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Combustive Fluid - Research into Unconventional Alchemy XIV

Journal of Conrad Azohi - Day 862 after embarking

I have decided to stay in Takik for a while longer. After you read about recent events, you might think I am mad for doing so.

I have been readily using my alchemical expertise in my day to day life, but there is no truly dedicated study of alchemy in the cultures of this side of the world. Thus, most of what I can do with some time and mental effort, the people here see as miraculous or wonderful. I've garnered a bit of a reputation for it. However, this reputation reached the ear of a rich merchant, presumably a slave trader, who had recently come to Takik. He wanted my expertise, so I was abducted by some thugs while I walked down the street.

I was in captivity for about two weeks, with none of my belongings, forced to live in a cage, crouching and eating whatever slop they would give me. Thankfully, before the merchant left Takik, one of my neighbors sneaked into the slave storage and found me. Apparently, the family had known I was here for at least a week. They had been running wild over the last few days to try and gather money enough to purchase something they could use to free me. They said that they felt the need to rescue me, after I had made so much for them with my alchemy.

They seem to have bankrupted themselves, spending a small fortune on a type of combustive oil which they painted onto the bars of my cage and ignited, melting the metal. It reminded me of the welding thermite we studied back at the university. After returning to my hut, I was filled with rage at the slavers, so I took a little bit of that oil, discerned it's structure, and synthesized much more of it. It was indeed similar to welding thermite, but with a more compact molecular structure and a lower overall heat output. Using some tin amalgam coins and stabilized fire I was able to make an entire jar of the oil, at which point I returned to the caravan wagons and, using this oil, I released all of the remaining slaves and melted any empty cages.

In hindsight, this was likely more of a risk than I needed to take, and I was lucky that I didn't end up getting caught again. My neighbors have said as much. They said that they know this because they've seen it happen before. A person is abducted, broken out, and then, instead of hiding, they try and fight back against those who abducted them, and end up abducted again. This has made me realize that this must be a common occurrence, here in Takik, that the natives have a status quo response to it.

Those who "rule" this city only are concerned with conflicts between merchant groups who have chosen to stay here. They do not look after their people. That is why I have chosen to stay here, at least for a time. These people need someone on their side with the ability to impact the world. Some will criticize me and say that I am interfering in the affairs of a nation that is not my own, which might very well be right, but my conscience will not allow me to rest if I don't try and help those who helped me so readily.