[Sweetwine] Floral Arrangement

[Yeva]

28 Ashan 720

It felt good to enjoy sunshine once more. Chin tilted up, Yeva hummed in relaxation while the sun's rays kissed her freckled cheeks. It was a mild day, at least compared to the temperatures that had been plaguing Scalvoris since she arrived and the young woman had no intention of missing the chance to enjoy the pleasant weather. Others were with her, just a few curious individuals who had also shown interest in recording Scalvoris' flora, a couple even wearing hats to signify the new fashion that had seemingly taken the region by storm. Yeva, as always, was dressed simply in a white dress and Order of Adunih cloak, medical satchel slung across her chest with journal and pencil in hand. The advert from the Intelligentsia (that is a scholarly faction that she only recently learned of) had requested a sample of their discovery, and so she also carried a small pot that hung from her belt.

"Yeva?"

Some ways back a small group had formed and a short thin man wearing spectacles waved for her attention.

"Coming!" She briskly joined them, smiling at the man known as Mr. Maikan.

"Excellent, only we've just begun introductions," he used an index finger to push his glasses further up a hooked nose. Despite the sharp angles of his face, his voice had a soothing, almost storyteller quality that made him seem quite kind, "I'll go first. You c..an call me Mark Maikan. I have only recently joined the faction. oh, what was it? One...? Two arcs ago? Ah, they've kept me busy and I'm a better man for it!" He laughed and reached out to hover a hand over Yeva's shoulder.

"Some of you have joined us before, but there are some new faces, I see. Everyone, this is Yeva. She is... from Rharne, yes? A member of the Order! I imagine she'll be rather interested in our work here today. Who knows, maybe we will find the next cure for the pox!"

His optimism was endearing and she couldn't help but smile. Mr. Maikan moved around the circle, introducing people he recognized and allowing those he didn't to have the chance to do so if they wished. Following pleasantries, he declared they pair up, "We still have plenty of sunlight left in the trial, but Sweetwine can have its dangers, as any wilderness can. To cover the most ground possible, we shall partner up. Record our findings and meet back here... Oh, what time do you think? Hm... Of course, it would be ill-advised for anyone to stray too far away from the path, however, I understand the importance of bravery in research. Stay sharp! We want everyone coming back in one piece!"

Yeva softly chuckled at the light warning - it was true, of course, but he delivered it with such conviction! - She turned to the girl beside her. She was small, young, perhaps twelve or thirteen and a fellow redhead. It was great, seeing someone so young interested in scholarly pursuits! If Yeva was bothered by her age, it didn't show, "If you're ready, I'm ready," she double checked her bag just to be safe and looked past to the looming trees just beyond, "Are you from Scalvoris?"

[Alyssia]

Alyssia made sure her boots were tied tightly to keep them from coming undone. The next step was to get her bow and arrows. The girl looked over at her other two weapons. A whip and the pair of sai as they had been called. She had not used them enough to get comfortable with either such weapon. The last thing the girl needed was to take them with her and get injured when trying to use them in combat. Eventually the teen knew she would have to go seek out someone who could properly train her in the weaponry.

A part of her wanted to learn how to wield all of the weapons known to the older people, but for now there was nothing left to do. She had heard of a group going out to look at the local flora around the city. It would give the girl a proper excuse to see new people and explore the woods around Scalvoris on her own. Any time she had made her way out of the city, the girl had stuck to the main road while traveling. Moving quickly, Alyssia finished preparing and ran out her hide away going to find where the group was meeting.

Her muscles worked hard as her legs pumped her closer to the location while listening. She had to make sure her directions on where to find the group were accurate. The last ting Alyssia wanted to be was late to the gathering. If she was late there was no way of knowing if the girl would be able to keep up. Panting, there was a light burn in her lungs as she paused to look around. In the distance she could see what looked like a group of people gathered towards the gate of the city. Moving quickly, the young Aukari forced her breathing even staying back towards the outside of the group. At least if she was the last one there by the time she was asked anything her breathing would be calmed down.

As expected there was a period where each began to introduce themselves. The first being who she assumed was their instructor for the day, a man named Mark Maikan. He also introduced a woman that he recognized from some kind of Order, her name was Yeva. She did not have a last name it appeared, which was much like Alyssia not having one. Or at least not one she could remember.

