Well, even to a child, it didn't make much sense that slapping plants on a broken leg would somehow help. Lumut figured, at least, that the deer would need to eat the plants--but how best to prepare it? She took a nibble herself, in preparation, and found that they didn't taste bad: a little nutty, a bit sweet, maybe, especially the seeds. She crunched those away, holding the plant beside her face with one hand and scratching a hairy cheek with the other, staring into the middle distance as she focused.

Then she turned, setting about grinding these up in an attempt to make a sort of potion for the deer--assuming she could get it to eat that, in the end.

About halfway through she made the questionable decision of heating part of it up. Almost at once it began to burn, and with a few distressed grunts she retracted the rest.

It looked like it'd be raw plant, or nothing.

Lumut stared with furrowed brow, sad, at the mess she'd made of it.

Finesse isn't exactly Fulgur's strong suit. He's a bit big to work with the sprig, but he'll give a shot. Hopefully it won't go that wrong.

He glances around him, looking at the pot of hot water the Divine had provided. He grabbed a cup as carefully as possible, filling it with some of the water (at the cost of getting some on himself. Atleast it didn't burn too bad.)

Then, taking a strip of fabric, he wrapped up the flower sprig into a little satchel, and placed it in the cup. Now to wait...

The scent of it steeping almost makes him fall asleep. Whoops, seems it might be a little too strong.

Although the craftiness required to construct a method of treatment for his serpentine patient was minor at best, the mention of it couldn't help but cause a drop of trepidation to pool in East's chest. Outwardly not a single feather, whether on his head or wings or back, rustled out of place. However, the glance cast down at the plant he held wandered to the talons gripping it, weighing their shredding power against the slim chance of any finesse they might possess.

At least, he reasoned, any failure would be unlikely to injure much besides his pride. Not positioned in any high branches, the cost for a fumble would be far less than the broken bones of another time. He toyed with the string of the wooden cup hung around his neck—a fortunate little keepsake at the moment—and proceeded onward, a speck of confidence gathered from the reassurance.

It almost disappeared into Cetus's swamp as he gathered water from the makeshift pot provided, awkward hopping about to fill his cup causing more of the scalding liquid to drench the ground than actually remain contained inside. Harvesting leaves off the plant resulted in further, if not nearly as major, spills as every jerky motion jostled the receptacle he was meant to eventually steep them in. When at last a cloth-wrapped bundle was placed in to infuse the water with its medicinal properties, the volume started with had been halved purely by acts of clumsiness. He'd have to pray that it would be enough for a snake of the Lurker's hefty size.

CALL THE APOTHECARY!

The Divine moved from creature to creature--and Gembound to Gembound, carefully monitoring their work. Here she nodded, or there pointed out some small improvement. To Fulgur in particular she gave attention: pausing, leaning in and inhaling the scent of the liquid he had steeped. "Very good. Potent. Yours will also do well," she added to East. There was a distant, wild look in her eyes as she turned to regard the injured Lessers again, lips thinned in disapproval of what had been done to them, but... they were being tended, now, at least.

"Lastly... I will teach you of how to apply all that I have told you. To splint a broken bone, with that poultice on the wrap; or to feed the tea so as not to choke the beast that drinks it. To imbibe a potion..." and on she went, moving to demonstrate a number of methods that could be used to close wounds, aid broken bones, restore strength to the weak and sick, and so on. Her lesson went on for some time--it was informative--but when it had finished, she had herself aided a number of the sick and injured Lessers in demonstration.

"Aid me with the last of them--and you will have paid me for this knowledge. Pass it on; help those creatures in need, creatures suffering at Order's hands. Thank you."

---

This concludes [TCS] Call the Apothecary! The relevant Achievement can be claimed in Update Me after the character has exited (art for this should be ready in a day or two!). Gembounds may roll to attempt to finally tend their chosen Lesser. (Players may decide results!) They may use either the following new Tactic after claiming it, or any other roll they deem suitable. They may also exit at their leisure, or remain to tend Lessers (on-screen or off) if preferred.

