Breaking Bad Habits

The lands of Atinaw surrounding the capital city.

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Patrick
Posts: 136
Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2019 5:47 pm
Character Sheet: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=43& ... 800c252a81
Plot Notes: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=78& ... 800c252a81
Character Secrets: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=409
Journal: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=499
Letters: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=105&t=500

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Glade 40th 120th AoS

Morning had broken over the eastern mountain range on Atinaw's borders, with the three brothers on the road south from the city of Alfsos now. All three of them had packed enough food for the week, and in turn helped make sure Connor had things he'd need packed as well. The youngest sibling hadn't been handling his withdrawal very well the past few days, and he certainly wasn't appearing any chipper than he normally did before either. Twice in fact they had to stop while on the road, only so that the cook might heave what little to no food he had left in his gut.

While Connor's condition wasn't the greatest on this venture, Dominik saw to it that the youngest son kept going to say the least. He did just about everything an older brother could do generally, from coaxing to even coaching, he pushed Connor well beyond the point of wanting to be out here for the sake of enjoyment. No. It was pretty clear that this wasn't just going to be a lighthearted camping trip, to Patrick it already felt like they were both in charge of detoxing their youngest brother; or else his place in the kinship might become threatened.

It didn't help that Patrick himself sometimes went against his father, but that was typical as they sometimes didn't see eye to eye. In Connor's case however this was different, he has actively done what suits him after all; and now he was paying the price by suffering for it.

"We're almost there," Dominik assured the both of them as he lead on, "We'll be a few meters away from the river. So there'll be a good chance to do some fishin' by tomorrow." He reasoned in Kokalath as the three marched on, though Connor more or less trudged along behind them still; his entire head soaked with a sheen of sweat while he kept quiet and distant. They were at least a good five or six miles away from the city now, an incredible hike to have experienced so early in the morning time. The very air felt cold and moist when they had first left, and now that sunlight washed over everything; the smell of the open range filled their very lungs.

In a way this was good for Connor, being out here meant being cut off from his habits. It also meant suffering through his detoxification period, which led Patrick to believe that he'd be the one cooking meals for the first few nights. "Alright, this is the place." The eldest brother finally stated as the three of them came to a gradual stop, reaching what would've been the peak of a hill; if the incline itself were any larger to be considered such. Still they had a good vantage point from where they were at, and even better were able to see the river past some of the glades near it's basin. So there were certainly good resources to be gathered, such as wood for the fire and even game... if anyone knew how to hunt.

Patrick trusted that Dominik likely did a bit of that too, since he seemed a little well versed with all this. It honestly surprised him that his older brother would come all this way, and survive on his own out here for a week if he could manage. Such a habit took more than guts, it took credible amount of knowledge and survivability too. "Guess we'll get to set up camp here then." The middle brother remarked as they all started to unload their luggage, Dominik quick to reach for the sword at his hip after his belongings were put down.

"First things first. Before we start with the set up, always be aware of your surroundin's. Check the nearby vicinity to make sure no predators might be loomin' nearby." Dominik instructed as he started to walk off, Connor on the other hand merely groaned as he took to sit down instead; with a heavily exhausted lean into his travel pack to follow. The poor guy. Patrick genuinely felt for the younger brother, but he also knew this would be an important experience he needed to remember. Thus he focused on watching Dominik, as the eldest brother wandered out into the general area surrounding the camp sight. He didn't just head off in one direction however, but rather waited until he was somewhere around fifty feet away; then began circling the sight to perform a full perimeter check.

While Patrick had realized this early on, he felt the need to go ahead and begin unpacking the necessary essentials. The tent was obviously the first to be taken out, but he wanted to wait until Dominik returned before attempting to pitch it. So naturally Patrick went ahead and unloaded the bedrolls as well, considerate enough to roll one out for Connor so that he could lay on it as they waited. "Here." He instructed the youngest brother as he helped Connor move, once he was up and practically crawling onto the bedroll; Patrick then gave him the waterskin to drink out of before he fully laid down. "Just lay low for a while and rest, Dom and I'll take care of the campsite. "

"This sucks..." Connor muttered as he buried his head beneath the pillow, with a few more inaudible words muffled through the fabric. Patrick merely chuckled a little with a look of sympathy, aware that the oldest brother was finally on his way back into the campsite now.

