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: 1,311
Alchemy
Coagula (LVL 1, 44 SKP)
Solvé (LVL 0, 49 SKP) Ready to level up!
Theoria (LVL 1, 48 SKP) Ready to level up!
Botany
Sowing (LVL 0, 5 SKP)
Tending (LVL 0, 80 SKP) Ready to level up!
?
Cooking
Fire (LVL 1, 28 SKP)
Water (LVL 0, 39 SKP) Ready to level up!
?
Homesteading
Fire Tending (LVL 0, 7 SKP)
Tidying (LVL 1, 107 SKP) Ready to level up!
Mending (LVL 0, 15 SKP)
Speech
Logic (LVL 1, 23 SKP)
Linguistics (LVL 0, 41 SKP) Ready to level up!
Cajoling (LVL 0, 10 SKP)
Total SKP: 441
Inventory:
Auros: 2.65
Cards of Destiny: 5 of ?? Discovered
Names: 4
Evengeline, The Pure Snow (Holly)
Vitas, The Wind Thief (Sparrow)
Gillygad, The Stitched-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.
The house on Austere Way was now spotless.
Every surface gleamed, every room breathed with freshness, and every window was clear as the morning light.
My poppets had been busy.
After the unfortunate incident where Hansel had poisoned himself by eating a mystery berry off my enchanted plants, the poppets had taken some time to rest. I had left them alone in the kitchen, thinking that they needed time to recover.
I went to the solarium by myself, to clean up the pruned stalks and leaves. I carefully sifted through the botanical trash, looking for something familiar, something useful.
I was quite pleasantly surprised when I smelled the familiar spice of Sage. I had used the dried bundle of Sage hanging above the fireplace enough times to know the scent by heart.
There was a little stalk, just shorter than my palm, amongst the prunings.
I was sure there were more useful plants among the heaps of refuse, but I did not yet have the skills to identify them.
I put the Sage stalk into a glass jar filled with water, and took out the rest of the pruned bits to the trash.
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When I returned to the kitchen, I found that Hansel and Gretel had managed to climb the counter. They were taking turns turning on the kitchen tap, and putting their small hands underneath the faucet, to divert the spray of water at each other.
I watched them from the doorway for a minute. I smiled, thinking that Hansel must be feeling much better.
A puddle of water had started to form underneath in the floor underneath the sink. I went over to turn it off. They looked up at me, sheepish.
That’s when I started to teach them how to clean.
I decided that if I kept them busy, they would get into less trouble.
I took time to explain very thoroughly how to dust, scrub, sweep and mop. I tried to think of any possible ways that the poppets could injure themselves, and warned them against it.
After I was done, they set off. It seemed they were excited by the prospect of getting chores done.
I called Cheerful, and told him to keep an eye on the poppets. If he saw them getting into trouble, I told him to get me immediately.
“Help little boy! Help little girl! Watch little boy and little girl play! What fun!” He croaked, and flew after them.
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Alone in the kitchen, keeping an ear out for Cheerful and the poppets, I decided to level up a skill. I pulled up my character sheet, trying to decide what I should do next.
I knew at some point I would need to level up every botany skill at least once to continue learning spells from Contemplations on the GREEN and the RED. But I still hadn’t unlocked the last Botany skill, so I decided to put that off for now.
I also knew that I would need to make more potions. So, I decided to go with another Alchemy skill.
I had already leveled up Theoria and Coagula; now I wanted to test out Solvé.
I selected the Ready to level up! message.
Do You Wish To Level Up?
Solvé Level 1 Grants ‘Dissolving Lines’ Active Effect
I answered yes.
Dissolving Lines!
Active Effect: The understanding of how a menagerie of elements comes together to make common items; skin, bark, atlases, all are building blocks, of building blocks of building blocks. The understanding of how to dissolve the whole into parts, to learn of its nature. Boil or burn an unknown ingredient to discover its essence.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
I read and re-read the description.
I quickly went to the trash heap of prunings, and picked the first branch off the top.
I broke off a section of the stick, and picked one leaf, and put them in the tea kettle, filled with water. The whole ensemble went over the flame in the hearth.
I waited patiently, stoking the fire. After some time, steam began to rise from the kettle. I concentrated, thinking of my new skill. It was an ‘active effect,’ but I wasn’t sure how to trigger it.
I brought up the new skill in my character sheet, and tried to mentally tap on it, while keeping the boiling kettle in view.
It worked!
I heard a little chime, and saw a message.
(Activated Dissolving Lines)
Unknown Ingredient: Malus domestica
This ingredient has no known uses in Alchemy, but the fruits do make for a delicious pie.
I looked at the branch, which I had now discovered had no use in Alchemy.
