A week into their time in the hills east of Nodden-Torr, the group gathers for a meal. Some look sharp, invigorated. Others are worn down. Alexis pulls his hat off, sets it beside him, and leans forward on his elbows looking at Gustav and Ethelred.
“Follow-up to what I said before. We should brew potions before heading back in.” He glances at Gustav. “Takes you more effort, Gus, but brewing’s still quick work.”
He shifts his boots under him, turning to address both Ethelred and Gustav jointly again.
“Let’s inventory what we’ve got for vessels. Flasks, vials, jars we can reuse. We’ve got Hadonis’ evil stuff, and I still have that resistance vial from the Emoi mage.” He pulls the vial out, turns it in his fingers and the Collegium ring catching firelight as he does. “These need thorough cleaning. Any trace of Hadonis’ god or the Emoi has to go. I can handle that. Just get me fresh moss.”
“The vessels for Hadonis’ oils and perfumes, the mundane stuff, we can be less careful with. But still clean.”
He looks between them. “Two questions. What other containers do we have? And what can you make that’ll actually help us down there?”
Rask nods appreciatively, looks at the others for a moment and speaks.
“I’ve got a few empty flasks.”
He moves to his pack and starts rummaging through his gear. He pulls out a few metal flasks, the same as the potions on his belt.
He starts laying them out, all total there are seven metal flasks, each one has an indentation of some sort.
Rask nods to Alexis and begins to reorganize the rest of his equipment back into his backpack.
Alexis picks up each of the seven flasks, turning them over in his hands. He taps his Collegium ring against the metal, listening to the sound each one gives back.
Each metal flask is marked with an indentation that would allow one to feel them, even in the dark, and know which is which. They are simpler than runes. There are five different marks. Three flasks have unique marks, two that share a fourth unique mark, and two more that share a fifth, different unique mark.
After a moment, he looks up at Gustav. “Couple of these might be better left as they are.” He hands the flasks over, then settles back, waiting for Gustav and Ethelred to answer.
Ethelred smiles. Inventory!
“Sadly I have no empty vials. Up till now I had little use of them. But these scrolls have illuminated a path towards to a world of alchemy I only caught glimpses of through building.
I have 3 vials with oil, 8 small jars of honey, 2 bottles of grease. I do have 3 wooden eggs that might be able to hold a balm, but I would prefer not to use them for that.
The most obvious potion would be healing. We seem to always be in need of healing.
I might be able to create a grease that could add fire to dagger or make a single weapon magic. A potion of much more power would take more time.”
“If I may,” Rask, interjects politely, and waits for a moment,
“Potions that create magical armor are helpful. You have cast spells that do that right?”
He clasps Ethlered on the shoulder encouragingly and smiles appreciatively. He glances to Alexis and Gustav and countues speaking to the group.
“Potions that strengthen the Will as well. I’ve used mine of both up… I still have two potion that hides my tracks, those can be handy, but it only works on the person who drinks it, not like Gus’s blessings.”
He looks at the ranger with awe and admiration.
“I have a couple of other things left too, rabbit feat for moving quietly, quick sober, false death, and one more intoxication.”
He pats the vials on his belt, then nods toward his pack.
“And the potion from the Raidensblud.”
Rask looks to Alexis, “What do you think we need most?”