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

[slipshot]

"Water and elfroot, got it," Gavin agreed, grabbing the mug to pour the water - spilling a bit as he did so, but whatever, this wasn't an exact science, was it? - doing so, and then grabbing a handful of elfroot to drop it in. Well. He did sprinkle it. He'd never really grasped the concept of 'a bit'.

"There!"

[el_tybs]

He had barely finished his sentence when Gavin enthusiastically started on combining the ingredients. Well that was... a way to do it. That wasn't the correct way, but it wasn't like they were trying to do this exactly the right way. Taking lessons from Bruce would be good for Gavin to learn it the right way.

"Well that was more than we needed, but that's fine." Grabbing a stirring stick he slowly started to mix the water and elfroot, watching as the liquid changed color.

[slipshot]

"More is always better, right?" Gavin asked, his voice absolutely innocent, though he had something of a wicked gleam in his eye. He leaned over the table to watch the mixture as Sam worked. "Does it burn a different colour?" He asked curiously. "Like how sometimes if you throw copper shavings in a fire, it goes green?"

[el_tybs]

"More is always better," he agrees somewhat, his eyes going a bit distant as he thinks about something while stirring, before turning to look at Gavin, "sometimes. Can't overdo ingredients when you're actually trying to make something."

He chuckles as Gavin almost puts his face right up to the flask. "Well potions generally turn red after you mix the elfroot and then simmer it. I'd imagine we'd get a similar color, but since you put in more than needed and we plan on getting it boiling... not sure what we'll get."

[slipshot]

"Well, obviously we should make it more interesting, then." He reached across the table and grabbed a handful of - well, truthfully he didn't even look at what he was grabbing - before dropping it into the flask as Sam stirred it.

There was an impressive sizzle and snap, as the nameless herb joined the concoction, and Gavin grinned.

[el_tybs]

"Wha-" He blinks, barely able to get the word out when the concoction sizzles and snaps. Sam stops stirring immediately at that and turns back to look at the flask, watching as the color changes. "What did you just put in?" He hadn't seen what Gavin had grabbed. Sam's not so worried on it being an issue, but without knowing he cannot even give an educated guess.

[slipshot]

"Uh -" He looked back at the table, but as he had grabbed all of the herb in question, there was none left to educate him on what he'd just used. He offered Sam a sheepish grin.

"... Absolutely no idea?"

[el_tybs]

Sam sighs and gives Gavin a look, though a bit playful. "No more additions to the potion," he snorts lightly, giving Gavin a friendly nudge. "We're going to have to stand back for this."

Grabbing some of the twigs, Sam sets them on a plate under the flask and sets them on fire, taking several steps back after doing so. For good measure he grabs Gavin and pulls him back so he doesn't get the idea to watch it up close and personal.

[slipshot]

He was planning on standing close, regardless of Sam's words, but he doesn't fight it when he's pulled back - falling in line beside him as the fire starts.

The flask warms slowly at first, with no apparent problems, but then it starts bubbling. And sparking. And smoking--

[el_tybs]

And-

Nothing. It maybe sputters and a small pop is heard but that's it. Sam deflates a little bit at that, frowning slightly at the flask. When it doesn't do anything but bubble he gives a sigh. "Well that's a shame." He gives Gavin a look before walking towards the table, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Maybe the other ingredient-" Before Sam can finish there's a small flash followed by a loud explosion, the sound of glass breaking barely audible. "Shit!"

Adelaide can probably join in any time now :'|

[slipshot]

"Oh well," Gavin had replied, with a sigh, about to follow Sam back to it - when suddenly it explodes with enough force strong enough to leave Gavin's ears ringing. His hands immediately go up to them, palms pressing them into the side of his head.

"Ow!" He says, more out of surprise than anything else. He wasn't hurt. "Sam- you alright?" He said, his voice too loud to get over the ringing of his ears as he immediately reached out for his friend.

what did you DO

[fleurdesel]

The pop got her attention well enough to peer in their direction from the other side of the garden; as such she saw the first flash of the proper explosion before it came. Too far to do anything about it other than throw up a shield to prevent the shattering of glass from cutting into anyone uninvolved, Adelaide casts as she dashes over, skirts swirling.

Nothing in the ingredients they have today should do this- as far as she's aware such a reaction is impossible.

And yet here, two fools, a shattered beaker, and a mess.

"What have you done?"

[el_tybs]

The explosion had been mostly sound rather then flying glass, just breaking into large pieces and falling on top of the flame. No one should've gotten hurt, save for maybe Gavin's and Sam's ears from being so close.

Sam's rubbing and trying to clear out his ears as well, not quite able to hear anything over the ringing noise in them now - sorry Gavin he didn't hear you. His eyes are just fine though, and... crap. Adelaide is rushing over.

"What?!" he shouts, unable to actually hear his own volume.

[slipshot]

"Yeah, we're fine!" Gavin shouts to Adelaide. He didn't actually hear what she asked, but assumed she asked the same question of them as he did of Sam was probably a good assumption.

"Just a small set back!"

[fleurdesel]

"What in Andraste's name-" How. How did they manage to make these ingredients explode? She stalks over to stare at the mess of their workstation as she waves away the shield. No combination of ingredients should have created a mini bomb and yet-

Gavin.

Sam knows better to take care, the odd man out here is Gavin. "What. Did. You. Do."

[el_tybs]

His hearing is starting to come back, but it feels like he's got cotton stuffed in his ears. Not being able to hear well doesn't mean he can't see though. The look Lady LeBlanc is giving Gavin is a bit intimidating he has to admit.

"Just a bit too much of... something. It wasn't supposed to do that." AT least not that loudly or big.