Complexity
The formula for GrowLimb proved to be far more complex that Knudpert originally anticipated. The earliest experiments made it clear that the hard part was not growing the new limb; that was simply a matter of modifying known mutagens that had been in use for years to cause growth, or additional strength, or other physical enhancements.
A "Limited Success" Experiment
The first of two difficult things was ensuring that the new limb grew in the correct place! Early experimentation resulted in volunteers whose replacement legs were growing out of the thigh of their good leg, or out of their chest. There was even one instance in which a new leg grew straight up out of the top of the volunteer's head. (This volunteer has since had his missing leg successfully replaced, but the results of the first attempt have proven difficult to mitigate.) It took ten years of experimentation and formula adjustment to finally guarantee that leg bones would be connected to hip bones, and arm bones would be connected to shoulder bones.
The second difficulty was in ensuring that the new limb was permanent. Most common alchemical mutagens are temporary in effect, but Knudpert realized that temporarily regrowing a limb would not really be helpful. The research and experimentation on this problem took longer than the resolution of the first problem, and the failures were not nearly so spectactular. Fortunately, though, the problem was eventually solved.
Manufacturing
At present, the only authorized producer of this elixir is the Academy of Artifice and Alchemy in Baron's Point. The alchemical formula for the elixir has not been published as of yet - not even to those at the Academy's sister school in Endmere.
Very recently, there have been reports that the formula may have been stolen or leaked, however, as it appears that an alchemical mixture called GrowLimb is being made available in the Tyrnabay capital of Wolf's Bay far to the west. The efficacy and safety of this bootleg product is uncertain, however. Knudpert and the Academy have gone to great lengths to warn the public about knock-off products such as this.
Access and Availability
Since neither the inventor nor the institute that made his work possible wish to profit from the misfortune of others, Knudpert and the Academy have agreed to make GrowLimb available to any who can provide the cost of the raw materials that go into it. This is the altrusitic thing to do, after all.
About the Inventor
Knudpert Klimmepeet is a Gnome who has been studying Alchemy for just over two hundred years. He achieved recognition as a Master Alchemist by the Artisan's Guild of Baron's Point in the year 2112CR, and was appointed Senior Researcher at the Academy of Artifice and Alchemy in 2140CR (thirty-one years ago). He began working on GrowLimb Elixir several years later, in 2147CR.
Credits
Banner Image by
loulou Nash from
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Page background cathedral Image by
5163451 on
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Page background manor house image by
Josef Pichler on
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Page background hut image by
PamelaAndrey15 on
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Character portraits by RPGDinosaurBob on
Hero Forge®
I love the mental image of a leg growing out of somebody’s head. Though the process must be painful.
Adazuri: A shonen-inspired magitech fantasy world home-brewed for 5e.
I really want to add some images to this article :) but my artistic skills suck. If I can figure out how to play around with heroforge and graphic editors enough, there will be an image of somebody with a leg growing out of their head.
Laurels & Loot is a new, lightweight TTRPG rules system that hearkens back to the early days.