Solo Advice for Better Preparation

[Asha]

Summer 7, 514 Asha stood awkwardly in the central reception room of the Catholicon waiting for a staff member to notice her and provide some direction for the process of being seen by a healer. Her Misty Peaks adventure the day before had resulted in a gash on her calf and though the cut was shallow and mostly coagulated, the wound had not been thoroughly cleaned and she worried about infection. When she had returned from her journey she had went right to bed from the exhaustion of the journey but this morning she had decided it would not be wise to wait any longer. “Pardon, have you been seen yet?” Asha turned to see a red-eyed humanoid woman speaking to her. “I have not. I have a gash on my calf that stopped bleeding but needs to be cleaned out. Can you assist me?” Asha asked with a slight smile. “Certainly, it seems as though you can walk fine on that leg so this way please. I’m Alessia.” The woman was cool but professional. Asha was there to get her wound cleaned, not to find new friends, so she shrugged and followed the woman towards the central skyglass staircase. Alessia quickly scaled the stairs up to the first loft but Asha hesitated for a moment before placing her foot on the first step. She had been in Lhavit for several days now but still felt nervous about trusting this glass-like material with any significant weight. Drawing in her breath she walked up the stairs. “Right here, please.” Alessia pointed towards a small cot with a stool and small table holding general medical utensils nearby. Asha gingerly sat down on the cot and Alessia sat on the stool and bent down to inspect Asha’s leg. “Could you lie on your stomach please? I’d like to see this wound in better light.” Alessia said in a coolly professional tone. Asha complied though the cot creaked slightly, it had been built for humans not jamouras. Alessia leaned closer to Asha’s calf and inspected the gash. “This is very shallow, shouldn’t be much of a problem. I’ll just clean the area well, apply a light healing ointment and bandage it up. How did you come by this injury?” Alessia asked as she reached for a cotton pad and a bottle that released the stringent scent of alcohol when she opened it. “I was walking in the Misty Peaks and had an encounter with a big, tawny cat. I hadn’t seen that variety of cat before.” Asha kept her explanation brief, assuming the healer woman wasn’t terribly interested in the details. Her assumption appeared to be correct. Alessia began to dab and stroke the injury gently with the alcohol soaked cotton pad and Asha had to bite her lip to prevent herself to gasping at the sharp pain of the alcohol soaking into the gash. Alessia inspected the pad for a moment and frowned.

[Asha]

“Sounds like a cougar. Why is there plant matter in your injury?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at Asha. “Oh, well, I was stupid and didn’t bring any medical supplies with me, and I didn’t want the blood to drip all over the ground. So I wrapped some fern fronds around my leg to soak up some of the bleeding and cover it.” Asha replied with a sheepish smile and mentally filing away the name cougar for the large cat she had seen. “Fern fronds.” Alessia looked at Asha for a few moments, no hint of her thoughts breaking through her professional demeanor. She turned back to her task and quickly finished cleaning the injury. She reached for a jar, cotton pads, and roll of bandages sitting on the table. Working with the quick efficiency of a seasoned healer she applied a light layer of the ointment in the jar, covered it with a layer of cotton pads, and then wrapped Asha’s calf in several layers of bandage to hold it all in place. “Change the pad and bandaging daily to keep it clean. In about a week it should have scabbed up enough to protect itself and you can leave the bandaging off to let the injury breathe. It should heal quickly, and you may end up with some scarring. Please wait here and a nurse will be by shortly to collect payment.” Alessia explained the after care instructions quickly, tossed her used supplies on the table and walked off to her next patient. “Thanks…..” Asha said to the healer’s retreating back. She sat up and gingerly set her leg on the ground, her calf was feeling better already. Asha waited patiently as a few chimes passed before a youngish looking human man approached her with a friendly smile. “Hi. I need to collect payment for your healing services, I’ve also been instructed to provide you with this list. Its basic medical supplies you should really have with you if you are going to be out in the wilderness. Its dangerous there.” He said with another big smile and handed Asha a scrap of parchment with some hastily scrawled items listed on it such as bandages and cotton pads. “Yes, it certainly is. Thank you for this. How much do I owe for the service? And where can I get these supplies?” she asked, returning his friendly smile. “Its 5 kina5 kina subtracted from ledger for a physical examination. You should be able to find most of this stuff packed together as a basic kit. Try looking around at shops in the Azure Market, you ought to be able to find some nice kits. It’s near the Surya Plaza, just ask a local if you need help finding it. For the ointments and creams, you are going to need to go to the Starry Chalice. Its in the Azure Market but it’s small so you have to look hard or you might miss it. I’d only get one or two doses of each of those things, they can get expensive quickly.” He explained patiently. Asha thanked him for the information and handed over 5 kina from the coin purse she carried around with her. The man escorted her down the skyglass stairs and to the entrance of the Catholicon, waving as she walked away. Asha stared down at the list in her hands, grateful for the doctor’s thoughtfulness. The fern frond binding must have made her think Asha was an idiot. Her cheeks burned in embarrassment at the thought. Well, she had some shopping to do.

