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Post by Ashe on Jun 1, 2019 2:07:45 GMT -6
Rejected! "Sorry, you don't have the skills required for this job."Ashe had never been shut down like that before, and all because he didn't know how to make a few salves from plants? Once he'd seen the job opening go up, Ashe had applied for Archmage's Understudy. His goal was to become a mage, after all. A Necromancer, to be specific, but there were no job openings for that at the moment, so he figured he could slide on into a high ranking mage position. Maybe not as high as Jack, since she had such luck at finding crystals in the mines, but high enough to get in. But nope. When it came time to show he could make potions and salves and all that silly stuff that wasn't even magic-related, he quickly proved he was more of a danger than anything else. Poisons? No problem. Healing stuff? Yeah, he'd end up killing someone if he tried. So what's a man to do when he's beat down on his luck, and has to stay a Ranger for a little bit longer? He hit the books. If one were to search, or stumble upon, one might find him on the outskirts of the woods, with a stack of books borrowed from the library, detailing all sorts of herbs and where to find them. And, when he was done making flash cards, he was going to go seek them out and start a collection. Sitting on his shoulder, staring at the book as if she could read, was his trusty familiar, Inyala. How did the fact that he had a freaking familiar not help his case? What mage needed to make a simple healing salve, over having a familiar? He sighed, wondering, and not for the first time, if this was even a job he specifically wanted... Or if it just sounded fancy. "I don't know if you remember her," He was saying to Inyala. "But I used to date a girl named Bumpeh. We were best friends, then roommates, then lovers..." Not gonna mention he cheated on Silver... "But when she caught me, erm, with another girl... She tried to poison me. Multiple times. Fiesty, I liked that. I bet she could help me out here with this plant crap..."Ashe: 0 1/5 OOC skills needed:
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Post by Jack on Jun 1, 2019 16:53:19 GMT -6
"Or you could ask me..." Jack said, amused as she walked up on her best friend and his familiar. She stood there with a basket in her hands, headed to do exactly what he was thinking of doing, getting herbs and such in the forest. She needed to dry some out for the next season before everything stopped growing and all, just in case. It was the best she could do given the circumstances.
Standing there, staring at her friend, she had one hand on her hip and the other holding the basket at her side, twin swords at her hips along with the pouch holding her nodes. It had been boring and she needed to work lately, but that was fine she was good, she just needed to get going with things and get it all done for now. Jack tilted her head a little, "Whatcha working on anyway? Saw you couldn't take the job I took... Sorry about that. Need any help? Really?"
If she could help her friend in any way she could, then she would do it. Plus she liked seeing people get what they wanted, at least within reason that is. She smiled at him and peered at the books next to him. "Botany?"
Jack: 1/5
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Post by Ashe on Jun 2, 2019 13:08:14 GMT -6
Inyala was the first to notice Jack's approach, as engrossed as her master was in the books. She tapped him on the temple to get his attention. Ashe looked up, at first surprised to see Jack. What was she doing here? With such perfect timing? Was she stalking him? Then he noticed the basket and figured she was here to collect something, some ingredients for something. I don't know, I guess whatever Archmage Understudies have to collect for their work, He thought, with only a little bitterness. Had he mentioned he hated rejection? He'd been the best at almost everything he'd tried so far. Always except for Jack. Good thing they were friends.
He winced a bit as she commented that she'd seen he couldn't get the job. What was worse than failure? Public failure. Anyone being around to see said failure. He groaned and ran a hand through his hair, mousing it up a bit with an exasperated sound. "You saw that?' He mumbled. He sighed and lifted a book so she could better see it. "Yeah, turns out I need to be pretty good with plants to be a mage. Who knew. I thought magic would be enough. I can make poisons, but not cures, so..." He wasn't willing to admit just yet, either, that if he would have kept up on his studies from the beginning, he could have healed his girlfriend without relying on others. Double shame.
"You like plants. A lot. Right? I just need to learn what these herbs are and how to make salves and stuff... What are you doing out here anyway? I'm not interrupting, am I?"
