Toxicity Rising (Kechaiya)

by **Simeon Aytak** on October 3rd, 2014, 2:36 am

5th Day of Fall, 514AV

If there was one thing all herbalists knew, it was the importance of a nearby supply of clean, hot water.

It also happened to be the thing quite a few herbalists hated. And Simeon was no exception. The necessity of it was obvious, certainly, but who enjoyed carting several liters of water to and fro? Not him, that was for sure. It was early in the morning, and Simeon had ridden his mare towards the Seaside Market, setting his brazier up, and then riding his horse towards a nearby well, drawing water, returning to the brazier, dumping the water in there, and repeat process. By the time he had returned on his sixth trip, the brazier was finally filled close to the brim. Tying up his horse, he removed his camping gear and setup his tent. There was no point setting up while you were getting water. This was Sunberth, after all. Someone might well run by and nick all your stuff while you were on a water trip.

Once the tent was nailed down, Simeon started to setup shop as the rest of the merchants (mostly conmen) started to mill in and do the same around him; he began by starting a fire under the brazier with a flint and spark, leaving it to slowly boil while he spread out a blanket under the tent away from the brazier - did not want his blanket catching fire after all - and spread out his herbs on the blanket, arranging them for ease of access. A pot of honey here, a bit of wild thistle over there... As the sun started to rise, Simeon left out some sprigs of basil and thyme to dry under the heat. Once they crumpled up, they would be easy to mash in his fingers and scatter as powder into whatever he was philtering. Of particular note was a little pile of mashed-up seeds and pits that no longer resembled the fruit seeds they had once been, which were giving off a strong, pungent smell of acidic bitterness...

by **Kechaiya** on October 3rd, 2014, 4:05 am

Kechaiya had been hearing many of her neighbors complaining of constant diarrhea as of late. Her first thought was the water, for they all drank from the same well. But she'd been unaffected, and immediately dismissed the notion. She then assumed it to be a close contact illness. Many of those were easily dismissed, but she could treat the symptoms and still make a pretty miza off of it. After all, no one enjoyed violently spouting water out of their rear. She knew of a few plants she could make into an edible relief, and decided to go collect some. She gathered her backpack, which always contained her medical kit and herbalist kit. Slipping her arms through the straps, she grabbed her empty sacks and stuffed the ends of them in the waist of her skirt. Finally, she threw on her cloak, put the hood up, and grabbed an empty basket and her dagger.

It took her quite a while to reach the edge of the city, always moving slowly and carefully, so as to not attract undue attention. It was still early morning, so not as many people were out and about. She ran through her mind the list of plants to look out for; Batonal leaves, bilberries, ironweed leaves, whole chamomile, and cranberries. She quickly ruled out ironweed leaves though, for they were simply too difficult to find. And if she really wanted to sell this medicine, it needed to taste halfway decent. Batonal, bilberries, and chamomile would be the easiest to find.

Bilberries looked just like blueberries on small shrubs, and she felt were the most crucial, and hardest to find of those three ingredients. So, breaking free from the informal border of the city, she stepped out toward the wooded wilds, dagger firmly in hand. She made her way around small, well shaded trees, over small streams, she came across a small bush of the berry. It came up to about her chest, and many of the berries were already gone. She plucked what was left of the individually hanging berries, being extra gentle so as to not burst them and stain her fingers. They were deposited into her basket. When she had emptied that bush, she continued for another bell, finding others until her basket was full.

As she finished the last one, her nose picked up a scent most would recognize. It was the batonal she sought. She sniffed at the air, moving in one direction, then another, trying to find which way she should travel. Settling on the thought that the scent was strongest to the east, she made her way, noting the strength increasing. Eventually she found the round leafed shrub, with a surprising amount of its leaves intact. Pulling a sack from her waist, she managed to get her sack half filled without even removing the majority of leaves from the bush.

Chamomile would be the easiest to find, for it was quite hardy and spread easily. She managed to find several full plants simply walking back toward the city, depositing them in a sack of their own. Satisfied, she snuck back into the city proper, Syna working her way up the sky. Slowly, she was making her way back to her home, when her nose was accosted by a smell she knew, but couldn't seem to recall. It was strong enough to overpower her batonal, and had to be nearby. Trying to find the source, she rounded a corner, and saw what appeared to be ragtag shop of sorts. She could see the man who she assumed to be the proprietor, only to recognize him as a fellow Eyktolian, albeit a Benshira. Her ebony eyes could easily discern at least that much about him, and before she realized it, she was staring. She hadn't met many Eyktolians since she'd escaped, so they always caused an upwelling of emotion for the young woman.

