Bring out your dead, to the wizard's guild

[hcobb]

"Brains, brains, brains! Sell them to us!"
Each Increase IQ potion requires one "humanoid brain", and while this has few uses on its own (just use an IQ boosting item), it is required for one potion and several enchantments.
The Revival potion is so expensive that we really don't have to worry about killing two people for each person revived.
The killer magic items are Detect Magic, Telepathy, and Spellsniffer.
But by far the biggest killer is Charm. Even a +1 Charm requires 10 corpses, assuming every possible roll is met. And the effects of this magic item are unique to it with no other alternative.
As a GM do you follow all of these procedures (The potion creation rules are problematic on their own see https://www.hcobb.com/tft/Potion_Problems.html ), and if so is there an active wizard's guild that is producing Charms, and if so how do they get those brains? (Just declare Orcs to be subhuman savages lacking of the rights of humans.)

[Axly Suregrip]

Aren't great apes and chimps humanoid? and ogres. and well lots of races some that may be considered enemies.

But yes, I may such magic items & potions illegal in most towns. Black market only.

[stefanj]

I imagine a lot of hobos and urchins go missing in towns with Wizards' Guilds.

[Axly Suregrip]

Originally Posted by stefanj

I imagine a lot of hobos and urchins go missing in towns with Wizards' Guilds.

Ha! Good point. The powers that be would also want some of the action. Don't be surprised in Wiz Guild towns if the penalty for all crimes is death. Shop lifting? Death. Spitting on the sidewalk? Death. Public flatulence? Death!

[hcobb]

Originally Posted by stefanj

I imagine a lot of hobos and urchins go missing in towns with Wizards' Guilds.

Now Timmy, we haven't been able to drain strength on you all day. Would you rather be taken to parts?

[tomc]

Man... That's a grim world right there.

[pzmcgwire]

The potion formulas and the magic items that depend upon potions or otherwise require sentient creatures for many of them such a gargoyle gallbladers, human and octopus eyes (fresh ones!), orc livers, humanoid brains, dragon hide, dragon hearts, and centaur hooves which incent killing to acquire ingredients.

Now why does Telekinesis require 10 lbs of elves toenails while Telepathy requires the brain of a large amphibian. Are elves anymore telekinetic than any other race? Are large amphibians telepathic?

Yet one of the most powerful potions, the Imprisonment potion apparently is composed of common ingredients.

Are the potion formulas an Elvish or Dwarvish plot to cull other races? :)

[timm meyers]

Plenty of folks die every day of natural causes. It is obvious that most alchemical businesses have strong ties with the Gravedigger's Guild. Plus, many offer a small upfront payment for "Death Reclamation" contracts - kind of a Reverse Mortgage but for people....

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by timm meyers

Plenty of folks die every day of natural causes.

Less than you might think; you aren't going to get 1/day until you have a population of 20-30,000, which is pretty big for a non-modern society.

[JohnPaulB]

Originally Posted by timm meyers

Plenty of folks die every day of natural causes. It is obvious that most alchemical businesses have strong ties with the Gravedigger's Guild. Plus, many offer a small upfront payment for "Death Reclamation" contracts - kind of a Reverse Mortgage but for people....

Perhaps the WizGuild has a working arrangement with the Slaver's Guild. Body parts from slaves worked to death.