Ashe: 0 2/5
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Post by Jack on Jun 4, 2019 18:38:28 GMT -6
Plopping down next to her friend and his familiar, she smiled at him and shook her head, "No worries, I won't tell anyone. It's a lot of stuff you have to know..." She screwed her face up a little and then sighed, "I actually had to cram to get the position, honestly. I know the cures, but not the poisons, so I had to test to be able to do it. Barely passed..." Then a chuckle as she shook her head again, wondering what she was going to do with herself and this new job. She had to get more stock in things now, she was expected to make some of them quite often it seemed, and this was the best place for some of the plants.
"Of course I do! I grew up on a plantation you know. What all are you studying at the moment? Minor and then going to the bigger ones?" Jack asked, tilting her head with a smile as she tried to see what was on the page he was reading, "Oh I'm out here collecting herbs and stuff for the job. Apparently I have to stock up quite a bit no matter what happens, so I figure if I over stock, I can dry some of them out and use them later on. Depending on the herb it will either make it more potent or less potion as well."
Jack: 2/5
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Post by Ashe on Jun 6, 2019 18:09:21 GMT -6
Ashe was rather shocked. Jack didn't know the poisons? Well, it made sense, Jack was a nicer person than him and more involved in the botany stuff, so nice plus plants would equal healing rather than dealing out death to unsuspected victims. "Shame I didn't know that, I could have taught you poisons, you could have taught me Salves." They could have both enrolled together. Maybe. There would probably have been something else holding Ashe back, you never know, but it would have been fun for them to both start at the same time and run around helping the mages out at the same time. Sneaking lunches together, calling it quits at the same time... It would be nice to have a friend at work, even though Ashe didn't totally mind being a ranger and riding around alone.
"Yeah, basically. Just started so I'm not too far in... I'm trying to make flash cards, too, so I know what herbs do what, and I'll sketch them later to see what they look like." He perked up at the mention of Jack out here hunting herbs. Which would be exactly what he needed! "Do you mind if I come with you? I can see what herbs you need, and how many, and I can start my study cards with that..." It seemed like a good idea to him, and Inyala chirped excitedly, seeming to like the idea that Ashe and Jack might travel together a while.
Ashe: 0 3/5
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Post by Jack on Jun 6, 2019 18:28:40 GMT -6
"Hey that's a great idea! Do what you can to study and then do the practical part a little later on, I could even watch if you want. You have to prove you can do it in front of the committee, it's almost a little nerve-wracking when it comes down to it..." she said with a wince. She had almost made a mistake with one of her poisons, almost added the wrong ingredient, but she had caught herself before it had dropped into the pot, luckily.
She brightened up and nodded a little, chuckling at Inyala's chirp, "I think you like that idea, huh? Well I do too! Let's do it, I've mainly got some grasses and herbs to find, but a few mushrooms as well if we can manage I think. We'll look after some of the ones you need too to pass your exams, that way you can play with them for a little bit and see what works out best for you. Sometimes it depends on the person with how effective it'll be too." Standing up, the woman eagerly looked into the woods and gestured, "I'll help carry some books if you'd like! I've got my side bag." She had a cross body bag she carried most places, she never knew what she was going to find and when.
Jack: 3/5
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Post by Ashe on Jun 7, 2019 1:16:22 GMT -6
Ashe opened his mouth, wanting to say 'no don't watch me! I suck as it is!' and Jack continued to say you have to do it in front of a committee, who will be less friendly than Jack and care less about what Ashe could actually do... So maybe that wouldn't be a bad idea, getting over his shyness and nerves. Ashe was rarely shy, and often he could fake confidence even if he didn't feel it, but doing something that gave results of fail or success didn't leave room for confidence, if your skill was truly lacking. So he just sighed and said, "Maybe..."
Ashe stood up, figuring the books would be okay here because who in their right mind steals common herbology books? Inyala balanced herself on Ashe's shoulder as he rose. "Sweet, sounds awesome. I'll need some to keep as examples, preserve them, and then some to practice with..." Oh, here comes the confidence. "It'll be extremely effective, then! I don't half-ass stuff. I just... have to know what to add and when. And where to get more, obviously." Up until this point, he'd planned on leaving the books behind, but at Jack's offer, he decided to take them instead. Might as well. "Thanks," Ashe said, splitting up the books so they each got a couple. Ashe had his own bag, and should have carried them all since they were his, but Jack was kind enough to help out... "Lead the way!"
