The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Sept 16, 2016 17:35:35 GMT
The actual sign read Karl's Kures and Kontrivances, but as literacy was on short supply, most people just knew it by the picture of a faded mortar and pestle. It was not the only apothecary in town, but it was the best one since Leo had lost his sight to old age, leaving his bumbling son to poison their customers.
According to local gossip, Karl was the bastard son of the old Maester, from whom he had learned some of his trade. But after the public hanging of his supposed father, Karl had retreated to his mother's house and hid with his books throughout the war. When the shop opened up, there was fear among locals that Lady Lothston might have it burned down for fear of having an enemy poisoner in her midst. Instead, the knights looked upon an extra healer as a boon, and payed the rumors no mind.
***
The front of the apothecary was kept very orderly, with nary a hint of dust and all bottles visible behind the counter carefully labeled.
Percival found a few peasants waiting in line, some clearly in need of more than a tonic. The young owner was scribbling something down in his notebook while an old woman clutched a curious child to her. The boy pointed at Percy, mumbling "Shiny!" No one paid him any mind.
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Post by Maester Percival on Sept 16, 2016 18:46:15 GMT
Percival arrived and studied the rabble waiting in line. He thought it would be the far greater mercy to let this lot die rather then cure them. Their lives must be absolute shit as it was, with zero chance of it ever improving. He was dressed in the robe of his office with the chain obviously displayed. He hated this robe, it itched like a woolen bag. It looked like a woolen bag as well. He stopped in front of the crowd and motioned for the first supplicant to approach.
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The Raven
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Joined - December 2015
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Post by The Raven on Sept 17, 2016 2:19:12 GMT
Almost in unison, the crowd stared at him as though he were some kind of mummer. The flustered youth joined the Maester and declared, "Good people, Maester Percival has come from the castle to offer his healing services! Please show him the same respect you would our lord or Ser Valarr, and trust in his training at the Citadel." Karl looked as though he thought Percy might summon the guard to have him put in irons for the slightest hint of disrespect. A young woman stepped forward first, holding a small bundle in her arms. "Milord?"
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Post by Maester Percival on Sept 17, 2016 16:01:04 GMT
Percival looked up at the young woman. "Maesters have two great duties; healing and teaching. So let me teach you a bit of wisdom to fill that empty head of yours. I am no Lord. Call me Maester or Percival or, if you wish to be extremely tedious, Maester Percival." He tried to his natural sharp tones blunted.
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The Raven
Administrator
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Joined - December 2015
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Post by The Raven on Sept 17, 2016 17:10:14 GMT
"Maester." It sounded closer to 'mister' in her mouth, but it had all due reverence in its tone. "My baby..." Her voice cracked as she held out the child. "I fear he is possessed, and Karl and the Septon say there is nought left to do but pray to the Seven for a quick death by the frost. But he's all I have left of my Robert, slain in service to Lord Blackfort."
Possibly relevant skills for thread --Persuasion: 51 -Observation: 20 -Medical: 69
Percy immediately recognizes that the infant is indeed ill, but more obviously, misshapen like certain dwarves when born. It's asleep at the moment, most likely for lack of strength.
"My mum believes it's old Harren's curse at work."
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Post by Maester Percival on Sept 17, 2016 19:27:36 GMT
Percival takes the child from his mother and begins to examine him. He places the child down on a safe surface as he asks the young woman. "How often has the child entered the walls of Harrenhal? I have studied the curse of Harren size I arrived and it is tied to the deaths and dark spells done inside the keep." He examined the baby closely as he spoke.
(Medical 69)
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Sept 19, 2016 17:23:27 GMT
(Success. One point awarded.)
"No, Maester. But his father had served there for years when he got me with my Daemon." The new king's name would likely soon replace 'Aegon' as the most popular choice among sycophantic parents.
The child had a slight fever, which seemed far worse to the layman when combined with his monstrous features. Treating his illness would be a simple matter.
"Should..." She whispered so the others couldn't hear. "Should I have left him for the beasts? Do you think that would be mercy, or would that make me a kinslayer?"
