Edoras Infirmary--The Beginning

[Thalionwen Hunigfolm]

On the outskirts of Edoras, only a few minutes’ walk from the city’s bustling heart, lies a derelict farmstead. Dotted with ramshackle wooden outbuildings and overgrown meadows strewn with wildflowers, a large tent has been set up at the farmstead’s center. One of the nearby pastures is still occupied by a trio of waist-high, spoiled-looking miniature horses who crop the grass busily, or doze in the shade beneath a spreading tree. Chickens scratch about in the dirt, searching for seeds or insects, and a ginger cat lounges in an open doorway. Here and there, evidence of repairs being made to the old wooden structures can be seen, and a suspiciously orcish figure is lurking in the shadows near one building, hammering a shutter back into place.

EDORAS INFIRMARY--TEMPORARY FACILITY--ALL WELCOME a sign in front of the farmstead’s central tent announces. The letters are coupled with the outline of a mortar and pestle, to indicate the tent’s function to those visitors who cannot read.

A cookfire in front of the tent is burning merrily, and the wholesome smell of steeping herbs rises from a pot set above the flames. On a wooden drying rack, strips of linen bandages and cotton gauze are bleaching in the sun. Beside the entrance to the tent, a small table has been set up, on which rests a pitcher, washbasin and large cake of lye soap scented with lavender. BEMA WANTS YOU TO WASH UP, another sign proclaims, coupled with the hastily sketched image of two suds-covered hands.

Within the tent are two rows of tidy camp beds, partitioned off from one another by sheets draped over lengths of rope. A few are occupied, though most sit empty, waiting until such a time as they are needed. At the back of the tent, a long row of shelves has been set up, stocked with the tools of a healer’s trade—glass bottles filled with dried herbs, horse hair and steel needles, rolls of bandages, and small earthenware crocks of honey.

If you are visiting the infirmary for medical assistance, please post in blue (#0000FF), and indicate that you are a PATIENT beneath your name. A healer will be with you shortly.

If you are visiting the infirmary as a trained healer seeking a brief trade refresher course, or are an individual with no prior healer’s experience who is seeking comprehensive training, please post in brown (#804040), and indicate that you are a PROSPECTIVE APPRENTICE beneath your name. A healer will be with you shortly.

If you are at the infirmary for trade reasons, general roleplay, to visit a patient, to make non-medical inquiries, or to seek employment (as a healer or in another capacity), please post in black, and indicate that you are a VISITOR beneath your name. A healer will be with you shortly.

If you are visiting the infirmary on Cavalry-related business, please post in gold (#FFBF00), and indicate that you are CAVALRY beneath your name. Keep in mind that weapons are strictly prohibited on Infirmary property, regardless of affiliation or rank. A healer will be with you shortly.

Healers post in green (#008000), and will indicate their role beneath their name.

The Edoras Infirmary is an independent establishment that welcomes visitors from any kingdom from Middle Earth. In the interest of maintaining peace, it is the Infirmary's policy that upon arrival, ALL weapons must be relinquished to the Lead Healer. They will be kept safe and returned at your departure. NO exceptions will be made, and any who fail to abide by the rules of the Infirmary will be sedated and restrained until such a time as they can be escorted off-site. A second violation of the no weapons rule will result in a ban from Infirmary property.

Very light godmoding may be undertaken by healers at times--settling patients onto beds, leading them to locations, dispensing treatments etc--but all patients must be informed of a healer's intent and have provided express or implied consent prior to this. However, if a patient is in dire medical straits, confused, or unconscious, healers may be required to quickly act in their best interests without previously requesting permission.

CURRENT STAFF

Thalionwen Hunigfolm, Lead Healer
Alwin of Sailes, Healer’s Assistant (NPC of Thalionwen)
Sigrid, Trial Healer (NPC of Winddancer)

The Edoras Infirmary is seeking trained healers of any kingdom in want of employment, and is specifically looking to branch out into veterinary services. If you are interested in serving as a healer for human or animal patients, please inquire!

[Lirimaer]

Laewyn, PROSPECTIVE APPRENTICE
.
Laewyn released Honey Butter into the field as she walked up to the new pavillion that had been set up, looking with interest at the many signs that this was an organised and professional endeavour. This made her happy. The lavender soap and water was also something that made her smile, for it was something her mother did when her horribly dirty brood came in from the stables - refusing to let them in until they were clean!

She washed up, then emptied the wash basin for the next user, and wandered in, looking around interestedly.

Laewyn was a stablemistress and horse trainer in her family's lands in the Eastfold, but had recently been wondering if there was more she could do to help out the horses and ponies in her care. She had heard from a passing trader that she might train to be a healer for the animals if she ever got out of the countryside, and so had travelled the long journey to Edoras to see if it might be so. It was certainly looking good so far.

[Gwai]

Gwai
Prospective Apprentice

The new infirmary area was fortunately quite close to Gwai's small house in Edoras, and the sun was not yet too hot as she made her way down the street to the collection of older wooden buildings. She had always wanted to be more fully involved in the health aspect of her horses at home, and while she had much experience dealing with the horses' various issues (and they always did seem to come up with some new injury or illness!), she had always wanted to have formal training. It would come in handy not only for work back home on the breeding farm, but also for her work in the cavalry. While she would prefer to concentrate and specialize predominantly in caring for horses and other animals, she was also planning to inquire into taking a basic training course in emergency aid. She had no desire to become a haeland, but a basic knowledge would be useful.

Gwai smiled at the sign asking visitors to wash their hands, and she took the opportunity to do so before ducking into the larger tent and looking around. Another woman was there, Laewyn, and Gwai smiled. "Are you here for work also?" she asked with a friendly smile.

[Winddancer]

Sigrid
Visitor

Pausing at the top of the hill, Sigrid saw two women arrive and enter one of the tents further down below. Her heart sank, her shoulders slumping as her head dropped to look at the paper she was holding in her hands.

The Edoras Infirmary has opened for business! Residents of all kingdoms are welcome!
Got a paper cut? Lose a limb? Experiencing a mystery fever? Our skilled staff can help!
Searching for employment as a healer or looking to train as one? We're hiring!
Want to pet a mini horse? We've got those too!

Sighing she looked around, ignoring Dash as he nuzzled his mule against her shoulder as if to urge her on. "What's the point? It looks like several have showed up already to apply for the job as healer.." She couldn't help a little smile as Dash snorted at her comment and relenting she turned towards him and nuzzled his nose. "Always so optimistic, aren't you?" Her smile turned to a soft chuckle as the horse neighed, pawing the ground with one hoof.

"Ok, ok! You win.. sheesh.." Her smile lessened slightly as she looked back down towards the buildings below, her eyes pensive. She really needed this job.

Long before she even reached the tent she smelled the fire, though it was only as she got closer that the smoke mingled with the distinct smell of herbs too. She breathed in deeply, trying to name the ones she could make out, though the sign before the tent caught her attention. Bema?
Raising her eyebrows, she gave a little shake of her head and smiled, stepping over to wash her hands as soon as she had secured Dash to a nearby post. She could hear a womans voice within the tent as she scrubbed her hands clean, her stomach tightening infuriatingly.

As if sensing her mood, Dash snorted again, which immediately brought the smile back to her lips and she whispered "Don't push it" to him as she dried her hands. Tidying up after herself, she stepped towards the tent and stepped in. "Hello?"

[Lirimaer]

Laewyn, PROSPECTIVE APPRENTICE
.
Laewyn smiled back at the newcomer, having been distracted from her perusal of the tent by the noise of her arrival. "In part," she responded, unfailingly honest and feeling like she needed to be clear. "My Da gave me permission to come and learn from the healers, but he does expect me to go back and work there!"

Her eyes drifted across as yet another newcomer entered, and she gave a small smile of greeting before continuing.

"And my sisters are only taking care of my chores temporarily, they were at pains to assure me, so ..." she shrugged unconcernedly. "The sooner I learn, the better for them, I suppose. I'm Laewyn, from the Swiþhám farm about ten leagues beyond Aldburg. What about yourself? Are you here to train also?"

[Bereth]

Bereth ~
Prospective Apprentice

She’d almost ridden right past, a bit lost in her thoughts, and seemed to be in a rather lively conversation with her horse, replete with small gestures and a toss of her head now and then. But he wasn’t having it, and circled back towards her destination, and she quieted down. Her gaze slowly scanned the compound, honestly a little surprised at the condition of the buildings. But then, many things were being restored after the “lapse”, as she had come to think of the years away from home.

Her hesitancy was fairly obvious, had anyone noticed. She saw there were others who’d arrived ahead of her. Perhaps she was too late, or there would be no room to add her odd request. She pulled up at the edge and sat a while. Watching.

Leaning forward, she peered more closely at the one hammering away at his work, thinking a bit unkindly that he almost looked as if an orc. But she decided to stop staring, scratched beneath her chin, and drew and released a deep, slow breath.

Dismounting, she led Akelda up to the tent, letting one of the reigns drop to the ground, as she’d trained him to remain in place at this. Upon reading the sign, she smiled and took up the scented cake, working it into as much lather as she could, her nose sniffing at the earthy herbs nearby, not quite able to identify them. “By the stars, I’ve a lot to learn,” she admitted as she shook out her hands to dry them.

The lazy orange cat took that moment to rise and arch his back luxuriously, tempting her off her course to indulge a bit of petting and ear scratching, but then she’d have to wash her hands again ...

Wiping them against the sides of her linen skirts, she ducked into the tent, not wishing to interrupt the ongoing conversation, nodding a greeting as they turned to look at her.

She wondered which ones were already Healers, and if any would be the one to address about training.

[Thalionwen Hunigfolm]

Thalionwen Hunigfolm
Lead Healer

Addressing Three Prospective Apprentices (@Lirimaer, @Gwai, @Bereth) and one Visitor (@Winddancer)

Stepping through the tent's rear flap with a stack of folded and bleached linens under one arm, Thalionwen stopped short, her eyes widening. She'd expected to be run off her feet with minor ailments once the Infirmary opened up, yet here was a small gathering of able-bodied, bright-eyed folk, and judging by their conversation, every one of them had come to learn a healer's art.

Well, that was a comfort and a joy, and Thali beamed as she set her linens aside and approached the waiting group.

"Westu freonds hal!" she said cheerfully. "I'm Thalionwen Hunigfolm, lead healer and founder of the Infirmary. We've only just begun, but I thought it was time Edoras had a healing establishment outside the oversight of the Cavalry. Have you all come to learn? That's wonderful! Truly, I could not be more pleased.

