Tooth extractions and other things.

[Valerius Nitrozian]

Fall 20, 514 AV

The creature that currently took the shape of a man of somewhere between thirty and fourty years of age sat in the chair in Doctor Alzelin’s operating room stared at Valerius. Valerius stared back and raised a hand, a sign that he wanted it to be quiet. He had work to do. He cast a glance at Doctor Alzelin who stood behind him, watching the procedure. Today they wouldn’t conduct an experiment, but perform something that was medically necessary and something that Valerius didn’t appreciate, to be honest, as the creature probably never cleaned its teeth.

„Lean back“, he ordered it, and the creature did as it was told. It didn’t take an experienced doctor to see what was wrong. One of the creature’s molars was broken, and the gums around it were red and swollen. Doctor Alzelin approached, the instrument they would use in his right hand. It was called a dental key and consisted of a shaft, a bolster and a claw. It looked fairly barbaric, and even though Doctor Alzelin had assured him that the tool was quite innovative, Valerius had his doubts. He had already decided that he would never let anybody use such a torture device on him.

It was good enough for Kelvic though.

Doctor Alzelin handed him the dental key, and Valerius looked at it for a moment before he inserted it into the Kelvic’s mouth. The Kelvic didn’t look any happier about the procedure than the Nitrozian himself, but didn’t dare to move. Valerius tightened the claw part of the instrument over the tooth that needed to be removed and then rotated it to loosen said tooth.

„Careful“, the doctor told him. „The tooth could break entirely, and the soft tissue inside his mouth could be damaged.“ Valerius nodded and continued the procedure until the tooth finally came loose. He put both tooth and tooth key away. „We’ll need to control the bleeding now“, the doctor remarked. To that end he asked Valerius to place a piece of damp gauze over the now empty tooth socket. „Once the bleeding has stopped, we’ll need to do something about the swollen gums, otherwise we’ll soon have bigger problems than just one broken tooth.“

The scientists at the Kelvic Research Institution conducted experiments that most people outside of Ravok would condemn, but at the same time they kept their test subjects in good condition. A Kelvic that was well cared for tended to last longer and fetched a higher price if it was being sold. Valerius had never cared about the creatures‘ pain and suffering – they weren’t human after all - but keeping your possessions in good condition was something he understood, and thus he nodded, made the creature that looked slightly uncomfortable now open its mouth and put the gauze where it belonged.

[Valerius Nitrozian]

„Before we check on one of my latest experiments, we’ll make a tincture that helps combat tooth and gum infections“, the doctor told Valerius. „Our patient’s mouth will have to be cleaned regularly, at least until his gums aren’t inflamed anymore. Unfortunately those creatures don’t always understand the need for proper dental hygiene. Come, I’ve already prepared everything that we’ll need on the table. I want you to be able to eventually prepare some things yourself so that I can dedicate more time to my research.“

He led Valerius to the table where he could see a few bottles that contained various liquids, empty bottles as well as a funnel. „The mouth wash we are going to make contains myrrh, calendula and goldenseal, all in the form of oils. I’ve already prepared those oils to save us some time. If you want to, I’ll teach you how to make them yourself later on, but for now we’ll work with what we have here.“

„Calendula, goldenseal and myrrh all have similar effects“, the doctor said and held each bottle up. “Myrrh strengthens the gums and combats tooth infections and gum infections. Calendula helps combat gum inflammation and has cleaning properties. Finally, goldenseal has astringend properties.“ He put the bottles down again and took an empty glass bottle instead.

„I want you to take the funnel now and put the ingredients I tell you into it“, he continued. „First of all, add distilled water. The bottle over here contains just the right amount of water.“ Valerius took a small bottle that seemed to be about half full and poured it into the funnel. „Next add two spoons full of vodka.“ Valerius read the label on the vodka bottle in question. The vodka was only of mediocre quality. It could be wasted on a Kelvic. He put two spoons full of it into the funnel.

„Next I want you to add a dropper full of calendula oil, a dropper full of goldenseal oil and half a dropper full of myrrh oil.“ Valerius carefully opened each bottle with oil and tried to add exactly the right amount. „The last ingredient is peppermint essential oil“, the doctor explained. „We’ll just need two drops of that.“

„Good“, he remarked once Valerius had added the final ingredient. „Now shake it.“ Valerius removed the funnel, put it away and shook the now full glass bottle, trying not to spill the contents. Meanwhile the doctor had filled another glass bottle with water. „I want you to add three tablespoons of the mixture you’ve just made to the water now“, he instructed his assistant.

