Apothecary

The Apothecary is the entry point to the Moon path, and by the standards of the ninth steps it is emphatically peaceful. The body gains a little — noticeably less than on combat paths — but spirituality grows instead.

Compounding remedies — the Apothecary excellently blends herbs and works with parts of dead animals, and with what he obtains heals most diseases and wounds;

Taming — at this step it concerns plants: he knows how to subdue them and grow what is needed.

Hence the character of the path. The Moon does not give a fighter: it gives one who understands compositions, poisons, and the living. Further on this will grow into the taming of beasts, vampirism, the making of potions, and, in the end, power over life itself — but it all begins at the apothecary's counter.

The practical value of such a ninth step is high and quite peaceful. The Apothecary is in demand everywhere: in the city, in the village, in an expedition, in a secret society. He does not need to fight anyone to be useful, and this sets the Moon apart from almost all neighboring paths, where the lowest step is in one way or another tied to danger.

The flip side is clear. Against the Otherworldly of a combat step, the Apothecary is defenseless: enhanced spirituality does not replace strength, speed, or charms. All he has is knowledge of what to mix with what, and, if he is clever, a little time for preparation.

The formula is fitting: the horn of a flying unicorn and the poisonous crystal of a royal jellyfish sit alongside arsenic and the rhizome of black henbane. There is exactly as much poison in it as healing — which for this path is the rule, not the exception.