"For your first task, why don't you each tell me a little about yourselves? Any healing experience you may have, and what it is you hope to achieve at the infirmary. Once you have, we can begin training in earnest!"

[Winddancer]

Sigrid
Visitor

Sigrid had stepped out to one side so as to not block the entrance, though had remained quiet as she did not want to interupt the conversation between the two women already in there. But from what she caught of the conversation, it seemed like at least one of them was not here for the job as healer, but was here to be an apprentice. Letting er held breath out, she relaxed a bit more, until yet another woman stepped inside.

Sigrid returned the nod politely, adding a small smile though returned to worrying about more showing up to apply for the same job. She really needed this job, she was almost completely out of money now and if she failed to get this job, then she would very likely have to try and make it to Gondor, though how she would make that trip with no money or protection did not bare thinking of.

As yet another woman stepped in it was all that Sigrid could do to keep it together, though as the woman introduced herself she let out a huge sigh, blushing slightly as she realised it was louder than she was intending. Though the more Thalionwen spoke the more confused she got, starting to shake her head slightly. As soon as the woman stopped speaking, she raised a hand politely and stepped forward.

"Sorry, I do not know if I am the right place?" Pulling out the piece of paper with the advert on it, she showed it to Thalionwen. "I am here to apply for the healer job.."

[Lirimaer]

Laewyn, PROSPECTIVE APPRENTICE

"Westu hal," Laewyn responded, after waiting her turn after the woman who was already trained. "My name's Laewyn and my family run the Eastfold farms beyond Aldburg right down to the Great River, I'm from Swiþám and I oversee the horses' training and run the stables there, but I'd like to learn more about healing so that I can deal with ailments in the horses if they arise."

She smiled, "And I wouldn't mind learning about some of the doctoring for folk too, if I can. There's a fair few injuries working on a farm, and while I might know the basics of head injuries it might be useful to have some real training."

She tried to think of something else which might be relevant. "I can read and write, though my Ma says I have an old lady's hand - but my Nona says it's readable if you have half a lick o' sense," she blanched slightly. "I mean, my Nona thinks my Mama don't ... not that I think you ..." she trailed off. "Sorry," she said awkwardly.

[Gwai]

Gwai
Prospective Apprentice

Gwai smiled back as Laewyn introduced herself. "Westu Laewyn hal!" she returned the greeting. "I am also here to train! I'm glad I'm not the only one!" she said cheerfully. Several others soon joined, and Gwai waved at Bereth. "I'm working on your headstall still!" she said with a friendly smile. "It should be done shortly," she commented, right before Thali came out and addressed the small group.

Thali introduced herself, and Gwai found herself nodding the healer discussed her idea for a place of healing outside the realm of the cavalry. She then asked about experience with healing. Gwai waited a moment as a woman (Sigrid) stepped forward asking about an open job.

Gwai proceeded to introduce herself. "My name is Gwai Feorsteorra, although I think I already know several of you!" she said with a smile. "I do not have any formal healing experience. I have some basic knowledge of field triage after battles when the haelands are overwhelmed, but nothing official, and I would like to learn some basic techniques to be more effective if there are injuries and there is no haeland available." She paused to take a breath. "My real interest is to be a healer for animals. I have some knowledge already, as I think many of us do, as I have been around horses and other animals my entire life--and grew up on a breeding farm. But again, I have had no official training, and would like to learn!" she explained, excited about the prospect.

[Thalionwen Hunigfolm]

Thalionwen
Lead Healer

Addressing Sigrid

"Oh, thank Bema you want a job," Thali said in relief, drawing Sigrid aside. "To be honest with you, I could use some good help. It's only me and my assistant, Alwin, for now, but he's not always able to be here. My plan is to charge for our services on a sliding scale, based on means and need. You'd earn half of the fee brought in by any patient you attend, with the remainder kept back to pay for Infirmary maintenance and supplies. But I can offer you room and board as well--we've just finished up repairing a few of the small cottages on site, which I plan to use as housing for healers and for long-term care patients, should the need arise. If you'd like one of them, you can take your pick--the three at the far end of the complex, over by the pasture, have been freshly white-washed and I've just put up curtains. The furnishings are simple--just a bed and a desk and lamp, but you could add to that as you want. I've no problems with healers or patients making the place their own."

Thali took a step back and looked Sigrid up and down with a slight smile. "Now, you'll understand I can't just take you on faith and have you attending patients. I'll need you to prove your worth as a healer first. If you can answer a few questions for me now, which I plan to put to apprentices who've made it through their lessons and some practical tasks, then I'd say you can consider yourself hired, for a two month trial period. Once your two months have gone by, if you suit and do well with the patients and like the work, you can stay on as long as you want. Does that all sound fair? And would you like to proceed?"

Addressing Laewyn and Gwai

Giving Sigrid a moment to consider her offer, Thalionwen turned to Laewyn and Gwai.

"Well, fortune smiles on the two of you!" she told the pair cheerfully. "It seems you're both interested in very similar paths of learning, which means you can work alongside one another if you've no objection. Why don't we start you off with some livestock medicine, since that's what you're both keenest to learn about?"

Leading Laewyn and Gwai to the front of the tent, she pointed to a shed near the green pasture, out of which a shaggy pony gazed mournfully. From time to time, it shifted its weight from one foot to the other with an air of discomfort, all while casting a sad eye at the lush, unreachable spring grass.

"Why don't the two of you go have a look at poor Hwyl over there?" Thalionwen suggested. "He's been brought in by a friend of mine, as he's having pain in his hooves. You can talk over what you think might be wrong with him, and ask questions of anyone you like. But once you think you know what his trouble is and how to treat it, come back and tell me what you've come up with. This will be the first of five practical tasks I set you related to the healing of animals--once you've completed them all, we'll do a test, after which you can take on animal patients of your own, albeit under supervision at first. Then if you're interested in the basics of healing two-legged, less furry patients, we can discuss the care and keeping of humans."

(OOC @Lirimaer and @Gwai: You can make what you will of this task--cooperate or work independently as the two of you see fit. And if you need hints as to what's gone wrong with poor Hwyl the pony, go ahead and tag me in the Rohan OOC thread or via Discord and I can set you on the right path. I don't think this particular scenario should be *too* tricky, though, as I've given a couple of context clues. Please come present your answers individually once you've completed the task, though, as I'd like to hear your diagnosis and treatment plan in your own words)

[Thalionwen Hunigfolm]

Thalionwen
Lead Healer

Addressing Bereth

"Lady Bereth," Thalionwen said with a warm smile once she'd dispatched Laewyn and Gwai. "I'm so pleased to see you again! Did you have a pleasant Summer Festival? I hope so, and that you weren't caught up in any of the festival's more untoward events. What is it I can help you with? Forgive me, I can't recall if you had any practice as a healer when I was younger. My own passion is herbcraft, but we could undertake a comprehensive study of the healing arts if you prefer, or if it's our four-legged friends you're more interested in tending, you could join Laewyn and Gwai. Whatever you choose, I'm at your disposal--Edoras could always more folk who can tend the hurts of others."

[Winddancer]

Sigrid
Visitor

Sigrid wanted to immediately yell: yes! Yes, just hire me! Though managed to compose herself at the last minute. Fortunately Thalionwen turned to the other women there and spoke with them of potential training, allowing her to collect her thoughts and properly think the offer through. The offer seemed reasonable enough, though it did occur to her that it might be less than ideal if no patients came or no one paid. Afterall half of nothing, was nothing. But did she have a choice? Sticking her hand in one of her pockets, she rubbed the two coins in there together, knowing this was the very last of her money. However the thought of having her own place again, even if it was just a tiny cottage with a bed and desk at least it could be her own. Just the thought of spending the night in a bed again was almost enough on it's own to seal the deal. Also with the two month trial, she could see if it was a place she wanted to stay in.

As Thalionwen finished with the two other women, she gave a smile and nodded her head. "Seems fair, ask away." It was standard procedure to ask questions or to prove that one was a healer these days, unless you got to stay in your home town. For a brief moment a sudden flash of sadness crossed her face and she winced visably, though quickly pulled herself together and put the smile back on her face.

[Bereth]

Bereth
Prospective Apprentice

She had arrived last so had waited her turn with patience and a natural curiosity to see why the others had come. She grinned and returned Gwai’s wave, remarking at her assurance of the soon completed headstall, “No rush, especially now if you’re to begin healer training on top of your duties at the shop!”

At last, Ber began to address Thalionwen’s questions directed towards herself, starting with the dispensing of formalities. “No ‘Lady’ required, just Ber, if you will?” She laughed and added, “Aye, the Festival was, well, ‘pleasant’ maybe wasn’t quite how I’d describe it. Entertaining, lively, unexpected, at the least!

And no, I’ve naught but the most rudimentary of healing skills that anyone in the Mark needs to simply survive the usual bumps and bruises, and being pressed into rather unpleasant service to aid now and then in my days in the Cavalry. But even that has been quite some time ago.”

She linked her fingers behind her, rocked up on her toes, hesitating one more time before plunging ahead. “Since girlhood, I’ve wished for the power to heal. Though perhaps not the wounds one thinks of most commonly.”

She stopped and began again, “When I came back to the Aern Freablod, and realized most of my family has scattered, and none but Eldrith to share the place, it seems cavernous, though it is hardly all that much larger than most homes. I wondered - - might it become a sanctuary for those who are battered and scarred beyond the wounds of the flesh. While their immediate needs for healing might be better served here, among those most qualified, perhaps a deeper healing could be effected by time spent in a place that seems safe and peaceful with no worries of their daily needs.”

She laughed then, awkwardly. “Perhaps a bit ambitious. For now, at least. But yes, I’d like to learn all I can, whatever the levels of care I’m able. If you’ll have me.”

[Lirimaer]

Laewyn, PROSPECTIVE APPRENTICE

The Lead Healer, Thalionwen was pretty keen to get them started, and Laewyn began to worry that the woman thought she had more experience than she had. It was all very well knowing to clean and dress a flesh wound, but to discern the nature of the problem in an unknown animal whose habits she didn't know - she felt a bit overwhelmed. Still, she'd give it a go. Her Mama hadn't raised a quitter.

With an inviting tilt of the head toward Gwai, Laewyn went to take a look at Poor Hwyl. It seemed an unfortunate name.

"I wonder how long he had been like this?" Laewyn asked aloud, as she walked over to the shed where the pony was stabled.

As she got closer she noticed that the pony was shifting its weight, clearly in pain.

