From a marketing standpoint, the false infant option could give us a unique opportunity to profit by supplying "living" human flesh both for our own experiments and to others so that we can avoid all the downsides of acquiring human test subjects, namely that it is expensive and reputationally risky. I don't know about any of you but I'm looking forward to going full-on Faebius Bile (the parallels are there). It could also be an interesting route to discovering stem cells.
Bloodstained: Scholars of the Inferno (Bloodstained Alchemist Quest)
- Thread starter The Bird
- Start date
- Fantasy Historic Horror
But that isn't what it does is it? The option give us a potion that gives regenerative affects but also gives people Moonblight. We're not making any flesh we just using a small homunculus to experiment with. And even if we were able to make a "flesh farming" operation we'd have to fix the Moonblight problem first otherwise everything people test the flesh with will have Moonblight as an added variable that taints the experiment.
A very small homunculi created by organs donated by Dian Cacht patients, its construction was surprisingly robust, and it's creation remarkably simple- and much like Homunculi it made an admirable stand in for human flesh for the purposes of testing chemicals and serums meant to be used on humans. In many ways, Gideon would note it a dark preview of his own progression, one that taught him how to convert Moonblight into a powerful- but cursed- medicine. Fantastic regenerative properties in exchange for being afflicted with a version of his own curse, afflicting the drinker with Moonblight. Gain Experimental Moonlife Serum Formula and Sanguine Cauldron Schematic. To create life, one must be able to save lives, no matter the means, no matter the cost.
It says it right there. Remarkably simple to make and admirable stand in for human flesh for the purposes of testing. I was banking more on the Sanguine Caldron schematic to do what I described down the line.
It says it right there. Remarkably simple to make and admirable stand in for human flesh for the purposes of testing. I was banking more on the Sanguine Caldron schematic to do what I described down the line.
I thought that was just a description for that particular Biological Experiment. Something that we already learned to make this turn. @The Bird can you weigh in?
Homunculus[F]: An artificial human, manufactured through use of a human corpse. A recent development, most homunculi were crude, unrefined, and mostly vegetative creatures- useful only for the fact that they could be used to perform experiments or as biological catalysts. Still, any who could successfully create one was more likely to be recognized as a master alchemist. Death, Blood, Transmutation, Formula Complexity: Extreme. Ritual Quality: Basic. Creates * Homunculus. Requires **** Alchemical Reagent OR Star of the Worm as well as a human corpse. 200 TU.
Thought this was the only hamunculi we were capable of making. Figured that this would be a smaller, easier-to-make, and more useful version of the above.
Technically the Biological Experiments we can make are pseudo homunculus's. though I guess if they're made of specific materials that might affect what they do.
Biological Experiment [F]: A watered down form of chimeric pseudo-homunculus that could be manufactured by transmuting any old meat- developed by Johan Klaus, perfected by Gideon McGregor. Blood, Death, Transmutation, Basic/Basic, produces Jar of Biological Experiments, undead chimera that can be used for research. Cost 45 TU and biological catalysts.
I don't want to keep Creepy Crawly, Untold Horrors, or Tentacles Creatures in our basement. The Rats will get in and those little beasts infect them with some disease or more Importantly Those Rats are going to Ruin their diet,
How can one keep them on a balanced meal if their full on Rats?
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Oh, a Bloodstained Alchemist quest. Neat. Wonder what spells and power-ups our various horrific failures, incredible successes, and best of all horrific successes are going to leave lying around for Miriam.
...Honestly I lean towards the Head for Magician, if only for the "To create life one must be able to negate death" line being the most... gripping... of the summaries and what it could mean regarding the Lunar Coffin design it gives.
...Honestly I lean towards the Head for Magician, if only for the "To create life one must be able to negate death" line being the most... gripping... of the summaries and what it could mean regarding the Lunar Coffin design it gives.