"All clear?" Patrick checked a little worriedly now, hopeful that no signs of danger loomed nearby.

"From the looks of it yeah, found some tracks that're days old by now." Dominik responded in turn as he reached them, an expectant look on his face when his eyes moved from the brothers to the pile of materials that composed their tent. "You ready to get started Pat?"

The middle brother looked up to him and nodded, with a hint of a groan made as he rose to a full stand. Now would begin the really fun part, setting up the campsite so that they could all 'live' here for a week's worth of time.

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Patrick [indent=50] Dominik [indent=50] Connor
Main [indent=62] Guest [indent=62] Guest
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Fine [indent=55] Fine [indent=50] Weakened
word count: 1114
Business, Templates, Workshop
"Patrick" "Dominik" "Conrad"
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Patrick
Posts: 136
Joined: Sun Dec 22, 2019 5:47 pm
Character Sheet: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=43& ... 800c252a81
Plot Notes: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=78& ... 800c252a81
Character Secrets: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=409
Journal: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=499
Letters: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=105&t=500

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Together Dominik and Patrick, who merely followed his brother's instruction, worked to set up the first important piece of the campsite. They started by planting a post in the ground, and from there gauging how much room the three brothers would need. Dominik explained that under normal circumstances, he would've only needed enough for considerably himself and maybe another. Yet since there were three sharing space beneath the shelter, the older brother had to consider the best way to utilize the canvas tarp he owned.

Therefore after measuring about four or five feet away from the original post, he jabbed the next one down and hammered it into the ground right after. Repeating this process with the next two posts, the brothers managed to set in place the four corners of the tent; now they just needed to plant the longer post directly in the center; so that the tarp wouldn't drape so low once they came to put it on. The next part was the tarp itself; as the two brothers not only had to place it over the posts they planted, but successfully tie the corners down to the base of each post one at a time.

This part of the process took a bit longer for Patrick of course, as he wasn't at all familiar with the best way to do this. However once Dominik showed him, the middle brother immediately took to committing it's practice with the other corners afterward. Finally when they managed to set up the tent, Dominik began to work on unloading other important essentials; while Patrick himself laid out the remaining bedrolls within. When he finished with that he then took to Connor once more, prompting the younger sibling to get up so that he could lay within the tent afterwards.

Naturally Connor showed considerable reluctance, until he felt another episode assail his innards once more. While the younger sibling had went off to dry heave several times more, Patrick quickly worked to move the bedroll within the tent; and then afterwards checked on his brother with the waterskin in hand. Once Connor's spell seemed to wear off, he then took Patrick's advice along with the waterskin; and went to lay within the tent where his bedroll was. "Now we don't have to worry about him cookin' underneath the sun."

"Speakin' of which," Dominik seemed to be reminded of something when he heard Patrick say that, "while I'm setting up the rest of camp you wanna collect some timber? Gonna need to start a fire if we're to have dinner." Before he finished Dominik unstrapped the family sword from his belt, holding it out for Patrick to accept before he might go off gathering wood. "Just remember to keep an eye on your surroundings."

"You got it." Patrick answered in return as he accepted the weapon, quick to tie the scabbard to his belt before heading out the nearby grove a few meters away. While he spent a credible amount of time collecting fallen branches and twigs, the bartender had the luck of encountering only a few smaller rodents in his time away. Honestly he started to realize why Dominik enjoyed being out here so much, compared to the city life the wilderness almost felt like another world. Another life even, different from the one they all grew up within. Yet it was only just a part of that life, and while he could appreciate that; Patrick also knew it'd play a greater part later down the road.

Nevertheless after about an hour's worth of collecting, Patrick returned with arms fully loaded of sticks and branches. "Damn, find enough out there?" Dominik couldn't help but tease as the middle brother dropped it all in one pile.

"Had to make sure we had plenty for overnight." Patrick chuckled as he looked around the campsite, amazed to find everything else had already been setup. All around the outside of the tent was the tools and things that were fine being left outside, while tucked away at the very back of the tent's inside were the things that needed shelter from the environment. Such as clothes, dried food, toiletries, and of course any other personal belongings brought along. Dominik had also set up a sitting area using large stones, which he clearly rolled from somewhere nearby; as Patrick could still see the trails left over the grass also.

