Swamped

You're in a bed. You much prefer your bedroll, so at first you think you've been brought to the infirmary.

But then you see the walls. They're brick, not wood. This is a hospital on land.

No, not just any hospital. One you recognize quite clearly. You spent a good three years working here before you became aware of your magic, after all.

You're back in Port Sarvakken. And there's a breather mask on your bedside table, as well as Mr. Resk's hat, dripping into a bucket.

Oh hells. You have a strong suspicion about what's happened.

"Another John? I hope you have a last name, or we'll have trouble keeping track," says an uncomfortably familiar voice.

"I don't mind going by a nickname if that'll make things easier," says a voice you can't recall hearing before, but are quite certain nonetheless that you know who it is. "You could call me Clerk, for instance, since it seems I'm the only one."

"Yeah, you are, but I ain't the sort to do that. You're more than your job, you know."

Funny. It's been quite a while since you felt like that was the case.

"Doesn't bother me, but really, I'm good with whatever works for you. But I didn't come here just to introduce myself. I'm told we have an unknown patient?"

"Yeah, some geezer they found on the shore. Surprisingly, he seems like he'll be okay once he wakes up, no signs of pneumonia or the like. He's damned lucky. His clothes were completely soaked with seawater, we had to toss them."

Drat. You liked that robe. And Mr. Resk still has your hat.

"Right. So what exactly do I need to put down for his case? Do I wait until we have a name?"

"Yeah, just fill out what you can for the moment. If we end up not getting a name, you just put him down as Unknown Patient, with today's date, and then No. 1 on the off-chance we get another unknown today. Probably won't, but that's what we do."

If you had any doubt about what was happening here, it's soon put to rest as you overhear the nurse confirming that John, the eager new clerk, has the date right.

The presence of the mask leaves you convinced that Nual had a hand in this. He didn't seem too satisfied with the gods' decision, so perhaps he wants you to do something here. Not that you have any idea what it is.

Regardless, based on what you remember about this conversation, in a few minutes John is going to get back to his desk while the nurse checks on the unknown patient. Which is to say, you're going to have some company in a moment.

You wonder if you're really ready for that.