I would focus on managing the pain. Based on my experience, it’s the most debilitating factor. Many fighters could have the strength to raise their blades even with blood gushing out of their wound, but even the mildest pain could slow you down.” The Siltori would know. She often wielded that pain against her enemies in a battlefield, surrounding herself with screams of agony. It gave her more than ample opportunity to cut them down. “Without training, treating more severe injuries can be tricky. I can show you the basics when I’m off work. That is if you’re interested, my lady.”

It was then that Iselya realized that the girl was saying she was going to the Warrens too. The healer have only heard that Avialae were the ones to go down into the dark and prove themselves. Never a noblewoman. Still, she didn’t know the details regarding their culture, so she refrained herself from asking. “I’ve had patients who came out of the Warrens before, but I have never been myself, so I can’t say I know the details of what you might be facing. What sort of creatures are down there?”

[Kala Leukos]

A fair brow rose at the offer for training.

"I would not turn down the opportunity to learn," she said with all sincerity. Her eyes dipped down for a moment, then met the healer's again. "My classes will be finished by early afternoon and I can be available any time after that. Should I bring food so you won't have to put off your supper?" As for the request for more information, Kala only wished she had it.

"As for the dangers... I have read several accounts, but the Reaches are vast and the dangers differ from one place to another and there is always some element of mutability to it. I believe they want the young men to prove they are not only brave and capable, but adaptable to the vagaries of peril. Perhaps after I visit the Novalys Mining Company and speak to someone there, I can bring you more reliable and detailed information about what we might face down there. And what the miners carry in their healer kits. In the meantime, perhaps we can build the foundation of a kit for me and build from there once we have more to go on.

"I can also attempt to find out more about what is being planned for my brother's particular March. Whether we will be facing undead or mistborn or..." She spread her hands eloquently, summing up the greater unknown in one gesture. "Perhaps I can also find out from the mining company and other sources which healers tend to treat those who are injured in the Warrens and interview them."

Clearly, the diminutive young woman was hedging no bets when it came to the safety of her twin. Though calm enough on the surface, the wheels in her head were spinning as she planned the logistics of this endeavor. Her mother had trained her to be a force to be reckoned with, a force the ruler of the Mountain whether it was her mother or, later, her elder brother. Of course, as they spoke about the vagaries of peril she had always been aware that there was a possibility that rule would fall to her if something happened to Aquilios, but he was such a paragon of what an Avialae was supposed to be, he seemed invincible. Her mind didn't like to imagine losing him as they had lost their father. The threat was marked in her mind, but not allowed into the forefront of her attention. It was a bridge she would cross if she came to it, but anticipating what might never come was a wasted effort.

For now, worrying about Kaus was enough for her.

[Laveriel]

Iselya let her eyes wander as she recalled if there was any meeting she needed to attend after work. None as far as she could tell, so she should be free. “It’s alright, my lady, no need to trouble yourself. Where can I find you once my shift is over? Or would you prefer to be trained in the Gardens?”

“Facing the undead is definitely one of the less pleasant things in life,” Iselya noted, wincing slightly at the thought. Perhaps it was odd for a necromancer to feel irked but the undead, but even after a century the former knight-captain could picture the horrors of the Graveplague like it just happened yesterday. “At least that’s what I can tell from seeing their victims.”

Only a few days ago, Valron had told her that there had been an unusual amount of undead wandering about the Warrens. Her companion had suggested that they investigate, but Iselya wasn’t as eager to encounter them. Besides, meddling with the city’s issues might attract unwanted attention. If the city could handle it, there was no need to involve themselves.

“I’ve heard of the mining company. They travel down into the Warrens in order to harvest dragonshards, right?” Her eyes brightened as she spoke, her mind also turning. The Siltori had been curious about the mysterious place underneath their feet for a while now. It had been a while since she stocked up on dragonshards and she had been considering venturing down herself – even with her job at the Gardens and Valron’s bounty hunting they didn’t have enough budget to spend on magical items. This was a rare chance to learn more without it. “They will certainly have valuable information, but will they be willing to share?”

“You seem well-prepared, my lady. Your brother is lucky to have you with him in such a trial,” the Siltori said with a soft smile as she stood, walking over to one of her shelves. Gathering several jars and tinctures in her arms, she brought it back to her desk so the pale woman could take note of them. “Here are some basic supplies that I would suggest for you and brother.”

Iselya picked up a glass bottle filled with a murky gray liquid, swirling it slightly. “This mixture is a numbing agent. While it’s not the most pleasant to ingest, its quite potent. You will barely notice being cut open by a blade.” Next she pointed to another jar filled with a greenish salve. “This one will help with wound healing and infection – a mixture of sticklewort, lotus, and cattail with a bit of honey.”

The Siltori tapped her fingers on the desk in thought. “I’m guessing you don’t want to bring too many? After all, these supplies might weigh you down and it seems like mobility might be important in the Warrens.”

[Kala Leukos]

The undead were not unheard of on the Mountain from whence she came. It was remote, yes, but the world was still chaotic beyond city walls. Suffice it to say, there were enough people there who were capable of dealing with threats, mundane and magical, and so she had never come face to face with them—perhaps that was about to change. Kala didn't gulp, though the thought did give her pause. It would any rational person, she thought. Bravery wasn't an absence of fear, she had been taught, but rather the ability to set one's fear aside or work through it in order to do what must be done.

The ghost of a smile quirked her lips.

"They are indeed the company with all but a monopoly on dragonshards from the Warrens. I don't think they will withhold any valuable information. It isn't as if I were a threat to their market share. If I have to bat my eyelashes and play helpless in order to secure the information I need to keep my brother alive, then I will play the role of fainting maiden." She paused. "I think they would be obliged to tell me. Not that I would be so crass as to demand, but if something were to happen to my brother or to me and it was discovered they withheld information, well, I am sure there are people with power who wouldn't look kindly on them for that.

"In any case, I would be asking about survival lore for what will probably be a one-time foray into the Warrens. I wouldn't be asking for maps to their most lucrative dig sites." Of course, she hoped they would bring back some exceptional dragonshards. That was part of it and if she had a hint of the mystic about her, she wondered what dragonshards might be looking for her rather than the other way around.

Her smile lingered at the compliment. She hadn't come for that, but it seemed sincere and so she accepted it as such. And Kala would be armed, not just playing pack animal. The only thing she couldn't do was fly, and she had plans for that, at least in the long term. But she looked over what the healer showed her, nodding and trying to visualize her pack and how much room it would have. She wouldn't want to be so weighed down or so over-encumbered that she would be at a great disadvantage should her knives come out.

Thoughtfully, she considered, then looked the woman in the eye. "Yes, I think one or perhaps two doses of the things we decide are most likely to be useful. Anything that has multiple uses that overlap might help us reduce the load, as well. The goal isn't to set up a clinic in the wilds, but to prevent the rapid onset of death long enough to get him back to a real healer." She touched the painkiller briefly. "He can handle pain, but perhaps if something is that bad... this would help him keep calm enough to get back."

Kala realized this might all be for naught, but she didn't want to be caught flat-footed when being unprepared could mean losing the most precious person in her life.

"Perhaps we can make better decisions when I come back with more information?"

[Mirage]

Kala

Lores
Assembling First Aid Kits
Necromantic Medicine
Preparing for Adventure
Tips From an Expert

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A

Points 8

Iselya

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