Sign In

### Topic

#### Experiments with Potions... a vera strange story

I'm Vera Strange. An herbalist by trade. I've long known the power of the flower... not only is it good to munch, it's fun to give, and great to decorate with. But I always hoped there was more. No! I knew there was more!
There had to be! Spriggan couldn't have just thought up a handful of flowers and let it be at that? Could he? Would he?
(Wait... Did Spriggan imagine the herbs? I like to imagine that he did. But, he is my favorite giant. Perhaps I give him too much credit.)
Where was I?
Herbs! Yes! Herbs! More! Thank god for Pot!
Finally! Proof that I was right! (I so like to be right about things.) There was more herbal goodness floating around in that great big ball of Giant Imagination.
Mab came up with the idea of capturing the true essence of a flower and Pot took that little flickr of insight and ran with it. Portals, poisons, and antidotes... oh my!
So helpful. And fun.
But I know herbs. There is more they have to give. So much more. Locked deep within the Giants' Imagination. If only there was a way to get to it... and I'm sure there is. The right combination of essences and potions. Perhaps some gasses and fruit. A few more flowers. A powder or two.
Now I know what you're thinking... it's not smart to messing with the Giants' Imagination. But, really, what could go wrong?
I'll be sharing my results. Mostly on my updates. But I'll keep the forums apprised as well. And there may be a blog post or two. So feel free to follow along (or, even, get involved!) over the next few days as I attempt to unlock the Giant's Imagination.

Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink

### Replies

- I don't see the decoration.
  Posted 12 months ago by Rook | Permalink
- You don't see the picture as in the link isn't working or you don't see the herbs & jellisac decorating the icon and the herb & firefly jar by the door?
  Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink
- Yes I see that, I think I was expecting herbs on the floor, lol.
  Posted 12 months ago by Rook | Permalink
- *gasp* that is mess!
  (no. i am not an ocd neat freak. no. i am not an ocd neat freak. no. i am not... aw screw it. i am so an ocd neat freak, but only in glitch. sadly.)
  Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink
- Wahhhh!
  I must have a key to your house!!
  I've gotta drop a few bundles of grain in the corners and a few piles of peat here and there ....
  tooooo neat!
  :p
  Posted 12 months ago by BlackWolf | Permalink
- I've tried most essences and potions but would like to know about the rookswort derivatives from those who fight the rook.
  Charades is the best. Organize a party, you won't be sorry.
  Posted 12 months ago by WalruZ | Permalink
- Vera Strange wrote: Thank god for Pot!
  You're welcome!
  *runs and hides*
  Posted 12 months ago by Flowerry Pott | Permalink
- @Blackwolf: That's what I exist for. Granted, I tend to be slightly more whimsical in my choice of mess-making objects, which might be why I get put up with. ;)
  Posted 12 months ago by retstak | Permalink
- Love the decorating scheme . . . and the ADORABLE LEEZARD!!
  Posted 12 months ago by Ashbet2 | Permalink
- So there I was...
  Err, wait, maybe I should back up. I'm retstak. I'm a tinkerer and a bit of a miner, a devotee of the giants (Alph in particular), and I consider it a sacred mission to assist with anybody's tinkertool quest. And somehow (don't ask me how 'cause I don't remember) I've somehow ended up as Vera's friend, neighbor, and tool supplier. She's crazy, but then the best folks are -- I'm not exactly sane myself.
  So, the other day, I was hanging out in her basement as she made me a bit of keycutter tonic and my latest supply of purple. (I was hoping to use the tonic to corner the market in teal-white triangle keys, but sadly, it doesn't work that way. Maybe if I modify my blockmaker...err, sorry, did I mention I'm a tinkerer?) I wasn't totally paying attention to her -- there was a nifty cauldron! And stills! Machines and tools after my heart! -- when she mentioned something about trying to access imagination.
  As I said, she's crazy, but in a good way. So after I started paying attention and she sorta explained the basics of her plan, I offered to help. I know this is dangerous -- offering to help Vera has often gotten me into a few jams. Hey, the ideas sound good at the time and some of them even work. Basejumping off Kohanger Hang does have its appeal. And she was right that I'd be happier as a swamp rat. That said, purple and no-no together...that's just a bad trip, dude. And the chickens. I'm going to have nightmares about the chickens.
  She's promised that 'help' doesn't mean experimenting on me and that, no matter what, I wouldn't be turned into a yoga frog. (Those dudes irritate me, what with their chakras and their insistence on philosophizing at me instead of just giving me my mail already.) The fact that she had to promise that worries me a bit, but as she said, hey, what could go wrong?
