#coniine

"Socrates was not alone in dying from the hemlock cup, which was a regular method of executing those condemned to death by the law in the ancient world. A certain humanity in the use of this method of execution can be seen in the practice of mixing opium with the draught of hemlock to reduce the malefactor's agony. It appears from Plato's description of Socrates's death -- which is as exact as that of a modern physiologist -- that opium had also been added to the philosopher's cup of hemlock, for the symptoms differ slightly from those of pure hemlock poisoning."

I haven’t been the best at keeping a consistent story with Bica and I keep changing so I’ve decided with much though about what I wanted her as a character to be like to have gone through.

Bica is a Theros born satyr, raised and mentored by Coniine till she was 13. Bica was “adopted” by Coniine when she was merely a few days old once she recognized the potential for a spark in her. The relationship is more closely student/teacher, as Coniine was teaching her to foster Bica’s natural talent for plant based magic as well as Bica’s destructive force. Bica learned about gorgon medicine making, and how their blood contains both poisons and cures depending on how it is treated and to utilize to the best potential.

At 13, she left Coniine to join up with a group of Nylea worshipers, believing that they would help her magical abilities grow. At 15, a satyr offered her a better chance to expand on her knowledge as well as encourage her destructive nature. She was roped into a group of raiders, who would raid and destroy farm lands in the name on Nylea. About a year into this though, it came into light that the farms they were raiding were displaced farmers, whose former lands were poisoned. Bica offered to heal the lands in exchange that the settlers would leave, but the satyr who convinced her to joined ended up leading a devastating attack the night before. 

Bica ended up fighting along side the humans, confused by the attack before it came into light that these raids weren’t designed for Nylea but to cause chaos for another source. Bica ended up tapping into a leyline, causing such a destructive fire that she could no longer control it. Her spark came because as she tried to break away from the intense source of energy, it snapped like a rubber band and she ended up walking.

So why does she make coffee? It acts kinda like a meditative thing. She is trying to have a bit more mastery of having to utilize. If she doesn’t cooking the leaves or beans long enough, they are left too raw and can be poisonous, and if she burns them too much then all the flavor and nutrients are burnt out. She views her magic like this, if she scorches the land, then they’ll be nothing left to grow, but if shes doesn’t burn it enough, then they’ll be nothing new to grow. This is why she is a bit hesitant and still learning.