Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

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Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Wed May 27, 2009 8:59 pm

Surviving the Elements
*******A Survival Guide*******


by

Lord Krom of Stromgald





Living in Nanthalion is easy. Sure, the occasional fight breaks out or the harsh encounter with a person of the opposite sex, but it seriously is easy. There are healers when you get sick and injured, there are guardians to protect you from wrongdoers, there are dedicated farmers to ensure you are well-fed, there are dwarves that construct your home so you stay dry and comfortable, there are fairies delivering messages to you as a mode of communication, there are shops open for all of your wants and desires. Life is easy and you do not even realize it because it has become a staple to your existence.

But what if there were no healers, guards, farmers, dwarves, or anyone to rely on? Surviving the elements is not an easy task now is it. You will go hungry, cold, frightened, become ill with disease, unable to do the basic of things because you are uneducated. If you think survival is easy, you will be the first to die when the Empire crumbles and everything we know is no longer in place. If this concerns you, read on. You have at least common sense and the will to survive when everything around your crumbles. If you think I am telling a tall-tale about the end of our life’s existence in the plush Empire we current reside in, then I bid you a pleasant afterlife. I for one, will survive and those that read my life’s work also will survive along beside me.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Wed May 27, 2009 9:04 pm

Chapter 1: Plan for the End


It is coming and you should prepare yourself for it. The time will come when some catastrophic events wipes out the civilized villages, towns and even Empires. Whether it is some wild fire, an elemental catastrophe, a severe weather act of the Spirits, the wrath of the Gods, a rival Empire conquest or some other unforeseen event… you will need to be prepared to survive.

The first step is of course to plan for survival before put into the situation of needing to survive. You should ask yourself this, “Have I considered what it would be like if I was forced to live in the wilderness and alone?” If you haven’t, then it is time to ask that question now.

Krom’s Tip: Do not consider magic as your saving grace in a survival situation. Magic has failed once, it will fail again.


One important thing to start doing right now is to become proficient with map use. There are cartographers as we speak charting new land and passages. Spending years of painstaking mathematics, calculations, and precision tools to use to give us detailed representations of terrains. You should by now be seeking out to getting your hands on quality maps. These maps will be your guide and an invaluable tool for your survival. With a good map, your chances of survival will at a minimum triple assuming you know how to use it. When I say ‘know how to use it’, I refer to the ability to read topography (elevation), terrain, locate the legend and know what pieces on the map mean, understand the scale of the map for distance, to use a two-dimensional plane into one that is three-dimensional, be able to locate shelter and waterways, amongst other things.

Once you have mastered and acquired the map, you are on your way, at least towards surviving. There are many other factors that you should consider and those would include; your current situation, flora and fauna availability, water sources, seasonal patterns, temperature variations for the region you are stranded, and natives both friendly and hostile. A lot hinges on the type of survival situation you find yourself in.

Given that you do not plan on leaving the Empire’s immediate area, you should consider the neighboring villages to the outskirts and Valencia. Right now, you should be studying what is around you in the environment. The flora and fauna availability and be able to distinguish what is edible for consumption and what is toxic or fatal if indigested. Landmarks like the river Thalis and other tributaries and waterways to receive potable water for consumption. Hostile encampments like the goblin marshes to the south or the barbarian hordes to the north. Studying the terrain now will guarantee you a higher percentage of survival when placed in an emergency situation.

Physically prepare yourself. It takes time to grow stronger and learn your body. You must learn your strength and limitations on what you can and cannot do. Attempting to do something that you know you are not capable of doing will result in injury or worse, death. Training your body now will increase not only your muscular strength, but increase your stamina as well.

Krom’s Tip: Do not rely on what you think you know to survive. Get the facts from reliable, updated sources. Printed material is usually old and handed down from generation to generation. It is generally not up to date information that you should risk your life on.


Mentally prepare yourself. The best way to accomplish this is to be prepared for the end of civilization. By studying now, you will be informed and knowledgeable. The old cliché “Knowledge is Power” comes to mind, but it will be worth its weight in mithril. Gaining knowledge through printed resources, rangers, farmers, cartographers, woodsmen, druids and all other walks of life will make your chance of survival stronger. By being mentally prepared, you will be ready to face the dangers with a plan already established instead of making one up on the fly.

Finally, your equipment should be ready and already set aside for quick retrieval. Never plan on best case scenarios, but instead, plan for the worst. What do you need to survive in your region. Again, this is all dependent on the area in which you are destined to be stranded and forced to survive. The best bet is to be in contact with locals and using all the information you have previously gathered to determine what is, and is not essential for the environment you are in.

Krom’s Tip: Clothing is your life. Proper clothing to ensure you are warm, or cool, for the environment will ensure your survival. Clothing crafted from fur and wool for arctic conditions to linen and lightweight material for desert conditions. Clothing is the basic of shelters.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Wed May 27, 2009 9:08 pm

Chapter 2: Survival Packs & Kits

When the time comes for evacuation or civilization around you has collapsed, what do you have? Most of the time, you have clothes on your back. Maybe a dagger in your boot and a piece of jerky jammed in your pocket for snacking that you picked up at the Drunken Wolf. Well, that won’t keep you alive for long. You have to have your pack ready to pick up and go when the time comes. This chapter is designed to help you consider what is and is not a wise choice. But ultimately, it all comes to your personal preferences as well as the weather, region, season, and activities that you will be enduring. Such activities include being stationary or hiking, mountaineering or wandering the plains, swimming or running for your life. The type of survival situation will push the type of survival pack or kit you have.

Krom’s Tip: Do not rely on anyone else’s equipment for your survival. You never know who will fall off the cliff or be turned to ash by a psychotic pyromancer.


Generally speaking, there are two kinds of survival kits that you will need. There is the personal kit and the complete kit. A personal kit isn’t exactly a kit as it is what is on your body. This includes clothes, items in your pocket, items worn or fastened upon your person. A complete kit is just that, everything that can be found in a pack for carrying yourself that are essentialist items.

Personal Kit

As described previously, a personal kit is something that is on your person. Not something carried in a pack or other means, but mandatory things that should be jammed into your boot, in your pocket, around your neck, something that is not an external carrying device. The reason is simple, items are misplaced more than you can imagine or dropped along the way. The most crucial items should be on your person because well, your body will never be misplaced unless you are dead. Let’s hope that is not the case. If it is, you can stop reading here.