  Posted 12 months ago by retstak | Permalink
- Like I said. It's all going to be fine. The Giants are good... they imagined the gorgeous cliffs that we could jump off of, but they didn't imagine *splat*. No worries!
  Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink
- A Glitch using his or her imagination to come closer to the Giants' Imagination is never a bad thing. Indeed the Glitchen of the State University of Ur might be willing to help you in this endeavor. I, Mal'akh, Primate of Lem, speaking on behalf of The Hendarchy as Primus Inter Pares, hereby give my blessings to this most worthy of endeavors.
  ... Just be sure not to imagine anything that makes us go *splat* or *ka-boom* because that would not be good.
  Posted 12 months ago by Mal'akh | Permalink
- Hilarious thread!
  Posted 12 months ago by Harmony MoonLake | Permalink
- Well. My first experiment didn't go quite as expected. I knew I shouldn't have added the older spice and the tomatoes were probably a bad idea, but it just seemed right at the time. It's just a minor setback! No big deal! Totally expected. Nobody gets it right the first go. As soon as I post this, I'll head out to get myself a nice new cauldron and start again fresh in the morning. (speaking of... does anyone know the best way to season a cauldron? do they need to be seasoned these days, I never know!)
  Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink
- Just buy the pre-seasoned ones Vera. I think they were called Bog-Logic or something or other. Just ask your Hardware Vendor, they should know it.
  Posted 12 months ago by Mal'akh | Permalink
- *giggles *
  vera- if you need any food to replenish your energy while you wander through the Giants Imagination (and for energy buff when cleaning up 'splosions' ) -then please let me know. I will be happy to deliver some to you ;) Happy to provide food for your test subje.. , erm, .. friend -- retstak too ;) Also ,I've found that dustbunny cubimals (aka soot sprites) are frabjous at helping with cleaning up those messes ;)
  Posted 12 months ago by serenitycat | Permalink
- Always learning! And passing along advice :) If you plan to add rainbow juice to one of your concoctions, it seems best to do this last. Or perhaps not use so much. Pouring it just makes it impossible to get to your cauldron! And the results? Well, they're a mess.
  Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink
- HA HA! I am so glad you are doing these experiments Vera, so I don't have to. Please try not to explode yourself. I expect some awesome potions to come of this. I will contribute to a new house if this one becomes too toxic.
  Posted 12 months ago by Kookaburra | Permalink
- This is just awesome. Just so awesome. :)
  Posted 12 months ago by ennuienta | Permalink
- Wow! Vera you're a brave Glitch! Diving into the depths of the Giants' imaginings sounds soooo scary to me. I'm not as brave *cough* trusting *cough* as retstak, but like serenitycat and Kookaburra, I would be happy to help you keep up your energy with food (I make killer Divine Crepes - gilbert whisper says its the extra strawberries I put in them), and even contribute to a new house should it become, um, unhealthy to continue in your current location. Meanwhile, I look forward to seeing the results of your continued experiments. Erm, that's photos of the results. I don't need to see them in glitchen, really.
  Posted 12 months ago by kastlin | Permalink
- Wow! So close I can nearly taste it! And that has nothing to do with the potion I just quaffed, which may not have been the smartest thing to do. The room isn't really spinning, is it? Ok, so today had a few setbacks (pics soon... or maybe tomorrow... this potion... wow...). Though, they were minor and nothing a bit of potion trading* in Cebarkul couldn't cover (did you make it there today? crazy!). Best of all, for every setback, there was a success. Sometimes two! It's like when shucking Purple... you just never quite know what you're going to get. It could be one seed or two seeds or maybe no seeds. You've just got to try and hope for the best!
  The big realization of today was that the Imagination Potion is going to need an additional ingredient for each giant. The focusing orb for Cosma worked wonders, but I'm still at a bit of a loss for Tii and Pot and most of the others. All of them, if I'm honest. I'd love to hear your suggestions. Or, have you had any experience - good or bad - with something. It doesn't have to be with potionmaking, perhaps you just feel a bit more connected at the shrines when donating that special something. Let me know! I'll try anything!
  * I'm a bit concerned that I may have mislabeled a few bottles. If the silvertongue essence you bought from me has a slight odor of guano, you may want to pour it down the drain. Or, bring it back to me and I'll get you a fresh bottle. The same is true with the bottles labeled Door Drink. And maybe the ones labelled Ancestral Spirits. The others are probably mostly ok, but if you're concerned bring them by and I'll buy it back from you... no questions asked. Well, maybe a few. I can be quite curious.
  Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink
- I have it on good authority, namely me, that Lem likes, well, Lemburgers. So maybe you can throw in a hot and fizzy sauce, cheese, and meat in for your potion to Lem just to give it that special Lemmish touch.
