Sign: Snake
Buffs: Serpent’s Kiss (Romance twice as easy)
Debuffs: Curse of the Unspecified (Start the game with no gender, no name, and no other identifying feature)
EXP: 1,200
Alchemy
Coagula (LVL 1, 24 SKP)
Solvé (LVL 0, 29 SKP)
Theoria (LVL 1, 23 SKP)
Botany
Sowing (LVL 0, 5 SKP)
Tending (LVL 0, 65 SKP) Ready to level up!
?
Cooking
Fire (LVL 1, 28 SKP)
Water (LVL 0, 24 SKP)
?
Homesteading
Fire Tending (LVL 0, 7 SKP)
Tidying (LVL 1, 106 SKP) Ready to level up!
?
Speech
Logic (LVL 1, 23 SKP)
Linguistics (LVL 0, 41 SKP) Ready to level up!
Cajoling (LVL 0, 10 SKP)
Total SKP: 386
Inventory:
Auros: 0.15
Cards of Destiny: 5 of ?? Discovered
Names: 4
Evengeline, The Pure Snow (Holly)
Vitas, The Wind Thief (Sparrow)
Gillygad, The Stiched-Up Wonder (Pitchfork)
Zinia, The Serpent’s Caress (Snake)
Passive Skills:
(Theoria LVL 1) Pure Substances: Some metals are especially luminous. Some hands are more precise than others. These hands shall become sharpened scalpels, made of the most luminous Silver. Higher maximum Quality points are possible for all potions.
(Coagula LVL 1) Coalescing Membranes: The membranes of the parts which make up the whole shall be in accordance. Ingredients combine more smoothly, producing higher quality potions.
(Fire LVL 1) Ignited: The Elemental branch of magic lends this Sorcerer the ability to cook faster using fire. Prepare fried or baked meals twice as quickly. Get burnt less.
(Tidying LVL 1) Dirt Buster: The magical branch of Purification lends this Sorcerer the ability to ‘Bust Dirt.’ Dust and grime accumulate at an infinitesimally slow rate on objects you have cleaned.
(Logic LVL 1) Rhetoric: The magical branch of Entreatment lends this Sorcerer the ability of heightened ‘Rhetoric.’ The structure of your arguments is smooth, regular, and orthogonal. Spirits and people are more likely to agree with you.
Spells:
Wild and Overwhelming Growth (LVL 1) Accelerate the growth of plants and fungi. Enchanted plants grow ten times faster (Overwhelming Influence), BUT enchanted plants sometimes disregard their original form..
Mated With A Strong Bond, Lesser Baptism (LVL 1) Skill actions performed by the enchanted object grant the Sorcerer one fifth of their SKP and EXP (Strong Influence) but the objects must be enchanted in identical pairs.
I spent all afternoon looking for identical pairs of objects that I could test my new spell on.
I needed two identical objects for Lesser Baptism, after I aligned the spell under Snake’s influence:
Mated With A Strong Bond, Lesser Baptism (LVL 1)
Skill actions performed by the enchanted object grant the Sorcerer one fifth of their SKP and EXP (Strong Influence) but the objects must be enchanted in identical pairs.
After spending an hour looking for two watering cans, or two kettles, or even a twin fire poker to the one I had become accustomed to using, I came up with nothing.
Regret was starting to seep in. I could have picked Wheel, or Pitchfork, or anything else. The way things were looking, I wouldn’t even get to cast Lesser Baptism!
Dejected, I went upstairs to read Ma Chère to get lost in a different world of Gigert Giger’s creations.
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My hands trembled with excitement, clutching the pages and the pink cover tightly.
It was like the author, Gigert Giger, had anticipated my need.
I hungrily read the next section of Ma Chère, which provided a neat solution to my ‘twin object’ conundrum.
Any fool conjurer can wave their hand. But a true artist prepares their medium beforehand. A true Creator makes the object of enchantment with his own tired hands, before letting the Art of Sorcery take hold of it.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
A knife may be enchanted to slice a loaf of bread. A broom may be enchanted to sweep the same section floor until the bristles all but fall out. A sponge may be enchanted to wash the same dish over and over again. But here, in these pages, I offer you something more. I offer you a taste of creation; nature herself will envy your prowess.
