Theo was the first to wake the next morning, and he was getting good at creeping out of the bedroom without disturbing Tresk. In his previous life he would never have considered waking up before dawn, but in Broken Tusk it was a regular thing. He lit the candles and started a small fire for the tea. The cast-iron teapot bore the scorch marks on its side from the repetition of use, burning deeper as he set it down on the flames. As he settled down near the fire, a notification filled the middle of his vision.

[Rent is Due!]

Rent for [The Newt and Demon] is due in the amount of 10 copper coins, payable to [Miana] or the next acceptable functionary.

The rent was less than he expected, but the mayor would want him to make good on his debts as well. Theo had 39 copper, 4 silver to his name. With each day his expenses mounted without traders to properly buy his goods. He let out a heavy sigh and took stock of his materials. There were smatterings of reagents here and there, but not enough to make a full run of anything. He ran through each ‌ingredient in his mind, his superior [Wisdom] allowing him to recall each one with clarity.

[Ogre Cypress Bark] had the [Cure Ailment] property, which he took to mean diseases, and would be useful if monsters used afflictions. [Zee Kernel] was also useful in that regard, providing the [Cure Poison] property, providing a similar application. Everything else seemed to be of dubious use, or too dangerous to eat. He could discover more properties by eating something, but the only thing that seemed worth trying was the [Moss Nettle]. He pulled some of the soggy moss from its storage crate and took a tenuous bite. His head rushed, sending him tumbling to the ground before a message flashed.

[Properties Discovery!]

You’ve discovered an additional effect from the [Moss Nettle] by eating it.

[Stamina Surge] discovered.

As with most things with the system, it didn’t give him a description of the property. He couldn’t make assumptions about how the stamina would surge, and shrugged it away. Theo made a mental note to run a small batch of the moss to discover its effect, but pushed it aside in his mind. The only other ingredient he would taste was the [Marsh Tuber]. The description even said it was edible, highlighting the fact that it was foul tasting. Moments after taking the smallest bite, his stomach twisted into a knot. The taste was exactly as foul as the description claimed, sending the alchemist rushing for the barrel of [Purified Water] to cleanse the acrid sting on his tongue. It was like battery acid, and he didn’t know how it was palatable. The message flashed regardless of how vile it was.

[Properties Discovery!]

You’ve discovered an additional effect from the [Marsh Tuber] by eating it.

[Barkskin] discovered.

Theo didn’t need an in-depth explanation of that effect. Knowing the tenuous nature of the world as he did, the alchemist assumed that hardening one’s skin came with drawbacks. It was still the perfect potion to brew for new adventurers, giving them an edge over the hordes of wolves outside their town. He was preparing the 30 units of left-over [Marsh Tubers] when Tresk finally stepped into the lab. She stretched at the threshold, smacking her lips before shambling over to the tea.

“Good morning,” she said, still groggy.

“Morning. I’m going to start a potion run,” Theo said.

“Breakfast?”

Theo withdrew the still-hot cauldron of soup from his inventory, his hands burning on the sides. He quickly set it on the ground, wincing at the pain. “I hope you want more soup.”

“Soup is perfect,” she said, finding a bowl and filling it.

The tubers were slightly more difficult to process than most things and needed to be cut into small pieces for the mash. Tresk sat near the fire, barely moving as she ate her soup. Theo poured two cups of tea, handing his companion one before mashing the tubers. His low [Strength] stat made the task difficult, but he managed. He dumped them into the clean still and started a fire using one under the boiling kettle. He focused on extracting the second property of the tubers. With a flask placed under the condenser, he joined Tresk and grabbed a bowl of the soup.

“We’re going to be eating soup for days,” Theo said, peering into the cauldron. It was only half-empty at this point.

“Yeah,” Tresk said, yawning.

“You seem extremely tired,” Theo said, placing his hand on her forehead. It was clammy and hot. “Are you sick?”

“Maybe,” Tresk said. “Marshlings are extremely resistant to disease and poison, though.”

“I think you’re just exhausted,” Theo said, testing the soup. It was still as perfect as it was last night.

“Maybe we should brew some potions to cure diseases,” Tresk said. “Just in case.”

Theo helped her to her feet and escorted her to the room, tucking her into his bed. “I’ll brew the potions, you stay here.”

Tresk groaned in response, and Theo rushed back into the lab, pulling the door closed behind him. He didn’t want her to see the panic on his face, but she was too out of it to realize that he was concerned. The second still was still caked with yesterday’s mess. He scrubbed the edges of the still, scraping off the edges with his knife before returning the still to his inventory. The tables were heavy, but he shoved all his weight against one and brought it to the window. Theo removed the still from his inventory, and it fell with a clatter on the table.

It was only a matter of opening the window, and tipping the contents of the still out into the gravel garden below. He used his inventory to return the still to its original position, drinking some tea before starting a new fire under the second still. Theo zipped around the lab, frantically preparing a mash of the [Ogre Cypress Bark] left over from the tannery job, and dumping it in the cleaned still. He leveled it off with 10 units of [Purified Water] and inserted a flask under the condenser.

