“What do you get when you combine alcohol, a failed mage, and the most potent mystical resource ever discovered? Why, Soulstone gin, of course!“

"The story goes that a drunkard who had a smattering of magical talent and a flare for the dramatic, we’ll call him Karl, was deep in his cups one afternoon well, every afternoon but on this particular afternoon, Karl had in his possession a pebble of active Soulstone. Tinier than a pebble, really, more like a kernel or a mote. A person could tell it was active by the glow it gave off as he spun it on the bar, drawing more than a few envious stares in his direction. In his state, Karl was oblivious to the attention he had attracted, until a hand slapped down a wad of bills on the bar. The voice that went with the hand claimed it could drink Karl under the table and wagered the scrip against Karl’s Soulstone mote. Without missing a beat, Karl looked up at his challenger and asked if he’d buy the bottle."

"A table was cleared and the two gladiators took their places, a bottle of gin and 2 glasses between them. Then, Karl did what would make his name famous. He suggested they make things more interesting and dropped the mote into the bottle. His opponent balked for a moment, but the wad of scrip and catcalls from the gathered crowd shot some iron down his spine."

“Pour," he growled at Karl.

"Well, the contest went on for some time, and as they drank, odd things started happening. Lightning danced in their hair, their skin began to glow faintly, and both began speaking in a tongue that hurt to listen to, yet they understood one another…"

"Who won? I can’t rightly recall anyone remembers, but what I do know is that before Karl dropped the mote into that bottle, a few folks standing close by him heard him utter some sort of incantation. Now, Karl’s drinkin’ problems had started on account of him wanting the magic so bad but never having enough of it to do more than rustle up a warm breeze from his britches. Someone or something out there had heard him that day and unlocked that mote’s power."

"Fortunately for you, I happen to know the incantation and keep a bottle of Soulstone gin handy for aficionados of the hootch like yourselves. How about a glass?"