Potions, potions everywhere! [Solo / Crafting]

[Icyferno]

Status: Healthy / Rested

~

Many days had passed since Icyferno had first entered the old office building which served as his makeshift laboratory. During the last few days, he had made his success with research on the night-vision potion known. Why he had done that and not kept it to himself, he didn't know. Perhaps he thought it would help the other players since they were all in this together. On the other hand, wouldn't this draw business away from him?

No, it wouldn't. He hadn't been putting up posters offering his services; he had no business to speak of. In fact, he might actually get some business, now that people knew his name. He wondered how much he should charge them, considering the fact that he had to contend with the other Pharmacists vying for the job.

As he passed by the rotting heap of junk he had left at the entrance a lifetime ago, he promised himself he would earn enough money to afford a small, private apartment. The further from the center of the city, the cheaper it would be. Not to mention that he would have more privacy with less people around.

The reason he had returned was not to try and continue researching, but to concoct several potions. During his recent visit to the «Northern Marshland of Thames», he had a close shave with a «Swamp Crocodile», which could have been less dangerous had he prepared a poison potion to drain its HP while he stalled it out. He did however, feel the need to research cures for various debuffs such as poison and paralysis. Perhaps someone would get to them before him. It didn't matter either way.

His first priority, however, was to make a «Medicinal Formula». He knew the importance of health potions in any game. As his enemies grew stronger, he had to prepare beforehand if he wanted to stay alive. Taking out the necessary ingredients, he began to prepare himself for the task ahead.

~

Word count (Pharmacist): 329
Total word count: 329
Notes: Post 1 of 3 to craft a lvl 10 «Medicinal Formula».

[Icyferno]

Status: Healthy / Rested

~

The ingredients required to make a «Medicinal Formula» were easy to acquire. He began to work on the two stalks of herbs he had procured from his bag first. He diced them with a small knife before putting all of it into his mortar. The smaller each individual piece was, the easier this task would be.

The most arduous part of the task came upon him: mashing the herbs into a paste. He added a little water before he began to ensure that the paste wouldn't be too dry. He knew that if he wanted to, all he had to do was make sure the ingredients were in his inventory before selecting the item he wanted from the menu. However, if he stuck to that, he would've never discovered his last invention.

The method of doing things manually was already known by many; he had no choice but to work hard if he wanted to keep himself ahead of the invention race. It was vital for boosting his reputation, although he wasn't exactly sure whether or not he wanted it. Wouldn't a smaller reputation give him more time to slack off?

Fortunately, his strength and stamina had increased in the Elder Tale, although it was probably because he had chosen a melee class. At least it makes the grinding more bearable. Maybe it'll be easier when I get stronger?

~

Word count (Pharmacist): 229
Total word count: 329 + 229 = 558
Notes: Post 2 of 3 to craft a lvl 10 «Medicinal Formula».

[Icyferno]

Status: Healthy / Rested

~

Minutes later, he finally stopped hammering with his pestle. He brought the mortar close to his face and examined the paste for a while, before setting it down with a satisfied look. This was his first attempt at making a Medicinal Formula, but he'd like to think he did pretty well with it.

He scooped up all of the paste and dunked it into a flask which was already filled with impure solvent. Picking up a glass rod, he then proceeded to stir the mixture to allow the pulp to dissolve into the solvent. Once he was done with that, he held up his completed solution to eye level and inspected the color of the health potion he had created. It was a dull red and probably not very strong since he had no access to high level ingredients, so it'd have to do for now.

As he stowed his potion into his magic bag, he realized that it would be hard to take out from his magic bag during a fight since he'd have to sort out his things as he fought. Perhaps he should commission a Tailor to craft a small bag for him, one tailored for storing potions and throwing weapons.

~

Word count (Pharmacist): 204
Total word count: 329 + 229 + 204 = 762
Notes: Post 3 of 3 to craft a lvl 10 «Medicinal Formula».

