Chapter 3.6: Reveal Essence

Chapter 3.6: Reveal Essence

If not for the powerful jaws of the [Alchemical Grinder], the [Pozwa Horns] would have been impossible to grin into a fine powder. Theo fed the hard horns into the device, wincing as it groaned. But after a few moments, the job was done, and 100 units of powdered horn sat at the bottom of his [Drogramath Still]. The alchemist poured in enough water to get the still started, then set the temperature low and returned the lid. The clasps snapped shut, and the magical fire burned underneath. A stiff breeze came from the open window, sweeping over the lab and carrying the stuffy air out the vent.

When Theo inherited the building, he hadnt thought to check the vents. There were a few things that remained from the early days that he should check, but the building was barely recognizable as the seed core lab he found at the start. He inspected the shop before continuing.

[Alchemy Lab] [Alchemy Shop]

[The Newt and Demon]

Owners: Belgar (Theo Spencer), Tresk

Shopkeeper: Azrug Slug

Faction: [Broken Tusk]

Level: 20 (2%)

Rent Due: 2 Days

Expansions:

[Alchemy Shop]

[Drogramath Distillation Specialty]

[Shrine to Drogramath]This chapter made its debut appearance via N0v3lB1n.

[Alchemical Garden]

It started at level 1, and each level after that was harder to fill that experience percentage. There would likely be a restriction at level 25 and 30 based on the size of Broken Tusk, but that was a task for another day. He inspected the result of his fermentation, the mash looking ready for distillation. Theo moved the contents of the barrels, destined to be [Anti-Mage] modifier essence into his stills and set them to work. The modifier process was fairly simple. Fermentation, distillation, and refinement. Each modifier worked in unpredictable ways, but that was the fun of it for the alchemist. He intended to buckle down and make a complete list of every modifier essence and its effects on potions. But that was a daunting task.

The [Anti-Mage] modifier produced potions as the name described. It typically had the effect of draining mana from a magic using opponent, or giving them a penalty for casting spells. He could even make a firebomb designed to punish mages for casting their spells while on fire. For now, Theo left his stills to work to cross the cobbled street outside. Unlike the early part of the Season of Blooms, the sky was clear and bright. It had rained for weeks straight, something the locals saw as a good thing.

Zaralis enchanting lab was magnificent on the outside and in. The exterior was a stone block construction, purple wooden slats on top to represent its alignment with Drogramath. Theo pushed inside without knocking, finding the woman knelt in the center of the room in front of a strange device. The alchemist saw ribbons of energy collecting from the surrounding air, sucking into a black cube that seethed with Drogramaths energy. He shouldnt have been surprised that she was doing this, but he still had an initial reaction of concern.

Brother! Zarali said, crossing the room to pull him into a hug. How rare a visit is from you.

Whats that? Theo asked, craning his neck to see around her.

It accumulates raw mana, she said, releasing him to pat her device.

The mana collector stood out among the decorations inside. Tools sat atop tables that crowded the walls, gems scattered everywhere. Banners bearing the mark of Drogramath were draped on the walls and each window was covered with thick strips of fabric, rendering the interior dim. Only the flickering candlelight brought brightness to the dingy interior.

Enchanting stuff? Theo asked, moving with caution to the side of the cube. Is it dangerous?

Enchanting stuff. Yes, I need large amounts of mana to enchant stuff, and theres no shortage of mana here. Raw, unprocessed mana, Zarali said, letting out a wistful sight. Its mostly safe.

Theo moved away from the cube, running his fingers over the tools of her trade.

I didnt think Drogramath was the patron of enchanters, Theo said. Is your core aligned with him?

It is, Zarali said. My [Drogramath Enchanters Core] will never be as powerful as your aligned core, but its still better than most. Not better than those dedicated to the Dwarven gods, but still. I wont presume this is a social call, do you need something?

Theo had noticed, more in recent memory than ever before, that his high [Wisdom] didnt work well against those with an equally high score. He felt a twinge in his mind as though she was hiding something, but his intuition went no further than that. Still, he sensed it wasnt a malicious plan she was hatching. Self-interested, maybe, but nothing harmful.

More of an academic thing, Theo said.

Ah, an area in which I am very educated, Zarali said.

Theo led her out of the enchanting lab and up to his own lab. The stills were bubbling away, but there was nothing of their scent in the lab. It smelled clean, like the fresh breeze was depositing every corner of the lab with a pleasant scent. It was a drastic change that would take getting used to.

I have a feeling about the [Pozwa Horns], he said, gesturing to his [Drogramath Still]. The essence wont make a bomb, a potion, or a detergent. I cant figure out what itll produce.

I would guess the property is something close to sight, Zarali said.

[Reveal], Theo said.

That makes sense, Zarali said. She raked her eyes across the lab, as though each slight mistake was an offense to her god. She napped out of it. The Fallen Kingdom was famous for their Pozwa. If the stories are true, the crown held each beast in secluded pens. Guarded, if you can believe it.

