Step one: Grind the elfroot into a paste...

[fleurdesel]

WHO: Adelaide & Whoever wants to attend
WHAT: Potions & Poultices 101
WHEN: Harvestmere 28, morning
WHERE: The Garden
NOTES: As advertised the day before.



Set Up

As promised Adelaide had a large kettle brewing of a simple black tea. It wasn't much but it was hot and it was bitter- sugar, honey, and cream weren't exactly in ample supply but there were a few jars of donated jam and honeycomb donated by the kitchens and patients. Her own supplies for potions and poultices are laid out on a makeshift table. To one side her apprentices finish writing out and folding instructions- basic recipes for healing poultices, salves, potions- and the principles behind simple healing spells. If you could throw a fireball, you could heal a cut. Anything more complicated took greater study but the basics? Should be well known.

Behind and looking somewhat uncomfortable but, well, present, Bruce stood minding the bundles of herbs, handing out what was needed. While not a mage the surgeon was trustworthy and, honestly, needed to get out more.

During

It was simple enough. Adelaide went over the information on the cards handed out by her apprentices, demonstrated the proper techniques for grinding, mixing, layering the poultices and brewing for potions. They did not have as many kits for the brewing as they did for creating poultices, but they should have enough for those with an interest to learn or to help. After going through those Adealide would motion the mages that wished to learn more of basic healing off to one side to walk them through the theory, using some of the not quite so injured patients to demonstrate. Volunteers, all- she was careful in her instruction and thorough above all else- the last thing they needed was anyone getting injured from an attempt at healing.

After

Packing everything away in the afternoon to return to her tent, Adelaide was available for further questions, commentary- or criticism if something seemed poorly done, presumptuous, or overly curt.

Comments

the anti-social loser | open - prose/brackets a-ok

[amygdalae]

one. Set Up
[It was very obvious from Bruce's expression that he Did Not Want to be here. Not because most of the people here were mages or anything like that, but just because he was never one for social situations. Having to deal with so many people he didn't know, possibly having to talk to them in a context not strictly about his work? No thank you.

But Bruce didn't exactly want to risk the displeasure of Adelaide, so reluctantly he had stayed to help out as (politely) asked. He hands out the herbs as asked, although unless spoken to Bruce really isn't going to talk much. He's never been good at these sorts of thing.]


two. After
[Bruce, despite everything, had more or less stuck through the entire session. He aided a bit during the session, mostly making sure that nobody was mucking up the instructions and potentially making some sort of terrible mixture. He also helped with the ones still busy with the potion making when the mages were off learning their healing spells and what not.

When finally everything was over Bruce let out an internal sigh of relief. Once he helped to pack up most of the things he had retreated to one of his usual spots under his usual tree, taking a book out to read as he sought out much needed alone time after all the social interaction he had to endure.

Of course, if people still did want to speak to him, Bruce wasn't really going to turn them down.]


three. Wildcard!
[Anything and everything that happens in this log! COME AT ME.]

After

[fleurdesel]

I want to thank you.

[ Adelaide sidles up to Bruce's elbow, offering a mug of tea and a thin smile. ]

This wasn't...easy, I think, for you. And you helped all the same.

[amygdalae]

[Adelaide catches up to him before he can really make his escape, and Bruce does look pretty weary but he doesn't exactly turn her away.]

I'm not really a 'people person'. [The quotation marks are audible even when he speaks. Bruce takes the tea from her and stares down at it.] It would be nice if I had a warning before being brought to something like this beforehand, that's all.

[fleurdesel]

And give you time hide or find an excuse not to come?

[ It isn't something she intends to do often, honestly it'd been something of a spur of the moment choice- she'd been walking, he was there- it felt appropriate for him to join. Solidarity among the healers with and without magic. ]

Set Up | It's Bruce!

[el_tybs]

[Sam doesn't know him, but he has heard of him - many times. Being able to treat yourself does that, he hadn't needed to go see the surgeon for anything. Still, it is really easy to spot the man based off the descriptions he's heard. And the fact that he doesn't talk much, save for straight to the point answers.

It's obvious that he doesn't want to be there.

Sam obviously still wants to talk to him, regardless of seeing that.

He's respectful about it though. Waiting as everyone else gets their herbs before wandering over to the man. He's mindful to cough lightly to make himself known, since apparently he has a habit of sneaking up on people - how does that happen?]

You're Bruce... are you not?

itsa me, bruce!

[amygdalae]

[The notice beforehand is appreciated, and Bruce glances back over to see an unfamiliar person who seems to... know him? That was--unexpected.]

