Solo Sticks and Stems

[Celeste Arumen]

31st Day of Fall, 513 AV She sat on one of the tall, wooden stools that littered Elsene’s workshop, pulling on a pair of elbow length gloves. Today she’d be earning her keep and in more ways than one. After she was done with manual labor, she’d be off to the Testing Grounds to search for plants. It’d be a good exercise in how to identify the properties of naturally occurring reagents, most especially the poisonous ones. But for now, it was to be a lesson on compost, among other things. ”Normally, I’d have one of the golems assist me, but I find it more satisfying to see a real individual toil.” The wild-looking woman pulled her long, well-cared-for locks back with a leather thong. ”You wouldn’t think we’d have much trouble, but the broken panes on the far side of the greenhouse let in a lot of different creatures, all of which I do not care for. So, for this next crop I will be explaining what we’re planting, how to condition it, what sort of plants we will yield and much later, how to help ward off the meddlesome insects so indicative of this Island.” She made a sour face. ”Now then!” She clapped her hands together with a dull thud. ”First, we’ll be turning the soil, which I’m sure you’ve been looking forward to.” Celeste gave her a feeble smile. She never knew a more sadistic gardener. ”Of course,” she replied with disdain. The woman simply handed her a spade. ”Let’s get to it.” Elsene was not the type of individual to spend a great deal of time talking without doing. ”While we turn the soil, we’re adding something called leafmould.” She gestured to a large canvas bag filled with organic, somewhat solid looking matter. ”It’s a fungal breakdown of certain leaves and shrubs that didn’t make the cut for one reason or another. Those clippings you collected last week are all now in the process of breaking down. To make it, all you must do it collect it and put it in a dark and moist area to promote decomposition.” She then pointed toward the empty rows of soil they stood before. ”We’re going to add it in as we turn the soil.” As she spoke, she picked up a small shovel and dug into the arid-looking dirt. ”Organic matter helps improve the texture of different soils - it helps to break up heavy clay soils, improving their drainage, or it binds together sandy soil, improving retention of water and nutrients.” Elsene shot her a sideways glance. ”I expect you’ll remember all of this,” she said. Celeste nodded. ”It also lowers the acidity, making it ideal for a goodly number of fruits and vegetables. Now, we won’t be growing those, clearly.” She patted her stomach, as if to say she wasn’t hungry. Humorous, for a zombie. ”No, we’ll be growing much more useful things, though certain herbs and flowers have their uses, as you indeed saw.” Indeed she did, at that. The Citadel did have a taste for cosmetics, in a perverse sort of way. ”Now, get to it!” No argument was put to that. Celeste took her tiny shovel and dug into the dirt, breaking up the clods of soil that had been out of commission for however set a period of time. The earth was thick and water soluble, which struck her as useful, though she couldn’t be sure. Grams would always lean down, stick her finger in the dirt and then nod, as if it were telling her something. She’d never really had it explained in detail. For every couple of turns she made with the shovel, she added in a handful of the leafmould. ”Not too much,” Elsene would say and Celeste would put the following handful back in the back. Before long, her elbows began to ache. They went down the line, Elsene on the opposing row, digging up the boxes of dirt, adding in the compost and then turning the soil again and again, mixing it all together in a large pile. ”So,” she said finally, when they were at the last row. ”Finish this up and we’ll start planting. I want you to be familiar with some of the more exotic plants we have around here and further, their properties. Identifying plants will be of use to you, especially when harvesting them.” Celeste smiled – that actually sounded fun. She worked, elbow deep in the dust until she’d finished the final box. Elsene was waiting for her, hands on her hips. ”Pick up the pace, Arumen. Let’s go.” She inclined her head down the opposing aisle for the girl to follow, which she did without a moment’s hesitation. They would be returning to the newly turned soil for planting, she assumed, but in the meantime they would be spending time learning just what sort of plants they’d be using and why. ”Here we are,” she said, stopping before a delicate cluster of pink flowers. They almost looked like lilies, only turned down, as if to contemplate the very earth from which they set their roots to. ”These are Ewela flowers, also know as Dira’s Kiss.” Now that sounded somewhat terrifying. Celeste couldn’t believe they were so beautiful. ”Not everything is as it first appears, young one.” She smiled. ”The Ewela is a mutation of what you’d know as a Trumpet flower. Contact with any of the sensory organs, even indirectly, can fatally harm or nearly kill a normal human. That is why we keep these in the back.” Celeste sighed. ”The Ewela reminds me of you, child.” She blinked, at that. ”You are beautiful, fragile, but there is poison in you.” Poison? Celeste pondered it for a moment. Perhaps she was dangerous, in her own way. Elsene was actually giving her quite a bit of credit. ”Thank you,” she replied, uncertain of what else to say. The Nuit simply continued, as if she had heard nothing at all. ”What sets us apart from say the Venerium however, is the sun. Without sunlight, you cannot grow some of the more, shall we say, fun reagents. Take this for example. This the Redongo plant,” she gestured to fuzzy, conical plant. ”Inside this bulb are tiny little red capsules, called redongo fruit. When ingested, they carry a rather hallucinogenic effect.” She smiled eerily. ”There is more than one way to skin a cat, shall we say?” Was she trying to imply something? Celeste really couldn’t tell. ”Then finally, we have things like the Quixa orchid; when ripe, this plant can be pulped and used to disguise taste and