[Asha]

Asha walked gingerly on her newly bandaged leg down the many steps that connected the Catholicon to the rest of Tenten peak. She grumbled to herself about architects who cared more for mystique and grandeur than the accessibility of a hospital for injured persons. Once she made it down the narrow staircase it was a short walk from Tenten to Zintia. Her bells spent wandering the city were beginning to pay off. She still had difficulty navigating the city but at least she was beginning to remember the order of the peaks and how to cross between them. Once on Zintia, Asha could followed a large crowd of people until brilliant bursts of blue paint marked the buildings around her and she knew she had arrived at the aptly named Azure Market. It was the first time Asha had been in the market and she walked slowly to take in the sights. The brilliance of the blue around her was almost overwhelming which was really saying something in this city of colorful and gaudy people. The smell of fresh spices floated around her nose and her ears filled with the shouts of merchants and the din of clanking merchandise. The narrow alleys of the Azure zigzagged up and down the mountain and Asha had to watch that her toes were not trampled in the close crush of the crowd. Eventually Asha turned her attention to the shopping she needed to do as the shrill screams of children in their mothers’ arms and the bold merchants waving wares in her face began to get less interesting and more tiresome. Her eyes scanned over the merchandise displayed on either side of the alley, searching for a merchant of healing items. Chimes passed as Asha walked until she spotted a window with bunched herbs and rolls of fresh, white cotton displayed. Entering the shop Asha sneezed as the stringent smells of healing unguents and sterilizing agents overwhelmed her nostrils. A hassled-looking, middle aged human woman turned with a huge, fake smile towards Asha and then faltered as she took in the jamoura woman. The woman quickly remembered her merchant diplomacy and the fake smile was pasted back on her face after the moment’s hesitation. “Hello, hello! How can I help you today? Fresh bandages? An ointment for inflammation? I’ve got all the basics!” the woman spread out her arms to indicate her wares which Asha slowly turned and gazed at. “I’m looking for a kit to take with me on excursions into the Misty Peaks. Something that will cover most basic scenarios and not anything too complicated for a novice to utilize.” Asha explained carefully. The woman nodded while tapping her chin. She spun around and bent, Asha heard the rustling of metal and cotton cloth as she rooted around for something. The woman stood and when she turned Asha saw a stiff brown cotton bag bulging with items in her hands. “This is a basic healer’s kit, take a look. Does it contain all you require?” The woman handed Asha the bag and kept sharp eyes on Asha’s hands to ensure she didn’t try to pull off something tricky. Asha unbuttoned the top of the bag and moved the items inside around carefully. She noted bandages, slender splints, and a variety of small wooden containers with painted labels. She checked the ingredients against the list of basics she had been given from the hospital and was pleased to see almost all of the materials matched.

[Asha]

