Gwylifar2005-02-22 16:31:03
After posting about Gwylifar's and Selthar's research on this thread I thought, why not just post it? There's a whole forum for stuff like this. So here's a page from Gwylifar's journal. You might also want to look at a summary of the theory of four humors upon which Lusternian purgatives appear to be based.
Kiani 14th, 110 CE:
This day I have begun researching the possibility of making a new poison by combining the effects of other poisons, along with some alchemical ingredients and preparations. Selthar, an accomplished alchemist and alchemical theorist, has joined me in this effort.
After some discussion, we concluded the logical starting point for such research would be a combination of the effects of botulinim and aleutian, along with certain alchemical ingredients.
Botulinim is derived from the blue-ringed octopus of the Inner Sea. Its effect is to cause an excess of yellow bile which forces the bowels to seize and reject their contents, eventually causing hunger and starvation. This affliction is cured by the choleric purgative, which is fashioned from pennyroyal and sage (along with base ingredients).
Aleutian is derived from the pythons of Balach Swamp. It causes an imbalance in the phlegm which gives the victim an uneasy fear and paranoia of other people, causing him to flee their company. This affliction is cured by the phlegmatic purgative, which is fashioned from horehound and kombu (along with base ingredients).
A simple combination of botulinim and aleutian would simply cause the victim to run away and then vomit. This is where alchemical theory comes into the research. Alchemy, as Selthar explained it to me, is the art of distilling and purifying the essential properties of the ingredients, using some of them to cancel out the unwanted aspects of others, and other ingredients to bind together the properties that are desired.
It is hoped that a proper combination of ingredients will preserve the desired traits of these poisons: a repugnance for food within the bowels, and a vague sense of fear and paranoia. To do this, while eliminating the unwanted effects upon the yellow bile and phlegm, we must add ingredients from the purgatives, to rebalance those humors, while other ingredients help to synthesize the remaining desired effects. Adjusting the proportions will help make sure we keep just the right amount of these purified effects.
Thus, our intent for our first formula to test is:
- the botulinim venom of one octopus
- the aleutian venom of one python
- 5 pennyroyal, to help purge the yellow bile caused by the botulinim
- 5 sage, to distill pennyroyal's purgative ability from its other powers
- 5 horehound and 5 kombu, to cancel a phlegm excess caused by the aleutian
- 5 flax, to bind together the remaining effects of the poisons
We note that the affliction of anorexia is cured only by one natural ingredient we know of: the smoke of the coltsfoot, which does not appear anywhere in the formula. We hope this ensures that only the anorexic effect will remain from the results of this mixture.
Having this starting point, we intend to try the mixture, test it, and see if it works, repeating with adjustments to the proportions and perhaps changes to ingredients as required, until we perfect the right mixture to make the poison desired with the effect desired (the same as is caused by the crone, and the vomit of certain demons).
As of this writing, however, we are stymied by one aspect. In all the Basin we know of only one alembic. In times past, alchemists had means of performing this sort of research without endangering the alembic, and we need to find such means. Some possibilities that have occurred to us are:
- Perhaps they could repair broken alembics, or make more alembics as needed, so if an experiment broke one, they could repair or replace it readily.
- Perhaps they had a means to make a secondary "experimental" alembic, unsuitable for producing potions and salves in quantity and reliably, but suitable to experimentation.
- Perhaps there is a means to make potions and salves without an alembic. After all, we do not know how else Rowena can be doing it; perhaps she remembers things that have since been forgotten.
- Perhaps there are means to perform such experiments without danger to the alembic.
We have made inquiries of Lady Lisaera in hopes that She, or one of Her Brothers or Sisters, could recall such lost knowledge, or at least point us in a direction for our research. If we can find such a means, we may not only discover a new poison, but more importantly in the long run, we might revive part of the lost art of alchemical research.
But until such a means is found, we do not feel we can responsibly make experiments using the one alembic upon which most of the Basin depends. We hope to hear some answer soon.
- Gwylifar llyrFarathan
Kiani 14th, 110 CE:
This day I have begun researching the possibility of making a new poison by combining the effects of other poisons, along with some alchemical ingredients and preparations. Selthar, an accomplished alchemist and alchemical theorist, has joined me in this effort.
