Whole Health

The rain is gentle and light, making for an excellent background noise for those trying to sleep. The hospital is quiet at this time, with few people up and about. One such person, however, stands guard at the main entrance, a Sunblade by the look of her armor, tabard and shield. The sunburst is obvious on all of them. She seems quite alert and aware, probably having just started her shift. Her eyes scan the darkened streets for danger, and she paces back and forth occasionally, stretching to keep the blood flowing.

Just outside, watching the paladin pace back and forth - dripping with rainfall - is a half-oruch. He seems to start toward the hospital a few times and then decides just as quickly not to. Only to start forward, and then stand there in the pouring rain some more. He glances up and down the street. Then stands there some more clearly uncertain and clearly unwilling to actually enter the hospital in spite of the fact that he is drenched from head to toe. Razen has been standing outside the hospital for the better part of an hour like this.

Earlier in the week, one of Tarien's parishioners suffered an unfortunate illness that brought him to the Soldier's Defense for observation and treatment. Unfortunately, he's been getting sicker rather than better, and Rona came this afternoon to visit with him, provide what comfort and healing she could. Which, to be honest, wasn't very much, though she at least managed to lighten the man's mood with humor and mediocre juggling and table magic tricks. Eventually, that and narcotics allowed him some blessed sleep, and Rona is on her way outside when she spies a familiar face in the rain.

"Razen? Is that you?" she calls out, not too loudly so as to not disturb anyone. "What are you doing out there?"

The Sunblade had noted the Orc's approach, or lack thereof, but seemed content to wait it out. Yelrona's voice draws Elpida's gaze, and the paladine nods to the other woman. She glances to the Orc again. "Are you lost, sir? Come in out of the rain, we can get you something warm to drink and dry you off. And have you on your way with proper directions."

"I am not lost." He sounds a bit tired, but that could be the fact that he's been in the rain so long. Razen glances toward Yelrona and steps toward the hospital quickly. "I thought I would... check the hospital out. Maybe get a tour. Do you do that sort of thing?" He's talking mostly to the Sunblade.

Yelrona is surprised by the Sunblade's familiar voice -- she hadn't actually looked at the guards, seeing only the uniforms. Bad, _bad_ inquisitor. No biscuit. But she's outright bewildered by the oruch's request. A tour of the hospital? To what end? She waves a silent greeting to Elpida, and curiously awaits her response.

Elpida cants her head slightly when the Half-Orc speaks, and she shakes her head. "We can't do that at night, everyone is sleeping, for the most part. And I'm sure the matrons would be upset to have people tromping about the place. But come back tomorrow during the day, and you can probably get a bit of a look around. May I know why you are curious to see the hospital?" She offers the two a bright smile. "I know it's rather terrible weather for being about, but I am happy that the heat has backed off a little, you know?", she adds, conversationally, mostly to Yelrona.

Razen sighs and nods. "I thought as much, but I had been hunting all day and so..." He shrugs and glances at Yelrona again. "I will come another time. I do not want to bother you."

Yelrona nods to Elpida. "Apparently, Daeus answers prayers after all," she observes wryly, remembering their last conversation. But Razen's diffidence concerns her. "Razen... is something wrong?"

Razen only looks embarrassed, but finally shrugs. "If someone is injured this is where they come right? I wanted to look around if I could... for that reason."

Yelrona laughs softly at the Sunblade's comment. "Indeed." But her attention remains focused on Razen. "'If someone is injured'..." she echoes. That reminds her too much of _her_ first visit to this hospital. Plus, her investigation of missing persons in the Warehouse District have primed her suspicions. "Is someone you know missing?" she asks softly.

"Some one you know is injured and you think they are here? Well, if you have their name, or a description, I can go and look for you. If they are here, well, there might be some allowance for you to visit. But likely, not until day." She taps her nose. "I can at least put your mind at ease, yes?"

Razen lifts a hand and looks embarrassed as he waves it. "No, no nothing like that." He lets out a gruff laugh and scrubs that hand over his hair. "I expect to be the one injured."

Yelrona 's eyes light up with understanding. At least, she _thinks_ she understands. "Are you still threatening to feed your arm to Thul's creature, then?"

Elpida peers curiously at Razen, and then at Yelrona. "Self harm isn't well looked upon, sir. Why are you planning on doing ...", She points to Yelrona. "What she is suggesting?" The three are standing outside the hospital's entrance, in conversation.

