Nortom is seated at a bench on the streets of Lightfort. It’s a warm breezy day. Nortom shifts excitedly, expecting someone. The man is breaking up pieces of bread and feeding a few birds in front of him.

Erevan sits down next to him as the birds flutter away. Resting his ballista beside the bench. He’ll turn slightly so he’s still facing the street. He watches as a few of the birds return.

“Hey, I’m looking for this little guy. A real cute face. Wouldn’t expect it from a hardened soldier. But trust me he’s a crack-shot gunslinger. Seen anyone who fits the bill?” Erevan smiles wickedly amused with his own joke. His helmet is tied to his belt. Nortom smiles back at Erevan.

"Well, I didn't take you for a flatterer. I stand corrected." he chuckles. "Hello, Erevan. Good to see you again."

“Me? A flatterer?” Erevan mocks surprise. “No. I’m a straight shooter. I get to the point and I don’t ask too many questions. Flattery will get you in trouble.” Erevan sighs with the relief of being in good company.

“It’s good seeing you as well. I always worry about my friends. We seem to have a slightly more dangerous profession than average.” Nortom shrugs. "Indeed. In fact, I was in Yokind-Burg a few days ago. I had to defend a town from raiders. You would have rocked had you been there, you know?"

“Are you kidding me? A defensive position? The enemies came to you? Oh, I’m gonna cry thinking about the wasted potential. I should have been there.” Erevan laughs. “I was tied up in Ashsuru. Made a new friend. He was skinnier than me, stronger than me, and left no footprints. I hugged him just to make sure he wasn’t an illusion like that temple. Although I think he followed a much different deity.”

"Hehe. It was a success. And we even got to make some surrender. Which is nice." he grins proudly. "Well. You made a new friend at least. Who was their deity?"

"A nonlethal resolution is always preferable." Erevan seems to grind his teeth through the words. "I don't quite know what his deity was, he seemed like a nice guy, but the few words I understood from his prayer were not good; War, Wrath, and Death."

Erevan drags a hand through his curly black hair as he sucks air through his front teeth.

"It's a bit beyond me to figure it out. So maybe a Seer will know this man. Went by the name of Cedar, and he had the whitest hair."

"Hrmmm." Nortom wracks through his brain what deities had those in their portfolio. "Well, those certainly are ominous focuses to have" he then smiles back at Erevan brightly. "Thank you for letting me know of this, Erevan. I'll be sure to inform my superiors about it. I'll try to keep you posted if they won't have me keep the information hidden." he then stood up, carrying a paper bag with him.

"I believe you were going to teach me a few things about first aid," Erevan says.

"Indeed, Erevan. I promised, didn't I? Follow me." Nortom scares the birds away as he starts to move from the bench.

"Lead the way." Erevan stands and shoulders his ballista.

Nortom lead them both through the alleyways of Lightfort and stopped by a pretty wide area surrounded by backdoors of different premises. In the middle of it is a simple well. It seems Nortom had been here a lot as he simply took an overturned small table and chair and got it arranged for both of them, probably asking for Erevan's assistance too. He then got his paper bag out and took its contents, placing it on the table.

"We're ready, I think." Nortom nods.

"Ready?" Erevan looks around feeling lost. "This is an alleyway by the looks of it. What exactly is the plan here?" Erevan places his ballista off to the side and sets up the chairs. "And what supplies did you bring?"

Nortom took out a pair of mannequin arms and a lot of bandages. "We're teaching you basic bandaging today. I take it I don't need to go over types of knots with you?"

"I can tie a knot." Erevan shrugs as he takes a seat. "I'm a good butcher, this is just the reversal of that process." The man mutters.

"Indeed. You want it to be snug, but not too tight, lest you stop the blood flowing through the limb... unless it is necessary in case of limb severance." Nortom said as he handed a roll of bandage and a mannequin limb to Erevan. "Draw over an... imaginary wound over it. I'll let you decide on this one. I'll do the right bandage pattern for what you'll draw in, and you can just follow, yeah?"

"Draw a wound?" Erevan narrowed his eyes. "Drawing is not my specialty." Erevan draws a small stab wound through the Biceps tendon on the upper part of the mannequin arm. It might look like a blotch to Nortom, but Erevan seems proud of his work.

"Hrmm... alright. Let me show you." Nortom then wrapped his roll of bandage around the upper arm upon the stab wound. The wound seems simple so the bandaging is just as basic. "Anyways..." he spoke as his hands moved. "What had you been up to these days, if I may ask?"

"Building siege weapons in Yokind-Burg, using siege weapons to kill monsters, and well maybe visiting my mother...." Erevan grows quieter and quieter as he speaks. "Anyway! Maybe I can draw a more intense wound." Erevan puts a hand out for the arm.

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“First tie the bandage-like I showed you.” Nortom unties the bandage and hands the arm back.

“Will do.” Erevan wraps the bandage around the arm nice and snug.

“Good form, but try not to cut off circulation. You may need to learn to be tender.” Nortom thinks about this. I got an idea if you'll hear me." Nortom says as he takes the arm and unties the bandage.

"Yeah, I am listening." Erevan is relieved he wasn't expected to explain anymore. And he takes the arm from Nortom.

"Bandaging is ultimately an art as it is science. You'll have to improvise a lot. So instead, why don't I apply the bandage to you? Help you 'get' the sensation you'd want your patient to have. How's that?" Nortom asks.

