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One of the misconceptions of the field, for sure, although not without ground. One of the first maxims one learns as an alchemist is 'Perform no operation until all be made water.' Rubedo strokes his chin thoughtfully, I must agree with Ms. Saviz that we should start with the trees, that is, the forest. If the threat could be seen by air, surely the Powers of the Vale would have seen it.
Indeed, Miss Saviz, indeed. I can whip up an extract of Volans and also enjoy communion with the skies. I do try to avoid frivolous risks, though. Life is short. One of my aims to is to defeat that tragic curtailment we call Death. Best not tempt the Reaper for a cheap laugh one could easily replicate with a few tankards of ale.
Near the end of the hour, Rubedo is left with a rich purple potion. He quenches the flames in the canister with its lid and holds up the vial to the light. Though he seems satisfied with its hue, he isn't done apparently. He removes a mortar and pestle from his kit and begins grinding a sprig of peppermint, crocodile scales, a pine needle, and a spoonful of sugar from the bowl on the table everyone else was using for their tea. Once ground, he slides the mashed up contents into the vial. The powder dissolves rapidly in the potion, which turns to a pale blue and bubbles in its vial as if flowing like whitewater rapids. It's finished. The Dextrous Mutagen. I find the crocodile scale adds a nice toughness to the drinker's skin for the duration. And this vest--a gift from a former colleague--has magical properties which protect the drinker's mind and counteract the potion's most debilitating side effect of dulling the drinkers' willpower and judgment.
The dragons mentioned a bad smell, did they? Well, I can mix up a simple extract for altering my form and giving me the nose of a bloodhound for 20 minutes at a time. Might be able to pick up a scent trail that way! Rubedo muses.
Rubedo gets out his alchemist's kit and pulls out a small alembic: two vials about the size of a coffee mug with stoppers connected with a thin glass tube and sets it up at a nearby table. He opens the stopper on one and places it on a small stand, pours in a few small vials of clear, green chemicals and dumps them in, and then puts a few drops of a turquoise potion into it. Then he places a small canister under that vial, lights a tindertwig, and touches it to the canister, a small blue flame licking the bottom of the vial. The blue-green concoction darkens, but as it boils, clear bubbles rise to the surface, the vapors obviously traveling through the tube and condensing, drops of a bright purple potion falling into the second vial. Mutagenic potion. It will enhance my defenses, reflexes and aim with my bombs. I'd brew enough for all of us, but I can only maintain one dose at a time--those catalysts are imbued with my own magical power--and these potions destroy the stomachs of nonalchemists. he taps the glass, examining the hue of the distilling potion, and smiles, satisfied. There, I'll just need to add a few more reagents near the end of the hour, but it should get along just fine on its own while we plan. Now, how far exactly is the forest? And what dangers does it hold that you know of, headmaster? Best prepare for the mundane threats in addition to this new one.
At Wysteria's remark, Rubedo smiles. In general, yes. I'm prepared enough for a downright emergency, but I would like to brew a new mutagenic potion. The one I have ready will increase my intelligence, perfect for a day of laboratory work but I fear that what awaits us in the forest may be something for which I might want to increase my reflexes or fortitude. It will require an hour at my alembic to prepare. Rubedo, smiling, will head after Wysteria to the dining hall.
I suggest we take some time to prepare ourselves, and then head to the forest to investigate this matter. Rubedo twirls his rod in his fingers nervously. Fortune favors the bold, eh?
Great Ones, what can we do to help? My talents as an alchemist are, to be sure, considerable, but surely when weighed against a Power of the Vale... Rubedo sputters, humbly. But if there is anything we can do, Mr. Skyborne and I are agreed--I cannot speak for Ms. Saviz--we will do it.
Great Ones, I cannot lie, your power does indeed awe me--, Rubedo nods and bows to each of the Great Ones in turn. My life has been spent in studying sources of power, however, and my curiosity and trust in the headmaster, leads me to keep my feet where others might flee.
Alchemic labs are safest and most reliable in places of stable temperature and controlled airflow--perhaps a basement? A tower laboratory would work equally well, if it were well insulated and magically climate controlled, and would have the advantage of being more easily vented and not taking the whole castle with it were an experiment to explode. Oh, not that it's a likely situation. I'm just trying to be prudent. Give young students access to magical reagents and accidents are bound to happen, even among the most sensible students.
