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Post by Glide Heart on Jan 4, 2017 1:46:33 GMT -5
Her face once more lit up at the thought of more one-on-one time with her commander, but Glides excitement lasted more only a mere moment. When his expression changed she looked forward straining to see what he did, curse her pony anatomy! If it was the cargo hold like he had assumed, then the risk for explosive materials being around was very high. Minding where she stood she pressed on with Avitus hoping that someone had survived the crash.
The sight of so many deceased was not new to her, the attack on Canterlot had been enough to give her that experience. The morgue at the hospital she had been working at was past capacity at one point, so black bags and white sheets draped over lifeless bodies had lined the back halls of the emergency department. This however, was something entirely different than a controlled medical facility. This was a crash site, mangled corpses no longer resembling much of anything could be seen hanging from trees, Glide had to find her resolve once more before turning her attention to the Firebat Avitus had pointed out.
She now was able to see first hoof just what etheric poisoning could do to the griffons, and it was certainly not pretty. The corpse did in fact look as if it had suffered from a form of sever anaphylaxis. The blueish hue of the griffon’s skin and the swelling of the face told her that the possibility of dying from asphyxiation was great. Listening carefully to what Avitus said about not dying from the fall also gave her a lot of valuable knowledge about this etheric poisoning. She stood aside hanging her head in respect for the fallen Firebat as Avitus slowly closed her eyes, she had always known that griffons had an odd sense of comradery about them that ponies never really had. Yes they were from different areas but that was the end of that, Avitus looked truly disappointed to lose such a valuable ally and comrade. It was all she could do to show respect by bowing her head like she had.
“If I do inspect these bodies I may just be able to find a way to alleviate or even prevent this from happening to our crew…” She stated after he had suggested solving her medical curiosities. “However, since we aren’t supposed to even be here, I wouldn’t be able to reveal my findings to the rest of the world. It would probably have to remain within our ranks if I am lucky enough to find a solution.” She moved and stood in front of another griffons corpse looking over to Avitus and feeling a slight twinge of regret that he had to endure the effects of the etheric poisoning. Without further delay she began her field version of an autopsy.
Since a lot of the other corpses were mangled and injured, she wouldn’t have to worry about hiding any incisions, her knife would do her just fine and even make it look more like an injury than an autopsy. She began be removing the armor and laying the corpse on its back, taking note of how to replace it all once she was done. The unlucky volunteer of her research happened to be a male from the same Pewter-Crest clan as the other. Taking a deep breath before beginning she cut carefully into the griffons esophagus an inspected for signs of asphyxiation. Just as she had predicted, the swelling of the face continued on into the rest of the body as well as a hive like rash. His airway had been cut off and supply of oxygen and blood to the rest of his body had been cut off. Looking further and cutting more into the corpse she opened the chest cavity and inspected the lungs and other organs, also like she had though, lack of proper blood supply and fluid in the lungs, the fluid being the contents of the griffons stomach. He tried vomiting but it just couldn’t get it out of his mouth because his esophagus was swollen shut.
Glide was certain she knew what it was, and had a few ideas of how she could prevent this from happening, or rather killing her comrades. She redressed the body and placed him back exactly where she had found them, being sure to make it look like her incisions were injuries. “I think I’ve got it” she commented, letting Avitus know she was finished.
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Post by Red Charge on Jan 4, 2017 1:56:00 GMT -5
"I don't expect there's much you can do against a griffon body's natural reaction to magic. I also don't believe this griffon died of asphyxiation, but rather from heart attack, stroke, internal hemorrhage in the brain... When the magic gets too intense, it's the end result. It's why we started using artillery. Mind you, it still takes tremendously powerful magic to cause this effect. Maybe a Princess could, or a very powerful Dragon."
Avitus said, challenging Glide's observation without her even having said it allowed. Instead it seemed he shrewdly deducted what she was thinking by watching her operation when she turned her back to him.
