Apothecary RP (by Kalmore)

Note: I have not completed this guide, still many topics left to write and the spelling is not finished as well.



Intro
The Royal Apothecary Society is an alchemical society based in the Apothecarium in Undercity. Lady Sylvanas Windrunner created it in order to create a new undead plague to wipe out the scourge and other forms of life. Its members are all Forsaken or other types of Undead beings who joined Sylvanas' cause. They are constantly brewing up new plagues to unleash upon Sylvanas' enemies. The other races of the Horde believe they are working on a remedy to cure their "illness". Members of the Apothecary society are called Apothecaries. Due to repeated failures by the society to make a new plague of undeath, Sylvanas has recruited necromancers to find other means of raising slain enemies to her cause. If the society cannot finish their master plague soon, they may find their society disbanded by Sylvanas.


It is not easy to RP an Apothecary, its quite the challenge, but its also why it is so fun to do.
I have been Rping an Apothecary for total of eight months. I’m not saying that gives me the status of an expert but I have a lot of knowledge how the society works and their behavior.

The information here is contained from sources of Warcraft Lore (Wowwiki) and ALL Apothecary quest currently exist in World of Warcraft (Except CATA).

What is an Apothecary?
”The iconic apothecary is a withered Forsaken standing in a laboratory. Beakers and cauldrons bubble and spew horrible vapors into the air.”
An Apothecary is not a soldier, on the battlefields they are titled ”Support”. To be less cryptic, you can call them ”Field medics” or an artillerist.
Apothecaries don’t face their enemies’ head on with a weapon in their hand. Mostly they aid fallen soldiers with healing potions or with other means, or they will stand behind the line and fire their developed plague on enemy troops with siege weapons.

Apothecary Class
Speculation: Spellcasters
Some speculate that the members of the Apothecary Society also are arcane wielders. This speculation is not supported by the information provided in game.

There is no available class to specify an Apothecary. According to game mechanics in WoW, 90% of them are classed Warriors and 10% Mages/Paladins.
The Apothecary is not a class made for battle, they are scientists. They don’t use arcane magic or a sword and a shield to defend them when they are threaten. They rely entirely on their skills in alchemy and chemistry
Most Apothecaries however carries a dagger with them, this can be most seen when they are outside of their lab. So you can believe it is a precaution.



The cloths of the Apothecary
The Royal Apothecary Society has a uniform that is worn by 90% of the population of the society.
This is a black/grey robe, quite distinct and easy to recognize, a black hood over their head and a silver belt.
They do not normally wear gloves or shirt under their robe.
It’s not common that the Apothecary wear shoulder pads if they are not out on the field. Just face it, which would wear a heavy armor on their shoulders when they conduct sensitive work in a safe haven.

Behavior
The most important part to RP an Apothecary. You should always define your own behavior but some are confused how the Apothecary act in general and mostly does it all wrong.

Apothecaries as said before are scientists, scientists are a intellectual class with a highly developed creativity to push their work forward.
However, they seem to bring also assistants who test the Doctors work but do not conduct their own alchemy. (Apothecary Keever as an example).

The Royal Apothecary Society has an alignment of “Neutral Evil” but this can be questioned.
They answer to Master Apothecary Faranell and the Banshee Queen; Sylvanas Windrunner.
However, they have on many occasions shown that they do no care about the Horde or others outside the Forsaken.
A prime example is a quest where you help an Apothecary to “aid” a Tauren who is sick.
It is pure speculation if the Apothecary had any interest of helping her, or if he saw an opportunity to use her as a test subject for a new strain.
You can just be sure that he didn’t care so much that she died by his hand.
Quest: Seeping Corruption

Even if they work under a command-structure, most Apothecaries see a new strain more important then their colleague’s life. It is safe to say that most Apothecary doctors have no emotions at all against other leaving creature.
It is heard on many quests that a failure to deliver a good strain is meet with death, most Apothecaries are frightened to fail in their experiments.