Since the Healer had done nothing for the pony yet, it didn't seem like a quick fix, but one of the things she wanted to do was get in and look at its hooves and see if there was anything physically wrong with them first - then maybe watch him walk, to see how the pain was affecting his gait. "He seems to be eyeing up the landscape," she noted, "I wonder if he's overweight? Perhaps Alwin might give us some help, maybe tell us a little about the background of the owner and Poor Hwyl?"

[Gwai]

Gwai, Apprentice

Gwai walked toward the shed with Laewyn, feeling a little overwhelmed, but comforting herself that this was why she had signed up for training in the first place, and a task such as this was a good start as there was little she could accidentally do to make the situation worse.

Poor Hwyl looked uncomfortable, and Laewyn echoed Gwai's thoughts wondering if there was more information to be gathered. "I think asking Alwin is a good plan," Gwai agreed. "More information would be helpful." Gwai approached the pony, digging in her pocket to come up with a cut carrot stick from the supply she always carried to give to Brightfyr. The pony sniffed at it briefly, before taking it from her hand. She ran her hand down his neck, seeing how he would respond, and when he seemed to have no issue with her touching him, she ran her hand down his leg, signalling for him to lift his hoof up so she could look at his hooves and shoes. She studied it carefully. It probably wasn't something particularly easy like a rock stuck in his foot since it was affecting all four legs, but perhaps he needed his hooves trimmed, or reshod, which was a relatively easy fix. Or perhaps his shoes were not fitting correctly?

[Thalionwen Hunigfolm]

Thalionwen
Lead Healer

With Sigrid

"Well good, I'm very glad you're interested in giving work here a try," Thalionwen said to Sigrid with a smile. "To officially join the Infirmary as a Trial Healer, I'll have you answer two questions. The first is this: what are the nine sacred herbs upon which healers in Rohan base their arts, and what are one or two of the healing properties of each of them? And the second is more practical: you've been attending a woman with child, and she's very near the time for her labor. However, you've been able to discern that the baby is head up, when it ought to be head down. What will you do to attempt to get it to turn?

"If you can answer those questions satisfactorily, then you have a position here!"

(OOC: @Winddancer If you Google "Nine Sacred Herbs" you should find what you need for the first question, and this website has some information you could use to answer the second question. http://www.betterbirthblog.org/breech/turn-a-breech/ No need to sum up everything listed there--just pick one or two of the methods to describe.)

With Bereth

"Oh Ber!" Thali said delightedly. "I think it's wonderful that you're considering using Aern Freablod to house those who require longer-term healing of the spirit and the mind. Rohan could certainly use such a place, after the troubles we've been through. And you have such a reassuring presence--you'd be just the person to run it."

Stepping back, Thali put her head to one side, thinking. "Let's see, to start with, I'll ask you this--if you were to come upon a senseless person, someone who'd lost consciousness, what are the first three things you'd check for?"

(OOC: @Bereth You should be able to find the answers you need here, right at the beginning of the listed steps. https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/c ... /cpr-steps Obviously you don't need to list calling 911--the Infirmary hasn't advanced to quite that point yet )

Alwin
Healer's Assistant

With Laewyn and Gwai

Approaching the pony's shed with two large buckets of cold spring water, Alwin smiled at the sight of the perplexed-looking apprentices. A tall, thin man in his late 20s, with faded brown hair, he had a tanned and kindly face and clever grey eyes.

"Herself said she was planning to take on students," he said to Laewyn and Gwai. "Don't tell me, let me guess--she's sent you over here without so much as a clue as to what you're meant to be doing. She's got a tendency to think folk can read her mind. You're both on the right track, though, in your own way--it's Hwyl's hooves that are paining him, and he does have trouble with his weight. But it's the spring grass that's really done him in this time. When it gets sweet and green, after rain, eating too much of it can cause a horse to founder. Especially a sturdy pony like this one. That means the grass has given him a reaction--all the soft bits inside his hooves are swollen."

Setting down his buckets, Alwin reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small leatherbound notebook.

"Do you want to take this to study from?" he asked. "I've done a fair bit with animals in my time. Not much I haven't seen. And I try to jot things down, so I'll remember them if they come up again. Might be useful, for the two of you."

Alwin handed the book to Laewyn and edged into Hwyl's stall with his buckets, where he proceeded to ease each of the pony's front legs into one.

"There, that'll make him more comfortable," he said, patting Hwyl's neck. "If you look in my book, you should be able to find how this is best treated and prevented. Let Thali know, and I'm sure she'll be pleased and send you on to your next task. If she gets ahead of yourself again, and you're not sure what she wants of you, just come find me."

(OOC: @Lirimaer and @Gwai: Alwin's book provides you with the following information--https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/ ... the%20hoof.)

[Éolath]

Patient

Éolath rode towards Edoras in a bit of a daze. The sun, so pleasant as he’d worked in his sister’s fields these last days, now beat on his head and shoulders. It was so bright that he rode with his eyes half-closed, squinting against the headache. The farm on the outskirts of the city caught him by surprise, surely it hadn’t been there when he rode out last week on leave. He didn’t remember it, or at least not the repairs and sign.

“In-firm-ar-y” he sounded out aloud to his horse as the bay gelding stopped near the gate. “Well, that means healers. We should go,” he clucked to the horse who stood stubbornly in place. “Come on, bróþor, we need to go.” The horse looked over his shoulder and flicked his tail. Éolath scowled. His leave ended in two days, he needed to get back to his room, clean his gear again, groom the bay until he shone, and make sure he was ready for any sort of inspection. He also needed to re-wrap his hand…

“Wait, bróþor,” the horse snorted at the endearment and stamped a foot, “a healer could wrap my hand!” Without thinking about it, Éo slid from the saddle and took three shaky steps towards the tent now looming in the center of the farmyard. When the horse only nudged him, he walked to the table and studied the sign. “Be-ma?” he frowned, staring at the picture drawn under the sign. He’d been practicing his reading, but it seemed so very difficult right now.

Instead, he lifted the pitcher and splashed water into the basin. Should he take off the bandage before or after washing his hands? The bandage was dirty, he’d harvested hay and cleaned the barn and helped dig the new root cellar after all. It probably needed washing as well. He studied the water, then glanced up as the sound of retreating hooves came to him. His horse, duty dispensed, was going to stand under the shade of a nearby tree. Feeling guilty for leaving the saddle on, Éo went back to studying the water. He’d wash his hands, and the bandage, then go talk to a healer. Then he could unsaddle the horse. Or finish his journey to town. He’d figure that out later.

He dunked both hands in the water, then used the soap to scrub. Hissing as the water stung the cut – cuts? under the bandages, he rinsed his hands. The bandage didn’t look any cleaner, just wet now with a hint of red stain growing. He muttered to himself as he dumped the dirty water onto a bed of flowers, then rinsed the basin. Sweat beaded on his forehead as the sun continued to bake him, and it was with relief that he stepped inside the tent.

The cooler air was welcome, but he shivered slightly now. It was quiet, and he stared around with uncertainty. “Oh, hey…I should…” He turned back to the door, remembering that healers had an aversion to weapons, and his sword was still on his belt. But even the sunlight near the door was like fire to his eyes. He winced and fumbled at his belt, hoping that maybe he could just set the belt and sword by the wall or something before a healer came in and yelled at him.

[Lirimaer]

Laewyn, PROSPECTIVE APPRENTICE

Laewyn was very grateful for the advice of the Healer's assistant; although he seemed rather irreverent, it actually made her feel calmer, because if such a bantering relationship existed between the two of them, then perhaps there was still a chance of being taken on as an apprentice.

She had felt so out of her depth before. Back at the farm, she hadn't seen a case like this and she wondered at it, but mostly their animals were all working horses on pretty strict regimes. Perhaps if she'd gone to one of the outer farms she have seen more of this sort of thing - it was true that if she were ever to become an animal healer, she would surely be sent. She remembered her father's healer hardly being at their own farm most of the time, and ... oh there was time enough to bewail her lack of healer knowledge later. She took Alwin's book, sat down and began to peruse it studiously.

It was a good enough book that it provoked envy; Laewyn was itching to have her own version. She would go into Edoras and find a journal large enough to be used as soon as may be, and some nice drawing tools.

"Ah, I see!" Laewyn noted, seeing the article on foundering. She stood up, passing the book over to Gwai, who had been reading over her shoulder, and went off to find the Healer; passing Poor Hwyl on the way out, she patted his nose and whispered they would fix him up soon.

Having found Thalionwen in the main tent again, she offered forth her ideas.

"Poor Hwyl has inflammation of the inner hooves," she began, a little nervously. "It's recent, or it could have gotten much worse. He clearly has a sweet tooth and no self-restraint, but perhaps he was just left out to graze too long - unfortunately the sweet grasses have sent his system a bit wild and horses just can't handle too much sugar.

"Alwin has put Poor Hwyl's hooves into buckets," here she flushed, for she didn't know what was in the buckets at all. "And as he was making the horse more comfortable, I would say they were filled deep with either hay or wood shavings, so Poor Hwyl can find a position that doesn't quite hurt so much. I suppose it might be sand, too, but we would need to check that regularly and make sure it isn't compacting in the hoof.

"For treatment, we should get a farrier in to check the hooves over and trim them if necessary. Because he's at an early stage, I don't expect them to be a problem, and I couldn't see anything wrong particularly, but I would rather be safe than sorry. Then we need to give him a bland diet so that his system can get back to normal. We should give him hay at certain times, not all the time, maybe bulked up and soaked in water, until he evens out a bit. But he does need free access to water and lots of salt - though he might just need a salt block if he likes to overdo it! Eventually, he can have more added to his diet, but at this stage he needs to avoid starchy or sweet foods.

"And he needs a friend in there," she added. "He needs company of the horsey kind."

She spread her hands, having run out of things to say, except, "Oh, and then he just needs time to heal, and prevention management in the future - now he's had it once, he's be predisposed to getting it again. His owners need to be more vigilant."

She watched the Healer's face, hoping she hadn't missed anything glaringly obvious but accepting that it might be so.

[Winddancer]

Sigrid
Visitor

Her tanned complexion blanched at the prospect of two simple questions being all that stood between her and a much needed job. It was not that she did not know the answers, it was more that she was worried that she did not convey the answers correctly. Closing her eyes for a brief moment, she took a deep breath to calm herself, a small smile crawling to her face as the age old prayer filled her mind. It was in fact one of the first ones she had learned at the tender age of six. The treasured memories of Mother Ria and the warm cosy fireplace, where they would often sit on the rug and talk about herbs. Mother Ria would often put several of the most important herbs and their properties into song-like prayers, making it far more easy for a six year old to memorise, even if she didn't really know what it was that she was learning.