Ashe: 0 4/5
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Post by Jack on Jun 7, 2019 14:12:43 GMT -6
She chuckled and nodded along with him, honestly agreeing with what he had said so far, and then took the offered books and tucked them away in her bag. She picked up her basket and motioned deeper into the forest with a nod of her head, "Onward then, my friend!" Laughing a bit, she reached out to shake Inyala's hand a little bit, if it was taken, and then started walking, keeping her eyes peeled. It was almost as if things glowed when you got used to it, and the first thing she spied was a batch of mushrooms. "Here, edible mushrooms, good for soups and stews, also grilling if you like that. There aren't many potions that use them, but when they do they use quite a bit for their heartiness. You can also grind them down a little and use them as a crude poultice, just make sure you clean it out well or they'll sprout out of the person in question. I need a few, but don't take them all. Mushrooms are prolific but you don't want to clear out a patch of anything just in case they won't grow back," Jack told him, pointing to the mushrooms and picking a few, offering for him to pick some others if he wanted to stock up. She could share!
Jack: 4/5
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Post by Ashe on Jun 9, 2019 16:55:49 GMT -6
Inyala eyes the hand, then puts hers in the girl's, allowing for a little shake. When she got her hand back, she settled in the crook of Ashe's neck, her usual spot where she could sit easily when Ashe walked for long periods. As they started walking, Ashe idly kicked himself inwardly for letting a girl carry his books. While not perfect by any means, he was gentlemanly in that he was only too happy to carry stuff for the ladies. And here he was, not only not carrying stuff for Jack, but having Jack help carry his stuff. And he felt the shame of that decision with every step he took, soothed only by the other fact that Jack would be more insulted, he thought, if he refused her help. She might as well be a man sometimes, he thought, the way she valued her strength. Especially with her new leg. Yes, maybe it was best if he let her show off her new walk?
He opened his mouth, having been watching her walk like normal this whole time, to compliment her on it - and she spotted mushrooms instead. He nodded, listening to her instruction and taking it to heart. Don't clear it out, just take some, got it. "These grow on my mussimander, sometimes..." He commented, squatting (to not upset Inyala with a bend) and taking a few. Just a single serving, he had some at home. But this was fun, no harm if they were plentiful, right?
"By the way, your leg's doing great, isn't it?"
--counted-
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Post by Jack on Jun 10, 2019 14:10:13 GMT -6
"Yeah!" she said brightly, nodding, "They grow on Mussimanders too, they're pretty helpful so don't overlook them!" Jack smiled at him and stood back up as he picked his own mushrooms, then scanned the forest a little before she saw a lovely purple and white bush a little ways away. "Oh, lavender!" came the exclamation from her.
Oh, her leg? She stared at it for a moment and then a calm smile spread across her face as she spun on her new leg for a moment. "Yes, it's doing wonderfully. It really helps to not have to use a walking stick anymore as well, I get two hands now all the time!" Jack laughed, and then she shook her head a little in amusement, "It really is doing great, but I can't believe what I had to go through in order to get this..." The memories flooded back to her and she winced a little before she bowed her head a bit, wondering what she was going to do if that happened again. It couldn't happen again, no...
Right, lavender. "Umm, lavender is a good anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, good for bug bites and small burns. Definitely good to have on hand if you have flaming pets, I'd say!" said Jack as she picked a few sprigs and put them into her basket, then she turned and looked at Ashe for a moment, as if appraising him, "How are you doing, by the way?"
Jack: 5/5 +1
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Post by Ashe on Jun 20, 2019 19:18:56 GMT -6
Lavender, huh? "I know that one! It smells good. Is it used for potions?" He saw what she saw, following her gaze easily after her exclamation. But she seemed to be a little distracted by her leg, by the memories of how it ultimately got healed. Ashe was sure it was quite the ordeal, and couldn't really relate other than knowing a tough memory when he saw one. So he inched a bit closer and put his hand on the small of her back in a comforting sort of way. He still felt a little sad that he hadn't tried to use the restore orb on her before, to cure her of it. Whether or not it would have worked on a leg that was, at the time, healed and intact, wouldn't have mattered as much as the fact that Ashe hadn't even thought to try like a good friend should. He'd just assumed she'd accepted it as a way of life, and she probably had until tragedy struck, and that she'd grown used to it. She was so happy now without it, he thought.