[X][CHARIOT] A Collaborator
[X] The Necrochimera
[X] The Necrochimera
chellewalker
President of the Water Seeker Fan Club
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X][CHARIOT] A Rival
[X] The Necrochimera
Well we shouldn't keep them for long unless we have a way to actually control them. But I'm just wanting to make sure we don't accidently unleash a monster or a Moonblight plague or some crazy shit like that.
[X] [CHARIOT] A Rival
[X] [The Magician] The False Infant
[X] [The Magician] The False Infant
[X] The Necrochimera
Chimeraguard
We do deserve to exist.
[X][CHARIOT] A Rival
[X] The False Infant
[X] The False Infant
Vote closed
That's weird, the votes not counting any of the Necrochimera votes. And considering it has four votes it should be the winner.
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Hey @The Bird I have some questions if you wouldn't mind answering them.
What are the rare books we have called and about? And how rare are they? Like ten in the whole world rare, or look around for a bit rare?
Would we gain anything from reading them?
Could we copy them down and still have the original count as rare? I'm not wanting a cheat to get a large rare book supply to trade in the Infernal Training ritual. I'm just not wanting to lose them if we have use for them.
What are the rare books we have called and about? And how rare are they? Like ten in the whole world rare, or look around for a bit rare?
Would we gain anything from reading them?
Could we copy them down and still have the original count as rare? I'm not wanting a cheat to get a large rare book supply to trade in the Infernal Training ritual. I'm just not wanting to lose them if we have use for them.
The Bird
tEM IS GUD...RITER!
- Location
- In that den of villains and scum, OKLAHOMA
They're a collection of novels, philosophical treatise, and other works- nothing that would benefit Gideon practically, but sometimes a nice read is good for the mind. As for rarity, they're rare enough that you'd have to travel and have a pretty solid amount of cash to afford them, but they aren't priceless, you just aren't going to see them a lot outside private collections.
Recreational pleasure and mental stimulation?
The copies wouldn't be rare, but the originals would be unaffected.
Ok thank you. I just didn't want to give away a one of a kind manuscript or something that'd be useful to our work. They'd be nice if Gideon starts to go off the deep end but I'm more comfortable trading them now.
Chapter One Turn Two: Mad Meteor MacGregor Plays God
The Bird
tEM IS GUD...RITER!
- Location
- In that den of villains and scum, OKLAHOMA
[ ] The Necrochimera: Assembled from animal parts, this amalgam resembled a lizard with white scales and a hard shell on it's back. The alchemy that had been performed on it had blended the details of each of its components to the point where one could no longer completely discern constituent parts- despite looking like a reptile, it had sourced parts from avians, captured rats, fish, and even cats. It had apparently been Klauses attempt to make a homunculi out of animal parts- a blend of different lifeforms. And by experimenting on it with Moonblight, Gideon would develop a means to replicate this blending- creating a recipe for a potion to induce more controlled alterations to flesh. Gain Experimental Moonblight Mutagen Formula and Alchemical Vat Schematic. To create life, first one must be able to shape it and change it to your whims- first control, then mastery.
Content Warning: Animal experimentation. Gideon exists in an era before animal rights- and is already loose with ethics. Beyond that, the following scene also contains biological inspired horror taking strong inspiration from John Carpenter's The Thing. You have been warned- if either of these things are triggering, skip to the next bolded section.
Content Warning: Animal experimentation. Gideon exists in an era before animal rights- and is already loose with ethics. Beyond that, the following scene also contains biological inspired horror taking strong inspiration from John Carpenter's The Thing. You have been warned- if either of these things are triggering, skip to the next bolded section.
It looked at Gideon, who shivered under the gaze of the numerous eyes on the abominations body. It was now seated in a cage, staring at him- the Necrochimera. It had been changed- going from the size of a cat to a large dog. Shell plating had cracked, creating fissures in the hardened carapaces revealing beating organs and toothy maws.
For now, the yellow eyed monstrosity stared at him, mandibled, insectoid mouth content to click and drool white liquid- not moonblight, 'just' noxious bile. Gideon had checked: poisonous if ingested, but that wasn't particularly surprising.
