[Scalvoris Town] The Enormowl with the Waggly Tail

[Padraig]

4th of Ashan, 717

Continued from here

"It's not strictly impact with the thrown ones," Padraig reminded Faith when she mentioned how they might counter his own creation, were they find it to be coming right back at them. "With the pressure triggered ones, yes. But the thrown ones, they're lit before they're tossed. The fuse runs out, it explodes. It's about timing, impact with the target."

On the other hand, he suggested, the thrown ones could be engineered so that they too relied on impact. And not be lit before being thrown. Which would be better, he conceded, was he to come up with something like what she was suggesting. But only marginally better, since in order to do it, the wielder of this portal thing she was describing would have to avoid any sort of jolt that would cause the thing to explode. "Something like magic, yes," he said and smiled. Like alchemy, that was. "A boomerang effect? It's worth considering," he decided.

It seemed like inviting trouble though, and just as Faith pointed out...and Karem in her own way regarding the Immortals, they had a real knack for finding it. Or it finding them. "You've got a good point," he added, referring to Karem's remarks. "I haven't made many friends among the Immortals." There was Aelig, of course, and the stabbing incident atop the tomb of Treid. And then there was the small matter of him having swiped a vial full of Xiur's blood. Hopefully the Immortal didn't know about that. He'd been dead at the time, after all, and hadn't needed it anyway.

The topic revolving around Kura however clearly bothered the Immortal a great deal. It made sense. She was a mother like any other one, worried about her child. "I wasn't aware that Kura was part Sev'ryn," he said. He didn't know much about them as people, except that he'd read something, somewhere, about them and their familiars. "It seems to me, you have an itch that won't stop, you keep scratching it or you identify the cause and then put it to rights."

He was a scientist after all. Presented with a problem, he identified the cause, then the solution, then he solved it. And if Kura had a familiar calling her name, it seemed to him that what would serve her best was to answer, or continue suffering the consequences if she chose not to.

[Faith Augustin]

Faith nodded in memory at Padraig's point about the thrown explosives and their fuses."Well, there goes that idea then." She smiled at him and considered for a moment. "You'll just have to alchemically put the fire out on the fuse. Spray canons." He'd work it out, she had no doubt at all and she was equally sure that 'spray canons' were no help at all. On Padraig's suggestion that he had not made friends amongst the Immortals, Faith shook her head. "You were there at Treid's tomb, you fought alongside those who fought for the Immortals that trial. You have more friends than you think." Plus, she thought, Famula had been along on at least one of their dates. Still she kept quiet on that and instead turned her eyes to Karem at her next words.

"Gentle hearted and sweet natured?" Faith looked at Karem and she did not seem at all offended, rather she seemed somewhat perplexed. She most certainly did not see herself in that way. "I have never considered myself such nor been told I am. I think I am contrary and stubborn, often argumentative and rarely easy." She smiled at Karem and slipped her hand into Padraig's. "As for what my past was, it brought me here" Did she wish it had not happened? No. She knew Padraig did and she understood that he saw the scars long after she had stopped feeling what had broken her skin, both physically and figuratively. "Here, I have everything. I can't regret what brought me here. I think opinions differ, though and I would hope that no other child was treated in that way. So stopping the practices in Athart would be something I would be very much behind" For most, after all, it was a lifetime not a temporary thing.

But when Karem spoke of what had happened, how Kura's friend had murdered one and attempted the murder of her other, Immortal, parent, Faith raised an eyebrow. "I can not imagine what Kura has gone through in that time." Padraig, of course, was clear and pragmatic. Itch, scratch, simple. She glanced at him and smiled as she spoke. "To know that you are meant to be with someone, that your soul is entwined in theirs and yet to perceived yourself as unable to do anything about it because of duty and those things which you must do. Yet knowing that, were you simply able to be free to make choices, to know that you would be complete." Did that sound at all familiar as a situation to him, she wondered? "It is a torture."

