[IC] The Hallows Inn

[Forsythe]

"Oh, gold is the easiest thing. One can work and earn the coin to buy it. It is the rare stones for decoration. I was hoping to find amber, but there are plenty of things of use even in place as vile as this." Tala explained with a wave of a hand. It was a bit of a showoff, but she fished around her satchel for a while and then passed a glass jar with lime green balm to Leopold: "You're a doctor right? I made this from the plants that grow here in the forest, so I can make more if needed. It seals and disinfects wounds and helps to heal a bit. It stings like hell but it oughta be better than searing the wound shut." she explained, making an exception to wanting a reward. Healing was something she felt should be free for everyone, and she still felt obliged to make up at least somehow for what the other one did to the Fae, even if she couldn't help the fairy herself.

Warming up as the conversation progressed, Tala lifted her gaze from the table. She really wanted to ask how Leopold came to look like that, but knew better than to ask now. "Aside from potions and jewellry, i can also make fabrics and sew..." she said, shooting an annoyed glance to the insult of proper women everywhere at the bar. Get some clothing, woman. she thought, turning her attention back to the man dog. "What about you? Where did you learn about medicine?"

[Muttonhawk]

Quite the crafty young type, this one. I can appreciate that.

"Myself?" Leo put his hand to his chest, "Well, when I was very young, I started off reading about the human body and how it works from books, then I persuaded a healer to apprentice me for several years, then I traveled to find out more." Leo's eyes wandered to one side as he recalled, "I came upon the establishments of lore-keepers, who, among books about healing magic itself, expanded my understandings of other races. In terms of their health, mostly." He held out both his palms, "Each time I learned something new, I was closer to what I wanted to find, but still so far away." He brought his hands back and waved one in front of his snout, "In fact, I came here to find out more. I'm still searching." He leaned back a little and kept both hands on the table, "So you could say that I taught myself a lot, but much is based on what I learned as an apprentice."

Leo sniffed and looked at the jar of paste on the table. Curious, he picked it up and removed its lid, looking at its contents and smelling it. Whatever it was, it smelled fresh. "So, you're a guild alchemist then? Not such a bad organisation..." accepting Tala's implied offer of help, Leo put down the jar and carefully tried to undo his bandage in order to apply the balm. "... if a little close-minded, but you know what they say, 'to a man with a hammer, everything is a nail'." Leo said rather insensitively. Having dealt with various organisations like the alchemist's guild, he was shown the door on a number of occasions when probing for knowledge that they would rather protect. Of course they always had other reasons, ones they liked to use because 'principles' sounded more justified than just keeping their secrets. With his bandage unraveled, Leo took some of the balm with a couple of fingers and spread the cold substance over his wound, scrunching his nose when it made contact. Stings like a true medicine. After applying the paste, Leo retied his bandage feeling a little safer already. He would have had to risk sleeping through the night before being able to heal the wound completely on his own. The fae's throat was something so small that it was well within his current levels of energy, but a flesh wound on a larger and more mundane creature such as himself would require more effort. Replacing the cap and pushing the jar back across the table, Leo nodded. "Thank you," he said flatly, "I owe you one."

Leopold glanced towards the door. That dwarf, Caelyn, he was taking a while doing whatever he was doing. Dismissing the thought, Leo turned back to Tala. "How about your learning? Has it been through the guild exclusively? And your sewing and weaving?"

[Forsythe]

Tala thought for a moment. She wasn't certain she wanted to start spilling out her history to a stranger. But with the situation she was in, it wouldn't hurt to make a few friends, right? Least of all one that could aid you if you get wounded, which was a credible danger in this forest. "I suppose It goes all the way to the beginning..." she started reluctantly, "I am not a noblewoman of the city, only a plain girl that grew up on a farm. You are expected to learn things like sewing being the only woman in the household. My mom died when I was young." Tala told the tale, her voice sad but indicating she dealt with it since then. Pausing, she helped herself to a glass of something she didn't know what it was, but it tasted well and had alcohol in it. It would do.

"Father passed away not too long after. I had no love for the farm, so I sold it to neighbors and set out. I was always a bit lazy, but instead of slacking off I searched for ways to make my job easier, so I was born to be either an engineer or an alchemist. When i ran out of coin, I started looking for a way to make some more, and the guild took me in." she said with a shrug and took another sip of the drink. The girl couldn't place the taste, but since it was probably made of something that grown in the Drakenwald, that was no surprise. "As far as the guild goes, it is just like the bakers guild, the smiths guild or any other. It aids those who wish to learn it'S craft and sets standards. This-" she said, pointing to her ring, "-means that I am not proven in for example repairing small clockwork or creating medicine to cure diseases, and while i might be able to do it, it is not guaranteed. When i make my member or masters ring, i'd also be required to demonstrate I have the skill to wear it."

"Of course there are some customs and laws, like what happened to the Fae. The Purists abide by all the ancient principles - their lifetime goal is obtaining what is called a philosopher's stone. It is rumored to grant the power of transmutation and eternal youth. Reformers like me believe it is not for humans. Those feats belong to God, if you want to call it that way. We focus on the practical, day to day needs - medicine, metallurgy, and the likes." she explained a bit in depth how the guild works. The drink was making her feel warm inside, and the exhaustion form running around the forest started to sink in, making her yawn. "That's the story. I tried numerous things to get out of this forest, but so far nothing worked. The night sky is always cloudy, so you can't see the stars. Over the dense forest you can't see the sun rise or set. There have to be some very large iron ore deposits here, because makeshift compass doesn't work as well. Thsi forest... It takes you and won't let go. Not easily."