Jar of Arts: What Lies Within?
A Mysterious Vessel of Inspiration
My gloves were snug across my knuckles as I concocted my liquid death, stretching to the limits with each movement. One would think my hands would tremble while holding a jar containing such a volatile substance, but they were steady with experience.
The scent of the noxious fluid stung my nostrils. Even the slightest waft was a reminder of the deadly solution sloshing betwixt my fingers. This batch would provide ample coating for the tips of my arrows, my daggers, and even a few goblets. Many of my targets and foes will fall prey to the contents of this…
ONE. SINGLE. JAR.
Process & Musings
Let’s use this (EXTREMELY) short story as an opportunity to discuss the process, background, and interests behind it. I'll admit, ARClark let her inspiration slip on this one, so I had a tiny bit more than just a word and image as a prompt. However, when she shared, I immediately envisioned a powerful character, and that dagger on the table and the fingerless gloves could only ever symbolize one thing for me and solidified the image in my mind:
An Assassin.
Now, where are my role-playing game (RPG) or Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) peeps? I've only played DnD a couple of times, but RPGs have definitely been in my gaming repertoire. Anything from Elder Scrolls to World of Warcraft have occupied my time, keeping me entertained for hours. Skyrim was one of my all-time favorite games, and there were times I couldn’t put the controller down. It was an obsession that often resulted in one-handed lunch-making during load screens. Most recently, I just started Baldur’s Gate 3 and am thoroughly enjoying the story so far!
Typically, when I build an RPG character, roles that trend more chaotic or evil are magnetic for me. There is something cathartic about letting all your frustrations out, murdering baddies in a game while leaning into the idea that you are an evil being (especially when this is the exact opposite of your real-life persona). Are there certain types of characters that draw you in? I usually choose some form of dark magic ranged class (warlock, sorcerer, etc.). Magic because…MAGIC! And also ranged, mostly because I'm terrible at judging the appropriate strike distance for melee attacks.
I have always appreciated the appeal of an assassin type character though. You get to be a mysterious figure with a particular set of skills, your hood providing a guise for your dark purpose, and the armor sets are almost always raw and intimidating. Whenever I think of an assassin, stealth also comes to mind, so traps and poisons become a nice compliment for sneaking around in the shadows, leading me to the idea behind the contents in the jar.
Well, that’s where my mind wandered with this prompt. I’d love to hear what others interpreted from ARClark’s drawing!
Please feel free to use the image to write your own short story about what you imagine is happening. If you are feeling bold and wish to share a short story of your own in the comments, do it (fingers crossed the character limit is enough)! If not, I hope you will eventually be compelled to share something with us!
Did you see an assassin or something else entirely?
What did you imagine was in the jar?
Were there other details you would have liked me to address in my short story?
Dark Alchemy
In shadows deep, the chemist toils, With trembling hands and midnight oils. A potion brews, a life to save, he seals his fate, a silent grave.
His love lies cold, on death’s dark brink, He stirs the brew, afraid to think. Each drop a whisper, each breath a sigh, He knows to save, he must now die.
The cauldron bubbles, fate entwined, A sacrifice, his heart resigned. For love so pure, he pays the cost, In saving her, his life is lost.
The only thing I know for sure - in the back jar there is a fang from a Phase Spider - because my DnD character happens to have one of those in her belongings. :)
I'm fascinated by which items you chose to focus on. There are number of details that you chose to pick out based on your own associations and experiences. Maybe that's why I like it when a few elements in the image are more ambiguous; just showing a bubbly liquid as opposed to labeling the jar "Poison" . Then it's easier for the viewer to add their own interpretation.