RP:Helping Those in Need

Part of the Larketian Fault Lines Arc

Part of the What You Leave Behind Arc

Summary: Artia arrives without knowing Bastion is nearby, bringing her daughter Ava with her to help heal and or do surgeries for those unfortunate. Bastion is surprised by Artia - Bastion rushing to save the trapped witches.

Northern Larket Exit

The nameless street that runs from the south comes to an end here at a reinforced steel gate set into Larket's northern wall, complete with a large sign that reads, "Eternal Forest" and an outpost of armed guards. Citizens enter and exit, headed to the forest to forage and hunt, or else returning from just such adventures. The encircling wall continues to the west and east, but in the latter direction it connects with the walls of a towering fortress.

Bastion had helped civilians hit by the invading army tirelessly since he'd rushed to Larket upon hearing the news. Still, no matter how many hundreds of lives he'd saved, it was likely he'd engender much ill will if the people learned of what he was doing now. Using his incredible visual acuity, he was able to locate the escaped witches that'd managed to survive by their own wits and magic, and he was covertly going to each one. Stealth wasn't something he employed often, but in truth, he could sneak up on a vampire if he had to. He was incredible at remaining unseen, and employed it judiciously to find the witches without leading anyone to them. Most of the time they panicked, and once, he'd had to disable one who'd almost turned him into a newt. At least, that's what she'd said she was going to do later. He'd smelled the firey aftermath of a fireball cooking, but he kept that to himself. Most of the time they had superficial injuries, but some were crippled from torture, or from fighting off invaders or angry peasantry, and all were too scared to escape on their own, pinned down wherever they'd managed to hide from the searching patrols, most without food or water. He was with a lovely young witch named miss Tabitha, and he had brought her water and hard bread. She had no fingernails, and repeated beatings had upset her internal organs. Some twisted tormenter had taken to hitting her in the stomach, and she had painful, bloody bowel movements. With acupuncture, he'd relieved her pain, and slowed her bowels so that they could heal, redirecting her life energies to better enable her own regenerative processes. "Miss Tabitha, in about five minutes, we'll be clear to go straight south without stopping, as long as we're quick. If you don't think you can manage the pace, I'll find a donkey to carry you, and then we can make it." Bastion had to find a donkey, in the end. She had been hobbled too effectively... she couldn't take twenty steps without her insides twisting up. Even if his acupuncture stopped the pain, the movement would do more internal damage. She was cloaked and hooded on the donkey, and his pink eyes stared dead ahead as they paused, moving forward only when he no longer saw any immediate danger. He was extremely careful... and before long, they'd reached the edge of the forest, and gotten past the treeline. "Ok, we should be safe now. Keep those needles in, miss Tabitha, until you're in a safe place where you can rest. Then, leave the one in your hip until your bowel movements come smoothly, otherwise, the pain will return. Be careful, miss Tabitha. There are others gathering and preparing to leave together, but I have to go now. Be safe." Tabitha thanked him, and he frowned, watching her go. So much suffering... so many innocents persecuted. Could he really convince the queen to stop this madness, even in the face of an invading army? He wondered.

Artia had started to secretly honoring her roots, wanting to personally check on the witches she had helped escape among many others help. During the night in secret Artia and her displacer beast danced amongst the shadows making sure all witch's they could help transport them far out in the woods where they would find amply supply of medicines and fruits to travel far out. Taking a break to spend time with her daughter then Aake, and than back to brewing cauldron full of elixirs as well potions. Making more jerky so the food wouldn't perish too fast. Ava behind her mother carrying arm full of baskets for anything her mother needed, as well Artia arms full. Sri, the displacer beast pulling behind a cart. In front of them they were lead by the witch she stopped to talk to, amidst the battles. Once they arrived, the witch named Nancy made a large whistle where they had enchanted an invisible barrier. Passing through to see dozens of witch's, some glaring others hiding. “My fellow witch's this is the female that helped us, she burned the south gate so more of us could be free!” A few remembers Artia and bow to her, “Apothecary.” She didn't have the heart to correct them, only returning a smile. Artia spoke out, “I have brought more supplies, those that need more urgent care being them forth.” With that Artia turned around placing on a black almost like plastic coat to keep her flesh clean, snapping on gloves awaiting the group to grow. A very young child was carried, missing a leg the other badly mangled. Fingers missing from each finger, eyes sealed closed from inner bacteria infection. “Ava I want you to think and remember what I am doing.”