After Valerius had done exactly that, he gestured for him to take the mouth wash and follow him to the Kelvic again. He inspected the Kelvic’s mouth and gestured for Valerius to take a look as well. Valerius could see that the bleeding had slowed down considerably. Doctor Alzelin removed the bloody piece of gauze and checked again. „I think we don’t have to put a fresh piece of gauze in there“, he remarked. „But as I said, we need to do something about his swollen gums. I think you can do this part on your own.“

Playing Kelvic dentist wasn’t exactly the Nitrozian’s favourite occupation, but he asked the Kelvic to sit up straight and open his mouth. The creature eyed the bottle in Valerius‘ hands suspiciously, but eventually took it from him and put some of the mixture into his mouth. The pain in his gums was greater than his fear of the things the doctors at the KRI created.

[Valerius Nitrozian]

„I remember that I already gave you a lesson on poisons a while ago. I thought that you might like actually seeing those poisons in action“, the doctor informed Valerius. „I am currently conducting a series of experiments. I am studying the effects of certain poisons on Kelvic. I am trying to find out whether shapeshifting affects a Kelvic that is suffering from the effects of a poison positively or negatively. Come, accompagny me to the laboratory.“

The room that the doctor took Valerius to contained various cages. Some contained Kelvic in their human form, while others contained Kelvic in animal form. Most of them seemed to be sick. The first cage that Doctor Alzelin took Valerius to contained a young black haired girl that was furiously rubbing her eyes. The doctor opened her cage and dragged her outside. The girl stumbled a bit. Valerius had the impression that she couldn’t see very well.

„This test subject was affected by Black-Eye poison. It is made from dried and crushed black-eye mushrooms and causes blindness followed by swelling and itching around the eyes. Her eyes are beginning to work again, but as you can see she is extremely umcomfortable.“ He directed Valerius to the next cage where he could see a small grey cat. „This Kelvic has been subjected to Black-Eye poison as well at the same time.“ The cat was constantly pawing its eyes, but it wasn’t stumbling around as much, which was probably due to the fact that it moved on four legs rather than two.

„So far the creatures seem to be recovering at the same rate“, the doctor informed Valerius. „I am trying to find out whether that can be changed. The blindness caused by the poison lasts about twelve hours. The next two test subjects will be forced to shapeshift after six hours.“

He let Valerius take a look at two more cages and their occupants before he directed him to a table in the center of the room. „From what I know you have made a few poisons, but you have yet to use them on a test subject yourself. If you want to continue to work here, you need to do that. You also need to know how to counteract a poison. You already are familiar with Greenblood oil?“

Valerius nodded, although it had been a while since he had worked with that particular poison. „I have a few containers with various plants here. I want you to correctly identify the one that is used for Greenblood oil and then make that oil.“ Valerius didn’t like being tested – he remembered their previous lesson very well, thank you very much – but decided not to complain. If he wanted to advance here, he needed to stay in the doctor’s good graces.

He put on a pair of gloves so as to protect his hands from the poisons, and then he opened the various containers and inspected the plants within until he found one that contained dark green vines that exuded a slight pine scent. „This is it“, he informed the doctor. The doctor briefly took a look and then directed Valerius to a machine at the end of the table.

„This device is used to press various plants in order to make tinctures and oils. You’ll use it for the Greenblood oil.“ Valerius took the container with the vines, filled the press and then started pushing the mechanism. Once he felt he had enough poison, he put it into a new container and turned to the doctor who nodded. „The fifth cage contains your own test subject. You’ll be taking care of him while we wait for the Black-Eye poison victims to recover a little further.“

The fifth cage contained a red haired human male in his twenties that was perhaps a little shorter than Valerius himself. He had a collar around his neck, and his hands and feet were tied so that he couldn’t move very quickly. „As you probably remember Greenblood oil is delivered through injury.“ He opened the cage and told the Kelvic to get out. The Kelvic, knowing what was to come, did so very reluctantly and looked at Valerius and the doctor fearfully.

