Collecting herbs in Combat - what skill?

[doctheweasel]

So I'm planning on having my party collect a special flower that can be made into a tea to heal an NPC.

Unfortunately, this flower only grows in Fangorn and is guarded by an angry Hourn that tends to them as his own surrogate children. It's likely they will have to collect the flowers mid-fight.

The question I have is: what skill would handle that? They need to be careful because being too rough could crush and ruin anything they gather.

I'm thinking Craft. It seems unlikely at first blush, but it is the only skill that deals with fine tool-work.

Healing and Hunting are both close, but don't feel quite right.

Any thoughts?

[Turin]

To pick them during a combat I would say athletics or battle.

[Stormcrow]

Athletics.

[doctheweasel]

Yeah, I haven't really considered Athletics because it doesn't say "delicate knife-work" to me.

[Otaku-sempai]

Yeah, I haven't really considered Athletics because it doesn't say "delicate knife-work" to me.

If it is going to be that difficult then part of the party should probably try to distract the Huorn while one or two gather the flowers unnoticed.

[doctheweasel]

Yeah, I haven't really considered Athletics because it doesn't say "delicate knife-work" to me.

If it is going to be that difficult then part of the party should probably try to distract the Huorn while one or two gather the flowers unnoticed.

Oh, I have that covered.

[Falenthal]

My view on this:
The collector has to be unengaged, for starters. That means, the rest of the group has to be engaged with the Huorn. If not enough heroes, I'd allow the use of Intimidate Foe as a way of luring the Huorn to attack the intimidating hero, leaving the others alone for as many rounds as the number of Hate points inflicted (the Huorn wouldn't lose Hate points, only be lured in its next attack(s)).

Collecting the herb should be an extended roll: looking for the herb first, and delicately taking it without damaging the healing parts. Maybe a Search test that requires 3 successes, and afterwards a Craft or Healing test that requires 2 successes. Invoking Traits like Herbcraft (or even Burglary for soft fingers!) grants one automatic success for the round. While different heroes can do the Search test, only one can do the Craft/Healing test.

And then, all have to Escape Combat to save their lives!!