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I lead the gnome to my laboratory from which the herb cellar is accessed -- an herb cellar without a laboratory is as useful as flowers growing in a meadow. Two of my elfs accompany me, as they always do.
Three steps into the lab Lazar stops, raises his arms, and yells, "Apron!" The elfs balk, they are not used to either gnomes or strangers in my lab.
Lazar turns to me, "Baron?" I sign for the elfs to bring an apron. They bring one of theirs for him, and they bring mine.
Lazar smiles, "Excellent! First, we must do some... ahem... 'equipment calibration.'" and he scurries into the herb cellar proper.
My lab is well organized, but even so this little gnome is fast! Before I can take three steps, he comes out again with a handful of three fine-smelling plants. He dashes to the work bench, grinds them while muttering an incantation and puts the mixture into an alembic along with some rosewater. I recognize the plants. He is making Alorretta, a general purpose feelgood potion that is somewhat tricky to make. It is commonly taught as an advanced alchemy experiment because such a wide range of results are possible. It can come out as anything from a mildly toxic, stinking black goo, to a lemon-yellow, sparkling fluid that will fill a house with good feelings for a day.
In just minutes, I see a distillate coming out that is not yellow, but light blue, and the fragrance is decidedly heady!
"My compliments, Baron! You keep a fine lab here."
"How did you do that?" I ask with child like amazement; his potion is already making me happy and relaxed.
"Oh, I've learned a few things over the years. This arrangement we have made will not be all give and no take." he gives me a wink.
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