Simonne Miller/ Caltharian/ Herbalist

[Simonne Miller]

Name: Simonne Miller
Gender: Female
Age: 65
Race: Human
Tribe: Caltharian
Occupation: Herbalist
Title: Meddling Herbalist

Appearance: In the full bloom of youth, Simonne measured about 1 ped 7 palmspans. As her age advanced, however, she seemed to shrink a little, making her now stand between 1 ped 4 palmspans and 1 ped 6 palmspans – depending on whether she is bent over her cane or not. Usually, her back is still straight, unless she is acting the weak old woman.
She never was a great beauty, her features being rather plain, but wrinkles have given her face a kind of elderly wisdom. From among the wrinkles, two shrewd brown eyes are directed at everything around her, still quite alert for her age. Her hair is grey, kept from her face in a ponytail that reaches her hip. She is rather thin, but still strong enough to roam Santharia.

Clothes: After the manner of her people, Simonne wears very colourful clothes, in her case often red and blue. They make her look a little younger than she really is. Her skirt is light blue, and comes down to her ankles, while her shirt, which covers everything from her neck to her wrists to the line of her skirt, is a bright karikrimson. Over her hair she wears a waterberry blue shawl. The only time she wore black, was during the period of mourning her husband’s death. When she started travelling, she returned to the bright colours.
However, her clothes are less of rags and better made than what most Caltharians wear. They hadn’t been when she was still living among her people, but after she started travelling, she noticed that other people often regarded her with some distaste because of them. The better dressed those others were, the greater their disgust. She still cared for her own looks and what other people thought of her, so she bought better clothes, paying attention to their state. This habit has never faded, even though the caring has a long time ago.

Personality: Simonne is a rather friendly woman, trying to be nice to everyone. She tries this because it is in her nature, not because she wishes others to think well of her. Still, she can sometimes say things rather blandly, hurting people without knowing it. She also has the very annoying habit of knowing things better, and correcting people, which isn’t always appreciated, even though she means well. People will sometimes feel her to be meddling, despite best intentions.
Despite being friendly, she doesn’t trust people easily. She used to be very naïve, but when she left her village to travel, and had been taken advantage of a number of times, she stopped trusting. However, she does give trust to those who she thinks are worth it, after they have proven it in some way. In general, she has a rather sceptic view of life. She didn’t used to, but the older she became, the more sceptic. This scepticism, however, she usually keeps to herself.

Strengths: Simonne is a skilled herbalist. She first came into contact with herbs as a means of healing during her husband’s illness. After his death, she travelled Santharia, trying to extend her knowledge.

She is still quite strong for her age. This doesn’t mean that she can lift a heavy sword or whole hebs at a time, but she is capable of walking large distances and sleeping on the ground at night, if necessary. Sometimes she feels she begins to be too old for such a lifestyle, but she still hasn’t given it up. After her husband’s death, she never really wanted to return to a settled life.

Her alertness is a strength too. Despite her age, she hasn’t been affected with Thought Burn, and her memory is still quite as good as it used to be. After learning that people were not to be trusted, she quickly learned to discern whether people were being honest to her, or not, by observing them. She is often right, although the occasional mistake is not to be wondered at.

The experience of a lifetime. Although the first part of her life, namely growing up and being married, wasn’t much of an experience, the latter part (travelling through Santharia) has given her the wisdom of age. She has talked to many people, and formed her own decided opinion on just about every subject.

Weaknesses: Although Simonne is strong for her age, she is of course not very strong compared to the young. This is a disadvantage, because when she is somehow under attack, e.g. because of bandits robbing lonely travellers, she is not able to defend herself. For the same reason, it is a disadvantage that she doesn’t know how to wield a weapon.

Her natural naiveté being replaced by thorough scepticism, she does not easily trust people. This can be a disadvantage, as it often leads her to reject help which might have helped her on her travels.

