Quote:
Originally Posted by
individual 
"Umm, be precise Professor?" she asked more than answered. It didn't seem right, but it was worth a shot...Ah, nope, someone already said that. Now she just sounded like she was copying someone. Great...
(oops...guess i was late...)
"It is true that precision is very important as well, for measuring and being careful to know what you have done can help you should the potion not turn out as you intend. You must also document everything you do." He nodded with approval at the young student.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kaytone "Professor, Would it be to have a clean work space and to know your ingredients. Such as to know each ingredient and how they interact with each other before starting a new potion, and to have the right measurements." kay said with her hand up. She wasn't sure she even sounded close to be right.
Kay smiled at Marie and hope they both had given good answers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Anna Banana Having a few ideas on the cardinal rule the professor spoke of, LouAnn raised her hand. "What about knowing our ingredients?" she suggested. "We should take care to know each and every ingredient we add to the potion, what it does, and how it will interact with the other ingredients you'll be adding."
"Very good, both of you." He nodded, pleased.
"Knowing your ingredients is critical. I do hope all my aspiring potioneers are paying close attention not only in potions, but in herbology and care of magical creatures, for those fields are where your base ingredients will come from. "
He looked around the room.
"Now, knowing your ingredients does not merely help you in knowing how to brew a potion correctly. It also helps you to learn how to adjust potions, be it to counteract a negative effect of an ingredient, strengthen an aspect of your potion in potion invention, or even to lessen the effects of too much of a given ingredient."
He turned to his desk, picking up a basket filled with parchments.
"In magic, as in all aspects of the natural world, there is a certain amount of balance. Light and dark. Good and evil. Black and white. Yin and yang. And so it is in potions: every ingredient in potions has one or more ingredients which serve as its complement, acting as a counterbalance. Therein exists harmony. By understanding complementary potions ingredients and which ingredients act balance each other, you will in time come to truly understand your potions and be able to brew, adjust, and even invent potions." "I realize that some of the underclassmen may feel a little lost, as these concepts are geared more toward the upperclassmen. Nevertheless, it is important for you all to understand these basic concepts so I see no reason not to introduce them to you now." Kazimeriz gave some of the firsties and encouraging half-smile.
"I shall be handing out parchments worksheets. Your first task, before we brew, is to fill out the worksheet. Using your textbooks, based upon what you know of your ingredients, you are to list five basic ingredients- plant or animal derived - and what the logical complement is. That is, list an opposite or neutralizing agent for the ingredient you list. For example, armadillo bile, which is used in wit-sharpening potion, can be counteracted by lovage, which is often found in confusing concoction. Just as the armadillo bile will sharpen mental acuity, lovage causes inflamation of the braine and a general sense of confusion. Please write your name on your parchment, and then write five ingredients and potential opposite ingredients on the worksheet as well as why you think that these ingredients will counterbalance one another, and then turn it in. Are there any questions?" He had already sent the charmed basket out to deliver parchments to each student. Each sheet was unremarkable, except that it was lined and had a number in the top corner - either a 1, 2, 3, or 4.
ooc: Feel free to get creative; as long as you can logically support your argument for why, for example, erumpent horn is counteracted by simple slug slime, I'm down with it.
Remember, it's magic --so get inventive and have fun!