Help Arrives

JP with mdman, Lorem and Cindy

May 10, 1889
Early evening

The engine of the van was starting to become loud with clanks and groans it hadn't before and any the body of the van has a lot more bounce than before. It was unclear if it would make it, but the van did.

Marcil arrived at the stone building with the metal sign with gold lettering that read "Guilde Magique de Paris."

Marcil parked, and then got out of the van before bounding at full speed up the stairs. As with any guild, non-members could get as far as the front desk, without permission from a higher up in the guild.

Before the young female human receptionist could greet him, a slightly out of breath. Marcil said. "We need help. Lady Elizabeth’s been injured, badly injured."

At first the receptionist said nothing, sometimes people would try to trick their way into the guild, then she spotted the ring on the man's finger. She didn't know what that ring was, only the specific order to take anyone with that ring on seriously.

"Right away, sir." However as the receptionist called over a guard to watch the desk while she get help. The elevator doors opened and out walked not just Countess Charbonneau, who quickly made her way towards the driver but also Celine Allard, the gnome head of the technology guild.

Lucky for Marcil both women were sworn into the order. He quickly and briefly explained what had happened.

"Let us go, then. No time to waste." The Countess said.

"We'll need to stop at the Tech guild, so I can get my tools. Celine commented.

The three left in the van, to the tech guild. It tool Celine to have a large tool chest brought out and loaded on to the van. Then they were on their way.

About ten minutes after he left, the van returned. Marcil got out first and helped out an impeccably dressed Eldren. She quickly made her way to Elizabeth, but even in her speed, seemed the definition of grace and elegance.

Next out of the van came a blonde headed female gnome. People who were part of the tech world know Celine Allard for designing early airships and being the first gnome to be made head of any Paris guild.

Celine made her way to Cronk and then turned to Lorem. "Sticky net?"

Cronk was getting delirious at this point. He didn’t know the word’s he spoke. It was like his brain wasn’t in control of his thoughts.

“Giant spider,” he insisted.

Cronk was beginning to drift. Obviously, he was lacking some blood to his brain. Well, more than usual.

Now, his eyes closed. He couldn’t keep them open any longer. He felt so sleepy.

Lorem looked disheveled and shook up from the experience of being a sentry; waiting for the possibility of another assault. She was relieved when she heard the familiar sound of Marcil’s van returning. It felt like a huge burden was lifted off her shoulders as the more capable individuals took the stage.

With her responsibility abdicated, she went over to where Cronk was. She looked guilty and wasn’t pleased that his current state had been exasperated by her foolish performance under pressure.

She nodded to one of the more decorated gnomes and heroes to the progress of technology. Normally she would have been more excited to be in the presence of a giant in the industry, but right now she felt spent. “Yes milady.” Lorem then proceeded to explain how the compounds and the material of the net worked so that Celine could devise a good solution. The net would eventually lose its stickiness over time; however, she was sure they wanted to get Cronk out of it right this instance.

"In the van is a large black tool box. In it is a blue spray bottle and a pair of red clippers. I will need those can you please go get them?" Celine asked Lorem.

The Countess asked Marcil knelt down besides Elizabeth, closed her eyes and began to chant in Latin. Elizabeth's body began to glow, brightly. The glow moved over her body and then focused on her head.

Marcil got a jacket, which he balled up and then knelt down waiting for the Countess's word.

The glow continued around Elizabeth's head and without having to check, the Countess said. "The bleeding has stopped, put the jacket behind her head, carefully."

Marcil did as indicated. Unlike folk or mid-level mages, executive mages, like the Countess could get a spell started and, without concentrating on it keep it going, until they decided to drop it. That was what Constance was doing at the moment. She left the healing spell on Elizabeth while she got up and went to see how badly Cronk was injured.

"In the van is a large black tool box. In it is a blue spray bottle and a pair of red clippers. I will need those can you please go get them?" Celine asked Lorem.

The Countess asked Marcil knelt down besides Elizabeth, closed her eyes and began to chant in Latin. Elizabeth's body began to glow, brightly. The glow moved over her body and then focused on her head.

Marcil got a jacket, which he balled up and then knelt down waiting for the Countess's word.

The glow continued around Elizabeth's head and without having to check, the Countess said. "The bleeding has stopped, put the jacket behind her head, carefully."

Marcil did as indicated. Unlike folk or mid-level mages, executive mages, like the Countess could get a spell started and, without concentrating on it keep it going, until they decided to drop it. That was what Constance was doing at the moment. She left the healing spell on Elizabeth while she got up and went to see how badly Cronk was injured.

