Pedro Sangre
Pedro Sangre
His name is Dr. Pedro Sangre de Alejandro del Rio, though he most often simple goes by Dr. Sangre, or Pedro Sangre.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Pedro is 5’ 10”, with a trim athletic build of 171 lbs with dark, slightly curly, short cut hair. He has light olive-tan skin with a faint scar running along his right cheek. Other than the scar, he has a neatly trimmed, ‘pencil thin’ mustache.
Clothing is the typical Castillian style with the billowed sleeve shirts, dark trousers and boots. When he travels, he wears a dark blue long coat that has a black and dark green hem and trim.
The one item he is rarely seen without is a small shoulder bag. Pedro uses this to carry his most important medical tools, along with a journal, pen and ink.
Pedro is known for a light walk, which comes from his sword training befitting the younger son of a nobleman’s house.
Mental characteristics
Employment
Pedo is an accomplished doctor. Primarily, he works as a one of the wandering doctors in the Burgos region of Castille.
Intellectual Characteristics
Pedro has a steady calm in a crisis but isn’t charming about it. When things are rough, he is more deductive and even blunt. He has been known to chuckle with an almost dark tone during those moments.
But, when treating a patient, he is calm and soothing with an excellent bedside manner. He sees himself as battling Death over the lives of his patients.
During quiet moments, when he’s not practicing swordplay or studying a medical technique, he’s fond of writing poetry.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Pedro is searching for the notes of a lost biologist. A missing journal that vanished shortly after a plague hit the towns of the Burgos region that perhaps has lost herbal lore, if not a cure for that, and other plagues.
He was working in the town of La Esmel when the illness struck. As a young doctor he did what he could, even learned herbal lore from the local wise woman of the village.
The herbs and teas were helping, but the Inquisition ordered the town, in fact many of them, put to the torch. It wasn’t until later that Pedro learned that a high ranking official of he Inquisition was using the illness as a reason to expand Church ownership of lands. Lands that at least one Bishop had taken to overseeing personally, effectively setting himself up a a noble in all but name.
Pedro knows he can’t undo the past. But what little he learned from the wise woman in La Esmel made it clear: There is possibly lost medical lore and much to learn. He knows he needs to start with the journal of that biologist.
Though Pedro is sure the biologist is “lost” due to the Inquisition’s need to control people’s lives through dogma and set themselves up as “men of gold” instead of “men of God”.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Greatest Strength
He thinks on his feet. While he is adept at swordplay, he is quick to adapt using his environment and surroundings. He tries to look at tools and items and find alternate uses for them when he can.
Greatest Weakness
Pedro is rather quiet, sometimes will stumble over his words, as he feels on display in social situations.
Likes & Dislikes
Not so much a dislike, as distrust of the Vodacce Fate Witches. Once, as a young student, Pedro was there when a Fate Witch led a village astray. Instead of seeking help from a doctor, they followed the advice of the Fate Witch. This brought the fury of the Inquisition down on the village as a result. The Fate Witch? She escaped.
On Sorcery
Sorcery is something of a mystery to him. Because of Pedro’s issues with the more dogmatic religious stance of the Church that is hurting people, he’s started to wonder if Sorcery is just another Science?
He’s wary but curious.
Most and Least Favorite Things
He enjoys a good cup of tea or strong Crescent coffee when he can get it in the morning.
His least favorite thing is the smell of honeysuckle. The plant is far too pungent and sweet for his liking.
Personality Quirks
When he’s deep in thought, Pedro will stroke his mustache.
Social
Family Ties
Pedro is the second son of the mid-level noble family of Sangre. His family is moderately wealthy, but his childhood experiences with the villages and then later learning to help others as a doctor set him apart from his family’s traditional viewpoint.
Religious Views
Pedro is a religious man but not deeply religious. He’s seen too many times the Church be abused for the ends of a single person or people. As such, he keeps his distance but tries to follow the beliefs as best he can.
Social Aptitude
He does his best but tends to be quiet. Pedro isn't the kind to make a scene as , again, he feels on display in a social situation.
