[IC] Halfling Quest - Rooting Around

[Evilhalfling]

Eddie glances at the barn thinking it would be faster if he just took a horse, and explained later. Do you know how to ride? No, How to saddle a horse? No. Would you fall off and break your fool neck? Yes. All right the house it is.

Eddie dashes up onto the Greenbottle’s porch, panting and holding the stitch in his side. He carefully sets down the lantern and pounds on the door.
Hello Mr. and Mrs. Greenbottle ! Wake up! Kyleia’s been hurt and we need help. Hello, Wakeup ! *pounding continues*

 

[Slippshade]

Bubbles Greenbottle

Bubbles looked down the the twisted mockery that was the wild boar.

"I don't know much about the wild, but I know that isn't right."

Even dead the thing sent a shiver up Bubbles spine. She looks into the line of trees from where the boar had come from.

"Have any of you been very far into this forest before? I mean, whatever did this to the boar could have done this to other things too."

"Oh I wish Kiylea hadn't been hurt. She's the most likely to know about this place."

(ooc)I am assuming she is unconcious, if not I will ask her. (/ooc)

 

[ender_wiggin]

Ringly tries to stand up, but his head spins and he stumbles a bit before finding a tree to lean on. It was more blood than he had ever seen, not only in one place but total. Combined. For the first time in years, there was nowhere he wanted to be but home. In bed. Blissfully sleeping. The wizard doesn't look at the carcass of the boar. From some of the comment's he's heard, he doesn't think his stomach can handle it. The vomit is piling up in his throat anyway.

What the hell am I doing here?

"I'm sorry, friends. I don't seem to be of much use to anyone. Not like this," he says, "pointing to the scene around him. "Not like this..."

 

[Boddynock]

"I'm sorry, friends. I don't seem to be of much use to anyone. Not like this," he says, "pointing to the scene around him. "Not like this..."

Alton turns to Ringly, and his chest tightens in sympathy as he takes in Ringly's obvious distress.

"Ringly, none of us could have forseen how dangerous this beast was. Certainly Mero didn't, I'm sure, or he would never have sent us out here. As to not being any use, if your magical sounds hadn't distracted the beast, who knows who it might have gored next."

"No, if anyone was useless here, it was me - my 'plan' must be the most useless ever devised, and it nearly got Kiylea killed. But by the Goddess' grace, she still lives, and now we must take her to a warmer, safer place than this field. That thing - we should take that too, but Kiylea is our first priority. Once we've got her safely to the Mellars' farm, maybe Bubbles and I can come back for the carcase."

"I know you're feeling sick but I need your help to carry our friend to safety. If all four of us help, it'll be a much smoother ride for her. Now, let's make that stretcher. The sooner we're underway, the better."

 

[Ferrix]

Near Midnight

Kiylea's Stretcher

With Alton's heartful guidance and comfort, he manages to get Ringly up and helping as the struggle to craft the makeshift stretcher. With the help of the three others, it is finished quickly and with care Bubbles and Alton lift Kiylea up and Jerran and Ringly slide the stretcher under her. Hanging the small lamp from the end of one of the spears, they are ready to move.

"One, two, three..." Alton calls out and on three they uniformly lift the stretcher carrying Kiylea to their shoulders, although Jerran and Ringly struggle with the weight, Alton and Bubbles pick up the slack and they begin to make their way slowly back towards the Greenbottle Brewery.

OOC: Aid Another Checks (11, 3, 23), Stretcher Building (17)

Greenbottle Brewery

Banging on the door, Eddie nearly leaps out of his skin when he hears a creak on the steps behind him. Spinning around, his hand dives for his shortsword only to realize that it's Patty Greenbottle, Bubbles closest aged brother. The attractive youth stares for a moment at Eddie, unsure as to whether this is some mangled attempt at a break-in or he really needs help. "Can I help? I was already awake when I heard your racket." He apparently wasn't around earlier when you had first gathered as he seems to not know what is going on. He looks up behind Eddies shoulder as the front door swings open and Almose and Finnigan stand there, in hastily put on trousers. Finnigan's warm voice follows, tinged with concern, "what happened lad? Something about Kiylea? Should we go get Clara... oh, wait... she's out of town, don't be liking to bother Alton this late but if it's urgent."

As Eddie hastily explains the situation, Finn also appears in the doorway, wearing a chain shirt over a cotton shirt, a Tillbough longsword strapped to his hip. Hearing the news he rushes to the stables and in moments is pounding down the road towards town. Finnigan and Almose listen to Eddie, and Mya comes out with a cup of tea to calm the boys nerves.

A few minutes later Patty points out into the darkness and a single dot of light can be seen coming down the road, soon it expands and you can see the four halflings (Jerran, Ringly, Alton and Bubbles) carrying something together on their shoulders. As they get closer, you realize it is Kiylea on a makeshift stretcher. Almose, Patty, Perry and even Mal rush to help while Mya runs inside to prepare a comfortable spot.

