Alchemy is a common practice in Pike Creek, and there are plenty of shops and stores that sell brews, elixirs, salves, gels, sprays, perfumes, and amulets meant to help with day-to-day life or personal traditions.
Anyone can follow an alchemical recipe. Most remedies sold in Pike Creek contain ingredients with genuine medicinal, culinary, or folkloric value, and many work perfectly well regardless of who prepares them. An elderflower tea can be comforting. An aconite gel can soothe aching muscles. A charm can hold personal meaning.
What separates a Gifted from everyone else is not knowledge, but connection.
Gifted possess what locals sometimes call the “Midas touch” of alchemy. When a Gifted follows a recipe correctly, the Knot may respond. A remedy becomes slightly more effective than it should be. A ward gains a measure of real protection. A charm carries more than symbolism. The difference is often subtle, but rarely accidental.
This does not mean every Gifted is an accomplished alchemist. Many know only a handful of recipes, while others dedicate years to the craft. The Gift simply allows the supernatural qualities hidden within alchemy to emerge more consistently.
Alchemy has no central authority or definitive recipe book. Knowledge spreads through mentorship, family traditions, handwritten journals, and word of mouth. Many Hollowborn maintain personal collections of recipes accumulated over decades, and it is not uncommon for Hollowborn and Gifted to work closely together, exchanging knowledge, ingredients, and techniques.
The following is a list of common goods that are sold in Pike Creek and used by its townsfolk.
Salves & Gels
Section titled “Salves & Gels”Aconite Gel
Section titled “Aconite Gel”Aconite Gel is made using Aconite. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it can be combined with other ingredients to create a gel that helps with inflamed body parts. It isn’t uncommon for townsfolk to treat it as “Tiger Balm”. Rubbing it on an area that hurts will burn briefly, but will reduce the pain.
Elderflower Body Butter
Section titled “Elderflower Body Butter”Made mainly from Elderflower, it is commonly used by people in Pike Creek who care about their skincare routine. Usually sold in slightly bigger jars, it can be applied everywhere on the skin to soothe, moisten and protect. It is used all-year round, but particularly in the summer to treat sunburn. Made correctly, it has a comforting quality to it that spreads throughout the body, making it addictive to some people.
Elixirs, Brews & Draughts
Section titled “Elixirs, Brews & Draughts”Elixir of Control
Section titled “Elixir of Control”Its main ingredient is highly diluted Aconite, this elixir is sold in a small glass bottle and is used primarily to deal with anger, frustration and emotional agony. Sold with careful instructions to only take a little at nighttime, as taking too much will have the opposite effect. It takes a few hours to take effect and will cause you to calm down.
Supernatural Lore: It has a calming effect on a lycan in human form. Not enough to prevent a transformation, but enough to feel less agitated the closer you get to the full moon.
Aconite Draught
Section titled “Aconite Draught”Aconite draught is made similarly to Elixir of Control, but has a smaller dose of Aconite in it. It is a remedy used to lower a fever. It is usually taken warm and tastes similar to penicillin. Commonly used by everyone in Pike Creek as it is sold in multiple flavors and concentrations.
Supernatural Lore: Helps with recovery after a werewolf transformation.
Soothing Elixir
Section titled “Soothing Elixir”Made from Silphium, this elixir is made primarily to soothe anxiety, stress and worry. Due to its high concentration of Silphium and its obvious effect on people, it is expensive and regulated in Pike Creek. Only a few shops are allowed to sell it and can only do so with permission from a doctor (therapist and psychologists included). If you take too much, it causes hallucinations that are inherently “lusty” in nature.
Supernatural Lore: Like almost all Silphium, it is disliked by Faded as they taste it as overly bitter or unpleasant. Even if consumed, it has no effect on Faded or Damned.
Ironwood Brew
Section titled “Ironwood Brew”Ironwood Bark is a small ingredient in this popular and commonly consumed brew. It is made by the town’s only brewery and comes as both a lager and a cider. It is served at any bar, pub or restaurant in Pike Creek. It is the most sold beer and cider in the town, and while it does have an effect of boosting the confidence of the drinker, it is usually not distinct from being inebriated for most people.
Supernatural Lore: It can protect humans from the seduction of a Faded, as well as muddle emotions enough for Damned to not be able to feed on them.
Elderflower Tonic
Section titled “Elderflower Tonic”Also known as Liquid Luck, Elderflower Tonic is made from Elderflower mainly. Its lucky property is more present in this drink than any other. Whether it is real or just placebo is up for debate. Some people claim it works wonders, others call it a scam. It does have a lucky property to it, just not the one most people think of. You probably won’t win the lottery, but you might be able to catch that big catfish in the lake or suddenly find something you thought was gone. It is commonly used in drinks such as Gin and Tonic, but can be made sweeter and be sold as a soda, although its effect weakens.
Supernatural Lore: Someone who has consumed a lot of this tonic will radiate a smell that all supernatural beings can sense. Lycans, Faded and Damned sense it the most, while Skinwalkers and Gifted merely notice it. The smell differs, but is usually similar to that of smoke from a chemical fire.
