#vielyn: ooo im so emotionless and cold. like a real drow.

[maverick-ocs]

How did Viel feel, when his bodyguard keeled over? When his body began to sieze and blood began to spill from his mouth as his lungs began to eat away at themselves? The druid had said it would be painless. But here's the manthing in agony.

They'd just reunited with Merdrin, when everything went wrong. Finally able to take comfort in a familiar face on the surface. And then this woman - this so called healer - had tried to take Merdrin away again.

Separated them from their group. Lead them down to her area of work, insisted she had a cure, asked Vielyn to extend their arm. She must have noticed their hesitation, perhaps even realized that leading a pair of drow down to where she kept the corpse of their kin on an examination table wasn't great planning, because she'd tried to reassure Vielyn. But Vielyn didn't budge. The woman approached. And Vielyn's fingers twitched for their weapon.

And then Merdrin. Loyal, faithful Merdrin. Had interrupted.

He'd stepped in between the two women. Perhaps aware that Vielyn starting a fight here would lead to endangering everyone in the grove, or perhaps wanting to believe she really did have a cure - Vielyn doesn't know what was going through his mind. Vielyn hasn't dared to ask him about it. As if asking might just... make it real.

But it was real. By the gods, it was agonizingly real. The women had taken a swipe at him with some branch, and Merdrin's face almost immediately twisted in pain when it pierced his skin. She tried to defend her actions as Merdin stumbled, nearly right into Vielyn, who moves to catch him just as his knees buckled. The woman informing them - almost sounding sorry - that the only cure for them now is in death. And she'd held her pathetic little branch up at Vielyn with a steady hand, ready to 'cure' them too. Dread was already forming in Vielyn's stomach as they... well, dropped Merdrin. Turning to try make sure his fall isn't dangerous, but still letting him hit the floor nevertheless. They need to free their arms. Their hands. They need their weapon. They can't show weakness. Not in front of an enemy. Not in front of Merdrin - Ah. Well. Merdin may not be a concern right now, seeing as he's-

Oh, gods.

Fighting to remain focused, Vielyn arms themself, holding their mace up with the same falsified confidence as the woman with her dangerous little branch. But she must be underestimating Vielyn. Assuming, perhaps, that because they need a bodyguard, they can't defend themself.

Well. She wasn't wrong for very long after that. A swarm of necrotic spiritual guardians attacking like divine piranhas, and a few well placed blows of the mace, and soon bits of the druid are practically splattered throughout her workroom. And only then does Vielyn's mask slip. Heart hammering in their chest, they'd run right to Merdrin's side, found him practically choking on his own blood. Trying to call upon the blessings of their goddess to patch him up, piece him back together to fight another day, Vielyn knelt at his side. Hands on his chest as they just tried to stabilise him. Bring him back from the brink. But it's not enough. He's deteriorating faster than they can heal. And it's like ice runs through their veins as they keep trying anyway. Burning through all their strength to just stop him from dying here-

And they're lucky. Ever so lucky. Blessed by their goddess. For it's those same spirit guardians that had brought them the antidote from the woman's corpse. And they'd had barely enough time to get it into Mer before they'd all but collapsed over him themself. Whispering a few more healing words even as they rest over him, praying to their goddess they take effect this time - the little spiritual creatures around him disappearing in favour of focusing all his magic into Merdrin.

... It's a good thing this room was locked off, really. Because the two of them are going to end up having an impromptu nap on the floor in here. One to try rest off poison, and the other to restore strength after burning all their spell slots on something that healing didn't even help.