The four halflings sweaty and tired are glad to be helped by the four Greenbottle boys, giving up their positions on the stretcher. It makes its way up the porch and inside Mya has prepared the simple couch in their living room for Kiylea to rest upon, a dark grey sheet thrown over it so as not to stain the fabric. With the four Greenbottle boys and Mya's motherly guidance, they move Kiylea from the stretcher to the couch.

Outside Finnigan has clasped Bubbles into a fatherly hug, worried about his daughter, he has more than happy to see her well. They all move inside, Eddie informs them that Finn has ridden hard into town to get Father Alton. As the five halflings sit, their fatigue from the event becomes evident, Mya places a small cup of tea in front of each of them. Their hands shake from adrenaline and exhaustion, but it is soon soothed by the sweet warm tea.

As they sip their tea, the sound of hooves and men comes from outside, Finnigan rises and opens the door as Father Alton is helped by Mero and Finn into the room.

*Play it out from here*

 

[hafrogman]

Jerran cups the tea in his hands, feeling the warmth spread through his fingers, but he doesn't drink any. He simply stares into the cup until he hears the approaching hoofbeats. He quickly takes a swallow of his now tepid tea and looks up expectantly, breaking into an honest smile when he sees the elder Alton walk into the room.

 

[Slippshade]

Bubbles Greenbottle

Bubbles takes a moment to be comforted in the familial embrace.

"She was very brave to stand there and take her shot," Bubbles says glancing over at the still figure of Kiylea. "But Dad, that boar was unnatural, twisted. It just wasn't right."

She greatfully accepts the tea her mother gives her and the hug that comes with it.

Not able to sit and wait Bubbles paces in front of the door until her brother and Alton arive.

"She's over here," she says and leads them over to Kiylea.

 

[Boddynock]

Alton thanks Mya for the tea, takes a couple of sips from the cup, and then puts it down and goes over to Kiylea's side. Looking into her pale face, he notes that her breathing, though shallow, is steady. He looks up to find Mya standing next to him. He manages a smile and nods. He starts to say that she will be fine when Alton arrives, but discovers to his horror that he is so close to tears that he cannot speak. So he nods again, and moves back to sit down and drink his tea. A few minutes later he is up again and back at Kiylea's side. There's nothing further he can do - just watch and wait.

When Alton Senior arrives, he stands and takes a step towards him. "Father ... it was the boar. I couldn't reach her until it was nearly too late. I'm sorry." Then he shakes his head, gathers himself and says, "But she is breathing steadily and the bloodflow has been stanched. She has been badly gored but there are no broken bones. Please call upon the Goddess to heal her."

 

[Evilhalfling]

"But Dad, that boar was unnatural, twisted. It just wasn't right."

All that, and we don't even get to eat it? Eddie whines from his postion slouched in the most comfortable piece of furniture he can find.

No town feast, no promised reward, looks like Ill be spending a couple of nights in the woods until Dad gets over me borrowing his armor.


Eddie starts up when father Alton enters the room, carefully keeping his hands in plain view, As he has recieved many lectures for past deeds. He says nothing but his eyes dart imploringly from the old Hin to the wounded Kiylea.

 

[Ferrix]

Past Midnight

The Greenbottle Home

Father Alton shoos away Alton's explanations, his voice aged but strong, "be calm my boy, this is not the time." He shrugs off the help from Mero and Finn, who move to watch the old priest, and proceeds towards Kiylea's limp form upon the couch. A hush falls over the room, his shaking hands soothe as they fall into familiar patterns examining the wound. "You did well dressing the wound my boy, it is deep, it very well could have killed her if you had acted any slower."

He slowly undresses the wound, her torn leather armor stained by the dark coagulated blood, peeling back the edges of the leather, he begins to rub his hands together while his warm voice seems to fill the room, "this young lass before me is strong and in her earliest years yet grant her the warmth of your Lady's hearth to soothe her aches," as the seemingly understated prayer finishes he presses the palms of his together as if fanning them for warmth before a fire and rests them against the wound. Those close enough can see a bead of sweat slide down Kiylea's face and you feel as for a moment as if you were before a cozy hearth, sipping at a warm cider in the comfort of friends.

He beckons Mya close, "bring a bowl of warm water and a cloth to clean the wound," she hurries off into another room and returns quickly with both with which he begins to wash away the dried blood. As the blood comes away a simple crease runs across Kiylea's torso, as if a day old scratch is all that is left of the garish wound that the boar had inflicted. Father Alton smiles and leans back, "she will be fine, although she will most likely sleep deeply tonight. I suggest you all get some rest yourselves, Mero and Finn will go and retrieve the boar if Eddie's directions were good enough. You have done quite well, better than some expected," he looks to Mero for a moment, "but for now, rest, everything else can wait for the morrow."

Mya looks around at the large gathering, "we've only two extra rooms, but if the boys all pile into one, I'm sure we can fit you all in here for the night." Perry raises his head as if to object, but then at a look from Finnigan closes his open mouth.

OOC: Kiylea is healed 18 points, putting her back at full (9hp)