And please let me know if there are any changes in the situation.
[All things considered, speaking with Zelgadis in the context of having a job to do is probably the easiest form of family reunion they could ask for. It means they won't be entirely at cross purposes, and might have something to talk about other than Rezo ruining Zelgadis's life. And on a similar note, Rezo's a little surprised by the implication that Zelgadis is sticking around at least long enough for Rezo to show up.
Not that Rezo would say Zelgadis is a heartless sort, and when Zelgadis was young he'd certainly been the epitome of an altruistic idealist. But, well... When he looks back to the last few years before unsealing Shabranigdu, Rezo's memories of Zelgadis himself are vague, but there were moments where it seemed that Zelgadis's heart had been hardened alongside his body.
But then, perhaps that only applied to situations involving the man responsible. And Rezo has little knowledge of what Zelgadis got up to afterwards, and what kind of influence Lina and her friends have been on him.
It's a relief to see such a clear indication that Rezo hasn't entirely crushed the compassion that had been such a hallmark of Zelgadis's character, despite what the adult Zelgadis may have to say about horses and servitude.
It's about two days of nonstop travel after Zelgadis first informs him of Remedis's plight. An acquaintance at the Sorcerer's Guild has generously allowed Rezo to borrow a coach and two grooms; the two grooms trade off between driving the coach and sleeping inside, and the group only take occasional breaks to change horses and purchase food at roadside inns along the way.
Needless to say the three men are rather tired and a bit bruised by the time the destination is in sight (or so Rezo is told) and the current coachman stops a little ways outside of town. Rezo opens the door and leans out to converse with the coachman.]
Is this it?
["Just down the road. Er, listen, y'sure whatever's going on there isn't infectious?"]
Yes. A reliable source told me that the spring is contaminated. While I wouldn't risk trying the water, it's safe to drive into town.
["If you're sure. It's just awfully quiet."]
It is, isn't it? The villagers are in a dire situation, so it's best if we hurry.
[The coachman sighs and urges the horses forward, albeit at a leisurely pace. Rezo resists a sigh of his own and subsides back into the coach. While his reputation is still stellar in many places, a sabbatical of a little over ten years has left his authority not entirely without question.
Retrieving a certain convenient magical device from a hidden pocket, Rezo types out a brief message for Zelgadis.]
[ Zelgadis' first challenge is finding the best way to totally bar access to the spring. There are several paths that lead to it, and the makeshift barricades created by the healthy cannot always stand up to the resistance of infected townsfolk that are both ambulatory and sufficiently determined.
Utilizing earth magic to create an impenetrable barricade is Zelgadis' best idea, but complicated by the spring itself. Veins of water run beneath the town, too; carelessly disturbing the earth could create an even more catastrophic problem.
The barricade material is going to have to come from somewhere else. And the fastest way to move a great deal of stone and earth from one location to another is to have it move itself. A few miles out from the town, Zelgadis begins the task of constructing golems that can march their way back to Remedis and place themselves directly in the way of all routes to the spring.
It's not the most exhausting thing he's ever done, but it's a lot of effort for a problem that has nothing to do with him.
Except it does have something to do with him. It was his problem from the moment he entered the town and became aware of their plight.
"I was praying and praying that someone would come help us! Finally...!"
There's no other way this could have gone.
And how can he be sure that the problem is resolved, that Rezo doesn't forget where his priorities should lie, if he doesn't stick this through to the end?
The golems revert to mere inanimate stone once they each reach their destinations; it's all Zelgadis needs them to be to serve their purpose. When he's done, he briefly informs Rezo of his handling of the matter.
The two day interim sees Zelgadis making himself useful where he can. The town innkeeper has converted her business into a makeshift clinic; it's woefully inadequate for the level of crisis, but she has experience in caring for the ill, and Zelgadis defers to her judgment as he assists her. The actual town doctor, he learns from her, is himself one of the infected.
She nearly breaks down in tears when he tells her that the Red Priest himself is on his way to aid them.
A conflicted knot ties itself up tight in Zelgadis' chest. It's some kind of madness that Zelgadis, whose form reflects the very worst of Rezo, now summons his grandfather to be this town's savior; gives them hope by invoking his name.
The time passes quickly and slowly both, with mercifully nothing of note taking place, and Zelgadis is almost startled to receive Rezo's message.
He doesn't bother with replying, and Ray Wings himself to the town's entrance.
There in the flesh stands the Red Priest. ]
Rezo!
[ Zelgadis lands opposite Rezo. He's glad they can just get down to business and sidestep awkward small talk. ]
[Rezo's standing just outside the coach with a bag in one hand and his telephone in the other, awaiting Zelgadis's response, when he feels the wind shifting in an unnatural way. Followed by the sound of a familiar voice; direct as ever, it seems Zelgadis has chosen to go to Rezo immediately.
Rezo tucks his phone away as Zelgadis lands; his expression is serene, except for some tired lines around his eyes. Rezo's transportation, on the other hand, is not mollified any by the sight of a suspicious blue-skinned sorcerer.
"Is that your source?"]
The very same. [Raising his voice a little in greeting:] Zelgadis.
[With a shimmer, Rezo's staff appears in one hand. Its rings gently chime together as he hurries forward.]
How many patients are staying at the inn?