Theo left the lab, cracking the bedroom door open to find Tresk heaving breath. He let out a whispered curse before pulling the door closed and returning to the lab.

“Why don’t I have these things on hand?” he asked. The empty lab responded with the sputtering hisses of dual condensers.

The alchemist waited at the edge of the table, tapping his foot impatiently as the stills did their work. He tried to rationalize the situation, forcing his mind to realize that [Cure Ailment] was the best property for the job. She could have a Marshling cold, and he wouldn’t know what to look for. The only thing he could reach for was alchemy, and it left him feeling vulnerable. The 10 units of mash cooked down quickly, Throk’s amazing still doing its work.

Theo shoved the fire out from underneath the still and snatched the [Purifying Essence]. He approached the [Glassware Artifice] and created his standard flat-bottomed vial. The reaction was immediate when he added the ingredients together. It smelled like wood polish, but the description gave him hope.

[Lesser Potion of Purification]

[Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Great Quality

Low-tier purification potion that removes common ailments.

Effect:

Remove one affliction instance from the drinker.

Theo returned to the bedroom with the potion in hand. Tresk’s forehead felt hotter than it did before. “Tresk, can you hear me?”

She stirred slightly, but only groaned in response. Theo tipped her head back and forced the potion into her mouth. Tresk tried to object, but even with her high [Strength] the affliction sapped it all away. He saw her swallow the potion and stood, his heart hammering hard in her ears. The Marshling was consumed by ribbons of light, swirling over her body with a buzzing sound. After a moment, it vanished and her eyes snapped open.

“What the hell is [Creeping Rot]?” she asked, coughing.

Theo let out a sigh of relief, falling to the ground and chuckling.

“What happened?” Tresk asked.

Theo explained what just happened, the Marshling growing more pale as he got further into the story. She then flushed a deep shade of pink and busied herself with the bedsheets.

“A monster wolf got hold of my arm yesterday,” Tresk said. “It was such a scramble I must have missed the notification.”

Theo let out another steadying breath, kneeling by the bedside and smiling at his companion. “We need to make sure the adventurers have these potions. I’m pretty sure you were dying.”

“My health bar says as much,” Tresk said, groaning into a seated position. “Only about 25% left.”

“Drink a potion,” Theo said, scowling.

Tresk obeyed, removing a [Lesser Healing Potion] from her bag and downing it. She smiled at him before laughing. “I picked the right Tara’hek partner, that’s for sure.”

Theo scoffed, returning to the lab to tend to the other still. Tresk followed close behind him, taking a seat by the fire. The pair sat there for some time, only tending the fire and finishing their breakfast. The tea did a lot to calm the alchemist’s nerves, but he was shaken. He blamed himself for the mistake, unable to keep his mind off of making money where he should have been preparing his partner for adventuring. Even if she claimed ‌she was seasoned, she spent her early years in her father’s smithy. They were growing together, and that came with pain.

“Adventurers face a lot of stuff like that,” Tresk said, breaking the silence.

The condenser on the still sputtered into silence and Theo went over to remove the fire beneath it. He let out a sigh and regarded his companion. “I know. I’m beating myself up because I feel like you should have every potion under the sun. It’s not reasonable, but I want you to have everything you need at the ready.”

“It’s not reasonable, but I understand,” Tresk said.

“This might help with that, though,” Theo said, inspecting the flask.

[Barkskin Essence]

[Essence]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Great Quality

30 units (liquid)

Concentrated essence of barkskin.

“Would you mind making me 30 vials?” Theo asked. “We’ll make half now, and half later.

“Of course,” Tresk said, moving off to work on the [Glassware Artifice].

Theo found a flask large enough to contain the 60 unit reaction, rinsing it out with [Purified Water]. He added the water, shavings, and essence, gaining a volatile reaction for his efforts. It bubbled and sputtered before emitting a cloud of smoke that smelled like the forest. The alchemist fanned it out the window, his heart thumping in his ears again. It was a pale brown color, fizzing with effervescence. He approached the reaction like the other low-level ones, assuming that it was one-to-one like [Lesser Healing Potions]. The fear that his lab would explode crowded his mind the moment that plume of smoke came out, but he breathed a sigh of relief and inspected the solution.

[Lesser Barkskin Potion]

[Potion]

Common

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Great Quality

Drink to gain Barkskin effect for 3 minutes.

Effect:

Imbiber’s skin is turned to bark, increasing their defense significantly at the cost of mobility.

Theo began distributing the potion into the vials that his companion had made. She scooped one up and inspected it, her eyes going wide. “This is amazing,” she said.

“I thought Barkskin might be useful,” Theo said. “Another potion you can drink if you’re in a bind.”

The pair distributed all 30 units of the solution into the vials, jamming the glass stoppers in the top before going downstairs to place them in the shop. In the early morning light, Theo could finally appreciate how much he liked the shop. The orange sunlight filtered through the front windows, casting the room in a pale glow. They placed the potions on a shelf and stood there, drinking in the sight.

A knock came from the door, and Theo let Luras into the shop. The Half-Ogre looked over Tresk and knit his brow. “You look pale.”

