Solo The Doings of Ordinary Days

[Okara]

Summer 11, 516 The ocean water flowed around Okara’s body as her experienced legs kicked powerfully through the tide. Her arms were close to her sides, a slender kitchen knife clutched in one of her hands. Bending slightly at the hips Okara angled her body downwards and began to descend deeper into the water. Her drenched light blonde hair was braided tightly down her neck, a typical style for a day of work and errands. A few chimes passed and the greenish brown spires of the Kelp Forest rose up before her. The bright morning sun lit up the ocean waters and Okara could see several Konti flitting through the ocean plants to harvest here, inspect there. The Kelp Forest was a well tended and cultivated food source for the island. Okara loved the delicious soups and salads she could make from the various types of seaweed she was able to collect from the Forest. Today she sought to collect a length of the giant brown kelp that the Kelp Forest was known for. The huge spires rooted in the the ocean floor and stretched up towards the bright light above them, some of the tops swayed softly at the divide between water and sky. Okara swam past the first few spires of kelp before she stopped to inspect a plant. She allowed her body to float slowly upwards as she inspected the leaves of the kelp plant. Most were whole though a few had some chunks eaten off by some critter or another. Gently the Konti woman floated upwards until she judged the length of kelp remaining above her to be roughly six feet or a little longer than the length of her body. Okara used her hands to stop her upward motion and float steadily next to the kelp plant. Reaching out she grasped the rope like stem in one hand and used the knife in her other to saw steadily through until the desired length of kelp broke off from the rooted portion of the plant. Okara held the knife handle carefully in her palm while she pulled the rope-like kelp into a bunch that was easier to hold. Okara had only taken a third of the length of the entire plant. The amount she had taken was enough to stock her personal kitchen with kelp for a few weeks. Taking the whole plant would likely lead to some portion going bad and being wasted. She understood the importance of only taking what she needed for her own purposes and made sure to leave plenty behind for the kelp plant to recover and continue to feed other Konti and creatures. Her collected prize in hand, Okara turned and began to kick her body towards the island shore. A few chimes passed as she moved steadily towards the shore, the amount of water between sandy bottom and bright sky above slowly decreasing. The power of the tide grew stronger as she neared the shore and her leg kicks increased in power to compensate for it. Once the water was shallow enough to stand, Okara placed her feet down firmly in the sand and lifted her kelp filled arms high in an attempt to prevent the plant matter from collecting gritty sand. Standing, she struggled to move her body forward through the forceful tide with her arms raised high above the water that gathered around her chest. Step after deliberate step she drew closer to the dry beach as the water slowly receded down her body. Once the water was only to her knees Okara was able to lower her arms and hold the kelp more comfortably against her chest.

[Okara]

Bare, scaled feet marched onto the dry sand and Okara stopped to turn back and gaze at the ocean from which she had emerged. With Syna’s light burning down the ocean looked delicious and inviting, she was saddened to leave its comfortable embrace. Okara turned her gaze down towards the kelp in her arms, inspecting it carefully. The bunch did not seem like it had gathered much sand for which she was thankful. Okara began moving again, her steps retracing her path back home. It was a beautiful, sunny morning and the city was bustling with activity. Okara smiled and nodded in polite greeting as she passed other Konti and the occasional island visitor. A quarter bell passed before she found herself at her own front door. She had not locked it and used her hip to press the door open. Okara stepped forward and laid the wet bunch of kelp down onto the heavy stone table in the middle of her humble cottage. She placed the knife down beside it, careful to leave it where she would not accidentally cut herself as she worked. She moved her hands to the kelp and began to slowly untangle the rope like stem. She moved the plant around carefully, it was a hardy plant but damaging the stem would make it more difficult to hang and dry properly. Once the kelp rope was untangled, Okara picked up one end of the stem and moved it to the corner of the table where she placed her heavy picnic basket on top of it. Grasping the other end of the stem she carefully pulled it across the room towards the wooden shelves near the hearth. Setting a few inches of stem on the top shelf she placed her heavy cooking pan on top to hold it in place. Turning, Okara inspected the draped kelp. The ropelike stem hung awkwardly in the space, one end higher than the other. Long leaves streamed down from the stem, seawater dripping from them onto the floor. The setup was primitive but the kelp should dry sufficiently and leave Okara with enough dried kelp to add to soups or snack on for a few weeks. The kelp would stay edible in dried form far longer than if Okara had merely dropped a bunch of wet kelp into a bowl which would no doubt begin to quickly rot. The strand of kelp might get in her way a bit as it dried over the next few days but restocking her kitchen was more important than the convenience of moving around her home. At the thought of a fully stocked kitchen her stomach began to gurgle gently. She had a few more things she wanted to do before resting but surely she could get lunch simmering in the meantime. Okara walked towards her hearth and picked up the large cooking pot sitting by the ashes. She held it firmly against her chest and walk to and through her doorway. She quickly found a fountain of clear, clean water from which she filled the pot and turned back towards home.

