Solo Preparations

[Alric Lysane]

17th Fall 521 AV – Yedra’s Fountain Alric could feel something in his bones and so he was spending the day preparing for it. It was not a certainty and he wasn’t gifted with the power of prophecy but he knew his own body and something wasn’t quite right. He suspected illness on the horizon. The signs were there – tiredness, headache and abnormal aches and pains. He was worried but was doing all he could do to ensure he was prepared. Sickness was a difficult thing in Sunberth, there were no real doctors who were easily accessible and taking days off sometimes meant you went low on miza for necessities, which spiralled into worse and worse a situation – especially if you were on your own. Thankfully he had already began stockpiling at the beginning of the season and had at least a version of something to eat should the worst happen. He had even been to the Castle Commons that very morning for some other purchases that he had meant to get scores of days ago as his old ones had started to wear out too long ago. The wood had been chopped and stored, after bartering for it by trading of odd jobs done, and he had even managed to procure a little brew that would help in ill times. Hopefully I won’t need to use it and I’m just being paranoid he thought to himself as he carried his last necessary purchase towards the next destination – Yedra’s fountain. It was a water barrel and it was annoying. At least it kept him fit, he supposed, chuckling at the idea when eh thought he might be getting run down. Sometimes all you could do was laugh. He had decided upon Yedra’s fountain for two reasons – firstly it was the closest form of clean water to his home and second because he hoped that whatever strange properties it held that a small measure of health fortification may be one of them. It wasn’t too long a shot after all, the fountain was well known to have odd properties even if where it came from originally had been forgotten in the mists of time. He had always liked the place and he remembered fondly escaping the orphanage to run around it, fearless in childhood. He remembered less fondly that over the years a couple had fallen in, never to return. He took a moment to pause his carrying and hope that they had gone somewhere better. Everyone knew that things were dumped in and never seen again. There was no bottom to the fountain as far as anyone knew and so he reasoned that that meant there must’ve been another way out, another end to it. It made sense though it could also be a way of coping with the unnatural. He shook himself out of the rumination and continued his journey, he had a job to do and water to collect – the last necessity he had yet to properly stockpile. It was a long journey and he was sweating by the end of it, barrel dipped into the fountain and now full, sealed and standing up on the flor next to Yedra’s Fountain as he dipped his whole head in and washed away the exertion and hoped that the amazingly clear waters would seep into his skin their cleansing abilities. Raking back his hair and rubbing out his short beard he looked down…into infinity. It was impenetrable and he wondered, as he had years gone by, whether that meant something. Perhaps they were not meant to discover the fountain’s mysteries. Perhaps the world needed mysteries to keep the people going. He sighed and settled down to sit for a time, his back leaning against the stone of the fountain, his barrel beside him. Secret : Bowl 5" - 1cm Cooking Pot, Gallon - 3sm Cooking Spoon - 2sm Cup, 6oz - 3cm Serving Spoon - 3cm Tea Spoon - 1cm Soup Spoon - 1cm Blanket, Winter - 5sm Barrel, 4 Gallon - 7sm Rugberry Tea - 2gm Total Cost - 3gm 7sm 9cm

[Alric Lysane]

