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HC: Handyman | Ch. 87 - Recipes
🕑 Added 2024-09-06 13:01:12 +0000 UTCJack returned to the camp, noticing a few bees arriving just as he did. He chuckled at the thought that he and his bees were not that different. They were canvassing the area around the camp looking for nectar while he did the same with other ingredients. He'd become a busy bee.
Jack grabbed the ingredients he had just foraged and placed them near the pot. He separated them by type. There were mushrooms of different sizes, wild berries, fruits, algae, and herbs. He also dug up roots with his knife and filled pots with honey.
His upgraded [Forage] skill was already proving its worth. Many of the ingredients before him were new to him. Had he had this skill before, he could have kept his diner going non-stop.
The good thing about uncommon ingredients was its durability. They lasted much longer than common ones.
He picked one of the new ingredients he could harvest. It was a fungus that grew on the side of a tree trunk. It was thick and hard, with a dark brown color and a texture resembling hardened leather.
Bear Bread (Uncommon)
Description: A fungus that grows off the trunks of some trees.
Durability: 12
Even though he'd harvested it 20 minutes ago, its durability was still in the double digits. Now that he had several ingredients to work with, he considered what experiment he should run next. In his notes stood one lone recipe.
Looking over at the uncommon mushroom he foraged, he couldn't help but get curious about what would happen if he included it in his previous recipe instead of a common mushroom. Would it create a new mushroom buff? Or would it just strengthen the previous one?
Jack replaced one of the white mushrooms in his recipe with [Bear Bread], carefully stirring it into the simmering pot. The stew bubbled as the earthy, robust aroma of the [Bear Bread] filled the air. The usual notification popped up:
Congratulations! You’ve crafted [Survival Stew].
[Camping] has strengthened your meal.
+280XP bushcraft XP
Survival Stew (Common)
Crafting grade: B+
Ingredients: [Bear Bread], [Morel Mushroom], [Oyster Mushroom].
Earthy Buff: +20HP for thirty minutes.
Mushroom buff: Increased resistance against diseases and poisons for 1 hour.
Jack studied the new effect—a longer HP bar. It seemed the Bear Bread had lent its resilience to the dish. He made a quick note of the changes. It was an interesting discovery but not really a game-changer. Jack tried something riskier. He replaced one of the mushrooms with a handful of algae he’d gathered earlier.
He stirred the pot, waiting for the familiar pop-up. The broth darkened slightly, taking on the sheen of the algae. However, when the notification appeared, it was less thrilling than he’d hoped.
Congratulations! You’ve crafted [Survival Stew].
[Camping] has strengthened your meal.
+280XP bushcraft XP
Ingredients: [White Mushroom], [River Kelp], [Morel Mushroom].
Item effects: +1.5 stamina per second for five minutes. +1.5 HP per second for five minutes.
Jack sighed, disappointed. The dish had reverted to a standard [Survival Stew], offering no new buffs. It seemed the algae had diluted the mushroom synergy rather than enhancing it. Still, he took a note—this was part of the learning process. Algae, at least in this combination, wasn’t the right fit.
Jack leaned back, rubbing his chin. What would complement the earthy richness of mushrooms? His thoughts drifted to the roots he’d harvested. He usually avoided those as they ate away at the durability of his knife. However, they had deep, grounding flavors that might elevate the dish. Perhaps a root vegetable was the missing piece.
He grabbed a [Mudroot].
Mudroot (Uncommon)
Description: A root that requires loose, flooded soil to thrive. It packs a lot of nutrients.
Durability: 14
It was yet another ingredient that he’d spotted when harvesting clay but that he’d been unable to pick up. He tossed it into the pot along with his mushrooms. As he thought about a good third ingredient, his eyes landed on a sprig of green—a common herb he’d found earlier, [Peppermint].
He chopped the [Mudroot] and tore a few leaves from the [Peppermint], adding them to the simmering pot. The stew's fragrance became bolder, the spicy heat of the [Peppermint] mixing with the earthy depth of the [Mudroot].
Congratulations! You’ve crafted [Survival Stew].
