Completed Burning Sea-Weed

[Savacea Jovellana]

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Burning Sea-Weed
39th, Summer 515 AV

It was midday before Savacea was finished out front helping Tokia with her customers. For what ever reason it seemed to be busier lately then what it normally was. Perhaps it was due to the fact of the Myrian finding help so she could concentrate on producing tonics and potions, or maybe it was just that at the time certain things were in demand. The raven haired girl stretched with her arms in the air, giving a small yawn as she did so. It was not that she was tired, rather bored with dealing with people. She was not the most sociable person, actually it seemed she was a bit of a failure at times as her cold glares and sass was not appreciated by most of the customers that came in. Even though with all that, the customers were there for Tokia's Tonics, not to socialize with her.

"Alright I think you should take a break from the front. You are not exactly.." The woman paused as if trying to find a better way to say something, but shook her head and spoke once more "..a people person." She concluded and Savacea gave a sigh in agreement. She did not particularly like people, but she had to say she was nicer to the customers then what she would of been if they had met on the streets of Black Rock.

"Sorry Tokia, I did try. That one person though was just..annoying." Savacea said through gritted teeth, remembering how arrogant the woman was. She looked upon Savacea as if she carried a foul odor on her skin, with pursed lips and a stern up turned nose, the Symenestra could not help but bring her down a notch or two. Tokia chuckled and shooed her to the back and Savacea complied with out a complaint, as this was her favorite place to be anyway. "Why don't I try making a Poison for you Tokia, we are running low on some anyway..." This time Savacea paused trying to remember in the clutter mess what was running low, although she could not think of much because the organization of the Myrian woman was a bit chaotic to say the least, but she did remember one in particular that struck her interest, ..perhaps Phantoms Shell? She asked with a tilt of her head, curious to see if Tokia would allow her to make it.

The older woman nodded her head, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. She stayed silent for a moment, in thought of what Savacea offered, then nodded her head again, "Yes that should be fine... Go to the beach and collect some seaweed, you need at least three different kinds but it should not be too hard to find if you swim a bit." Savacea cringed as she did not know how to swim, not well at all. Though this did not stop her she did not mind learning something new if it would assist her in the craft. "Alright I will be back soon. If I am not back by night fall I have drown." Savacea tossed over her shoulder, walking out the door as the Myrian chuckled to her response.

The day was a bit temperament though not overly heated as it is in some areas during Summer. The constant mist of rain kept the temperature less harsh, but also continued the ever presence of the fog that surrounded Black Rock. Savacea inhaled deeply, the air was laden with moisture but it did make it slightly humid. She looked down at her clothing, noting that perhaps she should buy some more clothes. The Symenestra did have a dress but she did not want to ruin it scavenging, so she stuck to her silks, armor, and tights. Though a skirt or shorts and a chemise would seem to be cooler during this season. She made a mental note to try and find such garments when ever she had the time to go shopping again. The raven haired girl dismissed the thoughts as she continued her stroll towards the beach, so she could find this illusive sea weed in the ocean, praying to what ever God or Goddess that would listen that she would not drown in her attempts of cultivating the salty vegetation.

Common | Symenos | Thoughts

[Savacea Jovellana]

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Swimming

The Northern Docks came into view, filled with ships and Svefra walking around. She walked towards the beach, the sand glistening in the light of the sun. Salt air hit her nostrils and the cry of sea gulls emitted into the air. She inhaled deeply, tasting the salt on the back of her tongue. Savacea loved the beach, the way it looked, smelled, and even how the air held a small taste of salt. Growing up in the caves, she did not realize what she was missing out on, until she ran away that is.

The Symenestra walked to the edge of the water, veering away from the people and ships as much as she could. That way she did not bother them and hopefully they would mind their own business as well. Removing her clothing she stuck what she could in the silk pack, the armor she placed on top of her pack. Now clad in just her silken undergarments she dipped her toe into the edge of the water. It seemed to be pleasantly warm, she had not been swimming before, this was her first attempt at doing so. Hopefully she did not have to swim too far out, preferring to keep to where she was standing.