Valerius looked back at him indifferently. The doctor handed him a knife. Valerius took it and quickly cut across the creature’s upper arm so that the blood started flowing. The Kelvic tried to move his arm away, but couldn’t. Valerius immediately took the container with the oil and poured it over the wound. The creature stared at it. For a moment it seemed confused – there were no apparent negative effects at first – but after a while it seemed to grow weaker and slumped down in a corner of its cage. It didn’t seem to be feeling very well.

„I’ve already told you that Greenblood oil causes slight physical weakness once“, the doctor said. „This is the most you can expect. Greenblood oil isn’t a very potent poison, but sometimes causing a little physical weakness can be very useful.“ He locked the cage again. „I think we can return to the first test subject now“, he remarked and walked back to the cage with the black haired girl.

[Valerius Nitrozian]

The girl’s eyes were still bothering her. They were red and watering. She seemed to have recovered more of her sight though as she was looking directly at the two humans and glaring at them. “As I’ve told you, you also need to know how to counteract the effects of a poison, only knowing how to hurt somebody won’t do you any good in the long run”, the doctor said as he watched the test subject. “I’ll teach you how to make eye drops that will counteract some of the effects of Black-Eye poison. There aren’t any herbs that can cure blindness, but we can combat the unpleasant effects that take place in the later stages effectively as I’ve found out.”

With that the doctor stepped away from the test subject again and gestured for Valerius to follow him back to the table. “The eye drops are quite easy to make. It’s a simple mixture of different herbs.” He handed a jar to Valerius. “Simply mix one cup of eyebright herb, half a cup of fennel seed and a quarter of a cup of parsley.” While Valerius filled the jar with the appropriate amount and kinds of herbs, the doctor set up a small stove on the table and boiled some water.

“Put two teaspoons of the herb mixture into a new container”, the doctor instructed Valerius once the water had started boiling. “And then pour half a cup of water over it.” Valerius did as he was told. “Now we need to wait for the mixture to cool down to room temperature”, the doctor said. “It shouldn’t take too long.” Once the tea had cooled down enough that Valerius wouldn’t burn his hands anymore when he touched it, he strained it into yet another container. The doctor nodded as he saw this, pleased that his assistant had figured out the next step.
Together they walked back to the test subject’s cage. The doctor unlocked it and let the girl out. “I want you to apply the eye drops now”, the doctor instructed him. “You’d best use a piece of clean cloth or a dropper.” Valerius looked around the room until his gaze fell on a cotton ball. He put some of the mixture onto it and then approached the test subject who tried to back away.

“I’m not going to hurt you”, he remarked. “For some reason the doctor thinks I should not only learn about poisons, but also about how to help somebody who has been poisoned. So you’ll get rid of the pain a little earlier than you normally would have. Be glad for this small mercy.” With that he made another step towards her. “Lean your head back.” With one hand he pulled her eyelids apart, and with the other hand he applied the eye drops to her eyes. It took him three tries to get enough of the mixture into her eyes. The first two times she closed them too quickly.

“It’s better”, the creature said after a few moments. “Thank you!” Valerius made a face. “I didn’t give you permission to speak.” He gestured for her to go back into her cage and then turned to the doctor.
“We’ll continue tomorrow”, the doctor said. “We’ll talk a bit more about Kelvic physiology. I will also have you treat a few injuries. Before you leave, I want you to clean the laboratory and put all the equipment where it belongs.”

Cleaning up was Valerius’ least favourite part, and he disliked the fact that he didn’t have a choice. Complaing to his aunt did more harm than good, as he had found out. All he could do was comply with the doctor’s demands and hope that he would eventually get an assistant of his own.

[Nemesis]

Valerius Nitrozian

Skills	*	*
Dentistry	*	+2
Herbalism	*	+2
Medicine	*	+2
Observation	*	+3
Poison	*	+1
Weapon: Knife	*	+1

Lores

* Dentistry: How to Make Mouthwash

* Dentistry: Tooth Extraction

* Herbs: Properties of Calendula

* Herbs: Properties of Goldenseal

* Herbs: Properties of Myrrh

* Poison: Black-Eye

*
*
Consequences, Injuries, Expenses, and More!

• None

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• Absolutely brilliant thread, Val. Really enjoyed the read, and I was impressed with the level of detail you gave us in the thread. More of these and I can see Valerius going very far in the Kelvic Research Institute!