>>41606390
It’s a cold morning or at least as cold as this land seems to get. Dew beads the blades of grass growing alongside the jet black path, the Pilgrim’s Way. The land around you is idyllic, browned grass and sparse trees as the rising sun crests the horizon. You are sitting on the back of the covered wagon as it makes its slow way to the three mountains in the distance. Oster is sitting out in the front by the mule, his posture an echo of how he sat when you first met him. Aashenpreet is by his side with her eyes fixed on the horizon. Beside them is a man in orange robes with his face hidden by a white veil, a member of ...what had Aashenpreet called them again? The Ranadin? The guardians of the Way. He hasn’t spoken much but rides along with you, sometimes on the cart, sometimes walking somewhere in the distance. He is your escort.
You can’t see Hiss but you’re fairly sure that she’s inside the covered wagon itself and is probably still asleep.

The city of Pataliputna, with its confusing layout and its even more confusing serpents are now far behind you. You’ve ridden throughout the night in shifts, getting ever closer to your destination. The Chau Devi lies ahead of you, the Compact House atop it. Truth be told, you’re not sure what’s going to happen when you get there. Hiss’ plans are volatile at best and your enemies have had ample time to prepare for you. But there can be no turning back now.
But it is not quite an urgent matter. The Chau are still in the distance and you have some time ahead of you. How you use it is up to you.

> Speak with Oster.

> Speak with Aashenpreet.

> Speak with Rock.

> Speak with Hiss.

> Speak with the Ranadin.

> Brew and experiment.

> Just let the time pass idly, this might be your last chance to relax.

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41606391
> Brew and experiment.

>>41606391
> Brew and experiment.

>>41606391
>> Brew and experiment.
>last chance to relax.
>Implying brewing isnt relaxing

>>41606391
>> Speak with Hiss.
While we
> Brew and experiment
Need a plan. .
Also awful early ain't it Oruro?

>>41606390
fuck man, as an aussie, you should be still awake from last night now rather than just woken up. i'll catch up today, i guess

>>41606456
>>41606505
Last night at work I accidentally jammed a skewer into the space underneath the fingernail of my right thumb. I am not sleeping as a result, hence an earlier thread.


> Brew and experiment.

For the third time today you reach through your pack and pull out the tome that Tanni had given you. The pages are browned with age and are scattered with alchemical diagrams and brewing instructions, all of which are in Quedeshi. You have potions that let you speak other languages but currently nothing that helps you read it. You'll need to find an interpreter to read it for you or figure out something else if you want to investigate it further.

Of course, you hardly need to solve the mysteries of this book to brew and experiment. You're just fine with that on your lonesome, especially with the alchemy lab that Tanni gave you, currently miniaturized via Collapsible Brew and sitting in your pack. You have a lot of hypothetical recipes and combinations you want to try out even if it might just be more practical to restock your supplies with brews you've already mastered.

> Get Hiss to translate the book for you. She has some alchemical experience these days.

> Get Aashenpreet to translate the book for you. Less likely to get snooty about it than Hiss even if she doesn't know jack about alchemy.

> Restock your supplies.

> Try to use the lab to improve some potions you already know how to make.

> Attempt the shapeshifting brew.

> Attempt the dispel brew.

> Experiment with some of the ideas you had on the boat back in the Ulund but never had the time to follow up.

> Experiment with some brand new brews.

> Other (Specify)

>>41606559
> Get Aashenpreet to translate the book for you. Less likely to get snooty about it than Hiss even if she doesn't know jack about alchemy.
> Attempt the shapeshifting brew.

>>41606559
> Try to use the lab to improve some potions you already know how to make.
Improve wordtheft brew

>>41606559
>> Get Aashenpreet to translate the book for you. Less likely to get snooty about it than Hiss even if she doesn't know jack about alchemy.
> Restock your supplies.
Then if there is time
> Attempt the dispel brew.

>>41606559
> Attempt the dispel brew.

> Get Aashenpreet to translate the book for you. Less likely to get snooty about it than Hiss even if she doesn't know jack about alchemy.
>Attempt the dispel brew.