...yes. [He says after a pause, clearly very uncertain and a little bit wary, but Bruce tries his best to be as polite and professional as possible.] Did you need me for something?

Re: itsa me, bruce!

[el_tybs]

Not in particular.

[A smile, then a pause at the way the man is looking at him.]

We've... just never met in person, no real need I suppose. Everyone who goes to you speaks rather highly of your treatments. I was rather impressed with the stitch work you did for a Zevran Arainai.

[He's forgetting something.]

Ah. That's rather rude of me. I know your name, but you don't mine. I'm Samouel.

set up

[aceso]

Christine hurries around, helping to set up what they need for the demonstrations. When she pauses to survey the area, she spots Bruce looking entirely out of place and annoyed to even be there. She lets out a huff and heads over to him.

"Is there any way you could act more at ease, ser? We don't want to scare off anyone by having the surgeon frown at them." In many ways, Christine resembles Adelaide, just ten years behind. Her hair is lighter, but the accent is Orlesian, she's a mage, and she has no time for idiots. Not that she's thinking of Bruce as an idiot right now, but just in general. One would look at Christine and think perhaps Adelaide has always been her mentor, but the two women only met recently, since Adelaide was at the White Tower in Val Voyeaux and Christine in Montsimmard's Tower. It's merely one of those coincidences of fate, and Bruce must count himself lucky to benefit from their presence, right?

[amygdalae]

Bruce wasn't annoyed to be here, per se, but he did feel incredibly out of place. Although it was hard to not frown when the alternative was probably grimacing or something equally terrible.

He blinks at the mage that walks up to him, taking a moment before he more or less forces out a small, polite smile that is hopefully somewhat reassuring. "I'll try. But I can't promise you anything." He's really not one for sudden crowds like this, and especially without any warning beforehand. If he were somebody else entirely he might have just walked the hell out of this whole thing. Sure he was a surgeon, but most of the people here were mages and they'd probably rely more on their magic than potions or poultices anyway.

[aceso]

That really isn't the answer she's looking for. She wants results, not lukewarm assurances. And from the look on her face, he can probably tell she isn't satisfied.

"What made you wish to be a surgeon?" she asks out of the blue. But to her, it makes perfect sense to ask. Surgeons have to talk to their patients and make them feel at ease. At the moment, she's not sure if that's something Bruce actually does. He seems more likely to put people on edge, because if he's uncomfortable or tense, that will make the patient think their condition is far worse than it is.

set up | closed, but pm if you want him anyway

[slipshot]

Gavin made his way to the Garden with the bundles that he'd collected that morning in his arms. It had been a trek - he'd walked down the mountain the night before, collected the elfsroot where it poked up in the snow, napped, and then headed back at dawn. It was good - he'd needed to get out, and he'd needed to be useful, and this had offered a chance for both. Plus, he'd never met Adelaide, but he knew it was probably best to keep all of the healers on his side, so earning a few brownie points was always a good thing.

He looked around until he spotted her - that had to be her at the table, with Bruce behind her. He flashed his friend a grin before approaching Adelaide and holding out the elfroot.

"I was told that you'd need this," He said, by way of introduction.

[fleurdesel]

"Beg pardon?" No hello, no name, no explanation, just an offer of elfroot and a smile. It was a little jarring as she'd not quite seen this elf- Dalish by his tattoos and friendly by his bearing. But if he had herbs to offer and time to spare there was no reason to be suspicious or ungrateful.

The Elfroot was even fresh, he must have gathered it recently. "We do, yes. Thank you- and you are...?"

She was never quite certain how to address the Dalish outside of the healing tents.

[slipshot]

"Ah - sorry," He said, laughing, the tips of his ears going red in embarrassment. "Right. Introductions. Gavin! My name is Gavin, of clan Ashara, currently of the Inquisition. You're - Adelaide LeBlanc, right? If you aren't, I'm really sorry, I was just told about the note and the elfroot request, and thought that-- well, thought that I could help." He was talking too much again. He cleared his throat.

"Let me know if you're all running short - I've been cooped up for days, and I like the walk."

During | prose/brackets | feel free to group up

[el_tybs]

Sam sighs as he looks down at the instructions in his hands, then down at the items on the table. Potions and poulitices were never his favorite subject, but it is important to know how to do. They're important to have when you don't have magic to help. It's just been a while since he's had to make one.

At his table Sam goes about each of the steps in a leisurely manner, taking time to inspect the ingredients at the different stages and double checking the instructions often. He's relatively quiet as he works, save for the humming or whistling he does.