“Hello, my name is Alyssia,” the teen said when it came time for her to speak.

She once again went silent and listened closely to what their instructions were. It made sense that he would warn them all to be careful of the dangers that would lurk within the forest around the city. Watching, the girl moved out of the way as people eagerly paired up with each other. The teen looked as it soon became clear that Alyssia would be teamed up with Yeva. The lady that was part of some order from another city.

“I am ready,” Alyssia stated with a nod of her head and walked with her away from the others, “not by birth no. But I suppose this is now my home. What is the Order?”

Alyssia wanted to try and get to know the woman that she was paired with. The teen did not feel that she would be any real help actually identifying the flora herself.

[Yeva]

28 Ashan 720

"It's nice to meet you," Yeva noted the girl's name and tucked a curl behind her ear and together they began to walk towards the forest. She was happy to talk about her involvement and thought perhaps she might be interested in joining one day, "You haven't heard of the Order? I suppose formally, our name is the Order of Adunih; we're a faction of healers and medics. I'm rather new to it, you can tell by my green cloak. The color we wear is based on our ranking and you can earn all sorts of hoods and trim. For instance, a white trim is for those with apothecary knowledge... Harvesting and crafting medicine from herbs. There's a branch here in Scalvoris Town, if you're ever interested."

Before the forest, Yeva leaned back to admire the height of the trees and began to step over the thickening grass, "We can start by just looking around for any interesting plants or those that look out of the ordinary, I think. I'm not sure what's been recorded but being thorough should be fine... Oh, we should be careful in what we touch. Here, I think I might have an extra pair of gloves around here somewhere..."

Yeva patted her pockets and then reached into her bag, pulling out a spare pair. She waited to see if the younger woman looked over and gave them a toss, at the same time spotting a bit of yellow further in the woods, "Alyssia," she glanced back, pointing a bit futher ahead and pushed deeper into the woods, pausing to untangle her cloak from any branches that tried to snag, "Look at that." Hanging from some branches above her head were shapely blooms that hung downward. They were beautiful.

[Alyssia]

Alyssia smiled glad the woman seemed to have no qualm with her like others normally did. She tried not to bounce on her toes in excitement as they began their trip into the forest. Other groups had already started moving much sooner. The girl moved quickly beside the woman called Yeva. The girl wondered if that was her full name or simply a shortened version of it. The thought made her ponder her own name, but the teen pushed it from her mind. Nothing made sense when she tried to come up with some kind of nickname for her own. Lyssia, Aly, Sia. Nope nothing sounded right to her.

Big eyes looked up at the woman as she spoke about the Order of Adunith. A group of healers? It seemed to make sense though it was strange because when she thought of healers or doctors. The academy had come to mind for the classes one would take. However it appeared that was not the only place to give such teachings. A part of her wondered if they would require payment as well. The teen crinkled her nose when Yeva was not looking. There was no way they would allow an ex-slave as one of their members. Especially since she had not actually been granted her freedom by a master or the knights.

“Would the academy not have the classes to train healers? Or does the order have different classes?” Alyssia asked and looked over at the woman.

She listened intently and quickly her head snapped around when the woman pointed out a flower. The sight was beautiful, the teen ran over to the tree and got as close as she could. Yellow bell like flowers hung down from the branches like the bells she had seen across the lands.

“They look like bells. I wonder if they make noise,” Alyssia spoke.

The girl reached up and tapped a small one and jumped back when a light tinkling sound came from it. A bright smile appeared as she moved around and tapped a larger one it made a different sound from the small bell flower.

“They do! That is so cool!” Alyssia shrieked while laughing, “what else should we try?”

The girl looked back over her shoulder to see what Yeva had in mind now.

[Yeva]

28 Ashan 720

"Oh, the academy has medical classes, the Order of Adunih does as well. There have been slight differences but they both train well. I would say the Order of Adunih is more... hmm... accessible?" Yeva glanced over at Alyssia, she had no intention of insulting either organization, "Of course the univer- er, academy, sorry," she sort of chuckled at her verbal slip up. She supposed either word could be said, but best to stick to similar speech for clarity, "It requires students to pay some tuition for classes, where as the Order of Adunih is free for those who are willing to learn. The Order also give a medical kit and housing... usually. It's fairly widespread across Idalos- most cities have heard of its members, even if there is not a branch there specifically. When I was in Athart recently, there were a number of men and women who recognized my cloak. Whether they were happy about it... well..."