Cronk was bleeding more from his sides than from the reopened wounds upon his head. There were a few large pieces of glass that had broken off inside the gashes they had left. Thankfully, the glass was keeping most of Cronk’s blood inside his body.

Cronk himself was dreaming of a battle. He was squeezing a giant spider but it just wouldn’t die. He guessed it wasn’t the squishy kind. It bit him several times in the sides, abdomen, and the head. Then, it shot its web all over Cronk.

Lorem quickly obliged Celine’s request and hurried off. She returned shortly with the items and presented them to her.

Celine took the spray bottle and sprayed a small part of the net with it, then did the same the clippers. It was easy to tell it was a test, there was really no way to know for sure it would work.

The clippers cut through the net without sticking to it. Celine handing the spray bottle to Lorem said, "This solution needs to be sprayed all over as much of the net as you can manage, it's not harmful to get a little on him," Pointing to Cronk. "But it's probably better to try to avoid getting it in any large opened wounds."

When Lorem started spraying, Celine would work quickly behind her cutting open the net.

Cronk’s dream continued. Something was spraying him. In the dream, Cronk turned to see a wild cat, bigger than himself, seeming to mark her territory. The cat saw and batted at the spider with one of its paws. The spider ran and hid from the cat. Then, the cart used its claws to cut loose the web, being careful not to hurt Cronk.

Lorem was meticulous and careful as she moved about Cronk’s slumbering form. She took mental note of all the injuries, her hyperthymesia recording every detail. She wondered if Orc’s felt pain differently, because instead of attacking the car in a reasonable manner, Cronk had taken the quickest and most difficult angle of attack. Did the desire for self preservation reduce when an Orc got angry? Was there a hormone release different then other races when they want into a rage?

With her and Celine working together, they were making effective progress on removing the bindings. On the positive side, Lorem noted that the Kissing Spider worked as intended.

It took about five minutes but net finally came open and a passed out Cronk was released from the entanglement.

Constance quickly made her way to the Orc, concentrated and soon the large body was glowing much the way Elizabeth's head was. Except, the areas where the wounds were more severe glowed brighter.

The Countess made her way back to Elizabeth and with a few Latin words, the glow stopped, Elizabeth started to come to.

Celine turned to Lorem, "The van needs some repairs before it can be moved again. Would you help me with those?"

Lorem agreed quickly. One because it would be an honor and two because all the blood was making her feel a little light headed. She followed Celine and would be an attentive mechanic assistant to whatever tasks she needed her to perform.

The glass shards magically inched their way from the puncture wounds in Cronk’s sides, falling upon the cobblestone street. The wounds themselves began to heal from the inside out, stopping the flow of blood. Almost immediately, Cronk’s energy began to return.

His eyes first focused upon Lorem. He feared for her, for certainly the spider Cronk thought was still around could have her for a meal.

“Watch spider, Pretty Flower,” Cronk urgently insisted, still not able to sit up.

Celine started the van. The engine came to life, then sputtered and stalled out. "Well, that is not good." She concentrated for a moment, and then got up and went to the back of the van. Emerging a few moments later with a soft bag, which she put down in front of Lorem. "I am just going to get it fixed enough to not completely die before you can get home. I will need you to hand me tools, and by all means yell out any ideas you come up with."

Celine had certainly not expected her day to end with her head in an engine, fortunately when she had picked up the tool chest she had packed some overalls as well and quickly put a pair on over her fairly nice clothes. Overalls were more comfortable but the meeting with the Countess earlier had been important and she had wanted to look nice for that. Then offered another pair to Lorem.

Elizabeth slowly gained her bearings. "What happened?" Marcil proceeded to answer her question. Then on Elizabeth’s request and the Countess's approval, Elizabeth was helped to sitting. She saw Lorem seemed safe, and was working with Celine. Which was a relief. A glowing unconscious Cronk though greatly concerned her.

After almost ten minutes, the Countess dropped the healing on Cronk. He, like Elizabeth, could probably use a few days of recovery but the Countess knew that he was healed enough to wake up, with help walk to the van and be taken home.

Within that ten minutes the two gnomes got the van running again. It still wasn’t in the best shape but would have to do for the moment.

Cronk felt well enough to roll over into his belly. He forced himself up to his hands and knees, though at great expenditure to his restored energy.

He saw the ladies working on the van. He saw Lady Elizabeth now up and being helped. He was glad to see her alive. He was glad to see them all alive.

Cronk was beginning to realize that this job would be taxing to his strength. Each fight took the damage to another level. Was he wrong for rushing into the fight? For taking the battle to the enemy? He swore to protect his team. This was his way of protecting them.

