As one might expect of a secluded alchemist performing experiments without assistance or oversight, there has recently been a mishap. Streia had spent a day toiling over new tonics and potions, creating all-new mixtures with the intention of then testing their unknown effects. They produced seven in total. But when reclining at the end of such an arduous day, a momentary lapse of concentration led to them sipping one of the potions instead of their herbal tea.

As a result, Streia is aware of exactly one of the potions’ effects: memory erasure. The others, along with any details of the previous day, are lost to them. And while Streia is frequently described as ‘reckless’, ‘overconfident’, and a ‘danger to the community at large’, they are not stupid enough to test six other mystery potions on themself. Not when they can have a party of adventurers do it for them.

This brings Streia to their current offer. Any adventurers willing to take a sample of each of the unknown potions, test them in the field, and report back their effects will be rewarded with a sum of gold and a loyalty discount at Hushwind. The identified potions will also be added to the store’s stock, should the group want to repeat the experience.

The core idea of the mystery potions is to add enjoyable chaos to another encounter or adventure. They give the party useful, sometimes powerful, but completely unpredictable bonuses. This means that it is best for Streia and Hushwind to appear shortly before the group takes on a fairly low-stakes adventure, where the unpredictability adds to the fun and any drawbacks aren’t too punishing.

Hushwind Herbalist and Apothecary

For all the alchemy you could need, and even more you don’t!

Rounding the corner brings you to the top of the hill and face-to-face with the building that was visible from town. The pale bricks and red roof tiles stand starkly against the surrounding greenery, small portions of which climb the stonework in vines and moss. It is a surprisingly large structure, given its lonely position, and stands silent amidst the gentle swaying of trees. Yet it remains inviting, with a small seating area that rests in the shade of the nearest tree, a welcome sign inviting you in, and a curious blend of smells both floral and acidic punctuating the breeze.

The store’s decoration reflects its exterior. Rustic wooden floors are softened by an assortment of rugs, while all manner of shelving, desks, and presentations line the walls, the largest of which is the curved front desk near the center of the main room. The forest’s lush green has been brought inside in the form of bright, flourishing potted plants and displays of dried herbs. Between these clusters of verdance are displays of the store’s stock, bottled potions and poultices creating an alchemical menagerie that paints the space in bright tones. A cauldron even sits to one corner, bubbling an unnatural green and filling the air with a mixed scent that oscillates between pleasant and overpowering.

A short walk from town, hemmed by trees that attempt to hide it from view, is a lone store run by the alchemist, Streia. This establishment is known as the ‘Hushwind Herbalist and Apothecary’. It is named for the hill on which it sits, the title originally deriving from the sound of the surrounding forest. Locals once spoke of the sequestered hill where lovers would meet, the rustling trees hushing any secrets whispered between them. One of these romantic pairings built a house on the hill, the property then being inherited, sold, and eventually passed into Streia’s hands to become the store it is now.

Though large for its single occupant, the building is kept in almost pristine condition, its splendor contrasted by the distance from its neighbors and the rampant growth that separates them. It acts as both a storefront and Streia’s home. The resident alchemist uses the yard and surrounding area to grow their many supplies, brewing the potions in their upstairs workshop before selling the results in the store’s ground level.

Hushwind stocks all of the expected medicines that a town’s alchemist should carry, as well as basic potions catering to adventurers that pass through the area. Between these are Streia’s personal creations, the pride and joy experiments that earned them their distance from town. This special stock rotates according to the whims of its creator, yet each and every potion is impressively potent in effect, regardless of how niche those effects might be.

Map & Asset Downloads

Hushwind, Streia, and their potions were all made specially for our new ‘Alchemy Store’ release. If you’d like to use them in a different setting, you can also try our different building maps and assets…

Streia

(NG unknown mage)

A figure stands behind the counter in thick robes and a wide-brimmed hat that casts their face in complete shadow. The black and purple cloths that cover them are almost motionless, and could be mistaken for a mannequin if not for the ethereal voice that drifts outwards in greeting.

Streia is an enigmatic figure who thrives in isolation and finds joy in the mystery of their existence. They mask even their identity behind a mononym and thick, encompassing robes that obscure their whole body, even their drifting, formless voice drawing questions as to whether it is magically disguised or simply practised.

Underneath the veneer of ethereal mystery, Streia is surprisingly ordinary. The performance hobby that is their outward persona disguises a cordial and pleasant individual who enjoys the company of their unfortunately sparse customers. They strive to help people with their alchemy, and though they are embarrassed of the mishaps that have separated them from the town, they value their freedom to experiment and advance their craft above their desire for acceptance.

This embarrassment has now reoccurred thanks to Streia’s careless mistake. This has left them flustered, a tinge of stress noticeable in their voice, and disappointed by the possibility that they may have to discard the newest batch of experiments and reattempt them from the minimal notes Streia bothered to keep. But a band of adventurers arriving gives them an opportunity, and they are quick to offer the task to them.

Streia plays the polite shopkeeper whe the party arrives, asking them questions about what they’re looking for and where they’re headed. It is only when they mention a current task or when Streia judges that they are capable adventurers that the alchemist proposes the group help them. Streia openly admits to what happened, explaining their accidental drinking of a memory erasure potion and offering no justification for the mistake beyond that “it was a long day”. 

Ascertaining the alchemy. Streia wishes for the group to identify the potions through field testing. This is critical for them to ascertain each mixture’s effects and the reagents it corresponds to. It also comes with the added benefit of learning just how effective the potions are for their target market of adventurers.

As such, Streia emphasizes their wish for the party to use the potions as part of another task. They mention that some of the potions are almost certainly designed for use in combat, while others may be intended to aid exploration and navigation. Once the adventurers have used the potions, they are to take detailed notes on their effects, both positive and negative, and deliver those notes to Streia.

Streia offers a gold sum reward for each set of notes returned, provided that they adequately describe the potion’s effects. Doing so also allows Streia to begin producing the respective potion and stocking it in Hushwind, though it will take several days to brew more. Finally, they offer a generous ‘loyalty discount’ on all of their products if the group identifies all six of the potions.

In the mood for more alchemical mishaps? We have three previous ooze encounters that are all linked by an obsessive wizard and his experiments… 

Crime and Slime

Strange oozes have filled a thief hideout in the city sewers. What can these new slimes do, and where have the thieves gone?

Ooze on the Loose

A reclusive wizard’s basement ritual room is filled with experimental, elemental oozes that must be dealt with before they escape.

Medley of Deadly Jelly

An adventure into an acid-pooled cave that is now home to a selection of terrifying new ooze creatures, ready for parties of any level.

Streia’s Potions

Streia has a total of six different potions with unknown effects. They give the party one of each of these concoctions, which can only be identified by their appearance. These potions’ appearances and respective effects include the following:

A thin, oily black liquid that bubbles slowly…

A clear slime that sticks to the inside of the glass like the trail left by a slug…

Crystal clear liquid that sparkles like starlight…

Bubbling green fluid that has filled the bottle with wisps of sickly fumes…

A pair of vials tied together with a thin leather cord, each containing a light pink liquid and purple specks that seem to attract each other…

A sealed glass jar of light golden liquid, with flecks of black that settle at the bottom…

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