Normally, she would never speak to a stranger, but her eyes also recognized some of what he had on displayed. Many of these were medicinal plants. He was like her, a healer, and from the desert. Her mouth hesitated, before finally, in her broken Common, "You, Benshira? Healer?" She knew nothing of Shiber, but she repeated the question, although more eloquently in Tawna and Arumenic. Not sure if that would be enough, "Me, Chaktawe. Healer," using her hands to gesture to herself. She didn't bother to called herself a mixed blood, for she was raised Chaktawe and her language skills made her shrug it off.

by **Simeon Aytak** on October 3rd, 2014, 5:17 am

Simeon glanced up as a stranger approached him. Female, with the swarthy complexion of a denizen of Eyktol. Not that he had ever been there himself. He had been a slave at his very first breath, and only recently had he become a free man. Though he looked the part of a Benshira, spoke the language passably, and knew of its culture, he could barely identify with it. Much less another culture from the same geographic location. He knew little to nothing of Chaktawe, so he simply did what most merchants learned to do in Sunberth: Smile, nod, and strike a warm first impression.

"Hello," he greeted. "I am Benshira, yes, but I would not call myself a healer." A wave of his hands towards the assorted herbs. It was a simple gesture, one made to direct her attention to the herbs, because her gait, the way she looked at them, and the questions she asked, all combined to prove a point: She was schooled in his trade. And so she would recognize while many of the herbs were beneficial, some of the items he blatantly put on display, like the overpowering fruity smell of the seed-and-pits pulp emanating from the mortar, were clearly extremely poisonous. "In a city like this," he said with a smile. "There is a need for he who can heal can kill with equal efficiency." He made no show of hiding the duality of herbalism. After all, the fact she looked like she came back from a foraging run made it very obvious she was well aware of what he preached. He always enjoyed trading knowledge with those in his craft. He had met many fellows in the fields of medicine, and even poison, but few, if any, seemed to match his primary interest, which was herbalism. "But where are my manners? My name is Simeon. You are?"

by **Kechaiya** on October 3rd, 2014, 4:02 pm

This man and his eloquent Common reminded her of the few Benshira she'd met in Eyktol before escaping. All of the ones she'd met were polite and traders of some sort or another. She could make out most of his Common words, but some of what he said was confusing. He was not a healer, yet he had healing plants. She crouched down in front of his blanket, her ebony eyes studying his wares carefully, her nose sensitive to the pungent smell coming off of them. She heard him mention healing and killing. She pointed at the fruit, then a few other items, simply saying, "Poison." It was not a judgment, but a statement of fact. She heard him say 'name' and 'Simeon', so she assumed it was an introduction of sorts.

"Me, Kechaiya."

While he may not recognize the accent, it was slathered on her name heavily. She now assumed the man to be a plant worker, but couldn't seem to find the word for it in Common. "You, Simeon. Not healer. Plant trader?" She was continually studying his wares, then pointing at the thyme and basil. She didn't recognize these plants, "What these? What do?" She then pulled out samples of what she had gathered, showing the bilberries, chamomile, and batonal to him. "These for sick people. People who lose water from..," not knowing the Common word, she patted herself on the bum. "You know these?"

In case he hadn't understood her, she set her backpack in front of her, then pulled out her Herbalist's kit and her Healer's kit, opening before them. "Me healer and plant worker. You do no healing? Just trading?" It was very rare that Kechaiya would be so curious and talkative to anyone, but it appeared this man would be able to teach her something. Perhaps they could come to some sort of agreement.

by **Simeon Aytak** on October 4th, 2014, 5:30 am

The pantomiming and broken Common sentences eventually led Simeon to realize Kechaiya was by no means fluent, and her spurt of talkativeness only seemed to be triggered by the presence of him. Her enthusiasm appeared linked to their craft - she, like him, enjoyed the company of other herbalists who could trade their knowledge. With brief smile, but still keeping an indifferent veil of passiveness about him, Simeon's vivid blue-violet eyes traveled across the herbs she had pointed out, holding up a sprig of thyme and murmuring, "This will provide relief for a cough if you boil it into tea," he rubbed his neck to show her, before putting away the thyme and holding up the basil. "This gives back a lost appetite," he patted his belly. "And settles an upset stomach."