Why? Theo asked. What makes them so great?

That depends on which historian you ask, Zarali said. The problem with getting hit with a necromancers curse is, it becomes impossible to find records. Anyway, I would say they saw them as sacred creatures.

Alignment Effects:

1:1 refinement in pressure vessels

Increased purity from refinement

1 units (liquid)

Concentrated essence of reveal.

I get a strange sense from this essence, Zarali said, casting her gaze over the shrine as though it would help.

Thats what I felt, Theo said, setting up a 2 unit glass vial on the table. Lets try a standard reaction.

The standard reaction was what made consumable potions. It was 1 unit of essence, 1 unit of [Purified Water], and any catalyst. Theo had been using his [Iron Shavings] lately, but defaulted to [Copper Shavings] since this was a first tier reaction. The vial bubbled immediately, sending both him and Zarali scattering to find cover behind nearby furniture. The vial exploded, sending shards of glass zipping through the lab and peppering the wooden walls. They waited for some time before emerging to find a scorch mark on the table.

Nope, Theo said. Thats going to be the same reaction for my other methods.

Theos [Drogramath Alchemy Core] whispered, but the meaning was faint. A shudder ran through Zarali and she turned to him with concern.

Close your eyes, she instructed. If you removed your mark and that necklace this would be easier.

But Theo wouldnt trust doing that. Not now with the breath of Drogramath down his neck. A whisper was more than enough for him and he closed his eyes. Images flashed through his mind. Treated copper. Imbued glass. That was it. The whispers gave him nothing more, but they left understanding. With an increasingly high [Intelligence] score and formidable [Wisdom], Theo put the pieces together. Hed made a potion that he placed in the detergent class before, because of the way it reacted. The [Potion of Infusion] imbued materials with an alchemically neutral property. This was a different kind of essence, but adjacent. The purpose of the essence wasnt to brew it into a potion, but to infuse an object with the property.

There were problems with this application, though. The object needed to be inert, so he couldnt use anything made of base metals. Living objects wouldnt work either, they would cause a reaction. Magical items would reject it entirely. Theo had an idea, darting from the lab and scooping a rock that fit comfortably in the palm of his hand and rushed back into the lab. The alchemist generated an open-topped flask, filled it with the essence, scrubbed the rock of all dirt and dropped it in.

What are you doing? Zarali asked.

Watch, Theo said, pointing at the rock. It bubbled. Im infusing the rock with the [Reveal] property. If it works, the stone will hold the property.

To what end? Zarali asked, crossing her arms.

Theres no end, Theo said. This is just an experiment. If the rock takes the essence, then I have a direction to move in.

The pair watched as the rock bubbled away, clinking against the side of the flask but the reaction grew no more vigorous than that. It settled after a moment and Theo retrieved a pair of tongs, removing the rock and setting it on the table. The excess essence seemed to have spent itself, becoming inert. Theo inspected the strange rock.

[Reveal Construct]

[Alchemy Construct]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Poor Quality

Emits a constant field of [Reveal] as long as the construct is powered.

Material:

Stone (Poor Quality)

Effect:

Creates a 1 halm bubble around the construct that removes stealth from any target.

What in the realms is that? Zarali asked, stooping low to inspect the construct.

What the hell is a halm? Theo asked, laughing.

A unit of measure. About this big, Zarali said, gesturing with her hands. Seemed like half a foot to his eyes. How do you not know measures of distance?

Theo shrugged. People in Broken Tusk often used relative height measurements in the way they spoke, never referring to how tall they actually were.

Its not active, Theo said, stooping close to inspect the rock further. Seams of light ran through the rock now, as though it were imbued with the essence directly. The alchemist understood this was a mostly useless item, but it was a step in an interesting direction. Hed never heard of alchemy constructs, and he doubted anyone else had either. Too many hands laid themselves on this one, pushing Theo to create the construct. Between Drogramath giving him the answer and Fenian delivering the Pozwa, the alchemist had to wonder how long someone would take to figure this out on their own.

Feed it mana, Theo said after a moment. He didnt trust himself to do so in the real world. The description said it required power to operate.

Zarali shrugged, holding her palm above the thing to allow a trickle of purple flame to pour over the rock. A bubble sprung up around the rock, flickering for only a moment before the construct shattered.

This is amazing, Zarali said, her brows knitted tightly. A complete failure, but amazing.

Theo stood back, looking at the shattered stone on his table. This was entirely unexpected, leading him to question what else hed missed with the base essences. He made a mental note before moving on for the day. The essence soaked into the rock, imbuing it with its property. Mana activated the rock, which was like a catalyst. In the alchemists mind, it was storing the power of the reagent in a medium, and activating it at a later date. It was the fourth method of performing Drogramathi Alchemy. Constructs.