>>45383319
>Department of Esoterica

After walking about maybe half of the Potion College’s quadrangle you find a building that catches your eye. Just what does the ‘Department of Esoterica’ deal in? Are they people with strange masteries like yourself? If Master Tallen is someone Hiss considers useful then he very well might be in here. Of course he could also in any number of the other buildings but you haven’t asked for directions yet and you’re not going to start now.

You push open the wooden double doors, finding them unlocked. That makes sense you suppose, they’re holding classes in here right now. Several students pass you by without giving you a second glance as you wander through the corridors doing your best not to look lost.

>Find the faculty rooms in this Department.

>Follow students to class.

>Ask the students about the whereabouts of a Master Tallen.

>Find the Department’s small library.

>Find a spot to brew.

>Other

>>45383331
>Follow students to class.

>>45383331
>>Find the Department’s small library.

>>45383331
>Follow students to class.

>>45383331
>Ask the students about the whereabouts of a Master Tallen.

>>45383331
>>Find the faculty rooms in this Department.

File: sssh.jpg (39 KB, 500x375)

39 KB JPG

Calling for following to class. Writing

>Follow students to class.

What's the harm in messing around for a bit? It's not like you're in a rush or anything. You can afford to be a bit nosey and who knows? Maybe you'll learn something.

You tail the students down the corridor and find a small crowd of young men and a few women filing into a lecture hall. The room is filled with chairs and desks sitting along raised steps before the central podium with a chalkboard behind it. You follow everyone else in and do your best not to stand out.
You decide that if anyone asks you just used to be in a different building or something and changed courses recently. Can people do that? You have no earthly idea.

It takes several minutes for the residing Master, a portly short man who's starting to go bald. What are the odds that he's Master Tallen? Pretty low as you find out. His name is Master Toffrey. His eyes linger on you for just a moment but he doesn't seem to care. You managed to bluff your way past through all of the outer borders so it seems now everyone just assumes you're a legitimate student.

Toffrey wastes no time in launching into a lecture about truth elixirs and the students around you are scribbling down notes into their books.
You don't have any notes yourself but if you borrowed one from a student somehow you might be able to learn something.

>Ask your neighbour for some paper.

>Nobble some notes off a student once the lecture is over.

>Pull out one of your books and just write in the back of that.

>You don't need to know about truth potions. Just wait until the end.

>You're in the wrong room, time to leave.

>Interfere with the lecture.

>Other

>>45383672
>Nobble some notes off a student once the lecture is over.
we are the master of nobbling

>>45383672
>You don't need to know about truth potions. Just wait until the end.
Not particularly esoteric in my opinion

>>45383672
>>You're in the wrong room, time to leave.
seems less than totally interesting

>>45383672
>You're in the wrong room, time to leave.
Let's disguise ourselves by testing out that new shapeshifting brew while we continue to look around

>>45383672
>>You're in the wrong room, time to leave.

>You're in the wrong room, time to leave.

This isn't all that interesting really. Not even that particularly esoteric either! You stand up and awkwardly walk back outside as everyone watches you.
"Sorry, wrong class," you mouth.

You make it back into the corridor without incident and it is there that you noticed a worn timetable pinned onto a bulletin board. As much as certain classes with names such as 'Meta-Alchemy' and 'Applied Psychedeliacs' sound interesting, you spot that Master Tallen does indeed teach Mental Alchemy along with Master Toffrey.
The only problem is that the next class of that he's teaching is in three hours. Fuck. Should you just wait for that or should you try and seek him out?

The rest of the bulletin board has nothing all that interesting in it save a notice about the 'Apprentice Tutor Program' needing more volunteer Masters.

>Look for the library.

>Find a spot to brew.

>Maybe you should just ask someone where Tallen is right now.

>Try to find the faculty rooms in this Department.

>Check out the tutoring program.

>Nobble supplies wildly while nobody is watching.

>Other

>>45383974

>Maybe you should just ask someone where Tallen is right now.

>>45383974
>Look for the library.

>>45383974
>>Maybe you should just ask someone where Tallen is right now.

it won't hurt to figure out hiss's thing first and then do a bit of exploration hopefully.

>>45383974
>Nobble supplies wildly while nobody is watching.

>>45383974
>Look for the library.

>>45383974
>Maybe you should just ask someone where Tallen is right now.

We should check out the munitions department for inspiration for caster brews

Tallen might be interested in our thought brew, we should show it off to him

>>45384216
I just realized, Melire was where Hiss was imprisoned and force fed truth potions right? Maybe she wants revenge on him if he was involved since he's a mental alchemist.

