43rd Ymiden, 718
"Good morning, class."
"Good morning, Ms. Nji'ryn
Tei'serin grinned at Meiarin, nodding in approval when the little girl remembered to use her last name while they were in the classroom. She was getting better about doing that, but there were still times that she called her Tei'serin the way she did when they were at home.
"Does anyone know what trial it is?"
Keiaris raised her hand.
"Yes, Keiaris?"
"It's the forty third of Ymiden, Ms. Nji'ryn." she said with an impish grin.
The class laughed.
I suppose that I walked right into that...Tei'serin thought ruefully as she continued.
"Yes, that's true. But does anyone know why this trial is special?"
Hardin raised his hand.
"Yes, Hardin?"
"It's the Commemoration of the Sea festival."
Tei'serin nodded.
"And what do people do during this festival?"
Tarya raised her hand.
"Yes, Tarya?"
"People throw coins and tokens into the sea as an offering to U'frek. We do that to show that we recognize the sea's power...and its treachery. The sea is unpredictable. It gives, and it takes. By offering tokens on this trial, it is hoped that the sea will be good to us this arc. Sailors do this especially, but lots of other people do it too."
"And for that reason, this trial's lesson will be about the sea. After lunch, I have permission to take you all out to where the flutterbus departs from so that we can give our own offerings to the sea. But that will only happen if everyone is good, okay?"
"Yes, Ms. Nji'ryn." the kids chorused.
And with that, the lesson began in earnest. Tei'serin had done a lot of research on her own time to help her come up with the things that she wanted to teach this trial. She started by asking what everyone knew about the sea. Her younger students like Cally knew that sea water was salty, and that fish lived there. Tei'serin asked what other kinds of animals lived in the sea, and gave her class a brief lesson on each animal that they named.
"Do any plants live in the sea?"
"Seawees!" Cally called excitedly.
The class laughed, and Sorin explained patiently that it was seaweed, not seawees before Tei'serin had the chance to. And that brought her to one of the more interesting things she had learned in preparation for this lesson.
"There are many different kinds of seaweed. Kelp is one of the more useful kinds. It grows in shallow saltwater near the coast, and it can grow up to two hundred and fifty feet tall. Kelp is edible, and it can be used in a variety of ways. When dried, it makes a nice snack that is both salty and crunchy. If dried kelp is crushed, it can be used as a seasoning. It can be used is salads or soups when fresh. And if you powder it, you can use it to make dips, salad dressings, or tea with it. If you do any gardening, kelp makes a great fertilizer. And it even has uses in a variety of herbal remedies."
Sorin raised his hand.
"Yes, Sorin?"
"What kind of remedies can it be used for?"
"Does anyone know what inflammation is?"
When no one raised their hands, Tei'serin continued.
"Inflammation is the body’s response to start the healing process from an injury. So it can be a good thing. But even if it is, it still hurts, and it affects our ability to move, and go about our trial. Kelp is one of several different herbs that can reduce inflammation. It can also help people lose weight. So if they eat too much..."
The class laughed.
"Or if a woman is having trouble losing the weight they gained while they were pregnant, then eating kelp can help them lose it. When used as a wrap, kelp is good for helping muscle strains, sprains, and tears to heal faster. And when you get older, it helps to keep muscles, tendons, and joints more flexible so you don't lose the ability to move easily. When people are dehydrated, or undernourished, eating kelp can help them. It is also supposed to be great for your skin if used as a wrap. So there are a lot of uses for it."
"Are there other plants that live in the sea that can be used as herbs?" Sorin asked.
Tei'serin eyed her younger brother for a trill. He seemed genuinely interested in the subject. She wondered if he would be interested in her teaching him more about herbs in private lessons at home. Maybe even in becoming her apprentice. But that was something to think about at another time.
"Well, it isn't a plant, but ground oyster shells can be very good for you. They can strengthen your body, making it easier for you to fight off things like colds, or the flu. Powdered oyster shells can help to prevent ulcers, and it can also help with anxiety, and blurred vision. Then there's sea fennel. It doesn't live in the sea, but it is a plant that grows on the coast. It has a nice salty flavor that goes well with seafood. You can't eat it raw, but it can be cooked in many different ways; anything from pickling to steaming to blanching it. I've never tried it myself, but it is supposed to make a great side dish."
Once Tei'serin had covered several facts about the sea in her lesson, she asked her students to share some stories that they knew about the sea. This kept them busy until lunch, and Tei'serin wasn't sure who enjoyed hearing the stories more; her, or her class.
Off Topic
Bonus experience approved by Chronicle, to be given to the following character(s) involved in this thread, only upon the completion of the review, where the character(s) demonstrated celebration of the holiday, Commemoration of the Sea, on Ymiden 43rd, Arc 718. The details of this this holiday include: Cities close to the sea offer this day to U'frek. Sailors and Mer in particular pay particular care to this day, where they throw coins and tokens into the sea as an offering to U'frek. It's a solemn day, but important, as they recognize the sea's power - and its treachery.
Bonus Experience Upon Review Completion:
Knowledge
Ne'haer Holiday: Commemoration of the Sea
+2 Bonus Skill Points
Free Item: The Mystic Conch Shell -- At the end of the thread the player will find a mysterious conch shell awaiting for them in water. The shell glows a rainbow iridescent hue, somehow more noticeable when submerged, and surprisingly echoes with sounds of the deep depths of the ocean when listened to.
Bonus Experience Upon Review Completion:
Knowledge
Ne'haer Holiday: Commemoration of the Sea
+2 Bonus Skill Points
Free Item: The Mystic Conch Shell -- At the end of the thread the player will find a mysterious conch shell awaiting for them in water. The shell glows a rainbow iridescent hue, somehow more noticeable when submerged, and surprisingly echoes with sounds of the deep depths of the ocean when listened to.