[Okara]

Returning to her home, Okara hung the handle of the large pot above the hearth on a hook. A small pile of kindling and dried pine needles were stacked near the hearth, which Okara used to coax forth a small fire from the ashes. Once the flames were licking the bottom of the cooking pot Okara stood and stepped towards the strand of kelp. She ripped off two leaves of kelp from the stem, careful not to drag the whole thing down to the floor, and tossed the leaves into the still cool water. Okara reached for the large wooden spoon on her shelf and stirred the pot slowly, letting the long leaves swirl around in the water. She set her spoon aside and backed away from the hearth. The kelp leaves would make a delicious broth but she knew she must leave it alone. She had a difficult time forcing herself away from things cooking on the hearth but what broths needed most was time to sit and simmer. Standing over it would do no good. Turning, Okara approached the small stone table beside her bed where her coin pouch and a small white oyster shell rested. Okara knitted her brows together, she had forgotten about the oyster shell she had brought back from a trip to the ocean earlier that summer. She picked it up and her green eyes examined it closely. The shell fit comfortably in her palm, its edges rough and chipped from its former life in the ocean. The color was iridescently white and reminded her of her own scales across her body. Okara set the shell back down, she would have to find a nice place in her home to display it properly. It was a beautiful gift from the ocean. Okara picked up her coin pouch and stepped towards the doorway. She had a few things she could take care of while she waited for the broth to simmer and absorb the flavors of the kelp. Okara’s bare feet tapped lightly on the cobblestone as she traced her way north through the city. Through the city and beyond into the Silver Wood she walked, enjoying the pleasant breeze and sun. She walked leisurely, taking her time until she could see the glimmer of water through the trees. Silver Lake stretched out before her, tourists and Konti alike milling around its shores and pavilions. Okara traced her way to the foot of the Silver Velispar Bridge. The emerald eyes of the stone lizard glared at her as she began to ascend the bridge. Painted wooden swan boats filled with giggling and serene passengers passed beneath the bridge as she passed above. Okara’s strong, slender legs carried her slowly across and up the bridge towards the small shop built at its apex. The gold lining the white stone shop glittered in the bright sun as Okara passed through the open blue painted door. Entering the cramped shop Okara stopped for a moment to take in the many items packed within the small interior. She lifted a hand and ran it down her still damp braid as she considered the shop’s merchandise. Squeezing past other shoppers her gaze jumped around the items laid out on tables and crammed into shelves. Occasionally she reached out a hand to caress an interesting object that caught her gaze. The shop contained many objects that intrigued her but she knew she was not prepared to lay down the many coins they would likely cost.

[Okara]

