Lost in the Cracks (Solo)

[Aello]

60 Summer, 511 AV Aello was walking through the city streets, weaving her way in and out of the canals with no particular destination in mind. Yune was resting atop her left shoulder, her tiny talons curling into Aello's flesh, tickling her lightly. In her left hand, Aello held her father's bow; her quiver filled with arrows resting across her back, along with her bag, which contained all of her other belongings, with the exception of her cursed dagger, which was strapped to her thigh. Chilling her flesh all the way to the bone. As she walked, her bag would bump into her back lightly, as her arrows clicked together. The fabric of her cape fluttering silently behind her, with the subtle breeze produced by her walk. As she hugged the walls of the city; the buildings that stretched upwards, and towards the sky, the girl was lost in shadow; the sun failing to reach her skin. Perhaps then, she didn't need the hood which she had pulled up tightly around her head, but that did not mean that she would remove it. The girl, after all, liked to be shrouded in a slight sense of mystery, in darkness. The color of death, and her mistress, Dira. As she walked along, Aello would glance down at the streets, staring at nothing more than the boots she wore upon her two small feet. Until finally, she came upon a crack in the road, from which sprung a small flower. The flower was one she vaguely recognized, from her time growing up in Zeltiva. It had a slender green stem, from which seemed to grow fine white hairs. Jutting just out of the crack were long, jagged toothed leaves, of a dark green color, sharply contrasting the lighter nature of the stem. The leaves had grown in the form of a rosette. Nothing else lined the six inch long stalk, until you reached the very end, from which grew a single, bright yellow flower. The flower was comprised of several tiny petals, no more than a fraction of an inch in length. It gave the entire thing a rather ragged, and worn look. Deciding that she wanted to get a better look, Aello laced her bow higher up on her shoulder. The string and frame resting upon it as she bent down. "Do you recognize this flower Yune?" Aello asked, as she dug the nails of her right thumb and pointer finger into the stem, before plucking it up rather daintily. Chirp Chirp! "Same here, it does seem so very familiar. Although I cannot recall the name for such a thing," the girl commented. "Would you like to change that?" she asked, remembering the time in which she and Victor Lark were in Odds and Ends, and she came across an encyclopedia of plant life, which may be able to shed some light on the matter. Chirp Chirp! Aello smiled weakly, "a very good choice old friend, let us be off to the shops to find some sort of reference." Slowly, Aello straightened herself out, and began to make her way to Odds and Ends, flying past several people, as she wove her way in and out of the busy Ravokian streets. Finally, she made her way to Odds and Ends about an hour later. She quickly walked inside the wide open door, and strode over to the bookshelf. She placed her bow up against the table in front of her, and glanced at all the books, pulling them out from time to time, until she found that old encyclopedia on plants. At which point, she opened to the first page, entitled, Herbalism 101- Plants and Where to Find Them. The girl smiled weakly as she turned to the next page, which read: Angelica Habitat and Description: Angelica is a taller plant, that can reach anywhere from 4-6 feet in height or more. It is a very stout, aromatic plant, with large white flowers. It is a biennial, or short lived perennial herb, which may often be found in rich thickets, woodlands, and stream banks. It has a smooth, dark purple, hollow stem that is about one to two inches around. Its dark green leaves are divided into three parts, which is further divided into another three (lobed) sections. The lower leaves tend to be larger, and can grow to be about two feet wide. The leaves of this plant have flattened, inward curved, stalks with clasping bases. These form elongated bowls, which may store water. Their roots are branched, stretching anywhere from 3 to 6 inches long. They are both thick and fleshy, with several small rootlets. The flowers of the Angelica plant are small and numerous, and are yellowish or greenish-white in color and grouped into large, compound umbels. The flowers bloom in July and are succeeded by pale yellow, oblong fruits, 1/6 to a 1/4 inch in length when ripe. Reference : http://www.altnature.com/gallery/

[Aello]

Uses and Medicinal Properties: The main constituents of the plant include volatile oils and acids. It can be useful when attempting to treat fevers, colds, coughs, and various stomach disorders. Below the brief description was a hand-drawn picture of the plant, which simply confirmed what Aello already knew, "this one isn't it," Aello whispered, as she turned to the next page of the book, which was on bee balm. Judging from the picture to the left of the text, of rather bright red and pink flowers, the young spiritist knew that this was not the plant she had found either, and instantly turned the page. Next came blackberries, something she recognized and felt no need to truly read about. The next page read, Black Cohosh. There was no picture, forcing the girl to continue her research. Black Cohosh is a perennial herb that grows mostly on hillsides and in open woods in moist, rich soil. Black Cohosh can reach about 8 feet in height, and bears a long plumb of white flowers from June to August. "The leaves are pinnate and compound with irregular tooth leaflets. The rootstock is knotty and scarred with old growth. The rhizome of the root is black and rough." Medicinal Properties: Used to treat problems associated with menopause. Can also be used as a birthing aid, or diuretic. Warning: Ingesting large portions of this plant can and will poison you. Aello shuddered, "not this one either," she whispered as she turned a few pages, until she came to one marked "dandelion." In the upper right corner was a hand-drawn picture that matched the plant she held in her hands. "This must be it," she whispered, as she continued reading. Medicinal Properties: The dandelion may be used to treat both internal and external ailments. For example, when one applies fresh dandelion juice to a wound, it may help them heal and fight bacteria. The latex in the sap may also be used to remove warts. Internally speaking, the plant can be used to treat jaundice, dyspepsia with constipation, chronic joint and skin complaints, gout, and acne. An infusion of the root encourages the steady elimination of toxins from the body. Aello smiled as she shut the book and placed it back on the shelf. She took a moment to look at the plant which was now wilting in the heat of her hand. "So that's what you are," she muttered proudly, "a dandelion! And if what that book said is true, then perhaps you can help with this," she finished as she stuck out her right arm and pulled back the sleeve, revealing a tiny cut by her elbow. A thin line of blood had crusted over it now that it had been inflicted by her blade so many hours beforehand. She pinched off the head of the plant, the golden flower, and began to rub the juice that tricked out of the stem on her cut. "You should help this heal," she muttered proudly, before bending to pick up the flower, and her bow. Seconds later, she was headed out the door, feeling satisfied with herself, her newfound knowledge.

[Verilian]

Aello +1 Observation +2 Herbalism You Question My Logic? : Pretty self explanatory I think. Lores: Herbalism Lore: Angelica (Basic), Herbalism Lore: Black Cohosh (basic), Herbalism Lore: Dendelion (Basic) Notes: Keep it up!