001 [voice] @SERENE

[sereneflame]

[Serene has never tried making these posts before and thus she's as formal as if she's making a speech, keeping her voice well-modulated and calm. She's matter of fact, unembarrassed by the subject she's raising]

Good afternoon. I hope that someone can help me in an urgent matter, but I fear this is a long shot.

I am looking for the wombsbane herb and I was wondering: are any of you cultivating a patch in private? Back home it grows as free as a weed but I have trekked through the gardens and forest here and have not seen as much as a seedling.

If not, are there any herbs from other worlds here that will lighten my menstruation and will render my womb barren? Womanhood is a burden I like to minimise as much as possible.

I thank you in advance for your time.



OOC: replies will come tomorrow!

Comments

video, @ashraf

[healplz]

Now there's a bluntly named herb, there's no questioning what that does!

In any case, it's not something I've ever heard of, so I don't think it's a given in every world. There might not be any here at all.

Re: video, @ashraf

[sereneflame]

No... [He's gone and confirmed her worst fears, if her little whine is anything to go by. However, she rallies, shooting him an arch look]

How extensive is your knowledge on these matters, anyway? Could it just be that you are ignorant of what the women in this castle use?

[healplz]

I'll admit, I'm not an expert, it's been a while since I was married. It's entirely possible there's something around here in use I've never heard of.

[sereneflame]

[A divorcee or a widower. She shan't make assumptions, except to wonder that if he's divorced whether it's because he wasn't attentive enough in the bedroom when it came to these dull practical matters]

And what did you use while you had a wife?

[healplz]

[ this takes a few seconds of consideration; as far as buried memories go, this one is pretty down there. ]

I think it was called silverroot. I haven't seen any of that around here, either.

[sereneflame]

[It's a good thing they're not using the video because she knows she is pulling the most judgemental face for that 'I think'. She takes a moment before answering to master her voice so as not to offend.

She could get used to this voice-only communication fast]

Still, that is one more name for me to mention while I search for what I need. How did she prepare the root?

[healplz]

[ why is she doing this to him, this is so hard. he lets out a long breath. ]

You're asking some tough questions! I think it was boiled, diced, then ground?

[sereneflame]

I see...

[No, she can't control herself. She blurts out her next question]

How do you not know more about what she used? Surely you had some sort of a stake in whether your married life involved the risk of children?

[healplz]

No, I did, you're right.

[ He sounds thoughtful about that, rather than offended.

With an apologetic smile: ] I think she had me gather and prepare it a few times... but I have a lot of trouble remembering much of anything from my first life, so it's a little foggy.

[sereneflame]

Ahh...

[Of the answers she'd considered that's not one of them. She's careful as she asks]

Your first life? You've lived more than one life?

[Back home she'd have assumed this was a metaphor but she's learning that in Oska that even the tallest tales could be real]

[healplz]

Don't get too impressed, just the last one and then this new one. That happened sometimes, back in my world.

[sereneflame]

[Too late she's impressed, or at least intrigued. She peppers out her questions]

But how does that work? Do you revert back to your younger self or are you born again? Did you die? Did you see the afterworld?

[healplz]

Oh, no, I was literally born again. I... suppose that means I did die, I certainly saw the Valkyries.

[ he hadn't really thought of it as... having died....... that's weird, but potentially accurate.

after a thoughtful pause: ] But I'm afraid I can't answer much about it, those memories are really spotty.

[sereneflame]

[If he thinks merely not being able to remember enough to answer her questions means he'll escape then he's in for a let down]

What are Valkyries? In my world, we believe everyone who dies simply dissolves into so much blood, their essence seeping back into the world. Are we wrong?

[healplz]

[ There's just a second where he blinks, quietly astounded that yet another person hasn't heard of something so fundamental as the Valkyries... but he's getting better at that, really. ]

You could be right, I don't know your world. But in mine, it's said that the Valkyries, beautiful warrior women, fly down from Valhalla to escort honorable warriors to their eternal reward. [ His smile is small. ] I prefer to believe it.