“Almost died,” Tresk said, smiling.

“A wolf had [Creeping Rot],” Theo said.

Luras titled his head. “They must have evolved since the dungeon was upgraded. They’re essentially scouts. None of the really nasty stuff like goblins are going to hit the surface.”

“At least there’s that,” Theo said.

“I’m guessing you made a potion that cured the affliction,” Luras said. “You’ll want to stock a supply of that, unless we want to see dead villagers everywhere.”

“Are you ready to go train the adventurers?” Tresk said, undaunted by her brush with death.

“Not so fast,” Theo said. “You both need to take a [Lesser Barkskin Potion] and a few [Lesser Potion of Purifications] before you leave.”

Theo retreated upstairs without waiting for their responses, bottling the rest of the cure and returning downstairs. He distributed it among the two, finally satisfied that they could handle the deadly wolves.

“You’re like our mother,” Luras said.

“Yeah, take a few [Lesser Healing Potions], too,” Theo said. “Seriously, I almost had a heart attack with Tresk.”

Tresk smiled, scooping a few of the healing potions into her bag before coming to press her forehead against Theo’s. They gained some experience, likely because of the harrowing experience upstairs, before the two adventurers departed. The alchemist intended to go to the tavern before opening the shop, hoping to find someone to run the shop so he could free up his time. Making money was nice, but the fuel that powered that engine was the potions he’d been neglecting.

The Marsh Wolf tavern was mostly empty, and Theo found the notice board tucked away near the counter. Xam greeted him as he read over the notices, most of them concerning the bounty on the wolves outside of the town.

“I need someone to run the shop. Anyone come to mind?” Theo asked.

Xam pressed her finger into her chin and hummed. She stood there for a moment before shrugging. “Most people in town are laborers. That work force thinned out when the wolf notice went up, but I know someone who would want the job.”

“How good are they with people?” Theo asked.

“Fine, just fine,” Xam said. “He’s my brother, so I’ll vouch for him if you’re concerned.”

“Send him to the shop,” Theo said. He didn’t want to post a sign in the tavern, having no desire to wait for help with the shop. “I offer laborer wages for the time being, but it’s simple work.”

“Azrug likes simple work,” Xam said, sighing. “Doesn’t even have his cores yet.”

“What does that mean?”

“I forget you’re an outworlder, sometimes,” Xam said. “People don’t get their cores until they come of age. Depends on the person, but that usually happens around 15 years old.”

“Good thing there’s no child labor laws here,” Theo scoffed.

Xam smiled. “He’ll be around soon, if you’d like to wait.”

“I need to grab some materials,” Theo said. “We’re going to have a plague of [Creeping Rot] soon.”

“Anything you want to share?” Xam said, raising an eyebrow.

“The wolves inflict [Creeping Rot], that’s all I know,” Theo said.

“Then, by all means,” Xam said, gesturing to the door.

Theo left, not really knowing how to take the woman’s tone. He shrugged it off and made his way down to the tannery, intent on purchasing [Ogre Cypress Bark] from Perg. With the threat of wolves so close to town, he wasn’t willing to delve into the swamp itself. He didn’t want any part of that danger, and knew he couldn’t handle himself against a level 1 monster, let alone something above level 5.

“Perg,” Theo said, waving at the tannery owner. She was standing in her customary spot, arms folded, with a bright smile on her face.

“Well, if it isn’t the alchemist. Come to check up on our progress?” Perg asked.

“Not exactly,” Theo said. “Although, now that you mention it, how’s the processing going?”

“I cleared out my entire warehouse,” Perg said. “We did a year’s worth of work in a day.”

“Perfect. And it doesn’t smell like death anymore,” Theo said. “Now all we need is some traveling merchants.”

“Right, so what’s the real reason you’re here?”

“I need to buy some [Ogre Cypress Bark] from you,” Theo said. “The wolves inflicted [Creeping Rot] on Tresk. Almost killed her.”

Perg pushed off from the side of the warehouse and knit her brow. “You know that you’re welcome to just take the bark.”

“Come on. That’s not fair,” Theo said.

“Let me say this again. We processed a year’s worth of hides in a day,” Perg said. “You’re taking ten percent of what I sell this stuff for. That’s not nearly enough. Also, you’re going to use the potions to cure townsfolk. Just take the bark. I’ve got my crew running around stockpiling supplies, anyway.”

Theo shuffled his feet, eager to take the free [Ogre Cypress Bark]. He still felt guilty that he wasn’t paying for it, but marched into the warehouse. Piles of completed leather sat on all corners of the place. The pits in the center of the building were empty and drained of the foul liquid. The pile of bark had grown larger since he was here the last time. He eagerly shoved the ingredients into his inventory, only stopping when they went over the stack limit of 400.

“The traders will show up soon,” Perg said. “Word should be out by now. I hope your shop is ready for it.”

“We are. I’m hiring Azrug to run the shop part of it,” Theo said.

“Xam’s kid brother? He’s smart,” Perg said.

“Good. As long as I’m not babysitting, I’m happy,” Theo said.