MOD PLOT | CHAMPROVENT.

[heorte]

WHO: Teren, Ellis, Edgard, Lucien, and Vance
WHAT: Assisting with the cleansing of Champrovent and ensuring the taint doesn't spread beyond the village.
WHEN: August through Kingsway
WHERE: Champrovent
NOTES: ooc info + warnings for infection, discussion of murder, death, general unpleasantness.

Comments

[heorte]

The hammer clatters to the ground, board swinging down at a crooked angle as Ellis is hauled back a step. It nearly ends with him overbalancing and knocking them bother over, likely avoided only because Ellis' mace is on the ground beside them rather than strapped to a hip.

"Peace," is the first, vaguely breathless assertion. "It's for the best. We'll need to kill it regardless."

Whatever apology or question Ellis had been about to pose is lost as he straightens up again.

"Are you alright?"

The rat has fled, but Ellis moves to mark the hole itself with a discarded post as he poses the question.

[muckspout]

Edgard is not alright. Everything here could be a danger, everything. Even one rat could spell disaster. Edgard is out his breath and his heart pumps wildly. He leans down to hide his alarm and grabs the hammer while he's down there. When he rises, he's calm again.

"Of course. It didn't touch you, did it?"

He places the hammer back in Ellis' hand.

"Be careful. I'll do the next one."

[heorte]

The concern is misplaced. Ellis doesn't quite know how to say that in a way that will completely dispel Edgard's anxiety. (I am already a dead man, so you needn't worry isn't going to cut it.) Instead, Ellis accepts the hammer, gestures Edgard towards the post.

"I have done all this before," Ellis says, as he lifts the board again. "It's my duty."

And with it comes a certain amount of risk. (More feature than bug, where Ellis is concerned.) He eyes the symbols signifying infection painted on the board critically, then lines it up on the post.

"There is no shame if you would rather step away from all of this."

[muckspout]

Edgard steps back like he’s been slapped. He barely knows him, but already Ellis has pegged him as too weak to be of use. He absorbs the verbal blow and pushes forward.

“No! ” he says louder than he intends and then continues at a lower volume. “I’m here to help.”

Edgard straightens up his face hard with no fear now and steps toward Ellis. “Isn’t it all our duty? Weren’t we all told the same thing? I will do the next one.”

This time it’s a statement, not a suggestion.