History: A born and bred Caltharian, Simonne followed her mother’s footsteps and became a dyer. From a very early age she had a good playmate, a boy who lived two houses next to her, called Tom. As they grew up, friendship turned into love, and they married when she was 19. As many Caltharian men, he was a woodworker. Simonne was at this time still rather naïve, but this didn’t signify much, as she never went far from her home.
After some years of happiness, fate took a hand. Tom started to complain of headaches. At first, they didn’t seem to matter much. They would come and go, with large intervals. After a time, however, they would last longer and stay away for a shorter period of time. The couple decided to leave their home and search for someone who could help him, as there was noone within the community who knew any cure.
They met a helpful traveller who directed them to a hospital of the Order of the White Knights. Tom was taken care of by the healers, and Simonne helped them as much as she could. Like this, she first learned about the possible healing properties of herbs. For a while, the healers were able to relieve some of Tom’s pain, but in the end, they couldn’t help him. When Simonne was 40, Tom died. They had then been living with the Order for almost five years. They had no children.
For a while after his death, she returned to the village. During this period, she wore black to mourn him. However, she found that she no longer fitted in the village, after her long absence. After the period of mourning, she left again, remembering her fascination with the herbs that the healers had used. She travelled Santharia in search of people who could teach her. In the twentyfive years that she has travelled now, she has seen the important places of Santharia, as well as many of the less important ones. Santhala, Voldar, Bardavos... they are only a few of the places that she has visited.
On one of her travels, she met a Baveras Aid, who she continued her journey with. Among other things, this Aid tought her midwifery. They stayed together for a while, until Simonne felt the call of the road again.
Another time, she happened upon a hospital of the Order of the White knights, another one than where her husband had been tended. Here she stayed to learn for about two years. It was the longest period that she had remained anywhere.
She learned to make all kinds of potions to cure diseases. In her backpack, she carries all kinds of salves and herbs. Even now, she searches for new people who could teach her things she hadn't known before. She earns money by curing minor illnesses. She doesn’t do some things, such as broken bones or arms out of their socket, because she doesn’t have the strength to heal them. She does know how it is done, however, and she can instruct those who are strong enough. Apart from curing illnesses as much as possible, she has learned to be a midwife thanks to the Baveras' Aid, if no other is available. So if she is at the right place at the right time, she knows how to deliver a baby.
When she was about 55, or something close by that age (by this time she had given up thinking of her birthday, as she had nobody to celebrate it with), she bought a cane from a travelling merchant. It was beautifully carved with plants and leaves, and had a rose for a handle, which had a perfect feeling. Ever since she bought it, she has carried it with her, although even to this day rarely leaning on it. Often, during conversations, it seems to be used more as emphasis of her words than as a cane. She only uses it to lean on when she is very tired or playing the old lady.

Weapons: none, unless one counts the cane. Which, admittedly, can hurt rather much when administered in the right fashion, but which still isn’t a real weapon.

Belongings:
- A backpack filled with herbs, salves, potions, and food that she bought at the last town or that was given by the last family where she helped to cure some illness.
- A belt with even more pouches to carry herbs in, together with one pouch for her money.
- A walking-cane, decorated with flowers and plants.

Edited by: Kalina Merenwen at: 7/10/06 8:05

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Name: Simonne Miller
Gender: Female
Age: 65
Race: Human
Tribe: Caltharian
Occupation: Herbalist
Title: Meddling Herbalist

Welcome, finally not a young girl in her full bloom!  

Appearance: In the full bloom of youth, Simonne measured about 1 ped 7 palmspans. As her age advanced, however, she seemed to shrink a little, making her now stand between 1 ped 4 palmspans and 1 ped 6 palmspans – depending on whether she is bent over her cane or not. Usually, her back is still straight, unless she is acting the weak old woman.
She never was a great beauty, her features being rather plain, but wrinkles have given her face a kind of elderly wisdom. From among the wrinkles, two shrewd brown eyes are directed at everything around her, still quite alert for her age. Her hair is grey, kept from her face in a ponytail that reaches her hip. She is rather thin, but still strong enough to roam Santharia.

Clothes: After the manner of her people, Simonne wears very colourful clothes, in her case often red and blue. They make her look a little younger than she really is. Her skirt is light blue, and comes down to her ankles, while her shirt, which covers everything from her neck to her wrists to the line of her skirt, is a bright karikrimson. Over her hair she wears a waterberry blue shawl. The only time she wore black, was during the period of mourning her husband’s death. When she started travelling, she returned to the bright colours.
However, her clothes are less of rags and better made than what most Caltharians wear. They hadn’t been when she was still living among her people, but after she started travelling, she noticed that other people often regarded her with some distaste because of them. The better dressed those others were, the greater their disgust. She still cared for her own looks and what other people thought of her, so she bought better clothes, paying attention to their state. This habit has never faded, even though the caring has a long time ago.

Personality: Simonne is a rather friendly woman, trying to be nice to everyone. She tries this because it is in her nature, not because she wishes others to think well of her. Still, she can sometimes say things rather blandly, hurting people without knowing it. She also has the very annoying habit of knowing things better, and correcting people, which isn’t always appreciated, even though she means well. People will sometimes feel her to be meddling, despite best intentions.
Despite being friendly, she doesn’t trust people easily. She used to be very naïve, but when she left her village to travel, and had been taken advantage of a number of times, she stopped trusting. However, she does give trust to those who she thinks are worth it, after they have proven it in some way. In general, she has a rather sceptic view of life. She didn’t used to, but the older she became, the more sceptic. This scepticism, however, she usually keeps to herself.

