Living in a world full of dangers, it doesn’t take long before someone winds up getting hurt. Said person will need to go to someone who can help him recover from his injuries or cure diseases. The person he would go see is what is called a fantasy apothecarist, who is the medieval counterpart of the pharmacist.
The apothecarist is someone who specializes in herbal medicine which was the most common type used in many medieval-based imaginary worlds. This is because the idea of surgery was unheard of and besides, the majority of people believed that herbs would cure whatever ailments they had.
It’s important to note that not everyone is cut out to be a fantasy apothecarist. Rather, it takes someone who has a wealth of knowledge in the many kinds of plants that grow in the world and how they can be used as medicine to go into this field. Fortunately, there are a decent number of people who have the know-how to open up their own apothecary to help people.
Plants grow all over the world so which ones are good to use for medicine? Only an expert apothecarist would know. Lots of fantasy worlds use a mixture of real-world plants like aloe and those who are purely fictional. These imaginary plants look and their names sound so real it’s hard to distinguish which ones are found in the real world and not.
The whole purpose of a fantasy apothecarist is to heal people. He does so by creating potions, salves, and other medicinal products made wholly out of herbs. The best ones are constantly experimenting, working to develop new medicines that are superior.
This is the twenty-fifth article in the series looking at the different kinds of fantasy occupations. For more, check out our blog page!
With the wide diversity of plants that grow in a fictional world, it’s difficult for the majority of people to know which ones can be used for medicine or those that they need to stay away from. That’s where the apothecarist comes in. With his deep knowledge, he can easily identify between the two groups with just one glance.
So what kind of person can be a fantasy apothecarist? Well, the most obvious answer is someone who loves plants and can tell what they are simply by looking at them. It’s crucial that the right kind of plants be used for the medicine he plans to make. Different plants have different medicinal properties. For instance, a plant that can be used to cure a wound on the arm is different than one that’s used to soothe a sore throat.
To collect plants, an apothecarist has to be willing to travel and get his hands dirty. The vast majority of apothecarists use local ones since it’s easy for them to access throughout the year and they bring in ones found in distant areas. As for the latter, they have to use them before they die otherwise they have to spend more money and time getting them.
The typical fantasy apothecarist sells various types of potions, all of which they made themselves. An important aspect of this occupation is the ability to brew potions and make other healing products like salves. Potion brewing is a science unto itself. It’s imperative that the correct quantities of the right plants are mixed just right to make the perfect concoction.
An apothecarist is dedicated to helping people by giving them medicine that cures them of whatever’s ailing them. Those who want to help people are great candidates for this profession since it’s something they can do out of this passion and make a living out of it!
The number of plants that grow in a fantasy world are far more than what most people believe. So then how does someone who uses them to heal people know which ones to use and which ones to ignore? While lots of apothecarists can spout off information about many of them, they all have a book that documents every single plant that’s been discovered that details what they look like and where they can be found. They consult it when they need info about a plant they don’t use quite often.
Not every plant have medicinal properties but the great majority of them do. While some apothecarists are constantly experimenting with them to discover their medicinal uses, they use ones whose uses have already been unearthed. One such is aloe. This versatile plant is used in a number of salves for things like sunburn or visible scars.
Fruits and vegetables are commonly used in dishes but a fantasy apothecarist can use them in potions. Fruits like bananas are perfect for stamina potions, giving people more energy which can help them on the road. Apples and berries can also be used for health-replenishing potions.
Even unusual plants like cactus have medicinal properties. A wide assortment of various medicines use the stuff found inside them for things like health recovery though people have to take great care as to not get prickled!
Common plants like roses have their own use. For instance, an apothecarist can make a love potion using rose petals that’s sure to get the drinker to fall in love with the first person he sees. Other plants like ivy are also used by the apothecarist for a myriad of things.
Many worlds feature plants unique to them that have no real world counterpart. They have their own medicinal properties exclusive to them which enable them to stand out amid all of the flora and fauna found in the world.
There is no such thing as living in a fantasy world that is so safe there are no dangers. Instead, it’s a reflection of the real world, a place teeming with dangers that range from monsters to people. Even people wind up hurting themselves by accident and not everyone can cure themselves.
That’s where the fantasy apothecarist comes in. From a nasty cold that just won’t go away to recovering from a poisonous bite, he has the know-how and expertise to cure the many ailments people suffer from. He knows exactly what’s needed to help people and he sells what he makes to help them and make some money in the process.
Many apothecarists are continually researching and experimenting with different plants to make new potions and salves that are stronger and last longer than the ones already available. Part of the money they receive from their customers go into these experiments so that they can keep pushing forward. They hope that someday they will invent a potion that will take the world by storm.
Besides his experiments, the fantasy apothecarist is constantly seeking to expand his knowledge. When it comes to local plants, he is one of the best experts to consult with but he knows there are flora and fauna in distant places he’d like to work with. He’ll travel abroad, collecting various samples of them to bring home so that he can study them and create new concoctions that will help his customers.
An important aspect of this occupation is mastering the skill of potion-making. There is a fine art to it and mastering it will help him make better quality potions that he can then sell to his customers. The best potions have effects that are either instantaneous, meaning they get rid of what the person is suffering from right away, or are long-lasting though they’ll eventually subside after a certain period of time has passed.
The profession of the fantasy apothecarist is an intriguing one. He has a deep reservoir of knowledge regarding plants and he is able to marshal said knowledge into making salves and potions that help people recover from whatever’s bothering them. Though he may sell a medley of them, he also has a knack for knowing just the right one to give to a customer.
Not everyone possesses the capabilities needed for this occupation. Only those who love plants and a desire to help people are good candidates. Furthermore, they must either demonstrate an interest in potion-making since they’re among the top products an apothecary carries.
With so many plants in the world, it can be hard to choose which ones to use. That’s why a fantasy apothecarist knows which ones to go for and which ones to leave alone. He’ll use ones with the medicinal properties he’s looking for to make the type of medicine he’s planning to sell or at least experiment with.
As for his role in the world, it is simple: his duty is to give medicine to the people who need it. After speaking with them, he can easily point them to the one they need so they can use it until they’re back to normal.
The occupation of the fantasy apothecarist is one that is most commonly seen in the background, meaning it isn’t a prominent role in the story. That shouldn’t dissuade you from bringing this into your world, for he is the one with the skills needed to make the medicine that the people who live there need to help get better!
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