Example, taken from Venomspite in Dragonblight:
Apothecary Vicky Levine says: Schlemiel!
Junior Apothecary Schlemiel says: Huh?
Apothecary Vicky Levine says: Apparently you flubbed this batch of blight. What do you have to say for yourself?
Junior Apothecary Schlemiel says: But... I followed your instructions precisely! Sorry?
Apothecary Vicky Levine says: Sorry? SORRY? Here's sorry for you!
At this point, Vicky throws a vial at Schlemiel. Schlemiel promptly turns into green slime that immediately evaporates.
Junior Apothecary Schlemiel says: Eep!
Apothecary Vicky Levine says: Oops. I guess it IS working! That's odd.
Apothecary Vicky Levine says: I'm gonna need a cleanup and a new assistant over here!


Putress
A Highly debated topic. The Apothecary for most was an unknown organization in the large world of Azeroth. It was with the wrath gate most Rpers got their attention on the Apothecary Society, but it’s not for all good reasons. Most believe that Rping Putress is a pure thing to do and it's a standard Apothecary RP way. But Putress behavior was very rare, a traitor of that magnitude in the Apothecary society doesn’t really exist. There is no back story (known) why Putress betrayed the Horde and there for its still a mystery.
There is no evidence that in game either that Sylvanas Windrunner have changed the Societies mission from the original plan that would inflict in unhappy followers.
There are some speculations that Putress was an agent of the Burning Legion and not truly a Forsaken.
Some other speculations go that Varimathras mindcontrolled Putress into betraying the Forsaken and pledge his allegiance to the Nathrezim.


Ranks of the Apothecary (Speculations)


Master
Given to Faranell, he is overseeing the whole Apothecary Society in the Apothecarium in the Undercity.
He is THE leader of the society, with the authority and responsibility that comes with this rank. Its unsure if any other Apothecary can become a Master if they do not control a large portion of the Society as well.

Chief
A rank given to Apothecaries who control small groups. If apothecaries are sent into the field to conduct experiments far away from the Forsaken territory, it is most common that they be assigned a Chief who oversee the work and reports back to Underctiy. (Putress was a chief Apothecary)

Doctor
The most common title. Those who have been able to prove themselves of there worth to their teacher are promoted to Doctor. A Doctor can perform their own experiments and work solo on the field, to some extent.

Junior
A title given to those who are new at the Apothecary society. Most of the Juniors are placed with a Apothecary doctor. The doctor objective is to mentor the Junior Apothecary how they operate. A junior can only succeed in becoming a Doctor if their mentor approves. A Junior Apothecary rarely conducts their own experiments if not ordered so by their mentor.

Assistant
They do not conduct any form of experiments at all, there are servants to the Apothecary Society. They are often sent of to the field to test their masters new strain and reports back with the progress.
It is shown in game that some of these assistants have brain damages so the job doesn’t require so much “brainpower”.

Plaguebringers
These are a title given by Putress on some of his most loyal Apothecaries in Northrend.
There is no real information where they stand, but to say the least, they were officers of Putress during the development phase of his plague.



RP Gear for the Apothecary
Some gear worn by the Apothecaries are not obtainable for players (For example, the belt).
But WoW is rich with items and can with ease be replaced.

Robe
Black velvet Robe (Rare World Drop)
http://www.wowhead.com/item=2800
Silver-Thread Robe + Stylish Black Shirt
http://www.wowhead.com/item=4035


Can be very hard to obtain, but with any luck, you will see it on sale at the Acution House.
However, Silver-thread Robe has the same color design as the Black Velvet Robe and is listed a green item. It often drop from Scarlet Crusade, unfortunately it's a random drop as well with very low drop chance.

Belt
Belt of Arugal (SFK – Arugal)
http://www.wowhead.com/item=6392/belt-of-arugal

I have not given so much time to research the best looking belt, I think Arugal’s belt is the best and most easy to obtain. It is silver and cute 


Off-Hand Vial
Now, the most interesting part, the vials you can carry around.
I must though tell you with tears in my eyes that there does not exist any Mainhand Vial item.
Only offhand.

Nightglow Concoction
http://www.wowhead.com/item=3451
This item is recived from a Forsaken quest in Silverpine Forest.
The best and fastest way to get a vial. If you are lucky enough to not have done the quest, then do it now 

Tears of Heaven
http://www.wowhead.com/item=29274
The same design as the Nightglow with a blue content inside the vial.
Quite easy to obtain from a vendor in Shattrah City. However, it costs 25 Badges of Justice

Flask of Forest Mojo
http://www.wowhead.com/item=19115