You probably should figure out a way to get through this book. Just because you can't read it doesn't mean you should just give up! Particularly not when as far as you can tell, Aashenpreet is basically doing nothing right now.
She's talking to Oster but eh, people can talk to Oster any time. It's probably not important.

You call her over and hand her the book.
"Hey Aash, can you write this down in Avling or something? It'd be much appreciated."

Aashenpreet mostly just looks bemused.
"Write down with what?"

"Uh."
Shit.

"I can read it out to you, I guess? But it doesn't make much sense to me. These are Quedeshi words but some of them...they are not used in the ways I expect them to be."

Jargon of some description, no doubt. It probably shouldn't be too hard to decipher.
"Well you figure something out while I brew. You don't mind, do you?"

"No, not much. This isn't really my area of expertise however."

"It's nobody's area of expertise. Tell me if you find anything cool."

And with that, you start unpacking your lab, taking care to place it well away from the edge. The various pieces of equipment are all tiny, small enough to fit into your hand. You give each of them a shake and let them resize back to a full-sized alchemy lab sitting precariously at the back of the wagon.
It should be fine as long as there's no sudden acceleration.

Or at least that's what your hoping because most of this stuff is made of glass. You understand why, of course. Even the finest metal cauldrons contaminate brews by a significant amount while glass can keep them pure. It might not seem like a huge bonus but it adds up. And that's not even mentioning the increased accuracy in filtration, decanting and other assorted tasks with all of these specialized flasks.

1/2

>>41606810
You get to work quickly, paging through your copy of 'Alchemy & Anti-Magick' as often as you can. The dispel brew holds some significance to you, after all. It was the first master-tier brew to truly show up in your journeys and it was with it that you had slain your first spirit.
Man, that takes you back! You wonder how Iana's doing these days. She really didn't deserve how it all turned out, you suppose. You never did find out why she needed the dispel potion either. You guess you'll never know.

So yes, there's no denying the power of the simple dispel brew. But that's not all this book contains. The bulk of theory that it presents to back up its recipes could allow for a lot of variations, some that have already been made. Couldn't a specialized form of the dispel brew be even better?

> Just try for the regular Dispel Brew. No need to mess with the classics.

> Screw the classics, it's time to get experimental up in here.

> Other

>>41606888
> Screw the classics, it's time to get experimental up in here.

>>41606888
> Screw the classics, it's time to get experimental up in here.
All this new swanky gear

>>41606888
>> Screw the classics, it's time to get experimental up in here.

>>41606888
> Screw the classics, it's time to get experimental up in here.

> Screw the classics, it's time to get experimental up in here.

This is going to take a bit more time than you originally intended but you're fine with that. And while the dispel brew might be fantastic, it was made with no knowledge of the soul or snake reagents. Who knows what you could do with a little bit of investigation?

> A brew that acts like a shield, once drunk it will protect you from the next magic targeting you within its several-hour duration.

> Something that should be able to cripple the Art of anyone who drinks it, rendering them unable to use their magic for the next few hours.

> The opposite of a dispel brew, a brew that makes any magical effects and curses inflicting the drinker permanent. This includes alchemical effects.

> A brew that behaves like ordinary water for most people but acts like an incredibly potent acid upon contact with any organic being that has Art.

> Something that uses the soul-link you've pioneered and lets you borrow individual magics from someone who's drunk from the same bottle.

> A potion that can nullify a spirit's form of invulnerability for a short period of time.

>>41607111
> Something that should be able to cripple the Art of anyone who drinks it, rendering them unable to use their magic for the next few hours.

>>41607111
Does the shield only work once for its duration?

>>41607111
> The opposite of a dispel brew, a brew that makes any magical effects and curses inflicting the drinker permanent. This includes alchemical effects.

Hello potence, regeneration and spirit sight

>>41607165
Yes, though it can work multiple times against weak/insignificant things.

>>41607179
Can we choose more than one?

>>41607194
You can only choose one. You can choose to come back to this and select another later but it eats up more time.

>>41607210
Would the shield prevent our own brews from working on us?

>>41607229
No.

>>41607111
> The opposite of a dispel brew, a brew that makes any magical effects and curses inflicting the drinker permanent. This includes alchemical effects.

Sounds overpowered. Let's do it.