Still, Faith and Padraig were very different in some ways, very similar in others and as she fed the Enormowl another piece of meat and she motioned to where the Menagerie was coming into focus, she considered. "I have a friend, Nir'wei. He is a Sev'ryn and he has found his familiar. He is also in Rharne. I am in regular contact with him, he has a terminal illness which is currently without a cure and I am going to cure him, if it is Famula's will or Vri's desire that I do so." She was entirely serious when she said that. "It would be good for him to be focusing on helping someone, I think. It would be good for Kura to help him in this time when he is focused on his impending death. They would both be doing a service and I have given both scrolls which means I can communicate with them."

Faith shrugged and smiled, wondering what the two of them thought about it as an idea. "Kura helps Nir'wei, giving me time to work out his cure whilst he is at least partially distracted. Nir'wei helps Kura, maybe assisting her in finding peace. They are both helping themselves and each other. Would you like me to contact them?" They both, to use Padraig's analogy, had an itch and they could help each other scratch. To the earnest young woman it made perfect sense.

[Basilisk]

When Padraig said he hadn't made many friends among the Immortals, Karem let out a bark of laughter. "Neither have I, honestly. Many of the Immortals can be touchy about the most idiotic things. Phenomenal power seems to come hand in hand with a tremendously sensitive ego." she said, her taking on a notably bitter and cynical note. Faith contesting her nature as sweet-natured and gentle-hearted, Karem laughed again, before giving the girl a warm smile. "Being stubborn or argumentative doesn't mean you aren't sweet or gentle. If you want proof that you are, you are attempting to help a woman whose been dead longer than you have been alive, and you are also taking care of a large, carnivorous animal you thought might be wild and dangerous. My daughter is correct in her assessment of you, I assure you. She has been doing this longer than both you two and Cally have been alive, after all."

Karem let out a sigh as Faith spoke about not being able to seek a soul mate. "That would be terrible. I can only imagine it's worse, when the person you you are supposed to be seeking is the one torturing you. From what little Kura has said about her nightmares, they are a rapid succession of her worst memories, warped to be worse than they were to begin with. One particular dream she took issue had her joining Valtharn in her treasonous rampage. She didn't sleep for five trials after that." she said, her tone grim. "Given the choice, I am not sure she would not choose to slaughter her Sev'ryn familiar."

The Immortal fell silent again as the two of them proposed solutions to the problem Kura was having, watching as Faith fed the Enormowl. "I think the two of them helping each other would work well. But you said your Sev'ryn friend suffered a terminal illness? Do you know the details?" Karem asked, her tone intent. "Also, Padraig, my understanding is you practice alchemy. Have you yet tried working with Immortal blood?"

[Padraig]

"Spray cannons?" Padraig asked, brows raised, expression incredulous and he snorted. "Sure, spray cannons are easy. We can do that," he teased Faith. He could do a lot with alchemy. Spray cannons though? That would be a first.

Still she had a point. He'd probably a few unfavorable impressions among certain Immortals, back at the Tomb of Treid. But it was possible he'd also made a few friends as well. They could all agree however that practices in Athart were vile and better ended. But doing so was probably a lot more complicated than a number of people, and Immortals, of good conscience, getting together and actually doing it. Politics, he suspected, and Padraig had no love of them.

"She'll do it too," he told Karem when Faith told the Immortal about Nir'wei, and took his hand. "If there's a cure out there, or one that simply hasn't been discovered or thought of yet, Faith will find it." It was all too apparent, Padraig's faith in her. The man couldn't have put his fate and his faith in any better hands than hers.

As for the two, Kura and Nir'wei, though it wasn't for him to choose, Padraig thought it was a very good idea. He smiled, squeezing her hand, a message she'd understand. Though surely Karem would know her daughter best, or at least well enough to know if the idea would appeal.

But then as they continued walking, drawing closer to the place the enormowl might consider to be home, Padraig paused, temporarily taken aback by Karem's question. It was an awkward one, all things considered. And yet, while he'd had in his possession an Immortal's blood, it had remained untouched thus far. "I haven't," he said honestly.

