first quest § video

[therangerking]

[ The video comes on to show a... wall. It's a nice wall. One of the passenger room walls, pretty plain. Then Aragorn turns it around.

He's sitting at the edge of the bed and almost literally covered in blood. It's even more obvious because his shirt is gone - the top half of his jumpsuit is torn into pieces, and blood covers the left side of his chest. Half of the shredded rags from his jumpsuit are in his handss, and he's wrapping them slowly around his shoulder. That's where all the blood is coming from. It looks to be slowing down, though.

The other half is bound around the wrists and ankles of the man on the bed. Those who have met him when he first came would recognise Errol Partridge, dressed in his heavy Cleric's uniform. He's unconscious, but it's not an easy sleep - his head shifts from side to side, and half-formed words escape his lips.

Aragorn is entirely calm as he fixes his eyes on the camera. ]

I need athelas. In the Common Tongue of my world, it is named kingsfoil. It is a small shrub with dark green leaves and white flowers. The oxygen garden is too dangerous to enter right now, but if there are any who have a few leaves, I will be grateful.

[ He inclines his head towards the camera. ]

Thank you. [ He grabs hold of one of his makeshift bandages with his teeth and pulls it tight around his shoulder before he reaches out and switches off the video. ]

Comments

voice eternally.

[therangerking]

[ ... He has never heard of dittany. Aragorn tips his head, the curiosity evident in his voice even though you can't see the motion. ]

What are its properties exactly?

[alwaysagit]

Essentially, it is a restorative, causing fresh skin to grow over a wound. What is the exact nature and extent of your injury?

[therangerking]

It was caused by a gun. [ Beat. ]

I would be deeply grateful.

[alwaysagit]

What of the bullet? Is it still inside the wound? [As he speaks, Snape opens his wardrobe and looks over an assortment of vials before selecting one.]

[therangerking]

[ Dafuq is a bullet. Give him a bit, he's checking. ]

I believe so.

[alwaysagit]

[He hesitates now, frowning.] That's unfortunate, as you certainly wouldn't want the wound healed with the bullet still inside.

[Offhand, he can't specifically think of a spell to remove a bullet, as guns were seldom used in his world, but perhaps another could adequately substitute. A Summoning charm, perhaps... or possibly a modified entrail-expelling curse. Although the latter might be a bit tricky.]

No surgeon has responded to your transmission, I take it? [Whether or not there was anyone even on board with that skill, he didn't know.]

[therangerking]

Nay. But it matters not. My wound is of no consequence.

I look for healing herbs not for myself but for my companion. Athelas will draw out the poison in him; that is why I seek it.

[alwaysagit]

I would beg to differ—a bullet remaining in a wound is often of significant consequence. Even though I'm no surgeon, there may still be something I can do for you, should you wish it.

I have been through the Oxygen Garden fairly extensively and I do not recall a plant of that description, unfortunately. What type of poison is it?

[Although whatever it was, Snape did not have the proper ingredients to brew the antidote for either common or uncommon poisons, as powdered horn of Unicorn or Graphorn, as well as stewed Mandrake and bezoars were in rather short supply here in outer space.]

[therangerking]

I know not. [ Beat. ] His mind tortures him under it, and I believe he sees his fears and nightmares walk in front of his eyes, even though no one else sees it.

Have you a name for such a thing?

[ He ignores the concerns about his shoulder easily. He'll get it taken care of later. Errol's more important. ]

[alwaysagit]

Ah. [He gets it now.] I suspect your friend has been affected by the neurotoxin which permeated the Oxygen Gardens just recently. [Not while he was there, thankfully.] Indications are that it will dissipate on its own, eventually.

[therangerking]

[ Priorities: ]

There are others under the same torment?

[alwaysagit]

A fair amount, if the network broadcasts are any indication. I don't believe it's still a concern, however.

[therangerking]

[ Beat. ]

I see. [ He turns away, clearly troubled. ] Do you know how long will it take?

[alwaysagit]

Not for certain. A few days, perhaps? Although you'd do better to ask those who were affected.

[therangerking]

Aye. [ A slow nod. He looks thoughtful for a moment, then he shakes his head. ] I will.

[ He turns his attention back to Snape. ]

Might I have your name?

[alwaysagit]

There is a medical facility on board. You would be well-advised to seek it out, for both your sakes. [Which would be fine with him. It's not as though he has any pressing need to offer up his skills or his makeshift stores to every idiot who finds himself on the wrong end of a gun or a lunatic's fancy.]

Snape. And your own?

[therangerking]

Strider. [ It's becoming easier and easier, introducing himself by this name once more. ]

I will seek out those facilities once it is safe to move my companion. Thank you.