Closed Herbal Lessons (Lynn and Alex)

[Suresslynn]

Sahfri smiled at Alex's question, then nodded at him. "Yes, Vyfox and Belltor work well together. And yes, you can mix them into a single poultice or use them sepretely. Starting out, it'd probably be better to use just a Vyfox poultice, then a mixture of Vyfox and Belltor as the wound heals, then finally just Belltor when it's almost fully healed." she said, before blinking in surprise then smiling at the squires next question.

"You can certainly purchase some, and I agree that it would be a good thing to keep on hand. But do you know how to make a poultice?" she asked, her head tilted curiously as Lynn stood up and began to track down the Vyfox and Belltor boxes, comparing them to the Vyfox herb in her hand or the Belltor herb hanging in the back of the shop to make sure she had the right herb. "Alex, did you want Vyfox leaves or Vyfox flowers? They come out to different amounts. Or both?" Lynn asked as she found the Vyfox box and put it on the desk before going back to hunting down the Belltor box.

[Alexander Faircroft]

The continuation of the conversation followed as he’d hoped, resulting in a straight forwards answer. Vyfox then both then Belltor. A simple process to heal wound bout her next question was something which he didn’t even realize he didn’t know. Almost dumbstruck by his complete oversight.
“No, Miss Sahfri I’m sorry but I not have the knowledge of how to make a poultice…That used to be my father’s area of knowledge. I would have asked him to pass on the information but…he vanished before I could.” A slight look of sadness crept over him as his hand tightened at his side the sound of gripping and straining leather nearly audible. “If you’d still be willing to explain how to make a poultice and use it. I’m still very much willing to learn” A honest smile returned to his face.

As Lynn spoke up asking what he’d prefer to purchase. “Oh sorry, I completely blanked out for a second, mind was processing what I’d just learnt.” An honest and simple smile. “If it’s alright I’d like three silver mizas worth of the Vyfox leaves and two silver mizas worth of Belltor.” Alex then realized just how long he’d been in the same spot ion full plate. He could almost hear his joints creaking as he rose to stand up. Taking a separate glance around the store he asked another question.
“Forgive me if I’m over stepping again. But I’ve a curiosity. I’m not entirely sure however. This is more of a personal question. Would you happen to know of anything that could cause someone to simply…fall?”

He wasn’t exactly sure what he meant by this, after all it was almost five years ago by this point. He’d just seen his mother drop like a lead weight. And shortly after, he and his father fled. Was it something that had happened or was it something more sinister. He could only ask the two in front of him well versed with their poisons plants and remedies. What would cause someone to just drop? Still if neither of them could give him an answer that would be alright, he just wanted to inquire. “Still never the less.” An honest and less inquisitive more melancholic smile crossed him now. “Thank you two very much for your assistance in teaching me about these herbs. It’s probably going to save mine or someone else’s life someday.”

[Suresslynn]

As Alex mentioned not knowing how to make a poultice, Sahfri just shook her head and smiled. But when he mentioned being willing to learn, her expression grew almost eager. "Excellent, Squire Faircroft. Once Lynn gets your order, I'll teach you both." she said, before his second response to Lynn's question brought a laugh from the Eypharian. "Alex, the leaves are for the tea. You'll want flowers for the poultice." she said, smiling slightly as Lynn just brought over several Vyfox plants and the appropriate amount of Belltor in a mixture of leaves and herbs. "Though in the case of Belltor, leaves and flowers are interchangeable."

Once her two students had been seated, Sahfri handed them each some thin, clean cloth and a mortar and pestle, as well some of the Vyfox and Belltor. "Poultices aren't something we keep for sale, but I make some anyways every so often to make sure I'm in practice." she said, taking the leaves off the Vyfox and Belltor in front of her her and putting into the mortar. "Now, in a pinch, a knife handle and...say a gauntlet or helmet can substitute for a mortar and pestle, but it's a good idea to keep these on hand if you want to practice herbalism." she said as Lynn mimicked her example with the flowers. "Need to buy one...good to have on hand." the Dhani muttered as she worked.