Currently, the journeyman was working with his chemistry equipment in the lower labs of Klaus House, creating a batch of formula- moonblight based mutagen, designed to utilize the flesh shaping qualities of Moonblight in a more controlled manner, or at least act as a stepping stone for such a potion. Off to the side, on a table next to the wall, was another, smaller cage- one filled with mice he had caught, possessing a mechanism involving padded gloves that allowed one to safely pick up and hold captured mice without risk of being bitten- a creation of a certain associate from Bavaria.
Pouring two different phials, each containing a different solutions he had carefully brewed over hours into a single flask, Gideon carefully swished the concoction together, holding it over an alchemical burner to heat the substance, causing the silvery liquid to begin bubbling.
Moonflower extract, blood, assorted venins- mixed with Moonblight, and subjected to various distillations, incantations, and philterations. Once the materially had sufficiently thickened, resembling a metallic glue, Gideon set the flask down, removing the pendant he kept his ruby on. Dipping it into the mixture, Gideon observed as it began bubbling again, but this time not from heat.
"Gwaed…Gwaed…Newid Gwaed…" He chanted, watching as the color took on a metallic scarlet hue, one that glowed with an uncomfortable light. Lifting his pendant, he was careful to make sure it had dripped dry before he sat it down, before picking up the concoction and approaching the caged mice.
As if knowing what was about to happen, they began to squeak and run around. With his one free hand, Gideon opened the cages top, before placing his hand in the gloved apparatus. The mice were quick, but the cage wasn't particularly large: it wasn't hard to grab a small brown mouse, who struggled against his grip, staring at him with panicked eyes as it attempted to free itself to no avail.
With the hand holding the flask, he reached into the cage, pouring the liquid onto the helpless animal in order to test the effects of topical application, the crimson liquid dripping down the small rodents fur. After a moment it began twitching, eyes shrinking to pinpricks, squeaks of pain growing louder. Letting it drop, Gideon quickly extricated his hands and shut the cage tight once again, placing the flask down and picking up his journal and quills, eager to observe what was about to happen.
In the larger cage, the lunar abomination let out a shriek, attempting to slam against its cage- MacGregor paid it no mind, tuning out the sound of its howls. The mouse twitched and wiggled, looking almost as it was seizing- mouth releasing a silvery foam as its bones begin to contort, cracking loud enough as they shifted and re-oriented themselves that Gideon wondered if they were breaking, the creatures flesh twisting, stretching, expanding as the fur on its body began to fall off in clumps, revealing oozing, raw skin stretched taut- glowing, narrow veins of moonblight travelling up and down it's body underneath the surface.
It's fellows were terrified, driven to the cages corner by the mutating mouses shrieks as its stretched skin began to finally tear, releasing a spray of vile smelling mucus, blood, and revealing bundles of thrashing, spike lined tentacles growing underneath the dermis.
Gideon was enraptured as he watched the progression, seeing the creature- for it was no longer a mouse- begin to drag itself across the cage floor using these tendrils, getting closer to the mice, mouth opening wider and wider, a strange light shining down its throat.
One mouse darted, making an attempt to get pass the slowly approaching thing- only to find itself speared on an insectile leg, the mutants ribs forming insectile means of locomotion- and weapons, . Dragging the unfortunate mouse to what used to be its head, Gideon observed the cranium and some of its torso splitting in half sideways, revealing teeth- likely created from transmuting the osteous matter of the skull- dripping with bile. The fangs quickly re-united as the mutant horror promptly began devouring the mouse, while grabbing more terrified mice with its tentacles and-
Gideon averted his eyes, ignoring the wet tearing noise, before looking again, noting the creature wasn't eating the other corpses, merely continuing to mutilate them- the violence wasn't a response to hunger then, not entirely.
He continued to watch it, fascinated- and noting that the mutations seem to have stopped for now, though it continued to chase the other mice around the small cage. Reaching in using the apparatus, he ignored the still small creatures attempt to hurt him, grabbing it…
And snapping something he was pretty sure was its spine, causing the mutant to go limp, sparing the remaining mice. Dragging the body out of the cage, Gideon pulled it to his microscopic viewing machine, eager to begin pulling the creature apart to learn how it ticked-
And of course, how to refine the formula.
