In Search of Leather

[Degren Brightforge]

Degren enters the Inn and looks around. Addressing anyone in the Inn, he says, " I'm looking for someone who can help me find some leather. I'm willing to trade for it in metal, or weapons; sadly, the last trader who came through here took with him most, if not all, of my coin when he left. Is there anyone here who'll help me out?"

[Purrsephone]

Purrsephone puts down a glass of milk and raises a paw. "If you're looking for leather and don't have money, I can teach you to extract skin from a rat if you want? Le mew~"

[Degren Brightforge]

Degren takes a moment to compose himself and to wipe the grin off his face, "i'd appreciate that very much, thank you!"

[Purrsephone]

"Okie dokie! First we have to find a rat." She finishes her milk and bounces out of the inn, motioning for Degren to follow.

[Degren Brightforge]

"Lead the way, little one." Degren says, following behind her in search of a rat.

[Purrsephone]

After looking around a bit, she spots one in the field and pounces on it's back. She cutely snaps it neck.

"Okay! So first we flip it over, now take your dagger and make an incision running from it neck to it's tail."

[Degren Brightforge]

"That was adorable and horrifying at the same time. Alright," he pulls his dagger from its scabbard and follows Purrsephone's instructions, grimacing at the sudden show of gore.

[Joy Rosewood]

*Joy watches on as she looks for flowers in the fields. She comes over to the pair slicing a rabbit open*

"You know, you vill still need to tan zat hide if you vant to make use of eet."

[Degren Brightforge]

"You're right, of course. But this is a step in the right direction, at the very least. Perhaps after this young one is finished her lessons , I'll search out a teacher to help me learn how to tan hide. But, for now, this takes priority. We have a growing alchemist within our Order, and I would see her well provided for with all the necessary ingredients."

[Joy Rosewood]

"Degren, I am a tanner. If you vant to know ze vays of ze tanner, I could teach you."

*Joy pauses for a moment*

"Say, who iz ze new alchemist?"

[Degren Brightforge]

"Oh, I never knew! I'll need to get the Registry out and take down your skills... I would definitely like to know the basics of tanning! Thank you joy! Our alchemists is Talia, she's been training hard to learn new potions and oils, so I think it's only fair we try to provide needed ingredients for her. Not only will she be able to brew Better potions, but she'll be able to provide us with antidotes, health potions, and powerful potions. "

[Joy Rosewood]

"Yah... I have been slowly collecting alchemical ingredients, und as much as I love Malva, she does her own zing with her potions. I'd rather see someone close to ze knights get ze reagents for health potions und antidotes."

[Purrsephone]

Purrsephone waves hello at Joy. "Mew mew! Bonjour Joy!" She taps Degren's shoulder, "next step is to pull open the incision, and then pull up on the skin and start cutting the muscle away from the skin and fur. Careful it doesn't squirt you in the eye, so be careful."

[Degren Brightforge]

"Alright," Degren begins to make small cuts with his knife, slowly stripping the flesh away from the skin, "well, this isn't so bad. I don't see any squirt--" he's cut off by a sudden spurt of some unknown liquid.

[Joy Rosewood]

*Joy laughs*

"Hallo Purrsephone. One of these days, you should teach me how to hunt. I bet you could show me a few zings. I vill go back to picking flowers now."

*Joy goes deeper into the field*

[Purrsephone]

"Bye-bye Joy! I'd love to teach you how to hunt sometime!"
Purrsephone looks back at Degren, "I won't bother to gross you out even more and tell you whats in your eye, heehee. Anyway, only cut away skin from the bottom half of the rat. I'll tell you why later. Once you're finished we're gonna hang it in a tree upside down."

[Degren Brightforge]

" uh, very well... I never imagined there'd be trees involved .. lead the way, little one. "

[Purrsephone]

"Okie dokie, all done?" Purrsephone skips over to a tree. "So once we tie the tail on a sturdy branch, take hold of the loose skin by it's feet and slip it down over it's body. Work slowly so that it peels off in one piece. Once it's mostly off all we have to do is cut the skin away from it's head and mouth and then you'll have all the skin!"

[Degren Brightforge]

Nodding, Degren brings the corpse to the nearest tree and strings the little body to a branch. He pulls once or twice, slipping as the skin nearly tears. Fixing the positioning, he gives one final pull and the skin pulls free, "Well, that's absolutely gastly. Very useful, aye, but gastly, nonetheless."

[Purrsephone]

"Yup. It's dirty work for sure. But now that you know what to do it won't take so long next time. Now all that you have to do is tan it and you'll have leather!" Purrsephone tries to give you a high five to congratulate you, but thinks twice when she looks at her paws and Degren's hands now covered it rat guts. "So you're done! Good work, le mew~."

[Degren Brightforge]

"Thank you very much, Little lady. I appreciate the help you've given me. If you ever need any help, don't hesitate to ask me. I'll do whatever I can to help you; after all, you may be the child of one my best friends." Degren ruffles the top of her head and gives a nod.

[Purrsephone]

"Really?" Purrsephone's ears perk up. "I don't know my daddy, Mommy messes around a lot.... Anyway, I was happy to help!"

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