I was starting to understand just how useful this new skill was going to be, especially combined with my monster plants that kept sprouting forth totally random parts. I would have a fully functional Alchemist’s garden in no time!
I looked down at the branch. I had no idea what kind of plant Malus domestica was, but if it made a delicious pie, I did not want to toss it.
I decided to put the remaining stem into a jar with water, but instead of keeping it in the kitchen or the solarium, I would bring it outside, to the back of the Sorceress’s house. Outside, I would plant everything that was not an Alchemy ingredient. Everything that was a potential potion ingredient, I would keep in the solarium.
After taking care of the Malus domestica, I took a generous heap of prunings back from the trash, and laid them out in front of the fireplace. I had a long and productive day in front of me.
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After boiling seven plants, and using my new Dissolving Lines effect on each, I was exhausted.
I had not noticed it the first time I used my new active effect, but it had made me a bit more tired. Then the next time I used it, I felt a slight bit more weary. Then more and more, until all I could do was sit and stare at the fire.
But, my experimentation had not been a total failure. Sure, some of the plants I had ‘dissolved’ had been complete wastes.
(Activated Dissolving Lines)
Unknown Ingredient: Digitaria insularis
This ingredient has no known uses in Alchemy, and no uses in anything else, besides being a pain in a gardener's backside.
I assumed that meant this was a weed.
There were a couple of other plants, which had similar descriptions.
Of course, I reasoned, not all of them could be winners.
But then I stumbled on a few which looked promising!
(Activated Dissolving Lines)
Unknown Ingredient: Symphytum officinale
This ingredient has many uses in Alchemy, primarily in healing concoctions. Don’t pass this one up!
Of course, I saved that one. I now had a row of glass jars, all with small cuttings, which I hoped would sprout roots.
I was a little disappointed that when I ‘dissolved’ the ingredients it didn’t unlock them in my Grimoire. I supposed I still had to unlock them by solving riddles, or tasting them, or guessing their names.
While I worked on my newfound skill, I watched the steady tick of EXP from my poppets. At the end of my work, I had an extra 17 EXP to Tidying, with no effort on my part. I thought to myself that making the poppets, and enchanting them, had been a good plan, after all.
I cut up some fruit, and made fresh tea to bring to the poppets, after their long day of work, and climbed up the spiral stairway to the second floor.
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When I made my way upstairs, I found Hansel and Gretel in the library. They were not cleaning anymore.
This was fine by me, as it had seemed that the library had been dusted and swept, and I’m sure the little guys were tired from a whole day of chores.
What did stump me was that I found the two poppets curled in an armchair, reading a book. Cheerful was dozing, perched on one of the shelves. So much for my lookout.
The dolls didn’t notice me coming in right away, as they were chittering amongst themselves and gesturing to the pages in the open volume. I was surprised that my poppets knew how to read, but as I stepped closer, I realized they probably did not.
The book was upside down.
“What did you find?” I asked them. Both poppets jumped, and I felt a twinge of regret that I startled them
It was no longer just a fright they felt. It was more a scurrilous shame, of being caught red handed doing something one oughtn’t do.
Hansel quickly shut the book, and Gretel moved to hide it behind her.
Of course, I didn’t mind at all that they tried to read a book. There was no reason for them to hide it. I cautiously moved forward.
“It’s alright, let me see,” I held out my hand, and Gretel, hanging her head, dutifully handed me the book. I looked down and read the title.
The Arte of Eating and Keeping Company
By Anjelica, The Keeper
I guessed it was a cookbook, of some sort.
“Are you hungry?” I asked. The poppets nodded at me in unison, their berry eyes large.
“I brought tea, and some snacks. Let’s eat up here!” I suggested.
We did just that.
I drug over a small end table, loaded with the food platter and teacups, and curled up on the armchair. The twin poppets straddled the armrest on both sides of me.
As we ate, I opened The Arte of Eating and Keeping Company and started to read out loud. The poppets had obviously wanted to know what was in the book, and I wanted to indulge their curiosity. As I read, they edged closer to me, until they were both huddled on my lap.
The Arte of Eating and Keeping Company was a cookbook, interspersed with funny little anecdotes. The author, who had a fondness for stews, but claimed that she could make any manner of dishes, described the preparation of the food, then went on to tell stories of serving the dishes to various friends, and customers, that visited her tavern.
All in all, it was a delightful read, and I was happy that Hansel and Gretel had chosen this specific book.
I was tired of reading about the gory deaths of the Names, or Sorcerous hijinx. It made the world seem unfriendly, a dangerous place that one could easily lose their way in, and end up dead or worse. Stuck for all eternity as an animated Scarecrow, I thought, thinking of poor Giles Gadsby. Or, having to live out the afterlife with an oozing eye wound, like Nestor.
