Alchemy

## Potions

### Healing Potions

Though varying greatly in potency and rarity, healing potions are a staple of most cultures, useful amidst any class of society as a means to cure minor ailments and injuries, of which there are many. Even the most basic of alchemists can typically brew a simple healing potion, although the more complex variants take more skill and experience to perfect. It is important to note that healing potions do not possess the cure for everything, despite common belief. They are largely ineffective at curing major diseases, poisons, and even wounds that are too grievous. They are also incapable of combating magical ailments.

Healing potions in their most basic form are brewed through a tincture of Verdure and Celandine mixed with some potent alcoholic spirit. Honeysuckle is often added to enhance the effect of the two other herbs. Talented alchemists will also add Mistletoe and dust from a Fey creature to maximise the potency of the potion, but these substances are volatile and can cause adverse effects if brewed incorrectly.

### Antitoxins

Similar to healing potions, antitoxins can also be found in varying degrees of effectiveness. Their aim is fairly self-explanatory, in that they are purely designed to cure afflictions as a result of poisons. This naturally depends on the poison in question, as some are far too subtle or too powerful to prevent, whereas others act too quickly for an antitoxin to make a difference. More potent antitoxins might be able to cure such poisons.

The basic formula for an antitoxin is a recipe of Wolfsbane and Wormwood, combined in water and boiled over a fire at a precise temperature. Much like in healing potions, the addition of Fey dust can improve the quality of the antitoxin drastically, but carries other risks.

## Poisons

A poison is any substance that has an immediate physical effect on a creature in some sufficient dosage when ingested or applied. Poisons are typically used in niche situations, mostly to assassinate, disable, or execute targets. Some poisons are directly intended for pure physical harm, while others have subtler effects.

### Truth Serum

Though they come in many forms, Truth Serums are typically colourless liquids that are used for interrogation purposes. When ingested, the affected creature is compelled to only speak the truth for the following hour. It also cannot withhold or manipulate the truth. The serum is typically created through a combination of common weeds such as Spindleweed, Blowball, and Arenaria, mixed in boiling water.

### Quickflame

Quickflame is a dark orange liquid that reacts with blood to cause it to rapidly heat to a boil. The poison can be applied through injury or through ingestion, although the former is more effective. It is created by leeching Fiendleaf in boiling water for several hours, then mixing with crushed Dragon's Tongue beans.

### Absinthine

Absinthine is a deep purple liquid that causes no actual physical harm, but will cause temporary short-term memory loss and haziness of reality for approximately half an hour. The effect is immediate upon ingestion. It is created by boiling a mixture of Fiendleaf and the Absenta herb in water.

### Lishtick

Lishtick is a thick brownish-green liquid that causes an extreme allergic reaction in the affected target. This causes a rapid spreading rash to spread on the creature's skin for one hour, making it a very useful distraction or incapacitant. It is created by juicing a Rashvine Nettle into a mixture of boiled Fiendleaf.

### Malice

Malice is a blood red liquid that dissipates into a colourless cloud on the application of heat. The resulting gas can cause temporary blindness to any creature that inhales it. It is created by steaming Fiendleaf and Arenaria simultaneously, then mixing with Sulfur powder.

### Pale Tincture

A particularly rare poison, the Pale Tincture is an especially deadly but slow-acting translucent white liquid. When ingested, it dulls the senses, slows the mind, and eventually makes the victim fall into a coma over a few days. Eventually the victim's heart and lungs simply stop functioning. The poison is often fatal unless treated, and is notoriously difficult to detect. An overdose of the poison will act far faster and can kill victims instantly. It is created by distilling Arenaria and Wolfsbane in hard alcohol, and then mixing the result with powdered Fiendleaf and Insect Venom.

### Wraithcoil

Little is known about Wraithcoil, as it is a lethal poison that is used exclusively by the Pale Syndicate for their highest-value contracts. The black liquid can only be applied through direct contact with the bloodstream (typically through injury), and will immediately spread through the target's blood vessels causing the blood to corrupt and turn black. The effect is said to be fast-acting enough that the victim feels no pain. Wraithcoil is particularly fatal due to its tendency to inhibit healing magic upon application. There is no information about how to create this poison, but it is believed to make use of the Pale Syndicate's traditional Blackleaf Rose in some form.