Headmaster, I'm not quite sure I understand what you mean by "procure"? Are we not in control of the entire facility? Is there some challenge to overcome in order to use the whole Academy? Rubedo strokes his chin thoughtfully.
I'd like more regular posting, too. I feel like the pacing of the story would be fine if posts were more frequent. I haven't really felt like Rubedo has much to contribute at this point. We're all waiting--well, I don't want to speak for everyone but I am waiting--for the big info dump so that we have stuff to work with game and role-play-wise. I also agree that more players would be nice, to keep the post count up. And I would think that of all methods of RPing, PbP would be the most conducive to WoP, because we're not all sitting around a table waiting in real time for you to decide which words to use. By necessity PbP is slower, so it gives us more time to utilize the greater options for WoP. I will say though that the alchemist probably suffers more than other casters from the switch to WoP because he loses out on some unique alchemist-only spells (like Alchemical Allocation or Amplify Elixir), but overall I'm fine with continuing WoP :)
Curious! Rubedo exclaims after stepping through one of the strange gravity areas and using his rod to steady himself. This place will be most conducive to magical research; a place where one can familiarize themselves with even strange and rare enchantments by living among them! Rubedo beams.
Rubedo sits, upper hands folded neatly on the table, though fiddling with his rod under the table with his lower hands, awaiting the headmaster's words.
Rubedo rises early, dressing in an undershirt, his vest of stable mutation--you never know, do you?--and then puts on in his black robes over it and dons his red and gold stole, and begins his daily "ritual". He readies his alchemist's kit, grabbing spare vials and catalysts, placing them carefully in his belt pouch. He then retrieves his leather-bound formula book and reads it as is his custom--not for any arcane purpose; alchemists, as he well knows, cannot memorize their formulæ entirely and must consult them at the time of preparing the extract. Still, the worn book is his oldest and most prized possession. He smiles as the very first formula he'd ever inscribed: the one enabling use of the simple verbum Decyphra not by combining syllables and gestures but by combining alchemical reagents and catalysts to the same effect. His penmanship was much rougher back then; his most recent formula for Ablue, the purification verbum, took four pages of minuscule but clear, elegant writing and precise diagrams to convey the nuances of exact amounts and timing the spell required. Seeing the silver tray approaching him, he smiles, stands, takes the tray and places it on his desk. Tucking his formula book into his belt pouch, he sits and starts steeping Earl Grey in his teapot while eating the porridge. Once finished eating and drinking the tea, he stands, takes up his rod and makes his way to the library.
Good, good, I need to find my quarters. Which way would those be? Rubedo asks, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
Ho, I like this place already! The university was so laughably mundane in its architecture. Nary a hidden doorway in sight, though, come to think of it, you wouldn't be able to see one, would you? Rubedo chortles approvingly, carrying a plate with a sandwich, a bowl of soup, and a tankard of ale as he sits down. So now, Messers Korel and Skyborne, what subjects will you be teaching at this academy? he asks, tucking into a sandwich.
Pleased to meet you, headmaster, Vicen, and Apollos. I am Dr. Rubedo Grimoire, potions master.
Oh, these? he holds up his bottom sets of arms. Side effects in the quest for that elusive quarry, alchemic perfection! I sought a way to quickly heal from any injury, but was a tad generous with the essence of mandrake I added to the elixir I was making. I sprouted an extra arm after the first draught! Naturally, I felt quite lopsided, so I took a second dose to even things out. Eventually, I perfected the regimen and am now brimming with regenerative energy, which I can even use to heal others! Can't pretend I haven't found the extra arms, forgive the pun, quite handy! Rubedo guffaws. Hearing the chime, he stops laughing and listens. Hmm, I wonder what that's about. Suppose we should check it out?
Pleased to meet you! Rubedo grins and holds out his upper right hand to shake. I am Dr. Grimoire, potions master. What subject is your speciality, Ms. Saviz? His hand feels a bit rough, as though chapped. He considers thoughtfully her offer, and nods. I was hoping to find the alchemy laboratory, but I am hungry after my journey and the lab isn't going anywhere. Very well, let's find the kitchen then.
Black, white and red are the colors associated with the three principal stages in alchemic reactions, so that's why I chose them for Rubedo :) Didn't even click they were the same colors as yours, Wysteria: just re-read yours.