The following are items to consider:

- Bandana or handkerchief
- Candles with flint and steel
- Metal cup
- Knife or small tools
- Thin rope
- Map
- Medicinal herb for minor aches and pain
- Jerky or dried food
- belt

Complete Kit

Once the barest of essentials are secured upon your body and time permits for more gear to be grabbed, this is where the complete kit would come in handy. Having it put together ahead of time will provide you with a plan and giving you the confidence needed to survive.

When building your complete kit, keep in mind the bulkier and larger you make it, the more of a hindrance it will become and the more energy it will take to carry it through the environment. Carrying a thirty pound pack of gear through the desert is not practical and will likely get you killed in comparison to a five pound pack. Keep this in mind when designing your complete kit. Keep it small, but do not skimp either. It is a delicate balance between wants and needs for the survival situation that lies ahead.

Krom’s Tip: Don’t take more than you need. Excess on goods may seem good at the time, but will become bothersome to the future. Everything extra you carry is all the more energy you will be expending.


Personally speaking, my survival gear is generally jammed into a metal canister that I fabricated with a lid allowing it to be water tight. I chose my kit to fit inside of this for several reasons. First, it is water tight and I know the material inside will stay dry. Second, the canister doubles as a cooking instrument or storage container for water. Thirdly, it will fit proper in my pack allowing for other nonessential items.

Here is the list of things to consider in your complete survival kit:

- bandana – wear on head to keep the sun off, medical bandage, strainer to help purify water
- belt knife- also bring a sharpening stone to keep this tool sharp at all times
- candle – helps to get fires going and use as a light source
- cup – make sure it is metal as it can be used to boil water and cooking as well as traps
- dried food – can be used not only for yourself, but as bait for a trap or snare
- fire starting devices – bow and spindle, flint and steel, etc. are key elements if magic is unavailable.
- Fire starting tinder- good dry materials to help catch a spark and make light of fire making
- First aid materials – herbs, bandages, salve. Just the basics for injuries you will encounter.
- Fishing equipment – this includes sharp hooks, thin line and sinker material
- Map – knowing your terrain and location will be invaluable resource
- Mehril – you never know, you might find a traveling merchant along the way to barter goods
- Needle and thread – injuries or repairing of equipment.
- Rope – multiple purposes from shelter to climbing to securing equipment
- Snare wire – great at catching potential meals

Krom’s Tip: Be sure you have items for the following things… 1)starting fire 2) boiling water 3)creating shelter 4) hunting or fishing 5)splitting wood


Customization to your kit

Depending on the place you are surviving will determine the kit you need. Some things to consider and the regions are:

Arid Regions, Desert and Canyons – Bring material that does not ‘breath’ well such as those vinyl corsets them catgirls wear. They can be used as a solar still to collect water.

Woodland Forest – Consider bringing herbal blends or netting like that of stockings are made from to put a barrier between yourself and mosquitos. They have been known to carry disease and make the sanest of individual go batty.

Snow and Arctic Region – extra clothing and animal furs
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Wed May 27, 2009 9:14 pm

Chapter 3:Fear the Mind

You are now in a survival situation. You either get through it or you don’t. Those are your only two options now. Given that you made an attempt at your survival packs, there is a hint of wanting to survive and you made it to this third chapter. But is it enough? Noone will know if they can hack it until they are in a survival situation. You may have all the knowledge you need as well as the equipment, but it does not mean you have the ability to control your mind and your fears.

It is ultimately your mindset that will determine your fate. You must have the mindset of ‘I –will– survive’, ‘I –will– get out of this situation.’ ‘I –will– live.’ If you have that mindset and push through the pain, discomfort, fear, and depressive situation, you will pull out victorious. If you succumb to either of those things, you can hang up your boots and say farewell.

Krom’s tip: Do not try to control what is not in your realm of control. You will fail and that will drastically hinder your outlook on survival.


Fear is a stressor that you really should try to avoid. Though not stress in itself. There is a delicate balance of stress from being constructive to destructive. Stress can lead you through hard times by fueling your body and enabling you to trudge on when your body says no more. It can make you prioritize your goals and objectives to ensure they are accomplished in a proper order and keep your focused. However, on the flip side, it is destructive in that stress if left unchecked can cause fear, chaos, hopelessness, overwhelming feeling and ultimate depression rendering you unable to survive.

By controlling your stress levels, you will control your fear and that will control your outcome. Controlling the outcome is ideally what survival is all about. With a controlled future and goal in mind, you have a drive towards something that will keep you alive and well. Being focused and goal oriented will keep your mind active and the hopelessness of despair will not enter the picture.

However, sometimes the fear overcomes you. The key now is to be constructive with your fear. Assess the situation and recognize the fear. What are you fearful of? Answer that question and strive to resolve that fear. Then continue to build off the fear and know that all the fears have an answer and solution. You will in this way, talk yourself out of the hole of despair and once more be on a positive path towards survival and a positive outlook on the situation.

You must try to stay focused on the tasks at hand. Systematically make a list in your mind to keep it active on something productive and goal oriented. It will help you focused, alert and tentative to your needs on survival. Prioritize your situation systematically.

1) What are the emergencies? Deal with them. Injuries, fears, weather, shelter, food. Deal with these immediately otherwise you are not surviving, you are enduring and buying time only.

2) What’s the plan? Is it long term survival or short term. Is there a goal to a destination or are you on your own for days, weeks, seasons, or years. Establish the plan and type of survival you are in.

One mindset though to avoid is that of "Nature vs Man" or that of "Being One with Nature". Avoid these stereotypical mindsets as both will prove to hurt you. It has come with my experience and decades of survival in harsh environments of many kinds to tell you that Nature does not care about you. Of course, there will be sylvan or hierophants or nature's protectors begging to differ, but those tree-huggers are one sided while I am not.

Nature does not care if you live or die. You are allowed to be one or the other. Nature does not care if you are 'one with it' or 'battling against it'. Nature is, as it always will be, a neutral ground. You exist with nature and nature will exist with you. One does not rule over the other ever. The theory of being one with nature will lead you to be complacent in that you will lose drive and motivation to fight for your survival. You will exist and let things be as 'nature' intended it... as if nature really cares about you.

