A Small Aside

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Coden has a lot of time on his hands, as he's not hip-deep in psychic meditation; instead he is spending a lot of time in the fields, or studying with the planners and harvesters. He even winds up helping to plant a tiny ornamental garden of his own, seeming to take solace in watching something struggle and grow through his consistent care and effort.

One day during the lull he makes a point of looking for Niachi. Having cleaned up his Balician toga to make himself presentable, he takes an opportunity to speak with the elf.

"Niachi..." he says with some uncertainty. "If I can have a moment. I know you were trying to talk to me earlier, while we were in the field with the Messenger. I was a bit... distracted and I didn't really respond. I just wanted to apologize. I know that opening communications like that is always dicey, you never know how people are going to interact, and that was my fault. I'm sorry. That's all."

[Niachi]

Niachi warmly greets Coden and offers his hand in a warrior's handshake with all the STR 10 he can muster.

"Tis nothing, friend. I have gone days without speaking, prefer it, really. That is a fine longbow! We shall rain down arrows and plant victory with each one. Speaking of planting, my studies have been rewarding. Let me help your garden.."

He asks for the best cuttings or seeds from Coden's collection and casts Nurturing Seeds (D&P p. 71) with a quick review of the effects:

The touched seeds/cuttings render them dormant and suitable for transport. When planted, they will take root and can be used to start new patches of vegetation, anchoring the soil and creating an environment suitable for more plants to survive. The garden will grow, bit by bit if well-tended.

"Let's see what the team wants to do next.."

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Coden accepts Niachi's hand and shakes firmly.

"I appreciate your kindness. Honestly, I'm not very good with the bow, but I do find it a magnificent gift, and I do need to put it to the test before using it in battle!"

Coden watches, brow furrowed, as Niachi works his magic on the cuttings from his nascent garden.

"Most curious. I was under the impression that arcane magic had little to offer with regard to the growth of living things. How did you manage this?"

[Niachi]

“Advanced castings which I have yet to access can cause Plant Growth, and arcane magic can do many interesting things. I’ll wager that Oronis has enchanted our pear tree with this same spell I just cast. The effect is permanent to my knowledge.”

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"Fascinating. All my life I was told that arcane magic draws upon life force, and that it can take recklessly, or it can feed in a harmonious cycle of give-and-take. I never heard of it being able to bolster in such a way," muses the nobleman. "Curiouser and curiouser."

"How did you come to the study of magic? It is not, eh, a common topic."