scent in a philter or remedy. For all of its color, the flower is actually utterly bland. You have to cook it down to remove the inherent poison, though.” They paused and Elsene turned to her with a smile. ”Child, I expect that once we’re through, you’ll make a working catalogue of all the different plants that are currently growing, as well as all the plants set to be planted in the upcoming season.” Her eyes grew wide. ”What?” That was an awful lot of work, considering Elsene already had a catalogue of her own. ”You must learn the meaning of scholarship and discipline. Not all research is hands-on. It is necessary for you to memorize these things, for the moment I am no longer here to guide you.” She had a point. As much as Celeste hated to admit it, the woman was right. There was a fierce hunger for knowledge within her that couldn't be sated. The more she knew, the more variables she could control. Thus she grumbled under her breath and continued on, eyeballing the growth around her.   Indigenous Ewela Flower The beautiful and yet deadly Ewela grows in heavy, saturated soil and requires a good amount of sunlight. When in full bloom, the delicate, iridescent petals produce a deadly poison that first attacks the nervous system, leaving the victim paralyzed. After, they cripple the internal organs, finally ending at the death of the brain. There is no known cure for Ewela, aside from transplant or purification of the blood. They should be handled with extreme care, especially when being harvested. The Ewela was first discovered in the Heartlands of the Testing Grounds. Quixa Orchid This beautiful flower thrives best in loam, though most plants do. It's unremarkable aside from the its thick, beautiful petals, which are typically a cheerful yellow, shot through with shades of red and vermillion. The primary use for the Quixa is to be included with other ingredients in the alchemical or philtering process, so as to disguise an otherwise potent scent or taste. It is typically used with poisons, though it can be effective while used to other, less hostile ends. The orchid can be found growing in the rich dirt near Port Silence. Recha Vine The Recha Vine thrives in heavily shaded areas, generally with sandier soils. It is a brittle, arid vine that tends to strangle all other vegetation it comes into contact with. The Recha Vine has several uses, primarily to make philters more viscous, though it can also be applied in alchemy as a means to make a substance more delicate, or more easily broken. It is most commonly found growing in the Courtyard of the Citadel. Erstwhile Flower Also known as the "noontime flower," this plant blooms incredibly late in the summertime. It is notorious for having an incredibly sweet nectar that can make most anything palatable. This nectar is incredibly useful as a base substance in the process of brewing salves. Additionally, the petals distill into oil that supplements the immune system for a short period of time. Many individuals favor 'erstwhile tea' as a substance for bolstering against illness. It is commonly found blooming in the Heartlands. Glowvine The Glowvine is termed as such for its phosphorescent glow and is actually the byproduct of breeding over time. It is used as a organic light source on the Island, for those who venture out of the Citadel and into the wilderness. It is also typically used in alchemical experiments for its brilliant coloration and ambient glow. It was first discovered by Elsene of the Tatsuwaat Tribe and can be found throughout Sahova.   Exotic Redongo Plant The Redongo Plant first originated in the jungles of Falyndar, though over time it has made itself quite a reputation amongst the undead Wizards of Sahova. The seedlings it yields have the power to induce extraordinary hallucinations, the likes of which are popular in the export of certain psychedelic drugs. It can also be used on its own for recreation, though the effects are magnified when the plant is distilled. Syna’s Glory This flower is termed as such for how it opens its petals to the sky during the advent of sunshine, and then closes them under the cover of darkness. Only during the time in which it is open can the unique pollen it emits be harvested. Also known as "sunshine dust," this pollen causes lasting damage to the nervous system due to powerful psychoactive effects. Those humans who come into direct contact with it tend to hallucinate powerfully, then die. It too, is a popular export. It was first discovered in the Unforgiving. Pestilence Plant The Pestilence Plant is precisely that; a pest. It not only dominates all other growth in the vicinity, but when distilled it yields a powerful oil that will completely debilitate a human body internally. It is commonly used in power politics around the citadel to speed certain individuals through bodies faster than others. For a normal human, it eats away at the internal organs until there is nothing left. It was first discovered just outside of Ravok. Ipdo Plant The ipdo is a very strange plant. It is a low growing shrub, favouring shady areas over direct sunlight. The flat green leaves are circular and have black dots on their surface. The ipdo is always in leaf, even during the winter. They die off in clusters and get replaced during the colder months, but there is never a time that the shrub is completely bare. The leaves have a couple of uses. When picked and chewed, they can keep hunger at bay, though the effect is short-lived unless you continuously chew. When crushed and added to candles that are then burnt, they lend a pleasant scent, not dissimilar to that of a forest after a rainfall. It is a common import from Lhavit. Poya Fruit Originally from the Isle of Mura, this fruit carries some of the mild effects of vision water, granting a special insight to those that regularly ingest it. It has a number of different applications, the most common of which being alchemically - when used in conjunction with an animal, it can potentially cause that animal to become more sentient. Likewise, many will distill it into a perfume and don it from the effect and also, for its delightful tropical scent.