Okara’s desires were simple that day though she could not help but be drawn in by the small book collection the shop possessed. Several titles caught her attention, perhaps she would return to explore their costs another day. Stepping slowly around objects and shoppers Okara stopped in front of a fragrant display. The display shelves held candles, containers of ground incense material, and small trays and cups to hold them. Okara pursed her lips in thought as she considered the candles and incense. Deciding on the incense, Okara lifted the lids of each jar to softly sniff their contents. The third jar she smelled struck her as the perfect scent. An earthy, spicy sage would make excellent material for prayers at Rak’keli’s altar. Okara picked up a metal spoon and small square piece of paper from a pile resting on the shelf. She scooped out a heaping spoonful of the ground sage and dropped it on the paper, folding it up into a small envelope that would not spill its contents as she walked. Okara turned towards the smiling shopkeeper, waiting until she had caught her eye before approaching her. As she walked toward the front the Konti woman spied a table of clay jars and impulsively grabbed one. “Pardon me, I would like to purchase this incense and this jar. How much for these?” Okara asked and showed Ra’mari her handful of items. The Konti shopkeeper considered the incense and jar for a moment before presenting an offer. “I can let the incense go for three silver mizas. The jar I can sell for another silver miza.” Ra’mari responded, raising her eyebrow and smiling at Okara. Okara couldn’t help but smile back at the quirky Konti. Ra’mari was widely known around town as an eccentric and expressive person. Okara had never really dealt with her before but immediately felt warmly towards the Konti who cultivated a collection of such oddities. “Three silver mizas? Hmm, that feels high for some incense that will be burned up so quickly. Can we knock a coin or two off that price?” Okara’s attempt at negotiation was amateur at best, her words did not come out as confidently as she meant them to. She struggled to keep a smile on her face so she would not betray her dismay at her own haggling attempts. She did not know Ra’mari’s gift or how perceptive she might be towards Okara’s emotions. Some of her sisters were so good at reading and picking up on emotions it was pointless to hide one’s feelings. “Very well, two silver mizas. That’s as low as I will go. Sage is a popular scent and I can get good coin for it. Make your own incense next time if you want to save some coin. Or burn it more slowly!” Ra’mari responded with a light laugh. “Very well, I am willing to pay that. So a total of three silvers…” Okara said and murmured the total cost as she counted out coins from her pouch. She placed the coins in Ra’mari’s expectant palm and each bid good day to the other. Walking towards the door, Okara grasped the thin paper envelope holding the ground sage delicately, determined not to dump the fragrant herb. Ledger1 oz of Sage -2sm, 16 oz Jar -1sm. I charged myself extra for the sage since Okara isn't very good at negotiation yet.

[Okara]

Walking down the bridge Okara thought of the progress of her simmering broth while she contemplated her next destination. The broth could easily simmer for bells without risk of ruin. Broths were one of the first things she had learned to cook as a young girl and the backbone of many delicious recipes. Deliberate but unhurried steps carried her down the bridge and away from Silver Lake, back towards the city coastline. Okara carefully retraced her steps, smiling and waving to passers by, until she was passing through the white iron gates surrounding the Opal Temple grounds. Okara’s feet carried her through the immaculately manicured lawns and towards the gleaming stone buildings rising up in front of her. She did not enter the main Temple building that housed the many students and patients residing there nor did she turn her eyes to the Medical Library which she loved to visit. Instead, she padded to the South Tower, the heart of Rak’keli’s presence in the city. Passing through the entrance, the elegant and sprawling cathedral on the first floor of the South Tower spread out before her. Syna’s light streamed in through the round windows and lit up the sparkling white walls lined with delicate green patterns. The walls seemed to glitter so brightly that the light in the space around them sparkled. A few silent worshippers stood or sat around the cathedral, lost in deep prayer and reflection. The cathedral was filled with a mystical and serene energy that affected Okara and calmed her mind. She felt at peace here in the seat of her goddess. Okara’s feet padded forward and towards the altar with little sound. She had always felt that the cathedral muffled the noise within it. As if the building was aware of and attending to its purpose, furthering the sense of the goddess’s grace and divinity present in the holy ground. She smiled, realizing those thoughts were likely only her perception and influenced by her personal devotion towards Rak’keli. The slender Konti woman knelt at the altar and carefully unfolded one corner of the paper envelope. A small footed brazier rested on top of the altar holding hot coals and the smoky remnants of the last incense offering left by a worshiper. Okara gently shook the open envelope corner on top of the brazier, sprinkling some ground sage onto the hot coals. Thin puffs of fragrant smoke rose as the sage quickly burned. Rak’keli, benevolent and beloved goddess, guide me in all that I do. Let me further understand your grace so I can embrace it and live it. Show me how to walk the path of healing and comfort for all of the world. Help me bring goodness to this plane of existence and push away the coldness and cruelty that infests it. Bring me to those in need and keep me safe from threats so that I may never need to inflict violence upon others. Fill my life with your grace and light. Always will I be your servant, always will I keep your teachings in mind. Ledger-.25 oz sage

