Malachi Rench- Ch 2. “Ingredients” 17 Sept 07
The lasts rays of the setting sun cast their ruby glow through the tall pointed windows of Malachi Rench’s Alchemy lab. With a causal wave of his hand, hundreds of tallow candles flared alight, bathing the strange room in soft yellow glow. All along the north and east wall sections of this vaulted room, massive oak wood shelves bore thick leather bound tomes of varies size, shape and color. Arrayed along the other walls were instruments of odd design and use. These included every common alchemical tool from beakers and pestles, to the most obscure devices made of precious metals and gemstone.
Long ladders set into rolling grooves allowed access to items anywhere among the thirty feet high shelves. The ladders are mostly for appearances these days, for many years now the Archmage has been powerful enough to simply lift the item he wishes magically and levitate it to him. Thick wooden tables, which are usually bearing bubbling beakers and smoking vials, have been pushed to either side of the stone room to make a space for a massive arcane symbol which has been drawn onto the floor with carefully poured sand of various colors.
Near to where Malachi Rench is presently standing, there is a heavy black iron cauldron hung above a green flame fire held up by chains attached to a mystical rod which hangs suspended in mid air as though some unknown force where holding it steadily in place. A thick muddy potion bubbles at a simmer within the cauldron, sending a sour smell into the air which Rench has long since gotten used to. As per the directions on the antiquated recipe for this powerful disenchantment potion, the cauldron had been set over the flames to boil for well over a month already, while Malachi adds ingredients whenever he acquires them.
When it comes to simplicity of preparation, there are fewer potions easier to brew than old “Incanu” potions. The skill plays in with actually procuring the necessary components. Ancient Incanu shamans must have had thousands of jars filled with rare ingredients just lying around their grass huts back during the age of savagery. Today’s local alchemical shops usually didn’t carry Ilithid skin or even so much as a few sun bleached troll bones. Modern Alchemy has been diluted from the artistic pig entrails of our ancestors, to a wide assortment of ready to use spell powders. “Ah, how I do miss those pig entrails,” the Archmage thought wistfully.
Focusing back on the task at hand, Malachi Rench raised the protective barrier he’d emplaced earlier around the mystic summoning symbol. “Time to go shopping,” he joked before beginning his chant.
Los vact mord nerothos
Los vact mord nerothos
Los vact mord nerothos
Los vact mord nerothos!
Within the protective shielding spell, the summoning sands began to swirl violently. A tornado of colored sand whipped about within the barrier. The sands seemed to slow for a moment before Rench shouted,” Aw common you b*****d, the northern hill land isn’t that far away. Los vact mord nerothos!” With renewed furry the sands spun violently on. Slowly a form began to take shape within the dust cloud. When at last Malachi could see the points of the creature’s horns, he let the summoning chant end. The sands dropped to the floor around the beast’s clawed feet. Standing within the protective barrier, was a monstrous humanoid creature standing eight feet high and covered with steel fiber like ginger colored fur.
From either side of the beast’s thick skull, long upsweeping horns jutted. The creature opened his spear point toothed maw and roared at the Black armor wearing Archmage. Raising his ebony staff topped with a fist sized ruby at the beast the Mage said,” Shut up your noise you hairy a*****e, I just need one of your horns.” Whether the creature understood him or not, it began to rake at the magical protective shield fiercely with it’s clawed paws trying to get at the human it saw.
Stamping his staff down upon the ground hard enough to send an echoing metallic thump reverberating around the room, the eyes of the Archmage flared with an inner fire,” Behave yourself or else I might have to get rough with you.” The only response from the imprisoned monster was another deep rumbling roar followed by it’s renewed attempts of escape, this time using its deadly horns on the barrier. “Fine, have it your way.” Up rose the staff, this time with a piercing crimson light burning within it. The eyes of the Archmage flared as he shouted,”Inciendium Encatu!”
Terrible violet flames erupted within the magical barrier completely enveloping the beast in burning anguish. With an unexpected lurch, the magical barrier hopped forward a few short feet as the creature rammed it frantically trying to escape. Its roars of pain subsided quickly, leaving only the sound of crackling flesh in the room. When he was sure the beast had been slain, Rench allowed the protective barrier of fall.
Slashing toward the remains of the creature with his staff, Malachi sent a curved blast of green magical energy, which severed one on the beast’s horns. Stretching his empty hand in front of himself, the severed horn flew through the air into his waiting palm. Casually he tossed the horn into the cauldron,” Three down, three to go.” Moving to gather his summoning sands so that he could teleport the animals remains out of his tower, he stopped abruptly and wrinkled his nose,” Damn, now the place Stinks of Burning hair.”
To Be Continued
