Day 311 | Open Broadcast

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Who: Rob, anyone
Open: Open
When: Day 311
Where: Everywhere, then Colin's workshop
What: An invitation to learn how to make healing potions.
Format: Will match
Warnings: None?

[So remember that capability the amulets have to broadcast a message to every amulet in the Bastion at once? And remember this guy, who is probably near the bottom of everyone's list on who's most likely to ever use this function? Someone go check if Ibuki made some flying pigs or something, because Rob's making a broadcast here.]

Hey, uh, this is Rob. I've, uh. [A pause, then continuing in a way that's recognizable as someone reading from a script.] So I've been working on teaching myself alchemy using the plants and animals that Paarthurnax has brought in, and I've finally figured out how to make healing potions. I've been thinking that it would probably be a good idea for multiple people to be able to make them, just in case something happens to me or the healers, so I'm wondering if anyone would like to learn how to make them themselves. I wouldn't say it's particularly hard, it just takes some patience and attention to detail. If you're interested in me teaching you, come over to the workshop and bring something to take notes with if you think they'd be helpful.

[A relieved gasp for breath at the end is cut off when Rob ends the broadcast.]

[Sure enough, Rob can be found anxiously waiting outside the workshop. He nods when you walk up.]

You here for the, uh, for the learning about making potions?

Comments

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

A bit bulkier maybe, but faster-acting too.

So, uh, I guess we can start with grinding up the ingredients? I'm guessing if you've made medicines before you're probably familiar with a mortar and pestle? But we can start with the blue mountain flower...

[Because the mun doesn't know enough about this to write out a detailed description, let's summarize. Rob will walk Otoha through the processes, giving him plenty of opportunity to do each part himself. There's grinding the materials up, distilling water to mix with it (for completeness sake - he keeps jugs of distilled water around so he doesn't have to do this constantly, but he wants Otoha to know how to do it himself if he has to), calcinating, distilling, and otherwise purifying and refining the ingredients and mixture. Some of this might be familiar to Otoha, depending on exactly how the medicines he made were created. None of the steps are difficult to explain the basic concepts of, but the complexity comes from the details of how they're done. He may not be the Super High School Level Teacher, and he can easily go on tangents, but he's able to explain most things multiple ways if Otoha's having trouble with an explanation and he's patient enough not to get frustrated at him if he takes time to get things right (he's more likely to get frustrated at himself and apologize for his inability to explain it better).

At most it'll take a few days to level up Otoha's Alchemy skill to something useful, depending on how quickly he catches on, and once Otoha's got the hang of Restore Health potions Rob'll offer to teach him any of the other kinds they have the ingredients for if he wants.]

[bakegarasu]

[He just watches, and tries to follow along, making notes in his book. His handwriting is pretty terrible, but at least he can read his own writing. The more complicated steps take a few tries to get right, but this is important. He needs to make sure that he knows how to do it. He doesn't try to cut Rob off, just listens to his apologies and tries not to feel too awkward.]

[At least Otoha's better at the more practical stuff, and measuring things out is easy enough to get right if he's paying attention. He stays as silent as possible, focusing in on what he has to do, and once the potion's made he sits back and stares at it.]

... Is that it?

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

It should be. There's no dramatic indication that the potion's ready or not, unfortunately.

[bakegarasu]

I should test it.

[Probably. He picks it up and frowns. He should test it on himself rather than someone else... hm.]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[Rob reaches behind his back and unsheathes his knife, offering it to Otoha pommel-first.]

Here.

[bakegarasu]

[He puts the potion down for a second and takes the knife, judging the distance for a moment before slashing his palm open and setting the knife down. He picks up the potion and drinks it, watching the wound heal itself as he sets the bottle down.]

... I'll have to make more of these. But at least I know it works.

[He goes to hand the knife back to Rob, but pauses a moment to take out some gauze from his jacket, ball it up, and wipe off the knife before handing it back.]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[It's somewhat disconcerting to see someone cut themselves like that without reacting to the injury, but Rob says nothing about that and nods as he accepts his knife back.]

They're definitely convenient to have around. That makes me think though that backup ingredients might be a good idea, so that we don't end up stripping the Bastion of materials to make healing potions with.

[He sheaths his knife and pulls out his datapad again.]

Hm... Swamp Fungal Pod has Restore Health, so that's one backup at no extra cost. So what else has that effect...

[bakegarasu]

[This is why he wanted to test it on himself first, because he can't see Rob doing that casually.]

Nothing in my book, that's for sure. None of these are as powerful as those.

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[He tested his own like that, but it was far from casual.]

Nothing in my world can match any of this stuff either. Except maybe some of the poisons. This fast healing is impossible in my world.

[He looks over his notes.]

...Blue dragonflies and monarch butterflies do, but those are animals so they'll be more expensive. Blisterwort and Imp Stool are plants but their healing effect is weaker than normal... And the others come from two birds, a giant rat, two hostile animals, and a demon. Looks like the best ones are already here.

[bakegarasu]

It's probably possible in mine, but I don't know how to do it.

[... He nods at the list. So Snowberries, Swamp Fungal Pod, Gleamblossom, Yellow Mountain Flowers, and Purple Mountain Flowers. He can deal with that.]

Should we split the cost in half?

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

I-If you want.

[Dammit Rob you could've gotten all those plants at no cost to you but no you had to get all awkward about it.]

[bakegarasu]

... I just thought that might be best. If you have another idea, just... let me know.

l[He's not used to taking charge with these kinds of things...]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

No, no that sounds fine. I'm saving up shards to split with someone else on something right now though, so I won't be able to do this one right away, unfortunately.

[bakegarasu]

I'm not exactly worried about it. We have enough for now.

[Though he does have an idea...]

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

[Rob nods, making an assumption that he'll shortly discover is wrong.]

Well, uh, did you want me to show you any other potions or poisons? Or did you wanna take a break for now?

[bakegarasu]

This is good for now. Healing is pretty much the most important potion to know, isn't it?

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

I'd say so.

...So, uh, feel free to stop by and practice or ask questions whenever you want.

[bakegarasu]

Yeah. I'll do that. We've got enough supplies here for now, right? Aside from the ingredients?

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Yeah. Plants from Paarthurnax's world seem to regrow fairly fast, so as long as no one strips them bare I don't expect any problems.

[bakegarasu]

And as long as we don't need a massive supply. ... But good. I... mm.

[He stumbles over the words, trying to get them out. He's no good at saying this.]

Th... thanks.

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

N-No problem.

[Rob isn't that great at hearing this either.]