Once both of her students had their mortars filled with enough flowers from both plants, Sahfri took hold of her pestle and started to grind the flowers into bits. "You'll want to get them as crushed as possible, otherwise your poultice won't be as good." the Eypharian said. At Alex's question, her expression got grim. "There are quite a few. One of the faster acting venoms that can have such an effect is sitting right next to me, for an example of how varied the toxins that can have that effect are." Sahfri said, gesturing to Lynn with one of her many hands as she worked.

At the comment on her venom, Suresslynn simply nodded before speaking. "True, but this isn't Dhani or Black Mamba territory. And someone simply falling...that's not the only symptom. In fact, it's not even directly due to the venom we have, according to my mother." she said, her own expression a match for her teachers, though that might have had something to do with the fact that she was having a bit of trouble mashing the flowers down to the right level of crushed. "Exactly, Lynn." Sahfri said, taking no apparent notice of her assistants trouble with the flowers, though she had looked over at her while the Dhani was talking. "And Black Mamba venom isn't even the only kind that can do that among snakes. Medical conditions can also have the same effect. I knew a man once whose heart just stopped beating for no apparent reason." she said, before giving the young squire a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry I can't tell you more, but unless you know other symptoms, there's just too many possibilities." she said.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

A look of almost confused enthusiasm spread across Alex’s face as Miss Sahfri spoke about what he’d wanted and Lynn had filled out the order he’d placed. She was right and he simply nodded with it, after all he was just the student and she was the teacher. Better for him to simply roll with the teaching than go against it. Being supplied with the basic materials were provided for him. Apparently the leaves and flowers of the Belltor plant were interchangeable. However the Vyfox was not and it was important to remember that the flowers were for the poultice and the leaves were purely for the tea. Something he’d have to remember.

Alex was now given a mortar and pestle, a strange stone bowl and matching heavy weight. Looking a little confused and having an expression like a deer caught in headlights. He had not even the faintest clue what these were nor what they were used for. Given her explanation of what was going on it seemed that the mortar and pestle was used to crush the plants into a fine paste or dust. But apparently it was ok to use a helmet and a dagger or knife handle as one in an emergency. Good to know given the circumstances he was likely to find himself in. He caught Lynn muttering to herself next to him about needing to but one for her own use.

Alex dripped the handle of his pestle lightly, and then suddenly realised just how heavy the thing was. Made for one purpose and given with how little effort Miss Sahfri was putting into crushing the flowers Alex could see it was good at it’s purpose. He began to mulch the plant matter with the pestle listening closely to what Miss Sahfri and Lynn had to say on the matter of the poison he’d asked about. She went over how there were numerous poisons which could do what he’d mentioned and that they were all rather readily available. Even Lynn chimed into the conversation. Adding that it wasn’t dhani territory or even her particular breed of snake’s territory.

Continually grinding down the flowers he awaited further instruction on what to do there. “Thank you both. It’s good to know that something like that exists if not directly where it came from…And before you two worry too much it’s not for my use. I just wanted to know. I’d rather not go into details as to why I wanted to know but still thank you.” His fingers fidgeted lightly around the smooth stone bowl. He wasn’t sure what to do so instead he just awaited further instruction.

[Suresslynn]

Sahfri nodded at Alex's thanks but didn't react to his comment about not using it for himself, but Lynn gave him a sympathetic look over her teachers shoulder. She could guess what it was that had brought the question to the squires mind from their previous meeting. She didn't say anything though, out of respect for his wishes, then simply went back to grinding up flowers.

After a moment, Sahfri checked her students mortars and nodded before speaking. "Okay, that's good enough for your first time. Lynn, don't worry, you'll improve with practice. Alex, don't fidget." she said, before pulling over a barrel of water and some cups. "Now you want to pour some water into the mortar. Not a whole lot, mind. You want a paste here, not a soup. Once you've got the water, use the pestle to mash it into a paste." she said, demonstrating with her own mortar and pestle before watching her two students follow her example.