[Business is nice. It allows him not to notice how strange it is to be speaking with Zelgadis in person again. Although it's probably less weird than their interactions in Taforashia.]
[ Zelgadis pulls his hood up when he catches the dubious expression on the coachman's face. Every time he forgets how freakish he looks, he's promptly reminded.
He could stand to never hear that chime from Rezo's staff ever again, too. It's so damned ominous even without all the misfortune he associates with that sound.
Great. Existing in the physical proximity of Rezo for thirty seconds is enough to get him irritable. People's lives are on the line here; Zelgadis needs to get it together. ]
Fifty people. It's more than the building was designed to accommodate. This way.
[ He leads Rezo to the inn, elaborating as they go. ]
These are the patients that can't move under their own power any longer. Most of them can't speak. They all... They smile like everything's fine. I don't think they comprehend their own suffering.
[Rezo is dimly aware of Zelgadis's irritability insomuch as he expects Zelgadis to always be in a state of irritability- there was a time, in the past, when Rezo had told himself it was solely due to Zelgadis's age. Even now, Rezo's oblivious to the coachman's expression for obvious reasons and to the effect of his chiming staff. He barely pays the sound any mind, as he's used to relying on it to give him a better sense of location and it requires little more thought than walking does.
What does merit some thought is Zelgadis's answer and explanation. Fifty! That inn must be crowded indeed; however, Rezo's dealt with far larger crowds in the past.
Can't move. Can't speak. But they do smile.]
Do they show any signs of pain? Any responses to stimulus at all? And who else has been taking care of them?
No signs I can see. My first day here I saw people staggering around, running into things, even collapsing into the street, only for them to carry on completely oblivious to any injuries sustained.
Those that can speak will react if spoken to, though you won't get much coherent conversation out of them. As far as I can tell, their basic senses are all intact. They don't express thirst or hunger, and will refuse food and drink if presented with either.
[ Which tracks, if he thinks about it. Pain, thirst, hunger: they don't seem to feel anything that qualifies as 'distress'.
Zelgadis has considered the possibility that they are aware of what's going on, and simply can't communicate it... But there's no way to prove or disprove it. ]
It's all hands on deck. Just about every able-bodied adult is looking after someone; it's a close knit town. If you aren't looking after anyone, then you're responsible for procuring safe food and water. As you can imagine, that's not the simplest task right now. The town well is, for all intents and purposes, unusable.
[Rezo's good enough with his water shamanism to be potentially able to help with the water. He can purify, and he can use Aqua Create. Getting the patients to drink the water is another issue; forcing them will be difficult and potentially harmful in other ways.]
And how many people are healthy enough to look after others?
[Rezo hesitates. He really should examine at least one patient before he makes any pronouncements. But after Zelgadis has gone to the trouble of inviting him here he's loathe to shrug his shoulders and admit any real ignorance. A Great Sage is what's called for here, so Rezo must polish up his most promising theory and present it for Rezo's scrutiny.]
Given how long this has been going on... If truly nobody has died yet, then I would be inclined to believe magic is involved, yes. Normally in cases such as this the weaker citizens would die early on. Infants, the elderly, and those naturally susceptible to illness. The lack of death is unnatural, and likely to be the result of a spell keeping the victims tethered to life.
[...If a mazoku is actively involved it's going to be a pain in the ass.
Pushing that thought aside, Rezo gives his next warning in as gentle a voice as he can manage.]
Breaking that spell without allowing the victims to sufficiently recover could result in many deaths.
[ It's common sense, isn't it? Breaking the spell isn't itself going to restore the townspeople's health. That's not how this works. Rezo's warning is something that Zelgadis could have -- no, must have intuited himself.
So there's no logical reason for Zelgadis' heart to sink the way it does. What else did he expect? That this would be easy? That everyone could get out of this unscathed? The old him, naive little do-gooder that he was, might have believed in the likelihood of that outcome, but there's no excuse for being so idealistic now.
Rezo is, in many ways, a miracle worker, but he's not all powerful. ]
I didn't think otherwise.
[ He doesn't sound particularly convincing to his own ears. ]
...We're here.
[ Zelgadis opens the door to the inn, a little bell jingling to signal their arrival.
There's only just enough room to walk; makeshift beds, all occupied, take up most of the space on the ground floor. The innkeeper is dabbing a wet cloth to the empty smile of a patient's lips when she hears the door open. Looking up, her eyes go wide.
"You really did bring the Red Priest! I'll stay out of your way; please, do whatever you must." ]
[There's a brief flicker of something in Rezo's expression at the disappointment in Zelgadis's voice, but it vanishes when he realizes they're approaching a wall, only a few moments before Zelgadis lets him know they've arrived. From then on his expression is placid, even when he takes in the crowded conditions of the inn.
He's dealt with worse conditions. Taforashia had six healthy people and hundreds in various states of illness. This much is nothing.
He gives the innkeeper a kindly smile when she speaks up.]
Thank you. I'd like to speak with you about the situation later, but right now I need to examine the patients.
[And if he's to examine the patients, it's best if he does so along with a sighted assistant.
Rezo doesn't even have to think before he turns to his grandson.]
[ Rezo calls on him as if it's only natural that he would, and the gloom Zelgadis was harboring all of a sudden feels like indolence. Assuming that the sickest will be impossible to save before Rezo has even examined them is the same thing as sealing their fate.