Razen nods. "If need be." He seems utterly serious, and less embarrassed than a moment before. "It is not as though I mean it as a first option, but I believe in being prepared."

Yelrona explains to Elpida "It has to do with the creature of Thul that is threatening Alexandria... the Maggot Man, they call him. You've heard of it?"

Elpida looks to Yelrona and nods. "The creature going around who is only satiated by things he has not yet eaten?" He looks to Razen then and shakes her head. "Still, probably not a good idea. Is the creature a cannibal, like, has it eaten people? It might not do so."

The half orc considers the question a moment. "It seems to me that it is willing to eat /anything/. Perhaps it is not the best option, but if nothing else works better one man's arm than thousands their homes and possibly their lives."

Deak steps out of the hospital, looking like he's had a long day and is ready for a change of pace. He nods courteously at the talking trio.

"Well," Rona observes, "it's a Thulian creature. So, yes, cannibalism is likely involved in some form or another. And, certainly, better one man's arm than the deaths of thousands," she agrees. "Or for that matter, better than than two men's arms. I just hope it won't come to that." She waves at the new arrival.

"What is to say that he will stop at just your arm?", Elpida asks. "You have no guarantee." The woman stretches a little, keeping the blood flowing. She offers Deak a nod in return to his. "You should rest sir, you look pretty beat." Looking back to Yelrona and Razen. "Surely there are better choices of ... food."

Razen nods once, rain trickling down his face without care. "That is what the competition is for, in the hope that there is, but if there is not, then there is not. Perhaps my sacrifice will not be enough, but even a life might be a better trade than that of many."

Deak says, "Excuse me. Are you talking about sacrificing yourself to feed this Maggot ghoul, or whatever it is?"

"Well, he's talking about sacrificing his arm, yes," Rona butts in. She seems displeased. "Which I suppose is better than sacrificing himself entirely. Still," she admits, and her unhappiness about this seems bone-deep, "I haven't been able to find a better answer."

"The Maggot Man, or MM as they are calling it in the street." Elpida nods to Deak before looking back to Razen. "May I suggest going to Am'shere and seeing what delicacies they can offer up. Since you have to get there through a portal, it is possible that the creature has not been there, nor sampled Am'shere's delights. It might be worth a shot before giving up your arm."

"If I could, I would tell it to devour itself. Since surely /that/ is a meal it has yet to savor. But I have no money for desserts from far-off places, and surely others will try these methods soon enough." Razen looks at the man who has just spoken to him and shrugs a little to himself. "I know it seems strange to all of you, and again I do not mean it as a first option. But it may be our last."

"For what it's worth," Rona observes, "I believe the Temple of Vardema is planning on centralizing a similar approach, free of charge. I guess we'll see if that's enough. I do admire the willingness to do what it takes, admittedly."

Deak says, "So this idea of sacrificing your arm is based on what? I mean, do you believe that some undead creature would honor it's word?"

Elpida gestures to Yelrona, "She speaks the most sense, of all of us tonight. Go and help the temples, they will deal with the creature. Your sacrifice is noble, but the way I see it, it should not be needed."

"Let it be so." Razen offers the words up almost as prayer. "As to you... sir. It seemed to me that it would be magic of some kind that would bind the thing. Since magic bound it before. After all there are only riddles to know how to bind it again."

Yelrona asks, curiously: "Riddles?"

Deak rubs his chin, and says, "Most undead are destroyed by holy power or sunlight or even plain old trauma-especially blunt force. There are certain special types, though, that have peculiar mystical tenacity that can only be defeated in rare methods. If this Maggot Man is one of this type, the Vardamites probably are the best bet, or maybe the Daeusites."

Razen nods politely. "I will come again in the day!" He rubs the water off his face and offers a wave to Yelrona as she goes. "Forgive our odd conversation sir, I did not mean to upset you."

Deak smiles, "Oh, I'm not upset. I am concerned that you're committed to an irrational course of action. Here, try this out for a while." He reaches out and touches Razen's shoulder…

GAME: Deak casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16

Razen blinks and looks down then up with a smile. "Blessings I have had in plenty, and none have stopped the thing from seeking me - or others out." He clasps the other man on the shoulder. "But you have my thanks."

Deak says, "The Compassionate one bless your hearth. I hope you may find a better solution to this Maggot Man plague."

-End-