Weary Spirit Infirmary

[*A. Thereal]

The Weary Spirit Infirmary was open again, or so the rumors that Nero had been systematically spreading throughout the Hive said. To date his efforts yielded little reward, for the Hivers who had come in search of food or care were a slim trickle at best. The memory of the massacre still held sway.

Nero would often busy himself about the clinic all the same. Though Krystelle had taken it upon herself to keep the facility clean and stocked, the ghaele handled the many repairs necessary to keep the Infirmary safe and operational. When not engaged with replacing a rotting board or fastening a fresh leg to a broken table or bench, he would walk the grounds outside in hopes that his presence would inspire some sense of security for the reluctant Hivers.

It was tedious, but necessary work - until the blasted cauliflower invasion! Having first discovered his boot absolutely full of the stuff, he soon learned that there was now more of the vile vegetable jammed into the Infirmary than there were rats. It took him a full day to pour over every nook and cranny, shelf, cask, bowl, pot, bed, and any other niche the terrible food occupied. Despite time spent and his detectiveÂ’s perception, he was convinced that he had missed at least a bunch here and there, but he simply couldnÂ’t be upset. Laughing at the unseen source of contemptible sprouts, he set off again for a nightÂ’s worth of searching.

The following day a package is delivered via hired courier to Odette's residence. It bears no return sender's name or address, but within rests a little man constructed of cauliflower bunches, dressed in an absurdly gaudy pink outfit.

[*LadyLightning]

Krystelle would collect any of the cauliflower bunches she happens to stumble upon, and subject each one to scrutiny and testing. A small portion of each would be broken off, and placed within a phial of strange milky-whitish liquid, appearing like a flask of water into which one had poured a bag of salt or sugar and shaken the flask. In the presence of poison, this liquid would turn green, but if the cauliflowers are clean, the liquid would remain as-is.

She has no idea who sent them, or how this mysterious vegetable delivery person managed to fill the infirmary so thoroughly with cauliflower without her at least hearing the deed being done, but she would see no reason to waste perfectly good foodstuffs, provided it isn't some malicious poisoning attempt.

'...Security risk. That could've as easily been an assassin or a burglar.' she muses to herself, cursing her failure. '..I am wasting away in this new emotion, but I cannot calm it.'

[*Nimiane]

A woman; hooded, cowled and smelling of smoke, enters the Infirmary late in the eve. The baggy and worn brown robe and likewise dyed headwear appears indescript and common as were many garments of those in the poorer wards of the Cage. In her arms; the body of a man, limp and bloody. He is clearly dead. Carried in the arms of the unknown figure, he is laid to rest in a carefully selected cot at the back of the building with the curtain drawn.


/// Merchant of Death [Event thread] - Post any IC responses here.

[*Cadence]

As it would be, one of the Infirmary's regulars is a young boy no greater than 9 named Ivan. He used to reside there but is now more of a part-time assistant. He arranges books and potions as well as provides a degree of entertainment to those in the waiting area. He is known for his booming voice.

Notably, a kobold named Kallista seems to follow the boy around, hovering over him much like an overprotective uncle would. Kallista helps with the cleaning and general upkeep. The kobold seems to be intimate with every nook and cranny of the Weary Spirit Infirmary, undoubtedly having lived there before with Ivan. Unlike Ivan, the kobold keeps to himself mostly and quietly does his chores then heads off with Ivan at the end of the day. He is exceptional at cleaning away withered cauliflower florets.

The two arrive to do chores approximately three to four times a week, usually on alternate days. Occasionally, Ivan will take some of the available food for himself during the lunch-hour.

[*A. Thereal]

Thanks to Krystelle's efforts of making the Infirmary clean and functional once more, combined with Nero's sharing the news that the place was just waiting for Hivers to partake, along with the return of old and recognizable faces, and a sudden over abundance of cauliflower, the Weary Spirit suddenly found itself hosting the needy, sick, and wounded. It was a slow trickle, a single reluctant old woman hacking up phlegm and blood. Another young tiefling some hours later fussing at a festering rash. The next day, there was a short line for soup.

As business returned Nero couldn't help but feel some pride at having restored Abigail's promise with the help of the others. In fact, he was satisfied that among those who contributed, he played a lesser role. It was Krystelle, Ivan, and Kallista who managed the soup and the medicine, and more of Abigail's old supporters arrived day by to assist in their old ways. For his part, Nero was a familiar face who tried to make himself known and present, conversed with those who ate, and lent his magical ability to heal the very worst of afflictions. He certainly couldn't manage Abigail's magical endurance, healing day through night, but he wasn't she.

Things had returned to normal for the old church turned infirmary, and new faces arrived each day to take advantage of the services offered. True to his nature, Nero paid closest attention to wounds caused by assault, carefully asking each victim questions about the guilty persons. As yet he had managed not to pursue any specific incident, but the detective in him was stirring.