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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 14:38:28 GMT -6
Wren thought of his father's last words to him before his departure...Use your smarts, boy... Wren knew he should brush up on some physical training, too, but decided to start with something more comfortable. He approached the greenhouse, where a very tan older woman stood nearby. She nodded to Wren.
"Interested in plants, boy?"
"Actually, yeah. I spent a lot of time in the woods growing up, mostly climbing trees. I'm from Seven..."
"Ah, yes. Sevens tend to do well in this area. Well, let me know if I can be of some assistance to ya."
Wren quizzed himself on the more familiar plants first- both edible and poisonous.
Identify common plants
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 14:42:01 GMT -6
The expert woman beamed at him. "Whoah-ho-ho maybe you should take my job?"
Wren shrugged. I guess I'm just very visual with my memory.
He then wanted to tackle some less common plants-things from the Capitol that looked like cooking herbs, things from other districts with strange colors and textures. He'd read about them a bit, but wanted to determine a starting point before spending too much time studying. He did want to get to physical stuff, too...
Identify unfamiliar plants
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 14:44:43 GMT -6
"Oh." Wren was pleasantly surprised with himself. "I guess once you have the basic genus characteristics down, you can generalize them to new things."
"Exactly right, sir." The plant expert smiled at him. "I guess you don't need to spent too much time here, then."
"I guess not..." Wren hesitated before leaving. He spotted a sweet pea... I wonder how Egret's holding up...
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Post by Reese Oberron on Dec 7, 2015 17:52:54 GMT -6
Still groggy from the night before, reese walked into the greenhouse confidently. Snapping a berry from a vine then popping it into her mouth as she surveyed the room. The berry was overly tart and she suspected that they probably needed to be replanted somewhat.
"Those aren't just for eating you know?" A groundskeeper seemed to pop up from nowhere and Reese wondered how long he'd been in here. "The flora we grow is used for a variety of purposes. When mixed with the proper ingredients that berry you just plucked could have helped make a powerful sleep aid."
Reese had some idea where this might be headed...
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Post by Reese Oberron on Dec 7, 2015 18:11:20 GMT -6
Reese, reminiscing of home and the feeling of well-tended soil between her hands, recalled one of her mother's favorite sayings. "Amateurs grow crops, WE grow soil."
The groundskeeper explained how the berry's juices reacted with the petals of a blue orchid. The drawl of his voice was doing a fine job of putting her to sleep without the need of his concoction.
Reese chimed in, "You know, you can make a paste with it as well that will soothe minor injuries. I used to keep some of it with me back home just in case. Grind it up with the bark of a Black Aspen and it will start to numb the pain pretty quickly. It won't stop bleeding though so you should probably seek out a doctor if it is something significant."
"Black Aspen?" The groundskeeper glanced at her, "It refuses to grow here in the capital, but I'll have to try that out if I come across some of its bark."
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Post by Julian Kane on Dec 7, 2015 18:14:30 GMT -6
Julian spent plenty of nights finding things to eat in the streets of District 8, but he knew it would be very different in the arena. As he walked into the greenhouse he saw another blue haired girl eat a berry. He walked up to the bush and sneaked a berry from the bush while the groundskeeper seemed to be occupied with scolding her. He then took some time to examine the bush.
As he continued to stroll the greenhouse, another groundskeeper approached him. "Would you like to take a test? I can show you all sorts of ways to use these plants to--"
"Just show me what I can eat." Julian interrupted.
The groundskeeper looked a bit annoyed at Julian's interruption, but obliged. Julian tried his best to make mental pictures of the plants that he could eat.
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Post by Eloise Sugarglider on Dec 7, 2015 19:31:13 GMT -6
Plants were something foreign to Loise. She had never paid much attention to the anything unless it was poison oak. She went over the difference between edible and inedible plants.
She closed her eyes and tried to recall what types of roots were edible.
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Hopefully she was right.1d8+0
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 19:38:31 GMT -6
Wren approached Eloise. "Nah, that one's no good. See..." He turned it over. "These bright veins are a sign. Make sure you give it a smell, too. Rub your fingers on the leafy bit and smell it that way."
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 19:42:16 GMT -6
Wren carefully selected a trio of plants, two edible and one medicinal.
He hoped he'd chosen the right ones to identify and teach to Eloise.
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 19:46:20 GMT -6
He started with a big leafy plant that resembled kale. "Yes, okay. So this one is edible. See the big leafy part? Smell that. It's bitter, but edible." He grabbed a type of nut, "This one's edible, too. You just gotta crack the shell first. And this one..." Wren grabbed a dry thin leaf, "this one is great for pain relief. You crush it and make it into a type of paste...Sorry I don't necessarily have names for everything, but I use my visual and scent memories and that seems to work."