[Camping] has strengthened your meal.
+240XP bushcraft XP
Survival Stew (Common)
Crafting grade: C-
Ingredients: [White Mushroom], [Mudroot], [Peppermint].
Item effects:
Fiery Fists: +10% damage
Jack grinned. He had just unlocked another new buff—this one granting damage. The combination of the root and the fiery herb had created a dish with a defensive edge. Jack rubbed his hands together happily. At first, he had found success by harmonizing different types of mushrooms; now, by blending earthy and spicy elements, he had unlocked yet another buff.
He made sure to note everything down. Even though he hated taking notes, it was far better than having to repeat every experiment.
But what about something sweeter? Honey was sitting right there, untouched, and survival stews didn’t always need to be savory. He thought about what ingredients he had that could match the sweetness of honey. His eyes settled on a couple of berries he had gathered earlier.
Jack threw a berry and a fruit into the pot. He added a dollop of honey, mixing it thoroughly with the other ingredients. As the concoction bubbled, a golden hue spread through the stew. When the pop-up arrived, Jack could tell he’d been successful.
Congratulations! You’ve crafted [Survival Stew].
[Camping] has strengthened your meal.
+250XP bushcraft XP
Survival Stew (Common)
Crafting grade: B-
Ingredients: [Honey], [Blue Berry], [Sunfruit].
Item effects:
Sweet Tooth: +2 intelligence for 30 minutes.
The sweetness of the honey and the tang of the berries created a balanced, rejuvenating dish. Jack felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He had not only crafted something delicious but something that actually improved stats!
He returned to the fire, opened his notepad, and updated his notes. There was so much potential here, so much to explore. This was only the beginning.
*
Jack knelt beside the fire, studying the ingredients laid out before him. He held a piece of algae in one hand and a pot of honey in the other, trying to decide what would make the perfect third addition to his next dish. He was having trouble finding an ingredient that could bring the dish together.
A bee returned with pollen.
+10 beekeeping XP.
A new bee was born.
+10 beekeeping XP.
You've reached beekeeping level 6!
After several hours with the bees in the wild, they had leveled up again. Unfortunately, no new skills were unlocked, but it was always satisfying to see his profession progressing.
Snap.
A twig broke behind him. Jack froze, his back stiffening as he glanced around the campfire, feeling the hairs on his neck rise. Was he being watched? He forced a chuckle, brushing the thought aside. "No big deal," he muttered under his breath. "Erwind’s fire will keep predators away... even an allosaurus."
Still, the eerie feeling lingered. Slowly, Jack stood, eyes scanning the shadows beyond the flickering firelight. The prehistoric jungle surrounding Red Lake was thick and wild, and he couldn’t shake the sensation that something was lurking just out of sight. The fact that the day was nearly spent didn’t help.
Another twig snapped.
His heart skipped a beat. Jack quickly pulled up his inventory, desperate for something—anything—to defend himself with. The best he could find was a torch.
“Great,” Jack muttered, pulling it out and gripping it like some medieval knight preparing to face a dragon with a stick. He cursed under his breath. Even if he hit something, his class prevented him from dealing any direct damage. "Why didn’t I craft [Clay Bombs] earlier?"
He glanced over his shoulder toward Erwind’s camp. A clay bomb that created a smokescreen would’ve been perfect right now, but he’d have to do without. He started retreating, moving slowly back toward his camp. He had no idea if the NPC could fend off an allosaurus if it came to that.
As he backed up, his eyes fell on his [Pot Hive]. What about his bees? Should he just leave them behind and run for it? He tried stepping away, but he couldn’t. Instead, he found himself stepping forward toward the bees. He couldn’t just abandon them. They were his responsibility.
Just as he was about to reach the hive, something lunged at him from the bushes. Jack yelped, swinging the torch wildly in defense. He stumbled back, ready to scream for backup. His torch flailed through the air as Horace burst out of the shadows, laughing and clutching his sides.
“I got you so bad! I’m so glad I filmed that. You should’ve seen your face!”
