Veridia Round 1: Midwife

[eulalia]

Prev | Next

Helenet, shoving her whole face into an elderberry bush: I love nature. :)

It’s going to be a short round for Helenet this spring; she mostly spent it running back and forth between the garden and Angus. Also, no one is having babies or getting sick yet (besides Shep), so not much for her to do besides tend the garden and build up her stock of herbs and potions.









Eisu has quickly become one of Helenet’s new friends in Veridia. He’s cheerful and generally enjoyable to talk with, and he’s been a huge help, keeping an eye on Angus when Helenet needs to make house calls.

Eisu: You might have a bard on your hands here, Helenet!

Angus: *shoves spoon in mouth* Abah bah gah?




Dinn: Helenet, do you have a moment to speak?

Helenet: Oh, yes, let me just bring my basket in.






Dinn and Fial, the boss’s sister, explain the trouble they’ve had becoming pregnant over the years; they only have one child, their teenage son. They make offerings to the spirits, of course, but it doesn’t hurt to consult the new midwife for her opinion.

Helenet: Well, there’s a tea I can give you both, but I can’t promise it will do anything. Besides that, good sleep, a moderate amount of physical work, and a diet with lots of fresh greens and without alcohol can be beneficial, for both of you again. I wish there was more than that I could offer you. Sometimes it’s just harder for people to get with child than to prevent it, unfortunately. I don’t know why the spirits make it this way.

She truly does wish there was more she could do sometimes. Her mother and aunties could work magic on some cases.










Helenet: What the–oof!
Unfortunately, Helenet inherited their magic but not their skill with it. She can put together all sorts of salves and teas, but years of attempts at even the weakest, most basic spells have led nowhere. Coming to Veridia was a relief, frankly. She hasn’t breathed a word of her so-called magic to anyone, and she’s careful not to mention the names of her relatives, lest they be recognized as that family. When people know you’re a witch, they expect real magic, and then they’re disappointed. All Helenet can conjure up is some sparkles to entertain Angus.












Helenet: Angus, no! How did you get out here?!








Look, I just like gardening pics, ok?






Helenet loves her son so much, but she is suffering from the lack of adult socialization. Times like this are when she misses her family the most.




She’s so bored, she even runs out to greet That Weird Guy From the Market, aka Elmet, when she spots him passing by. If he’s Eisu’s brother, he can’t be that bad.






Oh my god, Elmet had a positive conversation! There’s hope for him after all!

Helenet: I’m so tired tonight, I was thinking of walking over to get one of those pasties from the hall instead of cooking.

Elmet: The ones with the peas and chicken? Those are so good!

Helenet: So good.

Elmet: If—if uhhhh—

Helenet: Are you alright?






Helenet: *gasp* You’re wirokū!

Elmet: AROOOOOOOO—fuuuuuuck fuckity fuck.




Elmet: I’m not dangerous, I promise! Please… don’t tell anyone.

Helenet: It’s a secret?

Elmet: Yeah, because when people see, they go, gasp, wirokū!

Helenet: You just startled me. I… haven’t seen this personally before, but my grandmother told me of three siblings she knew once who were all werewolves.

Elmet: Don’t s'pose your grandmother told you about a cure?




Helenet: No. I have heard from others that wearing wolfsbane—

Elmet: Tried that. And putting it in my shoes and under the pillow and all that bullshit. Ugh, listen, you won’t tell anyone about this, will you?

Helenet: No, I won’t. I understand.

Elmet: Great. Now that we sorted this out, I was trying to reach the forest before I transformed.

Helenet: Be careful out there—I’ve never had to try patching up someone with fur.

Elmet: Yeah... thanks.






Helenet is so pleased for her friend when she confirms the news. They think the baby should be here before the first snowfall.



Her own baby is getting so big—and Helenet is good and ready for Angus to begin growing a little more independent. She doesn’t think she would choose to do this by herself a second time.








I was super impressed that Helenet managed to teach Angus all his toddler skills without neglecting the garden entirely or having a mental breakdown. Good job, guys!

(The most impressive thing about Helenet is actually that she apparently redoes those two fishtail braids perfectly every single morning.)






Game: Helenet has earned a bronze gardening badge!
*looks at dying plants* Okay.






Another one of Helenet’s new friends in Veridia is Wulfric, who lives out on the coast away from the rest of the village. They run into each other often enough when he brings his catch to market (and the kids to socialize). She can’t help but be moved by his story, the loss of his wife and his efforts to raise their children without her. Helenet absolutely can’t imagine having two Anguses to take care at once.






Helenet: Bring Gytha and Glamaer with you next time—I can give them a look over and make sure they’re growing nice and healthy.

Wulfric: Well, that would be mighty kind of you. And take a load off my mind too.




Wulfric: To tell the truth, they’ve both been kind of a handful lately.

Helenet: You’re doing your best, I’m sure. Have you ever thought of hiring a nanny for them?

Wulfric: They had one when they were wee, but it’s hard to find someone who wants to come stay so far away from everyone else. Maybe I’ll ask around the next time I go to the big market in Evervale.




The next morning, it’s technically summer, but I stuck around a few extra hours to see Angus’s birthday. Ta-da! Happy birthday, Angus!

Angus: Thank you. :)

For your birthday, I got you chores! You’re in charge of the chickens now!

Angus: :(