Chapter 6: Crystal Spiritsbane Brew

“Well, whether he’s possessed, bewitched, enscrolled or a doppleganger, we can’t just leave him waiting outside!” Jadah exclaimed.

Qusheab nodded.

“So it comes down to having protection again. You really never can have too much can you?”

Koolah looked around at the various bubbling pots.

“There should be a brew we can use…”

Qusheab hurriedly scuttled among the brews.

“Doesn’t this one just agitate spirits? Why are we even brewing this?”

The brew in question was a bubbling purple liquid in a small gold cauldron, it gave off a sweet smell and faint whispering could be heard around it.

“Only very minor spirits are lured, remember” Koolah lectured.

Jadah was frowning, there was something on the edge of her memory. She struck the palm of one of her paws when she remembered.

“Crystal Spiritsbane! Don’t we have a brew of that kind going?”

It has to be understood, that those without physical bodies, that is, spirits tend to find crystals abhorrent. The main reason for this is a curious attribute of most crystals. They can absorb the flow of magic and trap patterns within them. Spirits are of course mostly just patterns in the flow of magic, so naturally many hold wariness towards crystals. Even those that have grown strong enough to avoid getting trapped tend to find crystal disagreeable.

Crystal Spiritsbane brew is a liquid made from crystals and other reagents. It possesses an acidic quality towards spirits and even the fumes of powerful brews of this kind can drive spirits out from bodies and objects. Not all crystal spiritsbane brews are created equal of course. The lowest grade of brew would just cause a minor spirit a bit of discomfort.

“Do we? Don’t we only have the bottled stuff?” Koolah questioned.

In the nature of most magical brews, they tend to be strongest when freshly brewed. Of course, some concoctions age well, becoming more potent as time goes by. Time both enriches and destroys, but its final touch is always destruction.

Qusheab cried out in joy.

“Over here!”

Jadah and Koolah went over to her. Before Qusheab was a collection of pots atop a black metal lattice. The lattice was as if someone had taken a sinister and spiny cage and torn the upper part off.

Beneath this lay burning stones that seethed with heat and anger, the tears of spite shed by a greater spirit of flame.

The pot that Qusheab was pointing at looked remarkably like quartz and within was a sparkling rainbow coloured brew. Though there is any number of rainbow coloured brews, this one was indeed some crystal spiritsbane!

It was mainly made from crystal dust and scraps though. The sisters had a habit of dumping dust and scraps into this pot, and in time it had become quite potent.

“Is this really ok? It is a bit… sloppily made” Jadah worried.

“It’s fine” Koolah sniffed. “Qushqush, lift it up and place it near the door”

Straining a bit, she managed to do so.

The three sisters stood before the door, hesitating.

Jadah gave a strained smile and opened the door.

Again a pair of lifeless eyes gazed out at her from a heroic countenance.

“Well, that was a wee bit of a wait” Wauldigg laughed.

Before Jadah could stop him he had walked into the cottage.

He instantly noticed the crystal spiritsbane brew.

“Ah, I was wondering what that lovely smell was!”

Before Qusheab could top him, he had pulled out a bowl from his clothes and filled it with the brew.

“I apologise for this rudeness, but this is far too alluring!”

Before Koolah could stop him, the dwarf had downed the whole bowl in one quaff.

The three sisters were completely shocked, and rendered unable to react.

“Hmm, a bit hot… but lovely, lovely… eh? Why are you all looking at me like that?”