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Post by Glide Heart on Jan 4, 2017 2:24:06 GMT -5
"What do you do against any bodies natural reaction to something? It can often be countered with certain things as long as you know what the root of the problem is." She argued. Glide was in a totally different state of mind now than what she had been for awhile. She was thinking like a doctor once more. A doctor who works her hardest to save and protect her patients, rather than a member of Avitus' fleet. Normally she would've been conflicted about talking back toward him, but this time was different. She was out by herself with him and even he knew how much of a different situation this was, he opened up to his crew when he was with them individually which told her that even his frame of mind changed at least slightly.
"Heart attacks and strokes can be countered with blood thinners and clot busters to prevent the clots from forming in the first place. If you don't have a clot then you also don't have a hemorrhage unless suffered from blunt force trauma to cause a vessel to burst. Even that can be slowed or prevented with certain chemicals too." Glide stopped herself right there, until then she hadn't noticed her talking back to Avitus. She took a really hard gulp and fell silent raising her head and looking around more. She wasn't sure if she was about to get a scolding or not but she figured it best to stop herself from digging an even deeper trench.
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Post by Red Charge on Jan 4, 2017 2:25:46 GMT -5
Avitus waited silently for a few moments, then said, "Well? Go on."
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Post by Glide Heart on Jan 4, 2017 2:40:54 GMT -5
Glide blinked not expecting at all for him to go that direction. It took her a moment but she gathered her thoughts once more and continued on with her explanation. "These poor souls strewn about did die, but not as quickly as you may think. In that amount of time that their systems were shutting down they could have administered some life saving doses to themselves if they had it on them." Glide began the pace around, holding one hoof to her chin obviously processing things and trying to think through something. "There may not have been anything I could've done for these griffons, but for our fleet there is something I can do. The first problem to tackle would be the blood clotting, which can be countered with something that thins the blood and makes the clotting factors of blood go down." She kept pacing mumbling to herself before sitting down and staring at the body she had autopsied. "I can make some tablets that our comrades can eat daily that will help protect them if we fall under a surprise attack, like i sure these Firebats did as well as a few fast acting injections for emergency situations." She looked up towards him with a confident smile on her face. She knew what she needed, and a lot of it could be found out here.
"For now though we should probably warn the others and fall back until I can gather the supplies I need. I don't want this to happen to the rest of our comrades." Look at her giving suggestions to her Commanding officer. She certainly found a new level of confidence in herself when she knew what she was talking about. "I'll need their help too collecting a few things. They wont like being herb pickers but it just may save their lives." Glide smirked gently at the thought of her comrades digging about for roots and herbs rather than their normal burly activities.
"I actually have a question for you Sir." She added, "I know very little about griffons and their anatomy, yet you're listening to what I have to say even though my thought process could be totally wrong since I'm dealing with anatomy that I don't know. Why?" She looked around again at the crash site feeling bad oddly conflicted on whether she should've just listened to him and trust he knew what he was talking about or stand her ground like she had.
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Post by Red Charge on Jan 4, 2017 3:40:40 GMT -5
"And, am I supposed to not listen? This is the life of my soldiers we're talking about. I'd be a fool not to listen, even if I don't agree with you. I've learned quite some things from your explanation just now."
"Blood thinners may weaken my soldiers, but a weak soldier is much better than a dead one. However I doubt that in the entire history of griffon kind no one's thought of that before, so I reckon it would be a temporary solution at best. However, you did give me a more practical idea that I can work on."
"However, we don't have the time to stop now. We need to find what the enemy was doing around here before Admiral Ignatius and his fleet come around. We'll start heading back to the others, unless you think we'll find anything more where the main vessel crashed?"
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Post by Glide Heart on Jan 4, 2017 3:49:58 GMT -5
Well if she wasn't feeling good about herself before she defiantly was. Her confidence was higher than it had been since the day her comrades accepted her into their ranks. Standing up she nodded in agreement with him, blood thinners would making things a bit more difficult for the crew, but she was sure they'd prefer to be alive too.
Avitus was right, they needed to get back to the fleet and continue on with their mission. Perhaps though returning to the fleet would be counter productive. "I think whatever it is we're looking for wouldn't have simply shot down his vessel just to continue on their way. Whoever or whatever did this is probably looking around the rest of the wreckage for something." she suggested.
