Richter nodded in understanding, “Even so, I didn’t see you use the Cauldron's duplication ability. How did you make the fifth one?” He knew that for each rank an alchemist achieved, they could make one dose of a potion. Novices could only make one dose at a time, while a journeyman like Tabia should only be able to make four. He didn’t know where the extra dose came from.
She shook her head with a smile, “Just one of the perks of being a Professional. I bought the Talent Additional Doses I. It increases my brewing limit. I am also not sure that we could use the Cauldron’s duplication ability with this alchemy, my lord. You saw how unstable the mixture is until it is added to the powdered crystal. I could try, but five doses going off all at once…”
Richter shook his head, “You’re right. It’s not worth the risk, to just try it willie nillie. Still, see if you can find a way.”
“I will,” she assured him. “For now, let me show you what else I have.”
“I want to see, but first, we have to test something.” He started emptying his Bag of Holding. She looked at him in curiosity but held her peace. It took longer than he thought it would. Over time he had accumulated a good deal of bric-a-brac. Her eyes widened when she saw him remove entire chests from the flat bag. It took some time, but then it was empty.
Richter slowly opened the cabinet again and placed a foxfire crystal into his Bag. Then he left the Cauldron. Walking thirty feet away, he placed his bag on the ground. Tabia looked at him in utter confusion now. That expression turned to one of horror when he started wailing on the bag with his sheathed sword.
“Are you crazy?” she screamed.
He ignored her and gave the bag a few more good whacks until he was satisfied. Then he put the bag back on and reentered the alchemy lab. Tabia filed in a few seconds later, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. She watched while he put his belongings back in his Bag of Holding. Seeing the incredulous look on her face, Richter shrugged, “Had to make sure the damn thing wouldn’t go off while it was in my bag. Now what else did you have to show me?”
Muttering about the craziness of humans, she brought out the rest of her stock. She had several hundred health, mana and stamina potions prepared, of varying potencies. He collected them all, planning to distribute most amongst his fighters. She also brought out a few dozen vials of poison. Those he planned to keep for himself.
You have found:
Poison of the Muddied Leech
Alchemy Class: Uncommon.
Alchemy Level: Solution.
Alchemy Strength: Processed.
Weight: 0.1 kg
Traits: Causes 57-75 points of Earth magic (24%) and Poison damage (76%) per second for 10-12 seconds.
“How?” Richter asked in wonder. This stuff was deadly. It wasn’t as powerful as shriek venom, but still! “Wait,” he said. The name of the poison was tickling something in his memory, “is this from-”
“The Assassin’s poison,” Tabia finished excitedly. “I was able to alter the recipe to increase it from a tincture to a solution. The local equivalent of a corrupt leech was a muddied leech, and it changed the Death damage to Earth damage. In light of its effectiveness, I did not think you would mind,” she said with a smile. The woman really enjoyed her work. “This is much stronger than the original venom.”
Tabia said she would keep working on potions throughout the day. Richter thanked and congratulated her before moving on. There were more stops to make.
The next place he went was the skath nest. As busy as he was, he hadn’t forgotten the importance of spending time with the young monsters. The greater the imprint bond, the stronger and more loyal the beasts would be in the future. The twins were also there. They invited him to “swim” as per usual, but there was no time for it. After only five minutes, he started walking towards the Quickening.
Sion was right. Almost fifty sprites should be emerging from the silver meidon shells today. As Richter walked up, he was delighted to see scores of changed sprites. Just like his Companion, they had all grown a foot in height and their faces had adopted a look of perfect vitality. He was less excited by the fact that the forest and wood sprites were shouting curses at one another.
“Look at the fancy sprites in their matchey matchey outfits!” one of the forest sprites shouted.
“Do not be jealous that our parents knew each other and could clothe us in more than animal skins!” a wood sprite shouted back.
“I could not hear you. I was distracted by the cute perfume you are wearing.” Another forest sprite said.
Hisako and Yoshi stood by watching the interplay. Richter didn’t understand why she hadn’t taken controlled the situation yet. Even if the forest sprites did not like wood sprites, the Hearth Mother’s presence should have been enough to quell snarling dogs, let alone a couple of frat boys having a pissing contest. When they made eye contact she just looked at him while the shouting worsened, and he understood. This was his land, that meant it was his problem.
“Enough!” Richter roared. All eyes turned towards him. “I am the lord of these lands. I am the liege of Queen Elora. My word is what matters here, not the petulant mewling of those who would fight their allies!”
He looked around fiercely, staring into each face. The anger that had been on their faces drained away. The chaos seed continued, “We have a true enemy to face. There are goblins on our doorstep sacrificing men, women and children. Humans, elves and sprites! We have waited a full day so that you could finish the bonding and fight with us. We sacrificed another life, so that you could fight against these foes! Now, what do I find instead of warriors? Petty children!”
Hisako finally spoke up as well, “Our old enemies are at our doorstep. Those green-skinned devils have dared to come into our forest. Will we let them stay?”
A ragged chorus of “No” came from both groups.
“Will we let them torture and kill our people? Will sprites stand by while evil is done?” she asked louder.
The shouts were louder this time, “No!”
“Will you stand in the name of the sorat’shin? Will you fight our ancient enemies? Will you answer the call to battle?” she shouted at a volume that belied her small frame.
“YESSS!” came the calls. Though it was clear there were old tensions between the wood sprites and their forest cousins, they still agreed on at least two things: the honor they paid to their common forebearers, the sorat’shin or ‘true sprites,’ and their hatred of the sprites’ racial enemies, the goblins.
She nodded to them, then looked at Richter and stepped back. He nodded back in appreciation. All eyes came to rest upon him again, “You are no longer wood sprites, or forest sprites. You have bonded. You have fulfilled the ancient ritual of the shetu’meidon and become more than you were before. All of you have bonded to the other half of your souls. These petty arguments are for the past. They are for who you were, I say! I say you are not who you were! I say you are meidon sprites!”
All the changes sprites present cheered and took up a call, “Meidon! Meidon! Meidon!”
A prompt appeared in Richter’s vision.