There are kids in here. Zelgadis couldn't, in good conscience, look at any one of them and say "you probably can't recover from this, so we're giving up on you".
He only ever wanted to become strong so that he could protect the weak. People like this.
He's ready to assist however he can. ]
Got it.
[ There are two patients among the fifty who will have the most information to offer:
One is Laurent, a man in his twilight years who was among the first to become infected, and two is the relatively healthiest of this unfortunate group, a middle-aged woman named Maude.
Laurent looks as if he is already dead. His physical condition is so poor that he should not be able to draw breath, yet breathe he does. It's as if another force entirely is in command of his organs, forcing them to operate and persist beyond their natural limits. There's no light within his eyes. His smile is frozen upon his face. Even if they heal his body, Zelgadis doesn't know what will become of his mind.
Then there is Maude. She can still speak, and though she's suffered severe cognitive decline, her short term memory is intact enough that she can engage in brief conversation. When Rezo and Zelgadis approach her bed, she turns her eyes their way. Her hand twitches, like she wants to reach out but lacks the strength. In a halting voice, she appears to address them. Her smile is uncannily wide.
"...Blessed. The spring... was blessed. We were... blessed. Why? Why were we blessed? Why... were we blessed? Why were we? Why... were we? Why were we? Why were we? Why were... we...? Why... were..." ]
H-Hey, calm down...
[ He places an awkward hand over hers (still twitching), and glances at Rezo a little desperately. She keeps asking until she hasn't any strength left.
He doesn't know what that was, but he feels kind of ill. ]
[The examinations are thorough and to go through all of the patients takes several hours- Zelgadis's main job is to look at the patients for odd marks, describe their complexions, gauge their pupillary responses, look inside their mouths, etc. Rezo meanwhile uses a small horn to listen to the heartbeats and breathing of the patients, taps and palpates their abdomens to check the state of their organs, takes their pulses, and tries wherever possible to coax speech and movement out of the patients.
Naturally, some of the patients are worse than others. Laurent's condition is fascinating. It also reminds him slightly of the suspended animation the Taforashia patients had been placed in.
(That Rezo had placed them in.)
Maude might be the healthiest, but her examination is perhaps the strangest. When she begins to repeat herself compulsively, Rezo does his best to shush Maude, speaking soothingly about how it's alright. Only a slight frown after she's quieted down betrays any disturbance at her behavior, at the way her question echoes in his mind.]
Blessed...
[Looking at the spring feels even more urgent now. But he still thinks he needs to prioritize getting the majority of the villagers into a less dangerous condition first.
Rezo straightens up, leaving Maude to hopefully get some rest, and turns to Zelgadis.]
I'll go speak with the innkeeper. Zelgadis, you should retrieve the men who brought me here. Things will be easier with more pairs of hands. If they have any complaints, you can tell them I'll compensate them later.
[ He searches Rezo's ever-stoic face for some sign of what he's thinking, and his frown is not heartening. ]
On it.
[ Though he doesn't intend to take his time with this errand, Zelgadis is grateful for the chance to get some fresh air. When Rezo is acting as the Great Sage, it's not the worst thing in the world to work alongside him, and until they got to Maude, Zelgadis had been too occupied with the tasks at hand to ruminate. He'd felt productive, actually, for the first time since blocking off the spring.
Now he's right back to feeling off-kilter. His primary assumption has been that the infected do not feel pain. The evidence had all been pointing against it.
What, then, had they both witnessed back there?
If he's been wrong this whole time, and they've only been unable to communicate their suffering...
It's too cruel to imagine. It would be kinder to break the spell as fast as possible and let whatever happens happen.
Except that would mean sacrificing everyone who has a chance at recovery. ]
Damn it all.
[ Rezo has to fix this. Be the hero everybody believes he is for once and fix this. It's the least he can do if it's so impossible to fix what he did to his own grandson.
Reaching the coach, he gives the men an expression that brooks no argument. ]
Hey, you can gawk at me later; Rezo's asking for you to make yourself useful. We need help.
[ It gives Zelgadis a mean and petty sense of satisfaction to watch the men try not to grimace as he leverages his grandfather's name. Sucks to get ordered around from some freak chimera, doesn't it? They can't argue, because it would be a very bad look not to answer the Red Priest's call for assistance.
Able warm bodies in tow, Zelgadis returns to the inn. ]
I've got them.
hopefully not forever! but i do have a few other pots on the boil so i may be slow sometimes
[Rezo is helping the innkeeper adjust the position of a bedridden patient when Zelgadis arrives. At the sound of the door opening, he hurriedly tilts his head up and beams one of his priestly smiles. You can practically feel the heavenly sunbeams shining down upon him, despite the fact they're indoors.]
Thank you, all of you. I hope you're good with your hands.
[Rezo's already discussed this part with the innkeeper, but the remark might seem cryptic to Zelgadis and the coachmen, so he quickly elaborates.]
We'll be building temporary water tanks and blessing them so that the contents will be safe to drink. I'll be filling them initially but if the architecture in the village is suitable then we may want to set it up so they'll be capable of harvesting rainwater as well. Mrs. Saeldor has kindly told me where we will find the necessary materials.
[The coachmen look confused; can't Rezo just lift whatever curse is on the spring and be done with it? But neither of them dare to speak up since he is a Great Sage and presumably knows what he's doing.]
