RP:Healing Alariel

From HollowWiki

This is a Devout's Guild RP.


Synopsis: Zahrani and Alariel cross paths, and the paladin takes a moment to get to know her new acquaintance from far away, and offer healing services to the elf after her run-in with slavers.

Ancient Forest

Alariel had climbed the notched trunks of the aged trees, surveying the area the higher up she got. Her leather boots dug into the bark and her dress blended in with the dark woodland colors of the forest. As she sat on a sturdy branch she loosened the ties of her corset to free herself of her shallow breathing. She took in a breath of air and watched the birds circling around before pulling her long braid over one shoulder. This place was quite secluded and it reminded her of a place back home, where she used to be warned of dangerous things roaming about. "If only they could see me now..." she chuckled and uncorked a waterskin to take chug down water.


Zahrani | A soft crunch of leaves can be heard not too far away from where Alariel had positioned herself in the trees. A pause, then a few more soft footsteps. The winter chill had set in, and the forest is much quieter for it. A figure covered from head to toe in a furry cloak is seen emerging from the clearing just next to the elf's chosen tree. A jet of mist escapes the hood with each exhale. A gloved hand reaches from the folds of the cloak and lowers the hood, revealing a head of long dreadlocks. The person looks like an elf, but not quite. Her skin is a dark, nut-brown, contrasting sharply with cyan eyes. Tufts of black fur grow on her pointed ears. Zahrani has one of those androgynous faces, where it's not entirely clearly whether she's a man or a woman. Does it matter? She stands at roughtly 5'11", and beneath the cloak, she's built with a form that appears to be well-suited for scaling walls and trees, even in heavy armor. A long black tail swishes behind her as she surveys the tree branches. Should she catch sight of Alariel, the paladin's vibrant eyes would lock onto the elf, and a warm smile would form on her lips.


Alariel | The sound of crunching leaves made Alariel suspicious as she instinctively reached for an oaken bow and a single arrow, quick to turn her head towards the sound of rustling leaves. She had believed it to be a deer but no, it was humanlike in appearance and certainly not a deer. The fair elf with dark brown locks immediately dropped her bow, placing it back to its former position at her back. She cocked her head, wondering who or what it could possibly be. Her own breath hung in the air like its own little cloud as she waited in anticipation, but she had been high up enough that surely she had seen Zahrani first. Alariel couldn't help but notice that this being seemed quite tall in appearance and she continued to study it before it appeared that she had been spotted with a smile to acknowledge her, and then she noticed a tail. She stood up from her spot and backed towards the trunk of the tree, finding the notches she had used to climb up and started her way down cautiously, somewhat hiding in the cover of what was left of the tree.


Zahrani | "Evening." The panther's voice is a mid-tenor with a slight feline accent to it. Zahrani remains where she stands, watching Alariel climb down from the tree. She takes moment to look around at their surroundings to see if she had accidentally disrupted the elf's hunt. The panther did not smell or hear any prey nearby, so the paladin turns back to Alariel and smiles again, "Don't worry. I don't bite on Fridays." There was a humorour tone to her statement. She probably wouldn't bite the elf on any day unless the elf tried to harm her or someone she knew. To the magically sensitive, an aura of divinity and peace seems to play across Rani's form.


Alariel became slightly startled in hearing a voice emerge in the silence and edged closer to the tree's trunk before hearing the humor that would reassured her that she could fully lower herself from the tree. After a while of expertly climbing down she gracefully landed atop a pile of leaves with a "crunch", her legs beneath her as she stooped. She drew a leg out to bring herself to a standing position, and chuckled. "That's a relief." Alariel smiled as she dusted her clothes off, freeing the leaves from her skirts. Her emerald eyes settled on Zahrani, her features became ever so much clearer than when she had observed at a distance. "This place beckoned me to come explore it. Though, curiosity usually takes hold." she said, folding her arms in front of herself and crossed one leg in front of the other.


Zahrani chuckles softly at the mention of curiosity. "I know that feeling all too well. I was just visiting the elven fort and the old temple of Arkhen." The feline watches Alariel's stance, folding her own arms across her chest and keeping her weight evenly distributed on both legs. Her face has a calm, serene look to it, yet not complacent. It's the look of a cat ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. Her expression is maintained in a warm smile, before her lips part again, "My name is Zahrani, by the way. I'm a paladin of Cyris. What is your name?"


