[Caervalle Town] Beauty and the Beast

[Finn]

Cylus 8, Arc 719

He journeyed to Caervalle Town for almost five trials to help with the outbreak of common cold. It was not something serious but Balen in the Infirmary thought it'd be good practice for Finn as well as some time away from the prying eyes of his colleagues.
'Just always make people aware.' Balen said after giving Finn the assignment, covertly encouraging him to use his other skills. The head doctor wanted his assistant to advance in his craft, understanding that a power of that magnitude going unchecked, or even untrained would do more harm than good. Finn was grateful for that understanding.
Now, he was in the town for a trial already, seeing families reported ill, distributing medicines and advice. But not yet offering his other set of skills even if his spark was starting to get annoyed with him.
He developed conversations with the little bugger. Internal ones of course. It was enough he was seen as threat when silent. Going around whispering non-sense to himself would not help his cause. So he tried to calm it with reassuring words and sometimes it worked. Other times, the damned thing had a life of its own and the tug war often tired Finn immensely.
On the eight trial of Cylus, he entered the temple in the center of the city. He was to meet Merrile to receive a new list of homes to visit. She was the one who requested the help from Rharne. So as his boots marked his journey through the hall, Finn exchanged a few nods with the priestesses. They were an organized bunch. Disciplined. In fact, the whole town was somewhat well coordinated. Suppose as a retirement place for the lighting knights and priestesses it was only to be expected.
"Finn!" He then heard the High Priestess, turning in her direction. She was a figure of power, her presence clear in the air. He couldn't deny her the instant familiarity she took with that hint of professionalism.
"Merrile." Finn inclined his head in greeting.
"You're here early. Which is great! Here, the list for to-trial. Tomorrow, should be the last of it, really. You've helped massively just doing the rounds." Merrile spoke honestly. Even though Finn had to declare himself to her as a mage, it did not phase her. If anything, she took it in Rharnian stride, waved her hand and send him on his way. Implicit trust. It was hard to find these days.
"Sure, no problem. I'll get on it then." Taking the folded paper, it was time to start the trial working.

[Finn]

"It's the head. It's fuzzy and hurts." The old man complained eyes narrowed his head lolling back.
"If I may then?" He hands reached for the forehead. thumbs above the top of the nose and fingers dipping into the receding hairline. His spark came to life. Like gentle fire in crackled through his muscles and into the bones of the man. Further even. This old man was suffering from a severe stuffy nose which put pressure right behind his eyes. If Finn could clear the congestion it could relieve the poor soul some of the suffering. If there was an underlying issue, like something inside his head rather than a common cold, the headache would return and then a more serious treatment would need to be considered.
"There, better?"
The old man's face lit up. "Aye! Aye!" The old man rubbed his forehead.
Finn massaged his hands and nodded with a smile. "Good. Now don't forget to take these herbs as a brew, alright? They'll help with your nose and should ease your heat waves too. If the headache comes back, see the priestesses or come to the Infirmary up in Rharne and see me. Ok?"
After a few more kind words, he was out. Back into the dark cold, where he was protected only with his collar turned to the weather and thick layers of clothes. In the light of a torch, he viewed the rest of the list. There weren't many more to go before his duty in the town could be claimed complete.
"Sir?" A croaking voice to his side caught his attention and he saw a woman more hideous than any of his nightmares. Shock slapped his face, not because of her appearance, but her lack of proper clothing and the clear ill her skin bore.
"Ma'am, are you ok?" He immediately pocketed the list, hunching over he squinted at her.
"I ju't nee' a pla'e to sty, sire. Don' hav' much. Ju't a rose. Please, sire. Ju't for a'while." A scarred face which distorted her appearance could have been the sign of any disease known and unknown to Finn. Was he willing to take the risk for a pretty flower? His hand reached for hers that bore the gift. It was cold. Deadly cold. But again his spark awoke. By now he learnt to talk to it, to understand it. It would zap through a body and if it found something bad, it would latch on like a hungry child. It helped Finn pinpoint where a source of discomfort, ache or illness was. He was able to test that whilst helping in this town.
In this case, the spark was confused as much as he was. Perhaps, that was a good sign. So he shed his coat warmed with his own body temperature and he placed it over her shoulders. His expression was still pinched in a frown. He was going to regret this later when he'd suffer from common cold himself, but at least he had a few arcs less than this woman to recover relatively easily.
"Of course. Come with me." Where? Back in the Inn? No, he would put others in potential danger. The temple? Perhaps. Not many came out at these times, nor these trials. So he swerved them there.

