LONELY TRAVELER

Growing on rocks and hard woods, this moss is bluish-green in colour and spreads slowly. Often found in cool temperate climates, by freshwater rivers, streams and lakes, also some other banks for a limited time if freshwater is infrequent. Short and often overtaken by stronger mosses, it can easily be overlooked by the lesser experienced.

During the hottest part of the Dodecate it spreads fastest and its effectiveness drops to only a tenth of its potential, but as Fall and Wake arrive it mellows and turns greener. It is now that it reaches its maximum potential.

If carefully removed and placed topside down upon the forehead or the back of the neck of the sufferer of a fever, it will reduce the heads temperature and if used fresh and during the peak times it will accomplish this 70% of the time, within 13-32 Passages, depending upon its freshness, the intensity of the fever and the general health and endurance of the sufferer.

To dry, as this is the only way to store it,  lay it on paper, linen or cheesecloth and over a very gentle fire for up to 2½ Passages until dried thoroughly. Once dried it should be stored airtight or at least dry, any moisture getting to it will revive it and cause it to rot quickly, but long before this it will have lost its qualities for which it was collected. Dried properly it will keep this way for up to 51 days after which it will be too old for any purpose except as padding. If not dried properly or at all, in its fresh state it will only be useful for 12-24 Passages.

Dried Lonely Traveler is of no use other than as padding material, it must be re-soaked in fresh, cold water for up to 5 Passages 2 Turns before using on a sufferer of fever. However it should be noted that dried samples are only 55% affective. Poor collection, drying, preparing or application can all diminish its effectiveness by -1D20% for each factor. Out of date doses reduce their success chance by 50% immediately and each day thereafter.

Alternatively, to gain 10% effectiveness, the sufferer's head should be placed upon still-growing and undisturbed Lonely Traveler, so that it sits at the base of the neck and acts as a pillow. Not only is this more effective but can result in a faster response time, up to 5 Passages sooner.