Sulaiman's Alembic
In the alchemist's quarter of Al'nahar, a place where the fires of cauldrons and mystic smokes of experiments cloak even the cobblestones in a misty haze, a clandestine shop hides in a narrow alleyway. Its mud brick exterior is weathered and worn, its flat roof devoid of the ornate brass tiles that adorn richer homes. But to the discerning eye, the shop's humble appearance is a testament to its master's dedication to his craft.
A small lantern hangs at the corner of the alleyway entrance, casting an eerie purple glow over the cobblestones. Its flickering light dances over the walls, its shadows forming a crescent moon holding a subtly twinkling star in its cradle, beckoning people towards the buildings entrance.
To enter the shop, one must pass through a heavy red curtain. Once the curtain is being lifted, alien and intoxicating smells waft out in the street, familiar, but somehow not quite of this world. Strange and exotic spices mingle with the sharp, tangy odor of oranges, forming a heavy and enthralling perfume that tells of faraway lands and hidden dreams.
The shop itself is a cramped and cluttered space, its shelves and cabinets overflowing with a myriad of strange and wondrous ingredients. Jars of dried plants, bottles of colored liquids, and vials of shimmering powders line the walls, their labels inscribed in flowing, exotic script that seems to dance along the paper.
Right in the middle of the room, while one is still taking in all the sights and smells, Sulaiman Nas'rallah, the master alchemist himself, beckons over visitors with an easy smile. His body is bent and gnarled like the ancient trees that grow in the forests, his face a roadmap of wrinkles, each one a testament to a life well-lived. His beard is long and black, streaked with silver like rays of moonlight on the desert sand. His deep brown eyes are wise and knowing, like the secrets held within his soul, because for all his age, his mind is still sharp as a blade of Kaharan obsidian.
A gentle and kind man, he is always happy to help anyone seeking out his help and his potions are known wide and far to be of superior quality. Such work however has its price - which is almost always invested into even more rare ingredients. On occasion he is known to hire adventurers in the pursuit of the rarest of them - a highly lucrative, but dangerous task he only reluctantly gives out - for many of the heroes he sent have not returned.
Unbeknownst to many outside the trade guilds, Sulaiman is one of the four sages of the alchemist's guild. He rarely participates in their heated debates, but when he does speak, his words are listened to with respect.
Type
Shop, Magic
Parent Location
Owner
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