[Celeste Arumen]

Elsene cast a weather eye over the catalogue Celeste had compiled. After a few moments of silence, she simply said: ”Good.” The young girl sighed a true breath of relief. She had no idea whether the work would be accepted or denied. The woman then took the quill from her hand and set it in the inkpot nearby, letting Celeste know they were done with the writing portion of the day’s exercise. It was on to pest control, then. ”Now.” The Nuit perched herself atop an opposing stool, removing her earth-caked gloves. ”To start, this may surprise you, but the best way to maintain plants under normal circumstances, is to create a self-regulating ecosystem.” Ecosystem? Like, nature? The prefix eco hinted at that, anyway. Celeste waited for more context clues. ”Birds for example, eat slugs, snails, grubs, caterpillars and other, various insects.” That made sense. ”Frogs also eat slugs, as well as snails and beetles. I’m sure you see where I’m going with this.” Of course. Sahova did not exactly boast an abundance of life. ”We don’t have those things here, or when we do, they aren’t natural. What we do have are aphids, blackflies and whiteflies, ghastly creatures, no better than locusts in my opinion.” She visibly shuddered. ”One of the only ways that we can handle them are to set erect barriers. Cloches, or transparent bell-shaped coverings, can help protect against slugs when things get too moist. Likewise, netting helps against those flies I spoke of. Our primary defense however, is this.” She hopped down and disappeared into the back, emerging less than a chime later with a jar of some variety. The liquid within almost looked like honey. ”This is for all intents and purposes, your greatest asset in a greenhouse. It’s glue.” Using a brush, she smeared some on a piece of parchment. ”I hang these up most often in the summertime, though we do occasionally get a nasty crop of pests in the fall. I make the glue from a local moss found growing on the tombstones in the Courtyard. One day, I will show you. But for now, your job is to make these and then hang them up.” It was going to be a full day, all right. Before she knew it, she was amidst a sea of parchment, slicing it into strips and then smearing it with the gods-awful substance. It smelled awful in close proximity and it stuck to literally everything, without drying. How did Elsene do it without gluing her hand to her face? Celeste got her glove stuck to her hair at one point and it was all she had within to keep from screaming. Drudge work was so, so much fun. And once she was through all of that, she was then tasked with hanging said flypaper on every wall. It felt like revenge, almost. Perhaps Elsene didn’t like company for a reason. It was either because she was utterly unbearable, or they annoyed her so deeply that she chased them off. There were plenty of automaton in the Citadel that could easily have done the job she was charged with. But instead of complaining about it, she simply went about each task, muttering expletives when she was certain the undead slave driver wasn’t around to hear them. ”Good,” the woman said again, when all was through. Perhaps it was finally time for the lesson in plant identification, so she could get on her with her afternoon. If they worked for too long, she wouldn’t even be able to see what she was supposed to be harvesting, which didn’t exactly bode well. Celeste was running a tight schedule between being an apprentice, a philterer and an initiate. She couldn’t really afford to lose any daylight. ”Here is a manual on plant identification. It is conveniently enough, in Common, so it might suit your purposes.” She tossed it on the counter before her. ”I expect you to record what it is you need to know and leave the book when you’re done.” Was she serious? There wasn’t even going to be another lecture, nothing? It was almost as if the woman knew how Celeste had learned, growing up and sought to challenge her. In fact, there were a lot of peculiar facts she seemed to pick up on. Perhaps she was using some of that poya extract she’d seen earlier. ”You might wish to work quickly, if you are to be free of this place before sundown.” And with that, Elsene disappeared into the back room. Celeste muttered every curse she knew, in both Nari and Fravata and then got to work. POISONOUS PLANTS How do plants poison? Ingestion When a person eats a part of a poisonous plant. Contact When a person makes contact with a poisonous plant that causes any type of skin irritation. Absorption or inhalation When a person either absorbs the poison through the skin