Swamped

According to the records, the patient has a large gash on the right side of their chest, and a strange mark on the left side. It appears to have been made with a branding iron and was still hot when they were brought in, but it doesn't match any recognized brand. There was a sketch of it, and it certainly didn't seem any more recognizable to you.

The strangest thing about all that is that the patient was brought in from the winery where they worked. What could even cause a gash of that size at a winery? But you also worry that the mark might have something to do with Goan.

However, if they were forcibly branded, they probably wouldn't be the believer. And if Goan only has one believer... well, it would be strange for them to try to injure themselves. So you think it's worth asking questions. You slip in.

"Excuse me," you say. "Couldn't sleep, and I noticed your light was on. And the doctors here aren't very exciting conversationalists. I don't suppose you'd be up for a little talk before I wander back to bed?"

The patient snickers.

"You got that right. All they want to talk is treatment, or what you can't do, or are your bandages holdin' up," they sneer. "Maybe I just want to get my mind off it all for a bit! But nope, they don't want to talk, and I ain't a reader, so there ain't much I can do."

They start moving their hand around absentmindedly.

"Would be another matter if they'd let me have a pencil and paper so I could at least sketch something. Mind, I'd probably go bored out of my skull before long even with that, since I'm just seein' the same stuff the whole time."

"You're an artist, then?"

"Not accordin' to my paychecks, but yeah, in my heart I am. 'Course, it would help if I could afford paints. Pencil sketches don't sell for much."

Hmm. With how they complained about the doctors focusing on the injury, you probably don't want to directly raise the topic. It would be better if you could think of a subtle way to lead the conversation to it.