Shaking her limbs to loosen them and inhaling a deep breath she began walking into the water until she was at her elbows. Exhaling the breath she had been holding and realizing she had closed her eyes, she opened them to look around. She was not that far out, as she was shorter then some, so it was not that bad. Savacea scrunched up her toes, squeezing the sand with them. It was an awkward feeling, kind of like mud but perhaps more gritty, but soft at the same time. Seaweed tickled her knees as it swayed with the waves.

She was really not looking forward to diving into the water, even if it was not that far down. The thought of being submerged under the water just made her feel queasy. Biting her lower lip, she mentally started to prep herself for the dive. Telling herself over and over the she would not drown. After a few minutes of meditative reassurance to herself, she inhaled a deep breath. Diving head first into the water to submerge just her upper half, as it was not as deep as she thought it was. She almost laughed out loud at herself, then realized she was underwater and it was probably best not to do that. She reached out and grasped some green seaweed. Yanking roughly, the stuff gave way, and she came back up out of the water. Wiping at her eyes with her arm before opening them to look at her treasure.

It was a green and slimy pulp that laid in her hand. It made her cringe slightly, as it was disgusting. She brought it up to her nose and it scrunched up. The smell coming from the pulp was not pleasant. Sure it smelled like salt but there was another aroma she could not quite place, and was not sure that she wanted to. Walking out of the water she shook her limbs free of the salt water, walking up the beach a little ways she found her silk pack. Opening it she placed the green vegetation in a jar Tokia had given her to put the seaweed in. The jar was not hers of course, only to borrow for the cultivating and then returning it back to the woman.

Once it was deposited in the jar she laid it on top of the armor, turning and entering the salty liquid depths once more. Swimming to the side a little ways but still sticking to the shallow end where she could walk, she felt some more vegetation touching her legs. It made her jump at first, until she realized it was the seaweed. Reaching down with her hand she grabbed the seaweed and bringing it out of the ocean. It was the green seaweed, the same as what she had just collected. With a grumble Savacea tossed it over her shoulder then looked around.

"I guess I need to go deeper.." Savacea thought with a grimace. She really was not looking forward to going any deeper then her elbows. With a loud exhale full of frustration she turned and began walking deeper into the massive ocean.

Common | Symenos | Thoughts

[Savacea Jovellana]

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Swimming Deeper

As Savacea was walking to go a little deeper, the sand dropped off, plunging her into the dark depths of the ocean. She wanted to scream but it was only drowned out by the crashing of water around her head. She struggled kicking her legs and windmilling her arms trying to get back to the surface. Her chest became a little tighter until she calmed down a little. The urge to open her eyes was great but she was afraid of what she may see, what if a giant creature had actually just swallowed her and she was in it's belly? She cringed under the water and stopped the windmilling. Savacea instead kicked her feet out at the water, flapping her arms like a bird in a way and she could see the darkness subsiding as she made her way to the surface.

Breaking the water she inhaled deeply and loudly, coughing a bit and spitting out water. Wiping her face and still kicking her legs hard she leaned forward, bringing her arms in front she made little paddles out of each palm, pushing the water back to propel her forward until she felt the surface once more. Walking until the water was only at her knees she sat down in the shallows, coughing a little and blowing out her nostrils just in case there was water or other substances inside of it.

After her racing heart calmed down and her chest stopped hurting, she looked out at the ocean. "So panicking almost killed me... I need to learn how to swim." Savacea thought to herself, as she wrapped her arms around her small body. She used to welcome death, until a friend told her that enjoying the small things made life better. She told that friend she would try and she did and found herself a little more happier then usual as of late. She still had her moments of darkness, she would always have the darkness because the light could not exist with out it, but all in all she was not thinking of suicide or ways she could die all the time.