[ Just like the chiming of Rezo's staff, Zelgadis has a reflexive disgust response to that oh-so-saintly smile. Fortunately, he's able to mask it. As far as anyone knows, he has absolutely no baggage related to Rezo the Red Priest! He's so normal!
The plan that Rezo has devised is sound enough at first blush. Zelgadis can't claim to have any better ideas, and he's not immune to thinking like the coachmen, making the assumption that Rezo must have an idea of what he's doing. But unlike the coachmen, he has no qualms about voicing his doubts.
He wants to trust Rezo, but that trust cannot be absolute. He's sticking around in part to ensure that the people of this town only meet the man they believe the Red Priest to be. ]
How are we going to determine if the blessed water is actually safe?
[Rezo answers the Very Normal Chimera's question easily enough.]
I brought along equipment for testing the water quality. I was planning on using it at the spring, but it will work for the storage tanks as well. And of course I'm quite confident in the strength of my purification magic.
[There's a note to his voice at the end that sounds almost amused, like it's quite silly for anyone to think that Rezo's magic might not be up to the task.
Because you know, Rezo hasn't been testing Zel's temper enough yet today.]
[ Zel's eye twitches once or twice. It is objectively good that Rezo brought that equipment along and that he doesn't have any doubts about his ability to purify the water, and neither of those things make him any less annoying. If anything, it's extra annoying that Zelgadis doesn't have a particularly good reason to be annoyed! ]
You'd better be.
[ The coachmen share a look of "who does this weird blue guy think he is?"
Stupid Rezo and his stupid good PR. Which is also an objectively good thing for this situation. How stupid. ]
Then let's not waste any more time. Tell me where to get the materials and we'll get started immediately. Isn't that right?
[ He gives the coachmen a pointed look. Being kind of a jerk while remaining within socially acceptable parameters will keep him sane. ]
[The coachmen mutter assent, not looking too keen on Zel's attitude. Whereas Zelgadis's belligerence is politely ignored by Rezo, except for an odd, thin smile that is soon replaced by his usual serene expression as he gets up to lead the party onward.
To say he's used to Zelgadis's attitude wouldn't be entirely true; he hasn't spent quite enough time with Zelgadis over the past few years to be entirely sure what kind of man Zelgadis became. But there's still a certain familiarity to it. There had been times after Zelgadis's transformation when he hadn't entirely buried his resentment...
And it also puts Rezo somewhat in mind of when Zelgadis was a child and Rezo would speak through a teddy bear at him. Which was demeaning to the both of them, or at least according to Zelgadis.]
We're heading for the stonemason's guild on the edge of the village. We'll need stone and plaster to build the tanks with, and a cart to carry everything on.
[Aaaand either a horse or some other beast of burden to pull said cart. Or Zelgadis and his chimera strength will be doing it.]
[ He was an entire grown seven year old, thank you! Far too mature for such infantile silliness.
(It might have been a little fun. He'd never admit it. He'd been in a hurry to grow up. The sooner he did, the sooner he could be just like Rezo.)
Zel will absolutely not be pulling that cart. He's not adding fuel to the fire of horsekin allegations, and there's no way in hell he's giving these coachmen any reason to think of him as even less human than already must. ]
They use mules here to transport heavy materials to and from town; that's how they've managed to bring in fresh water since all this started. I'll ask around to borrow one.
[ He doesn't anticipate this taking too long. If they've got an animal and a cart to spare, what are they gonna say, no? Nobody turns down a more convenient source of water.
Lucky that the animals don't appear to be affected by the contagion, or they'd be royally screwed.
Realization flashes across his face. ]
...None of the animals have suffered ill effects from the water. They're perfectly fine.
[ Not mules, not birds, not dogs, not cats. Just humans.
A nasty question pops into his head unbidden. Is there enough of him that's still human to "count"? ]
[Resourceful as ever, Zelgadis immediately thinks of a solution before Rezo even needs to point out the issue. That earns an approving nod from the priest as the group briskly heads down the road.]
Very good. The horses that pulled our coach will need to rest for a while before they can be put back to work.
[His pace then slows a little at Zelgadis's next words.
While animals do process substances differently from humans, the fact there isn't any noticeable effect from what's causing a virulent sickness in the humans is incredibly suspicious. Or, it would be, if Rezo wasn't already quite sure that a curse was responsible.
He gives Zelgadis a thin smile.]
That's very interesting, isn't it? Perhaps someone wasn't being attentive to details.
[The rest of the group turns to look at Zelgadis quizzically at that outburst.
...Well, the coachmen look at him. Rezo merely just briefly tilts his head in Zelgadis's look with an expression of forced placidity, which still adds to the effect. It's fortunate that Zelgadis has second thoughts.
And perhaps Rezo should try being less cryptic than usual.]
I was speculating on the perpetrator's aims myself. If they were hoping we'd suspect a case of poisoning, they could have done a better job.
[He then shuffles a few steps closer to Zelgadis- not so close that they're touching, but within arm's reach- and quietly says:]
I know you've been working hard.
[And then, without waiting for a response, Rezo briskly moves forward.]
[ Zelgadis shunts his cowl over his head and implores the earth to open up and swallow him whole. On top of everything else, the coachmen can now assume he's one of those thin-skinned jackasses that takes everything personally.