"Well, now we get to build a campfire. Hope you're handy with flint and steel." Dominik remarked as he started to gather some of the wood, quick to move it from the pile over toward the center of their camp. The older brother must've been a lot busier than Patrick realized, as a shallow pit had been dug up to serve as the base of the fire. "Now normally I'd place stones around the fire pit, but seein' as how this oughta be your first time makin' one; I'll let you get to it." He added as he started to place branch after branch within the pit, lining some of them up so that they collectively became piled on top of one another. Patrick couldn't help but chuckle a little, as he knew Dominik had to be challenging him by now.

While the task sounded monumentally trivial at first, Patrick's gathering of stones led to him building the base of the campfire; until enough of them fully encircled the pit entirely. Seeing the task reach completion and the end product of their hard work, Patrick eventually took a step back to admire the effort he made. Together the two brothers had managed to put together an elaborate campsite, one that would certainly cater to their needs in the time they spent here. "How about you do the honors?" Dominik offered as he held a hand out to Patrick, with a block of flint and strip of steel in his palm.

"Sure thing," He agreed vacantly as he accepted the offer, "how hard can it be." Yet while he may have presumed such a thing, lighting a campfire turned out to be much more difficult than he expected. For when he struck the two together, only a few sparks scattered onto the wood before dying out. Rather quickly to notice this was his brother, for Dominik couldn't help but quietly laugh as he watched Patrick. Again the middle brother tried, only to fail another time at starting a fire. Why? What was he doing wrong? Again. Failed. Again? Failed. Again?! Failed!

"You're tryin' to start a fire Pat," Dominik reminded him as he knelt down next to Patrick, "try holdin' the flint and steel closer to here." He pointed towards the base of the wood pile, where some of the smaller tinder was located. Still a tad bit frustrated Patrick listened to his brother, striking the flint and steel together a few times until enough sparks caught the wood. Finally smoke started to rise from within the pile, and Dominik quickly caught Pat's hands to keep him from striking anymore. "Now be careful about it," he instructed with a nod towards the smoke, "and blow onto the tinder to spread the embers."

Patrick looked at his brother warily but didn't say anything, since he knew he was actually onto something just now. With a careful lean to look closer at the pit, he could see the small embers that burned to life from the sparks earlier. They were so tiny though that he doubted they'd burn any brighter, until the moment he took a short breath of air in; and gently blew it between his lips to caress the tiny orange lights. Sure enough the air fed into them, causing the embers to burn as more smoke was emitted from their spot. He tried again softly just like before, seeing more and more smoke rise as a result of his action. Until finally one more small blow fed the embers enough, and the rest of the branches started to crack as a small fire began to rise.

"See?" Dominik tested with a smirk at his middle brother. "I knew you could handle it." He promoted that statement with a brotherly pat on Patrick's shoulder, the grin on his face all the more proud when fire consumed the rest of the wood pile in the pit. "See it helps that the pit keeps a low profile, as it doesn't let wind blow any ash or hot coals around later."

"Duly noted." Patrick remarked with a hearty smile, as he handed back the flint and steel to his older brother.

"Now since Connor's currently out of it..." Dominik's eyes moved from Patrick to the cookware huddled near the tent. This led Patrick to laugh as he stood up once more, a steady walk made towards the pile as he questioned what to make first. Dinner would need to be cooked soon after all, and while he hardly had much experience with it; Patrick felt that he'd get his first hands on experience with cooking over a campfire here soon.
word count: 1553
Business, Templates, Workshop
"Patrick" "Dominik" "Conrad"
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Taelian
Posts: 455
Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2019 6:23 pm
Character Sheet: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=47
Plot Notes: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=78&t=286
Character Secrets: https://ransera.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=152

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Patrick

Lores
Survival: Surveying A Place To Camp
Survival: Scouting The Camp's Perimeter
Survival: Pitching A Tent
Survival: Setting Up A Campfire
Survival: Nature's Bounty Helps One Survive
Cooking: Using A Campfire To Make Meals

Personal: Camping With Your Brothers
Lands of Eight: The Wilderness of Atinaw

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A

Points 5

Comments: Love the Barnell Bro dialogue, as always. Great read -- poor Connor. Have you tried giving him a good replacement drug, like aether-enhanced bath salts?

word count: 91
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