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

[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."

[fleurdesel]

"Potions, poultices, with a few notes on proper harvesting for those that asked." Most mages and herbalists purchased their elfroot rather than fetching it on their own- perhaps she should have been more thorough in her notes. "Cutting too much or cutting improperly? I will post a notice on the board on how to go about doing so without harming the plants."

[eolasemah]

"A bit of both," Sina replied, and scuffed her foot on the ground in front of her. "And I believe I... smelled it in smoke, not long ago." She looked uncertainly up at Adelaide. "...I.. I suspect it's being stolen for smoking." She pursed her lips, feeling strangely as though she were tattling-- not that she had any idea who would have done it, but it concerned her that with so many people here, anyone was being flippant enough to squander the healing herbs.

[fleurdesel]

"...smoking." She'd heard of it as a practice but-


They barely had enough in the gardens and around the hold for their potions and poultices. And people were taking from that limited supply. To smoke. Adelaide's already tense posture went positively rigid in light of this. SHe sucked in a slow breath, counted to ten, and released it. "I will post a notice that the herbs in the garden are not to be used recreationally."

[eolasemah]

Glad that she wasn't alone in her concerns, Sina gave a small nod and a smile of relief. "Ma seran-- thank you," she said softly, and finally brought her hands around again, to tug the shawl more tightly over her shoulders.

"You... were one of the healers looking in on me?" she guessed, her tone and posture sheepish, "...thank... thank you for that as while." She unconsciously moved one hand to clutch over her chest, the green pulsing through her translucent skin.

[fleurdesel]

"I am disappointed I did not notice sooner." She should have kept a better eye on such things- she'll have to add minding the plants during her morning meditations to her schedule. It would not take much effort. "I- yes. Though I am not certain if I was able to treat you."

That green glow- but her hands were unmarked.

"...Does it hurt?"

[eolasemah]

It took Sina a moment to realize what Adele meant, and she looked down. She hesitated, then gave a tiny shrug. "...sometimes," she confessed, "..it was... difficult making the journey up here, with the thinning air." She glanced over Adelaide again, slightly disbelieving that this human would show such interest. But then, for the thousandth time she had to remind herself: they were all here to be peaceful together, were they not? She still wasn't used to it.

"I've kept it from going... further in," Sina added, "I was fortunate neither my heart nor lungs were pierced. I believe it does affect them, but its magic is not anything I'm familiar with."

[fleurdesel]

"It looks much like the marks on the hands of the rifters." The same mark the Herald had- the color was that of the rifts themselves before demons poured out. A particularly frightening shade of green. She could not imagine what it would be like to have that in her hand, let alone embedded in her chest.

Herbs set aside for the moment Adelaide extended a hand, palm up, fingers slightly curled. The barest wisps of power pooled into being. "May I? I do not know that I can cure it anymore than I might do anything for the marks on the rifters- but I may be able to help with the aching."

[eolasemah]

Although Sina had heard tell of the rifters, and knew the Herald had had a mark, she hadn't seen any of them for herself. This confirmed her worst suspicions, and she quailed.
"That note from the hum-- the Templar," she observed, "he said that the rifters are demons. ...but I've never consorted with demons." She watched the human's hand carefully, but hesitantly drew her shawl aside, revealing the shard and the swollen, bruised skin around it. "I've tried everything," she softly confessed, "but I'm-... I'm just a First, I still have so much to learn."

[fleurdesel]

"I have faced demons and fought alongside the rifters when they arrived. While they are unlike anyone I have ever met- I cannot say they are demonic." What exactly they were other than from somewhere else? She could not say. Not honestly. But this she has soothed once before.

"Knight-Commander Baratheon has his concerns and addresses them in the best way he knows how. Directly and with what knowledge he has at his disposal." Considering the rather limited pattern available for what came through the rifts? Now that the day has passed and her frustrations eased she found herself less able to blame him for a snap decision. Even if she hadn't cared for his tone or assumption of authority.

The light in her palm pooled until it formed into a fine mist, she drew it close to the glowing shard and bruised skin, Compassion's touch whispering through to offer a soothing balm for the time being. To mend some of the bruising. How long it would last varied with the hands of the Rifters. It wasn't a cure- merely a temporary alleviation of the pain. "This is unlike anything most of us have ever seen. I am a Spirit Healer and even I know nothing of them. Nothing is written."

[eolasemah]

Sina winced at the touch, but couldn't disguise her curiosity. Despite her serious bearing, she was still very young, and meeting other mages was rare. "You enlist the aid of spirits," she quietly filled in, "but I thought... that was forbidden, in the Circles?" Shortly, she sighed, feeling the relief her own trainee healing couldn't give her.

[fleurdesel]

"It is...a delicate and rare study. We are at greater risk for possession for our affinity with spirits but the one I work with has been at my side for as long as I can remember. I follow their rules and they allow me to use their power to heal." She dropped her hand, peering at the skin around the shard. It seemed less bruised- though how long it would be mended? She could not say. "Did that help?"

[eolasemah]

With a nod, Sina stepped back again, appearing genuinely grateful.
"I'd... be glad to continue keeping an eye on the elfroot," she said at last, "I've already been working to make the garden functional." She glanced around shyly, noting that there was still quite a lot of work to be done. "I've asked my clansister to bring herbs back, so we'll have more at our disposal."
She paused again, watching Adelaide uncertainly, but hazarded an offer. "...I'm... no spirit healer, but I am versed in healing magics. I.. thank you for what you've done, and would be... I'd be glad to be of service, if there's anything you need from me." The way she looked at the older woman was strangely homesick, questing for female authority; she was a First without a Keeper, and nowhere near ready to be on her own in this strange place.

[fleurdesel]

"I would be grateful. We need the supply for the potions and poultices required by the Inquisition and it's healers." If they wished to smoke they could find their herb elsewhere. Here was for communal use to be certain- but a consideration shown to everyone else that would have need of it was required. "If you are able to lend your aid in the healing tents comfortably- without straining yourself? I know the other surgeons and healers would appreciate it. So long as you take enough time to rest between patients I can safely recommend doing so- it would be good practice for you."

[eolasemah]

Giving another, more confident smile, Sina nodded. "Ma ser--" she nearly said, stopped herself with a blush, and shook her head. "Thank you. I will do that." Though she first clenched her hand into a nervous fist, she then stepped forward to extend it. "I am Siuona of Clan Dahlasanor. It is a pleasure to have met you."

[fleurdesel]

"Adelaide LeBlanc, former Enchanter of the White Spire." Now she was a rebel mage much like any other. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Siuona. If the shard in your chest begins to bother you again? I can be found in the garden in the mornings and in the healing tents the rest of the day. It is no imposition to assist."

[eolasemah]

With another small nod and smile, Sina stepped away and went back to busying herself amongst the various herbs.