However, as Lynn filled a cup, the door opened and two customers came in. Sahfri went to deal with one, leaving the other for her assistant. As luck would have it, he needed a Belltor tincture to help with a cold his wife was having. Handing the man an ounce of the tincture, she accepted his gold miza in exchange and set it in the money drawer, as she thought of it, before she returned to her mortar and pestle. "Do you always have to wear that armor?" she asked Alex as she added water to her flowers and started to make them into a paste.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex caught the small glance at her teacher and boss as he mentioned not wanting to use the poisons himself. And knowing that she’d kept it to herself he gave her a small nod of thanks mouthing out the word slowly enough for her to catch it but discreetly enough for her teacher not too. A short pause in the lessons and Miss Sahfri looked into Alex’s mortar. Nodding and telling him it was good enough for a first try. And that he’d improve with practice. Perhaps practice was exactly what he needed in everything. And then she chastised him for fidgeting with the mortar. He couldn’t quite help it he was mildly nervous this was something completely new and foreign to him. Then she spoke about adding water to the mixture of crushed flowers. To make it into a light paste and not a soup. How was he going to turn it into a soup? How much water could these things drink? He dunked his hand and the cup into the water adding a few drops to the crushed flowers at a time. Each time pausing to swirl the mixture around with the pestle. He completely dis-regarded the entry of the customer, purely focused on matching Miss Sahfri’s consistency of the mulch.

The Dhani woman then spoke whirling around slightly to ask him if he always wore his armour. The correct answer to this was no. There was a few times where he didn’t but she didn’t need to know that.

“No I’m stuck in this tin can when I’m not sleeping or using the restroom. Or bathing. I’m not allowed to remove it. As it’s my burden to carry the weight of the steel to improve my own strength. And fleetness of foot.” He smiled lightly the small flash of his silver teeth carrying through. He was meticulous about measuring out his water for the poultice. Adding a few drops here and there. Until it would just stick to the pestle. Nodding lightly he removed the pestle from the mortar and awaited Sahfri’s appraisal. “Lynn. You do this as your job every day? This is very careful work…” He sounded almost in awe of her patience and careful nature.

[Suresslynn]

Lynn's eyes widened at Alex's answer, before she reached out to poke the armor. "Seriously? Does this stuff even have a purpose? Seems like it's just there to slow you down." she said, before grinning at his question as she finished pasting her flowers. "Not always this delicate, no. But yes, herbs and whatnot are my job. And now that I know how to make poultices, I'll probably be doing a lot more of it. But I enjoy the precision of it." she said, before Sahfri wrapped up with her other customer and rejoined them.

"Ah, excellent. Now, spread out your cloth like so..." she said, laying out the thin cloth she had gotten out earlier. "And dump your paste in the middle of it. Be careful not to get any on the table and spread it as evenly as you can." she said, demonstrating by upending her mortar into the center of the cloth and using her hands to spread the paste about. It was still fairly thick and didn't cover much of the cloth, but after a moment she was satisfied and wrapped the cloth around the paste, tying it at the top. "You can put the paste directly on the wound, but the cloth is cleaner." she said, gesturing to her two students to follow her example.

Lynn eagerly did as her teacher did, turning over the bowl and getting the paste into the cloth before she tried to get the paste as neat looking as her employers. Unfortunately, she didn't have her teachers skill and her paste was much less even. However, she tied off the cloth anyway, knowing that she wouldn't have had time to fiddle with it if someone had actually needed the poultice she was making. Compared to Sahfri's neat poultice, hers resembled a lumpy bag and the Dhani looked dejectedly at it before one of the Eypharian's hands landed gently on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Lynn. I didn't expect you to do it perfectly the first time. No one does." she said, smiling gently. Lynn's mood improved and she glanced over at Alex to see how he was doing.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Watching Lynn’s face grow shocked was almost worth it in and of itself. Still she reached out and prodded his armour quite firmly eliciting a small thud from the dull and dented plate. Did the armour even have a purpose? “Yes Lynn the armour stops blades and most blunt strikes too. It’s heavy as sin but it’s got enough protection to keep whoever is wearing it safe. It’s a pretty good defence against a lot of incoming assaults.”