I read the instructions that followed, my eyes devouring the lines of text. It wasn’t even difficult. Complex, maybe, but I could definitely manage.
I didn’t have two identical objects on hand, but I could make them!
I hopped from my bed. The last light of the day was fading. I had to hurry to find Cheerful.
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I gave the bird all the money from my pocket, and instructed him to buy as much flour as he could with my 6 Bones. I felt a little pang parting from the coins. Every time I managed to get a little pocket money, I was doomed to lose it.
Cheerful flew off. I hoped that he would catch the merchants before they left for the day.
Flour was one of the ingredients I would need for my creation, but there were others. I quickly located my jacket, and grabbed a sack. I held it up in my hands to examine it closely. It had some holes. They were small, but it wouldn’t do for my purposes.
Instead, I took one of the multitudes of glass jars, with a tight fitting lid. It was a large jar, about eight inches in diameter. On the return journey, the jar would be heavy, I knew. But, I hoped that it would be worth it.
I left the house on Auster Way for what I hoped would be a short trip.
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From the windows in the library, where I had first glimpsed the unadulterated rays of the sun after winning the Midnight Game, downhill from the Sorceress’s house, I had seen a stretch of forest, through which flowed a bubbling stream. It was in the distance, and I wasn’t quite sure how far it would take me to get there on foot.
It turned out it took about half an hour, the gentle down-slope helping my feet find the way. I came to a small cobble bridge, under which the rivulet flowed. The sun had long set, and the moon reflected off the quicksilver water.
I looked around to see if anyone else might be on the road. There was no one, but I still had the feeling that I did not want anyone to catch me. Not that what I was doing was wrong, per se.
My feet stumbled on the rocky and bush-tangled shore of the stream. It was hard to find my way in the dark. I followed the rivulet until I was sure there was no way I could be seen from the road.
When I was sure I was out of sight, I opened my jar, remembering the words from Ma Chère:
For the flesh:
One part water, taken from a body of water large enough to engender life. All life knows that it comes from water, and all life remembers. Your little life, borne from your own effort, blood and spit, which you will mold and shape in your hands, is no different.
One part silt or clay from that same source. Be sure that the moon’s reflection shines brightly in that water. If need be, wait for a cloudless night. The moon, which pulls the water to and fro, will do wonders for the efficacy of this operation. Take care not to disinclude Her.
Three parts simple, white flour to bind and hold.
I spotted the moon’s reflection in the rivulet, and smiled. Things were working out perfectly!
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My feet were sore by the time I had made it back to the house on Austere Way, clutching my heavy jar full of river mud and water. My pants, which I had tried to roll up to wade into the nighttime waters, had gotten wet to my knees, and I changed into something dry and warm, as soon as I got back. It was a miracle I hadn’t fallen into the water. The current was surprisingly brisk, and I felt it tugging at me as I scooped the jar to the muddy bottom.
I expected Cheerful to not return until next morning, but to my delight, I found the bird waiting for me in the kitchen. On the table were two large sacks of flour. I was amazed at how much the bird could carry. Surely, an ordinary crow could not lift even one of those bags.
I carefully hefted my glass jar next to the flour. That was the ‘Flesh’ section taken care of. I fetched Ma Chère down from my bedroom, to re-familiarize myself with the rest.
For the blood:
Red wine suffused with those herbs which the Sorcerer finds useful to their purpose. One dramfull.
Gigert Giger didn’t give instructions on how long one should suffuse the wine with herbs. I had the impression that he was writing for a more advanced Sorcerer, one who would surely know the answer to such a question. I supposed that the longer the wine steeped, the better. Perhaps several days, like the Dancing Tongue potion?
But, I didn't want to wait that long! I went to the cabinet where I had stored Dancing Tongue. I only needed about a shot glass full of suffused wine. It wouldn’t hurt the potion any if I stole a little bit off the top for myself.
I poured out some of the Dancing Tongue into a small cup, noting the pleasant woody aroma which mingled with the fragrance of the wine.