“H-Horace?!” Jack’s heart pounded as he glared at his friend. He lowered the torch, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed. “I thought I was about to get eaten by a freaking allosaurus, and it’s just you?!”
Horace grinned, his heavy war hammer slung across his shoulder and his shield dangling from his back. “Just me? What do you mean? Are you saying I’m less dangerous than an allosaurus?”
Jack groaned, putting the torch away. “Don’t do that again.”
Horace, still chuckling, plopped down next to the fire. “You should’ve seen how ready you were to fight off an allosaurus with a torch. Classic!”
Jack shook his head, his nerves still rattled. "I’ll get you back for this, I swear."
Before Jack could even plan his revenge, Horace yelped. “Ouch! Why is there a bee here?”
Jack ran over, deciding Horace was easier to move than his pot hive. “Those are my bees. Go stand over there, far away from the hive.”
Instead, Horace curiously approached the hive. “Whoa! Is that your hive?”
“Yeah,” Jack said, a bit of pride creeping into his voice.
“Man, that’s so cool. Ouch! I get it. I’m walking away,” Horace muttered, retreating.
Jack couldn’t help but feel a little smug. His bees had gotten revenge for him.
With a wide grin, Horace surveyed the camp. "What are you up to anyway?"
“Trying new recipes,” Jack replied, still recovering from the prank. “But I can’t focus with you scaring the life out of me.”
Horace’s eyes lit up. He tossed his gear down and snatched a jar of honey, dipping his hand right in. “So, where are these dishes you’re trying?”
Jack rolled his eyes but couldn’t help grinning. “Fine, I’ll make you my best.”
He quickly gathered [Bear Bread], [Mudroot], and honey. The stew began to bubble as the three ingredients blended, creating a rich, golden broth with an earthy sweetness. The smell was intoxicating.
Congratulations! You’ve crafted [Survival Stew].
[Camping] has strengthened your meal.
+250 bushcraft XP
Survival Stew (Common)
Crafting grade: C+
Ingredients: [Bear Bread], [Mudroot], [Honey].
Aftertaste: Increases the duration of current meal buffs for 30 minutes.
Horace dug into the meal, practically inhaling it. “Mmm! This is amazing, Jackie! You’ve outdone yourself.”
Jack grabbed his own portion, grinning. They ate in silence for a while, savoring the hearty meal. Jack enjoyed the satisfaction of creating something new, and Horace, no doubt, enjoyed eating it.
“Did you come here just to eat?” Jack asked, wiping his mouth. “What about the quest?”
Horace, his mouth still full, nodded. “Oh, right! We’ve got a job from the Trapper’s Association. They want me to pick up a... tricky target.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “What’s the target?”
“A baby allosaurus.”
Jack blinked, his face turning pale. “Say what now?!”
“Yup. They build their nests near the lake. We just have to nab one of the little pests and make a run for it. Your ocarina is gonna be crucial. As we run, I’ll need you to top me off with stamina.”
Jack rubbed his forehead, already feeling the weight of the impending disaster. “Wasn’t there an easier quest?”
Horace shook his head with a grin. “Easier? Nah, man. I picked this one because it sounded fun.”
Jack’s jaw dropped. “Fun?! That’s your reasoning?!”
Horace slapped him on the back. “C’mon, imagine the rewards! Two blokes like us wrangling a baby allosaurus. Amari will turn green with envy, and Marie? She’ll lose her mind when she hears about it.”
Jack scowled. The adventure was borderline insane.
“And you’re confident we can pull it off on our own?”
Horace snorted, offended. “Of course!”
Jack tapped his foot. On the one hand, this quest could easily turn into a disaster. On the other, the rewards for completing it would be insane.
“Fine. Share the quest. Let’s go catch a baby allosaurus.”
Horace pumped his fist. “That’s the spirit! Let’s make some history!”
Comments
Cássio Ferreira
Haha. Let's see what happens! :D
Julia Pennoyer
I bet the bees will be a great defense one day for Jack. Once they've leveled up a bit. And then every beekeeper will want to carry a Pot Hive!
