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Post by Zoltan on Nov 2, 2006 15:04:35 GMT
"Ah," Zoltan sighed, in wordless appraisal. "Exquisitely done Harris. A very fine antidote this second potion. The first, well... To me it seemed like you rushed through the procedure. But I can hardly blame you, because all three books in which the preparation is described that I own, they all tell you a different ordre of ingredients. "As for you, Zachary. You made three flawless concoctions. I am proud. But... This goes for the both of you. Where you to taste these potions, what would you think?" Zoltan looked at both men in turn, but not long enough to let them speak. "Ew! Yuck! Bah! Oh, this is nasty!" The old apothecary burst into laughter. "Aye! It's true! Perhaps the lady's bane would flavor up one of your potions, Zachary, if you added a little more than prescribed, but the rest... And certainly your brews, master harris. The ingredients, they do not only produce bad taste, but also lots of it!" Zoltan frowned. "You two must learn to see this craft as art, instead of work or science. In the books only the basics are explained. The quality of your potion depends on what you add. It's music. You have a melody, standard. That's in the books. But then, you have side recipes. Often two or three up to six. Those are the instrumental or vocal solos you can find in any well-practiced band. You have the core in your hands now, you have the notes. Now you must add flutes and pipes. Drums, perhaps, you will need force in your potions Zachary. And Harris, you should filter your potions. Try some different techniques to weaken the taste, and add something dominant. Lemon, lime, no grapefruit, nothing bitter. Either sweet or sour. Destill it, filter it. "When you both are done with that, I shall take minor doses of each potion and evaluate. You are to complete only one potion."
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Harris
Familiar Face
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Post by Harris on Nov 2, 2006 23:10:24 GMT
Harris looked at Zoltan intently while he was giving the directions. "Yes sir",said Harris to Zoltan after he was done giving the directions. And with that he was off to do what Zoltan had said. He got a little vile out of his pocket that was filled with Harris's favorite flavor ever, Lemon mixed with lime, Lemon-Lime. And he put it in to both of his potions he had brewed. Afterwards he brought the two potions over to were Zoltan was sitting and placed them in front of him. "Here we are", said Harris in a very happy tone of voice,"I added some lemon and some lime, it really does taste good." arris had said this in hopes that Zoltan would like what he has done with the potions.
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Post by Zoltan on Nov 3, 2006 8:11:10 GMT
"Oh," Zoltan said absently. He'd taken another dose of drugs. The pouch from whence the mind expanding stuff came, was at his feet, spilling a bit. "I take it you haven't filtered them? That would've taken more time." Zoltan picked up one of the potions and smelled. "It's well scented, but will the taste be enough to cloud the strong bitterness?" The old man had a sip. "Oh my! This is quite tasty," he put on a sour face. "But too strong, my dear harris. Phew! My advice is; add alcohol, minor doses, and do destill it to soften it up. afterwards if the lime and lemon are a bit too weak, at a little more. Just a little." Zoltan smiled and handed Harris back the potion. "Good work, you work fast, but must work more precisely. If you do what I've told you, I think you'll have a great potion!"
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Harris
Familiar Face
Posts: 55
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Post by Harris on Nov 3, 2006 11:45:15 GMT
Harris had taken what Zoltan said into consideration, but wondered about the whole alcohol thing. "I will try to do my best sir",replied Harris after thinking about what Zoltan had said to him.
