06. Text

[baldrshand]

[A photo appears shortly before the post beneath.]




It seems that there is a lot of... strangeness happening to people. So far, I haven't noticed any drastic changes in my person or my thinking, but I think I'm one of the more fortunate ones. This seems like a good time to issue my customary greeting to all of the new "Chosen" of Aldrip.

Hello! My name is Ethlyn. (If you're not new, hello again!) If you find yourself ill or injured, I manage the Willow Clinic. It's not too far from the Inn, between the residential and commercial districts. You'll know it immediately from two things: the willow tree out front, and it being a farmhouse in the middle of a lot of four-and-five story apartment complexes made out of concrete and whatnot.

Since it's come up: I don't charge money for medical services (although if you would like to make a donation it's welcome!). I'm not interested in making injured people fish through their purses while they're trying not to bleed out.

As well as the Clinic, I lead the Arztenritter--we're a mounted brigade of healers. Anyone is welcome to join; if you don't know how to ride a horse or set a bone, we will happily teach you. Should you need emergency assistance, please send a message on the network, or message myself, Marianne, Toph, or Minato.

I've been here for over a year, and I've lived through the many disturbances and changes of this world, so if you have any questions, I would be happy to help...

I suppose that means I've grown another year older, hasn't it? Twenty-one.


[She's not going to add FUNNY GIVEN THAT I'M DEAD but she's sure thinking it.]

Comments

[baldrshand]

[Oh dear, this poor person.]

Well, how shall I put it... I think worrying is sensible, but you shouldn't panic. For the most part, we do pull together well when there's a crisis.

What stories have you heard so far?

[demonicbookworm]

I haven't actually heard anything specific. I know things get tough sometimes and that people can disappear which likely means they went home.

I also heard that some who are brought here cause trouble for others.

[baldrshand]

Yes... That's unfortunately true. You'll see soon enough; the troublemakers like to put their nonsense all over the network as well.

There have been times when the town has been attacked by beasts or afflicted with strange illnesses. The consolation is that it usually doesn't come out of nowhere -- typically we will see warning signs beforehand.

[demonicbookworm]

I see.

But this also makes the work you do so much more important, right? There needs to be someone around able to help if things go wrong.

[This makes him want to help even more.]

[baldrshand]

I think so. It's why I offer to teach anyone and everyone who wants to learn, and why I do my best to find out everyone who already knows healing or medicine.

[demonicbookworm]

I understand. I will do my best to support you.

[baldrshand]

I appreciate that very much!

I should ask, what level of medical knowledge do you have already? Emergency help, treating diseases?

[demonicbookworm]

Oh, a little bit of everything, but I don't have any practical skills. I read a lot about various diseases. And how do deal with emergencies, poisonings, broken bones... but the only thing I actually did was treat my friend's burned hand once.

[baldrshand]

That's a good start. It means you've already needed to stay calm when someone else is hurt, and that's one of the most important parts to learn.

I apologize if this is an obvious question, but do you know about germs and microbes? I ask because my homeland hadn't yet discovered them, and it turns out that it's the thing most diseases come from.

[demonicbookworm]

You could say that I learnt that during my travels. When I was travelling with my friends we had to fight a lot of monsters. I rarely got to use any medical knowledge though, because of my friends' abilities as healers.

I actually know a healing arte too, but it can heal only me, so it's quite useless if I want to help someone else.

As for germs and microbes - yes! There have been many studies done on that topic, but it's still being researched in my world.

[baldrshand]

Ah, yes. Experience is the best teacher. We don't have quite so high a healer-to-everyone-else ratio here so you'll be able to put your knowledge to practical use more often.

I'm glad to hear it! It's such a fundamental thing, I hope where I live figures it out soon--they'll have to discover other things first, like how to make precision lenses so small that they can make a microscope. But it's quite a wonder, isn't it? That so many things, bad and good, rely on creatures we can't see with the naked eye.

[demonicbookworm]

I'll do my best! I really hope I can make myself useful.

I think so, too. And being here has taught me that my world has a lot to discover as well. There's many diseases we can't really cure, but if there's more research, I'm sure we can figure it out eventually.