Because Heroics Don't Have to Be Big and Loud and Dramatic

[drehnifusbahi]

Here's a face that hasn't been seen around the Nexus in quite some time - since the mass de-aging event, in fact. But that's long since passed, and the Dragonborn is back to his usual self, if a little more warmly dressed in deference to the autumn chill. (Armor without true sleeves is perfectly fine for Snow Elves, not so much for southborn Imperials.)

He's currently seated at a Convenient Nexus Table&trade, on which he's set up his alchemy equipment. There's a satchel full of ingredients on the bench-like seat beside him, which he dips into every now and again, grinding and blending and decanting in fluid, repetitive movements. He works steadily for a while, by all appearances absorbed in his task, churning out potions to cure disease, along with more general healing potions.

After a certain point, though, he sits back, idly rubbing feeling back into hands that are starting to cramp. "I can't promise they'll be entirely effective against diseases that aren't actually of Tamriel," he says, addressing the Plaza at large, "But I've potions of Healing and Cure Disease, for any who need them, and also a healing spell I could try."

[So, as stated, Van's brewed up some healing potions and is also willing to make with the Healing Hands for anyone who spoke to -or just got too close to- Rotund'jere. But it'd be a little boring if he could just fix it all in one go, right? So to make this a little more interesting, and avoid god-modding on my part, I figured we could let the RNG decide how effective his attempts are or aren't on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being 100% healed and 1 being a complete failure.]

Comments

[auspex_caelo]

For his part, dealing with magical threats is Stratos' primary responsibility... and this isn't Skyrim, but it's literally on the doorstep. If a dangerous mage wants to settle down here, the tribune may not be able to actually drive him off. He's going to have to step up his efforts to keep an eye on the place... and figure out what influence he can exert.

"I see." No more polite little evasions. When someone brings a concern to him - deliberately asking for help or not - he takes it seriously. "Perhaps we should keep an eye on him. I would be interested in hearing of it, should you have any more encounters with the man." He can hardly order Vanyel to report anything; it's more of a quiet invitation, to speak with him if the Dragonborn finds any more cause for concern.

Besides, even if the 'Necrophos' isn't up to anything shady at all, Stratos needs to start keeping better track of significant persons in the Nexus. Which includes Vanyel himself, for that matter.

[drehnifusbahi]

It's not necessarily the Nexus he's most concerned for, if the Necrophos is anything like that title makes him suspect; there's a limit to the trouble the monk could cause here. But are also countless unguarded portals to worlds where he could potentially roam unchecked, and it's mainly due to the efforts of the Caelus brothers that the route to Tamriel isn't one of them.

Which is why, when that quiet invitation is issued, he looks up at Stratos again, hands stilling. "He... I think he was making me ill, or trying, the entire time we spoke."

He doesn't know it for sure, of course, but he didn't fell the slightest bit ill before encountering the mysterious monk. And there was the matter of the potion, too; it had been made correctly, he would lay money on that, so why hadn't it worked as it should have?

[auspex_caelo]

That has the tribune's eyebrows aiming at the skies. He's not going to doubt Vanyel directly, but... he wishes he could be more skeptical.

"That's no minor concern, Stendarr knows. The last thing we need is some new Thrassian plague... How do you feel now?"

[drehnifusbahi]

Vanyel can hardly blame him; he's not sure he'd believe it either, if it hadn't just happened to him.

"Better. I drank one of the potions - how better to test its efficacy?"

Though he's still not entirely right; there's still a tightness in his chest and a soreness in his throat, but it's nothing life-threatening. Once he gets to a decent stopping point, he'll cast a quick healing spell on himself.

[auspex_caelo]

Stratos nods, eyes flicking over Vanyel's work-in-progress with an experienced eye. "It's some comfort that we have the means to foil his power. Nevertheless, I would advise you continue taking precautions - some sicknesses have a way of recurring. I may be interested in knowing precisely what type of danger it poses, but I have no desire to see it run its course. In the meantime, should you run short of supplies... we seem to have a curious abundance of vampire dust in stores lately."

[drehnifusbahi]

"I may have to take you up on that, then. The other ingredients I have plenty of; vampire dust, not so much." It's almost as if the vampires decided that the man who took down Harkon in single combat is probably not someone they want to mess with, thus denying him chances to collect any. "And I don't doubt we'll be in need of healing potions and spells for at least a little while yet, considering the sicknesses that seem to be going around."

And there's also the little fact that the outbreak seems to have coincided with the arrival of a man who can make others sick by his very presence. Could be a coincidence, but he rather doubts it.

[auspex_caelo]

Stratos's people, on the other hand, have all too many of the blood-drinking fiends willing to try and make a meal of them. Word might get around if they keep winning those encounters, but it's hard to imagine they'll ever seem like a tougher target than Harkon's slayer.

Of course, Stratos being ignorant of all that, the tribune simply puts it down to 'the Dragonborn has larger and scalier problems to focus on'.

"I fear you're all too correct in that. I'll return in a while and see how you've fared - assuming no-one with a greater need appears in the meantime, I'll request a few phials to distribute among any residents who've taken ill."

[drehnifusbahi]

He isn't entirely wrong; the cultists who arrived from Solstheim not long ago with orders to kill him might well be the first signs of a much bigger problem brewing, one entirely separate from the vampires, or the Dragon Crisis, or even the war.

(Not that he knows that for sure, but given that both the vampire and dragon situations started out seeming at least a little less dire than they turned out to really be...)

"And you'll be welcome to them," he replies solemnly. "If not for the risk of illness, I might even suggest you talk to our friend the monk - he said he intended to distribute the ones he bought to those in need."

And if he was being at all honest about that, he'd probably not be averse to the good tribune helping him out with that. Keyword: if.