Alariel listens intently, sure to keep her emerald gaze fixed upon the stranger. “My name is Alariel. A spell blade, though I do not come from here.” She says softly, her elven accent coming through with each syllable. “The places you speak of sound very interesting, but I have never been to such places. Yet, anyway…” Her words trail off as her voice becomes softer. “I hope to adventure more, so perhaps someday I will have been well traveled.” She says assuredly, sure to reflect a warm smile upon the stranger.


Rani repeats the elf's name, "Alariel." The panther nods; it is a nice name, and the cat's accent complements it well. A brief moment passes, a gust of wind tugging at the paladin's dreads before she brushes them idly from the front of her face. "So what land do you come from, if I may ask?"


Alariel noded once in return upon hearing her pronunciation, giving a smile. It had been a long time since she heard anyone speak her name, and with such articulation. As Rani spoke she drew a pendant out from her shirt where it was tucked against her chest, gently pulling on it to adjust it. "I come from sylvan lands of another realm quite far away from here. But as I have traveled I find myself going to Kelay and Cenril. Surely you reside around here?" Alariel said, her voice inquisitive.


Zahrani examines the peculiar amulet. It is well-crafted and lovely, but its design is unfamiliar to the cat. In response to the elf's question, she grins and says, "I grew up in Cenril, living with others of my people in a colony. When I was 8, I was adopted and mentored by a paladin who visited." The panther shows her own amulet, bearing the symbol of Lithrydel's God of Freedom and Independence. "That was over 21 years ago." The feline has with her order for almost her entire life, but, "I still make regular trips to the Isran Collective, the colony I grew up in. Our Grandmother would never let me hear the end of it otherwise." ~Grandmother~, in this context, was not only used as an affectation for family, but also a colloquialism for ~the oldest and most experienced woman in the colony.~ She acts as their matriarch, keeping an eye on the day-to-day operations of their group and making sure everyone has what they need and is able do what they can for the good of their shared home.


Alariel | After hearing Zahrani speak, Alariel shows her own, the chain long signifying it had probably been worn by a man. It was a rather elaborate pendant crafted with a precious silver metal that barely looked worn at all. In the center was an ornate tree, and filigree branches that encircled it. And quite unmistakably there was a silver crown above the tree in the center that could be seen before she placed it back into her shirt. Alariel had only ever let one other person look upon it, a friend from before she had traveled to these different lands. Strangely she felt comfortable enough with Zahrani, though she may as well think she’s a thief carrying around something so nice when her clothes looked very worn-in. “It’s my family crest.” She said simply, letting her surmise whatever she wished. “A few weeks ago I traveled here, having previously lived in another land. It was not my homeland but I spent a few years there before coming here. I spent time braving the wilds, living off the land...” She paused to adjust her shirt after suddenly feeling conscious of her rather worn-in clothes but it was all she had to wear at present. Alariel would likely head into town later on. With only a simple rucksack she appeared to travel lightly and she had left some of her belongings behind to make her journey less tiring, after all carrying around extra things on foot would have been arduous.


Zahrani could smell that the stranger's clothes were very well-worn, but she passes no judgment for traveling light. The cat herself wears her clothing out quite often, to the point where it becomes rags beneath her armor. She listens eagerly to Alariel's story of survival and travel, before asking, "Would you like to join me for a drink? The Kelay Tavern is not far from here, and I'd be happy to show you around."


Alariel was familiar with the area, having recently traveled from there herself but she was eager to learn more, regardless. "A place to relax would nice, and the company too." the fair elf said, smiling at Zahrani. "I find myself in the forest all too often. Perhaps one of these days I will be a city elf and scale buildings instead." she joked about herself and her love of climbing trees.

Kelay Tavern

Rani smiles and laughs at the elf's statement, waving her hand in a follow-me gesture. "Well, if you ever find yourself scaling over the rooftops of Cenril, I'm sure you'll run across members of our colony. I'm sure you'll peak their curiosity." The cat begins to walk north, and assuming Alariel follows, she guides them both into the tavern and orders a pot of herbal tea and a couple of cups. She pulls out a chair for the elf, before taking her own seat across the small two-person table. With her cloak removed, more of the panther's athletic form is revealed. She wears a sleeveless steel cuirass, and a pair of greaves and armored boots that are lined with winter-grade fabric. For a stranger, it would be hard to tell at first glance whether to address her as "Sir" or "Ma'am," so she tends to get a mixture of both. Alas, Nancy the barmaid is no stranger, and with a smile, the woman brings them their tea and says to Rani, "Always good to see you, love." The elf-like feline grins sheepishly in return, before saying, "You as well."