He looked to Lorem and smiled. She was not hurt. Cronk was thankful for that.

Cronk crawled to the back of the van on hands and knees. He lifted himself into the back of the van, rolling over onto his back. Now, safely inside, Cronk drifted to sleep once more. He felt as if he would need a full twenty-four hours of sleep. His figure stretched out upon the entire floor of the back of the van. Just before he dozed off, Cronk whispered, “Watch spider.”

Marcil helped Elizabeth get up and follow Cronk into the van, she had a horrible headache, which was making her little nauseous. She took a seat, and then Marcil got off the van and helped the Countess on.

The Countess looked over her patients. Cronk was asleep, which was fine and to be expected. Elizabeth wasn't asleep but seemed a pale, and maybe green around the edges. The Countess did another quick healing on Elizabeth, which settled the younger Eldren's stomach.
Marcil got off the van and waited for the the two gnomes to get on.
Celine spoke to Lorem. "This van is going to take more fixing before Marcil can drive it back to headquarters. If you want I can ride back to Lady Elizabeth's house, with you and help with the rest of the repairs." Lady Elizabeth’s home,when it came to Engineering was Lorem’s domain and Celine was honoring that by asking and not assuming.

Lorem was confident in her response, “It would be my honor to have your help.” She was surprised that someone of such status would ask and admired the humility and respect Celine exhibited. The tinkering was most helpful in bringing her out of her panic from the action, including her embarrassment. Lorem ultimately was glad that everyone was going to be ok.

"Well, then shall we..." Celine indicated getting on the van. She herself proceeded to do just that.

Once Lorem was in the van, Marcil got on as well and double checked where everyone was going. He knew that Elizabeth, Lorem and Cronk would be going home. He was not surprised when both Celine and the Countess said their were also going back to Lady Elizabeth's home.

The five minute trip took closer to eight but among the groans, creaks and clanks of the vehicle, they finally pulled up to Lady Elizabeth's house. Marcil got out, telling everyone to wait their a moment, and went to the front door.

He returned with a concerned looking Harold. Marcil then explained. "I'm going to pull the van to the carriage house. Harold will assist anyone that wants to get off before I do so. And can someone please wake up Mr. Cronk?"

The Countess had both mind and body as two of her realms and she had quite perfected using them, she maneuvered herself near Cronk and with the lightest touch, sent the "message" for his body to wake up. Then waited to see if that worked.

"I am getting off the van, here. Mr. Marcil, please feel free to come into the house, once you have parked the van. You are welcomed to have a drink, food or whatever else you need. I am afraid I might not be much company." Elizabeth must have been feeling, a little better, as she was speaking like her usual self. "Countess and Miss Allard, you, of course are welcome as well." Elizabeth knew both women, and they were both always welcomed, but it was still polite to offer.

Both the Countess and Celine thanked Elizabeth.

"Thank you, Lady Elizabeth." Marcil gratefully replied. "Pas de Soucis." (No worries).

Harold helped her out and her personal maid, Zora along with two other maids were there to help her get upstairs then for anything else she needed.

Celine responded to Marcil, "I will stay with the van."

The Countess replied, as Harold returned to see if more help was necessary. "I will stay with Mr. Cronk until he awakens."

Cronk’s nerve endings jumped as messages went throughout his nervous system. His arms and legs began to react by stretching to get what blood was left in Cronk’s circulatory system to flow into the muscles.

The orc’s eyes opened. He squinted against the light that invaded what was once dark. Sitting up, he recognized he had been returned home.

“Cronk Thank!” he managed to tiredly mumble. “Get cleaned and sleep.”

Crawling out of the van, he checked once more on the ladies. “Lady and Pretty Flower hurt?”

Lorem and Celine, along with Marcil would be the ones left with the van as it drove around back and parked near the carriage area. Marcil left the keys with Celine and then went towards the house himself.

The Countess, responded to Cronk, as she and Harold walked with the Orc into the house. "Lady Elizabeth, is upstairs, she was injured but healed. She will be fine, just needs a few days rest." The Countess was not familiar with Cronk’s nicknames for people but it wasn't difficult to tell "pretty flower" likely referred to the Gnome engineer but the Countess did not know her name. "Your engineer friend is fine, she wasn't injured."

Cronk grunted, “Good!”

He turned to the front door. He bowed slightly from the waist to the lady, whom he assumed must have a title. It pained him, but he would live.

“Must rest,” he mumbled then entered the house, went to his room, then rolled onto his bed, bloody clothes and all. His muscles quickly relaxed and soon he was snoring, deep in sleep.