On the other side, battling against nature with the Nature vs Man mentality will cause you great harm. You cannot try to change the direction of the river's current because you are mighty and said so. Battling against the elements will surely results in wasteful spending of energy as well as time that should have been used in survival techniques.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu May 28, 2009 2:06 am

Chapter 4:Signaling

The amusement in the planning and preparedness in survival situations is that you ultimately want to be rescued or find safety. All the careful planning and work spent in survival will hopefully get you back to a comfortable and easier standard of living. This raises the question of when to start worrying about signaling. In my experience, immediately.

Rescue can come quite literally at any time. Should you be in a survival situation in which people are looking for you, consider torians, chirots or aeromancers to the sky. They will be the quickest and most able bodies to search large areas in the shortest amount of time. Being prepared with a signal should they be flying overhead could be your own chance to your survival. You will need to gain their attention as quick as possible. This can be done by numerous ways.
Krom's tip: Never underestimate the simplest of signals including pieces of clothing or strips of cloth tied to a tree.


Some of which include, but not limited to:

- magical sparks of light
- signal fires
- ground signals
- reflective metals or mirrors
- tree torch
- clothing or rag signal


magical sparks of light - These include those who are capable of spells or magically imbued items that holds spells commonly known as 'glimmering light' or 'dawn's early light' or other magical spells that show off brilliant patches of light. Some may even cast fireballs or flares even to signal their rescuers of their location.

signal fires- These are usually built in wide open areas where a fire can clearly be made visible. The idea is to make a quick fire to be spotted. During the day, the smoke is what will be visible. Make as much smoke as possible. By tossing on wet wood, brush, moss, live leaves, and punky wood, it will create very thick white smoke that should easily be spotted.

Krom's tip: Best way to make a signal fire is by making a tripod of three trees. Use rope to weave it across the base of the tripod to make a platform. Fill the platform with dry, quick burning materials such as birch bark. On top, place smoke producing materials like damp moss, punky wood, and made-made materials to create smoke. Ignite when rescuers are thought to be near.


ground signals- Laying out patterns on the ground as signals to the sky may be what gains your rescuer's attention. Find an open area and think BIG. Everything from the sky looks smaller down on the ground. Whatever you make on the ground as a signal, do it very large so it is better visible in the air.

reflective metals or mirrors- During the day, these can be used to send reflective beams of sunlight towards the rescuer. By glancing the mirror and sending flashes of reflected sunlight, the idea is to catch their attention to alert them to your location.

tree torch- Perhaps a little over the top and very risky, but still when in a survival situation, attention is essential for your survival. Start by placing dry wood at the base of the tree and lower branches. When lit, the fire naturally goes upwards which should start to catch the entire tree on fire. Try to use lone trees so a forest fire does not occur. Be advised, it may get the tree-hugger folk very pissed but you will be found.

clothing and rag signals- Laying brightly colored fabric about will help draw attention. Orange is thought to be highly visible in most situations to gain attention of rescuers.

Naturally, there are more than listed. But the thought of trying to include everything would not only be pointless, but redundant. You should do whatever it takes to get rescued from your situation. If it means you burn a whole island to the ground in order to create a signal fire, you do as needed. The tree-hugging folk will just have to deal with it.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu May 28, 2009 8:42 pm

Chapter 5:Hydro

Leading the Imperial Army of our Emperor Stormbringer, I can assure you that there is no greater concern than that of locating drinkable water. Whether it is one person or an army, if there is no water available, there is no chance of survival. You can live roughly 3 days without water to an extreme case of a week. I would assume die by the torturous hands of mine enemy than to die of dehydration.

To die by dehydration is said to be excruciating pain. I have personally experienced some levels of dehydration, in which most people have experienced to some degree of water loss. The average human body requires 2.5 quarts of water a day. That is what is required by an individual in comfortable situations, not exerting their bodies in rigorous activity, and a moderate temperature in which heat does not play a factor in perspiration. Given other factors, a gallon of water still may not be enough water to maintain proper hydration.

How do you know you are not getting enough water? The color of urine can be a quick and easy test. The darker the color and smell of it can tell if you are properly hydrated. If it is clear and frequent urination, you are hydrated given there are no medical problems. The darker the urine, the more dehydrated you are generally speaking. Even more so, if you are not urinating at all, you are in a dangerously close to extreme dehydration.

Krom’s Tip: When in battle or laying siege upon an enemy, attempt to cut off or sabotage the enemy’s water supply. It is the quickest way to overcome an opponent in war.


Another test is to pinch the back of your hand. If color does not return to it immediately or takes awhile to reform flat, you are suffering from dehydration. Also pay close attention to the amount of perspiration and color of the skin. The redder the skin, the chances are there is a decrease in water causing the skin to flush.

Headaches are also often causes of lack of proper water intake. More severe headaches can occur as the condition of dehydration continues which can be debilitating towards your survival chances. Obviously, you are trying to survive and given the fact that you cannot live without replenishing water for any length of time, it is vital you establish a source of potable, or drinkable, water.

Failure to find water, headaches will develop. They will become more severe and your mind as well as decision making abilities will be negatively affected. Your vision will start to blur, your heart beats more rapidly, and your body will literally start to shut down from lack of energy. You have three days until you are in a critical state. This does not even account for the discomfort felt by thirst or the nausea that develops. As mentioned before, people can survive for up to a week in extreme cases, but after three days, you will wish you were dead.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu May 28, 2009 8:44 pm

Chapter 6:Locating Water: Primary Sources

In the last chapter, water is clearly a vital source in your survival. We are incapable of producing water to sustain our life and must resort to external resources. Given our environment in this Empire, we are blessed with multiple resources for locating water. The threat of dehydration is not as drastic in comparison to those of the western region where deserts and arid regions are found. In this chapter, I will share with you ways to locate primary water in various environments.

A primary source of water is those where water can be found in abundance. These include streams, rivers, swamps, creeks, lakes, bogs, marshes, et cetera. In the northern regions of mountains and colder climate, this also would include snow, ice, and slush.

Now how do we locate these sources? Best bet, open your map and start to read it. Often times, water will be marked upon the map by a cartographer. Given your location and quality of the map, you will need to know what kind of water sources there are even available.

Krom’s Tip: When it doubt, boil it out. Pristine water may be more dangerous than stagnant and muddy water.


Let us assume you do not have a map. You did not take me seriously in the first chapters on the importance of learning to use a map or even having purchased one. If this is the case, you should stop and just assess the environment in which you find yourself in.