[Finn]

As expected, the temple was deserted. Undoubtedly there were priestesses somewhere in its depths taking care of the smooth running. After all, braziers were alight giving the place some warmth compared to the outside.
"Here. Have a seat." Finn directed the old lady to one of the benches. Now in the proper light, he saw her skin damaged beyond repair with a severe illness he's seen in children. Scared and disfigured. Her hair was in clumps, missing in places and where there was none, crusts of skin formed a thick scaly layer. The woman's skin was cold, shrivelled and there was not much meat on her bones.
"Let me quickly get you a blanket and something warm to drink." Finn suggested, quickly moving further into the building. He rubbed his hands together. The cold outside bit him hard after he gave the woman his own coat. He wasn't entirely sure where he could get a blanket and a drink though. But Yavanna offered him the same hospitality when he stumbled atop the stairs seasons ago in Rharne. So he hoped Caervalle town branch kept the same.
Trills turned into bits and he was none the wiser. He turned another corner, confused and desperate when he bumped into the High Priestess.
"Finn? Back already?"
"Ah, oh. Yes. Just briefly. There was this old woman in the streets, nothing but rags for clothes. I brought her here for some warmth, blanket and a brew." He then chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Thing is..."
"You don't know where to get these from." The high priestess finished his sentence and Finn could only chuckle some more.
"Come with me. I'll help you. Is she local?"
"Don't think so." Finn murmured, but who was he to say? He didn't know the locals, nor did he ask the woman.
It took them a few more bits to collect the blanket and get the brew. Finn took it as his personal responsibility to carry the cup. He was drawn to any source of warmth and the high priestess understood when he told her about the coat situation.
They found the old woman where Finn left her. With nothing but almost a toothless smile for thanks and a rose as a reward which he refused. The priest took his coat back while the high priestess wrapped her in a blanket. If the high priestess was disturbed by the woman's look, she did not show it and Finn appreciated that.
"There. The brew will keep you warm."
Her grateful thank you was as hungry as her eyes for the steamy drink. Then his temporary employer pulled him to the side.
"Is she alright?" She asked him, concerned. The diseased appearance must have cracked the high priestess's confidence.
Finn cast a quick look back. "As far as I can tell, the scars are from healed pox. The scale skin on her scalp is a build up rather than a rash. I don't think she is ill in any way. Or at least, not with something I can see." The priest explained. "I'll take her with me to the inn after I finish the rounds but if she could..."
"No, don't. They won't allow it. They'll be concerned about her spreading something around even if you tell them it's safe." Well, that confirmed one of his fears and a deep frown settled on his brow.
"We'll have her here, Finn. We can put her in a room for a night. I mean, she can't go out in those rags without freezing. Maybe we'll find some old clothes to give her too." The charity of faith did not let him down and he could but smile with gratitude.
"Thank you. I'll let her know." So he did. This time, the woman stubbornly wanted to pay him with one of her roses. It was nothing to pay him for, he told her. But with unprecedented strength borne from determination, she pressed it into his palm and refused to discuss it further. What could he do? Placing it back in the basket would be rude and he did not want to offend.
So he left her with the matriarch and departed for the darkness outside to fend off the ills of the common folk with a single red rose for a companion.

[Korva]

Rewards!

Name: Finn

Knowledge:
Skill knowledge:
Medicine: Skin build-up is not a rash
Medicine: Nasal congestion may cause headache
Endurance: Withstand cold without a coat
Caregiving: Wrapping in a blanket
Medicine: Healed pox leave scars
Medicine: Quick Physical Examination

Non-skill knowledge:
Location: Caervalle town
Location: Caervalle town: Lighting priestess temple
Location: Caervalle town: Temple: Head priestess
Head priestess: Merille Dastra

Loot: Single red rose
Injuries: NA
Renown: 5
Magic XP: NA
Wealth Points: 15wp

Points: 10

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Comments: Aw, this was really sweet and cute and now I get the title! Love the little allusions it had to the fairy tale and Finn is an interesting read, really good job with this!

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**Made by the magnificent Kes