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Post by Maester Percival on Sept 19, 2016 20:47:26 GMT
Percival looked up at her. "Of course that will make you a Kinslayer. By the very definition of the word. So you will be cursed if you murder your son." The Maester began to treat the babe as he continued to speak to the mother. "Your son, though, is cursed. He is a dwarf. Dwarves are not caused by the keep but by the blood of the parents. His father must have been weak in his soul."
Percival gave a small shrug, "You are cursed either way. Kill the lady and have a dark stain on your soul the rest of your life or let him live and suffer along with him with every beating a child suffers. The decision is yours girl." He finished and looked back up at the girl before adding, "Though naming a dwarf after the King could cause dishonor. Have you considered the name 'Belric'?"
(Persuasion 51)
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Sept 20, 2016 1:17:24 GMT
(Success.)
She gave him an uncertain look, still pondering the moral dilemma presented. "Well... He does look more like a Belric..."
She fidgeted with the anxiousness of a reluctant mother. Percy can already predict this child will grow up with serious issues.
With Karl's aid, the Maester arranged the appropriate medication with little fuss. The young man seemed rather uncomfortable with all this talk of curses and kinslaying.
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Post by Maester Percival on Sept 20, 2016 16:56:11 GMT
Percival handed the mother the medicines and smirked as he spoke. "I will make the Lord of Harrenhal hears of the honor." He studied the woman's face and knew the child would be dead in less than a year. She was already looking for ways to be free of her burden. No doubt she already had her eye on another soldier and wanted to appear maidenly.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Sept 20, 2016 17:59:45 GMT
The next patient is a young man with a thick bandage around his scalp. He has a dull look in his eyes, and is visibly lead by another young man, who said, "I'm Brunor and this is Lothor. My brother had a bad encounter with a gate recently and we're hoping you can help him out."
Lothor sat down with only a slight prompting. "Hasn't spoken a word since then. Karl took a look, but it's not really his field."
Karl covered his mouth with his hand in expectation of what the Maester will find.
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Post by Maester Percival on Sept 20, 2016 18:23:47 GMT
Percival nodded, "Yes from experience most apothecary boast of great medical talent and then just walk into a field and harvest some random weeds. Then they over charge for these medicines." He glanced at Karl, "If you are going to get ill you should leave. I will not have you endanger this man with your own illness."
Percival looked back to the injured man and began to unwind the bandage. He tried to contain his excitement. His old mentor had described a head injury like this before. Percival would love to know how to replicate the effect.
(Medical 70)
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The Raven
Administrator
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Joined - December 2015
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Post by The Raven on Sept 20, 2016 19:37:10 GMT
(Success.)
"Apologies, Maester."
Percy finds a hole about two inches deep through bone and brain. He can just see the inner workings of what passes for Lothor's mind. This man should be dead and yet... He is not.
"He can still work the field. Just pushing the plough all day. But he doesn't speak, and he won't chew food unless you put it directly in his mouth. He still smiles when he sees me and mum though."
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Post by Maester Percival on Sept 20, 2016 19:49:51 GMT
Percival reached over to his supplies and pulls out parchment and a quill. He started to sketch out everything he could see in the man's mind. He makes sure to show where in the skull the man's wound was. He needed to stall for as long as he could. It would take awhile to sketch it properly. Percival asked, "How exactly was this wound caused? Be precise mind you. I need every detail you can give. How long has he been wounded? How is his work in the fields compared to before the accident?" Percival was sketching as he talked.
(Painting 20)
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Sept 20, 2016 23:31:16 GMT
(Success. Two points awarded.)
"Well... To be perfectly frank, we were both rather drunk and the ground rather slick. He had this fool notion he was going to climb on my back and pretend it were a tourney. Well, my legs gave out and he fell back onto Old Man Conner's gate near the Lonely Ghost. It weren't nothing malicious or heroic. Just foolishness, Maester." His voice begins to break towards the end of his synopsis.
Meanwhile, the picture comes clear enough, though he would need more light at a better angle to truly appreciate this idiot's survival.
"This was all... Three weeks ago. And he remembers what the tools are for. He's the same in the field, he just... Doesn't see people anymore, Maester. We're just ghosts, sometimes."
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