The final mending-oriented Tactic is now unlocked. All tactics are available in the shop, and Gembound currently present may post in Update Me to be granted the final Tactic for half cost (the magicka should be available on that account).

Unlocked this round:

Medic.
High Intensity Manipulation. Anatomical expertise is used to reduce the severity of an injury (such as a broken bone, laceration or puncture) through treatment, for example through splinting, suturing or putting pressure on a wound. A life-threatening injury can be lessened to a severe, and severe to moderate, moderate to minor. This may only be used once per injury.

Additional note: Eirlys is assumed to have exited in previous rounds.

@Fulgur @Alek @Cadenza @Nameless @Gaheris @Lumut @Star @Adenium @Casimir @Kass @Eirlys @Mai @Kudzu @East @Skein @Grootslang @Infinity

She took her time in feeding the poppy mixture--poorly-mixed, until she'd given up and just held half-mutilated flower-heads in her fingers--to her chosen deer.

Then--knowing full well that simply dulling the pain would do nothing, given the Divine's lesson--she set about the questionable task of trying to splint a broken leg.

Lumut was young, but she was diligent: she was intently focused as she went about searching for an appropriate flat piece of wood, breaking it to the right length, and getting rid of points and splinters. And she was careful in lining it up with the Lesser's leg, and even moreso in selecting wraps that she thought would best hold it in place.

But whatever she did when she took the broken leg in hand was wrong--wrong in that she felt a grind beneath her fingertips, that the deer squealed and thrashed, flipping on its side and kicking her square in the chest with its good hoof.

She cried out, flung back, the impact burning and stinging and leaving her breathless as she stared up at the canopy. Afraid, upset, Lumut pushed up and scurried off, one arm holding the bruising place at her sternum. She'd come back--she would come back, and help--but not before she'd spent time crying in the safe embrace of the branches up above.

exit Lumut. Oops

Fulgur would watch the Divine earnestly - this seemed the most important knowledge of all. Six eyes watch her every move, eager to learn.

Then he turns back to the small, helpless lesser he'd set himself upon. It still held its injured leg weakly against it, hobbling around in the muck.

He would bring the tea to its mouth, now that its cooled off slightly. He doesn't force it on the little thing, but gently coos at it to encourage it to drink. It's hesitant at first, but it eventually takes a sip, and starts to slip into a more quiet state.

With that opportunity, he carefully nuzzles it down, getting to to lie on its side with the injured leg up. He does his best to mirror the Divine, wrapping it with sticks and vines. Even so, his large size makes the fine task awkward, and he gets a feeling the leg isn't quite at the angle it needs to be...

He sighs to himself, stating that he will learn, and turns to the next of the animals collected. He'll help all he can.

Exit Fulgur tentatively, unless someone else wants to talk to him.

The worst of the work done, now came the moment of truth. Every drop he had prepared would need to trickle down the snake's gullet. Any less and the tiny amount might fail to break through the layers of mucus coating the inside of that gaping mouth. Cavernous as it was, the chance of missing the target was slim, but so were the odds of his talons avoiding the chance to fumble. He'd have to keep them steady, his pace slow; maybe misfortune wouldn't notice him then, activity too glacial to attract the mischievous glint dancing in her eye.

They took it in turns—the cup tipping the slightest to loose drips of medicine at a time, the Lurker shutting its mouth after some heavy reluctance to absorb the liquid puddling in its lower jaw. This lasted for more than the few seconds simply dumping the concoction would have taken, time's passage best counted in minutes. The repetition was so much, the back and forth became near mechanical, and the edge wore away from East's mind.

Intelligence dried up at the lack of stimulation. The final bead of tea falling past the lip of the cup ended the drought, and he retreated from his patient, blinking away the dullness that had glazed over sight. Not much else could be done unless there were injuries that'd escaped notice the first examination around; the second yielded no difference, the effect of his efforts not immediate, as would be expected.

He would check on it later. There was no hurry. After all, the fungus would not clear itself in a day, and neither would these Lessers heal so rapidly unless struck by a miracle. Such a thing a foolish wish, staying seemed the obvious choice, the practice of knowledge learned a useful way to spend time if acts of compassion didn't carry enough appeal.

-Exit East