Beginnings, part 4

After washing, treating, and bandaging the raving man's wound, Crockus fills his pouch with useful herbs and fills the skin of water that the guard offers. (The guard nods at Crockus' offer. "You'll have a place to treat him. And perhaps your skills will prove helpful with others, too. But one at a time.") Armed with these items and a pile of rags, he and his patient are taken back to what seems like the original cell block. The guard opens one of the row of doors, and gestures inward. Inside, a closet-like room beckons. Straw is scattered on the floor and a dismal pile of rags in the back serves as a bed. Once Crockus and the ill man are inside, the guard speaks again. "Wait." He closes the door, and light dribbles in through a small, barred porthole.

In a few minutes, he returns with a small lantern and another guard, whom he instructs to stand watch. The lantern he leaves in the room near the door. The guard remains in the corridor. To Crockus he says, "You can take care of him here. Don't try anything. Tell the guard if you need food, water, more herbs. When he can last better on his own, you'll go to work elsewhere, but keep checking on him." And with that, he leaves, locking the cell door behind him.

[In order to successfully treat the delirious stranger's wound, Crockus will have to roll daily Intelligence + Medicine at difficulty 2, meaning he needs 2 successes. In order to shake the infection, the stranger will have to roll Stamina + Resistance at -3 at first, reduced by -1 by each day beyond the first that Crockus succeeds at treatment.]

Meanwhile, Arana glimpses Mina moving towards one of the laxer guards. He also catches the burly guard staring at Number Seventeen Mouth, who seems unaware.

[Wednesday deadline.]