Dragonstone Tablet

A Story :: Bloodmoon Elixir

Gervic eyed the vial Jeremy held aloft with suspicion. It was a curious thing, this Bloodmoon Elixir. The obsidian vessel, cool and smooth in Jeremy’s hand, seemed to trap swirling pockets of crimson within its depths. A faint, sweet smell tickled Gervic’s nose, like mulberries and something more exotic.

“What is it, exactly?” Gervic rumbled, his voice a low drawl.

Jeremy, a wiry man with a mischievous glint in his eyes, chuckled. “Come now, Gervic, where’s your sense of adventure? They call it the Bloodmoon Elixir. A little taste of the night’s fury bottled up.”

Gervic’s brow furrowed. “Night’s fury? What does that even mean?”

“Enhanced senses, strength like a beast,” Jeremy explained, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “See in the dark, hear a pin drop a mile away. Imagine being a wolf under a full blood moon, Gervic, but without the whole furry transformation bit.”

Gervic snorted. “Sounds like something a bard would spin in a tavern.”

“Except it’s real,” Jeremy insisted, swirling the vial so the crimson depths seemed to dance. “This had been procured from the Red Temple in Volantis by my ancestors and had been passed down in my family for generations. Used it myself on a couple of… hairy situations.” He winked.

Intrigue flickered in Gervic’s steely grey eyes. He’d always been a pragmatist, but a part of him, the part that craved excitement, thrummed with curiosity. Besides, these bandits who’d been plaguing the trade routes… maybe a little night’s fury wouldn’t hurt.

“Alright, fine,” he grumbled, extending a hand. “Let’s see what this night’s fury tastes like.”

Jeremy grinned, uncorking the vial. The scent intensified, filling the air with a heady sweetness. Gervic watched, mesmerized, as Jeremy tipped the vial, and a thick, crimson liquid poured out. It shimmered faintly, like embers in the dying firelight.

Gervic took the vial, the coolness seeping through his calloused fingers. He hesitated for a moment, then threw back his head and downed the elixir in one swift gulp.

A jolt of energy coursed through him, making his senses prickle. The firelight seemed impossibly bright, the chirping of crickets outside deafeningly loud. He could smell the damp earth beneath the floorboards, the faint tang of fear clinging to Jeremy’s clothes.

“Well?” Jeremy asked, his voice oddly distant. “How does it feel?”

Gervic blinked, a slow smile spreading across his face. He felt… alive. Every nerve ending sang, every muscle felt coiled with power. He could see the individual hairs on Jeremy’s arm, the dust motes dancing in the firelight.

“This isn’t a bard’s tale, Jeremy,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “This is the real thing.”

Jeremy’s grin widened. “Then let’s see what kind of trouble we can find tonight, shall we?”

Stepping out into the cool night air, Gervic felt a primal awareness course through him. The world, once shrouded in darkness, was now bathed in an ethereal silver light. He could see the faint outlines of distant trees, the way the wind ruffled the leaves, details invisible to the naked eye just moments ago. The night sounds, once a muted symphony, now exploded into a vibrant chorus. The chirping of crickets became a frantic clicking, the rustle of leaves a whispered conversation.

"This way," Jeremy murmured, leading them deeper into the woods. The path, barely discernible before, was now a clear trail beneath Gervic's enhanced vision. He moved with a newfound lightness, his steps silent on the damp earth. The Bloodmoon Elixir pulsed through him, a potent cocktail of power and exhilaration.

They reached a clearing, a spot Gervic knew bandits frequented. The air hung heavy with the scent of woodsmoke and something metallic – blood. His heightened senses picked up the faint murmur of voices, coarse and guttural. There were at least four, maybe five.

Gervic crouched behind a gnarled oak, Jeremy following suit. "Looks like our little trouble found us," Jeremy whispered, a hint of excitement in his voice.

Gervic formulated a plan in his mind, the elixir's effects sharpening his strategic thinking. He outlined his idea to Jeremy in a low murmur. The plan was risky, but with his enhanced abilities, it just might work.

With a silent nod from Jeremy, Gervic launched himself from behind the oak. He was a blur of motion, the darkness no barrier to his sight. He landed amongst the bandits with a resounding thud, the surprise enough to momentarily stun them.

"What the…" one of the bandits sputtered, reaching for his sword.

But Gervic was already upon him. His fist, imbued with the Bloodmoon Elixir's strength, connected with the bandit's jaw with a sickening crack. The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

The remaining bandits roared in fury, drawing their weapons. But Gervic was a whirlwind of motion. He weaved through their attacks, his senses allowing him to anticipate their every move. He disarmed one with a swift kick, sending the dagger clattering across the ground. Another swung a club wildly, but Gervic ducked beneath it, slamming his elbow into the bandit's pressure point. The man yelped in pain, dropping the club and clutching his arm.

The fight was a blur of adrenaline and enhanced reflexes. Gervic felt invincible, the potion coursing through him, granting him superhuman strength and speed. He fought with a primal ferocity, taking down the bandits one by one.

Just as he delivered the final blow, disarming the last bandit and sending him sprawling to the ground, he felt a searing pain erupt in his shoulder. A hidden bandit, one he hadn't sensed in the heat of the battle, had emerged from the shadows and plunged a knife into his flesh.

Gervic roared, a primal sound fueled by pain and fury. He grabbed the bandit's wrist, his enhanced strength crushing the bone. The bandit screamed, dropping the knife. Gervic delivered a swift kick, sending him sprawling unconscious.

But the world began to shimmer around him. The effects of the Bloodmoon Elixir were starting to wear off. The vibrant clarity of his senses dulled, the once-superhuman strength waning. The throbbing pain in his shoulder intensified.

Gervic stumbled back, adrenaline fading and replaced by a wave of nausea. Jeremy rushed to his side, his face etched with concern.

"We need to get you out of here," Jeremy said, slinging Gervic's arm over his shoulder.

Together, they retreated back into the woods, the bandits groaning on the forest floor. The night, once alive with enhanced senses, now felt dull and muted. But as Gervic stumbled through the darkness, a newfound respect for the Bloodmoon Elixir, and the power it held, burned brightly within him.

WORD COUNT: 1,101 Words
PROMPT: "POTIONS"   | "Raven Task #10"  


POTION #22 Bloodmoon Elixir | GIFTED BY: . . . Jeremy

The Bloodmoon Elixir is a potent potion that comes in a striking red and black vessel, resembling the swirling colors of a lunar eclipse. The vessel itself is made of a dark, obsidian-like material, with crimson veins running through it, giving it an eerie, yet captivating appearance. When the Bloodmoon Elixir is poured, it reveals a thick, crimson liquid that seems to shimmer and glow faintly in the darkness. The elixir has a rich, velvety texture and emits a faint, enticing aroma of dark berries and spices, luring the drinker with its mysterious allure.

Upon consumption, the Bloodmoon Elixir grants enhanced senses and strength, akin to the heightened abilities of a werewolf under a blood moon. The effects are temporary but powerful, allowing the drinker to see in the dark, move swiftly and silently, and even sense danger before it strikes. *Wolf2* *Ninja*

This potion was carefully procured from the Red Temple in Volantis