>>45384262
Oh yeah, Likely.

>>45384262
Yeah this is definitely what's going on. Unfortunately Cennen knows nothing about it.

>Maybe you should just ask someone where Tallen is right now.

It wouldn't hurt to figure out Hiss' task first, would it? You can explore and learn and nobble afterwards. You wander for a little bit more before you find someone who looks like they know their way around. You claim you need to speak to Master Tallen about something from his classes and they give you directions to his office.

You follow the directions and only get lost once before finding the door with the plaque reading 'Master Tallen, Mental Alchemy'. You knock but there's no immediate response.

You knock a second time.
A third time.

You try the doorknob and find it unlocked and after a moment's trepidation, open it slowly and peek inside. The room beyond is cluttered, a desk overburdened with stacks of paper and a filthy lab. Shelves and closets line the walls, containing bottled brews and books.
Master Tallen is the corner, kneeling down and half-inside a cupboard as he searches through it. Bottles and scrolls and various oddments roll across the floor as he pulls them out of the cupboard and sets them down as he continues his search.
He spots you out of the corner of his eye and tries to stand up while still halfway in the small cupboard and hits his head. The bottles in the upper shelves rattle and you hear a muffled curse before the Master extracts himself.

He's a tall man with a surprisingly strong build for a scholar and his lantern-jawed face is framed by short blonde hair. He's wearing a tunic and trousers with a dusty coat in the alchemist's blue.
"Hello? Sorry about all of the mess, come in, come in!"
He takes up a seat behind the desk and wipes his brow.
"Now what can I help you with? Are you one of my students?"

>Ask him what he was doing.

>Claim to be a student.

>Tell him about an exciting job offer!

>Ask that a client wants to see him.

>Talk shop with him.

>Ask him what he does.

>Other

>>45384346
>Ask him what he was doing.
>Talk shop with him.

>>45384346
>>Ask him what he does.

>Ask that a client wants to see him.

>>45384346
>Talk shop with him.
Then:
>Tell him about an exciting job offer!

>>45384346
>Ask him what he was doing.
Need a hand with something?
>Talk shop with him.
Then
>Ask that a client wants to see him.

>>45384346
>Talk shop with him.
>Ask him what he does.
>Ask that a client wants to see him.

>>45384346
>Tell him about an exciting job offer!

>Ask him what he was doing/what he does.
>Talk shop with him.
>Tell him that a client wants to see him.

"I'm not one of your students, no. I'm here to represent a prospective client who wants to see you."

He pushes some of the paperwork on his desk around in a futile attempt to make it look more orderly.
"I'm sorry but I don't take clients anymore. Teaching here is a full-time job."

"She is willing to pay quite an exceptional amount."
You doubt Hiss will pay this man anything but after she gets into his head he'll probably think she did.
"And I am given to understand that you have three hours until your next class. That's plenty of time."

"Golly, you sure did your research didn't you? But unfortunately I'm a bit busy right now. I've mislaid an experimental brew that I was planning to use as a demonstration. No idea where I put it, would forget my own head if it wasn't bolted on!"
He looks at you hopefully.
"You haven't seen it lying around anywhere have you? Green bottle, blue potion? Sparking? I'm starting to think that it's not in my room at all and that I dropped it somewhere in the Department."

"I'm afraid not. But do you really need it?"

"Yes! I don't care how much your client is paying, I need to find that bottle. If some sap finds it and turns it in at the Brew Repository the other staff are really going to let me have it. Last thing I need is to go on probation again."

You must admit to being a little curious.
"What's wrong with it? Is it...dangerous?"

"No, not at all. Not at all. Probably. But they're going to really chew me out if knowledge of this gets out, you're not supposed to leave experiments lying around."
He looks at you in sudden panic.
"I shouldn't have said that. You're not going to tell anyone, are ya?"

"Nah, it's all good mate. What does it do?"

"Like I said, bit of an experiment. Drinking it should allow you to go without sleep for a week. Should be uh, extremely useful once I iron out all the kinks and side-effects."
1/2

>>45384730
Sounds very... interesting.
Also, if we ever need to raise funds, I propose a "Viagra" brew. Considering how much money it has made IRL we would be rich. If someone hasn't already made something like that of course.

>>45384730
"I've been on it for the past few days and actually, that might be why I lost it. Will have to note that down as a possible side-effect, may cause forgetfulness. Now where did I put my notes?"

Well now your interest is well and truly piqued.
"How do you replicate the effects of sleep with a potion? Is it the same principles as a restoration brew?"

