GnG: Trainings
Trainings of the August Event - GnG - Gaidinia and Groyles.
Intelligence
Studying (Learning about Mosough)
I sit down to read. I have some books I took from the library this morning, some about Mosough and others about magical fauna and flora. I guess it would be helpful to read and learn more about the place I will have to go soon. I open the first book and start reading. I’m taking notes of the information that I find interesting, so I can bring it with me when I travel. What magic plants from the region are edible or not, what kind of creatures live there… The books don't seem to agree on some things. For example, some say that “x” creatures are only legends and another book affirms they exist. I wonder if I could write my own book about Mosough once I come back. The time flies by and when I look up from the book I’m reading now it’s time to sleep.
Collecting info
I want to get more information about the Groyles, the legendary creatures we are supposed to help before I leave The Town, but that seems a bit more difficult since almost all the information is from legends and myths. I start at the library. I read about them like three times in different books because even legends might contain real information somewhere. The only problem is to tell what part is fiction and what part is real. I take some notes and write the questions I have in my notebook, ready to visit the tavern to talk about other faction members. Maybe talking with them can help me see something I’m missing. I find some individuals who look really interested in them, like me. We have pleasant and enlightening talks.
Shapeshifting training
It would be useful to train my magic before leaving The Town, just in case something bad happens. When I was a kid I transformed into a mouse by accident. I spent a whole week unable to change back, running around until I found an elder man sitting by the docks. Somehow he knew that I was a Nyanarr and helped me calm down. Thanks to him I could turn back and when we got properly introduced he told me he was a Druid and explained to me what that meant. He became my master and he helped me control my magic. I was feeling alone since my father sailed away and never returned and I never knew my mother, so he became like family for me in no time. Until this day, he’s always helping me and in return I always bring him new stories and souvenirs from my travels.
I focus on the drawing in front of me. It’s drawn with charcoal, overall it’s a bit messy but you can tell it’s a wolf. I use these drawings as reference when I try to turn into them. I never succeeded when trying to turn into animals that size, but I’m sure if I try hard enough I will be able to do so at some point. I feel the magic buzzing in my veins, the tickling under my skin. It’s a weird feeling but it’s not painful. Shapeshifting feels like a leaf that falls from a tree, like when the crust falls from a wound. Your body is left behind in a sense, and you become something else. I open my eyes and look down at my body. Furr. But something doesn’t feel quite right. I look at myself in the mirror and I can see a cute husky looking back. Not a wolf but close enough I would say. I hear Marble laughing in the background.
Healing magic training
I go to the docks and enter a tavern with a very bad reputation. It’s actually not so bad, but people love to talk badly of pirates. Honestly I like them, they always have a good story to tell and they enjoy the attention, so as long as you’re not giving them trouble they will let you be. There have been bad people sometimes but there’s a special sense of camaraderie in this tavern and a code you have to follow to avoid problems. The most important rule is that you will have the tavern protection but no fights are allowed in the tavern. People who broke the rules have gone missing, or worse, so everyone follows them. The owner of the tavern is an old but fierce lady. She knows how to handle “dangerous men”, and I admire her for that. The first time I visited this tavern was when a lot of pirates and sailors came back heavily injured from a special quest in the sea. People with healing magic from all The Town were asked to help with the injured. I didn’t know much about healing back then, but I gladly helped and it became a routine to check on the tavern after that. The help is always appreciated and the lady ended up hiring me officially as a healer for the tavern. I use it as an opportunity to train my magic and herbs knowledge.
As soon as I go in, the lady greets me with a loud “Hello dear, come here!” and I know my help is needed. I walk in faster and follow her behind the counter, to the room that we use as an infirmary. There I find a pirate I know, he’s bleeding from the side but he’s still conscious. He tries to smile when he sees me, we have known each other for some time now. He’s a reckless man, so I had to heal him many times.
“I told you I wouldn’t heal you anymore if you keep getting yourself injured all the time.” I start checking on the wound, and grab some herbs from my pouch while I talk.
He knows I’m not serious so he’s not worried. I’m just afraid that one day I won’t be able to heal him if he gets badly injured.
I bring my hands close to the wound and focus. Healing magic is similar to plant magic for me, in both cases you make the body work faster. You’re only helping them to do what it would take weeks in only some seconds. Since my healing magic is not perfect I also use my knowledge with plants to help me finish the job properly. After the wound is sealed and looks like a healing wound already, I add an ointment made with Anthyllis Vulneraria, which helps with cicatrization.
I sigh when the work is done and hit his forehead with my palm when he starts laughing and thanking me.
Riddles
While we rest I remember a riddle my Master taught me some years ago. April looks like she would enjoy some riddles and she looks smart, so she might know some herself as well. She looks interested as soon as I offer to play. I was right about her knowing riddles. She makes me think with hers. I really have to focus on them and think once, twice and even then sometimes I’m not able to give a proper answer. I really enjoy that, it’s a good way to exercise the mind. It also helps you look at things from a different perspective.