Gaily Forward Alchemy
Gaily Forward Alchemy is a small corporation located within the Kingdom of Northern Lights, which produces enchanted products.
Contents
Motto
"Gaily Forward Alchemy produces the finest enchanted items in all of Cascadia.
From the highest reaches of the Kingdom of Northern Lights, to the southernmost valleys of the Kingdom of Blackspire: our products are renown for their superb quality and unparalleled effectiveness. Using only the finest hand-picked ingredients, and crafted by the wisest wizards: our trinkets and talismans are without equal.
Whether you need elixirs, salves, potions or wands: go with Gaily Forward! You can bet your life on it!"
Controversies
Quality Control
In 2009, Gaily Forward was embroiled in controversy regarding alleged undisclosed use of goblin forced-laborers as a cost-cutting measure. Decreased quality (attributed to the goblins) had allegedly resulted in the agonizing deaths of several customers. Gaily Forward denied the allegations, claiming: "all potions were brewed by the wisest of human wizards". The whistleblower, whose name is lost to time, vanished under suspicious circumstances[citation needed].
Theft of Intellectual Property
In 2014, the corporation was again embroiled in legal trouble, having been accused of theft of trade-secrets by Boreal Emporium, whose owner Lord Covington Von Humphrey challenged Gaily Forward's then-CEO Neoth to a duel to settle the matter. On the night before the duel, Lord Covington disappeared without a trace. Many suspected that he had been assassinated by the Black Company, but nothing could ever be proven.
Bankruptcy
In 2017, the company filed for bankruptcy. A royal audit revealed widespread evidence of embezzlement. The culprit was never identified, though many suspect it was the former owner. The company was subsequently sold at auction, and was purchased for an undisclosed sum by its now-current CEO. Recently, the royal auditor who handles this investigation was found guilty of unrelated corruption and bribe-taking charges, and executed; leading many to question the integrity of the royal inquiry into Gaily Forward's shady dealings.
New Leadership
The new CEO has worked to distance the company from its checkered past, by: ending the use of indentured laborers; discontinuing production of all poisons and dangerous weapons; and refocusing the company on the production of so-called "helpful, wholesome, & healing" products.
Notable Products
High Potency Salves
Gaily Forward produce a line of "high potency" salves, meant to replicate the effects of common potions such as a Potion of Healing, Barkskin, Refreshment, etc. Gaily Forward's topically-applied salves are twice at potent as an internally-consumed potion, yielding double the normal uses for a similarly-sized container. While some have alleged that the knowledge of how to do this was stolen from another firm, nothing has ever been proven.
Voltron Talismans
Gaily Forward Alchemy is under contract with the kingdoms of NL, VO and BS to produce an exclusive line of wands, amulets, and bracelets solely for use as prizes at the Annual Voltron Tournament (an inter-kingdom Magic The Gathering tournament in the Pacific Northwest).
While most magic-items loose their potency when crossing kingdom borders: these talismans do not. While the company denies the use of black magic in their production, nevertheless some users report unpleasant side-effects from prolonged use.
