Author: Delanac Ironbrow, Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2019 1:43 PM, Post Subject: To Cook or Not To Cook [P/R]

Bakulaw was a wee bit of stone's throw from Baltil, and a ride on an airship had him in Fort Dinclaire before sundown. Delanac had been working on learning the food trade for a few years now, having mastered cheese-making and curing in Komiteia and having put fermentation and pickling under his belt. But even the best hams needed a balance from fresh ingredients, and the best way to get them was to find them yourself. He'd come a long way back from simple rabbit stew. Today he was walking in eggshells, being a touch more cautious of where he stepped. He had Bran with him on a short leash, keeping the jackal close while they trudged through the jungle for something special. Every now and then he had to remind the dog to shush, throwing worried looks left and right. Bakulaw was rich in many things, but unfortunately nasty beasties with sharp rows of teeth were one of them. "Simmer down boy, don't want to raise the flag on bein' someone's supper now do we?" The orc had practiced truffle-hunting in the Virens, though hearing somewhere as tropical as here had them was news to him. "They must be proper tasty for people to praise them like the queen, wouldn't they? If it weren't for them lizards stompin' about they'd be plumb gone."

The people back at the fort had been hospitable, most of them perking up at the sound of a 'real chef' finally stopping by in their corner of the world. It was amazing all the help people'd give for a decent meal. Most of the men were scholars from all over, and after a few months anybody would be homesick. One of the nice folks let him see a few books on what they found to be edible that grew on Bakulaw, along with a handful of ones that were downright deadly. One of the officers traded obedience lessons for Bran if he made the man corned beef and cabbage every noon. After he got his bearings, he started off to get a few of the famous truffles hoping to test them with a roast he was brining for tomorrow. Everyone in the fort was looking forward to it, and with all of their hopes up he couldn't let them down now. 

Quiet as they could, he followed behind Bran's tail while the dog had his nose to the ground. They'd spent hours tiptoeing in circles when suddenly Bran stood still as a statue, ears up–then bolted like he'd seen a banshee. The leash jerked right out of Delanac's hand and his jackal was running into the bushes barking up a storm. Seconds later he was chasing after him, ferns and leaves smacking his arms as he sprinted to catch Bran before something else did. "Bran! Bran–get back here! Down boy, down! Where do y'think you're going, ye cnaf?!" A high pitched squeal followed by Bran's barking made him fear the worst, but before he could call out to him again he ran smack-dab into someone. "Oof!" The hit was enough to make him stop in his tracks, though the other person went sprawling backwards–ingredient baskets flying everywhere. Shielding his face as the berries bounced off him, the turmeric roots he had dug out were lying on the ground in a heap.

Bran was standing above a very small piglet, tongue out and tail wagging as fast as can be. He and the little pig were having a row over a spot the two were furiously digging, competing more like. "Bran settle down! No more roast ends for you." With a scoop of his arm, he lifted the jackal up seeing the two animals had partially unearthed something. Quieting his whining dog, he looked down at the red-haired lady he ran right into. "You alright there, mun? Sorry 'bout Bran here, he still runs off when he things he's found something."

Author: Yucca, Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:44 PM, Post Subject: To Cook or Not To Cook [P/R]

So far they have managed to reach their destination without too much trouble. Considering where they were that was amazing. She could hear the giant beasts of Bakulaw in the distance and that helped them keep away. “Come on Eno… Keep up. They would love to eat you I’m sure. Not that you would make good bacon.” There was a snort from the tiny piglet by her feet. Her stride was pretty much his run. Miniature in size he had been a gift from her mother, blessed never to grow old and be her companion. Eno had been her birthday present the year she had told her mother she was going to off and see the world. Forever would Eno be by her side. It just so happened that Eno wasn’t going to get any bigger than the day she got him either. Of course, the piglet would die if he got eaten or sick.

A silk ribbon was tied around his neck in a soft cerulean blue. The bow stood out enough that everyone usually spotted him so that they could avoid stepping on him. A map was in her hands with various areas of the island circled in different painted colors. “Okay, Eno…” From her satchel, she pulled out a truffle and put it to his nose. “We’re looking for these… Let me know if you find them alright?”

They had been on the island to find acerola cherries and goji berries for a loaf she was going to make. The truffles were for a meat stew that she wanted to try out as well and these truffles were a special variety only found in Bakulaw. Eino put his snout to the ground and finally, he was off. There was squealing and after a few seconds, Yucca was panicked. “ENO BE QUIET!”

Her red hair went flying behind her as she stumbled after him into a dead spring. “ENO!” He was on the hot trail as she struggled to keep up with the surprisingly fast piglet. “ENOKITAKE!” Before the redhead knew it she hit something or rather someone who was also in a dead sprint. Her ingredients went flying and she was laying on the ground with her hand to her head. “Uhh… I feel like I got hit by an Abedian Stallion.” Not too far from her Eno was digging and snorting away and making angry squealing noises at a dog of all things.