Strengths: Simonne is a skilled herbalist. She first came into contact with herbs as a means of healing during her husband’s illness. After his death, she travelled Caelereth, trying to extend her knowledge. There is not much new to learn for her anymore, but still she travels Caelereth (Santharia in particular).
Caelereth is too huge, just say Santharia which is still 5000 strals from Strata to the Tandalas, if I remember right.  

She is still quite strong for her age. This doesn’t mean that she can lift a heavy sword or whole hebs at a time, but she is capable of walking large distances and sleeping on the ground at night, if necessary. Sometimes she feels she begins to be too old for such a lifestyle, but she still hasn’t given it up. After her husband’s death, she never really wanted to return to a settled life.

Her alertness is a strength too. Despite her age, she hasn’t been affected with Thought Burn, and her memory is still quite as good as it used to be. After learning that people were not to be trusted, she quickly learned to discern whether people were being honest to her, or not, by observing them. She is often right, although the occasional mistake is not to be wondered at.

The experience of a lifetime. Although the first part of her life, namely growing up and being married, wasn’t much of an experience, the latter part (travelling through Santharia ) has given her the wisdom of age. She has talked to many people, and formed her own decided opinion on just about every subject.

Weaknesses: Although Simonne is strong for her age, she is of course not very strong compared to the young. This is a disadvantage, because when she is somehow under attack, e.g. because of bandits robbing lonely travellers, she is not able to defend herself. For the same reason, it is a disadvantage that she doesn’t know how to wield a weapon.

Her natural naiveté being replaced by thorough scepticism, she does not easily trust people. This can be a disadvantage, as it often leads her to reject help which might have helped her on her travels.

History: A born and bred Caltharian, Simonne followed her mother’s footsteps and became a dyer. From a very early age she had a good playmate, a boy who lived two houses next to her, called Tom. As they grew up, friendship turned into love, and they married when she was 19. As many Caltharian men, he was a woodworker. Simonne was at this time still rather naïve, but this didn’t signify much, as she never went far from her home.
After some years of happiness, fate took a hand. Tom started to complain of headaches. At first, they didn’t seem to matter much. They would come and go, with large intervals. After a time, however, they would last longer and stay away for a shorter period of time. The couple decided to leave their home and search for someone who could help him, as there was noone within the community who knew any cure.
They met a helpful traveller who directed them to a hospital of the Order of the White Knights. Tom was taken care of by the healers, and Simonne helped them as much as she could. Like this, she first learned about the possible healing properties of herbs. For a while, the healers were able to relieve some of Tom’s pain, but in the end, they couldn’t help him. When Simonne was 40, Tom died. They had then been living with the Order for almost five years. They had no children.
For a while after his death, she returned to the village. During this period, she wore black to mourn him. Don‘t know, if the Caltharian do this. However, she found that she no longer fitted in the village, after her long absence. After the period of mourning, she left again, remembering her fascination with the herbs that the healers had used. She travelled Santharia - maybe add here some names, mention places where she was etc in search of people who could teach her, in the mean time also teaching herself as much as she could. She learned to make all kinds of potions to cure diseases.
Normally you don‘t learn this by yourself, but get it told or find it in books. you can just find out a small amount of new recipes. But you could meet other travellers on your voyage, maybe travel for some time with a baveras#s Aid and learn to be a midwife or accompany another healer In her backpack, she carries all kinds of salves and herbs. She no longer has much left to learn, I doubt that, you can always learn more but she still travels through Santharia, earning money by curing minor illnesses. She doesn’t do some things, such as broken bones or arms out of their socket, because she doesn’t have the strength to heal them. She does know how it is done, however, and she can instruct those who are strong enough. Apart from curing illnesses as much as possible, she has learned to be a midwife, if no other is available. So if she is at the right place at the right time, she knows how to deliver a baby.
When she was about 55, or something close by that age (by this time she had given up thinking of her birthday, as she had nobody to celebrate it with), she bought a cane from a travelling merchant. It was beautifully carved with plants and leaves, and had a rose for a handle, which had a perfect feeling. Ever since she bought it, she has carried it with her, although even to this day rarely leaning on it. Often, during conversations, it seems to be used more as emphasis of her words than as a cane. She only uses it to lean on when she is very tired or playing the old lady.

