Day 293

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Who: Rob, anyone
When: Day 293
What: Rob's Alchemy skill has increased. Or just grab him to talk if you want.
Where: Anywhere in the Bastion
Format: Will match
Warnings: None

For Colin

Rob's been spending a lot of time in the laboratory area this past week. He told Colin what he was doing - trying to make an invisibility potion from various ingredients that Paarthurnax bought in preparation for learning to make healing potions - but he hasn't been offering updates on how that's been going. If asked he's been having trouble processing the plants into reagents correctly, along with a few minor issues with a brewing process that's beyond what he ever tried to do in science class.

Today though, while Colin's back is towards the stairs, Rob comes down as quietly as he can (and of course because he's trying to be quiet he's louder than he normally is) and approaches Colin from behind with an open bottle in his hand. Assuming Colin doesn't respond to his incredibly obvious approach, he'll cough loudly. Either way, as soon as Colin starts to turn his head during this process, Rob will quaff the contents of the bottle. When Colin's gaze finally passes over where Rob's standing, there won't be anyone visible. For the next 17 seconds. Homemade invisibility potions in Skyrim don't last very long.

For Paarthurnax

When Paarthurnax looks like he isn't busy with anything, Rob crosses the bridge to the Dragonfield and approaches him.

"Hey, uh, Paarthurnax? Can I show you something?"

For Everyone Else

There's a tough-looking long-haired man walking around in mammoth-hide sandals, cargo shorts, a tank top, and a rabbit skull and leg bones strung out on a necklace around his neck, the faint blue glow of a shard coming from each eye socket. He's clinking slightly as he walks, which may be related to the bulges in the cargo pockets of his shorts. Whether you've seen him around before or not, if you want to talk to him now's a perfect opportunity.

Comments

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Rob looks thoughtful for a moment.

"That makes sense, actually, like using a creature's venom to make the antidote to it."

[freedom_engineer]

"The arcane sciences are a lot like other sciences when you get down into their core mechanics," Colin says in agreement. "However, I think you should stick to the basic stuff right now. I haven't seen any basilisks out there, and I doubt that anyone would want to imbibe a potion made from any extract of Anklegator."

His smile indicates a joke.

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

Deadpan: "I don't think anyone would want to imbibe a lot of the potions I'm reading about if they knew what the ingredients are. Ignorance is bliss."

[freedom_engineer]

"Have you ever eaten processed foods?" Colin asks, grinning. "You'll come to appreciate just how accurate that statement is if you ever look at a list of ingredients."

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

"I have. I can't pronounce most of the ingredients, let alone know what they are. I was trying to cut out a lot of that stuff back home, but coming here seems to have improved my diet even more."

[freedom_engineer]

"My point being, who cares what's in it?" he asks, the small grin turning back into a smile. "Unless you're planning to change your mind and make poison, just don't tell anyone if they're drinking something vile. If there's flavor issues, I'm sure you'll be the first one to notice it."

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

He makes a face for a moment.

"Yeah, a couple of my early tries didn't taste so great on top of not working. These ones... I wouldn't say they don't taste of anything, it's more like they taste of nothing. It's hard to describe. Dunno if that's just what invisibility tastes like or if this is gonna be the same for all potions."

The problem with the taste of the early ones may be related to the fact that nirnroot's first effect is Damage Health, aka it's poisonous.

[freedom_engineer]

"Such is the nature of pois... POTIONcraft," Colin says, laughing quietly to himself at the slip. "So closely related, sorry about that. Some of the best potion brewers are also accomplished chefs. The two occupations are not terribly dissimilar."

"Anyway, so long as you're not working with anything volatile, it's always a good idea to do your own taste-testing," he says. "If it is volatile... like, say... basilisk retinal fluid. Well... that's what interns are for, huh?

That was a joke. Hopefully.

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

"Both applied chemistry, in a way. Sort of. I have no idea what chemical processes are supposed to be happening here, if any."

Rob both raises an eyebrow and smirks slightly. Is he taking that as a joke or amusing sociopathy? Who knows.

"If I do ever make any poisons... not sure how I'll test them, but I don't plan on jumping straight to taste-testing without checking on other routes."

[freedom_engineer]

"It could be an interesting course of study, if you have an interest in that sort of thing," Colin says. "Assuming it's chemical and not alchemical, anyway. Much harder to follow the energy releases and transformations in the alchemical reactions."

He seems satisfied with Rob's words, and he simply nods. Somehow, he doubts that Rob would appreciate a suggestion of acquiring fluffy test subjects.

[dragonsorcsandwolves]

He'd be more open to the idea if it weren't to test things that exist to cause suffering to whatever drinks them.

"Could be interesting, but more the kind of thing I'd rather read about than do the experiments for. Learning how to make the potions is pretty interesting though."