While Sigrid still knew the whole prayer by heart, she doubted that Thaliowen wanted to hear all of it and with the smile still playing on her face, she opened her eyes and recited the nine sacred herbs, though couln't quite keep from saying them without a little bit of sing-song to the delivery.

"Mucgwyrt, Attorlaðe, Stune, Wegbrade, Mægðe, Stiðe, Wergulu, Fille and Finule." Smiling still she continued on to add their properties and what they were commonly used for, "These nine are crushed together and then mixed with old soap and some apple juice. Water and ash are then mixed with fennel, added to the soap mixture, and boiled, all the while stirring. This salve can then be used to cure different kinds of geblæd (infection or inflammation of the skin), blisters or skin infections."

Sigrid paused for a while, desperately wanting feedback before continuing. But she had been set a task to answer two questions and pushed forward, the smile dwindling as she spoke. "It is extremely dangerous to attempt to give birth with the baby being breech, which means the baby has not yet turned and is not facing downwards. Most women carry a baby for forty weeks and should be checked about four weeks before she is due to ensure that the baby has turned and is facing down. If it isn't this can be done by coertion."

Sigrid paused for a long moment again, a haunted look in her eyes as she recalled being too late to achieve this and both mother and baby dying. In an ideal world, you were able to monitor the mother through the whole pregnancy, however the war had put an end to that for many. Sighing deeply, she shook her head slightly to push the memory back and continued.

"There are several things that the mother can do to attempt to get the baby to turn on it's own. One is kneel on a mat on the floor, with her bottom in the air, and her head and shoulders on the floor. The aim is to tip her baby back up and out of her pelvis, to give him more room to turn around. Don't let her thighs press against her bump and keep her knees hip-distance apart. Maintain this position for about 15 to 20 minutes each day. She can also try lying on her back with her hips slightly elevated. Place a pillow under her hips and bend the knees. Put another pillow under her head, so she is not flat on her back. Repeat twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Try to do this when she has a reasonably empty stomach and when the baby is active."

Taking another breath, she continued, her face becoming more serious, "This should ideally be done about four weeks before giving birth as I have mentioned, but some might not come for help before it is too late. If you manage to see them before the labour starts, you can try and get the baby to turn by careful coertion, this is done by firm yet gentle pressure on the stomach in an attempt to encourage the baby to move into the correct position. This should not cause any pain, but can be somewhat upsetting to the mother and it is best to be as gentle as possible, while still putting enough pressure on to coerce the child to move. You can also do some breathing excersises to calm the mother so that she doesn't inadvertently work against you while doing it."

The look of sorrow washed over Sigrid's face as she moved on to the next part, swallowing hard before beginning. "It is possible to give birth with the child being breech, though it is then recommended that the midwife not help until the baby's bum and body are out and only help with the head. And in the very worst case scenario.." Sigrid looked like she would rather not say it, her head dropping to look at her hands which were clutching each other. "In the worst case scenario," she repeated, "you would have to cut the baby out.." her voice disapearing into a whisper. "Obviously this should be avoided at all costs.."

However before Sigrid could clarify why, a young man (Éolath) entered the tent. His gait was slightly unsteady and he seemed a bit confused, though it was his pale complexion that had her step towards him. "Thalionwen, I think he needs help.." She did not wait for permission, doing what she had been doing most of her life and stepped over to the young man and placed her hand on his as he tried to remove his sword.

"It's alright, let me help you?" She left it as a question but quickly removed his sword and set it over to one side, before placing a hand on his arm and firmly guided him towards one of the beds in the large tent. "Here, come have a seat.."

[Éolath]

Patient
Éo startled a bit as a hand appeared to take his sword and a soft, female voice (Sigrid)fell on his ears. He reflexively gripped the sword, then loosed it. Funny, he thought to himself, how quickly it had become a part of him. It had hung so awkwardly only a short time ago, now it was a comfort. But he didn’t reach for it again as it was set aside, instead, he turned his gaze to the woman now at his side.

“I don’t have a seat,” he blinked at her, stumbled slightly then sat on the bed. “I’ve no way to carry one when I’m…oh.” Two spots of color blazed on his cheeks, then faded as he wiped at the sweat on his brow. “I, uhm, I’m all dirty to sit on a clean blanket. But I washed my hands, and the bandage. My horse stopped here, we’re supposed to be back in Edoras tomorrow, but he stopped and I thought that, uhm, maybe someone here could help me wrap up my hand and arm again.”

He held up his hand, the bandage still dripping from his washing and the sickly stain spreading through the wet. Don’t babble, he told himself, but couldn’t stop the flow of words. “I was at my sister’s steading, helping cut hay and I had to sharpen the scythe. But I slipped and it was sharp, so it cut my arm. And my hand too, I think. It was so messy I couldn’t really tell. But I put some garlic and honey on it and wrapped it up so I could finish working. But it got dirty when I was cleaning out the stables and fixing the cellar. Her man is ill, you see, and they needed my help since it’s past midsummer and …” Éo trailed off again, distracted momentarily by thoughts of needing another week of leave in the early fall to help with the second haying.

“Oh. I’m Éolath, by the way, but my friends call me Éo mostly.” He stared up at the woman, his smile slightly lopsided and eyes glazed with the insidious fever. “I don’t usually talk so much, I think it was the sun. It’s sure hot…I forgot to unsaddle my horse, but he’s in the shade so he’ll be alright until I can get this wrapped up again. Did I ask your name? I was going to, but I forgot if I did. Can you help me? I’ve a few coins…”

[Bereth]

Bereth - Prospective Apprentice

“Thank you, Thali. You’re very kind. Service has been a tradition for the Freablods. One way or another. I hope to continue such.” Ber just hoped things wouldn’t get too ... well, crazy.

She listened carefully before delivering her best guess. “I suppose I would approach a prone figure with a bit of caution, depending on who it may be. I’d check for weapons held close and disarm them. I’d be no help to anyone if they were merely laying in wait to harm me. Then I’d check for evidence of injury, for obvious signs of breathing, watching to see if their chest was expanding even slightly. Then I’d lean even closer to feel beneath their nose for the breeze of life, listen for a rasp of breath drawn, feel for a pulse at their wrist.”

She paused then, mulling. “Perhaps I should first try to rouse them? Shake them a bit, make sure they’re not merely sleeping. Or worse yet, passed out drunk.”

Ber laughed then. “I suppose that’s more than three.”

((OOC: I tried to write without looking at the link, but upon checking it, missed an important step. Not sure in Rohan there would be anyone to “call” so I left that out, lol. It’s been many years since I certified in CPR))

[Winddancer]

Sigrid
Visitor

Sigrid looked down into Éolath's feverish eyes and gave him a calming smile as she asnwered."My name is Sigrid, pleased to meet you." She let him babble on while she took stock of his bandaged hand, her brows furrowing when she saw how wet and dirty it was. Sure that Thalionwen had seen what she had seen and would get what was needed to treat the wounds, Sigrid continued on with the preparations needed first.

"Ok, Éolath, if you could just help me get your shirt off, so we have better access to those wounds of yours?" Looking up behind her, she saw some curtains that could be pulled down to provide some privacy and quickly yanked on them to let them drop down and give the young man some sense of privacy from the other women still in the tent.

"There, a little bit more private, now let's get those wounds looked at, shall we?" Smiling reassuringly, she helped him when needed and otherwise let him do it himself, aware that most did not like the feeling of having to undress in front of others. At all times she was watching out for whether he would lose conciousness, standing close enough that she could catch him if needed, though still giving him space to do as she had asked.

[Éolath]

Patient
“Sigrid.” He repeated the name, then smiled. The tone of her voice eased his desire to babble endlessly, to fill the empty and slightly fuzzy sound in his ears. “My shirt? It’s dirty,” he said absently, “I probably should have washed it, too.”

Despite the words, his fingers fumbled at the ties then tugged it off over his head. He’d never been particularly shy, and he worked without his shirt often enough that he didn’t think twice. His sun darkened arms ended abruptly at a red, peeling burn across his back and shoulders, evidence of his long labors in the sun recently.

Fumbling again, he folded the shirt into an untidy heap and tucked it under the bed. Swaying a little as he straightened, he cursed under his breath. “It’s still really hot,” he mumbled after a moment, his voice apologetic. The bandage was starting to unwind and he pulled at it. The outer layer came off easily after its soaking, but he frowned as he started to tug at the thin dressing under it.

He could see the stains on the linen, blood and serous fluid, but it didn’t seem right to him. His arm throbbed now, flushed under his tan. The lines of the wounds were visible despite the thin dressing: a long cut up the inside of his forearm and over the thick muscle where he’d twisted his arm to catch the scythe and one across the thick pad of his thumb where he’d caught the blade.

He wrinkled his nose. There was a smell that wasn’t the expected sweat and horse he was accustomed to. His eyes were worried as he looked at Sigrid. “I…I’m not sure I can take the dressing off. It…hurts.” Éo’s voice was baffled, the confusion of a young man who had rarely been injured or ill. “It’s been almost three days; it shouldn’t hurt any more.”

[Winddancer]

Sigrid
Visitor, helping out

Sigrid gave him a small shake of the head in answer to his comment on his dirty shirt. However she was not going to delve into how it wasn't important to her whether or not his shirt was clean or not, knowing that it was more the fever talking than Éolath himself. As he pulled it over his head, her keen eyes quickly took stock of what she saw, noting both the sunburn and the two wounds.

"No..no, leave the bandage for now, we will help with that." Sigrid gave him another reassuring smile before urging him to lay down. "Just kick those boots off if you can and carefully lay down and we will get those wounds cleaned right up, ok?"

Looking back over her shoulder, she hoped to catch a glimpse of Thaliowen arriving with what was needed, though while looking around she noted a small bedside table with a jug and a basin. Still watching Éolath, she poured some of the water into the basin and grabbed a nearby washcloth and soaked it. Wringing it out, she waited for Éolath to finish laying down and then carefully draped the washcloth over his forehead.

"Hang in there young man, we will get this sorted real quick and get you on your way, but for now you just relax and I will see about getting you some water to drink as well, ok?" Once more she looked over her shoulder, on the verge of heading off to get what was needed herself.

[Thalionwen Hunigfolm]

Thalionwen
Lead Healer

With Bereth

Thali beamed as Ber gave her answer.

"That's precisely right!" she said. "The first three things a healer ought to do when coming upon someone unconscious are ensuring their own safety and that of their patient, checking for breath, and checking for a pulse. You're doing very well.