________________
Many days later…
Gideon watched, eagerly writing down information as the rat he had dosed began to mutate- this time, he had administered the chemical via injection, having inserted a needle into the mouses body. As he had theorized, reducing the potency and adding a little moonstone to the formula reduced the overall severity of the mutations- the process had lasted the same amount of time, but had been drastically less visceral.
The latest test subject was, mostly, recognizable as an extremely large, hairless mouse- were it not for the thorny, sharp looking spikes slowly emerging from underneath it's skin and the second, tumorous head it looked to be growing out of it's neck. In both cases, neither mutation had fully matured- the spikes seemed to be growing from the muscle and spinal tissue, and hadn't yet penetrated the dermis, and the head consisted of an almost boneless, leaking mouth, two mismatched bulging eyes, and a shape that looked more simian than anything else, albeit lumpy and mishappen.
It's aggression hadn't changed, however- it was currently eating on the small shapes of what used to be its offspring, having torn them apart in a blind rage that was only now subsiding, the creature only growling when he reached in unless he got within biting distance- territoriality and hostility, but of the sort he expected in an animal as opposed to the blind frenzy of past test subjects.
The biggest concern was the moonblight- the rash was small, but it was unmistakeable, around the area of injection was a series of twisted, glowing pustules and silvery scar tissue.
He was getting closer and closer. He just needed to develop a means to regulate what mutations emerged- and control their development.
And so you have chosen the path of shaping. In the process, you have gained the following additions to Gideons personal forbidden grimoire:
Experimental Moonblight Mutagen [F]: A highly untested and unrefined serum that could be doused on a creature- or theoretically injected if one had the tools- to cause major mutations. Side effects included monstrosity, madness, and potentially corrupting oneself with Moonblight. Blood, Moon, Transmutation, Experimental/Experimental, Causes semi-stable mutations, can be used for further mutagen research, 25 TU, requires 1 Moonblight Phial and 1 Moonstone.
Arcane Vats : If Gideon wanted to get more adventurous with his attempts to mould and create life through arcane means, he believed he could assemble some large vats from alchemically treated glass designed to house larger organisms. Arcane, Blood, Transmutation, Complex/Basic, upgrades dwelling with 1* Alchemical Vat, increases progress to upgrading Heart mystery.
_____
[ ] A Rival: While exploring around the hospital, Gideon would get into an argument with another Journeyman to be- an extremely heated one over in which Gideon would earn the other persons ire through a poorly worded retort coming off a little more biting than intended, leading to a challenge of ability. Gain a Rival who will help sharpen Gideon and challenge him in the arenas of skill, of morality, and politics- this relationship will no doubt present an obstacle to Gideons ambitions, but it will also provide him the opportunity to grow through adversity, and it while it will begin in enmity it does not have to end so.
Gideon passed through the streets, shivering: the moon had finally begun to wane, each week growing a little thinner. The ground was covered in a thick coat of snow- carpeting it in white. It was early yet: each day he worked at the guild, the more his sense of time began to slip away: all hours of the day had people working or using facilities, including himself.
It was by his reckoning a few hours before the sun would rise, and he was walking to his first day at Dian Cecht. He was still putting together his schedule in his head- he was almost out of his remedy, he didn't want to run out any time soon. There was also the question of the cursed moonstone and his work in the labs.
He lamented that there simply weren't enough hours in the day. Perhaps he should invest in a familiar, or an assistant…
"Well well well, who do I spy out for a walk but Mad Meteor MacGregor." Gideon slowed down, closing his eyes and letting out a sigh. "You aren't planning to blow anything else up, are you?"
"Lizzy. Didn't think I'd cross paths with you." He said calmly, regaining his stride as he watched the social thorn in his side approached. "After all, I've been a good boy, eating my garlic."