The Island
Condessa asks for an audience with myself, Don Ramon Arturo del Lobo Garrida, and Una de Kirkwall the next day. I agree to go. The others arrive as well.
Her scholars were studying a relic called the Orrey Immortal. During the commotion, half the map was stolen and a book with details on the item. Rumors, she said, claims the book and map perhaps lead to a device or means to "open the gates of heaven"?
So, of course, I'm skeptical. But something like that... it would be as lethal as poison since people will kill for it.
We agree to help her.
She shows us a map to an island which is where we're to go. A ship will take us there. We just need to be there at the afternoon for the trip. I didn't need much, a few extra medical supplies and my rapier.
The island turned out to be rather small. Six miles wide at most, it's overgrown with trees; it's only population is cranes. A heavy, temperate forest. We land at a channel at the base of the cliffs, then head northwest. Our understanding, at least, the 'X' on the map is where we need to go. At least something important.
After a long march with the carriers that Lady Una brought along we come across an old footpath heading off to the west at 30 degrees from our current route. We discuss it, but we're of separate minds. There's a thought that the path is more interesting... which is more Don Ramon and an urge not to muss his clothing.
I offered my thoughts, and checked the footpath in case there was tracks or signs of life. Sadly, there wasn't anything. When the others start to argue, I choose and head north as per the map to the 'X'. The others decide to follow me after a bit more debate. It isn't a clear route but we make it. Lady Kirkwell realizes our map doesn't match the island.
But in looking at the map, I thought we could follow the cliffs to have a better idea where to look. The others agree. It isn't any easier, but it was progress.
Not long after that, we heard the sound of combat south of us. I raced for the sound. I saw the last thing I wanted to ever see again: The Inquisition attacking a village.
My urge was to run down to the village and take on the Inquisition was overwhelming. But I kept still. The villagers were winning, if only due to numbers. Lady Kirkwell headed down with Don Ramon in tow. I followed close behind. We didn't get that far before one of the villagers pointed off down a path to a cave and told us to look after their shaman. That was all that we needed to hear, we headed for the cave.
Or at least Lady Kirkwell and myself did. Don Ramon?
He needed to dress for the event...
I didn't want to know.
At the cave the shaman was just inside. He had been beaten, severely in some places. He was an old man, obviously the village elder. I didn't pay much attention to Lady Kirkwell. Instead I rushed inside.
The moment I got close, he wanted me...
"I told the others, I wont tell you where the medallion is"I told him I didn't care about the medallion. What I cared about was him and his health. I explained I was a doctor then I got to work. Fortunately, he wasn't hurt too badly. Just a cracked rib. Which is, painful and bad enough, but not lethal. The man's name was Te-Wakupa. Te-Wakupa explained the Inquisition beat him to learn the location of this amulet. That didn't surprise me. While I worked, Lady Kirkwell asked the shaman about the amulet since she was intent on getting it. She asked mine and Don Ramon's opinion. Honestly, I was against it. Recovering a relic from a ruin? Fine. But those people were guarding it. So to me it is theirs and we would be stealing. That is what I believed. That set off a moral debate that only ended when I left to get the correct herbs to help the shaman with his broken rib. By the time I returned, Lady Kirkwell had not only learned more but determined where the amulet was hidden. Don Ramon? He had gotten the shaman drunk. Not exactly "doctor's orders" but... it worked. Once I crushed the herbs to a tea, Te-Wakupa drank that and was feeling much better. I made sure to write notes down about this herb along with my copy of the island's map. That left the medallion itself. I wasn't happy about it but Te-Wakupa had told Lady Kirkwell that those who "Walk in the Light" could carry the amulet. He seemed to be fine with us taking it to a safer place. Somewhere else so the village would be spared. That soothed my nerves over the matter. Lady Kirkwell reopened the passage. It was in the back of the cave, heading down into an underground waterway. The amulet was on, if not in , the water. We debated how to get it, Don Ramon headed out to ambush any Inquisition that chose to poke their nose into this. Good idea. It would have been just our luck that the Inquisition would