first few times someone uses them.
DEX DIZZNEE’S GREATEST INVENTIONS
WHO DOESN’T WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUNCH EXTRA HARD—AND I’M REALLY HOPING THAT SOMEDAY I’LL GET TO WATCH SOPHIE USE THE SUCKER PUNCH ON LADY GISELA AND VESPERA!
IT MAY LOOK FUNKY, BUT THE TWIGGLER HACKED THROUGH LUMENARIA’S SECURITY AND HELPED SAVE THE GNOMES!
FIRST: THIS IS A PANIC SWITCH—NOT A BORING COGNATE RING. IT ALSO SAVED SOPHIE’S LIFE TWICE. AND IT WORKS SO WELL THAT I’VE BEEN MAKING THEM FOR EVERYONE I CARE ABOUT!
THE EVADER MAKES IT SUPER EASY TO HACK INTO THINGS LIKE THE REGISTRY—AND IT LEAVES NO TRACE THAT I WAS THERE! (WELL, UNLESS I CHANGE STUFF…) NOW I JUST NEED TO MAKE A FEW TWEAKS SO I CAN BYPASS THE SECURITY ON CERTAIN FILES.
… AND A FEW THAT WEREN’T THE BEST IDEA.
NO ONE THOUGHT THE ABILITY RESTRICTOR WOULD WORK—BUT IT DID. EXCEPT THE COUNCIL RUINED IT BY ORDERING SOPHIE TO WEAR IT AND… YEAH. I WISH I’D NEVER MADE IT. I DESTROYED IT, THOUGH—AND I’LL NEVER MAKE ANOTHER!
I MADE THESE BLOCKER BANDS TO HELP SOPHIE WITH HER ENHANCING—AND THEY DEFINITELY DID THEIR JOB. BUT USING CRUSH CUFFS KINDA GOT ME STUCK IN THE MOST AWKWARD CONVERSATION EVER.…
THE WARDEN ALSO WORKED PERFECTLY AND MONITORED ALVAR’S EVERY MOVE. BUT I WISH I’D MADE SURE IT WAS RESISTANT TO NULLS…
FOR THE RECORD, THESE SENSE BLASTERS WERE ACTUALLY WORKING REALLY WELL UNTIL COUNCILLOR ZARINA FRIED ONE WITH LIGHTNING. STILL, I SHOULD’VE PUT AN OVERRIDE BECAUSE FITZ ALMOST GOT KILLED.
ALCHEMY AND ELIXIRS
Alchemy isn’t considered a special ability in the Lost Cities—a fact that some disagree with, since certain elves are far more talented at it than others (and a few are woefully disastrous, like poor Sophie Foster).
The study of alchemy has two primary focuses:
METAL PURIFICATION AND TRANSMUTATION: Using a variety of techniques, alchemists are able to remove impurities from metals, and turn one metal into another (ideally into gold). Particularly gifted alchemists can even turn nonmetallic substances into metal.
ELIXIR-MAKING: Every elixir is different, and some are much simpler to make than others. So elixir mastery varies widely (and even experienced alchemists occasionally explode things). But only the most talented alchemists are able to invent their own formulas.
Elves who work in the Treasury regularly use metal purification for their jobs. Elvin physicians spend a great deal of time creating (or modifying) medicines. And alchemy Mentors of course focus on the subject extensively.
Beyond that, most elves treat alchemy as a hobby—or abandon the practice entirely once it’s no longer a school requirement. Still, a handful of alchemists focus on gathering alchemy ingredients, or creating (and selling) a variety of useful elixirs.
The most well-known example is Kesler Dizznee’s store in Mysterium (Slurps and Burps), which sells both elixirs and alchemy supplies. The store is frequented by nearly everyone in the Lost Cities—and for good reason. The elixirs available for sale range from essential medicines to pranks and everything in between—with new formulas being created all the time.
Some of the most popular elixirs and ingredients for sale at Slurps and Burps are:
ABRASION PERSUASION
Quickly seals and heals small scrapes to the skin
ACHEY-BREAK
A handy, all-purpose painkiller
ALKAHEST
The universal solvent, which can dissolve any material. Must be stored in a bubble of itself.
(This is the second hardest substance for an alchemist to make.)
AMARALLITINE
A highly combustible substance used in numerous elixirs
BLISTER BLAST
Shrinks and numbs blisters within minutes—and gets rid of them completely within a few hours
BROWN-EYE SOLIDARI-TEA
Temporarily turns eyes brown
(became quite popular after Sophie Foster’s arrival to the Lost Cities)
BRUISE CRUISE
Fades bruises of all shapes, sizes, and colors
BUFF STUFF
Temporarily increases muscle mass
DROOLY DEW
Temporarily makes the mouth hypersalivate
FADE FUEL
Speeds cell regeneration for someone who faded during a light leap
(The Slurps and Burps version includes limbium)
FART A LA CARTE
Temporarily causes an abundance of flatulence
FLOOF
Temporarily causes hair or fur to turn fluffy and feathery
FRECKLE JUICE
Temporarily gives the appearance of freckled skin
FRISSYN
A shimmering silver powder that puts out Everblaze.
(Frissyn is the hardest substance for an alchemist to make—and a recent addition to Slurps and Burps in light of challenges with the Neverseen.)
FUZZY FIZZ
Temporarily causes the body to be covered in short, mostly invisible hairs, giving skin a fuzzy feel
GASHROOMS
Small, stinky mushrooms used for both metal purification and elixir-making
(particularly prank elixirs)
GREENLEAF
Temporarily turns hair or fur bright green
GURGLE GUT
Temporarily causes abundant gaseous eruptions
HAIROIDS
Temporarily causes hair to grow much more rapidly than normal
HUSH SLUSH
Temporarily eliminates someone’s ability to talk
(generally lasts eight hours)
LIMBIUM
A substance used in elixirs that affects the limbic system
(must be kept safely away from Sophie Foster)
LOVELYLOCKS
Temporarily makes hair extra shiny and smooth
MERMAID-TIGER DELIGHT
Temporarily turns hair and fur a