"Now for your second question," Thali went on, "I'll go with an old standby I ask everyone at some point or other. It was a favorite of our Feawen, the Cavalry's first Bealdorhaelend, who trained me and who did worlds of good for our kingdom--may she know peace and plenty wherever she is. That question is this: what are the Nine Sacred Herbs all Rohir healers should know and use? And what are some of the healing properties of each?"

(OOC @Bereth: If you Google "nine sacred herbs" or "nine anglo saxon herbs" you should come up with what you need for this question, there are a lot of resources available for this )

With Sigrid and Eolath

Thalionwen smiled as Sigrid gave her answers, all of them prompt and satisfactory. Her expression softened as Éolath stumbled in, obviously in difficulties, with a wound gone bad. It did her heart good to see Sigrid's immediate response--the facts of a healer's profession could be taught, but it was more difficult to impart the instinct to help at once, no matter the circumstances. Sigrid appeared to have that instinct well in place already, and Thali hoped in time she'd be a wonderful addition to the Infirmary's permanent staff.

The boy, Éo, and Sigrid built up a quick rapport, and as he was anxious and Thali wanted a moment to observe, she let the Infirmary's newest addition take the lead. But as he continued to complain of heat and show confusion, then revealing the sunburn across his back, Thalionwen stepped in.

"Sigrid, would you mind fetching the things that we'll need to treat a suppurating wound?" she asked. "You'll find them all among the shelves at the back of tent. I leave what you think would be best for treatment to your discretion--if I feel anything should be added, we'll get to it. But for now, I think this lad has sunstroke, which needs to be dealt with first. With his permission, I'll take him out to the pasture--it sounds odd, I know, but Alwin's just scrubbed out and refilled the horses' trough there, which is sitting in the shade. It's the quickest access to a lot of cold water we've got, and Éo here needs cooling down at once. If you could bring everything you gather out to the pasture, Sigrid, I'd be much obliged."

Thalionwen held out a hand to help Éolath to his feet, and glanced over her shoulder to smile at Sigrid.

"You clearly have a healer's instinct," she told the woman. "Fate smiled on us all by bringing you here. You can consider yourself a Trial Healer now, and I very much hope things work out and you're able to stay once those two months have passed."

[Thalionwen Hunigfolm]

Thalionwen
Lead Healer

With Laewyn

Thali listened intently to Laewyn's answer regarding unfortunate Hwyl, and only interrupted once.

"It's cool water in the buckets Alwin brought," she pointed out. "To help bring down the inflammation. But we'll be bedding Hwyl on deep wood shavings, as you mentioned, so you were still right. Very well done--I detect a hint of Alwin's expertise."

Her eyes twinkled merrily, showing she had no concerns about her students benefiting from Alwin's learning. "It's all to the good if he's taken you under his wing--honestly he can teach you more about the practical nature of tending animals than I can. But I will set you a second question, which is this: if a family were to come to you with a dearly-loved older dog, who's suffering from pain in his joints, what sort of remedies might you suggest? You can run along and ask Alwin for advice if you like--I'm sure he's enjoying the company. Oh, and Laewyn--would you mind doing me a favor and choosing one of the miniature horses from out in the pasture to keep Hwyl company? They're all good-natured creatures, and any one of them would be happy to room in with our patient."

[Bereth]

Bereth
Prospective Apprentice

Ber nodded with relief as Thali expressed approval of her answers, and then cocked an eyebrow high at the next predictable question. She’d expected it, but sighed inwardly, her face betraying her discomfort. She had always had trouble with keeping herbal therapies straight, and had tried to cobble together a few notes ahead of time from memory. But she had forgotten to bring them along.

Before she could verbalize her acknowledgement of Thali’s task for her, her attentions strayed as a young man came into the tent, and was immediately attended to by Sigrid. Ber tried not to let her curiosity be too obvious, though of course she was curious. Without staring, she strained it listen, to learn as much as she could by simple observation. Until the curtain was drawn. That signaled the need for privacy, and Ber commented as she exited the tent, “I’ll give you time to attend to him. Plus I shall need a few moments to focus my thought on your question, if I may have your leave.”

As she left to seek a quiet place to think, her thoughts were primarily to fervently wish the wounded lad well, and even more, to wish the two who attended him the utmost wisdom and skill.

[Lirimaer]

Laewyn, Apprentice

Talking to the Lead Healer, Thalionwen

Laewyn nodded. "Yes Ma'am, Alwin was very helpful, and I'll surely do that! About the dog though, my Da loves dogs and they all live way too long because he treats them all like they belong to the line of Eorl. Old Raedwine King lived for twenty years despite getting pained joints after he turned twelve.

"Raedwine was never overweight, but my Da had him under pretty strict food control anyway, so he wouldn't put extra pressure on the joints. My Da stopped him from going out on the fields on the long runs, but kept him with him on the daily walkabouts - just round the yard a few times a day, so he was exercising, but not overdoing it. Sometimes he'd let him swim in the duckpond, if it was a warm day. Raed loved it, and my Da always made sure he kept him super toasty afterward to make sure he was dry. In fact, he'd often put a hot brick in his bed like he was one of us children because he'd get shivery. He got a choice of beds too - sometimes he wanted to stretch out, and sometimes just curl up, and Da would even let him sleep with him near the end, much to Mama's disgust!"

She smiled in memory. "Mama understood though. As Raed got weaker he'd slip on the wooden floors, and Mama never said anything, but she'd sit at night making new rugs, and cover the floors where he'd walk so he'd have something to grip to. She never liked to see an animal in pain.

"I wouldn't know what else to do though; some sort of pain-reducing herb might be good, but I'd be wary of giving it - even in a reduced quantity - to an animal; I just don't know enough to not do more damage. Maybe a poultice," she mused, "if the joints get inflamed, my Da always used a warm one made of cabbage eventually - Raed wouldn't eat that one like he tried with the bran one!" she laughed.

"Is that what you were thinking of, Ma'am? The swollen joints disease some people get too?"

[Éolath]

Patient

“Oh, alright.” Éolath went to lay back, flopping a bit more than he intended. Distantly he was grateful for the wisdom of his horse, and thankful that the healers were so helpful. He couldn’t help but smile at that thought, he’d never developed the fear of healers that many of his friends did. “My boots?” He forced his mind to stop wandering, worked to toe them off. Thin and well fitted, it took him more time and effort than he expected but once they were kicked under the bed a wet cloth was draped over his forehead. Éo tried a smile at Sigrid.

He shivered slightly then sighed and closed his eyes. “A drink is…I don’t want to inconvenience –“

A new voice broke in, and he startled into a half sitting position only to notice the arrival of another woman (Thalionwen). Another healer? He frowned, pushed himself up with a grunt and wave of dizziness. “I’m alright – what?” Her words to Sigrid had him studying both women.

“I need a bath,” he agreed hesitantly though he privately wondered if a horse trough wasn’t a bit extreme. He had been riding all day, yes, but usually a bucket was enough. He rubbed the cloth Sigrid had given him over his face, wiping away the beads of sweat. He offered the cloth to the woman, then flinched when she took his hand instead and pulled him up.

Swaying, he pressed the heel of one hand to his eyes then bent at the waist until the darkness passed. Sweat popped out over his face and shoulders again as he straightened. “I…hello. Uhm, I’m Éo. I can bathe, if you show me where. I didn’t mean to get everything all dirty. I can wash my shirt too.” He briefly considered reaching for his boots, but some instinct told him that if he bent that far down he’d have a very unfortunate meeting with the ground. “Can I leave my boots here?”

[Winddancer]

Sigrid
Trial healer

Though it was important to get the things needed to deal with the young boy's wounds, Sigrid found herself locked in place, her jaw having dropped and staring after Thalionwen as she helped Éolath out of the tent. Had she just got the job? Realising she needed another second to compose herself so that she did not burst into tears of joy, she took a shuddering breath. Had she really done it? It was all she could do to keep her composure, the long cruel months she had endured looked as if they had finally come to an end and new beginning was suddenly attainable. Stifling a sob she looked around with sudden urgency.

Darting to the back as advised, Sigrid quickly perused the shelves stacked with every herb and salve she knew and had to blink away a few tears that pushed their way past her crumbling resolve not to. Flicking one tear from her cheek, she grabbed a pot labelled '9 sacred herbs salve' and smiled. However she did also grab some garlic, honey and turmeric and with the mortar and pestle she quickly mixed up another salve that she scraped into an empty pot. Taking the two pots, she also took a couple of rolls of bandages and headed out the tent, though before heading all the way out she quickly grabbed a jug of water and a wooden cup. She had purposefully left the needles and thread behind as she had her own in her own healers kit that was hanging off her belt, her most prized possesion that had been given to her by her mentor years ago.

Juggling everything in her arms, she headed back out into the sun and was greeted by a snorted neigh from Dash. "Good news! Be with you soon!" Grinning at him, she looked around and saw where Thalionwen had lead Éolath and hurried to catch up, glad the young man had not passed out, which had been her biggest concern when she first met him.

[Bereth]

Bereth
Apprentice

This was her weakness, the use of herbs, and long it had been. Her mother had striven for years to teach her. Every young lady should know such things, but for Ber, it just perplexed her, even after she decided to try and focus. It didn’t help that she nearly poisoned a cousin by picking the wrong plant to try and help out. Her confidence shaken badly, she did all she could to avoid the lessons.

It wasn’t until an aunt came to live with them. Widowed after a particularly nasty raid, she was an energetic, disciplined soul who demanded much of herself, and almost as much out of others. For some reason, her patience with Ber was uncharacteristically kind. She saw the struggle, and began her own way to teach her.

One evening by the fire, when the others had already sought sleep, Ber admitted to her that she had always wanted the power to heal. Power. Magic. Simply laying her hands upon those who needed healing, and they would be healed. She hadn’t thought it would be so hard, so much memorizing and so much work.

Aunt Lariania had wisely not discouraged her. She had seen too many times when someone had revived to full health again despite all odds, seen the inexplicable too often to deny the possibility of magic. But that was the exception rather than the rule. Ber would need more than magic.

Slowly they found ways for it to get a foothold in Bers head. And in her heart. But still it was not easy.

She rose at last to try to recount as many as she could remember. Perhaps her doing poorly with this would mean her training was at an end. But she hoped it might mean more time to learn. Perhaps a different way.

“Ma’am” she said hesitantly once she found Thali free to address after the immediate needs of the ailing patient were attended to. “You asked of the Nine Sacred Herbs. I’ve always struggled with them, though my kinfolk did their best to teach me of them. I’m not sure I can recall them all correctly, but ...