After sitting there for twenty-minutes letting the waves crash over her, she figured it was time to try again, but perhaps in a different area.

Common | Symenos | Thoughts

[Savacea Jovellana]

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Seaweed Harvesting

With a new determination she walked towards the boats at the dock, thinking perhaps near the docks there would be different types of seaweed, it seemed promising at least and the prospect of having wood to hold on to was always nice. She came to the docks and went in staying close the docks. She kept walking until something began tickling her legs. She was only in pelvic deep, so she reached down giving the weed a yank. This one was a bit tougher then the green one, so she had to give another more forceful yanks. By doing so the weed relented to her tugs and come out. She brought her hand out of the water and observed that this seaweed was different to the green one. It was still slimy, but a bit more tough and not so pulpy, it was also a brownish color with a hue of green. Satisfied she held it tightly in her hand and walked to her pack.

Picking the jar up from where she sat it, she untwisted the lid, plopped the brown weed inside with the green, and replaced the lid. Peering around her she wondered if she should try the docks again or walk further way to the more cliff like structures. Perhaps there would be different seaweed over there or perhaps she should go back to the docks where there was a more safe feeling. She stood there for a few minutes, looking from side to side with a confused look upon her face, debating inside her head which way was best to try.

She nodded her head, determined to go to the less safe area. She could not let fear and the prospect of danger keep her from her task. She walked to the other side, the walk lasted about ten-minutes and she found herself near rock formations that lead out into the ocean. She stayed close to the formations, using them as a guide as she entered the watery domain. She was standing on her tip toes when she stopped, feeling something touching her ankles. She prayed that it was seaweed that she was feeling, as she closed her eyes, inhaled and grasped on the rock, using her clawed hand and the rock to guide her down.

Keeping her eyes closed she noticed that the light became dimmer, not because of her eyes being closed, but also because she traveled into the depths further from the sun. Keeping a firm hold on the rock, she brought out her other hand waving it to and fro in the water. Waiting to make contact with her salvation or her demise. Once she felt the tickling of what she hoped was a weed, she reached out and grasped it into her palm. Pulling upwards with a force her hand slipped from the rock. A small bit of panic ignited inside her chest, not wanting her safety taken from her. She swallowed the panic, remembering that it almost lead her to being drown the last time she did so. Instead she stayed focused on the task at hand, reaching out with her other hand she pulled herself down to the rocky bottom.

Placing her feet on the stoned sand, she grabbed the weed with her other hand and yanking as hard as she could under water with both hands. It took a few tugs but it finally relented. Gathering it in one hand she kicked off of the bottom and broke the surface. Once at the surface she stood on her tiptoes and reaching out with her right hand she grabbed the rock once more guiding her closer to the shore. Once she was shoulder deep she brought out her left hand and looked down, observing her prize. It was indeed seaweed, so the efforts were not made in vain at least. This seaweed had a purple hue to it, it was slimy and slightly pulpy like the green seaweed. Fist pumping in the air she let out an excited 'Yay' and walked to the shore. Briskly walking back to her pack, in an almost skip, she deposited the purplish seaweed into the jar.

She was wet and preferred not to dampen her clothes, instead she decided to walk back in her undergarments, so she could dry off by the time she made it back to Tokia's Tonics. By the time she arrived she would be dry enough to put her clothes back on, until then she would have to deal with the lewd stares as she made her way back to work. With a shrug, she brought her pack onto her shoulder, keeping her armor in one hand and the jar in the other, walking back towards Tokias.

Common | Symenos | Thoughts

[Savacea Jovellana]

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Prepping The Seaweed

Walking around in just her undergarments granted her some looks from people. She did not care though, she would rather save her clothing then worry about what people thought of her. Savacea decided half-way to Tokia's Tonics though to give them something to look at. So she held her head up in the air, straightening her back and elongating her body like she did in dance class. With a seductive sway to her hips she sashayed down the road, purposefully putting one step in front of the other gracefully, as she made her way down the road. This made her receive more looks, some from men, but she kept her eyes straight ahead, letting them have something to talk about in their boring lives.

