un: karma (video)

[torpour]

[the view is not of nehan as the username attached to this video would imply, but of two different plants preserved in jars on a countertop. no erune on your screens today.]

I have a request-- more specifically, an offer for fair trade. If you have an abundance of unwanted plants in your house, please bring them to me. Or I can visit your dwelling and remove them myself. Name your price. [a pause, then his gloved hand comes from the top of the camera, pointing at the plants from left to right.] In particular, I'm interested in these. Lacrimosa, which only blooms in dark areas where no sources of light reach, reeds from an island from my world for healing.

[no one asked him what the plants do, but he rambled anyway because he's a nerd.]

But any plant you don't want will do. They'll be useful, in one way or another.

Also, Flynn, Richie: this is the best opportunity I can give you when it comes to learning and making your own medicines.

Comments

[torpour]

... I have no idea what weirwood is, but I will eventually find out, wont I?

[because he knows cellar door quite well by now, and a tree growing out of a building would certainly be eyecatching.

nehan retrieves his omni and turns it to voice, but in between taking it in hand and changing its setting, a glimpse of him can be seen-- pale skin, grey hair, eyepatch and fluffy ears.]

Any other landmarks? Anything else I need to dig up while I'm there?

[dohaeris]

[his fluffy ears mark him as quite alien. it's no wonder they've been having a little difficulty communicating. she resolves to be kind.]

It's the tree I showed you. They're thought not to grow outside of Westeros. I haven't seen the plants you're looking for around here, but I haven't studied herbs and I don't know what else might be useful.

[well, she knows of a few common cures, but has no idea what the plants themselves look like.]

You can ask the lantern imps for the Rookery. There are always ravens gathering in the eaves.

[torpour]

Mmn. [he might as well have the lantern people teleport him directly.

dealing with the mess of cellar door, and trying to look up high enough to see a tree and protect his items at the same time? if only they could put him right into the living room, or in the tree's branches.]

I'll bring all relevant tools, then. [and some that are for emergencies or strange, niche situations that neither of them could have anticipated.

and, soon enough, after a number of clanking of tools and rustling of bags, he's at the right door, knocking and waiting to be let in.]

[dohaeris]

[she is taller than she might appear on camera, in a grey woolen dress with silver scales glittering among the elaborate embroidery at the collar and sleeves. lady pads quietly behind her, no more than thigh height. ravens chatter and fuss in the eaves and the weirwood's canopy.

she opens the door. her white raven omen herds a black batkitten away from it.]

Welcome! The tree is in the back room. Can I offer you any sweet rolls, or water with lemon?

[she doesn't have very much to offer a guest yet, but guest right is important. the front room is sort of a victorian style parlor, most tchotchkes traded for cloth and notions, but with a rather elegant painting of a black batcat on one wall, so that visenya the kitten can see her mother sometimes. she is trying to transform it into something of a studio for fittings, but she doesn't actually know what that is supposed to look like.]

[torpour]

[one of nehan's ears flicks as he notes how the house is lived in, full of other living beings. a person, plants, creatures.

then he shakes his head, telling himself that he's here for a reason, and he shouldn't get too distracted. he raises his left hand, his gloved hand, in a response to his host's offers, as if telling her no.]

No thank you... Perhaps later, when I'm done working. [he tilts his head to peer at the tree, before starting to head that way.]

Now, how much will you allow me to take?

[dohaeris]

[she steps to one side, gesturing towards the door to the back room.]

Just a few leaves for now, and some of the sap from its face. If you find anything useful in your studies, I would bring you more.

[properties of the weirwood are outlines here and here. she knows that it's a useful kind of wood that doesn't rot, but she is afraid harvesting any would hurt the tree, and doesn't want to attract the attention of anyone greedy for handsome wood.]

[torpour]

Very well. [but first...! nehan digs a hand into one bag and pulls out a package in brown paper, though the scent of pork and soy sauce can be smelled even with the wrapping, and holds it out to his host.]

A dish of meat, as promised. Braised pork belly in a mix of soy sauce and rice wine. I lowered the amount of spice and sugar to not overload the senses. Best eaten with cooked grains like rice or some bread to soak the sauce.

[then he starts to dig through his bags again, for a jar to place the sap in.]