She hummed and shrugged, watching the girl show delight at the flora. Reaching out, Alyssia touched it and to the older healer's intrigue, it gave off a lovely tinkling, "Wow, good observation. This is a neat one, isn't it?" Yeva approached, "Let me try."

Making sure her gloves were still securely on her hands, she stretched up and tapped a larger one, the slightly deeper sound resonating just the same, "This would make a good specimen, let's see..."

Yeva reached into her bag and found a small pair of clippers and then turned the bloom upward to cut it free. A short, direct snipping sound followed and then...

She gave the bell flower a shake, but no sound came out, "Oh, look. It's stopped. Isn't that curious!" What was it that gave it its unique sound? Yeva turned it over in her hand, felt the texture of the petals. She lightly touched the stem where it was cut and tapped the one beside it, "I won't be able to take back the entire tree... I wish I could get one live but... Hmm. I'm sure this is fairly common on the island... It was rather easy to find after all. Let's keep looking around, see if we find any plants we can bring back to show Mr. Maikan. Preferably ones I can dig up and put in one of the planters," she tapped her hip, where a canvas bag hung, "Do you want to split up or stick together? As long as we stay within sight of each other, I think we should be fine but I don't want to separate if you're uncomfortable."

[Alyssia]

Alyssia watched as the woman tapped a large bell and got a deeper tone. She watched amazed as the bell was cut off. Shock appeared on her face when the flower made no further noise when separated from the tree. Moving closer, she gently touched the petals wondering why it did not make noise any longer. A sad look appeared on her face; the teen was sad she could not take one with her when the trip was over. The girl looked up when it was clear that Yeva was sad she could not return with one for the man who sent them into the woods. The Aukari thought about it when the older woman suggested separating.

It made her a little nervous, but she knew that it would help them find flowers better on their own. The idea of staying close enough to see Yeva in case something was to go wrong helped to calm her nerves. Taking a deep breath, the girl smiled looking up at the older woman and agreed that staying in eye contact would be best.

“Yes, staying where we can be seen if something goes wrong will be best. It will give us a chance to find many more nature flowers! Will we call the others name when we find something?” Alyssia asked looking up at her.

When their plan was clear, Alyssia moved off to the side looking around as much as she could. There was so much that made no sense or rather that the girl did not know. Kneeling, the teen pulled what looked to be some kind of mushroom. When she smelled it, the girl was surprised to find that it smelled like bread! Alyssia jerked her head around to call for Yeva but decided to wait. If the girl could bring two different types of plants, maybe one could be taken back to Maikan.

Keeping hold of the little mushrooms, the teen looked around and found what appeared to be black berries. Moving over, the girl was very careful to pull a cluster free from the stem the same distance down that Yeva had clipped the bell flower. Turning, the girl ran back the direction she had come from looking around for the woman.

“Miss Yeva!” Alyssia called.

She stopped then went towards the voice when the older woman responded to her. It was not long at all before the red hair could be seen bouncing through the trees before the girl appeared.

“Look what I found!” Alyssia exclaimed and showed the mushroom first, “this one smells like bread!”

After letting the woman take that one first and inspect it, Alyssia showed the black berries that had been found as well.

“These are funny looking, I’ve never seen black berries before,” Alyssia stated, “do you think we can bring these back after finding a few more?”

[Yeva]

28 Ashan 720

"Of course," Yeva confirmed, pointing at another clearing, "Just call my name. I'll just be right over there."

Yeva smiled and watched the young girl scour the woods around them for something else of interest, leaving Yeva to turn and weave through the thicket. She wasn't entirely sure what she was looking for. Plants, yes, but what would be the next interesting find? Humming softly under her breath, there was still a bit of bite to the air but everything felt so... fresh. She used the toe of her boot to lift away bits of brush and dead leaves, slowing when she noticed an imprint in the soft moss. Small and pointed, there was a distinct rivet dipping between the center like a cloven stamp. Signs of deer? Boar? Something else entirely?