Bastion was surprised when Tabitha whistled over her shoulder, and using two fingernail-less fingers, at that. He looked back, and she waved to him. He blinked, wondering what she could indicating. He stretched out his vision, and found it, just over the hill. More witches. Artia. They weren't just gathering to leave... they had provisions, and medicines. Thanks to Artia. He raced up to and past Tabitha, to the camp, and to Artia's side. "Artia! There's... this is... these people have a much better chance of getting out alive, now!" it was more than he could do alone, by a long shot. "I... I have to go help more people. There're more stuck in places, they can't get here on their own. I can help them. I have to." He was already moving away again, but now, he had a heading, a place of assured safety to take them, where they would have help getting away. He watched Tabitha being received by others, and didn't know whether they were perfect strangers or old comrades. Could've been either, but the way the others helped her, and cared for her was very comforting. In their times of need, people needed to be there for eachother, like this.

Artia refused to wear a disguise like Mythayus pleaded her, she never hid before and she won't start now. Ava was handing out the food as well pre made medicines to help those that has minor things she could easily handle due to the teaching Artia gave her. Ava felt wonderful at helping others, seeing Bastion coming to them she bothered the child a smile. But kept to her job, sneaking candy to kids behind her mother's back. Artia hand her hands already on the mangled leg, gently running her legs feeling for the pulse of veins with her new vampiric gifts. “i..i don't think we can save this leg. I did make my bone healing potion, but this..this is too far gone. There is a blackSmith named Alvina would might be able to build you a pair of legs.” Hearing a voice say her name she looked up from the kneeling position to see the boy she vowed to protect. “I didn't expect to see you here..” A smile passed over her lips back to the young witch, “Bastion, take Sri she can pass through the shadows. And take you to the others we have transported to a different city far from Larket. She will aid. When you are done I need you back here.” With a look to the witch she worked on, “Leg has got to go, the different coloring isn't just bruises. It's an infection which will kill you, it's why your eyes are closed with even more infection...you are probably blind.” While she rumbled on about cloud watching, her hands moved to above the knee. A black mist leaking out with green particles glowing, quickly she melted the leg away. Grabbing a potion bottle pouring it on the castrated leg to close the wound, speed the healing process. Reaching behind her, she dropped a blue liquid on the eyelids. Making the goo on the eyes turn to a liquid that dripped off her face, able to open her eyes. But as Artia suspected, the eyes were white, blind. Placing the medicine and eye drops to the pair that brought her over, “Medicine four times a day to fight the infection, eye drops twice a day. If lucky, she might be able to see shadows.”

Bastion watched Artia work. He winced as the poor victim was told they were losing their legs... but he stopped her when she saw the eyes. "Pardon me, miss Artia, I think I can help." Time was of the essence against an infection this far progressed. She was right to take the leg as soon as possible... the infection was poised to hit the bloodstream any moment, and ride straight to the heart. Still, the pain was... difficult. Bastion was quick to kneel, and insert a needle striaght into their abdomen. "That'll dull the pain." The child's breathing slowed, and they looked relaxed, in spite of everything. With just a needle? Bastion was quite capable, indeed. "The infection is affecting the eyes terribly, but it's still early enough to fight back. I can save your vision." He took another needle, charged with Ki, and inserted it into the child's tear duct, next to his left eye. "It'll be a little odd feeling, but bear with it. Don't take it out for at least an hour, alright? Keep your eyes shut tight until then, and when you take it out, bind your eyes. No light for a day. Your vision will be good as new if you follow my instructions." He was looking at the mother as he spoke. Bastion looked to Sri, a person he'd never met, and back to Artia. "Miss Artia, if you trust her, then I shall as well." He rose. "Come, Sri. Let us make haste. I've seen more than thirty witches in hiding, unable to get here without aid. We've much work ahead of us." With that, he'd be off, a small fanny pack full of copper and silver needles at his waist.

