Location The Cattail Farms

[Lullaby]

The Cattail Farms Cattails have always grown along the banks of Lake Ravok and began to crowd other vegetation out of the shallow waters in 200 AV. The perfect weather and healthy water created the environment where cattails thrive. A family of farmers stepped up to help control the population in a way that would also provide for the blossoming city. On the Western shore of Lake Ravok, to the left of the lily-pad farms, the cattail farms were established on the remaining 50-mile stretch of the shoreline. Now, in the ownership of the Etravin Family, the farms haven't changed their appearance is over 300 years. The cattail farm is sectioned into five farms, 10-miles long, and 2-miles out into the pristine waters. The boundaries are marked with 10-feet wooden poles, painted bright blue and orange to be told apart from the tall cattails. Growing up to 8-feet high, and thickly packed, moving can be a challenge in itself. At the ring of the seventh bell, workers are sent out to the crops. The process of harvesting is much different than the methods used in the lily-pad farms. Each farmer is given a small strip of the farm, 1-mile along the shore by 2-miles out into the water. By starting all the workers on the shore, it allows the workers to harvest the cattails, and thus create room to move inwards. The roots have to be loosened before being worked out, most workers using their feet to dig into the mud, while pulling out another cattail simultaneously. Placed into a water-tight basket given at the beginning of the day, the cattails are taken to the mills after harvesting. Behind the farmhouses lie the mills where the cattails will be sorted and processed. Powered by four horses around each stock, each mill has two stocks to grind the dried cattails in order to produce grain. The cattails, then, are shipped onto boats bearing the Etravin name, and sold in blue-clothed booths to the Ravokian market.   Head of the Cattail Farms Name: Kilsi Etravin DOB: 3rd of Spring, 485 AV POB: Ravok Skills: Agriculture (60), Leadership (33), Organization (28), Seduction (10) Kilsi is a beautiful woman with sleek black hair and deep brown eyes. Married to Mal Etravin, Kilsi is not a blooded member, though has maintained her positions for years now. Slender and willowy, Kilsi runs the cattail farms under a kind hand and caring word. She may seem a loving mother, but the cattail farms are her children and she is quick to retaliate any threat to it. Each of the farms are individually operated, and Kilsi is the one who stands between the crops and the market. Patient and observant, Kilsi is shrewd when hiring for the farms, known to select those more 'visually appealing', though does not give many days off, nor will tolerate workers arguing their pay. Radiating a determined demeanor, Kilsi is in no rush to give her position to family.   Head of the Mill Name: Fid Etravin DOB: 7th of Fall, 488 AV POB: Ravok Skills: Agriculture (60), Leadership (35), Organization (20), Horsemanship (18), Seduction (10) Fid is the second eldest son of the Etravin Family, a smaller replica of the current patriarch, Neal. With curled brown hair and blue eyes, Fid is a slender man, with little muscle build on his frame. Refusing the position of Head of Farms, Fid instead opted for a smaller position, not expressing much interest in the influence or power given to his family. He works hard all the same, dutifully keeping up the Etravin name and diligent in taking after his older brother and father, as if anything happens to them, he would take over. In charge of hiring workforce for the mill, buying and maintaining the horses, and keeping the mills running smoothly, Fid works closely with Kilsi. Though Fid can seem absent minded and uncaring, looking around the mills, no one could doubt the work he puts into it. Uses of the Cattail : The Roots Off-shoots on roots are called corms and can be peeled, and eaten fresh on salad, chopped into stew, or added as a garnish to various dishes Mature plant roots can be collected, and peeled. When broken up under water, flour will separate from the fibres, and when allowed to dry will be root flour Can be macerated and boiled to produce a syrup to sweeten foods Split roots can be made into a poultice and applied to treat cuts, burns, bruises, or stings (medicinal) Core of roots can be roasted until dry, and used as coffee substitute The Leaves Ash of burned leaves can be used as an antiseptic or styptic for wounds (medicinal) Jelly located between the leaves can be applied to wounds, boils, and sores to sooth pain (medicinal) The Shoot Immature shoots can be cooked and eaten like corn, or added to a dish The female part of the shoot will turn into the familiar brown cattail, but immature they can be boiled and eaten, or eaten raw The male part of the shoot will turn into a twig-like extension from the top of the cattail, though immature, it can be eaten the same way as the female. When the male part of the shoot matures more to have yellow pollen, it can be shaken into baskets and used as a flour substitute in pancakes, thickening for soup, cornbread etc. Mature female seed part can be burned to separate the seeds from the fluff, and can be used in gruel or soups Seed down can be used to prevent chafing in babies, or to treat burns (medicinal) Young flowers can be ingested as a cure for diarrhea (medicinal) The Stalk Tender inner portions can be collected and cooked to eat during the period when the plant is immature Note: Cattails are poisonous to some animals, especially grazers. Moderator Note: PM a Storyteller if interested in a job here