5.43 - Reagent Splicing

5.43 - Reagent Splicing

The Herbalists Workshop was far too stuffy for most people. Salire was sweating even before they got to work on the experimental reagent splicing. Theo was perfectly comfortable thanks to his Coat of Rake, but he sympathized. But those concerns melted away under the weight of recent changes. Not only his ascension to the next realm in both his alchemy and herbalist cores, but also the workshop itself and his acceptance of the Drogramath Dedication ability. His thoughts felt as though they teetered on things he already knew, and the seemingly limitless knowledge of Drogramath himself. It was a heady experience that would take getting used to.

Theo was adept at pushing past this mental discomfort, and laid out the first two reagents he planned to experiment with. Earth Wheat, and the local Spiny Swamp Thistle. Both had a deep alignment with earth and held something similar to the Holy element. But not quite. Using the Research upgrade of the workshop, he confirmed his suspicions.

[Wheat]

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Food]

Common

A common plant often milled into flour.

Research:

Infused with a mixture of Drogramath and Dreamrealm power.

Medium growth cycle with excellent healing properties.

Will easily provide the base of a splicing operation.

Hidden fourth alchemical property.

Properties:

[Healing] [Regeneration] [Sow]

The Research upgrade provided information that Theo had seen before. The Wheat was aligned with Drogramath and Terogal, which wasnt surprising. It had a slower than normal growth cycle, which he had seen in the small farm. But the newest bit of information claimed it would provide a good base for reagent splicing. The alchemist drew on his innate knowledge, understanding that one plant would be the base, and the other would be grafted on. Both plants would be cut just above the root. The top of one would be grafted onto the other with mana. Easy enough.

What do you think? Salire asked, pulling Theo out of his thoughts.

Wheat and Spiny Swamp Thistle was on her list. Theo expected the combination to work fantastically. With two complete samples, roots and all, the alchemist cut both plants just above the roots. He took the roots and part of the stem from the wheat, placing the spiny stem from the Swamp Thistle on top. The alchemist held his hand over where they joined, closing his eyes as he focused on his Reagent Splicing skill. Even before using it, he felt how similar it was to Reagent Deconstruction. Unlike the destructive skill, this one would bind both plants together. Mana welled into his fingertips, eager to magically weld the two plants.

Should work like this, Theo said, pressing his fingers onto the seam. Flaming purple mana flooded the space between the plants, stitching the two pieces together in an instant. He opened his eyes, looking down at the plant.

Interesting, Salire said, watching as the mana worked its way up and down the plant. It didnt just form the two samples together. It changed them both entirely.

Very interesting. Ah. More interesting things.

As the purple flames danced over the spliced plant, a system message appeared.

[Reagent Splicing]

Attempting to splice Wheat with Spiny Swamp Thistle

Splicing success chance: 95%

Wheat properties:

[Healing] [Regeneration] [Sow]

Spiny Swamp Thistle properties:

[Healing] [Regeneration] [Flourish]

Perfect match for [Healing] property. Generating evolved property.

Shuffling all other properties

The fire intensified, forcing Theo to shield his eyes. While he was blinded, he thought about the prompt. An evolved property was interesting, and he remembered seeing one on the plant that Azrug named Throks Weed. The mana died down, revealing the completely changed plant. It was somewhere between a tall stalk of Wheat and the stout Spiny Swamp Thistle. It had characteristics of both, but how it produced the usable reagent would take some time. The plant would need to grow first.

Neat! Salire said. But it's all question marks.

Theo inspected the plant, finding that his assistant was right.

[????]

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Hybrid Plant]

Epic

A unique hybrid plant created from a Wheat plant and a Spiny Swamp Thistle.

Properties:This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

[????] [????] [????]

That was an annoying aspect of hybrid plants Theo wished wasnt real. Anything that someone had yet to discover showed up with the question marks. It made sense that a hybrid between Wheat and Spiny Swamp Thistle resulted in an unidentified item. No one had access to Wheat before it created itself in Terogal. The two other times the alchemist had seen this happen was with plants that were local to the area. Since Broken Tusk hadnt been developed properly, the local flora hadnt been explored.

Im going to strangle Azrug if he names this something stupid, Theo said, narrowing his eyes at the new plant.

Splicing success chance: 100%

Roc Berry properties:

[Feather] [Retreat] [Wind Shell]

Wind Tulip properties:

[Increase Dexterity] [Retreat] [Air Blade] [Wind Walk]

Perfect match for [Retreat] property. Generating evolved property.

Shuffling all other properties

That was better. The resulting plant even seemed more stable than before. Theo and Salire rushed it out to the garden before anything could happen. It was best to avoid explosions when possible.

Oh, thats strange, Salire said, kneeling close to inspect the plant. The first one we made didnt have an item name, but this one does.

Theo squinted, then leaned in to inspect the plant.