"Though as an alchemist, I understand that some miraculous things might be accomplished with it's use. How do the Immortals themselves feel about that, do you think?" he wondered. Of course he had very personal reasons for asking. But more than that, what could be achieved. It seemed to him to be the ultimate reagent and the possibilities couldn't help but inspire and spark the imagination.

[Faith Augustin]

If he really wanted spray canons, he could make them she was quite sure. Still he probably didn't really want them and now wasn't the time to engage in a discussion about them so she contented herself with a rather cheeky smile and walked. To Karem's words though about what she and they were doing Faith smiled and resisted the urge to shuffle her feet. She did what she did out of loyalty and love, she would help anyone she could but those few people she called friend, from Kura to Lady Elyna, from Aeon to Nir'wei, she would go the extra mile if she could.

In terms of Kura's dream and familiar, though, Faith considered. "Maybe the lack of bonding is hurting the familiar as much as it is hurting her? That might lead to it trying to force her hand, so to speak?" She hoped that Kura didn't slaughter her familiar. That would seem, Faith considered, rather counter productive to her friend finding it in the first place.

Karem liked the idea of Nir'wei and Kura meeting, and Faith assured the Immortal that she would write to them both, suggesting that they meet. Padraig spoke his belief that Faith would cure the disease Nir'wei suffered from and Faith smiled at him, her eyes serious. "I hope so. I am beginning to understand it better. It is called the Rot. It is a disease of the brain which is degenerative and invariably thusfar ends in a very slow and painful death." As for what she knew about it? "It is passed on, as far as we know, from parent to child at the moment of conception. There is a treatment for it from a doctor in Etzos, who I have written to. That treatment has doubled the lifespan of his patients, but I believe that it could be the foundation for a cure."

Padraig knew the look on her face, of course, that determined frown meant that she was going to do this if she possibly could. "I've been studying the specifics of Sev'ryn anatomy and I believe that I might be starting to understand the physiology of the disease. I think I'm going to have to perform surgery on him, so I'm trying to work out ways to minimise....." She looked around at the two of them and gave a rueful grin. "He has Brain Rot. My apologies, I get somewhat carried away."

On Immortal blood, though, and what he could do with it, Faith fell quiet and watched Padraig. She could see the range of thoughts running through his mind as he thought about the possibilities. But what the Immortals thought about it might be a very important question, all things considered so Faith looked to Karem and listened intently to the answer.

[Basilisk]

Karem merely smiled at Padraig's faith in his lover, a faith she was beginning to understand the reason for. The Immortal of the hunt listened quietly to Faith explain her friends disease and what she wanted to do in order to treat it. "There are herbs that slow the degeneration of meat, which, as a chef, you should be familiar with. They may have a similar effect on your friend should they be made into a medicine. As for brain surgery, you will want to slow or halt the escape of fluid from the brain. If possible, sit him up while you work. Surgical techniques for reducing blood flow and such should already be familiar too you, and if not, they should be accessible." she said, her tone calm, as if Karem shared in Padraig's conviction that Faith would save her friend.

They were approaching the menagerie now and Karem stopped again, turning to Faith and Padraig. "You two can handle the owl from here, so I will be on my way." she said, before turning to Padraig and handing him a very small vial of blood. "Most Immortals feel they are above helping Mortals, especially those dabbling outside our own powers. I do not share my extended family's hubris, but I can't deny that our blood has power for both destruction and healing, and the limits of it are yet to be explored, safely or otherwise. This is roughly a thimbleful of my own blood, to use as you see fit with one condition. Should you succeed in crafting something with it, inform Kura of it and she'll tell me of your success, at which point I will look in on you." she said, smiling slightly before turning to Faith.

"Sadly, I have nothing I can give you but a mothers gratitude for being a friend to my daughter when she so desperately needed one." she said, pulling Faith into a hug. When she let go, she stepped back and smiled at them both. "Should you need shelter in a time of need, either of you, get yourself to any Imperial outpost or camp. You will find aid there when you need it most." she said, before she turned and vanished into a ripple in the air.

