Clan Kyrkonnel ~ Sorcha ~ Preparation & Ingredients, Novice Magickal Recipes


Novice Elixirs: Excerpts from the Sarcenet Family Recipe Book.

Written by Eilis Sarcenet

Also containing Various Notes and Observations By

Zofilia Sarcenet and Sorcha Kyrkonnel


What follows here is a brief list of commonly requested novice elixirs gathered by my grandmother Eilis and my mother Zofilia, both sometime alchemists and always midwives. Tis the first booklet of magickal recipes I was given long ago when I first demonstrated a talent for "specialized cooking," as Eilis used to call it while giving me a broad, amused wink. I have added some notes and observations of my own, but most of the information is as it always has been, from the well-worn look of these pages. ~ S.K.

Proper Preparation

Wash ye well with strong lye soap, and remove all yr mundanely-crafted items: jewelry, boots, and yr dyed or tailored clothing. Dress ye in a ragged blouse or other plain, worn working clothes, for ye will most certainly become splattered with the efforts of yr work. Cleanse yr hands with weak wine, and choose ye well a solid, dependable pot preferably made of copper. Take ye to a clean-running stream and scour yr pot with fine sand, then set the pot to dry in the sun. Stay close to it whilst it dries, and say yr prayers to Cail to bless your undertakings. Do not allow other hands to touch the pot nor permit it to touch the stream once more. Then return ye to your workroom with the pot in hand, but carry it with yr hands around the outside of it only. Now yr work can commence.

City-dwelling Wizards should note that streams running near a densely populated area are most certainly not clean; my mother based her directions upon her experiences dwelling in a remote mountain spot. I myself collected sand from the shore near Rucesion and spread it out to dry in the sun (so the pure sea salts would remain mixed among the grains) and then I washed my own vessels in the sacred pool near the temple of Luathas (with permission of the priests). Otherwise, I faithfully followed the instructions written above. ~ Z.S.

A List of Ingredients and Their Basic Properties

Experienced wizards will note an absence of herbs or potions among this list of ingredients. This is, if you recall, a basic novice primer on the making of elixirs, so none of these recipes call for ingredients young Wizards cannot make or collect themselves. ~ S.K.

Apple

A rounded firm fruit growing from trees in the vicinity of Rucesion. The fruit itself may be used fresh or dried; the stems, peel and seeds must be dried first in the sun. Dry in quarters suspended on strong string in a well-ventilated area. Store in a corked flask for a double moon. Contains trace elements of cragh and sal.

Baguette

A regional variation on the Bread Slice. It is lighter and flakier than a Bread Slice from containing a different type of yeast (essentially Mold) and from bubbles that become trapped in the dough during the baking process. Contains trace properties of cragh, srad and athar. (Also see Bread Slice, Mold.)

Bat Wing

The webbed appendage of a regular bat, including the cuff of cartilage between the shoulderblade and first bone. Boil until the webbing becomes soft if the wing itself is required as an ingredient, or else it is generally too stringy to be consumed. Must be used fresh, may not be dried or stored for later use. Pot liquor may be strained in cloth and stored in a corked bottle up until a double-moon. Contains trace properties of athar. (See Greater Bat Wing.)

Beef

A joint of cow meat, typically broiled or roasted. Fresh and natural beef is greatly preferred; a magickally summoned cow typically contains half as much elemental property as the real thing. If boiled, the pot liquor may be stored in a corked bottle up until a double moon. Contains trace properties of cragh and srad.

Bee Sting

The sharp, pointed stinger of a bee or wasp, including the flesh and cartilage that attaches it to the skull. May be dried and stored in a corked flask for four moons. Contains trace properties of athar.

Branch

A length of tree branch that is as wide as yr thumb, and as long as yr arm. Dry thoroughly in the sun, may be smoked by suspension over a fire. Peel dried bark from the wood to store separately; smash the wood and save as dried chips or as pulp when mixed with Wine. May not be used fresh. All Branch elements may be stored (separately) in corked flasks for a double moon. Contains trace elements of cragh, sal and athar.

Brandy

A mundane-made alcoholic beverage made of fermented cherries. Aged brandy is best; store upright in a cool dry place well out of direct sunlight. Very useful when included in magickal recipes, contains trace properties of all four elements due to the distillation process. (Also see Rum, Wine.)

Bread Slice

A mundane-made food comprised of baked dough. Contains a more common form of yeast (or Mold). Contains trace properties of cragh, srad and athar.