He smirked a little tankful of the sheer level of protection it’d afforded him up to this date. Lynn spoke with a certainty to her voice she enjoyed the precision of this sort of thing. And this was her first time making a poultice. Having seen with how much dexterity she’d handled the simpler steps. The following step was the hardest one yet. A simplistic spread of the sticky mulch to be spread evenly along the cloth. This proved to be trickier for Alex than he would have liked to admit. Layering the mulch through the cloth. And then using the pestle to spread it. Apparently putting the sticky solution straight onto the wound was a simpler method but the cloth was a cleaner method that allowed for mess, and also from Alex’s perception and perspective seemed like it would also be less painful for the injured party.

Lynn has managed to get the spread of her mulched flower mix spread pretty thin and evenly Alex on the other hand could tell he had thick spots and thin patches lax spots and was having difficulty getting it off of the pestle and out of the mortar. Perhaps he’d need to add more water in the future. Still he‘d managed to at least get it onto the cloth if it was a little rough and ready.

“I’m not too good at this by the looks of things.” He spoke with a small smile trying to keep up his appearance but inside he knew he’d messed up somewhere. Still he simply sighed and glanced at the pile of gunk on the cloth. And then it hit him. The time. Oh the time…He had to go, he’d been there for bordering on a bell now. After Sahfri had checked his work he’d make his apologies and slide out. If he was late to the meeting his patron had arranged he’d be in deep trouble…

[Suresslynn]

Suresslynn cocked her head to the side in confusion at Alex's answer to her question, then shrugged. "I suppose that makes sense. I rely too much on my speed for armor to really be useful, but then I don't get into fights where my lifes on the line very often, I suppose." she said, her mind distant as she spoke.

After the poultices were finished, Sahfri inspected her students work. "Alex, when you're starting out, don't rush. Other than that, you did fine." she said, her tone gently correcting. As she spoke, she picked up all three poultices and set them on a shelf. When looked at next to each other, it was clear that Sahfri had more practice than either Lynn or Alex. "You'll both make fine herbalists with practice." she said with a smile, looking at her two students. When Alex said he had to leave to return to his patron, the two women nodded. "They really keep you squires hopping, don't they?" Lynn asked, grinning. "Feel free to stop by if you want to practice." Sahfri said, handing Alex the herbs he had ordered. "And let me know if you want some help with riding practice or some such." Lynn said, her tone friendly as she went back to sorting Gigar herbs.

[Alexander Faircroft]

Description "Alex Common" Alex thoughts "Myrian" "Fratava" "Others"

Alex shrugged a little at Lynns response to his answer. “Even leather armour couldn’t hurt you Lynn. And it would, behove you to use a little bit of armour just in case the speed isn’t enough.” He smiled at her lightly before turning back to see Sahfri looking at his work and then chastise him for rushing when he’d taken his time and tried to do it with care. He’d just got the measurements of the water in the poultice completely wrong and it clumped together too much. Still the accompanying praise gave him a little hope that he’d be able to do this out in the field if he had too. A small grumble and he sighed.

“Sadly were kept busy and rushed off our feet as a means of teaching us to be organised. I had a little free time today and I thought I’d do the best thing I could and that was come here today.” He smiled slipping the leather gloves off and tossing them onto the counter top together and flattened out before pulling on his gauntlets and securing them. “After all being a knight is not just about harming an enemy it’s about defending and helping your own. And what better way to help than by learning a little about healing?” He smiled and completely over payed for the herbs he’d bought dropping five golden mizas on the counter.

“Have fun you two, keep safe, and thank you so very much for the lessons.” His soft voice filling the shop with a resonance of thanks before he ducked out of the shop, slipping the herbs into the quiver at his side he then took off racing off towards the castle, if he didn’t make it back in time he was beyond screwed. Oh maaaan. I’m so late, I’m so gonna be late.