There is mugwort, in a tea or an extraction of oil for a troubled belly, troubled dreams, wobbly thinking, and a variety of female ills.

Also waybroad (plantain), which makes a good poultice to draw out infections. Excellent to soothe the string of insects, toxic plants, nicks and cuts, and settle digestion.

Then stime (watercress), a delicious way to increase health, especially for those with lingering illness, and aides in urine output, if need calls for it.

Maythen (camomile), makes a delightful tea that helps settle rebellious tummies and battles sleeplessness. It can also aide burns and help reduce scars.

Wergulu (nettle), an incredible herb that seems to energize the bodily systems like few others, restoring health. One must exercise care in harvesting it, but a little dirt mixed with your spit to make some nice mud will calm the sting and itch immediately.

Lovely crab-apple, not only tasty, is rich in nutrients, energizes the body and helps clean teeth. This one is easily identified.

Chervil can lessen flatulence, mercifully, and purifies the blood as well as helps battle abbesses. But best of all, it is said to restore a flagging spirit when sadness darkens a soul.

Sweet fennel is yet another effective remedy for digestive woes, but is also famed for increasing longevity, strength and courage. Plus it is a most pleasing aroma!

But atterlothe, I think is the last?” Ber frowned apologetically, “this one I cannot for the life of me remember its use.”

[Thalionwen Hunigfolm]

Thalionwen
Lead Healer

With Laewyn

Thalionwen listened to Laewyn's thoughtful answer with increasing satisfaction. The way the girl pondered questions and brought her own experience into things were good signs--she'd make a fine, compassionate healer someday, whether she chose to practice the art on people or animals.

"That's just right, Laewyn," she said. "I couldn't have offered better recommendations myself. And it's obvious you have a love for creatures that go on four legs.

"For your next task, I'll be sending you back to Alwin. He's got one of my miniature horses in the shed next to your friend Hwyl's--the little mare's about to foal, and I'd like for you to look after her and the foal throughout the birth. Alwin will be right there, should any difficulty arise, but I want you to be the one who looks after everything should all go smoothly. Do you think you can manage that?"

(OOC @Lirimaer: Basically what I'm looking for with this is a clear description of the foaling process and how you as an attending healer might occasionally lend your animal patient a hand. If you're uncertain about anything, just ask for Alwin's help. I leave the description of the mare up to you--she's yours to invent!)

With Éolath and Sigrid

Thalionwen clucked at Éo as he fretted over his boots. "You leave your boots right there, my love, and don't worry about a thing. You can't make a mess to bother me, I promise you, and we don't mind a bit of bother on someone else's account here. In fact, it's what we're here for. So just let Thali look after you, there's a good lad."

As she spoke, Thalionwen gently directed Éolath back out of the tent and through the gate into the lush, tree-dotted pasture. Despite the hot sun, it was much cooler in the shade, where the freshly-cleaned water trough sat beneath a spreading oak.

"Lean on me and get right in," Thali instructed. "Sit yourself down and lean back--it'll feel cold as the Witchking's heart at first, I'm afraid, but you'll get used to it. And let's keep that injured hand out of the water--I want fresh well water for that."

Glancing over to where a brown-haired man was passing by, she waved to him.

"Alwin, can I have a bucket of clean water, please and thank you?"

Within moments, the healer's assistant had done as Thali asked, giving Éolath a nod as he set a bucket down in the shade and carried on, headed back to a row of sheds that stood on the opposite side of a deep-grooved wagon path.

No sooner had he departed than Sigrid appeared, her arms full, and her face flushed and happier than Thali had seen it look since the young woman arrived.

"Sigrid!" she said warmly. "Having you about is making life a great deal easier already. What have you brought for poor Éo's hand?"

With Bereth

Seeing Ber's uncertainty, Thalionwen listened closely as she gave a thorough listing of the Sacred Nine and their uses--all but the very last.

"I'll tell you a secret," Thali said, leaning closer to Ber with the air of a conspirator. "I can't always keep track of everything, either. Atterlothe is betony, which can be used for digestive troubles and difficulties with the breath. But here--let me show you something."

Taking Bereth by the hand, Thalionwen led her to the back of the shady, quiet tent, where the long shelves stocked with healing supplies stood.

"It's imperative that a healer know her herbs well," Thali said letting go of Ber's hand and taking a jar of dried coneflower from the shelf. "But all of us get tired, and forget sometimes. So I let my own past knowledge give me a little help, when my mind isn't quite at its peak."

Holding the jar out to Ber, she pointed to the label, which contained not only the name of the herb within, but its recommended uses, printed out in her own untidy script.

"See?" Thalionwen beamed. "Before meeting Alwin, I often served as my own assistant, and this was one of the ways I was able to make life a little easier. I'm sure someday such a system will be of help to you, too.

"But now that you've shown you have a good knowledge of herblore, I've a more practical question for you. If you had been attending a woman with child, and the time for her labor grew near but the baby still rested head up within the mother--when it ought to be head down--what would you do to attempt to get it to turn?"

(OOC @Bereth: If you'd like, you can use some of the information found here when formulating your answer --> http://www.betterbirthblog.org/breech/turn-a-breech/)

[Éolath]

Patient
Éo stumbled after the woman, nearly blinded by the bright sunlight. Thali, he reminded himself, she’d called herself Thali. Thali and Sigrid. He tried to blink his eyes open again, managed to peer out of narrowly slitted eyelids as they approached the trough. Rubbing at his eyes, easier to open now that they were in the shade, he turned a startled glance at Thali.

“How…how do you know how cold the Witchking’s heart is?” His voice was puzzled as he leaned against her, hesitated. “I can’t take my pants off in front of you.” He wasn’t shy, but he’d been yelled at enough over the years to know it just wasn’t done. He was allowed to take his shirt off when at work or relaxing – or when a healer commanded it – but he couldn’t just stand around in his brais. He grimaced, swayed as another wave of dizziness swept over him. “I’ll just wash them while I’m in there.”

It seemed like a perfectly logical solution as he stepped into the cold water with a shiver. Sit, she’d said, so he did, unable to do much else as his legs buckled slowly. The cold water hit his stomach and chest like a punch, stealing his breath so the shriek he wanted to let out was more of a miserable whine. Nausea roiled, sweat beaded on his forehead as he struggled to keep his eyes focused. Slowly, so very slowly, his muscles relaxed and he shivered. It felt like he was sitting in snowmelt.

Éo looked up as footsteps approached. A man he didn’t know was bringing a bucket. Éolath could only blink, having missed the exchange between Thali and Alwin before. He didn’t speak, just pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his uninjured arm around them. More footsteps, this time belonging to someone he recognized.

“Th-thali said the w-water is as c-cold as the w-witchking’s heart,” he chattered at Sigrid and Thali, “I th-think my p-pants are frozen to my l-legs.”

[Lirimaer]

Laewyn, Apprentice

On a mission with miniature horses

"Yes, Ma'am!" Laewyn took off toward the pasture to choose one of the miniature horses to keep Poor Hwyl company. In the end she chose a sand-coloured girl with rich dark mane and tail, who responded eagerly to an offered carrot, and took her in with the invalid before popping next door to see the pregnant mare.

She looked over the side of the stall as she went into the shed, stopping to say hello.

"Hello again, Alwin," she smiled. "Thalionwen sent me over to help with the the mare and foal during the birth. I might need some pointers, especially if there are complications, but I have helped my Da with this back on the farm. I'm just going to wash up properly and I'll be back in a moment!"

[Winddancer]

Sigrid
Trial healer

Breathing slightly quicker than what was usual and with slightly flushed cheeks, Sigrid stopped by the trough and took the scene in. She was about to answer Thalionwen's question when she heard the young man's remark. "Say what? Colder than what now?" Brows furrowing she thought for a long moment that the fever had gotten a lot worse and that Éolath was talking nonsense because of it. Afterall that was quite common with high fevers.

Sigrid had not known what it was that Thalionwen was intending, though had deferred to the healer and trusted that she knew what she was doing, though it now did raise concern seeing the young man shivering like that in the water. She wanted desperately to blurt out a question and ask if this was how he was meant to be reacting, though for another long moment she was terrified it would be for obvious reasons and that questioning it would cost her the job. She understood that the fever needed cooling down and that the sunstroke required that too, but surely he shouldn't be shaking like this?

'No, I can't let my job be more important!' Steeling herself, she swallowed hard and carefully asked, her cheeks growing even redder. "Is he meant to be shivering this much? Surely too much cold is damaging too?" Still holding all the pots and jugs and cups, she looked between the young man and Thalionwen, unsure as to what to do next.

[Gwai]

Gwai, New Apprentice

Alwin was kind enough to discuss poor Hwyl’s ailments with Laewyn and Gwai, explaining that the pony had overindulged, and was suffering from his hooves foundering, causing swelling of the hooves. “Poor boy,” Gwai murmured, patting his neck, and gratefully accepting the notebook from Laewyn.

The information was interesting, and proved to be useful. Hwyl seemed to be meeting all the symptoms described in Alwin’s book. She left it behind for him on a nearby bench so he could find it easily, and went to find Thalinowen.

She waited for the healer to have a free moment before approaching. “I think Laewyn already gave you her diagnosis, but I’ll give you my impression as well, it took me a bit longer,” she said cheerfully. “I discussed with Alwin, who is a veritable wealth of information, and think we have a pretty good start.”

“Poor Hwyl has an inflammation of his feet,” Gwai began with her report. “While we do not know his entire medical history, we do know that his hooves are hurting. When looking at him, he appears uncomfortable, and when one attempts to look more closely at his feet, he is loathe to pick his foot up, most likely as he is putting increased pressure on his other three feet.”

“He has a hesitant gait, and was standing with his front feet stretched out in front of him, and he did seem to have increased warmth to his feet, which is consistent with inflammation. Further, he is most definitely an overweight little pony,” Gwai couldn’t help but smile, “And that likely contributed. It is likely Hwyl overindulged in the nice green grass that is growing everywhere due to summer. He may also have had an illness such as colic, although as he has no abdominal pain this is lower on my list of concerns.”

“We will treat with diet, and use only grass hay until we begin to see an improvement. We will stable him using wood shavings, observe for any developing abscesses which need to be drained, and consult the farrier to trim his hooves and discuss pads. Alwin is putting Hwyl’s feet in cool buckets to assist with the inflammation, although I suspect it is a little late for that to be effective,” Gwai wondered out loud. “We could also consider adding turmeric to the water to act as an anti-inflammatory,” she added.