[fleurdesel]

"Is it all quite clear?" Adelaide rests a hand on Sam's shoulder for a moment as she examines his work, peering down at the herbs and instructions. She had double checked everything before they handed anything out but- Sam would be honest if something was unclear or phrased poorly.

[el_tybs]

He's off in his own world as he concentrates on his work, watching how the elfroot changes in the mortar with every press of the pestle. It's because of that, that Sam jumps just a bit when a hand touches his shoulder and he hears a voice to his side. Not enough to topple him over or knock anything off thankfully.

Blinking he turns his head to the person. At seeing that it was Lady LeBlanc he sighs and gives a smile. "It's been a while since I've had to make any of this. I haven't ran into an issue yet with the instructions."

Before~

[nadasharillen]

With a small knife through her belt, carrying a large sack that had previously held potatoes, and whistling tunelessly, Nahariel made her way into the garden space. She cut off mid-note, seeing the set-up in progress, and raised a hand in greeting.

"My apologies, I didn't know anyone was going to be using the space. Is it all right if I continue clearing?" she asked, indicating the spaces within the garden still weeded over--a not insignificant amount of ground.

[fleurdesel]

"Ah- yes. My apologies. If we need to move anything to be out of your way..." She'd tried to keep to the clearer part of the garden for the most part but people would likely move about once they began. Adelaide frowned at the arrangement of herbs before her, the mortals and pestles laid out. They ought to be fine but- Hm. "Let us know?"

[nadasharillen]

"I'm sure whatever you're doing is more important than setting the garden aright. At least for the time being," the elf said, with a small smile. She placed her tools at the wall, and then moved to look at the herbs laid out on the table.

"So many... did you bring them with you, to Skyhold? Or are there people out gathering them for you?"

[eolasemah]

Although she had spent the lesson resting in a healing tent, Siuona made her way to the gardens afterward and was surprised to see that there had been activity here. Some of her handiwork was visible: she had been making an effort to cut and replant some of the herbs that were suffering or stifling one another, and had slowly been arranging things such that they made a visible categorical sense.

Spotting Adelaide, she hesitantly approached, the shard in her chest glinting conspicuously although she clutched a shawl around her shoulders. Although she had intended to address her, as soon as she got near enough her mouth went dry and she found she had nothing to say. She simply stood awkwardly in the mage's close proximity, shuffling her feet and eyeing her and trying to steel herself to make conversation.

[fleurdesel]

Adelaide finished tidying up the remaining bundles of herbs and finished poultices, stacking them for delivery to Commander Cullen. What did not go to the healers would go to him for the Inquisition's use- much like the potions brewed today. For a moment she was preoccupied before taking note of the Dalish- again the one with the strange glinting on her chest- possibly an amulet. She waited for some word to be given and when nothing seemed forthcoming, she spoke. "May I help you?"

[eolasemah]

Having stared awkwardly for several horrible moments, Sina blinked, a small flush rising to her cheeks when the woman addressed her.

"You... gave the lesson on herbs today," she replied, clasping her slightly quivering hands behind her. "I wondered if, ah... if you instructed anyone on the cutting of them?" She looked at Adelaide's face, then away again. "...someone's been doing it wrong," she hastily concluded, "perhaps.. multiple someones."

During

[arlathvhen]

Beleth read over the cards--or to be more precise, skimmed. She was aware enough of the basics, but it interested her to note that there were a few differences in the way that she had been taught in the clan, and what this woman recommended. Of course the human method was bound to be inferior, but she was willing to give it a try anyway, and went about following the directions for the potions.

She tried to stay quiet and not ask many questions, though she'd often watch Adelaide speak to anyone else, expression thoughtful.

During

[fleurdesel]

One taught as they were taught- as far as Adelaide knew this was the easiest and best way to get the most out of one's elfroot. Finding yet another Dalish in attendance did leave her curious enough to wander over, peering at Beleth's work. "Is it done differently in your clan?"

She knew precious little of the Dalish save those she had met here, but they were rumored to be quite effective herbalists and healers. As well as wild. she mustn't forget wild.

[arlathvhen]

Wild, some would argue, is a designation people give to others that they haven't broken. Haven't tamed. The Dalish will never be broken, so the humans will always call them wild. Let them think what they want.

Beleth looked up when Adelaide came over, hesitating at the woman's question. While brewing an elfroot potion was hardly an ancient elven secret, she wasn't sure if it was wise to divulge all the same. After a few moments, she looks down to the elfroot in her hands. "Not a whole lot is different. We cut our elfroot up before beginning to soak it in the distillation. And take longer." That seemed innocuous enough to reveal, at least.