>>41607250
Gives us permanency on Potence and Regen if nothing else.

>>41607111
> The opposite of a dispel brew, a brew that makes any magical effects and curses inflicting the drinker permanent. This includes alchemical effects.
If we let everyone drink potence and regen brews first beating our doppelgangers would be way easier

>>41607277
I wanna use the magic shield brew and make that permanent too though

>>41607319
We could even permanently steal magic/language from people too. This brew is OP as fuck. I wonder if it would make Aash's messed up wishbond permanent too though

>>41607358
We give her a severing potion before we use it.

>>41607169
Permanent soulsight might be a problem. We should modify soulsight so that we can see the real world a little better at the same time.

> The opposite of a dispel brew, a brew that makes any magical effects and curses inflicting the drinker permanent. This includes alchemical effects.

This brew, tentatively named Persistence Brew, seems the best of the lot. Imagine what you'd be able to get a hold of with this!

It takes a good while to get down, several hours pass and the sun rises almost to the zenith. Aashenpreet has given up on reading the book by the time you finish and you gaze upon a flask of bright blue fluid with golden sparks dancing within. This is it, this is the potion that could turn it all around.
And there should be no downsides whatsoever.

As far as you can tell, while it is active any affects upon your person become permanent and cannot be halted save through a dispel brew or through your own special Persistence Antidote.

> Go ask Aashenpreet what she's learned from the book.

> Drink the Persistence Brew and START LOADING UP.

> You want to brew some other dispel variants first (Specify)

> Brew something else up.

> Go talk to someone (Specify)

> Other

>>41607396
> You want to brew some other dispel variants first (Specify)
Magic shield brew
How long does the persistence brew last?
I also want to make better potence and regen brews with lab equipment for better permanent effects

>>41607396
>> Go ask Aashenpreet what she's learned from the book.

Give her a Wishbond breaker if she wants it.

>>41607436
The Persistence Brew is permanent but it is always active so any effects imparted upon you while you enjoying said permanency are also made permanent.

>>41607396
> You want to brew some other dispel variants first (Specify)

Magic shield.

What's the duration on the persistence brew? We should try to use it only when we're sure we won't be affected by other negative effects.

Also does the Persistence Antidote remove all active persistent effects or can we choose which?

>>41607396
> You want to brew some other dispel variants first (Specify)
> A brew that acts like a shield, once drunk it will protect you from the next magic targeting you within its several-hour duration.

>>41607459
So the magic shield brew is necessary for it to be safe.

>>41607464
If we make a shield brew permanent we should be fine. I wonder if a healing brew would be a more effective regen brew when used with persistence

welp looks like we wasted a whole day on dispels.

So say we shapeshift into a dragon while persistence is active. We would need to use another dose of shapeshift to turn back to human, right? We should make sure we have two doses if we shapeshift again, just in case our new form comes with severe drawbacks or we mess up the transformation.

Also Ouro, now that we've seen what a queen snek is capable of how hard would it be for us to shapeshift into something similar? Harder than the dragon?

>>41607549
I don't see how it could be called a waste. These brews are badass.

>You want to brew some other dispel variants first.
>Magic shield brew.

Noon comes and goes while you slave away attempting to create what you now refer to as the Antimagic Flask. The Antimagic Flask should, once drunk, protect you from the next serious case of magic directed your way during the next few hours. It doesn't stop imbibed potions though.
What's more, you can totally use this in conjunction with the Persistence Brew! If you do so it grants you the same one-use protection as ever, only now it extends for an unlimited duration until its broken. It unfortunately doesn't render you just immune to magic entirely, as incredible as that would be.

You bottle the Antimagic Flask and set it next to your Persistence Brew, inspecting both as the landscape moves around you. Someone then grabs you from behind, wrapping their arms around your shoulders.
You jump in surprise and nearly send the whole alchemy lab toppling onto the road.

"Anything interesting?"
It's Hiss, having emerged from the wagon when you weren't paying attention.
"You spend so much time with your cauldron these days. Should I be getting jealous?"

You tell her about the Persistence Brew and her eyes light up.
"Really? Show me!"

> You're not sure what she's planning but sure. Drink it down.