If they knew, if they just knew his history with Rezo...! Who could blame him then? Wouldn't anyone else take it the way he did?
It feels worse to have been wrong than if Rezo had actually been criticizing him, because what he assumed his grandfather was saying is what Zelgadis was already thinking. It's such a glaring oversight! If he missed that, then what else of note has he failed to see?
His self-admonishment is interrupted by the acknowledgement of his efforts, and he can't formulate a response before Rezo walks on ahead.
It's less what he said and more that he said it at all that has Zel at a loss.
He stays silent at the back of the group for most of the rest of their walk to the stonemason's guild. At least giving off a bad impression means nobody wants to make small talk with him. When he does finally say something, it's directed at Rezo, a word of caution delivered without any particular emotion attached. ]
The terrain gets uneven from here.
[ And before long, they reach the stonemason's guild.
Zelgadis is finally in his element again. Building anything requires calculations, and that's one of his strong suits. He pulls out a scratch pad and writing utensil from a pouch attached to his belt.
It's time for math. ]
...estimate of how many gallons of water per day it takes to service a population of this size. If we have this many tanks all with a height, length, and depth of...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ 'A few days'... Not ideal, but could be much worse. Zelgadis hopes the town can hold itself together long enough to wait for Rezo.
Even in text form, listening to him think aloud stirs up an odd, bitter nostalgia. Stained memories of times there's no going back to.
He makes himself focus instead on the actual contents of Rezo's message. ]
Do you think it hasn't already occurred to me to block off the[ Zelgadis looks down at what he's writing and then makes himself delete it. It's not productive to get testy with Rezo over so little. ]
Weakness and confusion is making it hard for them to eat. I don't know how much they even have in them to expel.
I'll do what I can to keep the situation from spiraling any more than it has already.
I don't think I need to say this, Rezo, but you need to get over here sooner than later.
[ This really throws his "cut Rezo off for good" plans out the window.
It's been a while since they've met in person. What a time and place for a family reunion. ]
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Please do your best.
And please let me know if there are any changes in the situation.
[All things considered, speaking with Zelgadis in the context of having a job to do is probably the easiest form of family reunion they could ask for. It means they won't be entirely at cross purposes, and might have something to talk about other than Rezo ruining Zelgadis's life. And on a similar note, Rezo's a little surprised by the implication that Zelgadis is sticking around at least long enough for Rezo to show up.
Not that Rezo would say Zelgadis is a heartless sort, and when Zelgadis was young he'd certainly been the epitome of an altruistic idealist. But, well... When he looks back to the last few years before unsealing Shabranigdu, Rezo's memories of Zelgadis himself are vague, but there were moments where it seemed that Zelgadis's heart had been hardened alongside his body.
But then, perhaps that only applied to situations involving the man responsible. And Rezo has little knowledge of what Zelgadis got up to afterwards, and what kind of influence Lina and her friends have been on him.
It's a relief to see such a clear indication that Rezo hasn't entirely crushed the compassion that had been such a hallmark of Zelgadis's character, despite what the adult Zelgadis may have to say about horses and servitude.
It's about two days of nonstop travel after Zelgadis first informs him of Remedis's plight. An acquaintance at the Sorcerer's Guild has generously allowed Rezo to borrow a coach and two grooms; the two grooms trade off between driving the coach and sleeping inside, and the group only take occasional breaks to change horses and purchase food at roadside inns along the way.
Needless to say the three men are rather tired and a bit bruised by the time the destination is in sight (or so Rezo is told) and the current coachman stops a little ways outside of town. Rezo opens the door and leans out to converse with the coachman.]
Is this it?
["Just down the road. Er, listen, y'sure whatever's going on there isn't infectious?"]
Yes. A reliable source told me that the spring is contaminated. While I wouldn't risk trying the water, it's safe to drive into town.
["If you're sure. It's just awfully quiet."]
It is, isn't it? The villagers are in a dire situation, so it's best if we hurry.
[The coachman sighs and urges the horses forward, albeit at a leisurely pace. Rezo resists a sigh of his own and subsides back into the coach. While his reputation is still stellar in many places, a sabbatical of a little over ten years has left his authority not entirely without question.
Retrieving a certain convenient magical device from a hidden pocket, Rezo types out a brief message for Zelgadis.]
I've arrived.
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Utilizing earth magic to create an impenetrable barricade is Zelgadis' best idea, but complicated by the spring itself. Veins of water run beneath the town, too; carelessly disturbing the earth could create an even more catastrophic problem.
The barricade material is going to have to come from somewhere else. And the fastest way to move a great deal of stone and earth from one location to another is to have it move itself. A few miles out from the town, Zelgadis begins the task of constructing golems that can march their way back to Remedis and place themselves directly in the way of all routes to the spring.
It's not the most exhausting thing he's ever done, but it's a lot of effort for a problem that has nothing to do with him.
Except it does have something to do with him. It was his problem from the moment he entered the town and became aware of their plight.
"I was praying and praying that someone would come help us! Finally...!"
There's no other way this could have gone.
And how can he be sure that the problem is resolved, that Rezo doesn't forget where his priorities should lie, if he doesn't stick this through to the end?
The golems revert to mere inanimate stone once they each reach their destinations; it's all Zelgadis needs them to be to serve their purpose. When he's done, he briefly informs Rezo of his handling of the matter.
