Doctor Doak will take a room in the building, but will immediately journey to the apothecary to discuss their wares and how they make them, hopefully gaining some knowledge of the local flora and fauna.
Doctor Doak enters the apothecary to find a middle aged woman in colorful attire tending to an injured young man, at the back of room. She turns her attention to the visitor and walks up to the counter.
She informs Doctor Doak about different potions and powders stocked up in the store and their application. They can treat ailments ranging from stomachaches to fever, and some of the more potent potions can mend even severe injuries. They are made from various plant, animal and mineral materials.
Doctor Doak learns about the plants Shichetta, Mage's Fennel, Wolf Winterberry, and Hovering Poisonflower.
Shichetta is mostly in creating healing potions. It can be identified by it's near perfectly circular leaves.
Mage's Fennel is used to create mana restoration potions. It is a white root dotted with crimson nodules.
Wolf Winterberry is used to create potions that can counter foreign influence on the user's mind. The deep-violet berries used to create it are usually found in coniferous forests.
Hovering Poisonflower is used to create potions with various debilitating effects, including paralysis and poisoning. So called because its yellow-and-black striped flowers dangle from parasitic vines attached to tree branches, dangling over unwary woodland creatures.
Take particular interest in concoctions that disable creatures in some capacity (making them unconscious, experience a great deal of pain, make them less hostile, that sort of nonsense).
The apothecarist explains to Doctor Doak that the Hovering Poisonflower might be the best bet to use against animals, but its effects are mild. She has heard rumours of a peculiar flesh-eating plant, resembling a large water vessel, that releases secretions which seem to sedate or hypnotize even aggressive beasts. If she were to get samples of such a plant she could create new, and more potent, potions for use against the hostile creatures.
Look to gather ingredients for some potions to make myself, using knowledge gained from my interaction with the apothecary.
The apothecarist is willing to sell an alchemy starter kit, containing a mortar and pestle, 1 of each plant mentioned previously, a few empty bottles (to store any created potions in) and jars (to store any plant/animal material gathered) for the low price of 2 gold. However to collect their own material any adventurer will need to head out of the village and deeper into the forest.