Alariel | "Oh, they climb buildings. I guess it's good to have friends in high places." the elf spoke in a humorous tone. "You'll have to tell me more about them. Before I came here I had only ever been around elves, humans, and a few other kinds of beings. Never feline." Alariel followed along the path after Zahrani, her boots crunching over leaves and sticks that covered the ground along the path set by the feline. She brushed aside a few branches until she was led to the main road that would eventually meet up with the tavern. The elf followed Zahrani into the tavern and lowered herself into a seat, her posture more upright than relaxed as she looked at Zahrani from across the table before her eyes go towards Nancy. She had seen so little of Alariel before, but Nancy gave a simple nod at her before bustling off. "You must come here often enough." she said, her eyes settling back upon Zahrani.


Zahrani | "You're more likely to run into us, the closer you get to Cenril. Much of our business is within the city, maintaining our colony." Rani takes a sip of tea before saying, "As for me, I'm a familiar face here in Kelay, simply because my work as a paladin brings me here often. Several temples and shrines are found in the forest, and Kelay's central location in Lithrydel means I pass through frequently." Her eyes rest on the elf, the gaze warm and calm. Were she magically sensitive, Alariel might detect a divine aura coming from the panther; everything about the cat seems to say, ~You are safe with me.~


Alariel noticed the aura, and her shoulders relaxed a bit although her upright posture would not cease. She was too used to sitting with her back straight that despite years of hardly needing it , for it had just become a part of how she composed herself. She brought her hand around the cup she had been offered and took a sip every so often as she listened to Zahrani. She had admired hearing they were a group rather than a solitary being such as herself. Elves were a bit strange that way, for some would travel in medium sized groups, others alone. The ones back home that would patrol the forests surely had several more in their number as they kept watch through the trees. Alariel looked into her cup of tea before her lips parted to speak. “I have seen many travel through here, nothing short of being interesting at first glance. But how good it is to have someone to talk to.” Alariel said warmly, feeling more at ease. “What do you do as a paladin that finds you traveling so often?” The elf’s emerald eyes held a look of curiosity.


Rani wraps her arms around her torso, turning in one direction then the other. Her spine makes a couple soft popping noises with the stretching motion. The panther has a very satisfied look on her face. Her eyes never leave the elf as she listens to Alariel's comments and questions. She ponders for a moment, then responds, "Well, I offer healing and protection services for those who are most in need of them. I'm not a sell-sword, as I don't really do it for money. I just help out where I can. And people everywhere need help sometimes." She watches her new acquaintence with interest, taking note of the shape of her lips, her pointed ears, her hair, her eyes, and her nose. It is a nice face, the feline concludes. "What do you usually find yourself doing in your travels?"


Alariel | “I find myself having taken to the forest, but these days only occasionally hunting for food. What I haven’t used I have sold to a butcher for money. Wandering into town more frequently has suited me better, and so has the company.” Alariel sipped the tea once again, never forgetting what she had heard the feline say previously about healing. “And...healing, you say? Is there anything you can do for this?” the elf, pulling a sleeve back before laying her arm across the table in her direction. If Zahrani were to look she would see bruises shaped like fingers that appeared to travel up her arm, well past where the sleeve had already been pulled up. She had recently been harmed but other marks on her could not be seen beneath her clothes.


Zahrani | The panther sips her tea, putting down her cup upon seeing the bruises and scooting her chair over to take a closer look. Rani's warm, dark hand gently encloses over Alariel's, carefully turning her arm to inspect the damage. "What happened? How far does it travel on your body?" If necessary, she could rent a private room to administer additional aid, should the elf want that.


Alariel pulled her arm back towards herself while lowering her sleeve back over her arm. She instinctively drew her hand towards the sore spot on her front, and there were a few more places. “I was taken hostage while unconscious and dragged to a cave by slavers.” the elf said, swallowing as she blankly stared at the table. It took strength to finally tell someone, for she had feigned being fine for a few days. She had been sick over it and had retreated somewhere to be alone to collect her thoughts, which is why Zahrani had found her in the ruins, and cautious at first over their encounter with each other. “I’ve let things sit for a while longer than I should have, I’m afraid. Other than that...I’m not too worse for wear but even my back aches where I was struck.” Alariel said, her emerald gaze traveling back to Zahrani’s.


Zahrani's face becomes more serious at the mention of slavers. She slowly inhales and exhales with controlled breath, tempering the righteous fury developing in her chest. Softly, she says, "Many in our colony can relate to what you've been through. We've lost cubs to slavers in the past, but we've gotten more adept at identifying them and driving them away from our streets." This is clearly very personal to the feline; she's had to rescue more than a couple little ones who were lured from their parents, and their trauma at the hands of their captors is clear. She briefly closes her eyes, opening them again calmly, "Would you like somewhere quiet and private to talk, while I heal you?"