If I remembered correctly, both Dill and Amara Dulcis, the herbs steeping in my Dancing Tongue potion, had to do with vigor, quickness, and a sharp mind. Again, Gigert didn’t give instructions on which herbs he thought would be most suitable. I thought that my combination didn’t sound too bad, and anyway, it was what I had on hand.
After putting away the rest of the Dancing Tongue to let it continue the Alchemical process, I went on with Gigert’s instructions.
For the bones:
Brick dust from your own house. If you dwell in a wooden home, shavings from the walls. If you dwell in a home of stone, stone pebbles, and make sure that they’re each the size of a grain of sand. I will not innumerate every material used for building, as I believe you will figure out the rest. Half a teaspoon will do.
But what if one dwelt in a house that had bricks, plaster, and wood all together?
I decided to hedge my bets, and got a little plaster which crumbled on the edges of the fireplace, a little wood from the paneling in the front room, and some brick dust from the outside of the house. I combined the resulting powders in the kitchen, and measured out one spoonful, setting it aside after I was done.
I was getting close to the end now! Almost all my ingredients were in place. And, how easy it was to collect these ingredients! Everything I needed I had on hand, or nearly so. I only had to buy flour.
For the pneuma:
Your own blood, a dramfull. Your own phlegm, a spoonful.
It was easy enough to fill a spoon with spit, but the blood part was trickier.
I chickened out over and over again, holding a kitchen knife to my palm. I tried to give it a slice, but all I managed was a scratch that didn’t produce any blood.
It took me several moments to collect myself. I had to pretend that I was slicing something else; I tried to visualize a green apple which I wanted to divide into two identical parts. I closed my eyes and pretending I wasn’t holding the knife into my own hand, I cut.
Blood!
It dripped out in a healthy trickle, and I had to hurry to catch it into a glass. I squeezed my hand a few times, to pump out more and more, and once I was sure I had enough, I ran to the sink to rinse off my hand.
I ended up wrapping my hand in a kitchen towel, and continued with the preparation.
If some other anatomical parts are desired, such as eyes, I encourage improvisation within reason. I have found hardened berries to be the most excellent eyeballs for my little pets. I will leave this decision in your capable hands, Young Sorcerer.
I had to think about this part. What other anatomical parts would my enchanted objects need?
I thought Gigert’s suggestion was a good one: surely, the things would need eyes. I dug the Belladonna berries out of my pocket, and counted out four. I put them on my table next to the rest of the ingredients.
I wracked my brain for any other ‘anatomical parts’ I might need, but couldn’t come up with anything. Shrugging, I went on to the next step.
Clothes for the little one:
Take care not to start sewing the clothes until the little one is in the baptismal grave. I recommend starting after you have shaped your little one, so that you could more accurately judge the measurements. It matters little what material you use, or the quality of your craft, but the little one must know that the clothes were made especially for it.
I had never sewn before. I really had no clue where to start. Thinking on it I took off my own shirt. I examined how it was put together.
Two shirt-shaped pieces of fabric, that were stitched together at the side: that shouldn’t be too hard.
“Cheerful…” I said out loud, and the bird was right next to me hopping up and down.
“Yes! Yes! Getting things together! Getting lots of things together! Oh, fun, fun, fun!” the bird said, commenting on the pile of stuff I was collecting on the kitchen table.
“Yeah, I need something else. Do you know if there are any sewing needles? Or scissors? I need to make some clothes, only I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that around-”
Before I could finish my thought the bird took off, flying in a circle around my head, chuffed to be of help, and was gone.
He flew back in a minute later, with a leather bag, which he plopped into my hands.
I unzipped the top. Scissors, thread, scraps of cloth, and even a pincushion, with needles sticking out! Everything I needed was in one place.
“Wow! This is great! Where did you find this?” I said, picking through the stuff.
“Mistress, kind Mistress, keeps this bag in her room! She uses it, kind Mistress uses it, to mend things, to fix things, that’s what she uses it for!”
“Oh,” I said, realizing that the crow had effectively stolen this sewing kit out of the Sorceress’s bedroom, “thank you for getting this, but erm, maybe we’ll not mention this to Mistress, alright?”
Cheerful squawked his assent and I continued to read Gigert’s instructions.
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