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Zachary
Familiar Face
Apothecary's Assistant
Posts: 70
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Post by Zachary on Nov 3, 2006 20:47:30 GMT
Zachary took his potions back to the counter. He tasted them himself and sputtered a bit at the terrible taste of each. His first one definitely would call for sweetening. He searched the drawers for some sugar, maybe that would help. Not only would it cure, but with the sugar he could get the potion-taker to get some energy back in them. Zachary smiled to himself, "Haha! perfect. Just brilliant." He finally got a hard block of sugar and cracked a piece off. The sugar dropped into the concoction with a plop and he lit a burner under the vile as he started stirring. Zach tasted it once more and found it lacking a bit of power. What would go well with it? Onion, he wondered? No, clashing flavors. Salt? Wouldn't work so well with the sugar. There were dried up plants hanging aroudn the room, and one in particular caught his eye, mint. Perfect. It wasn't so bad with sugar, and it would give just the right kick. He sipped once more, it tasted good, and wiped the tiredness from his sore muscles. He relaxed a little, and realized that he loved this trade. No, not a trade, an art, "Zoltan, you told us you only wanted one complete potion, right?" He turned around and noticed the open bag of poppy seeds. He briskly walked to Zoltan, "Are you alright? What are you thinking? We don't know about Harris, you could get in major trouble with the guard for this slip if he tells," Zach looked over his shoulder, checking to make sure that Harris had not heard him. He added a bit loudly afterward, "Oh, thank you sir, I'll remember that in the future."
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Post by Zoltan on Nov 4, 2006 18:55:28 GMT
"What?" Zoltan said, not at first certain what Zachary was talking about. Then he followed the man's gaze down to his opened bag and its content. Careless, old man! What stupidity possessed you to leave those there for all to see. "I am an apothecary, Zachary. I am allowed to have those seeds in stock. Milk of the poppy doesn't make itself, you know. And I need it often enough as it's the most frequently asked painkiller, even fit for children when lightly dosed." His assistant was right, though. He shouldn't use them himself, and certainly not as much as he did to get in the state he was in. Though at that time, he was still very clear, not having taken nearly enough to unleash the drug's powerful hallucinations. "You just be careful with that mint. It doesn't go well with some things, like fennel for instance. Harmless vegetable, right? Causes quite a sickness that can lead to death when kids are concerned when mixed with mint." The old man smiled. "In your case right now, however, it is an excellent choice. One potion it was, yes, focus on its completion. Art is something that artists think about, they put mind and effort in it. And time, lots of it to perfect it. I have three different recipes I put together over the years for suncream, not one is better than the other, but they are different in smell and texture. Different paintings, or plays or performances. Perfect for certain people. Someone might come along who wishes your potion, Zachary, but she's allergic to mint. Now if you have another recipe for that potion with, say... Eucalyptus, than you can send her off with greetings and smiles, a satisfied customer. "Don't get me wrong, though, I like the mint idea, it'll prove an interesting potion."
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Zachary
Familiar Face
Apothecary's Assistant
Posts: 70
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Post by Zachary on Nov 4, 2006 21:43:30 GMT
"Aye, I'll remember that," Zachary gave the man an inquiring look, but dropped it quickly and went back to the counter. Eucalyptus, I should get on that idea. He poured some of his potion into a smaller vile, so he could add the eucalyptus. After he was done, he tasted it, and it was not bad at all. Maybe it was a little off though. He couldn't quite pin it, but it was a little off. It was powerful enough, yes, but just a tad not right. Something subtle would do it. A half teaspoon of ground up chives, that would be perfect. He grabbed a container of the herb and a teaspoon. Once they were added, he stirred a few times and heated it. Perfect taste. It would be a great potion now. He bottled and capped that version. Now for something else. There should be some alternative.
(I'll leave it there for now. I have to go work at some roast beef dinner)
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Post by Zoltan on Nov 5, 2006 8:18:18 GMT
The seeds were safely in his pouch now, and the old man had no intention to take more this day. But, history tells us, that Zoltan's intentions are rarly forgotten. Maybe because he's forgetful, maybe because he's just too hooked on poppy seeds. He lost track of what both Harris and Zachary were doing and decided to just wait and taste the result. While waiting, he thought back to when he first came here. His first conversation with his first customer, Arin Skylis, had been weird. They'd had a small fight, where the elven ranger had rightly said she had the years on good old Zoltan. He remembered Tsau. Drax, the dragon beast. He remembered his Master's death. Wait... Wasn't that it? He was going to give the seeds to him to soften the pain, but he'd refused. His master embraced the pain of dying. ANd Zoltan couldn't even embrace the pain of loss. He'd taken the addicting seeds himself. And it didn't stop there...
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