[Okara]

With the closing of her prayer Okara refolded the paper envelope corner to keep the rest of the ground sage safe and set it gently on the floor next to the clay jar. Okara sat back on her heels and placed her left hand on her right hand’s gnosis mark, a physical focus for the consideration of Rak’keli. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, the myriad scented offerings clouding her nostrils. She exhaled and attempted to clear her mind. Here in the cathedral her thoughts seemed to slide away easily and allowed her room for her own contemplations. She breathed in and out a few times as she let her thoughts continue to fall away from her. Occasionally random thoughts crept into her mind but she patiently pushed them back. Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale. Okara breathed in and out, her hand still resting firmly on her gnosis. Feeling sufficiently still, Okara began to meditate on Rak’keli’s teachings. Okara contemplated the will of the goddess, her desire to heal the suffering of the world and fight back those who meant others ill. Okara considered the virtues of honesty and hope. She considered the power of a gentle healer’s touch upon those who were physically and mentally wounded by war’s touch. The strength of a healer who would lay their hands upon the shivering wretches plagued by disease no others would near. Many ignorant beings saw caring as weakness, as vulnerability. Doubts occasionally crept into Okara’s mind but she pushed them away, bringing her concentration back to the virtues valued by Rak’keli’s followers. Opening her eyes, Okara looked upon the statue of Rak’keli and silently thanked the goddess for the peacefulness of her thoughts. Whenever she visited the Temple Okara always walked away feeling as though she was closer to the goddess who had marked her. This time was no different. She gathered her jar of incense and slowly stood, her knees stiff from being still so long. Okara was still focused internally, so dazzled by her religious meditations that she hardly realized she was walking until she was surprised to find herself at her own doorstep again. Entering the humble abode Okara the paper envelope of ground sage onto her shelf and placed the empty jar beside it. Turning to her table she withdrew a simply carved bowl from her picnic basket and approached the hearth. She looked into the cooking pot above the fire and found it happily bubbling away. The water had absorbed the kelp’s flavors and turned a light, hazy green color. Okara stirred the contents of the pot a few times to ensure the flavor was evenly distributed throughout the pot. Alone and not feeling the need for formality, Okara dipped the bowl into the pot and came away with a helping of steaming broth with small shards of kelp floating around. She lifted the bowl to her mouth and blew gently before risking a sip. The liquid was intensely hot so she could only manage a small sip but she savored the salty, tangy flavor of the kelp broth. Returning to her table Okara sat and slowly sipped the broth, grateful for a quiet day’s labors and reflections. **** Summer 19, 516 Okara examined the dried kelp hanging between her table and shelves thoroughly, checking for wet spots or signs of rot. The leaves she approved of she plucked carefully off the stem and placed on the table. The once long, smooth leaves had shriveled and shortened as they dried. Okara approved of the majority of the leaves and was left with a nice pile of dried kelp. She found the clay jar she had bought from the Silver Velispar Emporium a week earlier on her shelf and drew it down. Carefully, Okara fit the leaves into the clay jar. She admired how delicately it sat inside the jar, ready for use. She placed it proudly back onto the shelf.

[Tap]

Your Grades Have Come

Okara

Grades:
Endurance 1
Foraging 1
Observation 3
Cooking 1
Negotiation 1
Rhetoric 1
Meditation 1
Botany 1

Lores:
Kelp: The Drying Process
Cooking: Kelp as an Easy Broth
Religion: Burning Sage for Prayer
Meditation: For Religious Connection

Other:
-3sm for Purchases
+ 1 16oz Clay Jar
+ 0.75oz Ground Sage
+ 6ft Dried Kelp or 2oz of Dried Kelp

Comments:
Lovely thread! i enjoyed how you roleplayed your purchases instead of just doing them OOC. Also I think it is awesome how you RPed IC your devotion to Rak'keli, that is always fantastic. Let me know if you have any comments about your grades. I am new to this so need all the feedback possible. I am not so sure on my lores, if I didnt award enough, etc. So please let me know!