[Zephyr Berries]

Rare

A curious little berry I discovered while hiking the highland areas near Zalaban. To my surprise, the berry was unnamed and undocumented. Therefore I shall name it the Zephyr Berry after the breezes that blow through these lands. In the land of kings. In the year 280 of the Second War of Ascension, Pugma has discovered this berry.

Properties:

[????] [????] [????]

That is the weirdest thing Ive ever read, Theo said, leaning back from the plant. Did some random guy wax poetically about finding a berry?

From the Second War of Ascension, no less.

When was that? Theo asked, trying to remember the names of the ages. The First War of Ascension took place sometime between five- and ten-thousand years after the world was seeded.

Twenty-thousand years ago? Im not sure. Ive always been bad with history.

Theo had also heard about the Zalaban empire or was it Mazzlebar? Bazzlebon? It didnt matter. He was certain that was the long-lost empire that occupied this continent. Well before it was destroyed by Balkor. Perhaps even longer ago than the rise of Tarantham.

Pugma, Salire said, making a sour face. What sort of name is that?

I dont envy someone with that name.

Splicing new plants had really eaten away at the day. While it had been discovering new things, Theo wanted to address something with Throk. The hovering platform project should have been well on its way, and he was eager to see what something like that could do. The alchemist departed from his workshop, walking with Salire to the lab before heading off for the artificers workshop. He was happy to see everyone going about their daily lives, uninterrupted by whatever nonsense this world sought to throw them.

Throk could hardly be seen in the smithy anymore. He spent nearly all his time in the Artificers Workshop, toiling away to make interesting devices. Theo passed by the smithy, waving at Thim. The dwarf had taken the place over entirely, even training several apprentices of his own. Remembering a time when the dwarf had pretended to a novice, the alchemist pushed on to the workshop. It was right around the corner, hugging the bend and across the street from Xams tavern.

Theo peeked inside of the workshop, finding Throk pressing a handheld artifice against one of his fake coins. Once the alchemist was certain that the artificer was in a decent enough mood, he crossed the threshold into the workshop. Piles of old artifices were strewn around. The power core to the elven automaton rested in the corner, mostly disassembled by now. Perhaps that was what gave the marshling the information he needed to create self-sustaining batteries for constructs.

Are you going to lurk, or do you have something to ask? Throks question rumbled across the workshop. Such a small creature shouldnt have been capable of inspiring such dread.

Checking on the hovering platform, Theo said.

Throk placed his device on the table, pausing as though in thought. I have it working pretty well, actually. The cable idea paid off. He turned around, revealing the lopsided smile on his face. Want to go for a ride?

Theo had never wanted to do anything less than ride the hovering platform. He nodded in agreement, and searched his inventory for the potion that would save him from a deadly fall. His emergency Retreat potions were always close at hand, especially those modified with Refined Elemental Wind. That would grant him the Feather effect for ten seconds, reducing his fall speed if the platform failed. The alchemist followed Throk around the workshop, finding the platform resting in the junk-strewn field behind both the Artificers Workshop and the smithy.

Why are you holding a potion? Throk asked, adjusting settings on an iron box. The box was connected with the platform by a spool of Tworgnothi Copper wires.

Im an alchemist. Ever see an alchemist without a potion in their hands?

Throk actually issued one sharp, bark-like laugh. Fair enough, he said, pressing one final button.

The platform raised into the air slightly, tilting to one side as the engines buzzed to life. There was a bit too much rattling for Theos liking, but it was hovering. Tilting his head to one side, the alchemist could almost see something happening near the engines. Just outside of his weak magical sight, there was an interaction between the platforms magic and the power soaking the air. He pressed his hand on the metallic surface of the platform, activating his Intuitive Nodes and selecting the duration option as he chanted a spell. The marshling grumbled his objections, but within a few tries the Deflect Magic ward activated. A shimmering prismatic barrier sprung up around the platform and the rattling stopped.

Ah. Guess that works, Throk said, stomping over to inspect the platform. I thought there was a problem with the hover engines. Guess not.

Throk performed a demonstration of the platforms capabilities. After applying the ward, it hovered like a dream. He had even installed safety railing. It went up smoothly, hovering exactly where the marshling told it to before descending smooth as delicious karatan butter.

I didnt think it was ready, Throk said, scratching his chin. But I guess the ward was the key.

Shouldve guessed, Theo said, clicking his tongue as he thought.

Theo and Salire had been creating enough Hallow the Soil potion to choke most of the southlands in purifying mist. But it wouldnt be enough to cover the area they wanted to cover in the north. They could load the thing up with guns, shooting an anti-undead shot at the ground. Or perhaps it was better to air-drop golems in places that were too hard to reach by foot.

Oh, just spit it out, Throk moaned. Are we going to Gronro or not? I gotta hook up the cargo cart to the train if were going.

Lets go, Theo said. Lets put your weird hovering platform to the test.

My platform isnt weird. Youre weird.