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Amalgam Transmutation - Research into Unconventional Alchemy X

Journal of Conrad Azohi - Day 681 after embarking

It is understandable that my host in the cavern would not know where the traders who visit him come from, for they come from a nation that no one in the world we know of would even believe exists. Across the Ahran Desert, the expanse of sand and rock so immense that it has never been fully mapped, there are people. Children learn from a young age about the Ahran, how it is the "edge of the world" and how, after a certain point, nothing lives anymore. Yet here I am, sitting in a hut on the western side of a region that might as well have not had a western side for all we knew about it.

I suppose it is natural that there would be something here. We have known that the world is round for many centuries. The Ahran couldn't extend forever. Though, my thinking was that, perhaps it bordered the uncrossed East ocean or butted up against unexplored wilds of some sort. I never would have guessed that there were people here. Much less as burgeoning of a society as I have observed.

I believe the city I am in is named "Tikak," as the traders introduced it as such when we were approaching. At least, I suspect they were introducing it. "Tikak" might be the word for "we're going there," for all I am sure of. It's built along the bottom of a long canyon, a wide river flowing through it. To the east lies the Ahran. To the west looks like scrubland, which I assume means that there is verdant lands farther out in that direction. The banks of the river are fairly lush here, with trees and greenery everywhere.

I'm having to fend for myself, now that I'm here. The old man in the desert had to trade an extra few waterskins of the elixir he brews in order to convince the traders to take me with them. However, that is as far as they felt their obligation extended. As soon as we reached Tikak, they sent me off. It was difficult to learn the basic customs of the area, but I have so far been able to pick up on many fundamentals. For example, it's wise to get off the street when you see people in certain outfits walking down the road.

The currency here seems to all be different types of mercury-based alloys. The lowest value I've seen is a tin-amalgam, while the highest I've seen is a copper-amalgam with a similar, but distinct, structure. I'm sure there are others, but I've used this knowledge to try and better my situation. Acquiring a bit of the tin-amalgam is fairly easy, as I only need to do some menial labor. Then I can transmute it into the copper-amalgam. I lose about 80% of the mass, but the value increases about 2000%. This manipulation has allowed me to afford some basic living conditions. I have managed to rent a hut in a run down part of town (at least, I believe I'm renting; I might be making payments to own it), purchase some new clothes, and finally get a wash and a shave. It's been over a year since I've felt anywhere near as clean as I do now.

Since everything in this new land is new and unusual to people back home, I think I should try to make note of as much as I can. I will start with recording the amalgam transmutation that I have been utilizing to increase my value.