The two day interim sees Zelgadis making himself useful where he can. The town innkeeper has converted her business into a makeshift clinic; it's woefully inadequate for the level of crisis, but she has experience in caring for the ill, and Zelgadis defers to her judgment as he assists her. The actual town doctor, he learns from her, is himself one of the infected.
She nearly breaks down in tears when he tells her that the Red Priest himself is on his way to aid them.
A conflicted knot ties itself up tight in Zelgadis' chest. It's some kind of madness that Zelgadis, whose form reflects the very worst of Rezo, now summons his grandfather to be this town's savior; gives them hope by invoking his name.
The time passes quickly and slowly both, with mercifully nothing of note taking place, and Zelgadis is almost startled to receive Rezo's message.
He doesn't bother with replying, and Ray Wings himself to the town's entrance.
There in the flesh stands the Red Priest. ]
Rezo!
[ Zelgadis lands opposite Rezo. He's glad they can just get down to business and sidestep awkward small talk. ]
The worst cases are in the inn up ahead.
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Rezo tucks his phone away as Zelgadis lands; his expression is serene, except for some tired lines around his eyes. Rezo's transportation, on the other hand, is not mollified any by the sight of a suspicious blue-skinned sorcerer.
"Is that your source?"]
The very same. [Raising his voice a little in greeting:] Zelgadis.
[With a shimmer, Rezo's staff appears in one hand. Its rings gently chime together as he hurries forward.]
How many patients are staying at the inn?
[Business is nice. It allows him not to notice how strange it is to be speaking with Zelgadis in person again.
Although it's probably less weird than their interactions in Taforashia.]no subject
He could stand to never hear that chime from Rezo's staff ever again, too. It's so damned ominous even without all the misfortune he associates with that sound.
Great. Existing in the physical proximity of Rezo for thirty seconds is enough to get him irritable. People's lives are on the line here; Zelgadis needs to get it together. ]
Fifty people. It's more than the building was designed to accommodate. This way.
[ He leads Rezo to the inn, elaborating as they go. ]
These are the patients that can't move under their own power any longer. Most of them can't speak. They all... They smile like everything's fine. I don't think they comprehend their own suffering.
...Small mercies, I guess.
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for obvious reasonsand to the effect of his chiming staff. He barely pays the sound any mind, as he's used to relying on it to give him a better sense of location and it requires little more thought than walking does.What does merit some thought is Zelgadis's answer and explanation. Fifty! That inn must be crowded indeed; however, Rezo's dealt with far larger crowds in the past.
Can't move. Can't speak. But they do smile.]
Do they show any signs of pain? Any responses to stimulus at all? And who else has been taking care of them?
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Those that can speak will react if spoken to, though you won't get much coherent conversation out of them. As far as I can tell, their basic senses are all intact. They don't express thirst or hunger, and will refuse food and drink if presented with either.
[ Which tracks, if he thinks about it. Pain, thirst, hunger: they don't seem to feel anything that qualifies as 'distress'.
Zelgadis has considered the possibility that they are aware of what's going on, and simply can't communicate it... But there's no way to prove or disprove it. ]
It's all hands on deck. Just about every able-bodied adult is looking after someone; it's a close knit town. If you aren't looking after anyone, then you're responsible for procuring safe food and water. As you can imagine, that's not the simplest task right now. The town well is, for all intents and purposes, unusable.
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[Rezo's good enough with his water shamanism to be potentially able to help with the water. He can purify, and he can use Aqua Create. Getting the patients to drink the water is another issue; forcing them will be difficult and potentially harmful in other ways.]
And how many people are healthy enough to look after others?
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[ The inn comes into view. ]
We're almost there. Rezo... What do you think this is? A curse?
[ Zelgadis looks over his shoulder. Rezo may not be able to see his gloomy expression, but his mood bleeds through in his voice. ]
Because I still don't have any idea.
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[Rezo hesitates. He really should examine at least one patient before he makes any pronouncements. But after Zelgadis has gone to the trouble of inviting him here he's loathe to shrug his shoulders and admit any real ignorance. A Great Sage is what's called for here, so Rezo must polish up his most promising theory and present it for Rezo's scrutiny.]
Given how long this has been going on... If truly nobody has died yet, then I would be inclined to believe magic is involved, yes. Normally in cases such as this the weaker citizens would die early on. Infants, the elderly, and those naturally susceptible to illness. The lack of death is unnatural, and likely to be the result of a spell keeping the victims tethered to life.
[...If a mazoku is actively involved it's going to be a pain in the ass.
Pushing that thought aside, Rezo gives his next warning in as gentle a voice as he can manage.]
Breaking that spell without allowing the victims to sufficiently recover could result in many deaths.
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So there's no logical reason for Zelgadis' heart to sink the way it does. What else did he expect? That this would be easy? That everyone could get out of this unscathed? The old him, naive little do-gooder that he was, might have believed in the likelihood of that outcome, but there's no excuse for being so idealistic now.
Rezo is, in many ways, a miracle worker, but he's not all powerful. ]
I didn't think otherwise.
[ He doesn't sound particularly convincing to his own ears. ]
...We're here.
[ Zelgadis opens the door to the inn, a little bell jingling to signal their arrival.
