eachdraidh | video - open to both courts

[The feed turns on to a fairly sizable room in what's easily recognizable as the deep purples of Caer Scima. The room itself appears to be in certain disarray. The bed's been pulled off its bed posts and tucked in a corner of the room, books line the sides of walls, but most notable is that the young man who inhabits it seems to have collected various plants he could find wilting around the nearby lands. They seem to be surviving just fine now, but the young man's attention is on the shakkan, a miniature tree, and bags and bottles before him.

He raps a tattooed knuckle on the wood of his work place, the flowers beneath the surface of his skin changing colors. If the viewer watches they seem to move and change forms on their own accord, somehow the don't appear painful to the young man who's gray-green eyes slip from the tree to the locket. Suddenly, his lips curl half upwards in an amused smile when he begins to speak.]

Here I thought I'd never meet someone bleatbrained enough to chase after a animal that's practically revered as a god. Are all you little forest critters back to normal or are you still learning your lessons?

There's a lot of talk going on around here and they seem to be the same. I could easily ask if anyone knows a way home, but that's been asked a few hundred times. I don't think it's that easy. Nothin's easy when you involve magic and Bags too greedy for their own good. Has anyone even tried teaching them a lesson on good manners?

[He jabs lightly as serious as he is joking. Briar knew a thing or two about emperors and kings no matter what names they took. If the decided you were their playthings they'd keep you there as long as they could. You couldn't trample headfirst into their gardens without expecting to be noticed.]

Forgive my crankiness, winter isn't my season and I was supposed to be accompanying my sisters back to our country after a harrowing summer of court in Namorn. I was looking forward to returning to my own gardens. As that seems to be out of the picture for now, I'd like to offer services here.

I'm Briar Moss. We'll let the name speak for itself. [His smile turns somewhat mischievous before he continues.] I'm a gardener first and a producer of medicine second. Harvest is just about ended, but I can still encourage your plants to grow fast enough to feed a village if needed. Or if your a Lady with an eye for flowers I can help crossbreed you a flower no one else has a claim to.

For medicine I've been trained by the top Dedicates in Winding Circle Temple for about six years now. I can strengthen any medicine you have if it's a plant-basis so it'll work for years longer than you'd expect it or produce more willowbark than you'll know what to do with. I have a pain-relieving ointment that will make some of the nastiest cuts heal up in a day or so and the bruise will go away in a week.

That's just a little of what I can manage and I'm willing to help anyone so long as you pay. If you buy in bulk I might even be able to discount it, but forgive me as starting out I'll have to rebuild my own supplies. If you need medicine but don't have anything to spare I'll even accept learning about the plants in your homes. I'll be traveling soon, so if you tell me where I'll find a way to bring anything you might yearn for.

If you have any questions or concerns I'd be happy to assist.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Pod is very, very interested. She watches closely, taking in everything, and while she's not quite ready to take the statements whole-cloth, she certainly wants to know more. ]

Well met, Briar Moss. I'm Pod of Gray Holt, and this is Kiga.

[She twists the locket to show a wolverine happily stretched out on the snow.]

I've not heard of magic like yours before, but if what you say is true, I would like to know more.

[He's hardly surprised to meet people who didn't believe his statements. Briar had met more than enough adult mages in his life who didn't believe he was licensed. Even now they didn't, but Drabwurld wasn't Emelan, Namorn or an of the places he'd been. Magic seemed more open]

The pleasure is mine, Pod of Gray Holt. I've not seen a creature as your Kiga before.

[He tilts his head forward a little, a sign of recognition before continuing.]

Most have not heard of magic like mine even where I'm from. I assure you I don't embellish any of my doings and only wish to be of service in what I can.

[Briar's words remain as careful as they are easy. He has his own goals in mind, but business was strictly business in his eyes.]

Pod smiles, bright and fond, at Kiga.]
He's a woods dog of the north. Not many can claim to have met one.

[Pod takes in the statement and fidgets a little, but it couldn't hurt to ask.]

I'm a 'prentice Beast Healer. Right now I'm supposed to be learning of the wild herbs, how they can be used to heal, and where to find them, but as you can see...

[Pod gestures vaguely around her.] Do you think you could... teach? I do need to learn, or I'll never make Journeywoman. Maybe not right now, but in the spring or summer, if we are both still here.

I fear the woods of your north are likely different than that of mine. That's Namorn and all I've heard is that if anything's caught out there in a winter wind it will die in seconds.

[Tilting his head slightly, Briar listens a smile playing against his features after a moment.]

It would be my honor. You can still learn about the plants without finding them in the wild. I do not believe I know enough of their plants here to assume they grow in the same ways I'm used to, although I'm certain they're not too different. The few I've seen feel much the same. We could try, if you wish.

Winters can be fierce, especially in the highest mountains, but woods dogs are made for the snow and cold. Kiga is certainly enjoying the weather here!

[More than Pod herself is, that's for certain.] But if your winters are that cold, I shouldn't expect even a woods dog would like it.

[But that's really an aside to what he says next, and Pod brightens considerably.]

I will do my best to learn, then. I know most of the common ones where I come from, and I was learning of those less so when I was brought here. As for finding where they grow, well, I must go where my charges are, and often it's in the middle of the forest, and no way for a quick trip to the nearest simpler to get what I might need!