"No. The brew doesn't replace sleep it just lets you go without. You know how sometimes you'll just be plodding along but then something fires you up and you feel more awake than ever? That's what the potion does. It doesn't replicate sleep so much as it keeps stimulating the part of your brain that gives you rushes of clarity. After that it's just a matter of making sure the body doesn't deteriorate during the process which, while it ain't my forte, I first came up with several different ways..."

You talk with Master Tallen for nearly ten minutes about the finer points of alchemical theory and where the potions that affect the body and those that affect the brain intersect.
"Anyway," Tallen says, "I've really been looking forward to eliminating the side-effects of this brew. It might not sound special but if it gets popular it could really change how we do...well, everything really. Now, if we can go back to the matter at hand, I can't help but notice that you've got a good grasp on all of this alchemy business. Why does your client need me when she has you?"

"I am an accomplished alchemist, I can't deny it. But we all have our specialities and she needs yours. I have little expertise in that field."
You have no idea what his speciality is but whatever it was he apparently used to get clients with it quite often.
"I understand you did a fair amount of work in that field in the past...?"

Tallen seems to fill in the dots and nods, which is great because you have no idea what the dots even are.
"Been there, done that but I'm working here now. It wasn't a very happy business, you know?"
2/3

>>45384918
You nod and pretend as if you do.

"I'll admit I was good at it," Tallen continues. "Even got some work for the late Mayor, may he rest in peace. But it wasn't good for the soul. I'm quite happy where I am now and besides, I really need to find my Restorative."

>"I don't think you understand how much my client is willing to pay."

>Offer to help him find his potion.

>Tell him about one of your brews (Specify)

>"Thank you for your time." Maybe you can just bring Hiss here instead?

>Other

>>45384979
>Offer to help him find his potion.
I can whip up a restore potion for you, the lack of sleep seems to have a deleterious affect on mental cognition.

>>45384979
>>Tell him about one of your brews (Specify)
Time to bribe him with knowledge

>>45384918
>>Offer to help him find his potion.
although a potion that makes you not sleep is more morally repugnant than any other brew developed thus far, i have no doubts that cennan wants it.

>>45384979
>Offer to help him find his potion.
>At least consider an interview?

>>45384979
We could've made a similar brew out of Bunyip hair a while ago. Tell him about it and offer to secure some ingredients for him that would help him with his own brew. Only if he at least speaks to our employer about the job she has for him. It's for a good cause.

>>45385055
Shit, good thinking. It was a restoration brew empowered by Bunyip hair that counted as a night of sleep right?

>>45384979
>>45385055

Supporting

>>45385044
>morally repugnant
wut

>>45384979
>"I don't think you understand how much my client is willing to pay."
>"She's also a great patron. If she likes your work she may offer to wholly fund your research, whatever expenses you may have, lab materials, rare ingredients, even travels, she'll cover for the time you're working for her"

>Offer to help him find his potion.

You scratch your head.
"You know, I think I heard of a potion that was similar to that. Drinking it counted as a full night of sleep or something. Used Bunyip hair."

Tallen chuckles.
"Oh if we could all have Bunyip hair at our disposal. I actually rode along in a Bunyip hunt once, the ones they used to have out in the marshes with the really long spears that you use to stake them down with so that they regenerate over them while they're still in there and they get stuck."
He mimes a downward thrusting motion.
"Didn't find any of course. And besides, my Restorative doesn't actually count as ANY sleep, it's a different process, one that might have a use as an experimental base in a lot of fields."

"In that case isn't calling it a Restorative false advertising?"

He waves a hand dismissively.
"Working title. And uh, hold on a minute."
He takes a basic restoration brew from a shelf and sculls it down.
"Oargh, that's much better."

"You should at least consider an interview with my client. She's a great patron. If she likes your work she may offer to wholly fund your research, whatever expenses you have, lab materials, rare ingredients, even travel expenses if you need them. She'll cover for them."

"That's a very tempting offer and I WILL consider an interview but not right now, I have to find the brew before I hit my next class or someone else does."

"Well what if I help you find it?"

He looks up at you with surprise.
"Really? You'd do that?"

"Absolutely. And don't worry, I'm not planning on stealing it or anything like that."

Tallen sighs in relief.
"Really? Shit, thanks mate. Put her there."

He offers his hand and you shake it. He has a very firm grip. Too firm actually, looks like he's one of those.
"You can tell a lot about a man by shaking his hand."

The temptation to respond in kind and hurt him is brief.
"So I've heard. Now where did you last leave this brew?"