  Posted 12 months ago by Mal'akh | Permalink
- Glad to hear your experiments are showing more promise than shrapnel today. I'm not sure about this, but I'd be inclined to toss in the 6-sided dice for Tii. For Pot, well, the pot seems a little too obvious, so maybe some Awesome Stew or Ix-Style Braised Ribs?
  You might want to try a hoe for Mab, and some wood tree beans for Spriggan. I don't think you should use a piggy egg for Humbaba, but maybe some pig bait?
  NOTE: I am not a doctor, I just play one on TV. Oh, wait, that's not it, but my advice/suggestions should be taken in the same vein.
  Posted 12 months ago by kastlin | Permalink
- Alright, y'all, I'm starting to worry about Vera. Please don't tell her this.
  I mean, she's my friend. We've done all sorts of crazy things together -- some of them good, some of them, well, not so much. (But that's another story). We've been known to spend hours bouncing between the porches in our neighborhood or just chatting down in her basement. And, well...this thing -- she calls it science, when I can get a word out of her -- seems to have consumed her brain. Before she'd have time to say a few words and pet Pencil and Eraser, my porch piggies. Now, she barely comes out at all, and is muttering to herself when she does.
  Also, she's always been the sort who has always done a good job of taking care of her tools. I admire somebody who takes care of their tools. But I've been wincing at the picture of her melted cauldron. The Vera I know wouldn't have let that happen. And if I'd been there, I might have been able to help!
  That's the other thing that worries me. She said I could help, but she won't even let me down in the basement. She greets me at the door and doesn't let me in any farther. If I could just see what she's up to, I'm sure I could help. Even if it's only telling her to hook the thingamajig to the whassit and to adjust the timing on the doohickey. Of course, she'd probably look at me like I'm speaking a foreign language, like she always does when I start talking about machines and tools. (I sorta miss that.)
  I see she's put out a request for people to suggest things for various Giants. I think I'm going to fix up my best tinkertool and give it to her when I bring over my next batch of purple for her to tincture for me. And maybe I'll see if I can steer the conversation around to just what science is and what she's up to.
  Wish me luck.
  Posted 12 months ago by retstak | Permalink
- tinypic.com/r/1y7jih/5
  Except that girl Vera Strange....
  Posted 12 months ago by ☆Spark☆ | Permalink
- @retstak -- first of all, I won't tell Vera about your concerns. Second, GOOD LUCK!!!!
  I am very surprised she won't let you into the basement. Although it makes me think she might be concerned about your safety, what does that say about HER safety. Feel free to enlist me in an intervention, if you feel that's required. You know her better than do I, so I'll trust your judgement.
  All the best, and HUGS!!!
  Posted 12 months ago by kastlin | Permalink
- @Spark -- nice one!
  Posted 12 months ago by kastlin | Permalink
- Hi folks, I'm an old friend of Vera's, and this afternoon I convinced her to let me in. She was working over a dirty cauldron, which was part of the problem. I helped her clean up a bit and she promised to let me quality control her next batch of potions so I'll be back over there sometime to check in again. The ones she did today tasted like burps. If you got one of those, I suggest you toss 'em down the sink!
  Posted 12 months ago by Gupfee | Permalink
- Yes! Please! If you've gotten a potion from me in the last day or two, please bring them by and I'll trade it for a new one. I've got clean fresh batches of most everything on hand. Actually, maybe it's best if you don't come by. Or, well, I can meet you outside. That'll work. If you've happened to use them already, I suggest staying inside for a day or two just to make sure you're feeling ok. And you probably don't want to go around kissing anyone just to be safe. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, but you just never know how these things are all connected.
  But no time to chat, something in the basement is screaming for my attention. I just wanted to let you all know that I finally get that blog post up about the experiments so far and I even managed to upload a few more pictures. I am so close. So very very close. Eee.
  Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink
- Are you using your piggies as canaries? I am calling the A.K.A. and let them know. Shame on you! Why not just go out and offer a level 4 youngster 500c to come into your lab for 10 minutes?
  Posted 12 months ago by Kookaburra | Permalink
- * ALERT * ALERT * ALERT *
  If you happen to see Gupfee around, do not approach her. In fact, let me know immediately so that I can come and, um, deal with her. I do not mean to spread a panic but, well, she's not herself right now. And she will probably want to kiss you. I think it was that extra drop of Amorous Philtre... powerful stuff, that. You really have to be careful with how much of that you add to stuff. Anyway. Gupfee. Best to not let her kiss you. I'm still not entirely sure how this thing spreads or how to fix it, though my piggies may have given me an idea or two.
  Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink
- Ugh. I have no idea what that was, but ewwwwww. I'm still trying to get the slime off my face. I thought I was going to have nightmares about the chickens. I was wrong. The chickens were nothing next to this.
  Things seemed to be going well. Gupfee came over and we checked in on her, and it was all good. She even actually talked! And said she succeeded! And offered to let us try. I didn't volunteer this time. Gupfee told me not to worry; she'd keep Vera from going too far off the deep end. Assured, I went to putter around my own place.
  So there I was, checking the mail when a cry from Vera above alerts me that something is coming my way. Of course, I stand at the mailbox like an idiot before making a break for my place, and it's that split second of indecision that got me. I couldn't quite get to the door before I got caught by whatever the heck that was. And it gave me a big sloppy kiss. Yuck.
  As I stood there trying to parse all this, whatever it is departs the neighborhood with Vera in close pursuit. I chase behind a bit, but it was too late. I'd already been smooched. Eww. I still can't get it out of my head
  I'm not feeling overly well, either. It's hard to tell, but I've got a bit of a headache. And I'm oddly hungry. But I'm not in the mood for awesome stew. That's odd -- I'm always in the mood for awesome stew. It's awesome. And it's stew. Wait. I'm getting sidetracked again. I can't keep my thoughts straight -- and they're not even interesting thoughts. They're...
  Oh dear.
  What if that thing … was Gupfee? What has Vera done? And what is happening to me?
  so hungry
  please.
  help.
  Posted 12 months ago by retstak | Permalink
- I knew nothing good was going to come of all of this. I am staying inside my cottage with the doors locked. can zombies get in through the windows? One of the few times I wished I had a cave home.
  Posted 12 months ago by Kookaburra | Permalink
- Should I be a bit worried if Gupfee gave me a kiss earlier today? I was wondering why there was a... thing kissing me.
  Should I seek medical attention? Induce vomiting? Halp?
  Posted 12 months ago by Saiai | Permalink
- Uhoh. Not you, too! I mean, there's a slim chance that maybe you'll be ok. And I'm working on it! The piggies, they liked kindness. They all did better after that. Of course they got better pretty quickly, but Glitchen are bigger than Piggen, so maybe it just takes more. That's probably it.
  And, for the curious among you. Those who really want to see how it all happened. It really was an accident. I didn't think she'd get out. I turned my head for just a second. Well... here's the slideshow.
  Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink
- ATTENTION MEMBERS OF THE RED ORB!
  Arm yourselves with RKs and track down Gupfee and any other infected Glitchen. Once stunned with RKs proceed to herd them to 1442 Palsa Mosch Quarter in Shimla Mirch for containment and treatment.
  That is all.
  Posted 12 months ago by Mal'akh | Permalink
- Bwahahahahhaah!!! This thread is made of SO MUCH WIN!!! :D
  Posted 12 months ago by Ashbet | Permalink
- Bwahahahahhaah!!! This thread is made of SO MUCH WIN!!! :D
  Posted 12 months ago by Ashbet | Permalink
- Have they all been captured? I am still locked in my house with my piggies and chickens.
  Posted 12 months ago by Kookaburra | Permalink
- and i still need a bath after all those spread brains...
  Posted 12 months ago by mira gaia maia | Permalink
- Yes! Kookaburra! I am so sorry that I have not updated you. It appears as though all,or at least most, well some, of the Zombies have reverted to their normal Glitchy state. But the crisis has been averted! A cure has been found. Kindness, and especially random acts of it, balances out whatever it was that whacked everything out of balance. So, as long as you have plenty of Random Acts of Kindness on you or, perhaps, a couple of Rainbow Juice potions (which appear to induce glee as one bounces high into the sky) you should be safe leaving your house.
  If you come upon a zombie, just blast them with one or two shots of kindness (yes, I know this makes it less random, but it's still kind!) and walk away. If they seem docile, you may also give them a hug. However, if they kiss you, pour the rainbow juice immediately and bounce high into the sky. This should stop the zombification process from even starting. You can also take this opportunity to encourage the zombie to bounce. But do not be surprised if their transition to Glitchiness isn't instant. It could take hours, days, or maybe months for all of the zombies to revert.
  (Lots of pictures and a big blog post coming. I was distracted by the concept of what is Real and what is Virtual... and the nature of Virtual Reality vs Real Virtuality. And though I was tempted, I did not try to conjure up a potion to help clarify these things. But I did try to find enlightenment with the Scion of Purple. It did not help.).
  Posted 12 months ago by Vera Strange | Permalink
- ;) do zombies appear more often around zilloween or is that just a co-incidence of imagination ?
  Posted 11 months ago by serenitycat | Permalink