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Post by Eloise Sugarglider on Dec 7, 2015 19:58:31 GMT -6
Eloise grabbed a leaf that she remembered being bitter.
"So this is edible then?"
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Post by Wren Hartwood on Dec 7, 2015 20:03:38 GMT -6
"Yep! See, you're getting the hang of it!" Wren felt really proud of her, ruffled her hair and then caught himself. Why does she remind me so much of Egret...?
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Post by Eloise Sugarglider on Dec 7, 2015 20:14:24 GMT -6
Eloise wasn't used to physical contact. Wren however had been nice to her and helped her with her lack of botany skills. 'I"m sure he's just as home-sick as I am' she thought to herself.
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Post by Holly Edison on Dec 7, 2015 20:51:06 GMT -6
Having rehydrated and warmed up some Holly felt confident entering the greenhouse.
"So, foraging."
Holly wandered the shelves, stopping to touch a leaf here and a petal there. She allowed herself a rare moment of happiness, remembering her Grandfather. She stopped, recognizing one of the more special plants in her memories with him. Mimosa pudica. She smiled at it, reaching out and running a hand across it's fronds. She watched as its leaves curled up and away from her touch. You always said it was recoiling, but it looks so playful. But you were always the expert, Gramps. I wonder where he learned it all? Probably all those books. She closed her eyes and let her hand fall from the last leaf.
Taking a deep breath she turned to the instruction.
"Let's get on with it then."
A new plant was placed before her on the table and the timer was set.
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Post by Eloise Sugarglider on Dec 8, 2015 13:42:20 GMT -6
"It's not all knives and arrows out there...." Holly's comment caught Loise by surprise. Was she genuinely trying to help Eloise or was that a threat? Peacekeepers being involved made every situation a little trickier. "Holly, what did you mean by ' It's not all knives and arrows out there.' " |
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Post by Dante Clavus on Dec 8, 2015 19:58:57 GMT -6
In last year's Games both Kiki and Arnie died to hunger. Thought Dante. Maybe some useful training in here will keep that from happening to me.The young man stepped into the lush greenhouse to find Eloise, Holly and Wren already hard at work. Dang! They've all got a better handle on foraging than I ever will.Dante watched quietly a while as the other tributes seemed to list off the properties of the plants around them. "Let's get on with it then." Holly seemed to innately know everything about the foliage she was drilled on. The astounded instructor's mouth hung agape as the test concluded. "Wow, Holly! Where'd you learn all about plants like that?"
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Post by Holly Edison on Dec 8, 2015 20:35:09 GMT -6
Presented with another three plants, the timer was set to half the time as the first round. Not exactly fair, but I guess the games won't be. It's nice that the greenhouse is also for education. Starving is a terrible way to die. Better to be quick about it.
Holly considered the specimens before her and answered.
(Scavenge)
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Hmm, not too good. I guess you don't get points necessarily in this section for being in the right genus. Still, I COULD eat it.
She noticed Dante had entered and smiled.
"I guess I listened better than I thought as a kid."1d8+2
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Post by Reese Oberron on Dec 9, 2015 0:38:36 GMT -6
Somewhat frazzled Reese walked into the greenhouse. She must have been wearing it on her face because as she walked in the groundskeeper from earlier looked directly at her and had a strange look on his face.
"Oh hello again Reese! After we talked earlier I sent a request in to have some of that Black Aspen bark sent so that I could document its effects. Musta been perfect timing because it arrived a few short hours after from one of the trains coming through."
"Oh yeah? That's nice. Where is it?"
Somewhat perplexed by this girl storming in to HIS greenhouse and making demands. "Well if you must know, it set it on that table over there for cataloging." Pointing towards the rear of the room. Wow, this girl is incredibly rude he thought to himself as he tried to roll his eyes and stare at her as obviously as he could, but she didn't even pay attention to that.
She grabbed the bark, a mortar & pestle and some of the berries from earlier without even asking and then left the room.
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Post by Minerva Umber on Dec 9, 2015 6:47:47 GMT -6
Making her way into the greenhouse, Minerva was surprised how amicable the groundskeeper seemed to be. With plants everywhere, some potted, some dried, others growing along the walls, she felt oddly intimidated. She knew next to nothing about plants.
"How about this one," one of the groundskeepers mentioned to her, motioning to a dried purple flower on the table.