Weapons: none, unless one counts the cane. Which, admittedly, can hurt rather much when administered in the right fashion, but which still isn’t a real weapon.

Belongings:
- A backpack filled with herbs, salves, potions, and food that she bought at the last town or that was given by the last family where she helped to cure some illness.
- A belt with even more pouches to carry herbs in, together with one pouch for her money.
- A walking-cane, decorated with flowers and plants.

I had only a quick look through and others might find more to critisize, but I think, this is a really nicely done CD! Bravo !

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

[Simonne Miller]

Hello Talia, thank you very much for your quick response

To address some of your comments:

-I know Caelereth is huge. I actually meant Santharia, only Caelereth sounds... Bigger *grins*. But if it's too confusing, I'll change all the Caelereths into Santharias

-I don't know if Caltharians wear black to mourn either. I don't even know if they have a mourning period. However, I found this GREAT pic of an old woman which I want to use as my avatar as soon as I get the artist's permission, and she's wearing a black shawl in that pic. As Caltharians usually wear bright colours, and I wanted her to keep that, she needed some time in her life when she wore black. Unless, of course, that is not important, in which case I just let the black thing drop.

-True what you say about learning, usually you get taught or read it in books. As Simonne has never learned to read, she will have had many teachers.

-I'll rephrase that so that she still learns every day *grins*

One question I had: should I give a reason why she is still so strong at her age? I mean, most people in medieval times didn't even *get* to 65...  

[Gararion]

It could help.  Though with her being a herbalists, I think people could understand that she would normally keep herself in good health through use of herbal concoctions or something.

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Well, maybe she just was healthy and lucky and had no problems with malnoutrition in childhood etc. There were a lot of people who actually got quite old, but not many. Her travels keep her fit, so no problem either, it is just a question of execirse.  

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

[Gararion]

True, though travelling could also lead to picking up deseases that are not native to your own land, thus the body is not prepared for them.

[Simonne Miller]

There, I believe I have edited in most of Talia's comments. Are there any more problems?

Gar: maybe she was just lucky in not getting those diseases  

[Ordura]

It's very possible she got lucky in avoiding serious diseases. But, even so, luck only lasts so long, so its very unlikely that she is just naturally healthy. I think that her using herbs to keep herself healthy is more likely.

[Kalína Dalá'isyrás]

Not necessarily.

Some people just happen to end up with a strong immune system through their bloodline. It is usually inherited but is also attributed to how they cared for themselves when they were younger. As long as she took good care of herselves through the years, I do not see how it would not be possible to live to such an age easily. Considering that males tend to live shorter lives than that of women in a general sense.

Humans live to be at most 80, so say the average is 70? I don't see how this isn't plausible. Besides the minor aches and pains about getting old, she wouldn't be on her death bed and would be able to get about quite comfortably if done right.

www.p081.ezboard.com/fthesantharianrpgboard83.showMessage?topicID=259.topic" target="_blank">
The Santharian Dream ~ Role Playing Basics
Character Creation Guide ~ Restrictions and Age Calculator

[Simonne Miller]

Ok, so, is there anything more to be added? More comments?

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

Kalina, that's not quite right for the middle ages, where 40 was the average due to uncured illnesses etc. But it is possible nevetheless that she is this old without being ill.so that is no problem.
Simonne, you need to put up the exclamation mark if you think you are done.

Edit: A perfectly written CD! I copied the text out to add comments, but there were none necessary! I would wish that more are so easy to read and advice!

Just for your info: Baveras aids do often travel as well, but no need to change anything.
If you want to be a bit special.. use two canes - it is healthier

Hope you will get your second approval fast - and havefun playing her!

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

Edited by: Talia Sturmwind  at: 7/3/06 22:30

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

You are right - but most people don't have access to magic etc. However, for RPG-board purposes, it might be better, if they get a bit older.
(Well, not really , 80% are under 20, right? )

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

[Mina]

Well, this is an issue I've been meaning to bring up on the dev board, but kept forgetting to.  I think that, Caelereth does not provide the means for its people to progress beyond a late-medieval-ish level of technology, given the very long history of civilisation, the people should still have acquired considerable knowladge, and be quite advanced compared to the RL medieval people.  A longer lifespan, I think, is not too implausible, even if you do not take the existence of magic into consideration.    

Some convenient links
~Main Site•Development Board•RPG Board•Magic Forum~
~My Bell-ringing Thread~

[Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels]

just pushing up

***Astropic of the day***
"For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path   that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel looking, looking, breathlessly. ~Don Juan"

[Simonne Miller]

Ok, Testing

No problem! Thank you  

Edited by: Simonne Miller at: 7/10/06 19:55

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