“This is wonderful! How much are you selling this kit for?” Asha gave the woman her most friendly smile, hoping the price would be reasonable. She hated haggling with merchants, it made her feel petty and nervous that she was being taken advantage of. “60 kina is what I want for it. It’s one of the best kits I’ve ever put together.” The woman proclaimed. Asha forced herself to remain composed and not let the surprise show on her face. 60 kina seemed like a steep price, even for a kit as lovely as this one. “I see that this kit is well put together but I do not think 60 kina is a reasonable price. How about 40 kina?” Asha kept up her smile. “40 kina? That is an insult! I should demand the Shinya remove you from my shop. 40 kina… my my… Though you must be new to the city so I will take some pity on you. 55 kina and the kit is yours!” the merchant’s smile cracked slightly but she just pulled her cheeks wider. “I am not sure, 55 kina is still a lot. And I always heard that the Starry Chalice is where the best healing potions and ointments come from, perhaps I should check their prices first.” Asha sighed and feigned a dejected look at the kit in her hands. “The Starry Chalice is a fine shop but they don’t specialize like I do and they don’t carry bandages or splints. You will be looking for days to find all the high quality ingredients that are conveniently packaged in my kits! 50 kina. I will go no lower!” the merchant’s smile finally faded and she began to look annoyed with Asha. “I can agree to 50 kina50 kina subtracted from ledger. I appreciate your good service.” Asha did not dare push the woman any further. She didn’t know if it would be as difficult as the shopkeep said to put together a similar kit but she was not up to trying today. The convenience of the woman’s kit was too much of an allure. Asha handed over the coins to the woman, who counted them twice, and then exited the shop amidst much thanking and asking to return by the merchant woman. Asha wandered leisurely down the Azure hallways and alleys with her purse considerably lighter. But the bag in her hands could very well mean survival on future trips so she knew the money was well spent. As she walked past a booth the fluttering of blue cloth distracted her and she impulsively turned to look. A young, fashionable looking woman stood behind a booth of fluttering scarves in an endless combination of colors and embroidered patterns. The young woman noticed Asha’s attention to her wares and hesitated before striking up conversation.

[Asha]

“Umm…. Are you interested in a scarf? Most Lhavitian women wear them.” The woman explained, as though the waves of colorfully clad women walking around Asha were not obvious. “I am. I must admit I’m jealous of the beautiful clothes of your city’s citizens. Perhaps I’ll fit in a little better.” Asha said jokingly though the woman didn’t look sure if she dared laugh in response or not. Asha did not take offense to her hesitance, she was beginning to better understand her effect on humans who had not seen those of her kind before. Most Lhavitians were polite though few seemed to know quite how to react to the smiling, speaking stranger. “Is there a particular color that you like?” the woman asked. “Blue, I think. Bright blue like this market.” Asha said and smiled delightfully. The Azure Market was overwhelming but she did like the cool tone. It reminded her of calm waters and made her feel peaceful. The shopkeeper showed her several blue scarves in their largest size and Asha eventually chose a simple one. It was light blue and there were flowers embroidered in white thread on each corner. “Those are mountain roses that are embroidered on. They bloom in summer so this is the perfect season to wear the scarf. I ask one kina and 3 silver mizas1 kina and 3 sm subtracted from ledger.” The woman said and Asha absently handed the coins over to her. She was too enthralled with the scarf to haggle the woman down. “Um, perhaps this might sound silly, but, could you teach me how to wear it?” Asha nervously asked the question and felt her cheeks burn hotly. All the Lhavitian women seemed to wear their scarves in intricate knots and layers that seemed to frame their faces effortlessly. The young woman smiled and nodded. “Here is a basic way to wear it.” The woman explained and had to stand on her tip toes to fling the scarf around Asha’s head and tuck one corner over her opposite shoulder. Asha watched the way she draped the scarf carefully, memorizing the movements. “And here is a little more complicated way you can practice. But just try lots of different ways on your own. Everybody eventually learns the best ways that they like to wear scarves.” The woman pulled off the scarf and then wrapped it around Asha’s neck. Holding the sides in front of Asha’s forehead she brought them together and twisted vigorously. After she had twisted for a bit she started to move the scarf around Asha’s crown as she twisted. Once she ran out of scarf she tucked the ends under the edge by Asha’s ear. Asha felt her head and noticed the twisting made a crown around her head and smiled. “Thank you, I will be most eager to experiment. Thank you!” Asha smiled and waved goodbye to the woman as she walked away, smiling happily. The scarf was an impulsive purchase but it made her happy and feel a little more comfortable walking amongst the Lhavitians though she knew she still stood out. That was unavoidable. But at least she could feel little more like she belonged and that was certainly worth the money she had spent.

[Brandon Blackwing]

Grade Award! Asha XP Award: Socialization +4 Observation +3 Negotiation: +1 Rhetoric +1 Lore: Lhavit: The Catholicon Alessia: A cool but professional healer That cat is called a Cougar The Catholicon: made by stupid architects Negotiation: Suggesting to go to another shop in order to have merchants lower the price How to wear a scarf Purchasing a scarf to fit in better Notes: Haha, each and every PC grumbles about the accessibility of the Catholicon, I am always amused reading that! Just because of that I awarded you a lore for it. As per usual it was a nice thread you wrote. Nice interactions with the NPCs and very well done. I’ll be looking forward to your next thread Please edit or delete your request in the request thread. Comments, questions or concerns regarding your grade? Pm me.