Werewright Lessons, Day 1:

I’m certain I’ll have all of this memorized within a month but good to have it written down in case.

Knife/Scalpel:

The core implement of werewrightwork. Used for breaking/prying open the skin before working on what’s underneath. Does not work correctly unless you convince yourself that flesh is wood (?).

• Knives should always be as sharp as possible to reduce scarring
• Scalpel or whalebone knives better suited for initial incisions. Metal knives better for cutting flesh.
• Always label extracted flesh so it can be replaced if need be. Assume the possibility of failure and work around it.

Voltaic:

A fantastic metal device that holds lightning in a bottle and can send it through copper wires. Ideal for operations that take more than one hour or require extensive work on multiple parts of the body - helps to preserve muscles and tissue in an ‘active’ state. Also allows body parts to ‘communicate’ with each other across distances - a patient’s brain can make their fingers move with both of them in vats on opposite sides of the room. Or so Mr. Freestone says.

• Always ensure that the voltaic has been turned off when not in use
• Never, ever touch copper wiring with bare hands, even if device is turned off
• Consult anatomy chart when wiring body parts to the voltaic. Priority wires need to be attached based on nerve tissue

Bellows/Pump:

Another device consisting of animal bladders, pistons and tubes. Used to force air into lungs and oxygen into blood. Often used in conjunction with the voltaic to keep patients alive indefinitely no matter what is being done to their bodies. Device has to be manually pumped for six minutes before use; it lasts for three hours.

• Air bladders are fragile. Keep away from knives.

Horse Materials:

A collection of boiled, melted, preserved or otherwise processed animal parts. Not always horse parts. Used for temporary repairs, intended to hold until the body can heal on its own. Boiled tendon can be used to repair human muscles if cut in the wrong place by accident. Collagen glue can be used to glue bones back into place. Etc.

• All horse materials are edible, but all horse materials taste awful. Do not believe your nose.
• Try to match the material you’re using with the damaged tissue as much as possible to ensure even regeneration
• Always the second resort. The first resort is to try and do no damage at all.

The Rack:

A wooden board covered in concentric circles and mathematical diagrams. Somehow connected to how Anak got so big. Need to get more details from Mr. Freestone next time.

‘Bedside Manner’:

A lot of fuss about making sure we don’t scare the patient. If someone told me they could cure all my ails I think being scared would be the least of my concerns, but I know he won’t let me learn how to cut unless I can master this.

• Don’t volunteer details unless directly asked.
• Come up with nicer explanations when possible

General Notes:

For all my frustration with him, Mr. Freestone is a patient teacher. Anyone else who’s tried to teach me would have abandoned me after the second fire. He’s more than happy to stop a lecture about the intricacies of his technique to let me taste the awful glue. He lets me ask questions. Still, the pace is suffocating; I fear it’ll be deep winter before I learn how to cut a body.

I’m almost starting to trust him.