Rubedo smiles as he enters the hall alone wearing an emerald green cloak and a handsome leather haversack, his lower hands placed casually in his pockets, his upper hands retrieving and opening a pocket watch in his waistcoat. He glances at it and replaces it into his pocket. Then Rubedo walks to the hall and takes up a staff, and blinks as the psychic link is established. The staff becomes a curious wooden rod: ebony on the bottom half, with swirling patterns into a ivory colored wood on the top half. On top is a red-gold colored crystal phial. Curiouser and curiouser, one spell per day, this shall be interesting. So used to the potions and extracts I imbibe working magic that to be a wandwaver will be quite the experience... he says to himself Rod in hand, he goes in search of the alchemy lab to become acquainted with its setup.
Hello there! Just noticed this was up :) I still have to go shopping for a few more magic items, but the rest of my character is all done; all the info is in the alias's profile page. I used my feats for extra discoveries and Rubedo now has four arms and spontaneous healing :)
I'm willing to wait as well! ^_^
Yep. How are we doing starting wealth again? Just the two magic items mentioned or WBL or what? Oh and this alias has everything crunch-wise except skills since you were using Runeforged skills.
This is CloakedInSmoke's alchemist character! I'll have the crunch up soon but here's the fluff. :)
Fluff:
Hello! Well met. I'm Dr. Rubedo Cupell Grimoire, but please, call me Rubedo. Or, if you're feeling especially cheeky, my childhood nickname of Grim. *chortles* Anyway, I would be perfect as potions master and head of alchemy at your school, headmaster. Oh that? That's my third arm. Got it almost a decade ago now. I'm a pioneer in the field, love experimenting, and that was my attempt to make myself permanently heal quickly from any injury. Added a tad too much mandrake, though, and instead it made me grow another arm! Been thinking of taking a second dose, just to even things out. Dead "hand"y *chortles* for an alchemist to have an extra hand, though. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. I'm sure you've read the three of my seminal works I've submitted, to remind you, they were the Index of Alchemic Reagents and Inherently Magical Materials, The Alchemist's Way (my comprehensive guide to potioneering, creating magical extracts, bomb-crafting, and the brewing of mutagens), and finally, Stones and Founts: Legends and Lore in Alchemy, in which I relate everything we know of alchemic myths such as the philosopher's stone and the fountain of youth. I think you will find them indispensable for teaching budding alchemists and potioneers of all skills and ages. I am not only a master fit for teaching students, but an active scholar in the field. Just last year I penned an award-winning paper in Journal of Advanced Alchemy regarding mummification and how, by a month-long regimen of diet, exercise, and a carefully brewed, slightly poisonous alchemic tea, you can give a living body key immunities the undead--and now, thanks to the regimen, myself--enjoy. Don't worry, I am quite aware that only an advanced alchemist like myself--one immune to poison due to his frequent and prolonged exposure to chemicals--could have pulled off this and any student who attempted my regimen would undoubtedly kill himself in the process. I also work well leading others. Much advanced alchemy is a team affair, considering the complex brews that must be completed often simultaneously, and I am gifted at directing multiple assistants and monitoring their work even as I complete my own. I look forward to taking up the post at your school! Appearance:
I'm tall and stocky with platinum blonde hair and violet eyes (from my mum) and tan skin (from my dad). I wear billowy black scholar's robes with a red and gold stole (signifying myself as an alchemist). His most unusual features are his third arm (under his right arm) and a slightly chapped look to his skin, a side effect of his mummification. Motives:
[ooc]Rubedo is consumed--though he would never admit it to himself or anyone else--with overcoming his mortality. He feels a void in his life because his elf mother had a fling with his human dad, thereby consigning him to a relatively short life. He truly enjoys alchemy for its own sake (and thus would not be affected too much in his pursuit of alchemic mastery), but he tends to focus all his research on using alchemy to overcome death. He does not rule out undeath entirely, although he does not have the stomach or the heart to become a lich, but he does study the undead to duplicate their immunities. He is confident, though, that alchemy, and not necromancy, will ultimately enable him to live forever. If he were to have an alignment, he would probably hover between N and CN. Academic Accomplishments:
Crunch:
(coming soon) Weapons, Gear, & Equipment: (coming soon) [list] |