There's only just enough room to walk; makeshift beds, all occupied, take up most of the space on the ground floor. The innkeeper is dabbing a wet cloth to the empty smile of a patient's lips when she hears the door open. Looking up, her eyes go wide.
"You really did bring the Red Priest! I'll stay out of your way; please, do whatever you must." ]
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He's dealt with worse conditions. Taforashia had six healthy people and hundreds in various states of illness. This much is nothing.
He gives the innkeeper a kindly smile when she speaks up.]
Thank you. I'd like to speak with you about the situation later, but right now I need to examine the patients.
[And if he's to examine the patients, it's best if he does so along with a sighted assistant.
Rezo doesn't even have to think before he turns to his grandson.]
Zelgadis. Come with me.
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There are kids in here. Zelgadis couldn't, in good conscience, look at any one of them and say "you probably can't recover from this, so we're giving up on you".
He only ever wanted to become strong so that he could protect the weak. People like this.
He's ready to assist however he can. ]
Got it.
[ There are two patients among the fifty who will have the most information to offer:
One is Laurent, a man in his twilight years who was among the first to become infected, and two is the relatively healthiest of this unfortunate group, a middle-aged woman named Maude.
Laurent looks as if he is already dead. His physical condition is so poor that he should not be able to draw breath, yet breathe he does. It's as if another force entirely is in command of his organs, forcing them to operate and persist beyond their natural limits. There's no light within his eyes. His smile is frozen upon his face. Even if they heal his body, Zelgadis doesn't know what will become of his mind.
Then there is Maude. She can still speak, and though she's suffered severe cognitive decline, her short term memory is intact enough that she can engage in brief conversation. When Rezo and Zelgadis approach her bed, she turns her eyes their way. Her hand twitches, like she wants to reach out but lacks the strength. In a halting voice, she appears to address them. Her smile is uncannily wide.
"...Blessed. The spring... was blessed. We were... blessed. Why? Why were we blessed? Why... were we blessed? Why were we? Why... were we? Why were we? Why were we? Why were... we...? Why... were..." ]
H-Hey, calm down...
[ He places an awkward hand over hers (still twitching), and glances at Rezo a little desperately. She keeps asking until she hasn't any strength left.
He doesn't know what that was, but he feels kind of ill. ]
sobs this took way too long to get done
Naturally, some of the patients are worse than others. Laurent's condition is fascinating. It also reminds him slightly of the suspended animation the Taforashia patients had been placed in.
(That Rezo had placed them in.)Maude might be the healthiest, but her examination is perhaps the strangest. When she begins to repeat herself compulsively, Rezo does his best to shush Maude, speaking soothingly about how it's alright. Only a slight frown after she's quieted down betrays any disturbance at her behavior, at the way her question echoes in his mind.]
Blessed...
[Looking at the spring feels even more urgent now. But he still thinks he needs to prioritize getting the majority of the villagers into a less dangerous condition first.
Rezo straightens up, leaving Maude to hopefully get some rest, and turns to Zelgadis.]
I'll go speak with the innkeeper. Zelgadis, you should retrieve the men who brought me here. Things will be easier with more pairs of hands. If they have any complaints, you can tell them I'll compensate them later.
no worries i will wait forever
On it.
[ Though he doesn't intend to take his time with this errand, Zelgadis is grateful for the chance to get some fresh air. When Rezo is acting as the Great Sage, it's not the worst thing in the world to work alongside him, and until they got to Maude, Zelgadis had been too occupied with the tasks at hand to ruminate. He'd felt productive, actually, for the first time since blocking off the spring.
Now he's right back to feeling off-kilter. His primary assumption has been that the infected do not feel pain. The evidence had all been pointing against it.
What, then, had they both witnessed back there?
If he's been wrong this whole time, and they've only been unable to communicate their suffering...
It's too cruel to imagine. It would be kinder to break the spell as fast as possible and let whatever happens happen.
Except that would mean sacrificing everyone who has a chance at recovery. ]
Damn it all.
[ Rezo has to fix this. Be the hero everybody believes he is for once and fix this. It's the least he can do if it's so impossible to fix what he did to his own grandson.
Reaching the coach, he gives the men an expression that brooks no argument. ]
Hey, you can gawk at me later; Rezo's asking for you to make yourself useful. We need help.
[ It gives Zelgadis a mean and petty sense of satisfaction to watch the men try not to grimace as he leverages his grandfather's name. Sucks to get ordered around from some freak chimera, doesn't it? They can't argue, because it would be a very bad look not to answer the Red Priest's call for assistance.
Able warm bodies in tow, Zelgadis returns to the inn. ]
I've got them.
hopefully not forever! but i do have a few other pots on the boil so i may be slow sometimes
Thank you, all of you. I hope you're good with your hands.
[Rezo's already discussed this part with the innkeeper, but the remark might seem cryptic to Zelgadis and the coachmen, so he quickly elaborates.]
We'll be building temporary water tanks and blessing them so that the contents will be safe to drink. I'll be filling them initially but if the architecture in the village is suitable then we may want to set it up so they'll be capable of harvesting rainwater as well. Mrs. Saeldor has kindly told me where we will find the necessary materials.
[The coachmen look confused; can't Rezo just lift whatever curse is on the spring and be done with it? But neither of them dare to speak up since he is a Great Sage and presumably knows what he's doing.]
not at all a problem, i totally understand!!