Vegetation- Look for changes in vegetation, flora, or plant-life. When scanning the horizon, seek out areas that appear to be greener, thicker in vegetation, and more abundant. Chances are, the growth is occurring because of a nearby water source.

Paths- Following animal trails will often prove to be beneficial. Animals need water just as much as us. They know the region better than you, so use them as your potential guide. Following the paths may just be the ticket you need to find a watering hole. Be sure to move a distance from the area should you find the water. Animals do not have designated areas for relieving themselves. Chances are, where the path ends, you will find scat that you really do not want to be ingesting.

Krom’s Tip: Animal paths in the wilderness are a lot like river and stream systems. Where they converge and it comes to a V, consider that an arrow. Many times, you will find water the direction it points.


Birds- Low flying birds that tend to eat grains and seeds require a lot of water. Watch to the sky and see where they tend to go and congregate. Chances are, this may be your ticket to locating a water source.

Insects- If you are familiar with insects, use them to your advantage. Many kinds of insects, including that of bees, never venture too far from water sources. If you locate bees, know that in a mile radius, there is a decent water source available.

Downhill- What happens when you spill your mead water on the table? It runs off the table and onto the floor. Water tends to go downhill. Look for places of higher elevation and then go down. If there is a valley or depression in the landscape, water may be pooled up.

Look up- Another trick is to use the sky as your tool. In the morning, low hanging clouds may appear. Use that as a signal as there seems to be a correlation of clouds and water beneath it. Also, the sky often will bluer or more pronounced in color over water sources. These small signals may be something to look into if you find it.

Snow, Ice, and Slush- This is an easy source to locate. The cold, white stuff is actually a form of water. When water gets really cold, it changes form for some reason. Either way, it will change back when warmed up again. Use it to your advantage, but be careful when doing so. Drinking or eating cold water makes you feel colder.

Krom’s Tip: Do not eat snow that is not white.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu May 28, 2009 8:45 pm

Chapter 7:Locating Water: Secondary Sources

Sometimes, water is not so easy to come by. You find youself in an area where water is not readily available and pools are not just waiting to be gobbled up. Vegetation may be lacking, animals are nonexistent, but yet you somehow managed to find yourself in this precarious predicament. Do you give up and wait to die or do you trudge on. If you are like me and value your life, you trudge on and pay close attention to the details in this chapter. It may save your life in locating secondary water sources. Afterall, every bit of precious water counts.

A secondary source is any amount of water that is either collected, harvested, or found that is not a primary source. Sometimes, this is the last ditch effort in an attempt to get the water you need to survive. I can only hope you are not this desperate, but if you are, pay close attention.

Rain- This is good, relatively clean water. It is a blessing from the Gods or in my religion, the tears of the Great Mother herself. Collect this, harvest it, and make good use of this blessing as a source of free water. Try and build some sort of way to catch the rain and have it pooling into a suitable container for later use.

Dew- Heavy dew in the morning can be collected by wrapping your legs in spare cloth or fabric. By walking through tall grasses, the water will collect to the cloth. Once it is saturated in the dew, ring the fabric out into a container and you have drinking water.

Krom’s Tip: Be careful what you walk through. Poisonous plants and flora may contaminate your water rendering it toxic for consumption.


Vegetation Still- This method of water extraction requires a tarp or waterproof fabric, green leafy vegetation, and sunny location. To do this, wrap the fabric or tarp over the green leafy vegetation and trap air in it as well. Seal it as best as you can by securing rope to make it air tight. The sun will heat the contents and cause water to form inside the bag. The water can be trapped and utilized. Be patient, as this will take hours to develop any moisture enough worth drinking.

Solar Still- This method of water extraction requires the same waterproof fabric or tarp, a rock and a collection container. To do this, dig a hole into the earth and lay the collection container in the middle of the hole. You can use contaminated water, urine, vegetation or anything that has moisture content. Cover the hole and seal as tight as you can keeping it taut. Drop a rock over the top of the tarp to create a small point so water that collects on the tarp, will come to drip down into the container.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu May 28, 2009 8:46 pm

Chapter 8:Pyro

Fire… destructive, deadly and dangerous. It eats, it consumes, it breaths, it destroys. It is a living thing in the terms of needs. It requires air to breath. It requires material or food to feed off of. And it destroys everything in its path. Ever consider why pyromancers are ‘hot-headed’ or ‘egotistical’? It is the nature of the element in which they are aligned. It consumes their being, not so much intentionally, at least most of the time.

What advantages does fire have for you? Obvious ones include warmth and light. But is also has other roles to play. These include boiling water and cooking, safety and security from predacious animals, a readily available weapon, signaling and communication, and also just a stress reliever in that it keeps the ‘bumps in the night’ away.

Of course, some would argue fire lets enemies know where you are. Some would say it is too much work for too little reward as well as it utilizes too much of the precious resources you have available. No one is right; No one is wrong. It depends on the environment, situation, nature of the survival, weather conditions, and other factors. Some situations it is vital, other times it is not. Consider your needs and make a decision which is right for you.

Should you find you do not need a fire, this chapter really is pointless to your survival needs. However, if it is vital for you success in survival, I would consider the following very seriously. Place great consideration into WHERE YOU BUILD A FIRE.

Krom’s Tip: Treat fire like a child. It needs to be tended, cared for, cherished and respected. Failure to do this will result in catastrophic consequences!


Location
A fire’s location is crucial. Not only is it important to make sure that it does not catch other areas on fire, but the ground quality, the physical location, the resources around you, and type of fire must all be kept in consideration for your location.

1 )Debris- The most obvious reason for location is the fact that if placed too close to other flammable things, they have a chance of catching on fire. A fire can quickly spread and grow out of hand at an incredible rate if not careful. Look around the area and make sure it is free of debris or material that could prove to be problematic.

2) Look overhead - Overhanging trees can and will catch fire. Make sure that the area is clear. Allow at least 4 feet of room from the flame’s peak to the nearest flammable object.

3) Be careful with rock - Rock holds heat really well. If in a cave, what heat does to it. If there is any moisture inside of a rock, it may boil. Pressure inside of a rock will increase and a rock has a chance of exploding into shard shrapnel. Keep this in mind if you are in a cave or against a rock enclosure. If the rock gets too warm, you may be taking a deadly risk.

