“How… How’d I… I don’t understand…” Kori stares with a flabbergasted expression at the notification crossing her vision. “I tried everything to get it… How does grinding herbs finally work?”

“Work with what apprentice? You still haven’t explained what you were trying to accomplish with your mana.” Ortik voicing his question with a hint of annoyance. “What is it that you are referring to as having gotten?”

“I didn’t even realize I was using my mana, there was just something… Missing… From the poultice as I was grinding it… It just didn’t feel right…” Her thoughts still a jumble of all the times she tried so hard to control a little bit of mana and then finally not even realizing what she was doing as she succeeded. “I didn’t mean to use mana… It just happened…”

Still trying to wrap her mind around what just happened, she attempts the same control exercise she’s done a thousand times, pooling mana in her palm and slowly allowing it to escape as she tries to hold it in place. Wisps of mana dissipate from her hand as it always has before, a crestfallen expression crossing Kori’s face, until she spots a small bead of mana remaining exactly where she willed it. Whether her surprise, her inexperience with the skill or some other cause, the blob of mana disperses quickly enough that if she hadn’t seen it, felt it, she’d have doubted it ever occurred.

“[Mana Control]. How, apprentice?” Ortik’s gaze fixed on her palm.

“I… I’m… Not sure…” Kori shakes her head and tries again with the same result, a grin exploding onto her face as she sees the mana beading once again, though it only lasts moments once more. “I was grinding the poultice, wracking my mind to identify what was missing from the mixture, and it just kind of… Happened… Spiritcaller Ortik, I don’t understand. Why now? Why not all those other times?”

“I am unsure as well. I’ve not heard of the Skill being achieved in such a manner as this.” Scratching his chin idly as he thinks, “I will consult the Matrons and Arcanist Ylst, though I suspect that if such a method were known it would have been attempted long before now.” Looking down at the paste on the workbench, “Now, what is it that you’ve produced here. The Moss has been ground much too finely for the poultice. Though there is a slight hint of mana still present in the paste.”

Picking up the mortar containing Kori’s concoction, Ortik examines the contents, eyeing and sniffing the paste before trailing a claw through it and bringing it closer to his face. “It’s times like these I feel I should have raised a merchant job and gotten an appraisal skill…” Rubbing the paste between his fingers and watching as it smooths across his scales before eventually sinking in. “Elder Har may not have departed for the surface yet to consult with his traders, he may be able to shed some light on the nature of this.”

“It’s just a paste though… Isn’t it? Spiritcaller Ortik.” Doubt and apprehension clear in her voice.

“I guess we’ll find out when he takes a look.” Ortik glancing up from the mortar towards Kori.

Not really taking the hint in his statement, Kori continues to look between Ortik and her creation.

“Well apprentice, what are you waiting for? Go find Elder Har and bring him back here.” His typical slight exasperated tone returning as he orders her to fetch the Elder.

Still somewhat in shock, it takes a moment for Kori to comprehend what he’s ordering her to do. “Oh. Yes, of course, Spiritcaller Ortik.” She quickly dashes out of the workshop and out towards the Elder’s Chambers hoping to find Har still present. Luckily, he is still there. Deep in close discussion with Elder Tuli about orders of hewn stone from the surface.

Trader Har is an oddity amongst the Kobolds, spending more of his time in the town of Whatzakt than the caverns he has adopted the style of the surface races, wearing cloth pants, tunic and even a jacket in subdued earthen tones, even a ring adorned with a small garnet around one of his horns. Out of all the Elders, he attends the meetings the least, Kori having only seen him once before when she was brought before the Elders the day after the festival so long ago.

Torn between interrupting the Elders and carrying out her task, Kori approaches the pair, ensuring that they notice her presence but remaining quiet until a break in their conversation. It takes a few minutes for them to give her an opening, “Excuse me Elders.”

Both Elder Kobolds turn to look at her, “Kori, we are somewhat busy, do you require something?” Tuli addressing her, a smile on her face as she looks at the young apprentice. Tuli has always been pleasant with her.

“Sorry for interrupting Elders. Spiritcaller Ortik has requested Elder Har’s presence in his workshop.” Looking towards the oddly dressed Elder.

“You were his new apprentice, yes? Did he say what it was about?” Har giving her an appraising look as he speaks.

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“He requires your assistance appraising something, Elder.”

“That figures. I’ll be along shortly once we’ve hammered out some details.” Kori tilts her head slightly at the odd turn of phrase, assuming it is another surface saying that doesn’t really make sense.

“Thank you, Elder.” She begins to walk away only to stop in her usual spot against the wall to wait.

Both Elders eye her, one of Har’s brows raising in question towards Tuli. “That’s her spot, don’t worry about it.” She assures him before returning to their topic. Several long minutes follow as they continue to go back and forth, Har wanting the miners to focus more on stone while Tuli resists shifting focus away from exploring the new seam of ore. Both occasionally darting their eyes over to the waiting apprentice.