Ashe gave a nod. Would have helped him to know this a while back, that was for sure. He'd suffered many a burn in the early days. Fafnir's fire, Ghidorah's lightning, and Mortavos knows what else. He took his own share of them as well, careful to leave some to keep growing. Inyala leaned forward, sniffing the air. It smelled familiar, like a candle Ashe lit at home.
"Me? Oh, I'm great. Except for the job thing. I've been doing odds and ends jobs, training.... Oh- I made a Node the other day. A Dark one."
Ashe: 1/5
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Post by Jack on Jun 27, 2019 12:32:08 GMT -6
A node? "Oh that's fantastic! Do you have it with you? Can I see it?" she asked eagerly, ignoring the fact that she had five nodes of her own at the moment, with her as well. Absently she touched the pouch they were in, a habit she had picked up after awhile, worried they might be taken from her at some point. In a way it would be easier to swallow a node, but she wasn't the kind of person to go the easy route with anything really. Jack smiled a little when she imagined what the node would look like, and she wondered if Ashe had more plans or not. "Are you making any more of them?" the woman finally asked, tilting her head.
As she tilted her head she saw a tree to the side of the lavender and she smiled a bit. Sarane fruit grew out here it seemed, and it was good to put into potions for children to make them taste better. She would tell him after a little while, after they talked about magic for a bit. What was a friend to do if not chat sometimes?
Jack: 1/5
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Post by Ashe on Jun 28, 2019 2:39:39 GMT -6
"You bet I do!" Ashe said, with a grin. He always had his nodes on him, at all times. You never know what you might run into out here, or when you might need to show off to someone, especially a girl. Even if he wasn't trying to romantically impress Jack, he still valued her opinion of him due to their friendship and her overall success on these things. He reached into a pocket, producing the purple node. He held it in his hand, palm up, so Jack could best see it. He wasn't sure, and he didn't want to diminish his own accomplishment by finding out if she did, but he didn't think she had one of these. She seemed to be collecting the regular elemental nodes, not the divine class. First, at least. She always had to have everything, he knew.
"I haven't practiced with the magic too much yet. Just got it, and been trying to learn about herbs ever since..." When he pulled the node out, he definitely caught his Imp's attention. Not only was she interested in the dark magic, but she was also just as invested as her master was in his success for power.
2/5
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Post by Jack on Jul 3, 2019 14:24:29 GMT -6
Jack stared at the swirling purple orb and reached out to touch it before she realized what she was doing, then jerked her hand back before she actually touched it. It was rude to touch someone else's node without asking, at least that's what she believed, and she reached down to touch her own pouch of nodes with a smile on her face. They had a dedicated pouch and they were on her at all times, even when she slept she didn't want to lose them or anything, even though she had one of the best defended homes in the Labs it seemed.
"We could... do both?" she suggested with a smile, finally looking up at her best friend and beaming, "We could practice magic a little and then we can talk about any plants we might knock over while we do so? I have my five with me at the moment at least, it could be fun?" In fact, it would be more than fun! She was almost bouncing on her heels as she waited for him to answer, and a little sparkle was in her eyes as she waited for him.
Jack: 2/5
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Post by Ashe on Jul 12, 2019 20:08:03 GMT -6
"Sounds like a great idea!" Ashe said. Always both, why waste time doing just one thing, if you could do all the things? Well, unless the 'one thing' needed more of your attention to be done properly, then he was all about focus. But they were training for Mage related stuff, studying plants and practicing magic. So he gave a nod and pulled out his other nodes. He had a basic wind one, and a greater Hollow node. They weren't too flashy, and they weren't many, but they were his. As a bonus, he pulled out his Restore Orb, which was just like a node except black. With a chuckle, he held it up. "And I have this, in case we accidentally blow each other up or something. Go easy on me, I'm not an apprentice yet!"
Inyala perked up at the idea of a quick magical spar. She was a little worried her master might not be able to take the girl; Inyala could sense the magical energy surrounding her. But she had to believe in Ashe!
3/5
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