"That's fine, if it's a science then I need to study," Erevan says, a little cautious to have someone so close to him.

"Good! Now draw the injury on the arm." Nortom says.

"Got it." Erevan draws two slashes up the arm from the elbow to the triceps.

Nortom's brows furrow a little, but he smiles back at Erevan anyways.

"Well let's get started. Now if you'll excuse me." Nortom raises one of Erevan's arms and bares his sleeve up.

Erevan feels the hairs on the back on his neck stand on end. He hasn't let anyone this close to him ever. Maybe when he was dead Hvardrik and Anna could have gotten close.

"What experience do you have with first aid like this?" Erevan asks trying to focus on something else.

"For as long as my father worked as a mercenary and then a soldier of Seers. So basically my whole life?" Nortom said as he grasped onto his arm.

His touch is firm, but gentle and controlled. As if he can hold a little bird in his hand not letting it loose without crushing it. He then started wrapping his arm with the bandage, letting Erevan feel the pressure needed for the injury he was 'inflicted' with. Despite the snug fit, he can still feel his arm's mobility isn't too clipped that he'll lose effectiveness in battle even with the bandage on. He is practicing urgency in the first aid, but with utmost care.

"Guess we both took after our old man," Erevan says lightly. "Your technique should staunch the flow of blood without impairing mobility. I can see how this combines science and art. The knowledge needed to be exact in what you are doing. The control to do it right."

"Well, it was my mother who taught me this. My practice subject was my father, so to say." Nortom chuckled, remembering that a little before sighing. "But you're right. You said you are a butcher, right? I take it you have some ideas how anatomy works, yeah? You can use that knowledge to make your bandaging more effective."

"A hunter, butchering can be part of the job, and anatomy is something I've never studied. I guess I only have practical knowledge of beasts." Erevan shudders remembering his father's lab. "I may be able to use that knowledge. I wouldn't want any friends getting too hurt on any mission."

"Hmm hmm," he said as he finished the tie. "Who knows? You might need to use this for me, no?"

"I would most definitely bandage you if need be, although, with your abilities, I fear the day I would need to heal you." Erevan stretches his shoulders. Rolling them.

"Perhaps," Nortom said, shrugging. "But it's good to be prepared regardless, no?"

Nortom then stood up, letting Erevan be in his more comfortable distance. Nortom doesn't seem to notice or do anything about his awkwardness, though. Perhaps he really is just professional like this?

"Preparation can't hurt. Speaking of preparation. Still mad you got to be on the defensive side. Like, these bandits attacked you? You had time to fortify and prepare and they just came in swinging?" Erevan shakes his head in disbelief "And I missed it!"

"Well... I could only put up blockades, really. I don't have any sieging equipment at all yet. Still. They're just raiders. All they knew was just to charge forward." Nortom puts up finger guns. "So anyways, I started blasting."

"No siege equipment. Please. You just need to call up your dear arms dealer here. I'll make you anything you need if the need arises." Erevan points his thumb to himself.

Nortom laughs wryly as he scratches his head. "Well, I will keep that in mind.'

"Alright, well put in a good word with the Seers for me. I have to run back home. But you can expect me back for more lessons." Erevan unwraps the bandage and hands it back to Nortom. "Don't do anything stupid. Would hate to lose a friend."

"I'll try what I can, but it is still up to you to apply to the Seers, okay? Farewell." Nortom would say as he waved Erevan goodbye.

Erevan pulls his helm on tight before he heads to the waystone in town where the hunter runs into Valerie. The woman turns, spotting the hunter, and wave to him. He approaches her.

“Are you heading out?” Erevan asks.

“There’s trouble in Yokind, so I am heading there to lend a hand,” Valerie replies.

“Well, I’ll go with you. I need to check-in anyway.” Erevan nods.

The two teleport via the waystone to Yokind-Burg and walk to the Valhalla tavern. Inside there is already Krenshaw waiting at a table. Four others are with him. The man with red skin and devil horns as well as the female orc in tribal garb. Erevan recognized them from before. The other two sitting with them are a man, an older human mage with dark brown hair, and a younger human woman with black hair and a facial tattoo under her left eye that resembles a candle's flame flickering.

Erevan and Valerie pulled up chairs to sit with them.

“Looks like we all got called back in,” Krenshaw says.

“I’m itching for a fight.” The orc woman says.

“Calm down Tzegava, a fight will come,” Krenshaw says lowering a hand.

“A fight has come.” The half-orc contact from the adventurers guild approaches the table. “Neuss may have been the aggressor against Dale, but bandits are now targeting their town. We can’t let that happen so you are being dispatched immediately.”

“The bandits are already in the town?” Valerie asks.

“Not exactly. They have been killing anyone outside the walls, razing the farms, and have been firing arrows into the city. We suspect the morale of the city will soon break as they are currently dealing with wounded soldiers and the plague.” The contact explains. “Please hurry to go help them.”

Erevan pushes himself up out of his seat, shoulders his ballista, and leaves the bar. The others follow behind as they walk through the streets of Yokind-Burg to the waystone. Kids watch as Erevan the Siege Mage goes past carrying his four hundred pound weapon. They stare in awe wondering what adventurers the man has gone on and what more awaits him.