amber

[blood_and_thunder]

 ... I was wondering... This might be a silly question, but as some of us are still learning how to adapt to this size...

... Do you think it's possible to bake things here? Like desserts? Back home, it was one of the few things I was good at, and... I enjoyed it.

But, well, it'd be a little more difficult here. After all, we can't simply go out and buy flour, and eggs are almost as big as we are. So I guess what I'm asking for is for suggestions... or if I should give this idea up.

Comments

[circleprodigy]

[Ah, desserts. Her expression is slightly wistful, though she doesn't dare raise hope too much.]

I wish I could say regarding baking, though I wouldn't underestimate the ingenuity of other tree-dwellers. If there's a way, they will find it.

As for ingredients, I can promise nothing...but should I and the other travelers have an opportunity to return with any from beyond, you will hear of it.

[blood_and_thunder]

... Thank you. If I'm ever able to make something, I'll let you have the first bite.

[A rare smile!]

[circleprodigy]

[Aw, so sweet. Ivaera smiles back, one of her rare unguarded smiles.]

I won't say no to that. Thank you--

[And there's sudden barking near her, thanks to Garahel just out of view.]

Oh, no. You get enough treats, as it is. No begging for you until others have their fair share.

[blood_and_thunder]

[She's a bit startled-]

O-Oh, well... I've never made one for dogs before, but... maybe I could give that a try?

[circleprodigy]

[Sighing, she reaches down to pet and calm her mabari companion.]

There is a recipe I've been using for him, consisting of baked elfroot and deep mushrooms. It might need a little altering here, but it's not difficult to manage. I can show you at some point, though truly, you don't need to make it a priority.

[blood_and_thunder]

... I want to, though. Honestly, having creatures such as that... They got pretty rare in my original lifetime.

[circleprodigy]

I'll pass it on when I return, then. I just don't want you to feel pressured.

[And because she's now curious....]

Why are they rare? What happened?

[blood_and_thunder]

Well... you just... you didn't have the time or necessities around for pets. A lot of the time, you just barely had enough to take care of yourself. The only exceptions were if they could attack and defend.

[circleprodigy]

[Ivaera nods, sympathetic and understanding.]

Sensible, though unfortunate. I know I couldn't afford to have a pet with me who isn't combat-capable. It would be too dangerous for them, otherwise. We met during a time of great hardship for my country and now it's over, but that remains true. I'm fortunate he's so capable.

[There's a pleased bark on her end, as the mabari never tires of compliments.]

[blood_and_thunder]

... I'm not so sure I'd bond so well with one anyway. I mean, I have a hard enough time with other people...

[circleprodigy]

[An encouraging smile forms at that.] I think you're managing well enough right now. You're still trying, or you wouldn't have used the amber. But it's not about how social you are with other people that matters to a mabari. As long as you're devoted to them, they'll be devoted to you. I suspect there are other animals with such traits, as well.

[blood_and_thunder]

If there are, I'm a little clueless about it. I mean, off the top of my head, the closest I've ever gotten to an animal bond is with a wyvren, and that was just because a companion of mine was its true partner. Now those two... they were really amazing.

[circleprodigy]

A wyvern as a partner? How is that possible? They're ferocious, territorial creatures, capable of killing even a high dragon. At least, so they are in Thedas. The thought of one tame enough to partner with...well, it's incredible.

[blood_and_thunder]

It's kind of a long story. But he... Gerome... his mother was the one who tamed it. Then, when she died, it came to obey him. Like it understood that the same blood ran through him.

[circleprodigy]

Impressive. I assume it must have, somehow. Should your companion arrive, I would hope to see this wyvern for myself.

[Hey, she has her mabari. A wyvern is possible too, right?]

[blood_and_thunder]

... Well, you'd have to ask him first. He's very protective over her. He never lets anyone ride her.

[circleprodigy]

That's understandable. I wouldn't think to ride her unless he mentioned it, though. It's not as though I would even know how; riding wyverns or anything airborne is not done where I am from. Well--we used to have griffons, but they became extinct centuries ago.

[blood_and_thunder]

We have griffons... Though, again, in my timeline they are a rare sight. He could ride those if he wanted, but his bond with his wyvern is almost like a family member.

[circleprodigy]

[She smiles a little as she doesn't have to explain griffons.]

I can see why the wyvern would be chosen over them, though I always wondered what it would have been like to ride a griffon. The Grey Wardens of old used to do so, and had they not been extinct, I might have as well. What are they like?

[Sure, there are probably differences between worlds, but still. She has to ask.]

[blood_and_thunder]

Well, this is the only one I know of... It's a female, named Minerva. She's very large, and can fly great distances. She's vulnerable to arrows, but even her roar can deafen a person.

[circleprodigy]

...well. I hope she doesn't roar often, then. That could be problematic, otherwise.