• Solo • A Vial of Hope

[Doran]

Ashan 60, Arc 720

The son of Ziell had decided to never join the Order of the Adunih, for a number of reasons, even though he had worked as a healer in the past and still occasionally helped out in the Infirmary in Viden, despite his duties at the Academy. He appreciated their work though. They did good. They saved lives, and they gave people hope in a world that was often lacking such.

For that reason, he made his way to the outpost in Scalvoris on that Ashan morning, carrying a large metal box in his arms, holding it close to his chest as its contents were precious, beyond measure. A barely noticeable frown creased his brow as the building came into view. It was a bit smaller than he had expected. Everything was clean and tidy though which was a good sign.

With that thought in mind, the Mortalborn who was dressed in a black suit and a coat of the same color raised a gloved hand and knocked. From what he had heard about the Order, they never locked their doors, but he considered knocking to be polite, nevertheless.

But a few moments later, footsteps could be heard, and a young blonde woman approached, looking at him with curiosity as he did so. “Yes?” she asked. “How may I help you? You don’t look as if you are in need of medical treatment”, she observed.

“I have come here to make a donation”, Doran spoke in a cool and measured tone and opened the box for a moment so that the woman could see that it contained a number of vials that were filled with a light red liquid. “I am a professor at the Academy of Viden, and I have been working on a potion that will help treat anaphylaxis as well as heart problems. I thought that the Order might be interested …”

“How much …?” the woman who had apparently missed the first part of his explanation asked.

“Nothing”, he replied curtly. “I don’t need any money. I already have more money than I’ll be able to spend in a lifetime. Your saving lives is all the payment that I need.”

The woman eyed him with a certain amount of suspicion for a moment before she tentatively smiled at him and told him, “My name is Rami. Please follow me inside. You should talk to the healers. I’m only an apprentice, I’m afraid. Your donation is appreciated though.”

“Doran”, the Mortalborn introduced himself as telling Rami his name when she had told him hers would only be polite before he stepped through the door and walked after her.

[Doran]

A few seasons earlier, Doran would likely not have cared as much whether people that he didn’t even know lived or died. Meeting Llyr, falling in love, becoming a mage and seeing the wonders of Emea had given him hope though and made him realize that there was beauty in the world after all and that the world might be worth saving after all.

The cycle before, he had made what likely constituted a major breakthrough in the field of alchemy – he had found a way to create potions based on Lotharro blood that gave the drinker their adrenaline and increased endurance.

Originally, he hadn’t planned on going public and telling the world about his invention quite as soon – he hadn’t planned on doing anything until he had written a thesis about his potion.

Somebody at the Academy of Viden had begun to gossip and subsequently forced his hand though.

He could likely have sold his invention at a relatively high price; what he had told Rami – and the healers that she had taken him to - had been true though.

He was already one of the richest men in all of Viden, and he made enough money with his other creations – he planned on creating a potion that gave the drinker an Ellune’s resistance to cold next – that he could afford to develop new medicines and give them away for free, in order to help those that were in need and give them a little hope and a chance at survival.

Saving lives was so much more satisfying than standing on the battlefield and fighting enemy after enemy had ever been, although he would of course never give up the sword.

Idalos was a dangerous place, and there were still certain creatures that needed to be killed.

[Doran]

He had stayed at the Order of the Adunih longer than he had planned. The healers had been most curious about his work – and asked him if he didn’t want to join which he had politely declined. They had been somewhat disappointed about that, but most grateful for his donation – especially since he had promised them another delivery soon.

When he finally returned to the house that he had rented for the duration of his stay on the island, the sun was about to set, and Elias, his servant that had accompanied him, was already in the kitchen, making dinner. Plia, one of his research assistants, a young woman of mixed Eidisi and Ellune blood, was sitting on the couch in the living room, a book in her lap and her legs tucked under her body.

When he entered, she looked up. “Did your visit go well, professor?” she asked, smiling softly. The young woman was a little shy and hesitant, although she was not as self-conscious as she had been – his teaching her to use a weapon seemed to have helped and increased her self-esteem. “I’ve been thinking about something”, she continued before he could reply and took a deep breath.

“You said that you wanted to make a potion with an Ellune’s blood next. If you want to, you can have my blood. It would spare you the effort of looking for volunteers. I know that I’m not a full Ellune, but my blood might still be of use. Besides, it might be interesting to research how my Eidisi side affects things”, she told him.

He considered her offer for a moment before he answered. She was right, of course. If he used her blood, he wouldn’t have to look for volunteers, and he was curious about how her mixed-blood would affect things – and if the effect could be strengthened by using a metabolizer regardless. “I appreciate that, Plia”, he spoke and continued. “I will of course compensate you, just like my other volunteers.” Such would only be fair.

The young woman immediately shook her head though. “That isn’t necessary, professor”, she told him softly. “It’s enough if you simply allow me to be part of your research.”

He inclined his head as he heard that and smiled very lightly. Unlike some people, he didn’t argue on and on. If Plia wanted to give him her blood for free, he would not disagree with her, but simply accept her donation and appreciate it. When she put her book away and abruptly extended her right arm, he raised an eyebrow questioningly nevertheless as that was unexpected.

A moment later, he nodded though as he didn’t see a reason why he shouldn’t take her blood right now and retrieved the things that he would need, something to disinfect the site, needles and a torque among other things and set them down on the table in front of her.

“Make a fist”, he then told her calmly. Before he had even finished speaking, the young half-blood had already done so – she had watched him work with enough volunteers in order to know how drawing blood worked, even though she was not a doctor herself. A few moments later, he held up two vials filled with the young woman’s blood while Plia pressed down on the gauze pad on her arm in order to prevent a bruise from forming.

[Doran]

Approximately half a break later, the son of Ziell and his assistant stood in the small laboratory that was just down the hallway, in front of the table, a variety of different alchemical apparatuses in front of them. Both wore protective gloves as well as lab coats.

Since Plia had donated her blood, he considered it to be fair to let her help him make the potion.

Besides, he appreciated her company.

“First of all, I will purify your blood with the help of a centrifuge”, he spoke as he inserted the first of the vials with Plia’s blood into the device in question. “And then I will combine it with a base liquid, a type of alcohol in this case. I plan on following the same procedure that I followed when I made the adrenaline potion and see if it has the intended effect or if a different type of blood requires different reagents.”

“Would you hand me the vial with the yellow liquid on the shelf to your right, please?” he asked Plia in a polite tone. The young woman nodded and did as she had been told. She handed him the vial that he had requested before she looked at him questioningly.

“Is there anything else that you would like me to do?” she wanted to know, and he gestured for her to come closer as there was indeed another thing that she would be able to help him with. Crafting potions was a complex process at the best of times, after all.

[Pig Boy]

Doran

Experience: 10 no magic xp

Knowledge:

Alchemy x3
Research x3

Renown: 15

Skill Usage: Appropriate to level.

Loot/Losses: Wealth thread.

Injuries/Conditions: none

Consequences: While he wasn't able to profit as much as he'd have liked, the Order of Adunih has given him credit where it is due, and thus his innovation is credited appropriately. Doran earns a lot of kudos for donating the recipe to the Order.

Comments: Wow, Doran is turning into a real softie!

However, I'm glad that it hasn't affected the seriousness of his character. You've done a good job of playing him consistently even as changes occur in his personal life. I really enjoy Doran, though, whether it be the good or mean version.

If you have any concerns about this review, please PM me about them.