Elizabeth Benedict narrowed her eyes at Gideon, striding next to him. "Are you calling me a vampire? I would have thought petty insults beneath people of our standing. And it's Miss Benedict to you, MacGregor."
Gideon gave a small, private grin: if she thought petty insults beneath him, she was in for a rude surprise. "Oh, no, you misunderstand me, Lizzy. You see, Garlic does not just ward off vampires," Gideon said easily. "It protects against all sorts of bloodsuckers: ticks, mosquitos, leeches, royalists."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm not a royalist, I just work for them, which is something that applies equally to you. You didn't answer my question earlier, MacGregor: why are you skulking around?"
"Not that it's any of your business," Gideon observed as the pair passed under an arch. "But I'm walking to Dian Cecht- as penance for costing the guild resources, I'm to volunteer at the hospital for a month."
Elizabeth wrinkled her nose in twinned confusion and dissatisfaction. "That seems rather light for igniting and cursing part of the Guild," She said, distaste and distrust in her voice as the pair of you walked, feet crunching through the snow. "To say nothing about those poor people in Arvantville."
Gideon was quiet a moment, growing unsettled, before attempting to shrug it off. "Proctor Hugo suggested it. Besides, I'll be making up for my mistake by saving lives."
Lizzy raised an eyebrow, and the problem with this logic was apparent to both of them- though in an uncharacteristic bit of grace, Lizzy didn't bring it up. "If you say so. Well, at least you've enough honor to try and repay your debt to society."
"Oh come off it, 'debt to society', I broke a few limbs and buildings, no one died, and it was the fault of a bleedin' accident," Gideon responded bitterly, snapping, irritation growing at the continuous needling. "You're acting like I went spare and deliberately set a bomb off: like you've never had a spell go off kilter!"
Lizzy turned her nose up in order to look down on him. "I may have had some of my rituals go awry now and again, but I've never caused mass injury, and every item lost and damaged because of my foolish mistakes that I didn't own I've either repaired, replaced, or compensated for," She responded dryly.
Gideon decided enough was enough: he had entertained Lizzy long enough. Reaching down into the snow, he gathered up a ball of it and tossed it at the woman, shocking her and splattering her with the frigid powder, causing her to sputter and hold her arms up defensively as she spat out snow and ice. "Oh would you go away, you complete harpy of a woman?!" Gideon yelled, quickly repeating the process, eye-twitching, several other alchemists out and about turning to stare at the deranged scotsman pelting a woman with snowballs. "I'm trying to go to work! I don't need you giving me grief for something that's not even none of your business!"
"Fine, you barb-" The woman said, trying to block the flurry of snow with her hands, only for her sentenced to be interrupted by a snowball landing on her face. "Stop that! Quit throwing snowballs, you deranged lunatic!"
Gideon stopped, making sure he kept one in his hand in case Lizzy tried anything. "This isn't over, Meteor," Lizzy said derisively, clearly furious as she dusted herself off, retreating.
Gideon let out a breath…before realizing the many, many people who had just seen him act like a completely deranged lunatic, his gaze sweeping over the unwitting audience, who all averted his gaze, the nickname 'Mad Meteor MacGregor' no doubt already sticking in their mind.
"Nothing to see here folks, just a mild personal dispute," Gideon said weakly, before deciding to awkwardly continue walking to Dian Cecht, ignoring the eyes following him, realizing he had just helped validate the 'Mad' part of Benedicts nickname in front of dozens of people.
Another thing to add to his schedule, he supposed: improving his reputation before it went entirely into the toilet.
And so you've gained a Rival.
Rivals are characters that are in some way opposed to the Journeyman- for moral, practical, personal, or other reasons. They aren't necessarily enemies, though they will trend that way on average.
They'll provide obstacles by which Gideon can improve himself by overcoming, or else opponents he can sharpen himself against. With work, some can even become allies- the line between friend and foe is vast and blurry.
This particular Rival occupies a higher social strata than Gideon and has access to more resources- more doors and more keys. Right now, they are passively worsening Gideon's reputation- every mistake he makes will be accentuated for the worse in the eyes of the guild, every dire rumor will spread faster and to more important people.