After some discussion, we concluded the logical starting point for such research would be a combination of the effects of botulinim and aleutian, along with certain alchemical ingredients.
Botulinim is derived from the blue-ringed octopus of the Inner Sea. Its effect is to cause an excess of yellow bile which forces the bowels to seize and reject their contents, eventually causing hunger and starvation. This affliction is cured by the choleric purgative, which is fashioned from pennyroyal and sage (along with base ingredients).
Aleutian is derived from the pythons of Balach Swamp. It causes an imbalance in the phlegm which gives the victim an uneasy fear and paranoia of other people, causing him to flee their company. This affliction is cured by the phlegmatic purgative, which is fashioned from horehound and kombu (along with base ingredients).
A simple combination of botulinim and aleutian would simply cause the victim to run away and then vomit. This is where alchemical theory comes into the research. Alchemy, as Selthar explained it to me, is the art of distilling and purifying the essential properties of the ingredients, using some of them to cancel out the unwanted aspects of others, and other ingredients to bind together the properties that are desired.
It is hoped that a proper combination of ingredients will preserve the desired traits of these poisons: a repugnance for food within the bowels, and a vague sense of fear and paranoia. To do this, while eliminating the unwanted effects upon the yellow bile and phlegm, we must add ingredients from the purgatives, to rebalance those humors, while other ingredients help to synthesize the remaining desired effects. Adjusting the proportions will help make sure we keep just the right amount of these purified effects.
Thus, our intent for our first formula to test is:
- the botulinim venom of one octopus
- the aleutian venom of one python
- 5 pennyroyal, to help purge the yellow bile caused by the botulinim
- 5 sage, to distill pennyroyal's purgative ability from its other powers
- 5 horehound and 5 kombu, to cancel a phlegm excess caused by the aleutian
- 5 flax, to bind together the remaining effects of the poisons
We note that the affliction of anorexia is cured only by one natural ingredient we know of: the smoke of the coltsfoot, which does not appear anywhere in the formula. We hope this ensures that only the anorexic effect will remain from the results of this mixture.
Having this starting point, we intend to try the mixture, test it, and see if it works, repeating with adjustments to the proportions and perhaps changes to ingredients as required, until we perfect the right mixture to make the poison desired with the effect desired (the same as is caused by the crone, and the vomit of certain demons).
As of this writing, however, we are stymied by one aspect. In all the Basin we know of only one alembic. In times past, alchemists had means of performing this sort of research without endangering the alembic, and we need to find such means. Some possibilities that have occurred to us are:
- Perhaps they could repair broken alembics, or make more alembics as needed, so if an experiment broke one, they could repair or replace it readily.
- Perhaps they had a means to make a secondary "experimental" alembic, unsuitable for producing potions and salves in quantity and reliably, but suitable to experimentation.
- Perhaps there is a means to make potions and salves without an alembic. After all, we do not know how else Rowena can be doing it; perhaps she remembers things that have since been forgotten.
- Perhaps there are means to perform such experiments without danger to the alembic.
We have made inquiries of Lady Lisaera in hopes that She, or one of Her Brothers or Sisters, could recall such lost knowledge, or at least point us in a direction for our research. If we can find such a means, we may not only discover a new poison, but more importantly in the long run, we might revive part of the lost art of alchemical research.
But until such a means is found, we do not feel we can responsibly make experiments using the one alembic upon which most of the Basin depends. We hope to hear some answer soon.
- Gwylifar llyrFarathan
Unknown2005-02-22 20:41:25
Looks awsome
*doesn't add anything usefull*
No, but I think your doin awsome rp with poisons =P
*doesn't add anything usefull*
No, but I think your doin awsome rp with poisons =P
Unknown2005-02-23 00:03:24
We still need an alembic alternative (nothing we can easily take potions out of or something, just something to test out alchemic experiments) so that a mistake wouldn't explode the only alembic in the Basin...
Daganev2005-02-23 01:59:41
There are quite a few vats lying around Magnagora and Glomdoring that are used to make various potions. And I think that thing in the black tower is an alembic.
