Herbalicious! (Basic Herbalism - GM Dragon)

[Phoebe Verges]

Four candlemarks after dawn, Brightening 38, Cryxatum, Summer of Era XI

There was always a special excitement when about to plunge into a new endeavour and Phoebe had taken particular care to reach the Institute of Higher Learning so that she was on time – four candlemarks after dawn and with a clear head, freshly scrubbed face, bright violet eyes and a swirling mind full of anticipation at what the brightening would bring. It would be near the truth to say that taking a course in Herbalism had a snap decision. When she had entered the Institute five brightenings earlier, the poor clerk had certainly been put through his paces as she quizzed him on the various courses on offer and after establishing the difference between Medicine and Herbalism, she’d plumped for the latter, the temptation of spending a cycle learning not only about healing herbs but poisonous herbs having swayed her judgement.

With the name of Miss Cadaea on her lips, her teacher for the course, Phoebe began to enquire where she might find the person who would be enlightening her in the methods of identifying, collecting and preparing herbs. She’d worn what she hoped were practical clothes, her loose grey trousers and heavy boots with the large green shirt, sleeves rolled back to her elbows and had even found a ribbon to keep her wayward raven hair out of her eyes. It revealed the tips on her ears that hinted at the elven heritage mixed in with the human blood and the petite figure carried her satchel with her, although it had been lightened of crowns and daggers. Infact it was rather empty asides from her visa, a piece of chicken leg wrapped in brown paper and three apples. She’d been told that there was no need to buy any equipment and hoped that she hadn’t been misinformed.

Following the directions of a clerk, she arrived at the place where she’d hopefully find her tutor.

[Dragon]

OOC: I'll assume that you are in the yard of the University, if not, tell me to edit.

Miss Cadaea seemed to be rather busy lately. Quite a few demiosians wanted to study herbalism, maybe because the rich forests were nearby or perhaps simply because they all wanted to be able to help when help was needed. Fortunately for Phoebe, she had the teacher ready to teach. And while she stood, looking all usual like so many other people in the University, the teacher came to her. "Serale, my name is Cadaea. I am a teacher of herbalism, I believe you are my student?" She was a short woman, with black hair neatly tied into a pony tail. A dress of blues went on her body and a smile decorated her aging face.

Whenever Phoebe was assured to be the one she was searching for, the teacher waved towards the woods. "We should go there. No better place to learn. While we go, could you please tell me why you want to study herbology? Is it just a spur of the moment or perhaps something more?" They walked through the town, just a bit of it actually, then a few fields, before they came to the forest, where Cadaea was suppose to start the real teaching. During the time they walked in this rather hot brightening, the teacher listened to Phoebe's explanation.

"Also tell me what you think herbalism actually is. I don't care what they say in the books, I need your opinion, alright?" With another smile Cadaea entered the beginning of the forest, where a few shades made the heat possible to bear. Probably the dragons were fidling with the weather again, or so the teacher thought. She even took a fan from her pouch, spread it ans started waving it at her face so that the fake wind would cool her down. Thank the Winds for the trees! The shades were the most welcome by the teacher.

[Phoebe Verges]

At the sound of the Serale, Phoebe turned to face the short woman who introduced herself as Cadaea. A pleased grin split the half-elf’s face at seeing one who was of a diminutive stature like herself. Not that Phoebe minded looking up at the taller elves and humans who seemed to be everywhere, but sometimes it did give one a crick in the neck. Anyway, the woman seemed nice enough which was the main thing and had a friendly manner about her. “Serale, Cadaea, and I’m Phoebe,” she replied, not certain if her teacher had her name but it was the polite thing to do to introduce oneself. “And great, the woods, yup,” she continued, happy to follow Cadaea to wherever she chose to go. One trusted one’s teachers – even on first meeting. That was the way people behaved right?

Falling into step with the woman, Phoebe was happy to answer the questions as they entered the forest so that the foliage of the trees gave some shade from the summer heat. “Oh I chose Herbalism because it sounded interesting. I’ve been looking around for something to get stuck into for a while. Can’t be a tavern girl all my life. Ideally if there’d been a course on the trade of undertaking, I’d have taken that, but there wasn’t. The clerk at the Institute told me about herbalism. I nearly took medicine, but then when he said that was about healing herbs and that this course was the same except that it also taught about poisonous herbs … well, no contest really!” It made sense to the girl. “It just sounded fascinating, you know. That there are these plants that can kill or cure. So I thought I’d give it a go.”

It was a bit of a rambling answer, but Phoebe churned out the words as they popped into her head. “So um.. yeah, Herbalism, is like the collecting and preparing of herbs which will then … affect the body in some way. Like a poultice for a rash or something like that for example.” Phoebe paused then to think about the last rash she’d had, but as it wasn’t a particularly pleasant memory, as the rash had developed into a weeping sore, she turned her attention back to Cadaea. “Or was the clerk telling me lies?” she asked brightly.

[Dragon]

"It's as interesting as you make it. If you don't like searching for herbs, mixing them and preparing them, then you will get bored quite fast. However if you can see inside of the whole craft and if you enjoy this, then this will be an interesting thing to study." Later on the teacher chuckled. "Yes indeed, the clerk told the truth. Most of all herbalism is for healing and being able to recognize poison to protect one from it, not to make poison. That's the most important thing, we don't learn to use poisonous herbs for making poison." So many students were fascinated in the poison part, coming in hopes that they could learn the dark side of the path. But that was refused by the teacher... well... at least for the first level.

"So we shall start by protection. First take a seat." Cadaea asked when they were in the beginning of the woods, where a few fallen trees were present. She took a seat on one of the trunks. "Herbs should be treated with the very same respect that most of us give to magic potions or medicines formed by other methods. A magic potion can be very dangerous, or very expensive. Same goes for herbal ones. Also many herbs can be harmful in large or prolonged dosages. Many herbs can be addictive after long-term improper use. Some are poisonous as you already mentioned. Some can have toxic side effects if not properly balanced with herbs that counteract those effects. They should not ever be used indiscriminately or on a daily basis without the proper guidance of a health care professional. Many people feel that just because herbs are natural, they can't be hurt by them. Nothing can be further from the truth. Even a potion that is prepared to heal can cause only harm if used in the wrong way."

"Do you understand, Miss Verges? Can you explain what I just told you, in your own words. Because this is very important and before you understand and learn this, I can not teach you anything further." The teacher explained, her concern for students' health showing plainly now. She refused to teach a few students who acted carelessly in her classes. Simple as that, she refused to give tools which were able of destruction to people who wanted destruction or dealt with it with no care. Only when a decent answer was provided from Phoebe, did Cadaea continue.