Krom’s Tip: Small rocks can be used in as small warmers on cold nights. Heat palm sized rocks in a fire’s coals. Once when they become warm, NOT HOT, you can hold them against your body during night. Heat is retained in rocks very well and as such, will help keep you warm through the night.


4) Sheltered- You fire should be sheltered from wind and weather elements. It takes a lot of work to build a fire and keep it going. Do not let a rainfall or wind storm put your fire out! You expend too much energy to start a fire. Try to only do it once!

5) Ground- The ground should be dry. Fire absorbs things that is around it. If the ground is wet, the fire will not stay going or you will be required to fuel the fire a lot. Should there be no dry, suitable ground; consider building a platform out of logs for the fire to sit upon. This will serve as a platform to get it off the ground as well as added fuel for when the fire truly comes to life.

Krom’s Tip: Be careful with tree roots as well. It is not impossible for trees to catch on fire underneath the ground and travel three feet. It has been known to happen and wild fires have occurred as a result.


6) Geographical Location- Do not build your fire at the lowest point of a region geographically speaking. Chances are, as mentioned in previous chapters, water tends to collect in these points. Building a fire to only have it washed away is not very survival-friendly. Think of location before deciding where to make your fire pit.

Types

In terms of types, I am not referring to lean-tos, cabins, tee-pee or any other structural type of fire. I refer to more the functional purposes in a broad term. By types, I speak in general terms of small and big. Can’t get any more basic or generic than that!

Small- A small fire is one that is for personal use. These are often moved inside or near your shelter for warmth through the night as well as for cooking. A small fire needs constant refueling and more attention than a large fire, but it is more compact and more easily protected by elemental factors such as storms, wind, and other natural occurrences.

Big- A big fire is one that is for a broader use. These are often used for signaling purposes or to burn large logs. They can often times survive small bursts of rain with no problem and are great for cooking large game on if you happen to get lucky and get one. The problem with big fires is that it requires a lot of fuel. Most of the time felled trees or logs are used, but that requires ability to move them and cutting them into useable sizes.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu May 28, 2009 8:48 pm

Chapter 9:Fire-Building

You decided you need a fire in your survival situation. You even found the proper location and know what type of fire to build, but now what? Patience.

It is a lot of work, takes a lot of time, and a lot of resources. Be patient… especially during the crafting and making part. It will test your patience and will, but persistence will give you it’s reward in the end.

Preparation
Again, your patience is key to your preparation. If you are not capable of being patient at this point and time, do not attempt to build a fire. You will find great frustration and all your work will have been for nothing. It takes time, it takes work, it takes dedication and will to be successful at making a fire in a survival situation (assuming you are not magically inclined).

Next to patience comes the material. Go out and collect the wood you need to get you through the night. Take as long as you need. When you think you have enough, make your pile five times larger. The common mistake most people make is in underestimating the amount of fuel or material it takes to keep a fire going for hours through the night. The average under estimating to the untrained survivalist in regards to getting wood is 5 to 1. So again, make your pile five times larger to get you through the night. Afterall, you do NOT want to find yourself in the middle of a cold, dark, wet night to fetch more timber for fueling your fire.

Fuel Material
There are three main parts of fuel material. They are broken down roughly into the categories of: tinder, kindling, and fuel. Each part has its own distinct and unique property that aids in the fire building process. One important key to remember is it is a gradual process of adding thicker and larger material to the fire.

1) Tinder- the first tier to the fire-building process. This is material that has the capability of catching a spark or an ember. It has relatively low resistance to fire and is by far the fastest burning material as it is usually consumed within seconds. Things that fall into this category include but not limited to: lint, cotton, feathers, thread, and wool. Many materials that can be altered to be fluffy, thin and light in nature often make wonderful tinder given that the material is dry.

2) Kindling- the second tier to the fire-building process. This is material that include twigs and sticks. They burn relatively easily but are consumed within a few seconds. Gradually, as the fire becomes stronger and more pronounce, the size of the twigs and sticks will increase to finger and thumb sized.

3) Fuel- the last tier to the fire-building process. This is material that consistently fuels the fire. It is no longer in its starting phase but requires more substantial material to keep it burning longer and hotter. Material in this category consists of logs, branches, animal droppings, dried grass bundles, and animal fats.

Krom’s Tip: Make it a habit that each time you come back to camp if you been away, to bring an armload of firewood. Every step you take in the bush, you should be multitasking to conserve your energy.


Moving Fire
Sometimes your initial survival area is not suitable and need to relocate. Given that making a fire is a painstakingly difficult and time, as well as energy, consuming process, it would be wise to learn how to safely carry your fire with you. Taking your fire with you will save you a lot of time and make the move all the more easy. To accomplish this task, you should consider building what is known as a fire bundle.
A fire bundle is simple a collection of tinder (tier one of the fire building process) with the finest material in the middle and gradually thicker or more hearty tinder to the outside. It then gets rolled up like a fat cigar. Secure the material tightly together with any material or rope you have available to keep it bound tight.

Use you already lit fire to light the end of the fire bundle. Once lit, blow it out and let it smolder and smoke. It will, if built properly, smolder for hours. One it is properly lit, it shoulder literally last your for a couple of days until you make it to your next destination.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu May 28, 2009 8:50 pm

Chapter 10:Creating Fire

In the last chapter, you read the materials required and how to go about building the fire. You even learned how to move the fire should the situation ever arise that you need to find a new location. But how do you actually make or create the fire? Well, the easiest way is to have a pyromancer just lose their temper and you instantly have what you need to roast a boar on an open spit. But alas, this would not be a good survival manual if it was that easy. Let us assume, for sake of argument, that magic once more has been void. Again… always plan and prepare for worst case scenario. Being prepared will keep you calmer as you already have a plan in store for such a situation.

Friction
Smack your hands together and rub them together very rapidly. Continue like this for ten seconds and you will know what I am talking about. This heat that you are feeling is, as I was told by an enlightened one, is called friction (frick-shin). Given that there is heat, I guess if you rubbed your hands long enough and hard enough, eventually you might be able to catch yourself on fire, but I do not advise trying it unless you are a tree-hugger.