show up. Fortunately, they didn't. We decided to use rope to secure Lady Kirkwell and I would anchor her. She would cross the water to get the Medallion. Before we could set out to do that, a disembodied voice says that only someone with no metal can cross. That wouldn't work. Lady Kirkwell is practically covered in metal from weapons to pins. So, that left me. Leaving my medical tools and rapier on the shore, we tied the rope around my waist and I waded out to get it. The water was cold, but... fresh. Clear. Clean. Like holy water in a way. Odd. But I recovered it, then waded back. No attacks by piranha or really anything else, thankfully. After that, I re-armed and we helped Te-Wakupa back to the village. While we were gone, a route at the village had taken place. The villagers survived, but not without a cost. A rough count? Four Inquisition guards and at least fifteen villagers were hurt. I had my work cut out for me. But it was my work to do, so set to it. Once done, there was the matter of the Inquisition soldiers. I tried to talk to them about better choices. It was stupid. Foolish even. I know that. But... I had to try. I doubt they cared but I still had to try. In the end, the villagers wanted us gone and the Inquisition gone as well. So we took the surviving guards as prisoners and sailed back to return the medallion to the Condessa. This medallion is a step along what she wants to this relic. It isn't her book and maps and may be only a piece of what she's after. But it was a start. Hopefully, we were putting the medallion in the right hands.
The Invitation to the Ball
I leave the carriage, brush off any dust from my coat. The invitation was was for me, but I don't know who sent it or why. Therefore, I need to go, if for no other reason... I'm curious.
At the door, I hand over the invitation but stay polite. I'd rather 'see' and not 'be seen' in case who invited me is up to no good.
The Condessa Isabel Asiah doesn't favor the Inquisition but I check anyway. Fortunately, I don't see any. I do recognize a Montaigne Priest, but just by his clothing. The food is buffet and fresh. She spared no expense, even the almonds are fresh.
But I need to observe the proprieties. I look for the Condessa. Eventually, I locate her among the guests while she makes her way through to do the usual greeting.
She greets me and it turns out she has several projects that might need a doctor. A lady, one Una de Kirkwall, asked about a doctor for an expedition. I answered her barrage of questions, mostly about being a doctor. She assumed I am willing to go. I've no reason to object, so I let it pass.
Suddenly, one of the servers collapses to the floor, knocking over the drink table. Cyanide gas is filling the room! Quickly, I grab a napkin, wet it, then tie it over my mouth. I prepare another one, push to the Condessa. Once there, I warn her about the gas and hand her the wet napkin.
I see others working to disable the machines producing the gas. But there are thugs at the doors, they need to be dealt with to let the crowd out. To my surprise, I see Salvador Avad in the brute squad! I shove myself through the crowd to him.
Salvador was always a reasonable person. I appeal to his better nature, offer him a better choice. It does take some convincing but he agrees to help me. The crowd is nearing panic but we shove our way through to the Condessa. I give a quick, but proper introduction of Salvador to the Condessa as a solid fighter, a good man-at-arms.
The Condessa was suspicious; she did recognize Salvador as one of the attackers. I implore that he's merely a good man in need of a chance to show his good side. She does agree. As for Salvador, on the honor of his sister, I encourage him to protect the Condessa from harm. To get her near the stairs and out of the crowd.
Salvador, being a smart man, escorts the Condessa to where the Lady Una is trying to burn her way through another brute squad at another door. A smart tactic! Follow the person burning her waty free!
Once they are gone, I grab the nearest guest. Appealing to his nobility and to protect the ladies, I send him off to make wet napkins to hand out as masks for the guests. Then, while the ladies race for one open door, I encourage some of the noblemen to help me grab a large food table and charge the approaching brute squad.
The ploy works. A fellow countryman, Don Ramon Arturo del Lobo Garrido, guides most of the crowd out while I and my improvised brute squad subdue the attacking brute squad.
Lady Una de Kirkwall? She seemed to be working out repressed aggression against another brute squad using fire. As she is wanting me to work for her... I'll bear that in mind...
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