She looked at it warily
"You can... eat this?"
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Post by Minerva Umber on Dec 9, 2015 6:51:16 GMT -6
The groundskeeper looked at her in surprise, and then smiled. "Ohhhh, a joker from District 5. I'm sorry, poisonous nightshade was too obvious. Of course, you already knew you couldn't eat it. How about this one." He gestured to a vine that was hanging down the walls. "This was one of our first genetically engineered plants. Perfect carving, excellent design. What's it's name."
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Post by Minerva Umber on Dec 9, 2015 6:52:54 GMT -6
She recognized this one!
"Ivy Snare!" She answered immediately. It grew nearly a dozen times faster than the plants that it had been made of, and would make anyone who hadn't handled the individual seed break out in hives and rashes. Her father had found someone trying to climb one into the energy tower once. She couldn't believe her luck. Hopefully it held.
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Post by Dante Clavus on Dec 9, 2015 13:50:06 GMT -6
An instructor had finished testing another tribute and strode across the greenhouse to Dante. "Come on now, let's see what you know about the basics of your district's flora."
Dante hesitated; everyone else seemed to have a knack for this. One he was sure he did not share.
"All right, but let's keep the difficulty, and expectations low." He joked; taking up a seat near Minerva.
The instructor began setting up a variety of roots along the wide testing table. "I only have an 'Expert' level test with me, Dante. Maybe Ms. Umber could give you some help if you get lost in the weeds?"
Dante's smile was filled with relief. "Sounds like a great idea to me," He turned to Minerva. "Want to work together on this test? I'm sure we can ace it together."
Forage Difficult Plants: (Need a combined total of 9 to succeed, Anyone can assist!)
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Post by Holly Edison on Dec 9, 2015 15:34:31 GMT -6
Holly watched Dante taking a crack at the challenge set before him on the greenhouse table. He's doing pretty good so far.Moving closer she saw his normally boyish face and easygoing expression was absent, having been replaced with a furrowed brow and intense stare. She followed his gaze and saw he seemed to be stuck on one of the more obscure plants, she thought she recognized it and moved closer to whisper in his ear. "Ribes aureum. I don't think you'd see it all that much in District 5. You can eat the berries and the bark is medicine when pulverized for smaller wounds and swelling. Well, I think..." Forage Difficult Plants (Scavenge): D8UG77CH1d8+2The Peacekeepers had been on her mind today and spotting Eloise looking lost and a bit disheartened she thought of them again. They're everywhere this year, half of us? Odds being ever in our favor, right.[/] She knew she had to be careful making friends, she'd fallen in with a group already but it didn't hurt to be wary of everyone, better to be proactive. Eloise didn't seem very dangerous, but then it didn't seem like a bad strategy to appear meek and inspire feelings of trust in those around you if you were working both sides. No one would suspect you, that's for sure. But who knows?She decided to make up her mind a little bit later. "Need some help?" "Oh, lots of things really. Not everyone has to be an enemy, not everything is going to be reliant on skill. More importantly, and at the time, your wits and your sanity will be far greater assets to you if you find yourself lacking with knives and spears. A fair share of victors did nothing but hide and sneak their way to the end, outwitting the stronger tributes. There's nothing about who you are that means you'll wind up like the others in your family."
Holly sighed unsure if her message was getting through. A lack of confidence, or even just a minimum of belief in yourself is a death sentence.
"Your greatest strength, Eloise? People will underestimate you."
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Post by Gwendolyn Fisk on Dec 9, 2015 19:25:36 GMT -6
Gwen saw Holly and Dante wander over to the plant identification. They would be a good cover in case anyone spotted her. She didn't care much for identifying plants when they didn't know if there were going to be plants in the arena in the first place. She didn't want to fill her head with useless knowledge, so she looked to gain a better kind of knowledge.
Spy +2:
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She found as best of a place to settle as she could. Only if someone was really looking for her could she be seen. This would have to do.1d8
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Post by Dante Clavus on Dec 9, 2015 20:44:42 GMT -6
"Ribes aureum. I don't think you'd see it all that much in District 5..." The name didn't mean much to Dante, but he was glad for Holly's help! The exam finished with a bright green readout of their score. "Wow, you two passed the expert-level test?" The instructor seemed astounded. "Hold on a sec, I've got a copy of District 11's Final Agricultural Exams." "Oh, no! That's not necessary; but thank you. I'm just happy to have gotten through without messing up Holly!" Dante tried not to wonder how many poisonous plants he would have identified on his own. |
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