The red head was no hunter and so the prints faded before she could fully determine their direction but it was nice to know wildlife here was flourishing. With a bit of further investigation, her feet slowed and a smile spread across her lips. At her feet, a small bundle of white was poking out behind a bush.. Rounding it, Yeva noticed a collection of frosty looking clusters with unusually shaped leaves reminding her a bit of antlers, "Hello there," Yeva whispered, reaching out to touch it. Despite the gloves she wore, the leaves felt thick and hearty, but most interesting was that the plant looked like it belonged in a winter wonderland.

Seasonal? she wondered, noting that the colder trials would be coming to an end soon. Yeva plucked a leaf a tore it, rubbing the pieces together as a slimy substance was emitted. Fascinating.

Setting it aside, she wiped her gloves on some damp moss and began to paw away at soiled perimeter, just as Alyssia called out.

"Over here," she answered immediately, head popping up to confirm it was just excitement she heard on her voice and not fear. Bounding through the trees, the girl proudly displayed her finds, "Oh, look at that. Great job, Alyssia.... You said bread?"

Yeva paused in her digging to get a better look at the find, smiling, "I wonder what it's called. Just be cautious. Mushrooms are known for their spores, so be careful drawing them to your face until we know more. Nevertheless, we can certainly bring them. I'm sure Mr. Maikan will be able to answer our questions. I've only found this one so far, but it's small, I should be able to bring a plant back as well. See?"

She leaned back to show off the tiny succulent, fingers working to scoop beneath its roots and gently pry it free, "Let me finish up here, and I can help you find more." Yeva worked to transfer the plant to her bag, filling it with more dirt before knocking her hands free and standing.

[Alyssia]

Alyssia nodded happily when it was clear Yeva was happy with her finds. She had not thought about the bread smelling mushroom to be dangerous. A serious look appeared on the girl’s face when the older woman warned her about the spores they can produce. Whatever spores are though, it would seem there was still much for the teen to learn early on. There was nothing she really knew how to do and nothing she could cook, build, sew, or how to fight.

The teen had tried to learn how to fight in Yaralon. But the arena had been no place for her ultimately. It had been a big disappointment for her, but that was in the past now. From there on the only thing the teen could do was to walk forward. Though for the moment, her forward was playin with plants. Something she never imagined would be an interest to her. But the funny looking black berries and the mushrooms and the pretty white colored plant that Yeva had found. The girl gently reached out and touched it before pulling her hand back.

“It’s really soft!” Alyssia said excitedly.

She watched very closely as the woman worked around the root system. When the older woman was ready, Alyssia turned and slowly tried to retrace her steps to find where the bush for the black berries were, and find the mushrooms at the same time. The teen had pulled one off the stalk to take to her, but that had not seemed to really change its smell. She had been worried it would lose the smell like the funny looking bell had no long tinged when removed from the tree.

“Here they are!” Alyssia called with a smile.

It had not been nearly as far as the girl had felt it had been when trying to find Yeva. Of course on the way to her there was a lack of knowledge before that caused the delay. Now it would take the pair no time whatsoever to collect the flora before returning to the group.

“Will three kinds be enough to take with us?” Alyssia asked curiously.

[Yeva]

28 Ashan 720

While Yeva moved to rejoin Alyssia, securing the plant on her belt, she couldn't help but share a bit of knowledge her father once told her. At the time, the medic had dismissed it, but now it came to the forefront of her mind. An applicable lesson in an unlikely place, "Do you know how to tell if soil is healthy?" Yeva paused, glancing at the girl and offering to carry anything if she needed help, "My family used to own an orchard - they always said if there's lots of worms and the roots run deep, then the soil is good for growing. The color is nice and dark, too." Yeva held up a glove, rubbing her thumb and forefingers together and watching as bits crumbled and fell back to rejoin the forest floor, "And, on some plants, if you're not sure if your roots are healthy, you can look. If they are white and thin out towards the ends, they're in good shape. Brown, mushy roots can mean there's water issues."

This varied wildly with some flora, and Scalvoris was certainly an oddity in that regard, "But to answer your question, I think three plants will be fine. If every group brought back just a few each, we would still have quite a collection. And Mr. Maikan seems awfully positive, don't you think? I'm sure he'd be happy with whatever we've managed to collect."