The last light of the day began fading. As I read out loud about the preparation for a very fine plum pudding, I noticed that Hansel and Gretel were nodding off. I made my voice softer as I read.
A strange thing started to happen. The electric light in the library softened, and there was an atmosphere of comfort, and companionship, like I had just walked into a bar where I knew every face, and they were all happy to see me. It was a most pleasant feeling.
Every worry faded away from me.
Everything was going to be okay. Mistress would come back with Aleister, I would pass whatever examination the Guild threw my way, and we would all live happily ever after. Mistress, me, Aleister, Cheerful, Hansel and Gretel. Maybe Solomon, who was so lonely in his cottage in the woods, would join us one day, too. Wouldn’t that be nice?
One big happy family.
I smiled, and felt a little prickle behind my eyelids. How nice, I thought, how sweet that thought. One big happy family.
I wiped my eyes trying not to jostle the sleeping poppets, and as I did, I caught sight of someone.
There was an old lady in the library with me.
I didn’t understand immediately what was going on, because the old lady was nothing like the other spirits. They were shadowy, glimmering, their words sounding only in my head rather than out loud. This old lady looked like she was really here, not just a mere vision. And her words were warm, and human.
She was short, with neat white hair, and a crisp apron. She had a large shining pot, hanging off her belt. She was of such small stature, and the pot was so large, that it unbalanced the poor lady.
In her hand she held a gleaming Ladle.
“That right there,” she said, pointing her ladle at me and the poppets curled up on my lap, “that’s what it’s all about. That’s all there is to all of it. The key. They don’t last long, so make sure you keep ‘em cozy and warm. Keep ‘em happy. That’s all there is to it. And when they stop lastin’, you just remember that you kept ‘em cozy and happy. You just remember.”
I had no idea what the old lady was talking about, but I felt the words enveloping me like a hug. I nodded.
“You call me now, if you need me. Anjelica is the Name. When a dish needs a good spicin’, or some folks need to learn how to make merry, you call me. When you wanna feel at home, just get a pot of stew on the stove, throw some garlic in there, and I’ll be around!”
I would call her. I wanted to feel like this again, like I was home, and wanted. Like someone was missing me, and I finally came through the door, and there were shouts of people, calling my name, and asking me to come sit, and tell them about my long journeys, and…
“I’ll be seein’ ya.” the old lady said, stowing her Ladle somewhere in her apron. She disappeared.
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Why did I pick Snake?
That was the only thought in my head as I carried Hansel and Gretel to my bedroom.
The old lady, Anjelica, wasn’t gory, or terrifying. She was lovely! I wished she hadn’t left. I wanted to bring back that cozy, yellow warmth. I wanted to call her Name again.
In that brief moment of respite, I realized how creeped out I was by every other Sign so far. Even Zinia, my own patron, was beautiful, but had a terrifying edge. And her boon? Easy romance? Ethereal beauty? I could easily give that up. In fact, thinking of poor Solomon, who was unnaturally beautiful, but still alone, I wasn’t sure great beauty was any kind of gift. A curse, if nothing else.
But as far as I knew, there was no way I could change Signs. I had a huge snake tattoo across my shoulders, and I doubt I could remove it.
Anyway, I thought to myself, I have to keep thinking of my tattoo. How dumb would it be to have a picture of a Ladle on my back? That would be nonsense. Snake, snake, snake, I am a snake. Hissss!
Snapping out of my thoughts, I looked down at the two sleeping poppets in my arms.
I briefly considered tucking them into my own bed.
It was narrow and not very long, but the poppets being only a foot tall, and myself not being very large, I thought we could all fit. But, I ran the risk of accidentally kicking one of the dolls at night, or otherwise dislodging them. I didn’t want to do that.
I grabbed two extra pillows from the linen closet, and laid them, side by side, in my room. I put each poppet on the pillows, and put one blanket over them, tucking it at the corners.
Just before I turned away, I saw Gretel curl up against her friend’s (brother’s?) back. They snoozed, and I watched them with a slight smile on my face.
I thought about the old lady’s words. This is what it’s all about. But my smile faltered.
What had she said afterwards?
Something about them “lasting.”
Where else had I seen that?
As I laid in bed, trying to fall asleep it hit me.
When I had aligned Lesser Baptism, I read through all the Signs’ influences.
Wheel’s influence allowed the enchanted objects to cycle through all the boonful effects of the other Signs, but...
I remembered now: but the enchantment only lasted half as long.
I felt my heart drop. Enchantments don’t last forever.
Surely, not my poppets, that were truly like a little boy and a little girl, they couldn’t just drop lifeless to the floor. Maybe the method that Gigert Giger taught me in Ma Chère would keep my poppets enchanted for a long, long time.
I tossed and turned for hours, reassuring myself that Hansel and Gretel would be alright, and finally, exhausted, fell asleep.
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