After a slightly exasperated sigh, Har looks to Kori then turns back towards Elder Tuli, “Well we’re just chasing our tails here, how about I go see what the Chief wants and you and I can check our numbers and see if we can come to an agreement over dinner?”

“Sounds good. Don’t take too long with the Chief.” Both Elders approach Kori, Tuli’s hand on Har’s shoulder.

“Thank you Elders.” Looking between the two Kori spots Tuli’s tail slowly brush against Har’s and begins blushing.

“Don’t keep him too long, we don’t get much time together these days with him in the town so much.” Continuing with over displays of affection with her tail.

“Uh… Yes Elder…” Turning away towards the corridor to Ortik’s den, though not quickly enough as she hears Elder Tuli’s chuckle at the lightening colour of her scales. She quickly retreats towards the den with Elder Har in tow.

“Don’t mind her youngling, she’s always been a bit more overt in her affections.” Har laughs as he follows. “Now what is it that the Chief is looking to have appraised?”

“I was training herbalism and attempted something a bit… Unusual… Spiritcaller Ortik wants you to take a look.” Trying not to have to explain exactly what happened she avoids the details, hoping that it will suffice.

The trip to the workshop is a short one and doesn’t leave much time for any more questions, for which Kori is thankful. Arriving they find Ortik still standing before the workbench, the concoction moved from the mortar into a small clay pot with a lid.

Cutting through any pleasantries or greetings, Har goes right to the topic at hand. “You needed my assistance, Chief?”

“Har, welcome. Yes, my apprentice here has created something out of the ordinary, I was hoping you could give me some insight as to what exactly it is she’s made and if it is useful.” Pushing the small pot of paste across the table towards Har.

“I keep telling you to raise an apprentice merchant job, it’ll raise pretty fast if you take over a few bulk negotiations. You’d finish it off in a month, two tops.” Har shakes his head, obviously this is a frequently discussed topic.

“Yes, yes, but when do I have the time to spend months up on the surface with you and your traders to do that? I’m busy enough as it is down here that Ylst managed to badger me into taking on an apprentice of my own…” Looking over to Kori, “Though she has been more useful than I expected.”

“Now, the appraisal please?”

“Of course, one moment.” Har picks up the pot and opens the lid taking a good long look at it. “Huh, imbued even. How’d you manage that young one?” His gaze turning back to Kori with more interest than before.

“Care to share what you’re seeing, Har?” Ortik back to his usual tone.

“Oh. Right. Apologies.” Quickly sharing the status window with both Ortik and Kori.

Imbued Herbal Healing Ointment

Tier 1, Common

A topical ointment created from fresh herbs and imbued with a small amount of mana. Used to treat wounds and restore health over time. Can treat infected wounds up to Tier 1.

Health restored depends on volume of ointment applied to a maximum of 100 health over one hour.

“Pretty handy to have around that. Can she make more? I’m sure I could sell something like this for a few coins.”

“Profits always the first thing you think about Har, isn’t it?” Shaking his head slightly and sounding slightly disappointed, though with a tone of levity underlying his words.

“Of course! That’s why you made me the Elder in charge of trade isn’t it? All good merchants think with their purse.” Laughing as he speaks and watching as a grin cracks Ortik’s stony façade. Kori begins to get the impression that these two have known each other for a very long time.

“Well, we’re not sure if she can make more or if this was a fluke. Either way, you’ll probably have to fight Blonc over getting your hands on it if she can. He’s going to start drooling when he sees it.” Looking back to Kori for a moment. “Apprentice, why haven’t you copied down the wording of the appraisal yet? Elder Har won’t always be around to show everyone what it says.”

“Oh… Of course, Spiritcaller Ortik.” Running to grab her slate and charcoal before returning to the workshop and starting to write.

Arching a brow and giving her an inquisitive look as she begins, “And what exactly is that supposed to do? It’ll be smudge beyond recognition before dinner.” Pointing towards the other side of the workbench where a bone pen and sealed pot of ink sits. “This should be inked, so that it can be referenced in the future and compared against new batches to confirm quality.”

Looking at the pen with a bit of apprehension, she’d practiced with one, but never with ink and paper, just in the dirt and dust. Gripping the stylus and dipping it lightly in the ink, she hesitates slightly and a droplet of ink falls to the paper below, getting a ‘tsk’ from Ortik as he observes. Blotting it to ensure it doesn’t run, Kori grips the bone tightly, perhaps a little too tightly, and begins to drag the tip across the sheet in as slow and precise a motion as she can manage. Before too long she completes the short appraisal description and sets aside the pen.

“It could be better. Blot it with sand and set it to dry.”

Taking the small jar of fine sand Kori does as she’s instructed, dusting the page with a little sand as it sticks to the ink and draws the excess. As she finishes the process she sees that she’s gotten another notification. Prodding the little blinking light with her typical response, a smile blooms on her face as the day just keeps getting better.

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