Reminder: The Alchemist of Middlesbrooke Recap

Catch up on The Alchemist of Middlesbrooke

Once again, we’ve wrapped up another Realmgard story, so here’s your chance to relive The Alchemist of Middlesbrooke:

So, a Wilderling, a Half-Troll Amazon, and an Aurorean sorceress walk into a coffeehouse…

The three female adventurers Lucia, Apolline, and Petra have recently arrived in the city of Middlesbrooke but haven’t had much luck finding work yet. Luckily, when a certain musclebound Alchemist walks into their lives, things may finally be starting to turn around for our three brave heroines.

Or not.

What the Alchemist of Middlesbrooke has in muscles, he definitely lacks in brains.

But Lucia, Apolline and, Petra aren’t the kind of people to refuse someone in need of help, even an idiot. So off they go on this new adventure with Roland, the Alchemist of Middlesbrooke and his little sister Alda. Meanwhile, Alveric von Strom, a proud man driven to vexation is resolved to make their lives very, very difficult.

Join all-new cast of characters in this latest Realmgard adventure!

Chapter 1

The cover of The Alchemist of Middlesbrooke.
Based on the full cover by Joel Balkovec.

The three adventurers stand in front of the old house, erstwhile home of the erstwhile Baron Pollux Castor, the reason the three adventurers have travelled to Middlesbrooke. The house has been bequeathed to Apolline by the Baron, her great-uncle. Thinking about it, Lucia wonders just what she did to make Great-Uncle Pollux so angry at her to deserve this.


Chapter 2

Two paper bags on a red background.
Photo by George Dolgikh on Pexels.com

Roland’s face lights up and he reaches for his shopping bag. “I think I can help with that,” he declares, reaching into the bag and laying out a couple of pouches of charcoal and sand from the Wandering Coast, four scoops of Skremmler’s Combustible Powder, and a Valico cheesesteak sandwich.

“It’s in here somewhere,” he mutters.

“Those are all alchemy supplies,” Celeste notes. “But what’s that for?” She points to the sandwich.

“Lunch,” Roland answers, continuing to rummage through the bag.


Chapter 3

Several pieces of cheese.
Photo by Tabitha Mort on Pexels.com

“We almost got hired by a goatherd looking for help with his flock,” Petra tells her.

“He even offered to pay us in advance,” Lucia adds.

“But only in goat cheese,” Apolline concludes.


Chapter 4

A window illuminating a brick room in a castle.
Photo by Francisco Ortiz on Pexels.com

“You know, the lab. Well, really, Uncle Chuck’s lab. But, like, he never uses it for alchemy. I think the last Duke had it built as a torture hole, or something.”


Chapter 5

The facade of buildings at street level with a lamppost in the foreground.
Photo by Claudia Schmalz on Pexels.com

“Do you smell mint?” she asks. “Oh no. I think that’s catnip.”


Chapter 6

A wagon wheel on a forest road.
Photo by Engin Akyurt on Pexels.com

“Gentlemen,” Alveric says to his mercenary recruits — though it is far and away exactly the wrong word for grizzled veteran mercenaries and pirates with such lovely names as Leif the Axe, Axe the Blade, and Big, Huge Leroy.


Chapter 7

A forest road.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

“Well,” Alveric von Strom says to himself. “That was not how I expected this to go.”

Perhaps there’s more to this highwayman racket than he thought.


Chapter 8

A clenched fist.
Photo by NEOSiAM 2021 on Pexels.com

“Isn’t he just giving away his next move by yelling out his attacks like that?”


Chapter 9

A catnip plant.
Image by R. E. Beck from Pixabay

“You?” Alveric asks, staring at Roland with his mouth agape. “You’re an alchemist?”

“I know, right?” Lucia exclaims.

“But I’m an alchemist!” Alveric exclaims. “You’re a disgrace to our profession!”

“I thought you were a highwayman,” Roland notes.

“Yes, yes. A man can be more than one thing. But you? You look like a shaved mountain ape,” Alveric continues. “Do you really have the brain power for alchemy? Or even the opposable thumbs?”

Lucia gasps. That is going too far.


Chapter 10

Wooden crates in a 3x3 pile.
Photo by Marc Puddy on Pexels.com

“Does the name Alveric von Strom mean anything to you?” Apolline asks.

“He’s a fellow member of the Alchemical Society. Did the bandits come after him, too?” the old man asks.

“Ah, no,” Apolline mutters.

“He was the bandits,” Lucia says. “He came after us because he didn’t want you to get your alchemy supplies.”


Chapter 11

The doorknob and keyhole on a wooden door.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

“There’s a rat!” Alda cries, burying her face in her brother’s shoulder. “There’s a big, gross rat!

“Don’t worry,” Lucia says, tracking the large furry shadow scurrying across the floor. “I got this.”


Epilogue

Two mannequins.
Photo by Sergey Meshkov on Pexels.com

“Miss Petra. Lady Apolline. I am here, on behalf of Her Serenity the Duchess, allow me to present this congratulatory fruit basket.

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