"It would be safer to have the rest of the crew with us when we encounter whatever brought down his ship, but it may also poison them if the leftover magic is this powerful on you." She pondered for a moment more then nodded. "You and I should go and search for the rest of the downed vessel and be sure there isn't something dangerous there and then go back for the crew." she stated confidently.
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Post by Red Charge on Jan 4, 2017 6:25:25 GMT -5
"Alright then." Avitus said, strangely enough he did not seem affected by the magic at all this time. It was ... odd.... but he seemed to realize this himself and the next time Glide Heart blinked he seemed ill again. Was she imagining it?
"Let's go then." Avitus said commandingly, immediately heading off further into the woods. "I also wanted to ask you Glide Heart, as a former outsider our way of life, specifically us Myrmidons may seem... unusual... some would call it many unflattering names too. What do you think of it? Of the unique kind of family we have?"
"I know at first you were a little uncomfortable, but you've fit in very well, in fact, I'd say it grew on you very, very quickly."
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Post by Glide Heart on Jan 6, 2017 2:27:00 GMT -5
Glides curiosity with Avitus' condition even caused her to tilt her head slightly. HAD she been imagining it? I suppose that one could build an immunity to a venom or poison by small doses of exposure. She squinted her eyes together for a moment as several hypotheses ran through her mind before returning to normal. He seemed ill again so perhaps she was imagining it.
She stood up and followed suit right behind him further into the woods to search for the remains of the ship. They would need to be quite, in case they did happen upon whatever caused this damage. She kept her eyes on the path ahead of them as Avitus spoke, when he finished she took a moment to gather her thoughts then replied "Without this family, I don't believe I would've made it past the war. I would've fallen into a slump after hearing of my husband and colts death that I probably wouldn't have been able to scramble out of." She was looking to the floor now wondering herself what if.
"I was and still am very grateful to you all for letting me into your family, and as far as I'm concerned those outsiders who judge what we have before truly getting to know it can go shove a hay fork up their flanks." She smirked when she finished her thought and lifted her head again, vigilant on the path before them.
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Post by Red Charge on Jan 23, 2017 7:43:40 GMT -5
The two continued their stroll through the forest, Avitus seemed to be in no hurry to complete the mission, instead paying close attention to everything on their path. "Ignatius and Tesla are both avid Vulcan disciples. They believe innovation is the key to victory. Myself? I like both Vulcan and Hephaestus, both of their teachings are legitimate and both of their works are just as useful, depending on who you're fighting." He explained. "Thing is, you'll eventually have to pick your following and when you do I want you to stick to it. Whether it's some hi-tech gadget or a good old fashioned sword, find what makes you comfortable and stay with it, master it and never look the other way."
Just as he finished that, they arrived at the main part of the ship, boy was it in bad shape. There was nothing of value to be had there, what the magic didn't do, the flammable containers did, everything was burnt to a heap of ashes and charcoals.
"As I suspected. Right, we'll head back. I think I can determine whereabouts the magic came from, should be able to find more clues there."
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Post by Glide Heart on Feb 17, 2017 18:13:04 GMT -5
She pondered his words for a moment, she had no idea whom she would follow. She was still relatively new to the whole fighting thing and had followed medicine her whole life. It was safe and it was something she knew. In this constant state of pushing out of her comfort zone she knew she always had medicine to fall back on. She listened quietly while he spoke, nodding gently to show she was paying attention even though her mind was questioning what path she would choose.
When they arrived at the wreckage Glide paused with mouth agape at the scene before them. Everything looked like it had been burned in a hellish fire. It would be a waste to search for survivors or even something of value to preserve, there was nothing left to preserve. She was satisfied now knowing that there wasn't a possibility of leaving survivors behind, but depressed by the very same fact. She turned and looked at Avitus wondered what they should do now.
When he said he could figure out where the magic came from a lump formed in her throat. She hated to admit it but it frightened her at the possibility of running into what could cause this much damage against such a formidable griffon force. She swallowed the lump that had formed and stole her resolve, she had trained for something like this, she needed to trust herself. She thought for a moment about if it was wise to meet up with the rest of the Myrmidons but decided it was wiser not to. Avitus may have built up an immunity but the rest of the crew would be very harshly effected if they came near the origin of this magic. Finally she spoke "Sounds good to me."