[Padraig]

As a healer, and someone who knew medicine as well as she did, how could she not get carried away at times, Padraig thought. Her mind was always moving, searching, looking. It was what made her so good at what she did, and he couldn't have been prouder of her. She was able to save lives. But more than that, she could change them as well.

Karem's own knowledge of healing was interesting too. And he wondered had Faith used any of the methods that the Immortal was speaking of. As for himself, he stopped and smiled curiously as Karem handed him the small vial of blood. That gesture, he thought, was more than just a generous gift. It required faith as well, that he'd use it for good and not abuse it. He was overwhelmed by the gesture, and honored. "Thank you. I'm grateful. And of course, I'll be sure to contact Kura should something come of it."

The Immortal's offer before she left them was as generous and appreciated as the first, and Padraig smiled and nodded. "Thank you," he said, and added that should there be anything that the Immortal or Kura needed from them, well, she knew where to find them.

[Faith Augustin]

Faith looked at Karem and smiled, nodding her head. "It's amazed me how much cross over thee is between cooking and medicine. Many of the things that we have taken forward have been born from cooking." She nodded her head, though and said, most seriously, "I have been considering ways to try and make the blood go back into the body, if possible. I will consider what you say, you make very good points. Thank you."

She watched Karem handing Padraig a vial of blood and he smile was most genuine. It was something which he could use, and to the greater good, she had no doubt. When Karem wrapped her in a hug, Faith returned the gesture with feeling and enthusiasm. "Thank you. For your help and kindness. For everything."

Karem then told them where they could go for help, should they need it and Faith nodded and smiled. She would have answered, but the Immotal then just disappeared and they were left with the Enomowl.

"Alight then, you." She smiled at the Enomowl and Padraig. "Let's keep going to the Menagerie, then wok out how this fella got out?" The Enormowl was happy to follow, especially considering the food which continued to be fed to it, and the Menagerie was right in front of them.

As they got to the entrance, making the strangest group ever to visit there, in all probability a number of people came running out. The Enomowl was quickly taken away with an almost mournful 'whoooo' sound. Which just left them to try and work out how on Idalos the creature had ended up on their roof.

[Padraig]

As the Immortal Karem left them, they were left with the conundrum of giant owl, and how to get him to the menagerie. The task seemed simple enough at this point. They'd made a friend of the thing, if only because they'd proven to be a ready source of food. Maybe they should get one of their own, Padraig thought, but he wasn't about to say it out loud. It was a whim and nothing more.

Say it out loud to a woman who could very quickly become the most prolific pet collector in Scalvoris Town, and he might return from work next trial just to find one roosting on the back of his favorite chair.

Nonetheless, it was a easy getting the owl back to where he'd come from. And once they'd arrived, clearly the creature recognized what might have been his only home since birth, or hatching. Or whatever it was that enormowls did. "He was in our garden, then on our roof," he explained to those who stayed behind after their new feathered friend was led away.

It turned out, according to the keepers, that each night there were a number of animals getting out while no one ought be there, and they couldn't begin to figure out how. When they turned up for work each morning, the doors were wide open, in addition to the cages that had held the escaped animals. Some had been caught and returned, others were still missing. They'd checked, and double checked before leaving at night to make sure all the doors and cages were locked. And yet, the escapes had continued.

[Basilisk]

Faith

Story: 5/5
Collab: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Medicine: Using cooking herbs to slow brain rot
Surgery: Prop up the patient while performing brain surgery
Animal Training: Getting an Enormowl home

Padraig

Story: 5/5
Collab: 5/5
Structure: 5/5

Alchemy: Possible deflectors for your own grenades
Alchemy: Immortals blood, powerful for both good and evil
Animal Training: Getting an Enormowl home

Fame

+15 to both of you for getting that big bird safely home

Loot

Padraig gets a vial of Karem's blood. Please note that Immortal blood isn't really just blood. Think of it more as a concentrated essence of their Domains. Karem's blood, due to her rule of the Wild, will not be easy to work with.

Notes

Again, apologies for the huge delay. This one was a lot fun to write, and had a really good ending. Looking foward to seeing what Padraig does with Karem's blood though. =]