Alchemist
The coming of the Alchemist is marked by the appearance of a red moon. You can purchase potions from the Alchemist in exchange for Gold Bars. The Alchemist does not appear to you if you do not have any gold bars.
Gold Bars:
Found in the weeds of an acre which is bought
Found when selling an acre - "Fortune smiles on you. While taking one last look around the acre of land you sold, you see a gold bar."
Found in a final inspection of an acre which is sold
Won at jousting
Being voted King & Queen / Queen & Queen / King & King at the Festival Ball (10 Gold bars each)(Partners need to be on the Federation HUD to receive the gold, but only one party need have attended the Festival)
Trader deal (5 Gold Bars)
"The abbot bows & thanks you effusively for your donation. He rushes back to his monastry with your gold. A warm feeling envelops you as you discover a pair of gold bars resting on your doorstep."
Donating to the Abbot sometimes gives 2 gold bars, even if you have disease researched. Message seen on HUD:
(NOTE: Your direct subjects will not receive anything when you get gold bars, even if you have disease researched - confirmed by KK).
Some Path to Royalty steps will give you 5 gold bars. (top architect in the land (+5gold bars) & crown jewels (+5gold bars))
"You have arranged to send [gift name] to [your ally]. Hidden in the box was a gold bar! It wasn't yours. Perhaps just a mix-up with the courier."
When you are sent any gift from an ally through the ambassador - Seems up to 3 gold bars have been seen from this method. Sender sees this text:
Recipient sees this text:
"Your ally [name] sent you a gift. You receive a [gift name]. Hidden in the box was a gold bar. Your ally claims no knowledge of if, so you keep it."
The recipient of the gift receives the gold bars.
Note: If you have any gold bars, they will appear on your account tab, on page 2.
Moon Text:
When the moon starts to turn red, and shimmer and return to normal (3
turn process), the follow occurs for anyone who has a gold bar.
Everyone sees the first message, the second, third message depends on
whether you have gold bars or not.
"The moon glimmers redly."
"Villagers on the outskirts of the kingdom send reports that an alchemist is headed this way. Her covered wagon is decorated with intricate patterns. She will be here soon." OR "The moon shimmers with a red glow."
"The Alchemist has parked her red covered wagon at the edge of the forest tonight. Hundreds of potions line the shelves inside, in small glass vials. Prices are listed in gold bars. You quickly count your stack: XX bars" OR "The moon returns to normal."
"The moon above glares a dull red. The Alchemist beckons as you draw near. She offers you this selection of potions. Which will you buy?" You then get to choose from a scrolling menu a selection of three vials if you pay the Alchemist a Gold Bar.
Potions:
Black Potion (Cost: 10 gold bars):
"You trade away 10 gold bars for a black potion and quickly drink the entire vial. The air shimmers for a moment. You point at the sun. It turns dark, and begins to speed through the sky"
During the same turn, there is a first sighting of the Trader in the kingdom. The black potion triggers the immediate visit by the Trader in the kingdom you are in. (need verification whether this will work for any member of a kingdom, not just the monarch)
Blue Potion (Cost: 1 gold bar):
"You trade away a gold bar for a blue potion and quickly drink the entire vial. The air shimmers for a moment. You see a wavering image of a dark sun, travelling east to west across a yellow sky."
When the Trader comes...."He refuses to tell you what you will receive, but with the blue potion coursing through your veins, you understand it will be free. Will you accept?"
Bronze Potion (Cost: 3 gold bars) :
"You feel determined."
This potion summons the next step in the 'Book- Key- Translation' sequence. If you have the Key, it will cause the Abbot to translate the Book next time. If you have the Book, it will cause Fortune Teller to give you Key next Festival. If you have not received the Book, the Trader will have it next time you meet him. -DP
Bubbling Potion (Cost: 1 gold bar):
"You trade away a gold bar for a bubbling potion and quickly drink the entire vial. The air shimmers for a moment. You feel very lucky."
Gold windfall of 13.8 mil - @ 1073 personal acres = Cost of 3 acres roughly
Dark Green Potion (Cost: 1 gold bar):
"The year ends and taxes are due for most. However you are still under the effects of the dark green potion. You pay nothing"
5 years of tax amnesty
Draught of Quintain (Cost: 1 gold bar):
"You trade away a gold bar for "Draught of Quintain" and quickly drink the entire vial. The air shimmers for a moment. Your muscles flex and you feel knowledgeable, 2 times over"
This allows you to participate in 2 Festival joust without the cost of an acre each time. At the joust screen it says "you still have Draught of Quintain circulating through your muscles, so you need not build a practice field"
The potion doesn't enhance the chances of winning a joust.