Alariel | “That is truly awful for a youngling, let alone anyone. The ones that kidnapped me had more ~exotic~ tastes...but they’ve been dealt with.” Alariel sighed, leaning back into her chair while massaging her temples as she recounted it in her mind. It was not her proudest moment, but under the very real threat of possibly being killed, measures had to be taken. Since then it haunted her a bit, causing nightmares that had made her all the more cautious. Sometimes she couldn’t distinguish them from reality, and it had made her lose sleep a few times in an attempt at keeping herself up to avoid them. The elf drew her hand away from her head and nodded to Zahrani, indicating they should go elsewhere. “That would be better.” Alariel agreed.


Zahrani | With a nod, Rani asks Nancy if 'the usual room' is still available. The barmaid nods, "Doin' some more healin'? This way." She leads them up a flight of stairs, then opens a door into a private bedroom. Rani smiles warmly at the human before entering. Nancy grins at Alariel before saying, "Yer in very good hands, dear." A simple bed sits at the center of the room, a bedside table next to it, plus a chair. The curtains are drawn shut, and warm air is funneled up from the fireplace downstairs to a metal radiator in the floor. It is almost as warm and inviting as the paladin herself. Rani washes her hands at a basin before turning back to the elf, "Feel free to take a seat and show me where you want me to heal." Her statement is carefully worded; getting consent is important in vulnerable positions like this.


Alariel | Unsure of it for a moment she hesitated but deemed her situation better off with a healer than leaving it alone to possibly fester on its own, and she didn't desire leaving a scar if it could be helped. With a heavy sigh she undid the laces of her bodice, dropping the outer layer onto the chair beside the bed. Her scoop necked inner dress was just low enough that a lash mark from a whip would have been visible across her chest to anyone looking. The slight laceration was pink enough to have been noticeable on its own and she winced as she tugged at the fabric covering the one on her back. It went from just below her neck to the opposite shoulder, and fabric chafed against her raw skin, even clinging to the deeper laceration a little. Alariel's expression twisted into an unpleasant one as she pulled to free the cloth, opening part of the scab that had formed before lowering herself into the chair. "I have healed nyself before, using supplies I carry...well, carried with me. But seeing as I have been stripped of my belongings, and given the fact that tending to one's own back can be tricky..." Alariel's words eventually trailed off in knowing Zahrani would have already understood by then.


Rani meant for the elf to take a seat on the bed since it was more comfortable, but the chair works too. The panther takes in the injuries to Alariel's back and chest, helping to gently remove whatever clothing her patient wishes to remove without causing any further discomfort. The paladin carefully examines the main wounds, noting any discoloration or strange smells coming from the elf's flesh before saying, "Fortunately, flesh wounds like this do not take long for me to heal. I just need to ensure they don't fester." The elf-like feline walks back to the water basin, dipping a sanitary cloth into the warm liquid before pouring a disinfecting soap on it. "This might sting a little at first when it touches your wound, but it will pass after a moment." Zahrani gently dabs the cleansing fabric on Alariel's back wound, moving across it with gentle presses so as not to brush needlessly against the sensitive skin. Her other hand rests gently on the woman's shoulder, a reassuring gesture of warmth. Her divine magic weaves its way through the elf's body, giving the sensation of immersion in a nice hot bath.


Alariel watched as her feline eyes assessed her injuries and she felt relieved to hear that it shouldn't take long. As the cleansing cloth touched her skin it felt as if her skin were on fire, a type of pain she had never felt before. Somehow in the past few years braving the wilds she had gone un-marred, though she wasn't exactly the daring kind which could substantiate it. Upon Zahrani's placement of a hand upon her shoulder, she felt a warm wave wash over her and everything that had bothered her seemed to have been a mere memory now, as if it had never happened at all, though the emotional after affect would stay etched in her mind. With wounds that closed up and bruises now gone, Alariel rose from the chair, turning her arms over. All signs of her injuries were gone and she brushed her fingers across her skin, amazed that it was no longer affected. "Amazing, I have never seen magic work this quickly. No doubt you have spent a fair amount of time to perfect your ability." Alariel said with a faint trace of a smile upon grabbing up the outer part of her garment from the back of the chair before replacing it back where she had worn it, loosely lacing it. "Much better...and thank you, Zahrani." the elf said with a slight nod of her head.