Artia stood up taking the leg she amputated with her, tossing in a pile that would later be burned off. “Go ahead little Bastion, you just earned yourself a meal of choice when we are done.” Watching as he stuck a needle in the child's eye, smiling widely as Bastion was willing to help. He has the most golden and pure good heart she had ever encountered in her life time, sweet and willing to do anything to help others. His heart was in the best place, she could use his help as much as possible while she would continue with others. Hearing the instructions, she crossed her arms briefly. “You know, Larket is lucky to have your help.” Sri, the displacer beast in between a cub and adult sprang to her four paws. Skipping along Bastion, moving to a shadow cast by the tree. Peaking it's head out waiting for Bastion to join her so they could bring more here. Up above a blue dragon would hover keeping an eye out for Artia, to which she blew a kiss too. Needing to thank her dear Mythayus for his help, even though she knew he was worried by how he flew about. Next a older women was broke forth, spitting blood holding to her left rib cage. “May I look?” Once told yes, she would lift the shift to see massive collection of burst blood vessels paired with bruising. “What happen?” The elder told her of one of the drow getting to her before she got help to escape, quirking a brow as she listened. “Do you hurt to breath? The rib only location that hurts?” The elder nods, caused Artia to lean down listening. A lung had been punctured! Sitting upright she looked to the female. “You have a broken set of ribs, one has pierced your lung. Do I have permission to try to fix you?”

Bastion had never seen a displacer beast before, and was quite surprised when Sri bounded up to him, instead of a person! It's image was strangely fuzzy to his sight, but he trusted Artia, and went back into Larket while she tended to healing the many victims. There was another witch that was literally stuck under rubble, one who'd been unlucky enough to have been hiding in the wrong place when the fighting had gotten to its fiercest. This one wasn't even a real witch... she was just an herbalist, and proof that the definition of 'witch' was quite wide in scope. She'd dealt in remedies, and some neighbor had blamed her for their child's sickness, and waited a long time for revenge. When the witch hunts had started, their fingers were one of the first to start wagging in the direction of their neighbor. Bastion wasn't sure how he'd dig her out from under the rubble, unconscious as she was, without drawing attention. If anyone saw him doing it, they'd know who she was when she was brought forth, and she'd end up dead, or back in the camp. Bastion bit his lip, trying to think of a way... Sri butt his leg with its head, and nipped at him. He looked to it, and it looked to the pile. "Yes, I think there's someone under it. I can't get them out without anyone seeing." The beast looked at him, with eyes that hinted at intelligence, and bound off. Then... it simply vanished. Bastion's mouth was agape in amazement. He saw the rubble shifting, and someone glanced at it, but nothing emerged. Suddenly, the reappeared, the witch in tow, dragged by the hem of a torn skirt. Bastion couldn't believe what he was seeing. He supposed that's why they were called 'phase' beasts. He lifted the woman onto his back when Sri released her, and they carried her back to the camp, and left to find more, quickly as possible.