Centipede Gland

The central soft-tissue organ of a centipede, including the tongue. Cleanse carefully with hot water to wash away blood, bile, and other digestive juices. May be stored in a solution of sea water and wine for a double-moon. Contains trace properties of cragh and athar.

Cherries

A rounded, fleshy red fruit that grows in bunches on trees along the hills of Suomi. Be sure to collect the stems, and always keep the peeled skins and extracted pits. May be pulped and fermented to make Brandy. Hang to dry in a well-ventilated area in for a double-moon. Store dried whole cherries, stems, dried skins, and dried pits, all separately, for a whole season. Contains trace properties of cragh and sal. (See also Brandy.)

Chicken

The bone and flesh comprising the top joint of a hind leg of chicken, not including the cartilage connecting it to the body or the lower limb, typically broiled or roasted. Fresh and natural chicken is greatly preferred; a magickally summoned bird typically contains half as much elemental property as the real thing. If boiled, the pot liquor may be stored in a corked bottle up until a moon. Contains trace properties of cragh and srad.

Goblin Skull

The skull of a goblin, not including the brains, the eyes, or the cartilage of the nose. Should be picked clean and left to dry in the sun for a half-moon before being smashed into chips or ground into powder. Chips and powder may be stored (separately) in a sealed flask for a double-moon. Contains trace properties of cragh and athar.

Grapes

A rounded, fleshy purple fruit that grows in bunches on vines along the hills of Suomi. Be sure to collect the stems, and always keep the peeled skins and extracted pits. May be pulped and fermented to make Rum. Hang to dry in bunches in a well-ventilated area in for a double-moon. Store dried whole grapes, stems, dried skins, and dried pits‹all separately‹for a whole season. Contains trace properties of cragh and sal. (See also Rum.)

Great Bat Wing

The webbed appendage of a great bat, not including the cuff of cartilage between the shoulderblade and first bone. Must be thoroughly deboned, dried, and powdered before use, may not be used fresh or cooked. Powder may be kept in a corked flask for a season. Contains trace properties of athar. (See Bat Wing.)

Kobold Skull

The skull of a kobold, not including the brains or the eyes, but including the cartilage of the nose. Should be picked clean and immediately smashed into chips or ground into paste by mixing with spring water. Chips and paste may be stored (separately) in a sealed flask for a double-moon. Contains trace properties of cragh and athar.

Mold

Free-standing moist green globules of decay. A staple of all magickal recipes, may be used fresh, dried, powdered, or mixed into various liquids to make base liquors. May not be collected from moldy or rotten baguettes, fruits, or vegetables. May not be stored alone as a separate ingredient. Contains trace properties of cragh, sal, and athar.

Moldy Baguette

A decaying baguette. Must be carefully dried in a sealed clear glass flask in the sunlight before use to prevent the mold from separating away. May be stored whole or in powdered form in a sealed flask for a double moon. Contains trace elements of cragh, sal and athar.

Mantis Eye

The eyeball of a mantis, not including the ocular nerve. May be pickled in rum and stored in an opaque flask for a double moon. Contains trace elements of cragh and sal.

Raw Wax

The wax of a common bee or wasp. Melt in a clean pot by allowing it to dissolve in the sunshine, skim off any dead bees/wasps, bits of grass, or other impurities. May be poured into a flask and stored, corked, for a double moon. Reliquefy by setting out in the sun or by warming flask in a pot of sea water. Contains trace elements of cragh, sal, and athar.

Rose Bouquet

Three or more rose blossoms, including a hand-span of stem, all cut from the same bush. Wash gently in spring water; save petals, the heart of the bud, and the thorns. Dry whole in bunches by hanging upside down in a well-ventilated space. Petals and hearts may be used fresh, thorns must be dried. Store dried petals, hearts and thorns all mixed together in one corked flask; may be kept for a double moon. Contains traces of all four elements, plus minute amounts of faery dust if bouquet was used at a pledging or wedding.

Rotten Apples

A decaying apple. Must be carefully dried in a sealed clear glass flask in the sunlight before use to prevent the mold from separating away. May be stored whole or in powdered form in a sealed flask for a double moon. Contains trace elements of cragh, sal and athar.

Rotten Cherries

Decaying cherries, typically used with Rotten Grapes to make Wine. Must be carefully dried in a sealed clear glass flask in the sunlight before use to prevent the mold from separating away. Remove stems before drying or using fresh. May be stored whole or in powdered form in a sealed flask for a double moon. Contains trace elements of cragh, sal and athar. (See also Rotten Grapes, Wine.)