How Gideon responds to this is your choice. Consider it an incentive to be outgoing.
Now we get to the next turn of this chapter: the steady turn of winter to spring. Gideon's condition progresses- slowly, thanks to the remedy he's almost out of. After this, he has one turn until the sun solstice ceremony and the end of the chapter. I would consider setting up a goal to achieve for when that happens, one that follows up on your prior choices, such as achieving significant contribution to multiple different Sorcery Lab projects, or performing the research and crafting to raise the Hearts rank.
The moon phase this turn is WANING GIBBOUS. The constellations at their height are the Stars of the Worm, Deer, and Bird- ah, a small digression. The purpose of astronomical observations such as these are to provide a brief abstraction for what cosmic influences might be invoked- a ritual, well made, can derive power from the phase of the moon and certain constellations, either allowing it to be performed or making it easier, if conditions are correct.
As a reminder, here are the list of tasks you should attempt to fulfill to be considered a successful Alchemist:
Perform a ritualand create something using a formula.Alter the Aspect of any ritual or formula using a treasure.- Create a new ritual using the Liber Logaeth.
- Create a new formula or improve an existing one by experimenting with catalysts.
- Upgrade the Journeyman's dwellings using a schematic, ritual, or formula.
- Successfully locate a treasure.
- Donate catalyst to a guild institution.
Learn and then contribute to a Sorcery Lab research goal.- Donate a grimoire to the Grand Library.
Lastly, you have the following items in your inventory:
3 Moonstones
3 Cursed Moonstones
2 Pouches of Fairy Dust
2 Alchemical Restoratives
1 Turns worth of Moonblight Remedy
1 Box of Penicillin
1 Box Vitamin Extract
3 * Alchemical Reagents
2 ** Alchemical Reagent
1 **** Alchemical Reagent
3 Iron Bars
1 Silver Bar
1 Terrible Water Beast Tusk
5 Rare Books
1 Jarred Honey
3 Sapphires
1 Garnet Ring
5 Jars of Human Organs
2 Jars of Biological Experiments
1 Human Corpse (Johan Klaus)
1 ** Lunar Abomination
[ ] Example Schedule
-[ ] Exploratory Task - ??? TU
-[ ] Ritual X - ??? TU
–[ ] Use Treasure Y/Special Catalyst Y.
-[ ] Social Task - ??? TU
-[ ] Research Task - ???
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[] Plan: This Charming Man
-[] Lunar Jewelry: 35 TU
--[] 1 Moonstone + 1 Sapphire
-[] Volunteer at Dian Cecht: 25 TU
--[] 2 Alchemical Restoratives
-[] Moonblight Remedy: 9 TU
--[] 1 Moonstone + 1 Silver
-[] Volunteer at the Transmutation Research Project: 10 TU
-[] Holy Water: 20 TU
--[] 1 ** Alchemical Reagent
The basic plan here is to try to get back into the Guild's good books through repairing the damage we've done and helping our with projects at the Guild itself. The Lunar Jewelry ought to give us a bit of an edge when it comes to competing in the social arena and the Holy Water should give us new ways of experimenting with how to create Moonblight remedy/purifying our moonstone.
-[] Lunar Jewelry: 35 TU
--[] 1 Moonstone + 1 Sapphire
-[] Volunteer at Dian Cecht: 25 TU
--[] 2 Alchemical Restoratives
-[] Moonblight Remedy: 9 TU
--[] 1 Moonstone + 1 Silver
-[] Volunteer at the Transmutation Research Project: 10 TU
-[] Holy Water: 20 TU
--[] 1 ** Alchemical Reagent
The basic plan here is to try to get back into the Guild's good books through repairing the damage we've done and helping our with projects at the Guild itself. The Lunar Jewelry ought to give us a bit of an edge when it comes to competing in the social arena and the Holy Water should give us new ways of experimenting with how to create Moonblight remedy/purifying our moonstone.