Once she made it to Tokia's her body was fully dry. Her hair though was still damp, so she put her pack on the ground, digging out a piece of string, and tying her hair up. The pony tail was still long and touched between her shoulder blades but it was at least in a position not to make her clothes soaking wet. She dug out her clothes and donned them, wrapping the armor around her torso, and putting the pack back on her shoulder. Walking into Tokia's she noticed the woman was not at the counter. "Probably in the back working.." Savacea thought to herself, as she made her way behind the counter and to the work space in the back. Sure enough Tokia was there, grinding something in the mortar with the pestle.

"Well I nearly died but I was able to get the seaweed." Savacea said dramatically with a sigh, placing the jar on top of the table. Tokia chuckled shaking her head, "Well I was about to send someone out for you since it was taking so long, thought Laviku had embraced you." The woman chided, grabbing the jar and examining the contents. With a nod of approval, she placed the jar back down.

"Get some gloves and a mask, we have to burn it." Tokia said as she went back to her pestle grinding. Savacea frowned a bit, wondering how she was suppose to burn wet seaweed, but shrugged it off putting on the gloves, then the mask over her nose and mouth.

"How are we going to burn it, it is wet?" Savacea asked a bit perplexed, with a curious raise of a brow as she looked at the Myrian.

"Tell me.. Do you know how to cook?" The old woman said, still at her grinding. Savacea thought a moment then shook her head, "No.. I have no need to cook." She said honestly, the woman nodded and laughed, "Then burning it should be no problem."

Savacea heard her but did not understand for a few seconds, until she caught on to the joke and laughed, "No I suppose not." she said in between soft laughter. Tokia nodded and brought out a frying pan, "Place it in here, put it on the fire with some oil and forget about it for a little while, it'll suck out the moisture, evaporate the oil somewhat, and of course with your poor cooking skills it will burn." Tokia explained shoving the pan into her hands.

The Symenestra nodded and grabbed the seaweed with gloved hands, placing them in the frying pan, "You need to put the oil in first and lay them out flat not clumped up." Tokia explained mirth in her eyes. Savacea sighed, she really sucked at this cooking stuff. She grabbed some oil of coconut, putting only a small amount in, then placed the seaweed inside, flat and flush with the bottom. Taking the pan she placed it over the heat element, watching it for a few minutes she saw it began to fry. "Should I flip it to the other side?" Savacea asked still looking at the pan.

Tokia looked over, then walked to the pan and looked inside, "Nah let it burn a bit before flipping it." She said and went back to what she was doing with what ever she had just used the pestle to grind in the mortar.

Savacea sat down in front of the heat, letting the warmth dry her damp hair as she watched the seaweed hiss and sizzle as the water began to evaporate. After fifteen minutes, it was smoking and smelled of wet dog fur. She pinched her knows and gave a disgusted look, "That is so disgusting." She commented, wondering if the smell was more intense with out the mask. Tokia laughed nodding her head, "It isn't pleasant. You can flip it now, use that spatula right there." Savacea was about to ask what a spatula was, but the Myrian held out a smooth tawny finger pointing to the utensil so she had no need to do so. It had a long wooden handle that came up to a flat wooden surface. Savacea shrugged, sticking the spatula in she lifted the seaweed from the pan and flipped it. "Hey this thing is handy!" Savacea commented a bit amazed at how well it had flipped the seaweed.

Tokia gave a hearty laugh, "You really should learn more about cooking if you ever want a man. A way to a man's heart is through is stomach after all!" Savacea stuck her tongue out at her comment, "How about I find a man who can already cook, so he can take care of himself?" Savacea retorted and the Myrian chuckled shrugging her shoulders, giving a small shake of her head.

