[video] Sunday Afternoon, Week 43

[fromthevalley]

[ Helga Hufflepuff is finding the communicators to be an incredibly useful tool. She finds it a bit like addressing a classroom, almost. Much more manageable than a magic mirror and less messy than an owl. However, she does have the translate feature on. There is bound to be a language barrier of some kind when one is from the distant past. ]

Hello. For those that I have yet to meet, my name is Helga Hufflepuff.

[ She is currently seated by a wide but shallow stream and a large rock that the water has made mostly flat. She has the communicator set up on a flat rock a foot away so that it might capture her movements. There is a knife, a small reed basket filled with purple and tawny colored stalks. There is also a two pieces of white cloth on the rock, one looks used. Helga does not have a table but this will suit her purposes nicely. ]

This...

[ She holds up a lilac colored mushroom. ]

Is a bluestalk mushroom. It is commonly found in forests and you may eat it, however, I do caution against eating it uncooked. It can disagree with one's stomach.

[ Yes, this is a bit of a lesson but there is a purpose. ]

I am surprised to find them here. However, I must urge a bit of caution when picking this mushroom. To begin with, it looks similar to other, more deadly mushrooms. Bluestalks have a sweet, almost floral fragrance. More mature specimens, will be darker in color.

[ She shows one. ]

Their cap will be flatter. Lighter colors and a more conical shape cap indicate a much younger mushroom. I have not found that age makes a difference in taste.

Until you are very certain about what mushrooms you have harvested, you will want to check its pattern. Parchment is best but clothe will work as well. Cut the mushroom in half and press into the cloth. You must leave it for several hours, I find it best to leave it overnight. Do not worry about the edibility. This short time will not effect it.

[ Helga picks up the white piece of cloth and moves it closer to her. She spreads it to ensure that it is flat before picking up her knife.She slices a mushroom in half and presses it into the fabric. ]

I have done one ahead of time to show you that a bluestalk mushroom's pattern will be almost white in color to varying shades of pink.

[ She reaches for the second piece of fabric and holds it up to display the spore pattern. ]

If the pattern is any other color, do not eat it! That is not a bluestalk and you will be extremely regretful. However, it is entirely possible that you found a mushroom that produces a very lovely green dye.

[ A silver-lining that is not poison, Helga has found it.

She puts aside the cloth and mushrooms before addressing the communicator properly. ]

I do not wish to boast but in my time, I was something of a merchant and a teacher. I know quite a bit on the subject of herbology and what I wish to propose now is something of a trade. Your knowledge for mine. This place is new. I need to know more about the native animals and plantlife that make up this world. Herbology is not my only skill. I can heal. I can mend.

[ She smiles. ]

Thank you.

Comments

[video]

[hypospraying]

[Hufflepuff. That name is oddly adorable to Christine.]

Hi, Helga. My name's Christine, and while I'm afraid I don't know anything about herblore, I'm a type of healer myself. Maybe we could trade knowledge there?

[video]

[fromthevalley]

Christine.

[ Helga smiles. ]

I can teach if you like. Being able to do magic is not a prerequisite.

[video]

[hypospraying]

Sure, I think it'd be good to know some natural remedies too, just in case I'm out in the wild somewhere. I'm afraid I don't know anything about the plants or wildlife of this planet, though. You should contact someone named Atticus O'Sullivan about that. He'd know.

[video]

[fromthevalley]

Atticus O'Sullivan, you say?

[ Helga will keep that name in mind. ]

Have you ever used herbs to heal before or treat yourself?

[video]

[hypospraying]

Mm hmm.

Uh, no. Where I come from, the herbs have already been broken down into parts for medicines and I just use the end result. It's what they use at the hospital in Poseidon too. But herbs do interest me. I like knowing where things come from.

[video]

[fromthevalley]

I see.

[ She has been to Tuathal. Helga has sat through their medical tests. (She didn't care for some of the aspects, such as needles.) ]

I will be happy to teach you what I know. Have you ever grown flowers or herbs on your own before?

[ Do you have a green or black thumb, Christine? ]

[video]

[hypospraying]

Thank you. Nothing beyond tomatoes, I'm afraid.

[She sounds a bit sheepish about that. But everyone has to start somewhere, right?]

[video]

[fromthevalley]

What is a tomato?

[ Helga is aware of vast areas of land far across the sea. However, a tomato is still a new world food. ]

[video]

[hypospraying]

Oh, it's a round vegetable-- [Or was it a fruit? She could never remember the general consensus on that.] --that's usually red, but can be green or yellow too. It's juicy, with a thin skin. And people can eat them raw or cook with them, usually turning it into a sauce. They grow in different sizes too.

video

[akito]

Most of the animals avoid eating the poisonous ones, too.


[ BUT THIS IS REALLY NEAT... and Atticus and Genesis will probably end up with lots of pieces of mushroom-stain artwork on paper laying around in neat piles wherever he has been sleeping. ]

Re: video

[fromthevalley]

[ Helga smiles, patiently. ]

That is a good rule but it is not always true.

video

[akito]

It's true enough of the time!

[ though if he had been mortal for his entire lifespan he would probably have died from poisoning quite a few times by now. oops. ]

video

[fromthevalley]

You cannot always trust this method. How can you be certain that an animal has not simply adapted?

[ Akito, she doesn't want to see you poisoned. ]

video

[akito]

I can't. That's why I remember which plants make me sick after I eat them.

[fromthevalley]

Do you write them down?

[akito]

No. Why would I when I can just remember?

[fromthevalley]

What if you were to forget?

Video

[theverymodel]

[A... somewhat froggy face appears on screen, nodding approvingly]

Medical skills always useful. Prevention through warnings better.

Video

[fromthevalley]

[ The face is new to Helga but then so are many other things. She's going to roll with it, as she's heard expressed. ]

I would like to see all maladies prevented but that is not always possible.

[ Not when some people are hard headed and others might be what some consider unhygienic. ]

Re: Video

[theverymodel]

Would be ideal. Limiting injuries of ignorance effective starting point.

Video

[fromthevalley]

Not when certain individuals possess a propensity for recklessness and stubbornness.

Re: Video

[theverymodel]

Have met Shepard then.

Video

[fromthevalley]

I haven't met any shepherds here, I am afraid.

[ Godric Gryffindor on the other hand... ]

Re: Video

[theverymodel]

Commander Jane Shepard. Commanding officer from home. Prone to impulsive decision making. Often useful.

Video

[fromthevalley]

Oh.

[ Helga is both surprised and embarrassed. ]

I have a friend who often has similar traits.