Potions are always a mainstay of most roleplaying games and fantasy books and my world is no exception, though they are hardly used. Most potions are a cooperative effort between alchemists and mages or priests. The alchemists put together mixtures of herbs (and sometime more exotic items) then the mage or priest imbues the mixture with magical properties. Depending on the potion it can take up to a week to create a batch or even a single potion.
The herbs (or exotic items) that are used depend on the potion. Healing potions take such items as willow leaves or bark or yarrow. Poison antidotes might include snake or spider venom.
The magic spell which would give the desired affect is cast upon the vial (made of refined and polished glass of the highest quality sand) several times, usually by journeymen level mages or priests. Many mages who do not take on the title "Master" make a living working for alchemists for just this purpose.
Originally these items were created by the healers of the elves for their patrols who were gone for some time and may not have a healer with them. They traded them with the humans and the humans slowly began to understand how to make them on their own. Now most races can make them, but maybe not as many different types as the elves.
Prices for potions vary on location and type, but should be fairly expensive for a beginning adventuring party. (Normal prices from your game system would work just fine.) Because many classes in my world can heal (mages, priests, bards, spellblades, and Clan Warriors) healing potions aren't as important but are still expensive to make.
Tomorrow: Equipment for Characters
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