> Give it to Hiss.

> "I'd prefer to save it for now."

> Distract her from the subject.

> Other

>>41607643
> You're not sure what she's planning but sure. Drink it down.

>>41607643
>> You're not sure what she's planning but sure. Drink it down.

>>41607643
> You're not sure what she's planning but sure. Drink it down.

> You're not sure what she's planning but sure. Drink it down.

You pop the top off the bottle and drink it without a second thought. It tastes like spoiled milk.
"It doesn't have much effect without adding anything else but if I drink a Potence now I should be as strong as you are permanently! Pretty nice, isn't it?"

She nods, narrowing her eyes.
"I have to admit, I'm a little interested in its uses. Here, put this on."

She's holding out a length of cloth suddenly in her brown hands, something that looks suspiciously like a blindfold.
"Uh, alright."

You let her weave the blindfold around your eyes, completely cutting off your vision and reducing you to darkness. You hear something rustling about, glass against glass.
"Alright, what's this all about? This is a little uncomfortable."

"Don't worry," Hiss says, trying to hold back some sort of mirth. "Just open your mouth."

Glass brushes against your lips. It's a bottle, Hiss is holding some sort bottle up to your mouth. Does she even know which potion is which?
"Just drink and find out. Don't you trust me?"

> Drink it.

> Take the blindfold off. "I'd trust you with my life Hiss. I wouldn't trust you not to mess with me because you're bored."

> Other

>>41607843
> Take the blindfold off. "I'd trust you with my life Hiss. I wouldn't trust you not to mess with me because you're bored."

>>41607843
> Drink it.

I swear to god if that's the love potion. Probably not though since >glass against glass and I'm sure she won't put it with the other potions.

>>41607843
This isn't even meta, I'd never trust Hiss with anything.
> Take the blindfold off. "I'd trust you with my life Hiss. I wouldn't trust you not to mess with me because you're bored."

>>41607903
She blindfolded us, why would you trust her at all?

>>41607843
> Drink it.
Its hiss

> Take the blindfold off. "I'd trust you with my life Hiss. I wouldn't trust you not to mess with me because you're bored."

You keep your lips firmly pressed together until you've undone the blindfold entirely, letting it fall into your lap. To her credit, Hiss probably could have forced you to drink it regardless of your opinion on the matter if she really wanted you to.
"I'm sorry Hiss but while I'd trust you with my life, I wouldn't trust you not to do something nasty because you're bored."

You look down at the potion in her hands, a bottle full of sparking yellow ooze. Is that your last bottle of Eugene's potion? If you'd drunk that while under the effects of the Persistence Brew...
You look back up and stare at Hiss, who has the decency to look at least a little embarrassed.

"I'm bored," she says. "It feels like you're never around anymore. It's always Tanni this or alchemy that or 'you can watch as I spend hours stirring a cauldron'. Aren't you my servant? Serve me!"

"And what? You were planning on me to drink that so you could have me all to yourself? That's the last one of those."

"You can replicate them, can't you?"

> "You know, if you just wanted my company all you had to do was ask."

> "Later. I'm busy right now."

> Upend the bottle she's holding all over her. Turnabout is fair play.

> Pet snake.

> "If you want to screw around with someone so much, why don't we work together to mess with somebody else?"

> Use Potion (Specify)

> Other

>>41608109
> Pet snake.
> "You know, if you just wanted my company all you had to do was ask."
> "If you want to screw around with someone so much, why don't we work together to mess with somebody else?"

>>41608109
> Pet snake.
> "You know, if you just wanted my company all you had to do was ask."
> Use Potion (Potence and Regen)

>>41608109
> "You know, if you just wanted my company all you had to do was ask."
> Pet snake.

>>41608132
>>41608160
Permanency is still going guys, we need to load up on potence and regen now if we can.

>>41608109
> Pet snake.
> "You know, if you just wanted my company all you had to do was ask."
> "If you want to screw around with someone so much, why don't we work together to mess with somebody else?"

>tfw when waste a permanency because we can't be arsed to drink 2 potions really quickly.

>>41608109
Drink antidote and make out, it should be permanent

>>41608212
Her venom isn't magic right?