After it was burnt on the other side, she nudged it with the handy dandy spatula, and it started to crumble and ash up. "Is it supposed to turn to ash?" Savacea asked a bit worried that she had messed up the task of burning the seaweed. Tokia nodded her head, "Yup we want it to be ashes." She replied, making the worry lift off of Savacea's face as the seaweed continued to burn in the oil. She wondered if dry seaweed would of been easier, but if Tokia had some she would not have made her go out and get some... right?

After it was completely burned and ashed, she grabbed a towel to retrieve the heated pan from the heat. Sitting it down on another towel that was folded on the table, "Now what do we do with it?" Savacea asked looking down at the fowl smelling ash. Tokia came over to examine her succesful failed cooking, nudging the ashes with a small wooden spoon.

Common | Symenos | Thoughts

[Savacea Jovellana]

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Phantoms Shell Concluded

"Well it is called Phantoms Shell. Typically you injure the person with the ashes to cause their flesh pain for up to four hours." Tokia explained the poison she just made and she frowned a bit, "Uhm.. How do you injure a person with ashes.. exactly?" Savacea said thoughtful, wondering how ashes could hurt someone.

Tokia sighed, "People are creative I suppose." Tokia thought for a moment staring down at the ashes, "I suppose you could smudge an arrow or a blade with the ashes, then shoot the arrow into someone, or slash them with the blade. That way the poison enters the bloodstream." Tokia explained, eyeing the ashes with new found interest.

"Hmm.. That does make a lot of sense. This is useful if you go against an enemy stronger then you I suppose, that way they are too busy dealing with their pain to really concentrate on fighting you." Savacea said, tilting her head and examining the ashes with more interest then Tokia.

Tokia gave a quick nod, "Right you are. Now we have to put this in a small jar, as it was made for someone in particular." Tokia said, grabbing a jar and pouring the ashes inside. Savacea wanted to know who it was made for, but held her tongue as Tokia kept her customer's business as private as she could. Savacea respected this, not everyone should know that so-and-so bought this-and-that poison, or else rumors would fly as well as accusations.

Tokia took the jar and began heading out the door, she turned and said over her shoulder, "Clean this up and then you can go." Tokia then left the work space to head back to the front. Savacea growled and rolled her eyes, a little frustrated she was left with the cleaning duty of the work space, but respected her Boss's wishes and began cleaning all their messes up still wearing the gloves and mask. After it was all cleaned she removed the gloves and mask and left the work room. As she exited she saw the jar of ashes she just made being handed to a Myrian man. He looked up quickly with a fierce and stern look, handing the money to Tokia and leaving the shop as quickly as possible. "Well that was weird.." Savacea thought as she looked at Tokia, before she could question her on the man's weird behavior she spoke up, "If it is cleaned you may leave, see you soon." She said with a grin and let the front to go back to the back. Savacea wondered why everyone was being secretive but shrugged it off to her being just paranoid about things, she sighed and walked out of the cottage.

Common | Symenos | Thoughts

[Dravite]

Savacea Jovellana

XP Award:

• Socialisation: 2
• Logic: 1
• Observation: 2
• Botany: 1
• Swimming: 3
• Bodybuilding: 1
• Endurance: 1
• Foraging: 2
• Seduction: 1
• Rhetoric: 1
• Cooking: 1
• Poison: 1
• Cleaning: 1

Lore:

• Phantoms Shell: Name ingredient, seaweed
• Observation: The smell and taste of the sea
• Swimming: Basic duck dive
• Swimming: Basic kicks and strokes
• Botany: Types of seaweed
• Cooking: Seaweed
• Philosophy: Cooking, the way to a man's heart
• Phantoms Shell: Flesh poison

Notes: I really enjoyed reading this thread, it was quite different and covered a lot. As your observation and socialisation skill gets higher and higher you need to do more to earn the points; simply glancing down at what she is wearing for example won't win you anything anymore. Your second post was really well done and you were more than deserving of the observation point I awarded there where you covered sight, scents, touch etc. Enjoy the rewards!

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