1/2

>>45385415
"If I knew that I wouldn't need your help! I was carrying it around with me all during this morning so I could keep myself topped up. Let's see...let's see...first things first I had my classes. Good students those, good students. And then I popped down to the quadrangle so I could eat in the sun and hmm, I went and studied in the Department Library for an upcoming curriculum idea. And then I came back here and realized it was missing. Could be anywhere really."

>Search the room.

>Go back to the lecture halls.

>Go back to the quadrangle.

>Check out the Department's library.

>Check the Brew Repository in case someone handed it in.

>Other

>>45385496
>Go back to the quadrangle.

>>45385496
>>Go back to the quadrangle.

>>45385496
>Search the room.

Go backwards from there. The room is also the smallest space so we can cover it the quickest.

>>45385496
Can we make a brew like soulsight that can help us detect alchemical magic/magic in general through walls and stuff?

>>45385496
>>45385601

Actually, ask how long he could go with out "topping himself off" before sleeplessness would catch up with him. We may be able to narrow the time frame, and therefore a location for where he lost it down with that info.

>>45385607
Let's do it. Or we could make a memory restoring brew too.

>>45385496
>Search the room.
>Ask him if anyone else knows about his research or the potion

>>45385607
This is good as well, though we would need snake skin to modify the potion

>>45385496
>>45385601
I'll second backwards going

>>45385661
I don't think we would need snakeskin. Just an identification brew and a farsight probably.

>>45385719
Huh, I was thinking we would use the soulsight as a base, but this is way better

>Search the room.
>Go backwards if that doesn't work.

"Let's search the room first."

Tallen shrugs.
"What do you think I've been doing. I don't think it's here."

"I'll be the judge of that."

You spend over twenty minutes inspecting every shelf and closet, some of the closets being double-stacked and thus even more of a pain. Tallen hovers behind you offering words of advice.

"Careful there, don't want THAT bottle to fall. Well it wouldn't hurt us. Not hurt hurt. More of a brain hurt."

In the end you sit down on the floor and sigh.
"I guess you were right, it isn't here. We should probably work backwards. It was the library next right?"

"That sounds about right. Let's go."

You're getting up when you look at the desk. It's one of those desks with the little wooden facades that cover it up from the front, hiding the underneath and the legs of whoever sits behind it from view.
"Hold on..."

You crawl around the desk and then underneath it and it's there that you spot the small green bottle nestled in the corner.
"It was under your fucking desk the whole time!"

"Really?"
He snatches the bottle off of you, uncorks it and takes a whiff.
"You've got to be kidding me, fuck. Good thing you didn't go to the quadrangle or the library then, huh?"

"Yeah I guess so."

"Thanks mate you're an absolute legend. Just what I needed. So uh...yeah, I think I have time for an interview with your client now that this is out of the way."

"Good to hear, let's go."

"Wait wait wait. One more thing too. Take this."
He hands you a small scroll.
"While you were sniffing around the room I found some of my notes, including the recipe. You can have it."

"Really? Thanks!"

"No worries man, you saved my arse there. I can't believe it was under the damn desk! Do you want anything else?"

>"Just an interview with my client is enough."

> Ask for some of his potions.

> Ask for a book.

> Ask for a favour later.

>Other

>>45385607
It's possible with experimentation but it wouldn't have been too helpful in a room filled with brews.

>>45385937
> Ask for a book.

>>45385937
>"Just an interview with my client is enough."

>>45385937
Ask for him to collaborate with us to make this sort of brew we just thought of. One that can differentiate between the different sorts of brews.
>>45385607

>>45385937
> Ask for a book.
Any thing you might have relating to the soul or altering the body would be very helpful.

>>45385937
> Ask for a favour later.
>Ask him about his research as a mind master

>>45386089
We invented soul alchemy. It'd be dumb to mention it and he wouldn't know anything about it. It's better to keep it a secret.

>>45385937
>> Ask for a favour later.
i'm sure he'll be fine to deliver it

>>45385937
> Ask for a book.

File: 1439681209872.gif (1.19 MB, 500x281)

1.19 MB GIF

>>45386111
>implying Tolemy didn't do it first

>>45385937
> Ask for a book.
that or other recipes he has

Still here Ouro?

>>45386940
he got hit with a ban

>>45386951
why?

>>45387046
He's an Aussie, it was only a matter of time

>>45387046
Shitposting about our lord and savior Yeezus on /mu/

There is a moral somewhere here; I just don't know what it is.

Un-fucking-believable

I talked him into a pastebin interlude to make up for it, keep an eye on his Twitter. I'll post it here too if he writes it

Liss & Aina Interlude Request: http://pastebin.com/Z5hQWkjq