>>41608212
No we're apparently going t waste the brew it took 6 hours to make and not do anything with it. Also likely Die to Hiss's poison since it amps up the effectiveness of effects on us.

>>41608252
It is, but an anti-venom would take most the bite out of it, especially since permanency is still active.

> Pet snake.
> "You know, if you just wanted my company all you had to do was ask."
> "If you want to screw around with someone so much, why don't we work together to mess with somebody else?"

You sigh. You suppose that from Hiss' perspective she hasn't seen much of you lately.
"You know Hiss, if you wanted my company all you had to do was ask."

"Bah! I doubt it. All you've been doing all day is fiddling around with all these little glass toys. I'd be surprised if you'd evvvvvvvvvvvn-"
You slip your hand down her shirt before she's finished talking and from there it's quite easy to make sure she never finishes that sentence. You've had practice.
The bulk of the wagon is between you and everyone else, giving you a small semblance of privacy but not really enough. You don't go much further for the next ten minutes or so, leaving a much mollified Hiss in your wake.

"We are going to have to talk about your manners one day," she says, lying against you. "Or your lack thereof."

"Are you complaining?"

"Not yet. Give me time."

"Hah. Well, I trust you are no longer bored, your Highness?"

"What if I am?"

"Well then I suppose we'll have to find something to entertain us."

Hiss sits up abruptly.
"Or someONE."

What? Was she suggesting that she bring a third person in on this? You're not sure how you feel about expanding your horizons in that direction.

"You know what we should do?," she says. "We should totally mess with someone. I bet with my talent and your potions we could make someone really confused."

"Oh, uh, that's what you meant? Oh no, that's fine. That's good."

She cocks her head.
"What did you think I meant?"

"Nothing, nothing. Let's go do that thing you just said."

"Now that's more like it! Let's go fuck around with ..."

> Rock

> Aashenpreet.

> Oster.

> The Ranadin.

> Decline.

> Decline but only because you're planning on messing with her instead.

> Other

>>41608519
>> The Ranadin.
Also Cennen for fucks sake Drink a Potence Regen and anti-venom.

>>41608519
> The Ranadin.
Let's make sure we don't kill him, though.
Also, what >>41608558 said

>>41608519

>>41608519
> Rock

> The Ranadin.

"The Ranadin," Hiss finishes. "He'll never see it coming."

You're not so sure if this is a good idea but it's probably better to go along with Hiss' mostly harmless whims than against them for now. You reach into your pack and down a Potence and a Regen while your Persistence Brew is still fresh, letting them infuse your body with strength.
"Woah!"

"Pfft. I bet I'm still stronger."

"We'll see, we'll see. Now what's this about the Ranadin?"

"He doesn't know any of us so he's basically the perfect target. And he's always acting so stoic and silent, I want to break his shell. Do you think I should reveal my true nature to him?"

"You know what the answer to that is."

"I think it'd be funny. And I'm the boss here, not you."

> Just go along with Hiss' plan for now.

> Actually, there's a potion you think would be really funny (Specify)

> Brew up something new that should give him a shock (Specify)

> You have a cunning plan (Specify)

> Other

>>41608764
>Other

We could combine sticky clouds with a bad smell potion, they're both apprentice tier.

>>41606390
Brew up a potion that explodes into a cloud that smells mildly foul?

>>41608764
>Brew up something new that should give him a shock (Specify)

How about some kind of soul based hallucinogen that makes the afflicted think they're on fire for 10 minutes. Both harmless and sadistic to please Hiss.

>>41608764
>>41608892
Something like this, though fire is a little excesive. Just give him something to make him get trippy

>>41608764
Make a gaseous weakened journey brew and use it on him and watch him trip balls

Ugh, sorry guys but as it turns out 'stay up all night because of sore thumb and then try to run in the early morning' isn't actually a good idea. I can barely see straight and it takes me way too long to write anything that isn't filled with typos.

I was planning on just doing today as a fluffy SoL thing to get around that but I think I'm about to actually lose consciousness soon.

>>41608977
Well then get some rest Ouro thanks for running!

>>41608977
Thanks for running

>>41608977
Rest up man, it's cool. Thanks for running.