BUDDING MAN'S EXCERPT - p.4

[needitallcash 58]

 

[!] Another crumpled and wet-stained parchment is opened and legible before you. The edges were charred. Spittle was ingrained into the page, smeared as if someone had tried to wipe it away. [!]

 

“I have experienced near implosion on more than one experimental basis. The medium of aurum flasks is an expensive one, my ambition nearly costing me vision and sense. In my pursuit, however, I have gleaned new understanding- clarity comes to me, the signs common and principal. My heart has been made concrete, I have made many measures thus that have made me an enemy in some states. Darker pastures have been sought by once-debates, and my heart grows taut as I will not follow suit. I cannot call for many allies- I am fresh amongst the isle and my allegiances were close to hateful from many perspectives. No fault but my own, but I hope man’s truth will shine through. My own expression and victory has made me victim! No longer!

 

Many-a-time I have been to the stake of death, and many-a-time I have seen traveler come to inspect and climb. The energies of the beyond flow effortlessly there. It was there that I made a stand against my tutor and his god. It is there that I experimented with the forces both abyssal and worldly. It is there that I realized that force may only go so far, but some only understand mettle - the point has already been made in that manner, there must be another way. And it is now that I believe I have reached a plateau..

 

Still, my fire yearns yet. But for now, I must bide. There are whispers of greater pursuits, and I have seen many men and beast and demigod shelter strange affects that I still cannot grasp as concept. Nevertheless, for what I can, I will attempt to teach. I will stretch my hand with flint and perhaps find fire within another. It is only that I pray that another will not do the same as I have done, but better, and perhaps it is only right. My notes will follow, a summarization of what I have learned thus:

 

Spoiler

 

BASICS

Alchemy concerns the study of the worldly and the manipulation of the elements already present on our isle. Ultimately, this includes the Material Alphabet, which is a collection of glyphs that detail the world around us in its most layman state. I have attempted to bring power to those symbols directly but have been unsuccessful - this does not mean it is not possible. 

 

The Alphabet contains signs and symbols. Signs are the method in which a glyph may be identified, these being: earth, fire, air, water and aether. Symbols are the worldly effects contained by the former, these being (but not contained to): death, curtailment, separation, grace and so on. Know that each symbol has an antithesis or, rather, an opposite. You must get these from regents and herbs which must be processed.

 

PROCESSES

There are three processes you will need to grasp fundamentally: identifying herbs, extracting signs and symbols, and mixing philters.

1. IDENTIFY

For identification, you will need to learn of botany - this is the study of herbs. This 

includes what they are composed of, where they can be found, how they may be grown 

and so on. Naturally, as you progress, you will be able to derive more easily and in less 

time spent.

2. EXTRACT

For extraction, there are multiple methods for different signs. In brief, I will detail:

• Mundane: Cut the herb, then heat pot of boiling water on stove until boiling. Put crushed herb into mortar and pestle w/ Aqua Vitae then crush until goo. Put goo into a double boiler to evaporate to powder. Dump powder through a sieve and go through results to get symbols.
• Earth: Cut up herb and add into mortar alongside half-ratio of salt. Grind until powder, then sieve to separate.
• Fire: Dehydrate/dry out herb, then crush w/ mortar and pestle until powder. Set this on fire, then sift through the ash.
• Water: Fill bowl w/ water and drown herb. Crush until mushy texture, then spread evenly on the tray. Set out in sun to evaporate - this takes a whole day.
• Air: Dehydrate/dry out the herb then cut. Crush w/ mortar and pestle until powder. Compress and decompress in air chamber found in lab - also coffee compressor. Put powder through sieve to separate symbols and group.
• Aether: Same process as Mundane, but with aurum tools.

3. MIX

To mix, you will need to have gone through the previous. This step will include you having to learn about the make-up of a potion of your choosing and having a lab accessible to you. You may have the most mundane, run-down, piss-poor set-up so long as you have one! Follow the recipe as given or expected and fruition will come to you.

 

 

ADDITIONALS

As you progress naturally within your studies, some recipes will come naturally to you. Consider these as ‘Common’. Others, I will expose. For those considered as ‘Rare’, you will have to go out on your own and seek writ or tutelage from another who is well-versed in the practice if I am ignorant.

 

Have bases such as Aqua Vitae, redstone, water, lifeblood and so on in great supply. It will be necessary.

 

Know that any of this will require mental fortitude. Do not lose yourself to the crashing of the world as there are many forces assailing. You will be beset, eventually, by visions and conniption of strange sort. Embrace these and what will come with it. Deny yourself and this and be crushed by your own unconscious ambition. Take heed.”

 

 

Spoiler

((For clarification, NONE of these notes are able to be used for self-teaching/learning purposes outside of flavor despite me OOCly planning to use part of this for my character’s Alchemy TA.

 

Edited April 24, 2025 by needitallcash