or inhales it into the respiratory system and by extension, the bloodstream. How do I identify a poisonous plant? There is no single way to identify a poisonous plant; in fact, some plants that aren't poisonous may look similar to those that are, like the resemblance between poison hemlock and wild carrot. Likewise, some fruits and vegetables are poisonous until ripe, while others only begin to develop naturally occurring toxins as they wither. Here is a list of some commonly encountered toxic plants: Castor bean Chinaberry Death camas Lantana Manchineel Oleander Pangi Physic nut Poison and water hemlocks Rosary pea Strychnine tree It is imperative for the enterprising young botantist to be aware of the name, look and location of these and more before going out into the field. The aformentioned plants and shrubs will quickly cause death through ingestion and contact with any external faculties that lead to the bloodstream. She looked up from the sheet before her. Was that the sun going down? Some of these words she'd never even seen, let alone had to write before. Plus, there were so many pictures that accompanied them, she wasn't even sure whether or not she could remember it all. Celeste gnashed her teeth in frustration. Elsene had done it on purpose! Typical. She would be pulling an all-nighter, if she were to make any progress at all. It was just the sort of thing a scheming, selfish old maggot-brain would do. Still, she carried on. Celeste had made an agreement. Now she had to live up to it. EDIBLE PLANTS How do I find edible plants? Be aware of the terrain In a humid region, the majority of wild food will be in the sun, directly or otherwise, whereas in a dry region, most of the wild food will be near water. Think about what plants require in order to survive and then seek that nourishment out in the environment around you. All grass is for a fact, edible. When all else fails, turn to grass. Anything under six inches is easy to chew and digest. What are some commonly found edible plants? Some of the easiest plants to find are: Dandelion Chickweed Wood Sorrel Henbit Dead-nettle Plantain Sow Thistle Wild Onion Check thorny brambles for food. Rose, blackberry, raspberry, and greenbriar are just a few good examples of what can be found with a little effort. Rose hips are also edible. She mopped her brow. The sun had most certainly gone down. She glanced around, bleary-eyed. Where was Elsene? Not that it mattered. Celeste had spent the better part of the day making diagrams, copying definitions and writing out common sense advice on how not to die in the wilderness. Nothing she read really prepared her for going out and actually collecting plants and shrubs. What had been the point? Sure, it was informative. She certainly knew better than to taste test the plants she was trying to collect. Wait - could it possibly be that Elsene cared for her? She blinked, staring at her paper in alarm. This was intentional. It was a set-up. If she were to have said it all in a lecture, Celeste wouldn't have worked to retain all the information. She wouldn't have been able to see what the plants actually looked like. Elsene wanted to make sure she wasn't going to die out there. Perhaps it wasn't really that she cared, but rather that she was protecting her investment. Now that made more sense. Feeling utterly drained, she rose from her seat, nearly falling off the side of her stool before she became upright. How long had she even been sitting there? Stretching languidly, she gathered up her papers and grumbling to herself, she left, to sulk in her room having gotten nothing and everything done at all once. What a pain in the arse.

[Wrenmae]

XP Award!

Celeste:

XP Award:

• +4 Botany
• +3 Poison
• +3 Gardening

Lore:

• Gardening: Leafmould, its creation, and its uses
• Gardening: Organic matter's use in improving soil quality
• Botany: Ewela Flowers, alternate names, origin, and poisonous properties
• Botany: Redongo plant and its hallucigenic red capsules
• Botany: Quixa orchid- use in disguising taste and scent in a philter or remedy.
• Gardening: Creating a self-regulating ecosystem
• Poison: Methods by which a plant poisons and examples of Poisonous plants
• Botany: Identification and examples of edible plants.

Notes: +1 Manual of Plant Identification

Comments :

I awarded extra exp for the designs and pictures incorporated in. You did a lot of great work. I debated between Botany experience or Herbalism...decided it might be better as Herbalism and Gardening than just Botany, but feel free to let me know if you feel I missed anything.

WRENMAE