The sheriff keeps Ellie moving across the silent main street, one hand near his holster. Her revolver remains visible at her side as fever blurs the lanterns.
the sheriff
Keep it down, ma'am. I ain't asking you to surrender it, only not to raise it unless somebody gives you cause.
He leads her around the dark office to a rear door. The town sleeps behind shuttered windows while dust whispers along the boardwalk.
the sheriff
Doctor Vale! Wake up. I got a wounded woman here, and she needs looking at now.
After a long pause, bolts scrape back. Doctor Vale appears in shirtsleeves, blinking at the sheriff before ushering Ellie into the cramped examination room.
Doctor Vale
Set her there. Fever, you say? And that dressing has been on the road too long. I'll need light and clean water.
Vale unwraps the bandage and examines the swollen wound, then presses a cool cloth to Ellie's brow. Outside, the sheriff watches the street through a narrow window.
✓ Quest Accepted
Survive the worsening fever
“She notices the area around my wound is dark, purple as it has gotten infected”
SUCCESS (Great Perception, rolled -1)
Under Doctor Vale's lamplight, the skin around Ellie's wound shows dark purple discoloration, spreading unevenly beneath the swollen edges of the dressing.
Ellie
The skin around the wound has turned dark purple.
Doctor Vale
There it is. Infection has taken hold, and the road dirt did it no favors.
Vale lifts the cloth away and cleans the wound again. The sharp sting draws a tremor through Ellie's side, and the last of the clean water goes into the basin.
Doctor Vale
This will hurt, but leaving it covered and foul would hurt worse. Sheriff, bring me boiled water, linen, and my strong spirits.
the sheriff
You heard him. I'll have the supplies here before the kettle cools.