The Drug Addicted Priestess

"Fair enough, there are currently two methods that I know of that are different from yours. There is mana-based potion-making which I don't quite know how it works mostly because I can't use mana, and then there is blood alchemy. Blood alchemy is a method I created so that I could subdue the taint, the method is a little finicky and isn't as reliable as your method but it is cheaper."

"You need a sample of the subject's blood, and then you add doses of raw essentia to the blood to add effects. The effects produced are similar to yours but there are some different outcomes; mining fatigue, wither, nausea, hunger, physical resistance, vitality boost, and decay, photosynthesis, vis generation, flux flu, taint poisoning, increased and decreased luck." I explained

"What's the downsides?" Empress Rasi asked

"Let's take Lux (Light) for example. It has a high affinity for night vision and a low affinity for blindness adding 2 doses of Lux into the blood provides a short-term night vision effect but adding a third adds blindness as well. The effect duration and potency are also strictly limited to the amount of essentia added, so you can't use glowstone or redstone to improve potions."I responded

"Truly fascinating, so potions only work for one person?" Empress Rasi asked

"Yes and no, positive effects only work on the person whose blood it was originally from, while negative effects work on everyone." I replied

"Interesting, you will have to show me at some point. I'd love to continue talking but I have duties I need to attend to so you will have to excuse me." Empress Rasi said, "If you also would like our talks to continue then do come back in two days, that is when I will be here again."

I did quite enjoy our talks so I would be coming back at some point but I still had 2 other Elders I needed to talk to before the day ended so I left Empress Rasi's lab and headed over to Priestess Teala's lab

It was weird seeing so many thaumaturges gathered in one place, maybe it's because I originally thought I was the only thaumaturge left.

It was nice seeing so many interesting applications of thaumaturgy though, levitation devices, arcane doors, some specialized lamps, materials that increased movement, materials that prevented movement, even a magical mirror that allowed for inanimate objects to pass through it to another linked mirror.

The most interesting thing I could immediately identify were the foci. There were of course the fire frost and shock ones that I had but there were also an array of other interesting foci including what looked like upgrades to existing foci.

After my short walk, I had made it to the Illager branch of the Lab although unlike the Blaze's branch I was stopped at the entrance. The Illagers looked almost exactly like humans, the only thing that told them apart was the fact that their skin color was a bluish-gray color. That and the fact that most of them lacked hair.

"Halt! State your intentions!" One of the guards spoke

I pulled out the badge I was given and showed him, and I immediately saw his face morph into one of pity.

"Ah, Lady Saintess called for you... I'll show you to her lab." He spoke with pity in his voice

Despite my confusion, I still followed him, and I was led to a door that was guarded by another Illager.

"Oh Dave how are you doing my man, it's been a while since you last came over!" One of the other guards spoke

"Sorry about that bro, my wife is being a little difficult currently so I haven't had time recently." Dave, the one who was guiding me spoke said

"All good man just come by sometime, are you here to replace me in my shift?!" The other replied

"Oh hell no! You got stuck with guarding the Priestess, not me, but this little lady is here to see the Priestess." Dave replied

"Damn." The guard then turned and started slamming his fist on the door. "LADY PRIESTESS YOU HAVE A VISITOR!"

"FUCK! Gimme a sec,- SHIT -and I swear if you- DAMNIT -slam that door again then Ill- GOD FUCKING DAMNIT -fire you!" Priestess Teala said

"Huh, you know for a priestess she sure doesn't sound like one." I stated

I watched the 2 guards turn towards me with a face of horror. I watched as they backed up and stood clear of the door. I could hear on the other side of the door someone swearing obscenities before the door swung open hitting and crushing a guard behind it.

"Who the fu- OH it's you human! I'll forgive your previous statement as we have much to discuss!" Priestess Teala said as she was dragging me into her lab.

As soon as I was in her lab the door slammed behind me. The room was dark and rather cold compared to the rest of the Nether. The floor was covered in various tools and materials. I had a hard time not tripping over every step with how much stuff there was.

As I was being dragged through the mess I suddenly felt the ground below me disappear as Priestess Teala had picked me up and then sat me on one of the many counters that littered the room.

"There you can sit there and I'll sit on this counter here!" Priestess Teala said as she pulled a lamp out from under the mess of stuff lying on the floor. "Now we have light so that I can properly inspect you!" Priestess Teala said while staring at me

Priestess Teala stood at about 1.8m (5'10"). She had the same bluish-gray skin with long black hair. Her eyes were a piercing purple color and she had large bags under her eyes. Her face was that of a model and although it was spotted with ash and grease it didn't take away from her beauty. She was wearing a lab coat with a purple t-shirt and some black sweatpants and had a pair of goggles resting around her neck. Her figure was also one to envy, a nice hourglass figure with some nice-sized breasts to accompany.

Maybe I should have come here last?

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Word Count: 1054

Another character description added to my growing roster! Suggestions and power stones are always welcomed!