Not The First

Today I created a list of all possible uses for bones. There's more to them than I ever imagined. Isn't that strange?

...

I like lists. They make me feel saner.

Firstly, bones can be placed in a fire as rudimentary fuel. Not the best fuel, but they will keep a flame going.

They can also be ground up and used as carbon to form steel. Bone Steel tends to be stronger- physically and magically- than normal steel.

They can also be gnawed on. When they crack, the marrow can be sucked out. Mixed with water and meat in a hollowed skull, it makes a decent stew. Using water that hasn't been completely distilled will add more flavor.

Speaking of distilled water, the bi-products can be mixed with ground up bones to form a paste, which is rather like clay in consistency. Well, if the right concentrations are used. A decent sculptor can turn that paste into almost anything: bowls, bricks, small statues, ceramic knives...

Bones can also be carved up and turned into tools and stuff. I have several rib-shiv's, a hatchet made out of a scapula (it makes hacking up the less-rotted bodies easier), and my skull-bowls of course.

Alternatively, they make great instruments. Long bones especially; flutes, recorders, pretty much any reed instrument. You'll need a second, small bone for the reed though. Skulls make decent drums. Pelvises and scapulae too. A complete ribcage (hard to get) makes an amazing xylophone. With some bone fragments and homemade glue (hey, plenty of raw materials), I even made a complete trombone. Not that I can play it, but hearing different sounds- at least, I think I'm hearing them. Maybe it's all in my head. Maybe this is all in my head. Maybe I'm tied to a bed in a mental hospital. Maybe.

Nah, I don't think so.

What was I thinking about?

Oh, right.

Hearing different sounds besides my own voice, or my hooves on the ground, or the crackle of the fire, is nice.

Another use for bones? Toys! Foals have those toys made of sticks and little connectors. Bones can be split apart and shaved down in just the right way to do the exact same thing. I built a working trebuchet using fresh intestines as rope. My current best distance is about 100 femurs. About a hundred feet.

Ooh, I think tomorrow I'll measure how many femurs across the sphere is. I hope I have enough of them.

I really hope so. I need something to keep me busy.

I have been here for two months, one week, and 17 hours. I'm running out of ideas.