[dohaeris]

[she clasps her hands together in delight. lady steps forward to sniff the pork.]

Is that for Lady? Oh, she'll love it. Thank you.

[she gently takes the dish and unwraps it, setting it on the ground for lady, who takes a delicate bite. visenya the batcat sniffs it before disappearing under the couch.]

This is a wonderful treat, but she shouldn't have any sugar, if you'd like to cook for her again. And you don't need to waste your spices, though it's very kind of you to make her such a lovely dish.

[torpour]

Hmmmn. [so the wolf is the one named lady-- he'd thought earlier that the woman was named lady, and had a preference for referring to herself in the third person. must not be an omen though, unless her omen is unique and likes to eat.

one ear flicks, before he looks back up at her again.]

That depends on whether or not you want to have another trade in the future. But I trust this one has been fulfilled.

[sure looks like it, from the food not being spurned. he gives the overlarge wolf a nod, before heading towards the tree, supplies in hand.]

[dohaeris]

[she nods.]

Of course.

[and smiles!]

I suppose that depends on whether you can find anything useful to do with weirwood sap.

[torpour]

We shall see, wont we? [then again, he will have a few sleepless nights before him just so he can study it.]

But I have a few questions regarding it, if you don't mind.

[dohaeris]

[her mouth twists in a bit of a self-deprecating smile.]

I will do my best to answer them, but I'm afraid I know little of herb lore.

[torpour]

Specific knowledge on this tree is what you're challenging me to do, so only one of my questions has anything to do with that.

[as he speaks, he pulls out a wooden spoon from his pockets, and reaches out with it and the jar towards the face on the tree to start collecting sap. it's unnerving enough tht he hopes it doesn't bite him.]

Did this tree appear at the start of the month, in the Moss King's wake?

[dohaeris]

[one corner of her mouth turns up.]

It was here when I arrived, at the start of the month.

[her eyebrows lift.]

Did you see the Moss King go by?

[torpour]

Pass here? No, I did not. I don't live here, after all. [and cant be in multiple places at once.]

If it was already here when you first arrived... Then that means you are familiar with this tree because it was present in your home world, correct?

[dohaeris]

[she nods. she thought she had made that clear, but evidently not. she mustn't assume everyone speaks the same way, here.]

I come from the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, where these trees are held in high regard. The faces were carved onto weirwoods by the Children of the Forest, the first people of Westeros. Either this tree was summoned here, like me, or whoever made it wanted it to look like it was.

[or there is a child of the forest among the sleepers, who saw the weirwood and carved the face. but why would they just leave it, then?]

[torpour]

Or the Moss King grew it as he passed. [because... well. it's the most likely answer. most simple, as well.

then he shrugs, deciding that he only has one last question because he finds her way of responding inadequate. like she assumes people to know things that she knows as well.]

What significance does this tree have for your people, then? High regard isn't much of a response.

[dohaeris]

[well, you didn't ask. she doesn't say it, and smiles tightly. what would a girl from the vale, who had never been a stark of winterfell, know about the heart trees?]

They are said to be sacred to the Old Gods of Westeros. It's said the Old Gods look out the eyes of the Heart Trees. Heart Trees are what we call the carved weirwoods. Many castles in the Seven Kingdoms have a Godswood, a sort of garden with a Heart Tree in it. It's a sacred place, like a temple. It's said to be impossible to lie in front of a Heart Tree. That's why people get married in the Godswoods, to swear their marriage oaths in front of a Heart Tree.

[she furrows her brow.]

If the Moss King grew it, why would it have a face? Would he carve it with a spell? I know little of the Pthumerian Mysteries.

[could he look out of it? that's a sobering thought. but it is a heart tree, and there's no one else here to look after it. besides, her omen likes it.]

[torpour]

Because clearly that Patron can summon plants from other worlds. You're not the only one to have discovered this kind of phenomenon happening right in their homes. [his tone is droll.

nehan really has to wonder what's going on in this girl's mind, but he's starting to be done with this. then he waves the jar in his hand, sticking the little spoon in it and screwing the lid back tightly.]

I'll be back if I ever find anything.

[dohaeris]

So he did summon it here, then.

[did she say something wrong? she doesn't wish to offend a healer. she had hoped to make a useful friendship with someone who knew plants.]

Well, I wish you luck in your studies.