Perfumes, Sprays & Incense
Section titled “Perfumes, Sprays & Incense”Silphium Perfume
Section titled “Silphium Perfume”Not only the most expensive perfume you can find in Pike Creek, but also the most sought-after. It is most commonly purchased during Valentine’s Day, usually together with some Silphium-infused chocolates. Silphium perfume has a sweet aroma that has seductive qualities. Usually advertised as driving people “wild”, it also has an anxiety-reducing effect on the wearer and people close by.
Supernatural Lore: Faded are immune to its seductive qualities and instead find the aroma bitter or unpleasant.
Blessed Water
Section titled “Blessed Water”Properly blessed water is made by Gifted of the Sanctum discipline, but it is possible to make Blessed water using finely grated Rowan in it. This is usually bought around Halloween, Easter or Christmas and is sprayed in door frames to hinder evil spirits from entering the room. It is mainly purchased by older people or simply by tradition or ritual someone grew up in.
Supernatural Lore: Real blessed water has the power to repel almost any supernatural being, while the Rowan-infused blessed water simply makes supernatural beings uncomfortable. Real blessed water is not alchemical.
Aconite Spray
Section titled “Aconite Spray”Works similarly to Aconite Gel. Spray it on an area of hurting and let it soak into the skin to reduce inflammation. It is brewed in a way to primarily bring out the sedative qualities of Aconite in order to soothe someone’s pain. While not intended to, it can be used on wounds due to its small dose of Aconite, but overdosing significantly could kill the user, although it would be hard to do.
Supernatural Lore: As with any Aconite product, it does affect Lycans. Hollowborn use a variant with a higher dose of Aconite as a werewolf deterrent in a crisis.
Elderflower Incense
Section titled “Elderflower Incense”While Elderflower incense is regarded as “hippie”-crap, it is commonly used in Pike Creek. Especially among the younger citizens. Pike Creek’s biggest hotel The Market Grand is famous for having Elderflower incense in their rooms to bring a calming energy. Originally it was created to ward off negativity in a space, but today it’s mainly used as a decoration detail.
Supernatural Lore: It unfortunately usually makes people comfortable and happy, which makes it easier for Damned to feed on their positive thoughts, but in some cases the elderflower incense strengthens a being’s natural resistance.
It’s important to note that there are foods for almost all kinds of herbs and plants in Pike Creek. If you can think of it — it probably exists. The ones listed here are items that occur commonly in the town.
Love Chocolate
Section titled “Love Chocolate”Chocolates infused with Silphium. These are sold in small quantities year-round, but come back with a force during Valentine’s Day. It’s gotten to a point where different stores sell different variants of them. Some try to skimp on the Silphium, others are generous with it (which comes with a price). It is the de facto Pike Creek “Valentine’s Day Gift”. The chocolate enhances the Silphium’s aphrodisiac properties, but unlike popular belief, it doesn’t cause a complete sex frenzy. Unless an entire box is consumed quickly. Very popular with middle-aged couples in Pike Creek.
Supernatural Lore: Not popular among Faded.
Elderflower Chocolate
Section titled “Elderflower Chocolate”Elderflower Chocolates are common in Pike Creek. These come in different shapes and forms, but are all infused with Elderflower. They claim to deal with anxiety and opening your heart up after trauma. Whether that is just the effects of comforting chocolate or the properties of Elderflower is up for debate. Most people can agree that it tastes good.
Supernatural Lore: Enjoyed by all supernatural beings. Elderflower seems to be able to soothe even the most vile beings.
Silphium Spice
Section titled “Silphium Spice”Silphium can be dried and used as a spice. It is similar to saffron in its versatility. It can be used in desserts, soups and stews. Just like saffron, it can be hard to come by if you want it in good quality. Some stores specialize in this, but they are usually sold out. Most often it is sold as a powder, similar to saffron, but it can also be sold chopped. The taste is complex, mixing both earthy, floral and sweet notes. It’s rich in its powder form.
Supernatural Lore: Like any Silphium product, it is highly disliked by Faded.
Objects
Section titled “Objects”Objects aren’t technically alchemy, but they are included here since there are objects in Pike Creek that are common and have to be made by a Gifted in order to have the effects necessary.
Runes are primarily used by Gifted of Divination or Psionic disciplines, but are bought and used by townsfolk as well. These are usually carved in wood, most commonly rowan, but sometimes Ironwood bark. They don’t have much of an effect when they’re not used by Gifted who know what they are doing. Runes carved in these woods by a Gifted can enhance and strengthen Psionics and Diviners powers.
Totems, Charms & Amulets
Section titled “Totems, Charms & Amulets”There are a ton of different charms, amulets and totems made in Pike Creek. These are usually made with rowan or other common woods in the area. They have protective qualities but it differs depending on what they are. Among these you have common amulets that are worn around the neck, dreamcatchers that are hung above a bed and charms and totems that are smaller trinkets. Charms and totems can take the form of many things, such as earrings, bracelets or even fidgety items. Gifted of the discipline Voodoo can put almost any curse or charm on these items to make them potent.
Supernatural Lore: Totems, charms and amulets made by Gifted do have a protective aura. It might not protect them from being harmed, but it might repel beings such as Damned or Faded enough to keep them safe for a while.