Rani smiles warmly at Alariel's response to her healing power. After she finishes cleaning the wounds, the flesh seems to knit itself together at a rapid pace. All that remains is the faintest trace of a scar on the elf's back. The cat gently massages the spellblade's shoulders and back before helping her into her clothes once more. "I've been a paladin for over 21 years, starting when I was 8. I've had time to hone the gifts that Cyris has given me." The panther hears a knock at the door, and Nancy comes in once more with their tea and a small but high-calorie dish. The paladin tips the barmaid before turning to Alariel, "You'll probably want to eat something, as part of your aftercare. My power partially works by accelerating your body's own healing abilities. Fortunately, your wound wasn't life-threatening, so you shouldn't be fainting."


Alariel | Her back stiffens at the unexpected backrub but she accepts it nonetheless, not wanting to disrupt her work but she gently lets her know that she doesn't need help in replacing her clothes. In fact she hadn’t needed the help before, she just hadn’t been one to deny the helping hand from Zahrani. “That is a long time, do they always train them so young?” she asked, continuing to wonder all about their practices. Where she had been from they trained mages at a young age in the hopes of curtailing misuse of their magic and for defensive purposes, perhaps that was their reason. Alariel had picked up the faint sound of steps outside the door before Nancy had even knocked, for her hearing was very sharp. She promptly looked towards the door before the knock was heard. “I feel quite alright at the moment, but thank you for your hospitality.” Alariel said to Zahrani, though she meant it for Nancy as well.


Zahrani notices the tension in Alariel's back, withdrawing her hands after only a moment of massage, making a note to ask first next time. When she is engrossed in her healing work, she sometimes forgets whether or not her patient is conscious and able to answer questions. She clears her throat, trying to suppress a slight blush before coming up with an answer to the woman's question, "Um... Not always. My foster father found me when I was 8 and asked me if I wanted to be trained by him as a paladin. We talked to our colony matriarch, and she agreed to let me study and train with the order of Cyris." In response to Alariel's thanks, Rani smiles and days, "Of course. And if you wish to remain and talk about what happened to you, I'll be here for awhile."


Alariel | “All is well, I assure you.” Alariel said, attempting to comfort Zahrani who turned pink in embarrassment. Alariel certainly didn’t want her to feel that way but she had crossed a line she easily drew with most everyone. Over time she would probably let physical contact with others bother her less, for she was slow to warm up to most unless they had been a friend for a long time. But they were gone, left in the land she had traveled from before getting to the Kelay area. She listened intently to Zahrani’s words, and let her finish though she had nearly interjected out of interest. “She probably saw something in you that was inextinguishable, a passion for helping others as I have seen here today. That is of course useful in years to come when you may know others facing harm as does happen in wars. But that would be if the worst were to happen, and surely that would require such prowess in your field...to heal so many people.” Alariel knew it took a special person to take on the needs of others and to show genuine concern. Others she had known weren’t quick to lend a hand but rather quick to raise a fist in argument as she had seen in the tavern recently. Suddenly her thoughts became lost on something else, a merfolk she had met not too long ago. “I must go soon. There is someone I’ve been meaning to have visit with, if I happen to catch sight of them again.” Then the elf had forgotten she had left her bow and quiver at the table. She abruptly left the room Zahrani was in with a quick stride, giving no indication of what she was doing in her present thought. Relieved, she was glad to have found it remained on the table where she had left it. Her heart had sunk for a moment, until she caught sight of it and she was very relieved. It was one of her few possessions left that she hadn’t been stripped of the day she had been caught in all of the mess she had been brought into. She ran her graceful fingers along the bow over the golden engraving where a name was inscribed (presumably someone she had been close to), before picking it up to put it across her shoulder. Alariel was determined not to do that ever again.


Zahrani watches Alariel leave the room, the cat following her downstairs as the elf retrieves her bow and arrows. "Well, don't let me keep you, if there's somewhere you need to be. It was nice to meet you, Alariel." With a warm smile and wave, the panther momentarily returns to the private room to clean up.


Alariel looked up from her weapon at the feline, then to the door thinking about what it was she had meant to do. "I'm hoping to find the merfolk I met not too long ago in...?" Alariel turned to speak, intending to speak to Zahrani but she did not see her anywhere, for she had already headed up the stairs. Curious eyes looked around but she had deduced the cat must have gone upstairs, possibly for a nap. Giving a quick nod to Nancy on her way out, Alariel made a quick stride to the door and exited.