"His prognosis is guarded. It is entirely possible this can lead to chronic issues with the coffin bone, and if it becomes too advanced he may need to be put down. Hopefully this will be a transient issue, which will resolve with no permanent side effects,” Gwai finished, a bit sadly, as Hwyl was a sweet little pony, and she wished only the best for him.

[Lirimaer]

Laewyn, Apprentice

In the foaling shed with Alwin

Laewyn returned, with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows where she'd been scrubbing her hands and arms and let herself into the stall. It was a large stall, with plenty of space for the mother to get comfortable, and clean fresh straw had been laid down in preparation for the foal's arrival. The mare was lying down, so she settled down on the periphery of the area, in a place the mare could see her, and made herself as unthreatening as possible, talking in a low voice to calm the small horse.

"Hey Alwin, I'm ready, I think," she began with a smile. "I've never attended one with too many complications, though I have seen one where my Da had to reach in and get the forelegs,b ut I don't think I'm ready for that, yet! Most of the ones I've helped on pretty much sorted themselves out, though I have washed the birthing parts, and wrapped the tail before. How far along is she? And is there anything you'd like me to do, or to look for? I want to be a help, not a hindrance!"

[Thalionwen Hunigfolm]

Thalionwen
Lead Healer

With Sigrid and Éolath

“I th-think my p-pants are frozen to my l-legs.” Éolath stammered, submerged in the shady trough.

Thali shook her head indulgently at him. "Don't be silly, a great lad like you shouldn't mind a cold dip, much less one who's in the Cavalry. It's for your own good, you know."

As Sigrid arrived, laden with supplies, and nervously questioned the boy's reaction, Thalionwen drew her aside.

"You're right to speak up on his behalf," Thali told Sigrid reassuringly. There was a reservedness and underlying anxiety to the way the young woman behaved that pricked at Thali, and made her want to set Sigrid at ease. She'd obviously known hardship, and Thalionwen hoped fiercely that the Infirmary might become a place where she felt safe, and at home, and welcomed. "You must never, ever be afraid to question what's happening if you believe a patient of yours might come to harm. That's something I'll never fault you for. But if you put your hand into that trough, you'll find the water's only cool, not as frigid as it seems to Éolath. His body's dangerously overheated, so it feels all the colder to him in comparison. That's another thing you mustn't be afraid of--causing a patient of yours discomfort or even pain, if it'll lead to greater health in the long run."

Glancing back at the trough and at Éolath, Thali sighed.

"The thing is," she told Sigrid, "with a young one like him, it's better not to let on how bad things might be. Young folk have a lot of life left in them, and tend to panic if they think it might be cut short. But sunstroke is a good deal more serious than some think, and if he'd come to us even an hour later, there's a good chance he'd have died of it. As it is, we'll need to keep him in the water for awhile, and he'll have to stay out of the sun and cool as he can for another week, at least."

Eyeing the supplies Sigrid had brought, Thalionwen nodded her approval. "You've done well getting everything ready to work on his hand and his arm. That's less of a worry than the sunstroke was, to be honest--I've seen patients with worse infections who kept the limb and healed up in the end. There's a bucket of clean well water next to the trough. If the linen dressing he's got on is sticking, soak it with clean water and let it sit for a few minutes. If it won't come after that, you'll just have to ease it off as best you can. Once you've done that, give the wounds a thorough cleaning, first water and soap, and then with this."

Rummaging through her capacious satchel, Thali took out a metal flask that contained strong, clear spirits, which she added to Sigrid's armload of supplies.

"There you are," Thalionwen said. "I'll leave you to tend to Éo's wounds yourself, and to keep watch on him while he's got to stay in that trough to bring his temperature down. I'll be back to look over your work and to bring him back into the tent to lie down, once he can dry off."

Thali started across the pasture, headed back to the tent, but had only made it a few stops before she stopped and turned.

"Oh, and Sigrid," she said. "Don't stitch his wounds. With infection like that, stitching'll only make things fester. They've got to be kept open, and clean as possible. If you put on a poultice and a light bandage, that'll be enough. We'll alternate poulticing and keeping his skin clean and open to the air twice a day, and that should set him on the right path. It'll make for more of a scar than if we *could* stitch, but young lads like him don't seem to mind scars they can tell a good story about."

With Gwai

"Oh well done," Thali said to Gwai after hearing her list of recommendations for Hwyl. "I like your suggestion of turmeric in the water to bring swelling down--I may need to use that in future.

"Now, it being spring, there are plenty of small creatures being born around here. One of my barn cats, Wisk, is over in the old cowshed. She's due to have kittens any day now, and if you would prepare a place for her with everything she needs, and keep watch while the kittens are born, I'd be obliged. If anything goes wrong, Alwin's in the shed next to you with Laewyn, overseeing a foaling."

(OOC @Gwai: I'm just looking for a basic description of how you'd go about caring for a laboring and birthing animal, you can undertake that task however you choose)

Alwin
Healer's Assistant

With Laewyn

"You're very business-like, Miss Laewyn," Alwin said with a smile. "I can see you've done this before, and that you know what you're about. I've already washed little Mina's hind end, and wrapped her tail, so why not just settle in and watch? Keep an eye on her, and I'll be within earshot if you need anything. If there aren't any problems, I think you seem quite capable of helping to bring this foal into the world on your own."

[Gwai]

Gwai, Apprentice

Gwai nodded as Thali told her one of the barn cats was preparing to give birth, and Gwai was assigned to monitor the birth, fortunately with Alwin right next door. Delighted at the prospect of kittens, Gwai nodded as she scurried away.

It took her a bit to find the cat. She was in the barn, like Thali had said, but Wisk had hidden behind some hay bales, on top of some old rags, despite the fact there were clean cloths and what looked like a cat bed when she had come in. Gwai had been around for several births of foals, but usually the barn cats had taken care of themselves. That was likely why she had been assigned this task, Gwai thought to herself, grateful.

She knew better than to suggest the cat move. That seemed a good way to get clawed down the face. Instead, she thought about what she may need. Clean water, clean towels, maybe a hot water bottle if there was an emergency. The first two items she could find now, the last would need to wait until the labor began.

Gwai did not approach the cat too closely, she would let Wisk approach her if she wanted. She wouldn’t force the issue, though. For now, she would keep an eye on her, and try to stay out of the cat’s way. From the size of the cat, she had a feeling labor would start any minute! She left to find the towels and a bring back some clean water in a bowl.

[Bereth]

Bereth
Apprentice

Following the Lead Healer, she swept a keen eye over the array of supplies that lined the shelves, and made mental note to begin to assemble a wider number than the few she always carried with her. Perhaps not this much, but the more the better. “Might I have a right of access back here to make notes when I have extra moments on my hands, Thali?”

Upon hearing the next challenge, Ber brightened, straightened with a little more confidence. Not that childbirth was always easy, especially when a complication such as this endangered the process. But she had either witnessed or been a part of a few successes with birth, more often with the horses and other farm animals than with humans.

“I believe a healthy birth must begin long before labor starts. Good nutrition and continued exercise helps a good deal. As does a peaceful environment, if that is at all possible. There’s a fine balance between keeping an eye on the wee one’s development and verging into meddling. Oft times perceived problems tend to resolve themselves as the days move onwards. Nature has been at procreation a lot longer than we have.

But if it seems that a bairn hasn’t yet turned by 34-36 weeks, you may wish to try and physically move the baby about towards the head-down position, though it requires strength and isn’t pleasant for the mother. This works better for those not facing their first birth.

Less unpleasant means include encouraging the mother to go swimming every day, if it isn’t unseasonably unreasonable. She could try to rock back and forth gently on her hands and knees, lie on a slope on a door or plank each day, head down, or gyrating her hips slowly as if dancing for her husband.”

Ber paused a moment and chuckled as her cheeks colored at this visual.

“One could always try a Mugwort stick, lit at one end and the unlit end nudged against the toes of the baby to encourage it to correct its position. But I think my favorite method would be to have someone sing to the baby, often, low, down near where you wish the head to be. Obviously, the singer would be best one that knows the mother well enough to do this. And, I wager, someone who has a tranquil, pleasant voice!

It’s also imperative to speak with calmness, soothing and encouraging a woman in labor no matter how the birth is going. If she can relax and not fight the contractions, it often speeds things along and leaves her less exhausted.”

Ber shrugged a bit sadly, “but sometimes, no matter what we try, or do, or want, or pray, things do not turn out well. That is the way of life, and should not destroy our hope.”

[KingODuckingham]

Ducky, a Patient

The wizard was so relieved when he spotted the infirmary. He had lost track of time, but he had been dragging himself along the ground for what felt like miles from the after-party for the Summer Festival. He had now added some extra soreness to his ribs and triceps, in addition to the terrible pain every time he tried to move his legs. But yes, sure enough, he had found the infirmary. It had a very distinctive smell, of disinfectant and poop and stuff, even from afar. He actually laughed in relief, and dragged himself up to the door with renewed speed.

"Please," he called, unable really to see over the desk. "I've fallen and while I could technically get up I really don't want to. Is there perhaps a spare bed to rest in while I wait for someone to look at my legs?" He rolled over onto his back so that he could see if anyone peered down at him to respond. He tried moving one of his legs while he waited and a sharp cry escaped his lips too. He winced, not having wanted to cause any sort of scene. Well, anymore than a fellow dragging himself into a clinic already would.

[Thalionwen Hunigfolm]

Thalionwen
Lead Healer

With Bereth

"Ber, you have the makings of a fine healer," Thali said, after making her way back to the Infirmary tent and hearing out her answer. "And of course you're welcome to come look over the Infirmary's stores whenever you like--anything here is at your disposal. Now, inspired by young Éolath who Sigrid is tending to outside, I'll ask you another question. After this there'll be two questions more before you're given practical tasks to assist with. But your third question is this: how would you go about tending to an infected wound? What herbs and healing aids would you use to attempt to ward off the infection, and at what point would you deem the limb unsaveable, and in need of amputation?"

No sooner had Thalionwen finished speaking than a commotion sounded from the front of the tent.

"If you'll excuse me," she said to Bereth, before hurrying away.

With Ducky

"Ducky????" Thali asked in disbelief as she stared over the makeshift front desk, at where her friend was making a scene on the floor. "What in Bema's green fields! Let's get you onto a bed, shall we?"

Helping the wizard up briskly--which admittedly required taking nearly all his weight, he was a dramatic old bird down to the last feather--she led him to the nearest camp bed and settled him down on it.

