Post
by Serespar » Sun Feb 14, 2021 8:24 pm
Finding Reagents
All who wander are not lost
From Kayapo’s Musings…
I was contemplating one of Saman Ziv’s lessons on how the shaman experiences; the importance of BEING in the moment, rather than DOING with an agenda. There is a different sense of openness to the experience when you are fully present, adapting to the flow of life around you rather than imposing wants, needs or desires on it. Am slowly beginning to live it.
So…
I was hired by a dwarven alchemist, one Flitwick Farworth, to join him and two other bodyguards, Tor’val the ork Axemaster and Z’mokki the t’skrang thief, on a material gathering trip out into the wilds of Barsaive. The planned route was a loop out to the edges of the Servos jungle, then south, then back to the Coil River, then back to Throal. I spent much of the journey in pleasant conversation with Flitwick from the back of his horse, Thomas, who was pulling Flitwick’s wagon, all while Tor’val and Z’mokki kept a watchful eye to the front and rear.
It was a quiet, uneventful trip til we ran across giant termites near the Servos (hex 39.12). The warriors termites attacked us while the worker termites attempted to make off with supplies for the wagon. After defending ourselves we located the mound the giant insects were building. Given the number of the creatures, we decided to let the balance of the forest sort it out and marked the hazard on our maps, to warn future travelers. We also put up warning cairns nearby to alert folks who might run into the giant insects.
We stopped briefly in Ironbark Grove (41.14) and visited with headman Medgar Mennonim, resupplying and enjoying a good meal before heading back out. We made sure the goodfolk of Ironbark were aware of the mound being built by the insects nearby, and they invited us to go elk hunting with them as part of our resupply. We declined their gracious invitation as our gentle pace and gathering from the bounty of the wilds had been adequate for our needs.
While looping through the hills, Flitwick was very excited to discover a pocket area filled with Alchemilla Alpina, a herb useful as a reagent (see map of location in hex 43.13). The rocky slopes could be a hazard to travelers, but the plants can be found in sheltered out of the way spots among the rocks. We followed sustainable harvest practices as we helped Flitwick retrieve the herbs.
We ran into four Ghennis giving birth to the west of Sky Reader Island (in hex 43.13). It was our first encounter with the creatures and the babes are no joking matter, being basically teeth filled berserkers. We dealt with them, tho the mothers did flee to the north and may represent a hazard to other travelers in the future.
On the final leg of the journey, we ran across a corrupted earth q’wirrel that viciously attacked. We dealt with the beast, but wondered how the earth and what is normally a much more docile creature had become so corrupted.
Arriving back in Throal, we received our pay from Flitwick and I parted from my companions. I look forward to traveling with them again, should circumstances permit.