The barrel was noticeably heavier and more awkward to carry back to his home and so it has taken three times as long, the water sloshing within and changing the weight’s balance with every step. He had managed to work out an almost swaying stepping rhythm that had helped but still by the time he had navigated the streets and made it back to his little shack his arms were aching, legs felt a bit wobbly and his back had that good ache that showed a decent labour. It was a rarity in his life at times, so he had a sense of satisfaction about it. Not enough to make him an honest man but there was something to be said for ordering your life as much as one could. The barrel of water was now in the corner of the shack, behind the door when it was open. He had decided to put it there in case he needed something reasonably heavy to put behind the door. It wouldn’t really barricade it, but it would offer up some resistance if full. Alric didn’t know of anyone who wanted him hurt enough that they’d track him to his home but all things considered he didn’t see why he shouldn’t plan just in case. If he did fall sick he’d drag the barrel a foot or so and bar the door closed for the duration. The water itself would last for ten days perhaps alongside the three waterskins he had hung on a peg near the hearth. “Well…might as well take stock” he muttered to himself, sitting at the table with the day’s earlier purchases. It was largely basics, cooking items mostly. All made of clay except the utensils which were wood, rough and ready things. Perhaps one day he’d buy better things, iron possibly or maybe even some glass if he had a decent season for earnings. He had held off on even these basic purchases because he had once had the idea of moving somewhere a bit better than his rugged shack. Such dreams had fallen by the wayside with events and rotten luck. A sparse season for pickings made a lot of difference. Really he should have looked into more permanent employment he knew but he disliked the idea of being beholden to anyone. “Everyone has a game on the go in Sunberth…why play when you don’t have to?” he stated to the empty room. He sighed. It was the one thing that made him question his decision of isolation – interaction. He liked people well enough even if he were wary of most of them. A few years by yourself was fine but a lifetime seemed to drag out before him and the idea of being a lone wolf against the world lost its romantic charm of youth quickly. Now was not the time he supposed but he could feel it approaching and come spring he knew that he’d want to be in a much different situation. If he didn’t start trying now he’d be consigned to the slag heap of failures of Sunberth. No one wanted that. He had yet to determine how he was going to go about transforming his life though. Even if he could get more stable employment and go about side jobs and thievery he doubted he’d make enough to make a giant leap that quickly. Still, he reasoned as he put the pot in the hearth and the cup, plate and utensils on the hearth stones to the side, it was a small step in the right direction. As for greatness…well he’d settle for comfort and health and see where it went from there. Casting his gaze around he couldn’t argue that that would be better. He had food and water enough now, with some additional things that others might not possess. The wool blanket to add to the other bedding for starters was a step up from a newly let go orphan. But what had seemed grand and new when he had started now seemed run down and grim. “Age comes for us all I suppose” he smiled at his foolishness, he was not that old. Old before his time, perhaps.

[Alric Lysane]

Castle Commons & Home After spending some time at his home he had now ventured out once more for one last visit before he’d hunker down for a few days. He had two types of item on his list and both would be simple enough to get so he had no concerns. As he entered the commons he expected to be in and out within a Bell and home by a Bell and a half. The rest of the day would be spent…somehow. He hadn’t thought that far ahead. He found the first stall quick enough, his pack empty and ready to be filled. A food stall it served basic fare, the standard Sunberth belly fillers of bread, salted meats and the occasional dried fruit here and there. He waited for the crowd to abate so that he could get to the stall without being jostled and jabbed by elbows. He wasn’t in a rush and there were other stalls if this one didn’t provide all he wanted. “Whatcha want lad?” the grey haired mistress of the stall demanded, she was clearly in no mood for chatter and that suited him just fine. “Bread, butter, cheese, corned beef and salted pork,” he started as the woman hummed and started taking up what he asked for, “pound of each. Got vegetables?” “Not as much as this morning” “Carrots, onions, mushrooms and potato?” “Ain't got the last” “I’ll have the rest then” The transaction was as quick as the woman and from her tutting as he counted out the miza not as quick as she’d have liked. Still he walked away with most of what he had wanted and the knowledge that he’d have some hearty food for a few days at least. All of it was wrapped up in oiled scrap paper and showed into his backpack as he stepped away and sought out the next destination. He found it within a few chimes of circling the Commons and this one was less busy to begin with. He stood before the stall and eyed up the wares – clothing of various sorts stared back at him, whispering at him to buy. It had been some time since he had had new clothes, he tried tow ear out the old ones first. His current sets were almost done for despite the repairs and winter, even if not as cold, was coming and new clothing seemed a good idea. “Looking for something to replace those rags are ye?” “Look that bad do I?” he asked with a smile. “Look like you’ve been dragged through dirt and stood in a strong wind, but you can change that right now lad” “Honesty…a rare thing for Sunberth. Are you sure you’re from here old man?” “Born and raised, now you looking for something?” Alric gave the man the list and it was found easily enough. He didn’t want anything particularly fancy or unique, mostly just extras of what he already had. He hadn’t the coin to be a peacock and he didn’t care that much about his appearance. He walked away with his backpack rammed full and barely closing, his home beckoning him to return and get warm. It didn’t take him long before he was stepping back through the rough wooden door and putting his pack upon the table, taking out the contents and storing them away securely. Secret : Bread, loaf - 2cm Butter 1lb - 1sm Cheese 1lb - 2sm Beef, corned 1lb - 3gm Pork, salted 1lb - 3gm Mushrooms 1lb - 1gm Carrots - 1lb - 1gm Onions - 1oz - 5sm Undergarments, Linen - 1sm Shirt, Linen - 1sm Vest, Linen - 3sm Jacket, Coarse Wool - 6sm Trousers, Coarse Wool - 8sm Boots, High Leather - 1gm Running Total - 15gm 4sm 11cm

