19th of Spring, 515 AV
Quietly, he walked through the forest, keeping himself away from the clearing to avoid being seen by any potential predators. After visiting the menagerie, Kaveh was once again reminded of why he shouldn't be out here, attempting to harvest herbs. It would be much easier to buy them from a herbalist, especially since he lived in the same apartment as one Konti who's entire job was to sell medicinal supplies. Although she had left for Mura this season, the Chaktawe also felt it was time to go back outside of the city. Living inside the walls of Riverfall was beginning to feel like a crutch, a prison of his own making, fortifying his fear and weakening his will. He couldn't have that happen, regardless of the threat that the wilderness brought. Perhaps more than his wild partying and flirtation with defying authority, Kaveh was reckless now, out here as he was with a scimitar he barely knew how to use effectively and with only his racial ability and basic wilderness survival to keep him alive.
The first on his list was an easy one, Batonal. Familiar as he was with this common herb, Kaveh was quick to find the spot where he harvested from many times before. Spotting the rounded leaves between the grasses, he squatted before a patch and released his arms from the straps of his rucksack. After plucking that and the nearby patches clean, he tucked the handful into a pocket of his bag before proceeding onwards. The next few were a bit trickier, for they rarely grew in such comparatively large collections and were instead spread out more sparingly in the wild. He began with the easiest to distinguish, searching at the bottom of trees and near rocks for the telltale red root. In encountering any large footprints, he stayed clear of the rest, walking in neither the direction the animal seemed to come from or go to. Although he could sense the movement of others in a large radius, the Chaktawe didn't want to chance upon a group of Glassbeaks running from one plain to another, knowing how much distance the creatures could cover in the blink of an eye.
After some time, he finally found a bit of Flametoe caressing the underside of a small rock. As a check, he leaned in and took a small whiff of the root, twisting his expression in familiarity. I missed this burn. The Chaktawe suppressed an audible gag and instead, shook off the tear inducing odour before he began pulling the root away from its victim. Then, he dug, creating a hole slightly bigger than his palm to allow for the potato sized root to be unearthed. When most of the Flametoe was revealed, he pulled until his efforts were rewarded with a satisfying pop that nearly forced him on his bottom if it were not for his one lowered knee. Tucking his small treasure into his rucksack, Kaveh continued on his hunt. Unfortunately, nearly half a bell later, he was able to find only one more red root. Unsurprised but mildly irritated, the Chaktawe decided to tackle the next herb on his list.
Much like the Flametoe, Delaviv was not the most easy to find or identify, for its round leaves were similar to a great deal of other herbs. Since it was not yet summer when the plant would bloom small, purple flowers, the most distinguishing feature became the velvety texture of the leaves and the square stalks, both of which required close and careful examination. Mentally, he cringed, his thighs already growing tired from constantly squatting down and stand back up in his search for Flametoe. Still, he endured, knowing it was better to keep the Alements stock filled at all times in case of any sort of emergency, else, what would be the point of the infirmary? This much weariness really shouldn't bother him, and so he wouldn't let it.
Each time he spotted round leaves, he revisited the ground beneath his feet with a bend, alternating between his back and legs to give the other a break. Kaveh knew better than to go around touching the leaves to check for its velvety texture, and so he relied on the lack of glossiness of the leaves. Unfortunately, in the shade of the trees this became harder to discern. After another ten chimes or so, Kaveh found what he believed was Delaviv but upon closer inspection, realized that it had a white underside to its leaves. Though he had a lack of experience dealing with poisons, the Chaktawe could swear that he had learned about this plant before, forgetting all but that it was poisonous to some degree. In his examination of the herb, he paid less and less attention to the gentle sensations grazing his fingertips.
It seemed that he was not alone.
Quietly, he walked through the forest, keeping himself away from the clearing to avoid being seen by any potential predators. After visiting the menagerie, Kaveh was once again reminded of why he shouldn't be out here, attempting to harvest herbs. It would be much easier to buy them from a herbalist, especially since he lived in the same apartment as one Konti who's entire job was to sell medicinal supplies. Although she had left for Mura this season, the Chaktawe also felt it was time to go back outside of the city. Living inside the walls of Riverfall was beginning to feel like a crutch, a prison of his own making, fortifying his fear and weakening his will. He couldn't have that happen, regardless of the threat that the wilderness brought. Perhaps more than his wild partying and flirtation with defying authority, Kaveh was reckless now, out here as he was with a scimitar he barely knew how to use effectively and with only his racial ability and basic wilderness survival to keep him alive.
The first on his list was an easy one, Batonal. Familiar as he was with this common herb, Kaveh was quick to find the spot where he harvested from many times before. Spotting the rounded leaves between the grasses, he squatted before a patch and released his arms from the straps of his rucksack. After plucking that and the nearby patches clean, he tucked the handful into a pocket of his bag before proceeding onwards. The next few were a bit trickier, for they rarely grew in such comparatively large collections and were instead spread out more sparingly in the wild. He began with the easiest to distinguish, searching at the bottom of trees and near rocks for the telltale red root. In encountering any large footprints, he stayed clear of the rest, walking in neither the direction the animal seemed to come from or go to. Although he could sense the movement of others in a large radius, the Chaktawe didn't want to chance upon a group of Glassbeaks running from one plain to another, knowing how much distance the creatures could cover in the blink of an eye.
After some time, he finally found a bit of Flametoe caressing the underside of a small rock. As a check, he leaned in and took a small whiff of the root, twisting his expression in familiarity. I missed this burn. The Chaktawe suppressed an audible gag and instead, shook off the tear inducing odour before he began pulling the root away from its victim. Then, he dug, creating a hole slightly bigger than his palm to allow for the potato sized root to be unearthed. When most of the Flametoe was revealed, he pulled until his efforts were rewarded with a satisfying pop that nearly forced him on his bottom if it were not for his one lowered knee. Tucking his small treasure into his rucksack, Kaveh continued on his hunt. Unfortunately, nearly half a bell later, he was able to find only one more red root. Unsurprised but mildly irritated, the Chaktawe decided to tackle the next herb on his list.
Much like the Flametoe, Delaviv was not the most easy to find or identify, for its round leaves were similar to a great deal of other herbs. Since it was not yet summer when the plant would bloom small, purple flowers, the most distinguishing feature became the velvety texture of the leaves and the square stalks, both of which required close and careful examination. Mentally, he cringed, his thighs already growing tired from constantly squatting down and stand back up in his search for Flametoe. Still, he endured, knowing it was better to keep the Alements stock filled at all times in case of any sort of emergency, else, what would be the point of the infirmary? This much weariness really shouldn't bother him, and so he wouldn't let it.
Each time he spotted round leaves, he revisited the ground beneath his feet with a bend, alternating between his back and legs to give the other a break. Kaveh knew better than to go around touching the leaves to check for its velvety texture, and so he relied on the lack of glossiness of the leaves. Unfortunately, in the shade of the trees this became harder to discern. After another ten chimes or so, Kaveh found what he believed was Delaviv but upon closer inspection, realized that it had a white underside to its leaves. Though he had a lack of experience dealing with poisons, the Chaktawe could swear that he had learned about this plant before, forgetting all but that it was poisonous to some degree. In his examination of the herb, he paid less and less attention to the gentle sensations grazing his fingertips.
It seemed that he was not alone.