Fire Bow
Well, there are a few ways to use friction as your mode of choice to creating fire. One is by a device known as a fire-bow. The components required for this is a baseboard, a spindle, a bearing blow and the bow. The baseboard is a piece of wood with a groove cut into it in which a spindle will burn itself into. This is the part that will, hopefully, create the hot ember that will start your fire. Choosing a baseboard are best if they are made of softer wood types like cedar and poplar or even aspen.

The spindle is a simple, straight rod which is usually about 8 to 12 inches in length. The spindle is what will turn rapidly with the use of the bow which will serve as a ‘drill’ of sorts into the baseboard. With the repeated twisting of the spindle into the baseboard, friction will occur and in time, should result in smoke followed by a reward of hot embers which ultimately you need to get a fire going.

Krom’s Tip: To keep the bearing block from burning up and causing problems, consider using a lubricant where the spindle rests. This lubricant can come from beeswax, earwax, or your anal lube. Don’t be stingy!


The bearing block is the object used at the top of the spindle and where you weight and pressure is directly applied by yourself. It is what keeps the spindle in place while you work the bow causing the spindle to move and drill into the baseboard. The material for bearing blocks can be multiple things including another piece of wood, piece of bone, rock, or anything else that is hard and has a grove in it for the spindle to rest in.
The bow is what makes this process possible. It is a curved stick that is tied at the end with a piece of rope, string, cording or fibers woven together tightly like basswood bark.

Now that you have all of the parts, you need to know how to do it right? It is relatively simple in truth. The bearing block will be in your left hand holding the spindle vertical. The bottom of the spindle will be secured into the baseboard and the bow will be wrapped around the cord of the bow. Then with a sawing motion, you pull the bow with the right arm causing the spindle to drill into the baseboard. The idea is to continue spinning it continuously while applying ample pressure upon the bearing block to increase the resistance to build up the friction. Continuing this sawing motion with the bow and the drilling of the spindle, you will in time achieve your goal of hot ember.

Krom’s Tip: When you have smoke, don’t stop! Keep going because the ember will be in the process of being made. And avoid sweating… your luck sucks given you are in a survival situation. Your sweat may drip right onto your ember extinguishing it. Something to keep in mind!


Once the ember is created, carefully secure it into the tinder. The very light and fluffy tinder bundle is what will make your ember turn into fire. Having a well crafted tinder bundle will ensure that you will have your fire and all the energy expended into the fire-making process will not have been wasted.

Hand drill
Another form of using friction is the same principle as the fire bow, but no bow. You instead spin the spindle between your hands over and over, drilling the spindle into the baseboard. This will cause great discomfort in your hands, blisters will form, and it may or may not work depending on your stamina to not only continue, but to endure the pain. This is the least favorite method of building a fire, but it is worth mentioning that it CAN be done.

Flint and Steel
A traditional method of creating fire is that of flint and steel. Flint can often be found in river beds or dried up creeks. By striking steel to the flint, sparks will occur. This can be used if you have a pile of fluffy, dry tinder than can catch a spark. If you do not have access to very dry and tinder capable of catching a spark, you better give it up. You will not be successful with this kind of fire creating method.

Using the Sun
The sun has a lot of power behind it, so use it. If you have a mirror or a highly polished piece of metal like silver or mithril, it can be used to reflect a beam of sunlight into a tinder bundle. This takes a lot of time, so best method is to set it up and walk away. This method also requires many key factors… the main one of course being it needs to be sunny with intense sunrays. Also, you need very dry and fluffy tinder that can relatively easily catch fire as well as the reflective material to harness the sun’s power.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Tue Jun 02, 2009 8:55 pm

Chapter 11:Shelter

Shelter… a place to call home… is a very important aspect in any survival situation. But where does it rank in terms of importance in a survival situation? That depends on the nature of the survival situation as well as the season, location, available resources and length of time expected to be in survival mode.
Shelter is important for many aspects. The most common one being it is a place to keep you out of the elements. It will protect you from that bitch of a mother nature that will try nad make you even more miserable than you already are in a survival situation. Again, you have bad luck otherwise you would not be in a survival situation in the first place. Consider that it will rain or snow and there will be wind that will make it all the more miserable to survive in.

Krom’s Tip: Always plan for the worst! Expect nothing but the worst and you will find yourself relieved if things can indeed always be worse.


Not only does a shelter help you in terms of protection from the elements, but it also may protect you from predators and wild animals. Granted, a 600 pound black bear won’t take long to destroy your lean-to shelter if he wanted to, but it may be enough of a deterrent to buy you time so you can find proper safety.

Shelters also can be used to camouflage you. This can be a boon and hindrance given your situation. If you are trying to avoid detection from enemies, shelter can help you. On the other hand, it will harm your rescuers obviously in being able to easily find you. Consider this when in a survival situation and the nature of the shelter you build as well.

5 W’s
The five W’s are very important to consider when selecting the site for your shelter. Afterall, it is where you will be building your short term home. You wouldn’t build your home on a flood plain knowing that the monsoon season was coming would you? Location is vital, and by vital, I mean you may die as a result of not following these guidelines. Read them, Know t hem, Apply them.

Widowmaker
Look above your future site for your survival shelter. See that large dead branch? That is called a widow maker. It is potentially very hazardous to your health should a storm blow in or a gust of wind shaking that branch free. If you are sleeping underneath the branch, consider yourself badly injured or killed as a result. Look above you for these kind of things. Scope out the surrounding to know what hazards there are and potential threats that could harm you or your shelter.

Wind and Weather
Protection from the wind is a critical consideration to make when setting up your site as well as from the weather. Build your shelter so that it is best protected from wind and weather elements that could cause hypothermia, destroy your shelter, or blow your fire out.

Wood
Consider building to an area that is rich in wood given that it is available. It is a very important resource for your survival that is usually readily abundant. Not only is it great for building material, but also fuel for your fire.

Krom’s Tip: Wood also makes great weapons and devices for getting your next meal. Also, consider if you are using it as shelter and a great resource, know that other animals do as well. Your next meal may be your neighbor.


Water
As discussed in previous chapters, water is critical. Select your site near a watering hole, preferably a primary source. This will minimize your walking distance to receive drinking water and increase your chances of survival.

Wigglies
Wigglies are all those things that cause you great annoyances. These include creatures that slither, bite, sting, crawl and tickle. All of these things can be quite bothersome. Not only are they annoying, but they also may be poisonous and painful. Try and keep these little nuisances at bay and not build your home on an ant hill or next to a bee hive.