[Icyferno]

Status: Healthy / Rested

~

Leaving that thought aside for later, he focused his attention on the task at hand. Now that he was done with the «Medicinal Formula», he began work on an «Impure Poison». As a 『Swashbuckler』, his role in a team fight is to deal as much damage as possible. Having a poison debuff on his weapons would increase his damage output either way, so he saw no reason to put off making some poison for himself.

Unlike the «Medicinal Formula», the poison's ingredients had to be ground into powder and mixed into solvent. Sadly, that meant more grinding work for him, although there were less ingredients involved this time.

After he'd diced the ingredients he needed, he lit a fire in a corner of the room and dropped the ingredients on a pan which he held out over the fire. That was one thing he desperately needed right now. Someplace with a proper stove, someplace where he could remained undisturbed. He needed to save up to buy a small zone somewhere, but he was still nowhere close to having enough money for that.

Perhaps he should stop being lazy and actually actively work hard to earn more gold and gain more levels. He'd already seen plenty of people above his level. Maybe I should leave town for a while once I'm done with crafting. I heard there was a new town called Sarum discovered not too long ago, he thought. It'd be nice to have a change of scenery, assuming it isn't too far away.

~

Word count: 254
Total word count (Pharmacist): 329 + 229 + 204 + 254 = 1016
Notes: Post 1 of 3 to craft a lvl 10 «Impure Poison».

[Icyferno]

Status: Healthy / Rested

~

As the herbs were being heated, Icyferno had some time to plan his next move. Sure, he could go to Sarum, perhaps he'd be lucky and join someone's party for a while and explore, but what next? He had virtually no plans apart from attempting to visit Sarum and purchasing a house. Was that all he could do?

Maybe he could join a guild, start making more friends. As it stands, he was largely out of the loop with the current social situation in London. Still deep in thought, he removed the pan and left the poison herbs to cool for a while. He stamped out the unneeded fire and sat at the table, deciding on a course of action. After he helped out in the Sarum effort, he would go look for a guild. Surely there were still guilds hiring. He just hoped that whichever guild sought him out would not be embroiled in some power struggle. That was the kind of guild where friendships were probably used as leverage with stronger players dominating the guild.

~

Word count: 177
Total word count (Pharmacist): 329 + 229 + 204 + 254 + 177 = 1193
Notes: Post 2 of 3 to craft a lvl 10 «Impure Poison».

[Icyferno]

Status: Healthy / Rested

~

Once the herbs cooled, he dunked them into a flask filled with impure solvent, letting the poison stored in the herbs diffuse throughout the solvent. He'd heard of other people having different methods of making potions from him, but then again, everyone used different herbs, albeit with the same function. He was certain that his wasn't the most efficient; nevertheless, it still got the job done, so he was content for the moment.

He thought about making more stuff after he was done with the poison. After all, one would need a variety of potions for a different situations. However, should he really be spending all this time making these low level potions? He'd heard from some of the stronger players at the square that they had acquired better materials when fighting in the outskirts of Sarum. No doubt almost anyone who could fight or craft would be over there by now. Perhaps he should indeed stop delaying and visit Sarum, see if he was lucky enough to procure some decent stuff. As he pondered, the poison had completely diffused into the solvent. He sieved out the blocky bits of the ingredients he had used and examined his creation. It was far from perfect, but it would serve its purpose.

He quickly gathered his belongings and placed everything back to the positions he had left them in the previous time. No need for anyone to know where he had been to, although the lingering smell of herbs in the air might still give him away. Not that he had anything to hide nor was anyone after him, but it was better to play it safe in case he ever needed to lay low. It simply wouldn't do to have his usual haunts discovered.

His preparations complete, he stepped out of the squat building amidst a maze of other buildings and began walking in the general direction of Sarum.

~

Word count: 318
Total word count (Pharmacist): 329 + 229 + 204 + 254 + 177 + 318 = 1511
Notes: Post 3 of 3 to craft a lvl 10 «Impure Poison».