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Post by Red Charge on Mar 6, 2017 7:21:16 GMT -5
Avitus nodded towards her. He was far less chatty on the way back. Something was obviously disturbing him. His entire fleet was the Anti-Magic fleet, the fleet specializing in combating magic. So he knew what he was dealing with, after all, he had to. He didn't seem scared though, not in the least bit afraid of whatever was unleashed upon the zeppelin.
He took Glide over towards the mountains, she could see the Myrmidons combing the area looking for clues. But Avitus knew exactly where he was going, he took her through the mountains, following some strange sense he had, perhaps... he led her to a crack in the mountain wall. "Whatever it was, it came through here. If something happens, I want you to leave and summon the rest of the myrmidons immediately. I doubt whatever it was stuck around, we'd feel it if it did, I think." At that he took point and disappeared into the crack.
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Post by Glide Heart on Mar 10, 2017 17:26:16 GMT -5
Glide watched her commanders seeming indifference and level head in astonishment. How could he be so calm coming face to face with something that could kill a griffon merely with its aura! She focused on him as they winded their way through the mountains, squinting slightly and trying to figure out how he was so level headed. Experience perhaps? Either way it was still enough to cause her mind to wonder just what he had been through to lead to this. The sight of the other Myrmidons gave her comfort, there was power in numbers. The knots in her stomach returning when they flew past them without summoning them. It was probably for the best though considering the whole "deadly magic aura" thing.
Hovering outside of the crack as he spoke she once more stole herself before following in after him, she hoped with all her might that nothing would happen to him. The Myrmidons would be crushed to lose him, Glide including. She hadn't been around as long as the others but already she felt close if not on par with the others attachment to him. She stayed silent as she followed behind him at a reasonable distance waiting for what lied ahead.
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Post by Red Charge on Mar 12, 2017 17:28:54 GMT -5
As Glide Heart inched her way through the crack a very invasive scent invaded her nostrils. Very familiar scent. The kind of scent she remembered from the Nightmare attack in Canterlot. Ash and magic... mixed together, like someone set something alight. As she followed Avitus through and emerged from the other side, she immediately found her hooves covered up to her joints in ashen residue. In fact, within the mysterious enclave, so terribly hidden underneath the natural mountain spires, she was standing in what a fool might consider a grey desert. Every inch of ground was covered head to toe in ashes.
"It wasn't Ignatius' boys who've done this." Avitus said decidedly, "They leave behind a very... distinctive scent of chemicals. I do believe however, we might find more answers there." He pointed at what must have once been a structure of some kind, now collapsed under the force of the heat. Looks like it may have once been a keep, a castle or some sort of fortified manor.
"Hrm..." Avitus said, sifting through the ashes, pulling out remains of plantlife, not only burnt, but also rotten. "Seems like there was a forest here, a magical forest. One that soon died out once the magical font sustaining it was removed."
How in Harmony did he reach that conclusion just from looking at ashes was mind-blowing. But one must remember, Avitus is a trained veteran in all forms of combating magic. He must have run across such things in his service, right?
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Post by Glide Heart on Mar 22, 2017 11:37:30 GMT -5
Glide scrunched up her nose and stopped in her tracks appalled by the odor. It was enough to bring back flashbacks of Canterlot. All those patients all those deaths. Glide shook her head and went to rub her eyes. It was then she noticed the ashy soot covering her hooves. She instead rubbed her eyes against she shoulder and pressed forward following behind Avitus. As she walked her head rotated around taking in the sight of the ruined enchanted forest. It was enough to make a lump in your chest, saddened such a place could be reduced to this.
Glide knew what Avitus had been talking about, she had smelled the remains of what Ignatius' men would leave behind. The scent was still familiar from the wreckage they had just visited. This was something entirely different. Nodding and following Avitus after he pointed to the ruined of the structure.
Dragging a hoof to push through the soot she sighed at the saddening sight of all the dead and rotted plant life, that too added a new scent to the bouquet that filled the air around them. Impressed as always by his extensive knowledge she took a mental note of the outcome of removing the "magical font" he mentioned. Something to keep in mind so many one day she too could recognize something like this as easily as he had. This only made her all the more curious what was in the ruin or what had been there before them.
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