Shelter Basics

The Bed
This is vital for your survival and often overlooked. Most people tend to build the frame first, but truth is, build the bed. Why? Simple. Take my experience in this as I have made very elaborate and beautiful shelters in the past and found them to be too small for my body. I wind up crawling in them to only have my feet sticking out where the rain is pelting my feet and freezing. Having the bed built first will ensure that you will have ample room to rest and be protected. Build the shelter around this and you will not have wasted all your time.

The bed serves as an insulator from you and the earth. Cold earth drains your heat causing hypothermia. This will hurt if not kill you overtime. Use sticks, leaves, moss, pine needles, clothing, anything and everything to keep you off the ground. You can even create an elevated cot of sort out of wooden branches or logs to keep you off the ground.

Krom’s Tip: Layer your bedding for optimal protection and comfort. Start with branches as a structure and make a mattress out of soft materials. Make your bedding and then triple the thickness. The materials will crush down over time and you will find yourself no longer comfortable if you do not add more at the start.


The Frame
The frame is important in that everything else relies on it’s as it’s support. Don’t skimp out or use inferior materials if at all possible. The general rule is, your structure should be able to support your weight without falling apart. This is important because of weather elements like rain or snow adds onto the weight of the building material as well. Keep this in mind when building the frame and make it strong. Some key points to consider when building your frame are:

1) Make sure the pitch of the roof is steep. This helps to shed weather elements and prevents leaks from occurring inside the shelter.

2) Insulation is key to keep heat inside the shelter where it belongs. Use anything and everything you can to insulate it including the use of branches, leaves, moss, grasses, tarps or anything else that you have readily available.

3) Pay close attention to your body. Shelter building is the most strenuous and physically demanding aspects in a survival situation. Be sure to rest often, stay hydrated, and pace yourself so you do not wear yourself out.

Krom’s Tip: Avoid flat roofed frames at all costs. They are very difficult to keep from leaking. Think steep when it comes to the pitch of the roof.


Elemental Proofing
By elemental proofing, you are making it wind resistant, water proofing, and doing everything you can to stop the elements of mother nature from hindering your survival. Some measures to be taken to secure your shelter include:

Shingling- Make use of materials on hand and readily available. Bark works amazingly well to shed water and helping against wind. Be sure to overlap the layers to minimize gaps and cracks in your shelter.
Pitch- This cannot be stressed enough. To minimize problems with leakage, keep a sharp peak of your roof or high pitch to avoid problems.

Location- Keep in mind the location and look to surrounds. Look for areas that are natural wind breaks to minimize wind storm damage done to your shelter.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:28 pm

Chapter 12:Short-Term Shelter

Short-Term shelters or commonly referred to as Emergency Shelters are those that you need immediately. This is usually the first night when you find yourself in a survival situation. These type of shelters are often very crude, cramped, uncomfortable, et cetera. They are not ideal shelters for survival, however, they can be endured for one if not two nights. By the second night in one of these shelters, it will be important to consider graduating to a more suitable shelter to try and survive in.

Several of these short term shelters are just that, short term. They are not meant to be comfortable or lasting. They are there to just get by for a night or two. They are generally, what is readily available and not requiring much work. The following are types of shelters that should be considered… and keep in mind, that you must think like an animal and not a sophisticated individual when you are in a survival situation!

Logs
Do not under estimate the use of hollowed, decaying logs. They are not ideal shelters, but they sure beat the alternative of being under the stars. Logs provide shelter from wind and weather precipitation like rain and snow. They are not completely water tight, but they are better than just being under the open sky. One thing to look for though when selecting your log is to be advised that you will not be alone. Make sure you acquaint yourself with other wildlife and plantlife that you will be sharing the shelter with. There will be insects and other animals like snakes, raccoons, chipmunks and other animals that will find it home just as you are thinking of doing.

Nests
I am not talking about finding a large bird’s nest, I am talking of just making yourself a nest. This is often done by ‘raking’ up foliage and forest debris into a pile and using it as insultation from the elements. Leaves, branches, and pine needles may not be comfortable or perfect, but it is better than nothing. It will help to provide some insulation from you and the elements which may just be enough to keep you alive.

Trees
Although not a perfect shelter, it can be used as one. Leaning your back against a tree through the night will help protect you from wind if nothing else as well as giving you some protection from precipitation from the tree’s canopy. Of course, you may be even luckier to find a hollowed out tree which would be even better. But again, keep in mind, that you probably will not be alone in these kind of shelters.

Krom’s Tip: Look for scat and bones in a potential shelter. It might be the home of a predator and you probably won’t want to be there when they decide to come home.


Caves
These make great emergency shelters, but be sure you are the only inhabitant. Also check to see how many cracks and such are already to the rock walls. You probably do not want to find yourself trapped into a cave due to a rock slide or worse, squished under a boulder or broken cliff face.

Lean-To
This is a hybrid between a short-term and long-term shelter. This is a structure that requires energy to build and not just naturally found. However, there are many drawbacks that do not classify it as a long-term shelter. What a Lean-To Shelter is, is simply a single wall usually constructed of branches and leaning into a cross beam. Obviously, it is a shelter that provides some protection from wind and rain, however, it is only going to protect you from one side. That is an obvious problem given that weather is not so forgiving and tends to happen from more than one angle and direction.

Another problem with lean-to’s is that it does not retain any heat. It is to open to the elements to keep heat inside. Wind and breeze will not permit heat retention by the nature of these kind of shelters. My suggestion, if you spend this much energy into building a shelter, you are better off just making a real shelter with another side and do it right the first time.

Krom’s Tip: Using a great shelter will allow you to sleep at night instead of sleeping during the day. During the day, you should be using the sun as a tool for sight and flagging down rescuers that may be looking for you. Sleeping during the day will harm your chance of survival.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:30 pm

Chapter 13:Long-Term Shelter


A decision must be made in a survival situation when to graduate to a long-term shelter instead of your short-term shelter. After two days and not being rescued, you may consider then to convert into a long-term shelter to better your survival and satisfy your needs. Know that with a long-term shelter, you will be more comfortable. When making your shelter, make sure that you can at least sit up inside of your shelter. Standing inside is a luxury, but most often is not capable given the nature of the situation. Do not make standing a focus, but instead just that you can comfortably sit and lay down.