Rotten Grapes

Decaying grapes, typically used with Rotten Cherries to make Wine. Must be carefully dried in a sealed clear glass flask in the sunlight before use to prevent the mold from separating away. Remove stems before drying but not before using fresh. May be stored whole or in powdered form in a sealed flask for a double moon. Contains trace elements of cragh, sal and athar. (See also Rotten Cherries, Wine.)

Rotten Tomato

A decaying tomato, including all the mold and as much liquid as can be gathered. May not be stored in any form, must be used fresh within three days. Immerse in equal parts wine and spring water to prevent the liquid parts from drying out before use. Contains trace elements of cragh, sal and athar.

Rotten Vegetables

Various types of vegetables in an advanced state of decay, typically containing great quantities of Mold. Must be used fresh, may not be dried or used in base liquors that will be stored. Contains trace elements of cragh, sal, and athar.

Royal Wax

The wax of a royal bee or wasp. Melt in a clean pot by allowing it to dissolve in the sunshine, skim off any dead bees/wasps, bits of grass, or other impurities. May be poured into a flask and stored, corked, for a double moon. Reliquefy by warming flask in a pot of sea water. Contains trace elements of cragh, sal, and athar.

Rum

A mundane-made alcoholic beverage made of fermented grapes. Aged rum is best; store upright in a cool dry place well out of direct sunlight. Very useful when included in magickal recipes, contains trace properties of all four elements due to the distillation process. (Also see Brandy, Wine.)

Scorpion Sting

The sharp, pointed stinger of a scorpion, including the flesh and cartilage that attaches it to the tail. Must be thoroughly picked clean before use, then rinsed in sea water and left in the sun to dry to eradicate poison. Wash hands, clothing, and utensils thoroughly after cleaning process. May be stored in dried form (never fresh) in a corked flask for four moons. Contains trace properties of athar.

Spider Eye

The eyeball of a spider, including the ocular nerve. May be pickled in brandy and stored in an opaque flask for a double moon. Contains trace elements of cragh and sal.

Spider Silk

A skein of web spun by a spider. Should be stored immediately in a corked flask and also used within two days of collection. Contains trace properties of athar, cragh, and sal.

Spring Bouquet

Three or more varieties of flowers from the Enchanted Garden, including a finger-length of stem, Wash gently in sea water; save the petals, the leaves, and the heart of the bud. Dry whole in bunches by hanging upside down in a well-ventilated space. Petals and leaves may be used fresh, hearts must be dried. Store dried petals, leaves, and hearts (separately) in a corked flask for a double moon. Contains traces of all four elements, plus minute amounts of faery dust if bouquet was used at a pledging or wedding.

Viper Gland

The central soft-tissue organ of a viper, not including the tongue. Cleanse carefully with cold water to wash away blood, bile, and other digestive juices. May be stored in a solution of equal parts spring water, brandy, and wine for a double-moon. Contains trace properties of cragh and athar.

Wine

A mundane-made alcoholic beverage made of fermented Rotten Cherries and Rotten Grapes. Aged wine is best; store on its side in a cool dry place well out of direct sunlight. Very useful when included in magickal recipes, contains trace properties of all four elements due to the distillation process. (Also see Brandy, Rotten Cherries, Rotten Grapes, Rum.)

Wolf Claws

Three or more claws of a wolf, including the last toe joint. Must be carefully dried in the sun and smoked before use. Must be used whole; do not powder, clean, or crush. Wrap claws in a square of clean cloth before using in base liquors or elixirs. Contains trace elements of cragh and sal.

Wolf Fur

An oval piece of wolf hide, untanned and uncured, including the fur. Used to cover boiling pots containing elixirs, must never be used in an elixir itself like Wolf Claws, Locks, or Skins. May not be preserved or stored. Contains trace elements of cragh and sal.

Wolf Lock

A snippet of the long fur of a wolf, either from the throat, the underbelly, or the end of the tail, at least as thick as the thumb. Must be spread out to dry in the sun before use; may be stored as a single lock or pickled in a solution of spring water and brandy for a double moon. Contains trace elements of cragh or sal.

Wolf Skin

A long, squarish piece of wolf skin, tanned and cured, not including the fur. Dry in the sun and cut into strips; may be stored as a bunch of strips or in a solution of sea water and rum for a double moon. Contains trace elements of cragh and sal.

Vegetable

A light green, firm, starchy root. Maybe be kept fresh in a dark, well-ventilated place or dried as a powder in a corked flask. Contains trace elements of cragh and sal.

On to the Recipes


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