[Alric Lysane]

He set about putting a fire together, moving the new pot for now and grabbing handfuls of assorted shapes of wood. The square of rectangular shaped kindling came first, four sides laced together atop a base of solid strips to help get the fire going. They were dry as a bone, he had made sure to store them in the driest part of the shack. Next came the feathering, taking out his knife and shaving bits off of the end of a few twigs he stored next to the hearth, peeling the edge back and curling it against itself. It was far from perfect. In fact he was sure it was sloppy by a woodman’s reckoning but he only cared it was effective enough to get his home warmed. Flint and steel were struck several times above the little construction, the feathered twigs now in the middle, before anything took. His fingers had started to go numb by that time but he persevered nonetheless. Once the white hot bits had started the feathered pieces smouldering enough he grabbed some shaving and carefully placed them atop. Then came the blowing, the annoying slow and methodical bit that fed the smoulder. It took several chimes before actual fire of any substance shot up and he was able to put another layer of dry kindling atop to be consumed by the flickering dance of the fire A while later he added a couple of half-logs and sat back to watch the rest unfold. He’d have to wait a while before he could cook anything anyhow, the irony of a fire not being hot enough never lost upon his amusement. He took out his pipe and thumbed some of the last of the Blue Vision he had purchased some time ago into the bowl and picked a small stick from the flames for a moment, throwing it back once his pipe had been lit. He puffed away as he watched the light dance. Taking out his knife he cut the end off of the bread and got the tiniest smearing of butter across it, along with a thing slice of cheese. He ate it thoughtfully, returning his mind back to the thoughts of the day and what he might try to accomplish come spring. After a while the fire roared hot enough and he put the old rusted iron shelf that had come with the hearth above it and the new pot with water in atop that. He set about cutting up an onion or two and a few mushrooms and carrots and added them to the water. A few slithers of salted pork followed and that was that. He was no cook but it was something warm to put in his belly after it had cooked a Bell or two. So he sat and waited, smoke curling around his face, as time worked its magic and converted water to some kind of…well he didn’t know the name but he supposed the closest was stew. In many ways he reflected, despite the growing ambition that he felt within, he was not so bad off after all.

[Alric Lysane]

Your Grades Alric Lysane Skills Body Building – 1 Cooking - 1 Endurance – 2 Socialization – 1 Wilderness Survival - 1 Lores Isolation: Can Only Last So Long Sunberth: Yedra’s Fountain Items Gained Bowl 5" - 1cm Cooking Pot, Gallon - 3sm Cooking Spoon - 2sm Cup, 6oz - 3cm Serving Spoon - 3cm Tea Spoon - 1cm Soup Spoon - 1cm Blanket, Winter - 5sm Barrel, 4 Gallon - 7sm Rugberry Tea - 2gm Bread, loaf - 2cm Butter 1lb - 1sm Cheese 1lb - 2sm Beef, corned 1lb - 3gm Pork, salted 1lb - 3gm Mushrooms 1lb - 1gm Carrots - 1lb - 1gm Onions - 1oz - 5sm Undergarments, Linen - 1sm Shirt, Linen - 1sm Vest, Linen - 3sm Jacket, Coarse Wool - 6sm Trousers, Coarse Wool - 8sm Boots, High Leather - 1gm Items Lost 15gm 4sm 11cm Deducted From ledger