When she showed him her own herbs, Simeon's eyes lit up with interest. "Yes," he pointed to the chamomile. "A relaxant, good for insomnia, depression, anxiety, and all the other mind troubles." He gestured at the bilberries. "They remove cataracts, if you make them into a paste. Its beneficial for the eyes." He stopped at the batonal, and shrugged, giving her a quick smile. "And I don't know what that is. You're making a diarrhea remedy with these, you say? Unorthodox, but clever. The bilberries will help when they're dried, the chamomile as a tea, and if you add some agrimony, basil, or peppermint to it, the tincture will be even more effective. Don't worry, those two won't compromise the taste - you seem to have that in mind, judging from the inherent sweetness of these herbs?" he inquired. "I do sell and buy herbs, yes, but I'm not a plant trader. People tell me what they want, and I use herbs to give it to them. Be it life, or death. Make sense?" The gentle way he explained the shadowy nature of herbalism was almost scary in itself.

by **Kechaiya** on October 4th, 2014, 10:23 pm

Kechaiya listened intently as he explained what thyme and basil were used for, logging these away for future use. Her eyes were continuing to study the plants as he continued about the chamomile and bilberries. When he said he didn't know what batonal, Kechaiya felt the intense need to inform him. There would be no profit for her in this endeavor, save learning more. Picking up the batonal leaves, she helped, "Batonal, make food taste good. Make tea for trouble in stomach," then with an extreme lack of eloquence, she made a noise with her mouth akin to flatulence to get her point across.

She felt she understood what he did, that he was a plant worker like herself, though to a higher degree. She tried to remember the Common word for it. "You Herbist, yes?" Catching the gist he made about life and death, not that she cared. Plants can take a life as easily as save it, in the right hands. He, like her, was trying make money with what skills he had, let the gods sort out the right and wrong. She picked up her belongings, and without seeking any sort of permission, stood up, walked around the blanket, and plopped herself down next to Simeon. Manners were never her strong suit, but she was determined to learn more, as well as share more.

She started with a story of back home, "Father healer, like me, and herbist like you. Mother make poisons, from plant and snake and insect. Good, kind parents. Father teach me that plant, medicine, poison, all same thing. None hurt, none heal. People hurt, people heal. Slaves captured us. I escape. I find and buy parents one day. But need many mizas. Father, mother no need mizas, live from land. I need mizas. So I heal for mizas, no make feel better." She didn't appear too upset at the story, for she wasn't. It was another statement of fact.

"You greater herbist. I think I greater healer. We teach, we learn, we make more mizas. Simple."

She sat in silence, then with a hint of confidence and jest, "You no fix bones, yes? I fix bones. Bones easy. Plants and poison, much harder."

by **Simeon Aytak** on October 5th, 2014, 2:56 am

Simeon nodded, cocking his head to listen as she explained the use of the batonal herb. A soft smile graced is lips when she made a sound of flatulence with her mouth, his chuckles ringing across the crowded marketplace which was steadily filling with shady customers and even shadier merchants. "A herbalist by trade, yes," he replied as he committed her knowledge of batonal to memory. It would not do to simply take another herbalist's word for it, of course; he needed to test it out himself before he started using it in his own remedies. Still, he was confident enough of his judge in character that she would not lie. Simeon did not mind as she sat next to him, listening to her story, nodding along and briefly smiling and putting a sombre expression on whenever it was fit to do so. Working as a street merchant in a city like Sunberth had given him the traits of what one would call, 'a good listener'.