Artia looked to Ava, “I need a needle and a vial of numbing medicine please.” Looking back to the patient, “Your lung is collapsing, now I don't know where exactly your anatomy may rest, as everyone organs are spaced out differently. I am going to inject this numbing medicine, and I will make a minor cut to stick my finger in to feel around to the lung. Okay?” Once a nod was given from the elder, she offered a cool and soothing smile. Grabbing the needle and numbing medicine she looked to her eyes, “This will feel like a pinch, or more or less a bee sting.” Injecting the medicine massaging the outside flesh as to push it deeply in. “Now why I say the about anatomy is people have different cushion of tissue. So once I inject this, I will give it a few seconds. Feel around and inject more okay?” Slipping two fingers in she felt around to find the location she wanted, “Found it, now I will stick a tube in to drain the lung. But first let's numb you some more.” Artia would do exactly as she said, inserting more numbing to help allow no pain during such extreme procedure. Making a cut diagonal from the nipple line, up and down motion. Wiping off any blood escaping to keep the site clean. “We still numb?” The elder nods, worry fill her eyes. “Good, now we wait few more seconds to make sure I have the correct angle.” After said seconds were up she felt around again, smiling as she was precise. Now she was able to get to the cartridge of the rib, placing some numbing directly to the center. “Ava I need the steel rod, to have how deep between the ribs I have to go.” Once holding it in her grasp, in went the rod. Feeling for the rib, pushing through it, right above. The elder started to squirm as she could feel the pressure of the rod, “Ava, come around and hold her hands above her head. If she moves, it could cause me to puncture a nerve and cause bleeding I can not stop.” Watching Ava do as instructed, Artia proceeds. Pushing it further in, “You're doing fine, just relax. We are almost done, so you have any children? Grand children?” Feeling around again and injecting more numbing medicine, the elder nods. “Both, both were killed. My daughter was carrying children who were stillborn, she took her life.” Artia frowns, “I am sorry to hear that. None of this should had happened, not all witch's are bad.” The elder replies, “We aren't, but because we did natural remedies we got pointed as one. We are mere humans, farmers of herbs to sell in the market. Accused of poisoning and cursing those that refuse to buy at our price.” Keeping her finger on the spot guiding the rod deeper, pushing it in. Pulling the rod out leaving behind a tub to drain the blood gathered inside. “Its in.” Blood and bubbles began to spew out, a smile on her face. “For ribs e just wrap your waist up and you get to enjoy a nasty medicine to prevent infections and. bone healing tonic.” Grabbing needle and thread she stitched her up, “In a week remove the tube.” Wiping her hands off she went to the cart, handing the elder man her medicines. “Before each meal, and bed. Good luck.” As Artia changed her gloves Ava went about wrapping her waist, handing them a bag full of jerky and water.

Bastion brought the witch back with Sri's help, and watched Artia as she worked on the patient with a collapsed lung... difficult work. He couldn't stay to help though, as there was a limit on how long people trapped without food and water could last. Out he was again, Sri bounding along by his side, to help him find more trapped survivors. It was another day and night affair... well into morning, he was searching, trying to make sure he'd covered all of Larket, and found everyone trapped, witch and peasant and noble alike. At the end of the day, he was too exhausted to stand. He'd been at it for a week, now... constantly healing others, he'd had less than a dozen hours of sleep, and no breaks from his work. He'd barely eaten in all that time too. He was collapsed in the witches camp, when he was approached by a sour looking group of middle aged witches. "This is the one. He brought many, and helped heal others. But..." "He consorts with the Queen herself, even while she's imprisoned! He helped heal the citizens of Larket FIRST. I'm not sure where his allegiences lie." One of them looked ready to cook him with a fireball on the spot, and Bastion thought he was likely too tired to resist. "I have to help everyone, as much as I can. It's my duty." "Duty! One of the men you saved yesterday murdered my sister in front of me. Is it your 'duty' to save murders?" Bastion nodded. "It is. All life is sacred." She spit in his face.

Artia had ent Ava home long ago, sticking her to help others. Once all the biggest emergency were done the rest just needed supplies and medicine, even vampires get tired. Artia tired, makes for easy to anger. Removing all the bloody clothes and attire she be piled as well body parts had to be removed was soon set on fire. Tossing wood between each layer to hide it all under wood, disguised as a burning wood pile of maybe someone clearing out their yard. Sri appeared to Artia pushing Artia legs to face where a group surrounded someone, threatening to harm the one in the middle. Off Artia went, looking at each member. Hearing one spit upon said person in the middle, moving behind the one that spat to see it was Bastion who they were threatening. With a clearing of her throat loudly done, “I think you should leave the one healing everyone he can find, alone.” The one that had spat on Bastion found himself being thrown backwards by the neck, “Do that again I will melt your lungs from the inside he is a child. You have no shame?” To the one with a fireball, would begin to feel the ground below her feet quaking. Undead skeleton hands grabbing at the ankles, “Touch him and I will not hold back.” Picking up Bastion she carried him to the ranch to let him recuperate.