The plan that Rezo has devised is sound enough at first blush. Zelgadis can't claim to have any better ideas, and he's not immune to thinking like the coachmen, making the assumption that Rezo must have an idea of what he's doing. But unlike the coachmen, he has no qualms about voicing his doubts.
He wants to trust Rezo, but that trust cannot be absolute. He's sticking around in part to ensure that the people of this town only meet the man they believe the Red Priest to be. ]
How are we going to determine if the blessed water is actually safe?
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I brought along equipment for testing the water quality. I was planning on using it at the spring, but it will work for the storage tanks as well. And of course I'm quite confident in the strength of my purification magic.
[There's a note to his voice at the end that sounds almost amused, like it's quite silly for anyone to think that Rezo's magic might not be up to the task.
Because you know, Rezo hasn't been testing Zel's temper enough yet today.]
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You'd better be.
[ The coachmen share a look of "who does this weird blue guy think he is?"
Stupid Rezo and his stupid good PR. Which is also an objectively good thing for this situation. How stupid. ]
Then let's not waste any more time. Tell me where to get the materials and we'll get started immediately. Isn't that right?
[ He gives the coachmen a pointed look. Being kind of a jerk while remaining within socially acceptable parameters will keep him sane. ]
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To say he's used to Zelgadis's attitude wouldn't be entirely true; he hasn't spent quite enough time with Zelgadis over the past few years to be entirely sure what kind of man Zelgadis became. But there's still a certain familiarity to it. There had been times after Zelgadis's transformation when he hadn't entirely buried his resentment...
And it also puts Rezo somewhat in mind of when Zelgadis was a child and Rezo would speak through a teddy bear at him. Which was demeaning to the both of them, or at least according to Zelgadis.]
We're heading for the stonemason's guild on the edge of the village. We'll need stone and plaster to build the tanks with, and a cart to carry everything on.
[Aaaand either a horse or some other beast of burden to pull said cart. Or Zelgadis and his chimera strength will be doing it.]
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(It might have been a little fun. He'd never admit it. He'd been in a hurry to grow up. The sooner he did, the sooner he could be just like Rezo.)
Zel will absolutely not be pulling that cart. He's not adding fuel to the fire of horsekin allegations, and there's no way in hell he's giving these coachmen any reason to think of him as even less human than already must. ]
They use mules here to transport heavy materials to and from town; that's how they've managed to bring in fresh water since all this started. I'll ask around to borrow one.
[ He doesn't anticipate this taking too long. If they've got an animal and a cart to spare, what are they gonna say, no? Nobody turns down a more convenient source of water.
Lucky that the animals don't appear to be affected by the contagion, or they'd be royally screwed.
Realization flashes across his face. ]
...None of the animals have suffered ill effects from the water. They're perfectly fine.
[ Not mules, not birds, not dogs, not cats. Just humans.
A nasty question pops into his head unbidden. Is there enough of him that's still human to "count"? ]
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Very good. The horses that pulled our coach will need to rest for a while before they can be put back to work.
[His pace then slows a little at Zelgadis's next words.
While animals do process substances differently from humans, the fact there isn't any noticeable effect from what's causing a virulent sickness in the humans is incredibly suspicious. Or, it would be, if Rezo wasn't already quite sure that a curse was responsible.
He gives Zelgadis a thin smile.]
That's very interesting, isn't it? Perhaps someone wasn't being attentive to details.
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[ Zero to a hundred in terms of defensiveness!
Then, haltingly: ]
...Unless you mean our perpetrator's failed at poisoning every living thing in the area. Which... is true. ...If that was their aim to begin with.
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...Well, the coachmen look at him. Rezo merely just briefly tilts his head in Zelgadis's look with an expression of forced placidity, which still adds to the effect. It's fortunate that Zelgadis has second thoughts.
And perhaps Rezo should try being less cryptic than usual.]
I was speculating on the perpetrator's aims myself. If they were hoping we'd suspect a case of poisoning, they could have done a better job.
[He then shuffles a few steps closer to Zelgadis- not so close that they're touching, but within arm's reach- and quietly says:]
I know you've been working hard.
[And then, without waiting for a response, Rezo briskly moves forward.]
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If they knew, if they just knew his history with Rezo...! Who could blame him then? Wouldn't anyone else take it the way he did?
It feels worse to have been wrong than if Rezo had actually been criticizing him, because what he assumed his grandfather was saying is what Zelgadis was already thinking. It's such a glaring oversight! If he missed that, then what else of note has he failed to see?
His self-admonishment is interrupted by the acknowledgement of his efforts, and he can't formulate a response before Rezo walks on ahead.
It's less what he said and more that he said it at all that has Zel at a loss.
He stays silent at the back of the group for most of the rest of their walk to the stonemason's guild. At least giving off a bad impression means nobody wants to make small talk with him. When he does finally say something, it's directed at Rezo, a word of caution delivered without any particular emotion attached. ]
The terrain gets uneven from here.
[ And before long, they reach the stonemason's guild.
Zelgadis is finally in his element again. Building anything requires calculations, and that's one of his strong suits. He pulls out a scratch pad and writing utensil from a pouch attached to his belt.
It's time for math. ]
...estimate of how many gallons of water per day it takes to service a population of this size. If we have this many tanks all with a height, length, and depth of...
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a wizard is never late etc
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