Kelda Adler: A Sister's return

[Poisonous]

The docks of Sarshel are no stranger to Theskan ships, whether they be trade barges heavy with wares or ragged ones packed with refugees. This one doesn't stand out: it's as ragged and battered as the sorry-looking little stream of refugees that shuffle out from its hull. A few stumble further into the docks, finding their land legs with varying degrees of success. One of the women quiets a wailing infant, another spies a relative among the waremongers and runs to greet him. Most of them gather and and wait by the ship, making room for the mounted Ilmateri priestess with them. Her right arm hangs awkward at her side, stiff though not lifeless; she makes slow progress steering the mare down the ramp with only her left hand.

Some on the docks could no doubt name the Ilmateri as the priestess Kelda Adler, though others familiar with her might not recognize her immediately--she seems older, harder, and sterner than the young woman who left perhaps a year or more ago. She leans down with the slightest grimace to quietly speak with her fellow Theskans, then ushers them to her clinic, all while scanning the docks and looking towards the city's center with a softer expression. Once the refugees are seen to, she drives her mount on towards the temple district at a quick and questionably legal pace.

[Copper Dragon]

The priestess of Ilmater, who had established a clinic in Sarshel's docks and had made donations to St. Ashel's Orphanage and other causes in the city before, as well as having taken solemn initiative to keep the Triadic faith bonded and strong in the aftermath of the 7th of Mirtul, is indeed recognised by several on the streets quickly. By others, due the harder and foreigner appearance of Kelda Adler after so many months, it is a recognition that dawns on them hesitantly and with skepticism.

Nevertheless, Adorned Sister Kelda is carried through the city streets and alleys on her steed with speed - a speed that only barely outpaces the rumours of her return.

The Theskans will no doubt be received like any others before them. Sarshel has seen their ilk before and will see some of it still in the future, likely, even with the accursed snow-bound weather. They will be helped here, and the adventurers that frequent the city might even show kindness and support to them. However, with many mouths going hungry as is, some may look at the new refugees in wariness; but others will hopefully see allies, good neighbours, or at least no troublemakers in them. The Triad knows Sarshel has no love left for those.

[Poisonous]

In the following few days, Sister Kelda is seen around the docks once more, returning to her old work. She softens up a little, losing a fraction of her sternness, though the look never quite fades.


Some of the dock wives find themselves visited by the Adorned, even woken up in the middle of the night by a knocking on their door. She calls in favors or merely begs their aid in her search for temporary wetnurses for this swaddled infant brought from Thesk along with the other refugees. The child's wailing no doubt rattles a few restless sleepers in both the docks and the temple district until it is fed. Possibly some of the women might hesitate or refuse the Adorned's request when they recognize it to carry a small amount of orcish blood, but Kelda is persistent. After three such nights, Kelda seems to have found a regular wetnurse and the infant's cries trouble the docks no longer.

//Feel free of course to let me know if Kelda might meet real resistance or be unable to find a wetnurse for the kiddo, I just wanted to avoid bothering dms for small things like that.

[Astral Fire]

After Sister’s Kelda return and their first encounter, Adorned Cassandra would be more than happy and willing to keep helping her at the clinic to deal with the refugees in the docks district, considering also the instructions she received from Sister Teresa. If Sister Kelda allows to, she’ll discover that young half-calishite Sister is very good with housework and cooking. She'd tend to all the refugees needs with infinite compassion and love, always giving them comfort, a caress and a warm smile to soothe all the sufferings and help them to see that, despite all the pain, there's always hope that tomorrow will be a better day. She’d spend much of her time in silence, performing her duty with maximum efficiency, even if sometimes she’d look very tired and can be seen touching her belly and grimacing a bit with pain. Regardless she’d continue her work with steadfast determination and tireless will, for she seems to find great pleasure and personal reward in helping those in need.

[Poisonous]

As a senior member of the city's Ilmateri clergy, Sister Kelda treats Cassandra much how she was once treated when she, too, first arrived as a foreign priestess unintegrated into the local church structure. Kelda lets her help at the clinic, as she would any Ilmateri--but as the days progress and Kelda finishes resettling full-time into her old work, it becomes clear that Kelda's clinic does not need the extra hand: to Outentown, and Brother Garrmin.

Gently, Kelda would thank her for her enthusiasm, and let her know that she and Anton have things covered at the clinic. She would gently guide her towards other areas of the city or other clergy which may need her help for now.