"Look at you," Thali chided. "Campian was bound to end this way. And we are most certainly not in a no repairs situation. Repairs are very much in order! So chew on this--" she popped a length of willow bark into his mouth, "and tell me exactly what hurts. And what happened--I'm afraid I didn't pay too much attention in the stands, there was a very interesting orc I had to feed biscuits to instead."

[Éolath]

Patient
"My own good?” Éolath mumbled to himself, shivered. He tried to relax as the healers spoke around him, only catching brief words. The water actually felt good on his sunburned shoulders. He shifted a little, watched the water ripple. It wasn’t so bad, he finally decided. It was just bad on his nether regions. No man, young or old, liked cold water there. But now that he was a bit more used to it, it wasn’t that much colder than his usual bath in the river.

Lifting his head a little, he stared at the two women. Tried to focus on their conversation despite the headache still pounding behind his eyes. Thali handed Sigrid something, and he frowned a little but didn’t say much until Sigrid turned to him.

“I got the bandages wet earlier when I washed my hands, but it seems to hurt more now.” He shivered again briefly, pulled his knees back up to his chest and rested his chin there.

[Winddancer]

Sigrid
Trial Healer

"What!? No of course I won't stitch the-" Reaslising Thalionwen had already headed out of hearing range, Sigrid stopped the yelling and muttered to herself "Oh nevermind, you can't hear me anyway." She still didn't like how Éolath was shivering in the water, but there was some truth to it likely not being as cold as the young man thought it was, given it was summer and not winter, though memories of people dying because they had fallen in ice cold water still played at the back of her mind. "It's summer, it's summer.. not winter.." she murmured as she turned and headed back to where Éolath was submerged in the trough.

She gave him a small smile as he did look pitiful, sitting there in the trough shivering and drenched. "Don't worry, I will have a look at that arm of yours, it is likely hurting more now that you are shivering like you are. But first here, you need some of that water inside as well." She said as placed all the items she had gathered next to the trough and then poured some of the water from the jug into the cup and handed it to him while making sure his shivers did not cause him to spill it all.

Setting the jug down, she kneeled down next to the trough and waited for him to drink his fill and took the cup once he was done. "Ok, let's have a look at that arm of yours, shall we?" It was a rhetorical question and she did not wait for an answer, reaching out to gently pull his arm towards herself. She eyed the bandage critically and managed to get another layer of it off before it got stuck again. Using his cup, she dipped it in the bucket of water and slowly poured it over the bandages, making sure the middle part got as wet as possible. As she worked, her hands always moving softly and touching delicately she spoke to him in a soft reassuring voice, though kept her eyes on what she was doing, only occasionally looking at him as a way of checking his overall condition.

"The reason Thalionwen has you sitting here in this trough of cold water is because your body got too hot. It's important not to get too overheated and you managed to do just that. So the quickest way of cooling something hot, is putting it in something cold." She knew she was likely explaining it a bit more simple than needed, though her chatter was more a way of comfort rather than an education on how to treat heatstroke. Again she was able to unwind another layer of the bandages and poured some more water onto it and let it soak. "As for your wound, well you did well to begin with, however it's vital that you keep a wound clean. So continuing to work and getting it dirty was a bad idea" she chided him, though there was a gleam in her eyes as she looked at him.

She was now down to the last piece that was stuck to the wound and despite soaking it twice it was still sticking. "Well, Èo, may I call you Éo? This is going to sting a bit, so brace yourself, ok?" She gave him a moment to do so and then quickly yanked the bandage off, seeing that fresh blood and puss started to run down his arm, the smell coming from it quite overwhelming. But not once did she wrinkle her nose, instead she used the cup again to slowly pour some of the water over the arm. "Don't be concerned about the blood, it's a good sign, shows there is still blood flow to that area and we want that so it can heal." She gave him a reassuring smile as she returned to pouring more water over it.

[KingODuckingham]

Ducky is a patient patient

The wizard quailed a bit under the shocked eye of Thali. He had not realized he would see her again so soon after he had awkwardly run away from her in the marketplace.

"Oh, uh, haha, hi Thali, I knew you could heal but I didn't realize you were actually a professional. Uh...good thing you are though, I've sustained some serious injuries." he told her. He coughed dramatically before remembering his pain had nothing to do with his lungs being filled with anything, and that she would know that right away. There was no point in playing things up and faking here. Plus, he really did have some terribly shredded leg musculature and it was making standing nearly impossible, so faking things on top of that seemed pretty superfluous.

Ducky listened to Thalionwen tell him so with patience, nodding along with everything she said. He was about to speak up and agree with her when she shoved a length of bark into his mouth, and he had to chew or choke, preventing him from replying. He chewed it as fast as he could and then swallowed quickly. Wait, was it supposed to feel so weird going down? It was still a pretty solid mass, and sat heavy even on his throat. Ugh. He tried to speak around it, but it made his voice somewhat froggy instead of ducky.

"Ah, well, let me see if I can remember it all." he said. "First, my heart was hurt when my wife went on a long journey and never came back. It's never really recovered." He clutched at his breast, gasping in sudden pain at the renewed memory.

"Then," he continued, "well, some stuff happened, and after noticeably aging, I joined the Summer Festival and proceeded to pull a muscle in this leg--" he pointed at his left thigh, "got stabbed in the kidney or some internal organ like that," he pointed at his lower ribs, well above his kidneys, "beat my lungs to a pulp with my own hands, and then was stabbed a few more times, sort of all over, I'm not really sure. I lost some blood."

He paused, and tried to remember.

"Oh, and then I pulled a muscle in the other leg," he pointed at his right thigh, "doing, uh, the same thing as with the left leg."

He caught a look in Thalionwen's eye.

"What?" he asked innocently.

[Éolath]

Patient
Smiling sheepishly at the lecture, Éolath ducked his head a little. “I had to help out,” he mumbled. “Hild’s man was sick, and the work had to be done. I thought it would just…you know, fix itself.” That sounded stupid, he thought, flushing redder as she spoke again.

Éo had enough time to nod at Sigrid’s use of his nickname, then puzzled out what was going to sting before she pulled the bandage away. He yelped, then let out a string of curses under his breath. The words would have made the captain of the ship he’d worked on proud. Sucking in a breath, he forced his fingers to relax. He hadn’t jerked his arm away, but it was a near thing. Instead, he made the mistake of looking down at it.

He paled, going a sickly grey color as the blood drained from his face. Cold, clammy sweat beaded up on his face. Distantly he heard Sigrid’s voice explaining something about blood flow and not to worry and healing, but all he could see was the red blood mixing with the pus. His gore rose even as his vision tunneled. Trying desperately not to vomit or pass out, he turned his head to stare away.

“I-I’m sorry, w-what did you say?”

[Winddancer]

Sigrid
Trial Healer

If Sigrid heard the string of curses she did not let on, her face remaining neutral. She knew the importance of staying professional, however on the inside she was struggling not to chuckle and she must surely have learned a few new choice words. Of course they were dutifully noted, for future use. She was about to continue with the chatter as she poured another cup of water over the wounds, though when she looked at him she noticed he had gone deathly pale. "Oooh dear."

Setting down the cup, she took a hold of him should he faint, so that he would not slip into the water, talking soothingly to guide him through it. "Easy there, soldier. Deep breaths, nice and easy. Just relax, it will be ok." As she spoke, she guided him gently forward until he could rest his head against his knees. "Easy does it now, you are going to be just fine."

As she held him, she noticed Thalionwen's helper. Had the woman called him Elwin? No, Alwin! "Alwin!?" She called him over so she did not have to yell her request right next to Èo and with a smile she asked if the helper could bring some cold apple juice. "Sure thing Miss." He returned the smile, not once giving the scene a second glance, obviously used to seeing situations like this.

Her own arms soaked from holding Èo still, she smiled up at Alwin as he promptly brought back a jug and two cups. "Thank you, that is kind of you."

"No worries Miss, let me know if you need anything else." Giving a nod he headed off once more and Sigrid returned her full attention to the young man. "You ok? Do you feel well enough to drink some juice?"

[Éolath]

Patient
Éo felt his pulse slowly steady as he rested his head against his knees, felt the greasy sickness in his stomach subside. The strong arms keeping a grip on him was reassuring, and he could feel his cheeks start to heat with embarrassment as his breathing steadied. The name called had him startling a little, but he kept his head down. Even the brief attempt to lift it had dizziness swimming back, so he just waited quietly.

“Apple juice?” he finally said softly. “I, uhm, I think so.” He lifted his head slowly, licked his lips. Kept his eyes on the healer and tried to smile. His mouth felt horribly dry and sticky, but he was afraid of setting off the dizziness and nausea again. He reached out, again very slowly, and took the cup. A small sip, waiting to see how his stomach would react, then a slightly deeper drink. “I, uh…I’m sorry. I … I’m not sure what happened. I think I’m better now. I hope.” His face burned red again. “And I’m sorry about what I said. I shouldn’t have said that around a woman.”

[Gwai]

Gwai, Apprentice

*some time later*

Gwai had gathered the tools she thought she may need, although hopefully wouldn’t. Clean towels, warm water, a hot water bottle, scissors and twine. Finally, it seemed as if it were finally time! The cat was becoming noisy and more restless, and although she couldn’t see contractions, Gwai suspected they had started. She tried to stay still as she watched from several feet away, so as not to disturb the cat.

The cat had been acting like this for a couple of hours, and she had noticed a red discharge, before the first kitten was born. The small animal was tiny, eyes closed, but the mother cat knew what to do, and immediately began licking it, breaking the sac, requiring no assistance with this, although Gwai was standing by, ready.

Three more kittens later, for a total of four, it seemed as if it was done. The mother bit through the umbilical cords on her own, not needing assistance, although Gwai had been ready with clean scissors and twine should she have needed to intervene. She had expelled all the placentas as well, Gwai waited to make sure all the kittens were suckling, and all but one were on their own. After about an hour, she slowly approached, making sure the mother cat wasn’t going to scratch her, and carefully guided the kitten to one of the teats. Fortunately, the little kitten quickly began eating, quite eagerly.

After the kittens had eaten and were half asleep, the mother cat began licking them. Gwai watched for a bit longer, but the mother cat seemed to have all well under control, without any assistance, and the bleeding was minimal. Deciding the new family was ready for some privacy, Gwai left the barn, carefully shutting the barn door behind her to keep out unwelcome visitors.

She looked around for Thali, who was in the infirmary. Waiting for a moment when the healer was free, Gwai reported back, “Mother cat did well, and needed no assistance! And she has four adorable baby kittens, who are eating well!”