41st Day of Winter, 513AV The boat journey to the shore was as long and drawn our as ever, perhaps more so, given that he was travelling with someone he barely knew, someone he respected and wanted to impress. Normally, when Verin headed to the lakeshore, he was with his brother, who knew of the sickness he experienced when on water for extended periods of time. There was no shame in his nausea on water, he knew rationally, but he couldn't help the pricks of embarrassment that he felt as he massaged his churning stomach for the majority of the journey with this almost-stranger. Master Parnell, the poisoner he had gone to in the name of learning more about the art of poisoncraft, was expecting Verin to share his own knowledge of Arboreal based poisons, as was the deal they had struck and shook on at the beginning of the Season. Sickness was a sign of weakness in the blond's eyes, but he hoped that Parnell would think no less of him because of his display of illness. “I dread the day that business, or pleasure, for that matter, calls for me to travel on the high seas,” Verin murmured to the other man as they finally disembarked the vessel ferrying them across to the mainland, “Lake Ravok is hardly the most turbulent of bodies of water, and if I feel this way on it, then the choppier waves of lakes and seas not protected by our God will surely cause my stomach to turn.” As with most Ravokians, Verin did not deign to think that the poisoner would have a different God to the Defiler. Whilst her respected the beliefs and views of others - including his own brother, who worshipped another - he did not understand it and, as such, it did not occur to him as he spoke, using the plural 'our' to include Parnell in his statement. They continued, in silence, a short way away from the shore itself, towards where the trees grew thicker, and the plants and bushes covered most of the undergrowth. Beyond his previous words, Verin was not one for small talk, and he didn't imagine that Master Parnell was either. This suited him perfectly, as the pair were not yet friends and he had little to say to the man, other than the discussion of business. The walking and fresh, crisp air allowed time for the young man's stomach to settle somewhat, though he knew from experience that it would not settle completely until he had returned to the lake city and knew he would not have to travel by boat for such a long time again for some days. “As I said before, when we were in your shop,” he finally began as he slowed his pace a little, “The season of winter does not offer up the same variety of plants and, by association, poisonous ingredients that the other seasons offer. As I'd imagine is the same for the majority of other poison families, each season grants something different from the next, so there is enough to be found at this time of year.” The man's pace slowed to a halt as he scratched the back of his head, “Sylira also has a great deal of different species from, say, Falyndar...” he smiled wryly, “I once heard of a wonderful specimen. It had small, apple-like blooms, which were poisonous. But even more interesting was that, when it rained, the tree would release white sap. The sap would cause the skin to blister if it came into contact, burning it in a way. And the tree couldn't even be burnt, because the fumes from the tree could cause blindness.” Verin turned and continued to walk on, “The ultimate defence mechanism.” OOCDescribed is the Manchineel tree, native to Central America and Florida. Awesome, isn't it?! |