"I see," he said as the conclusion of her tale. "I, personally, was born a slave from my first breath. I grew up in a sugar plantation, making sugar which was to be used in the production of liquor. There is nothing that burns like molten sugar, and even now-" he ran a hand across his face, indicating the pockmarks dotted across his face and the thick scar tissue on his forearms. "- the scars, they remain. Pyrolisis oil will lessen the scarring, make me all pretty again..." he chuckled. "But I prefer to leave them as they are. They remind me of where I came from. Your knowledge of medicinal practice - I will not shy away from learning your art. I must confess, I know not how bones heal or mend, but plants and poisons, as you put it - they are second nature to me. A single smell tells you much. Dissect the plant and it will tell you its story."

by **Kechaiya** on October 5th, 2014, 10:14 pm

Note :

Kechaiya nodded, listening to his story as he'd done for her. She'd heard a word she did not know, and made an attempt, after he was finished, to repeat it back. "Peer-all-iss-iss oil. What plant this?" It wasn't difficult for her to understand that it helped reduce scars after the fact, but that wouldn't help her if she couldn't find the plant again. She waited for his reply, sitting, ebony eyes watching Sunberthians travel by. Deciding this would be a worthwhile partnership of sorts, she stayed seated here for a full bell. She didn't interfere with his business, nor did she speak, content watching Simeon do his thing.

After a full bell, she stood up, looking down at Simeon, "I thank you. I find you in two days. I teach you healing. Understand? I go heal now. Good day, Simeon, the Herbist." With that, she gathered up her belongings, leaving down the street, without a second look back. It would not be difficult to find him in two days. He had a simple setup, and she assumed he wouldn't be too far from his current location.

But for now, she had her own rounds to do, to find patients. She still needed to stop by the orphanages, but always liked to save those for last. Roaming the streets, the ebony eyed doctor sought out patients who could afford to be treated. After all, life is about the mizas, everything revolved around it. Maybe she'd treat herself tonight, buy something better to eat than her normal daily staple. She pondered on that thought, disappearing in the distance from Simeon and his blanket of goods.

by **Simeon Aytak** on October 10th, 2014, 4:41 am

OOCYes, why not? We can close up this thread with this post and move one to another.

Simeon smiled at her query. "Its not a plant. Its multiple plants, mashed together, and then pressed for the oil, which has to boil for a day before its ready. Quite difficult to produce. I know of it, but I can't replicate it. More philtering than herbalism." After responding, he returned to his work, not a hum escaping his lips as he quietly set herbs to dry, set tinctures to boil, and wet strips of tattered cloth for tinctures.

He was stirred from his work-induced reverie when she spoke, looking up and smiling when she offered to teach him. "Why not? And I'll be more than happy to impart some knowledge of herbs to you." He gave her a little wave as she wandered away, and returned to his work. Though he wandered the streets and his location was never set, he always lingered in an around the Seaside Market, so that repeat customers could find him with ease.

by **Avarice** on October 31st, 2014, 5:33 am

Simeon

Skill	Points
Body Building	+1
Observation	+2
Socialization	+3
Herbalism	+2
Teaching	+1
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.	.

Lore

Herbalism: A Clean Water Supply is Vital

Lugging Water is Excellent Exercise

The Duality of Herbalism

Kechaiya, the Chatawe Herbalist

Herbalism: Thyme Tea Relieves Cough

Herbalism: Basil Settles the Stomach & Returns Appetite

Herbalism: Chamomile's Variety of Uses

Herbalism: A Paste of Bilberry Removes Cataracts

Recipe: An Anti-Diarrhetic of Chamomile, Bilberry, and Basil

Pyrolisis Oil Helps Scars

Herbalism: Batoral is Good for Flavor & Upset Stomach

Stuff?
Consequences, Injuries, Expenses, and More!

N/A

Kechaiya

Skill	Points
Foraging	+1
Herbalism	+3
Socialization	+4
Observation	+2
Negotiation	+1
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.	.
.	.
.	.
.	.
.	.
.	.

Lore

Herbalism: Thyme Tea Relieves Cough

Herbalism: Basil Settles the Stomach & Returns Appetite

Herbalism: Chamomile's Variety of Uses

Herbalism: A Paste of Bilberry Removes Cataracts

Recipe: An Anti-Diarrhetic of Chamomile, Bilberry, and Basil

Pyrolisis Oil Helps Scars

Herbalism: Batoral is Good for Flavor & Upset Stomach

Herbalism: Common Herbs for Diarrhea Relief

Herbalism: Identifying Batoral

Herbalism: Identifying Bilberries

Herbalism: Identifying Chamomile

Simeon, the Benshiran Herbalist

Stuff?
Consequences, Injuries, Expenses, and More!

Comments

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