[Abyssopelagic]

】【Sedgestorm: The Moon, Reversed
Purrk- Sunburned* : Rogue, he/him】【

Okay, time to go out and possibly poison himself. That seemed like a bright idea to do just because he was waiting for a new development regarding his patient.
Self judgement aside, Sedgestorm was growing increasingly fed up and bored with feeling as if he was wasting time.
So, he decided to act on his bright decision to eat random plants to see if they did anything useful.

He'd supposed he'd start with trees. They were the easiest thing to find, so why not?
Identifying one tree from the next was more difficult, but something that was doable if he stared at the tree bark for long enough. Perhaps it would be an easier endeavor if the leaves hadn't long since fallen from their perches, but alas, the snow had long since made sure to strip the great beasts bare.
Staring at the first tree he came across, Sedgestorm decided that what he was looking at was an oak tree, and made a mental note of it before stretching up, and using a claw to help remove the bark from where it stubbornly held to its host.
His prize fell soundlessly into the snow at his paws and he grumbled unhappily as he had to snuffle around the blindingly stark powder. When his snout brushed against the tough crumbles of oak wood, he carefully guided his mouth to gather up what could be found.
Once satisfied with the amount of bark he'd found, he trotted to a less snow covered area before he began chewing upon the bark.

 

As the juice from the bark was released, an aching in one of his back teeth he hadn't even realized was there alleviated.
Blinking in surprise, Sedgestorm's chewing faltered for a moment as he processed this. So oak bark.... Was good for tooth aches.
Good to know.
Perhaps it could also be used for other mouth issues?
Even if he was confused where this ache had come from and how it had hidden itself from him.
Well, it was good for chewing, so now he needed to know if it had anything useful to offer if he swallowed it.
It was harder to chew out more juice without crushing the bark to the point he couldn't spit out the splinters, but he managed it. As arduous as a task it was.
He prepared himself mentally before drinking what little bit of bark juice there was and waited.
And waited.
He counted away the minutes, waiting for anything and when nothing happened, no magical healing of a new and unnoticed pain or causing him any harm, he sighed and picked himself up, preparing to head to the next tree when a sudden flare of stomach pain wracked through his body.
Gasping quietly, he allowed himself to lower to the ground as he fought with the agonizing pain cramping within his system. And it didn't get better as his body processed it.
Eventually, to his relief, it did pass, and he was left a panting, sweating mess where he lay. As he picked himself up, he made a very clear, very strict note to himself.
Do not injest oak bark.
Never again.

 

It took him a long while to find a tree that didn't look suspiciously similar to an oak. If it weren't for his aging bones, he might have leapt for joy. Choosing to be considerate of the only body he had, he opted to instead get to work on harvesting the bark.
As he pulls the bark from the thatch of the tree, he recognizes it as elm and wonders what this tree has in store for him.
As he chews and finds nothing of particular note, he spits out the inedible portion of his terrible little snack.
He hesitates, remembering the pain caused by the oak bark. He tries his damnedest to compare the flavours of what is currently sitting in his mouth, and what had caused earlier pain but finds all his brain is processing is the urgent need to get this yucky substance out of his mouth.
He shivered in anticipation before finally swallowing the bark juice, squeezing his eyes closed. He did not receive pain.
Even as he waited, the agony did not hit.
Finally, he opened his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.
Panic began to settle in however, when all that came out of his nose was a harsh, stuttering whistle. He coughed, unsure of how else to react when he became acutely aware of the stuffy feeling in his nose.
Even as he breathed through his mouth, his lungs felt heavier, thicker somehow.
This is...
Not what he had planned.
Great. Just lovely.
What could possibly happen next?

 

Understandably, our poor and unfortunate protagonist was reluctant to continue forward with his quest upon seeing the next unusual tree. Cringing, he approached the tree, and went through with the process.
The first thing he noticed that upon chewing the bark alone, the flow of saliva was already thickening and eventually was beginning to threaten to spill out of his mouth as he tried to breathe without his nose.
He hated it all. Why was everything working against him?
Ugh, yuck.
Even as he sat and waited for whatever random effects to hit him, he felt a steady pulse of dread in his heart. Until the upset stomach from eating the oak bark began to ease up.
Ears perking, he focused more intently on any extra effects of the one plant that seemed to be useful today. No, nothing....
It seemed his luck had run out.
Sighing, he picked himself up began trekking onwards when a sudden pressure in his gut hit him. Erm, well, it seemed he found his second effect, even if it was also one he wasn't sure he knew could be considered useful.
It was a pressing issue at the moment, so he opted to press forward.

 

The last two barks of the day were, mercifully, uneventful tastings. They did not enhance any of the issues caused by previous curiosity and for that Sedgestorm was thankful....
But also perhaps a bit disappointed.
He'd learned little of use. Well, of immediate use. He was sure anyone creative enough could find a use for his previous findings, but he doubted that he was the person to find that use.
All it did was cross out ideas and meant he was that much closer to having to start trying the plants that were far more likely to be dangerous.
But that was for another day.
For now, he needed to return to his patient and hope nothing had turned up in the time he was gone.

 

Oak Bark
Help with tooth aches!! Must try for other mouth issues
DO NOT EAT, Very Painful!!

Elm Bark
Makes nose stuffy and chest feel puffy, a yucky feeling
Might have a use? Not sure what anyone gets from having extra slimy lungs

Ash Bark
Lot's of spit, probably shouldn't be combined with elm bark
Possible use? Unknown
Also loosens bowels

Birch and Maple Bark
Disappointing
Safe to eat but otherwise hardly noteworthy
Will require further trials