Whilst under the influence of one draught of Quintain, I purchased another (with having only participated in one joust entry since my original purchase) The HUD said the same as above except I now felt knowledgable 3 times over, instead of 2.
Draught of Stentor (Cost: 3 gold bars) (just got this offer and it was 2 gold bars, not 3):
Allows you to send a "message" to your downline via the HUD.
Notes
: You get the offer often (didn't keep track--maybe 3-5 turns?) until you use it (I waited 2 days); limited to 70 characters (including spaces); type your message in local chat (appears on HUD in brackets--like an acre give), then click "Yes" to lock in the message. BUT, Beware:
IF DOWNLINE MEMBERS ARENT ACTIVELY ONLINE, THEY WONT SEE IT
(does not appear when they log in later). And, uh, ya don't wanna accidentally click yes to the wrong message because you're just chatting!
Opinion: Seems a waste of 3 bars... unless a LOT of downline is online/watching and you
need
to get a
very
brief message out fast, but don't have Groups or a mass mailer gadget.
Opinion
: This could be useful if you need to give an acre (generosity or fortune teller).
Elixir of Prevention (Cost: 1 gold bar):
You feel safe
Will prevent a disaster for you and you'll receive the same amount of citizens as if you did second highest option
One person reported that this potion prevented 4 consecutive disasters before it stopped working
Elixir of Strength (Cost: 30 gold bars)
Allows you to go over 2000 personal acre cap. Preliminary reports are that it allows acre cap to increase to 2050 acres. (research as to how much is in progress Aug 2nd, 2009)
Essence of Giving (Cost: 1 gold bar):
Give 3 acres to anyone, even in another Kingdom. (There is a limit to rank below that you can give. King to Squiress does not allow such a gift. It does come around again after a few turns)
Essence of Loyalty (Cost: 1 gold bar):
"You trade away a gold bar for "Essence of Loyalty" and quickly drink the entire vial. The air shimmers for a moment.....You feel Loyal."
Loyalty reward is increased (not sure how much exactly) (my subject boosted and got payed 8x the normal amount)
Lure of Gold (Cost: 1 gold bar) :
Your next offer to bribe another subject may be significantly more enticing. When used it tripled the bribe offer.
Murky Potion (Cost: 5 gold bars):
"You feel wiser in the ways of accounting and bookkeeping"
Increases the gold max
Oil of Metagrobology (Cost: 1 gold bar):
"You trade away a gold bar for the potion and quickly drink the entire vial! The air shimmers for a moment. You feel intelligent"
Don't answer the riddles & rum's, you will get them right all the time over and over again (but get paid less than if you answer it correctly - no idea how long this lasts)
Orange Potion (Cost: 2 gold bars):
"You trade away 2 gold bars for an orange potion and quickly drink the entire vail. The air shimmers for a moment. You feel safe from sabotage."
"A local constabulary reports that [name of person sabotaging] attempted to sabotage the land of [name of person being sabotaged]. Due to a turn of events that nobody seems able to explain, the sabotage was reversed!"
When you are sabotaged, the following message appears in the hud
Lasts for one sabotage
Potion of Amnesty (Cost: 1 gold bar):
"The Potion of Amnesty courses through your veins. The homage normally paid by your direct subjects will be taken from another source. For one year, they will owe you no homage payments."
Lets you grant homage amnesty to yourself or your directs for one year, they or you will not pay homage ... plus "your purse feels heavier" and you appear to also get gold from it.
You may give homage amnesty to yourself or your direct subjects. No homage payments will be owed for a year. Will you grant homage amnesty to yourself or your subjects?
Potion of Lurve (Cost: 15 gold bars)
Effects unknown
Research Acumen (Cost: 3 gold bars) :
You trade away 3 gold bars for "Research Acumen" and quick drink the entire vial. The air shimmers for a moment. You feel observant.
After researching something: Boosted by "Research Acumen," You feel that you've gained MUCH wisdom in the methods of preventing famine and hunger.
Serum of Generosity (Cost: 3 gold bars):
You can send 10 personal acres to direct subject. ONLY a direct.
Swirly Potion (Cost: 25 gold bars)
"You trade away 25 Gold Bars for a Swirly Potion and quickly drink the entire vial, the air shimmers for a moment, Your Federation Expands."
You are able to get a 5th Ally and build another Embassy to gain another 1 gold per acre production.
White Potion (Cost: 1 gold bar):
Feel Lucky
Received a gold windfall = cost of 1 acre