The Journal Of Antonio Caravello

Entry #1

Medical Journal of Antonio Caravello, April 23, 1353, Entry #1

This medical journal will be my first hand account of the attempts of my brethren and myself to cure this terrible pestilence. My brethren and I have been employed by Florence to cure those affected by the plague. We arrived in the city 3 hours ago, our carriage moved slowly into the city. As I looked around, I saw abandoned food carts and houses, there were a few people walking around with flowers and herbs covering their noses and mouths. We were brought to a large stone building, which we were to use as living quarters while we work. My brethren include my Brother Matthis, a childhood friend Osiris, and an older doctor named Tarken. My mask's beak holds clover, lavender, roses, and a few other flowers. These flowers remind me of my mother, even as I am writing this I hold my pendent in my hand, my mother's final gift to me. The shape of the crow used to calm my mind, but now it sends my mind reeling.

I just returned from my first patient. Marie LeBlanc, 14. Her skin was red, signs of a high fever and delirium. Purple and black bruises covered her, and the pustules on her neck and armpits were the size of apples. She continually coughed blood, I've never seen something so horrible. The smell of blood and death seeped past the flowers and herbs slightly. I told her parents to make sure she only drinks boiled water and eats lettuce, and for her to sleep on her left or right side as to not harm herself. Her parents seemed afraid of my mere presence. Not surprising as how thoroughly terrifying our masks are coupled with our hats and coats. When I arrived back to our living quarters, my brother Matthis lept into my arms crying, his patient had been Emily Tarus, an 11 year old girl, she had died not long after he had arrived at her home. He had been crying for hours, when he lay on his cot he fell asleep instantly, Osiris and Tarken had similar experiences as I.

Osiris just received word of his wife's death, I volunteered to take his work for the next few days so he could mourn. So ends our first day in Florence.