Yeva kept her eyes peeled just in case, humming in the temperate weather and enjoying the gentle breeze that seemed to rustle the leaves into soft whispers. Nature was something she enjoyed and always found herself wondering why she didn't spend more time outdoors. Libraries and bedrooms were awfully cozy, but the air in the woods was fresh; it filled the lungs and left one revitalized.

"So we have the dark berries, the flowers that sounds -er, sounded - like a bell, the bread mushroom and...the fuzzy white plant?" After a bit more searching, Yeva waved them back towards the way they came, "That's not so bad, we even have more than we thought. If we head back, we can ask, see if anyone else knows more about them."

And depending, Yeva intended to seek an application - joining the Intelligentsia was right up her alley.

[Yeva]

28 Ashan 720

► Show Spoiler

After speaking with Alyssia ooc, I have offered to write a wrap up post in her absence. I don't think this thread was far off from completion, so we should be set.

Together, Yeva and Alyssia made their way back through the woods, Yeva chatting idly about The Order and her responsibilities in the faction. The medic hoped it might have interested the girl and saw that they were not the first ones to return. Another pair, a man and a woman, were talking to each other while Mr. Maikan jotted something down in a notebook, referencing a plant now sitting in a small canvas bag, similar to the one that hung from her own hip.

"Mr. Maikan!" Yeva waved, smiling when his bushy brows rose to look at who called his name, and beamed, setting his quill down to shuffle over.

"Yeva of Rharne," he called back, "And Ms. Alyssia," he nodded kindly at the girl, "How did you both fare?"

"Alyssia was a wonderful help," Yeva praised the youth, "And I can only speak for myself, but I had a wonderful time. We found these-" One by one, Yeva showed him their finds, pausing to allow Alyssia to speak if she wished. After they finished, he seemed quite pleased, clapping his hands together and waving them back to his writings, "Are they what you were looking for?"

"Marvelous, simply marvelous," he grabbed his journal and flipped wildly through it, squinting as he read, "This will allow us further study of these flora. Let's see... You've found specimen of Morning Savior, the much admired Belleflower, Bakers Wheatwort, and-" he sniffed, tapping the page before turning it and looking up to smile at the girls, "Winter's Breath Now, if you'll allow me, we don't want these to experience too much stress..."

He went scurrying to his supplies and produced some small clay pots for the live plants, waiting for Yeva to untie the sack from her hip and pass it along, "Winter's Breath is an astringent, you know. And Morning Savior? They can be used in lieu of blueberries, but we've - the Guild, that is - found that they actually contain antinausea properties! The Intelligentsia is currently working alongside the Order to discover in what other ways we might further the medical sciences by working together. It's been a thrilling partnership on both accounts."

"Really?"

"Oh, yes." he paused to show them the proper way to transfer the plant, loosening the dirt around its roots to better take to the new soil, "I respect The Order of Adunih greatly. It was nice to have someone of your faction join us totrial."

"You don't find that participating in both might... I don't know," Yeva looked down at her green cloak, "Interfere with responsibilities in either group?"

Mr. Maikan chuckled, "Was your Order work interrupted today by joining us?"

"Well... no." In fact, she had learned new things about Scalvoris flora, it's growth, and care. Such would prove useful should she seek to make her own medicines.

"Then I can't imagine so. The Intelligentsia isn't quite as demanding as you might think. We study and share this knowledge because it is what we love. There is no right or wrong way to learn," he smiled and noticed another group was beginning to emerge from the woods.

"Mr. Maikan..." Yeva found her temptation growing, "How does one join the Intellegentsia?"

"It's really quite simple" he met her gaze, "You only need to fill out an application; I should have one in my bag.. The Scholar's Nook often has them on hand, as well as the library. 'We are but humble scholars'," he laughed, warm and jolly as ever, "We often meet to work on experiments, debate our research theories... Were you perhaps be interested?"

His eyes were hopeful. Yeva felt more sure in the decision. It was everything she loved and the idea of discovering more about Idalos was too tempting to pass up, "I would like to fill one out, please. I wish to sign up. Formally."

The older gentlemen gasped, erupting a sound of giddy excitement as he set aside the flora, "I'll get my quill and parchment! Oh, the faction's going to be thrilled!"