Utilize Other’s Shelters
Look around and you may find a shelter that has already been made and abandoned. There are people all around the world and chances are, someone has been in your location before you got there. There may already be a shelter constructed like a tree house or cabin. These are the best kinds to find because they often will have some kind of small supplies or items inside that may be beneficial other than the fact that you do not need to spend your time building a shelter saving you energy and grief.

A-Frame
And A-Frame Shelter is similar to a Lean-To except that both sides of the shelter are covered by a wall usually made of branches and insulated with whatever resources are available including grass, moss, leaves, branches, foliage, et cetera. An A-Frame is an awesome shelter to have because it can constantly be improved upon and added to it to create a better home.

Krom’s Tip: If you have an A-Frame shelter, make it a habit to bring something to add to the shelter each time you return to camp. This extra foliage can be used to better protect your shelter from the elements and keep heat inside of the shelter given it is better insulated as well.


Tee-Pee
A tee-pee is an ingenious shelter that is primarily comprised of three poles. They are bound or secured at the top by rope or string and spread out in a tripod frame. Then for additional support, more branches are added by laying against the tripod. The covering is usually made by tarps or animal hides that may be available as well as woven grasses and leaves. These shelters are amazing at shedding rain due to the steep pitch of the walls and are very sturdy.

Hanging Shelter
These are most commonly similar to hammocks. These are great shelters given the fact that it keeps you off the ground which protects you from insects and wildlife as well as putting distance from you from the ground which will help keep you warmer. These kind of shelters are also known as platform beds in which they are constructed of wooden branches or material that is elevated off the ground like a bed of sort. Although it may not be the most comfortable, it keeps you warmer and a barrier from problematic wigglies.

Bent-Pole Frame
This type of structure is great if you are in an area that has lot of shrubs and underbrush that are about 6 foot in length and the thickness of a slender branch. You will need about 20 of these poles to create this shelter. Once you have the poles, you need to strip them of their branches and leaves and jab them into the ground giving the general shape of the structure in a circle. Next, tie off the branches at the top to hold them in place forming a dome-like shape. Finally, add materials available for wind proofing and insulating the shelter. When finished, it will look like a ‘wooden igloo’.
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Re: Surviving the Elements: By Lord Krom

Postby Krom on Sun Nov 22, 2009 12:44 am

Chapter 14: Food Sources

Many people stuck in a survival situation worry about starving to death. Truth be told, this should be one of the last things that should be weighing on your mind. People can survive a month without any food input by utilizing the fat stores inside your body currently. This is difficult for many to digest when in civilized cultures where meals are regular and range from anywhere between two or more full meals a day. The thought of going hours, let alone days, is a frightening concept for many individuals.

The key though is becoming knowledgeable about food resources prior to being stuck in a survival situation. Knowing what is edible along the trail and knowing what plants or berries are edible versus poisonous will give you the food energy you otherwise may be walking past or missing out on an abundant food source.

Knowledge is Key
Wild edibles are often very few and far between despite common myth that it is readily available. The season, location, sunlight, terrain, climate, amongst other things will all play an important role in your quest of obtaining wild edibles. They may only be found in a centralized location and nowhere else for miles around will a certain berry bush be found. It is important to learn the location and mark it on a map if you have access to one.

Also, identification of plants and mushrooms is critical. Having a keen eye to notice minute differences in plants may be the key to your survival. What might otherwise appear to be a harmless plant, it may in fact be toxic rendering you violently ill or even death. Obtaining knowledge from a field manual or book is not recommended, as some manuals are not keen enough to detail. The best bet is to get information from an expert of the region in terms of wildlife flora. Druids, woodland creatures, and those closely with the nature will be your best bet in proper plant identification.

Edible Flora? Test it out.
Sometimes you have no choice but to eat a wild plant or mushroom that is not identifiable. This is a last ditch effort if you must take a chance and employ an edibility test. The following steps should be taken in determining whether it is safe or not:

1. Try only one plant type at a time.
2. Rub the plant on sensitive regions of skin and wait for an hour. Check for abnormalities that may occur or ill feeling.
3. If no negative effects, place the plant on the outer lip to test for burning, tingling, itching or other sensation.
4. If no negative effect, hold the suspected edible on your tongue for fifteen minutes.
5. If no negative effect, chew the edible for fifteen minutes but do not swallow.
6. If no negative effect, swallow the edible and wait eight hours. If any adverse effects occur, induce vomiting and drink as much water as available. Otherwise, eat a small handful of the edible and wait another eight hours. If there is no adverse effects, consider the plant to be safe for consumption.
Krom's Tip: Grass is a viable solution to obtaining food nutrients. Chewing on blades of grass and swallowing the juices is a nontoxic way to obtain a small amount of energy. It is however, not recommended to swallow the plant-life though.

Is this crawly thing edible?
Insects in various stages of their life are generally viable sources of food nutrition. Don't rule them out because that are disgusting or seemingly, unappealing. You are afterall, in a survival situation... so GET OVER IT or DIE. It's that simple. Some things to recognize for potentially hazardous animals or insects include:
- brightly colored
- pungent odor
- sting or bite
- hairy
- found in the open and move slowly; no apparent fear of being made a target

It should be concluded that just because they do not match the criteria listed, does not mean they are safe for consumption. Though, it is a greater chance that they are nontoxic if they do not match any of the criteria. To be safe, the same edibility testing should be conducted as plants and mushrooms.

Top Regional Wild Edibles

Arid Regions, Deserts, and Canyons
- Pads of the prickly pear cactus
- Fruit of the prickly pear cactus
- Mesquite beans
- Mice and rats
- Grasshoppers and scorpions
- Rattlesnake

Forest and Jungles
- Cattails
- Nuts
- Berries and other fruits
- Wild tea (needles, leaves and fruit): spruce, blueberry, blackberry, raspberry
- Creepy crawlies (grubs, grasshoppers, worms)
- Rodents
- Rabbits
- Fish

Polar and Mountain
- Lichen
- Wild tea
- Mushroom
- Berries
- Willow shoots
- Rodents
- Bird eggs
- Fish

Sea
- Kelp
- Seaweed
- Barnacles
- Fish
- Plankton
- Creepy crawlies

Swamps
- Cattails
- Lilly tubers
- Wild tea
- Frogs and leeches
- Snakes and turtles
- Rodents
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