Alchemy

## Summary

Alchemy is a science, an art, and a philosophy - all at once. Although academics would claim 'alchemical processes' to be within the Transmutation school of magic, no alchemist would ever claim such a thing. Alchemists seek to distance their work from the academic sphere, and treat their craft as form of heremtic mysticism. Alchemy is a private endevor, and very few practice it after the horrible events of the Alchemy War and Dreifel.

## The Great Work

Once an alchemist has studied the craft for long enough, they will discover the secrets of The Great Work. The Great Work is what alchemists call their craft when talking to other alchemists. It also a thesis or idea that is held in the mind of all students of The Great Work. The following are the end-goals of the Great Work.

### Philosopher's Stone

A device capable of 1-for-1 transmutation.

### Siber

The opposite of a Rebis, a creature that has only one soul, but whenever it is killed, it produces two living copies of itself with the same soul. Sometimes known as a *Soul Hydra*.

## Alchemical Components

### Seven Classical Metals

* **Lead/*Plumbum*** - a metal associated with base matter and balance. It is a paradox, being the most magic-resistant metal, and yet the closest constituent essence to gold (known for being highly magical). Lead can be used to prevent scrying and other divinations, and it is the main component of anti-magic alloy.
* **Tin/*Stannum*** - a metal associated with sages and scholars. Can be used to preserve food and liquid goods. Tin is a metal of abundance and prosperity, and is often a component of spells involving duplication.
* **Iron/*Ferrum*** – associated with New Sun.
* **Gold/*Aurum*** – associated with the Old Sun. Highly acidic to undead.
* **Copper** - conductive to both electricity and psychic frequencies, since both run on similar wavelengths. Copper can be used to transmute psychic energies into electrical energies, or vice versa.
* **Quicksilver/Mercury** - a metal capable of liquid form at working temperature, and some consider it the art of transmutation personified.
* **Silver/*Argentum*** – highly acidic to feywild denizens. An esoteric metal with many strange properties that are not fully understood. Some believe that silver is associated with Eleusia, but then many question why it harms fey creatures.

### Foci

The core of alchemy, the ingredients that are the transmutational focus of your componentry.

* **Adder's stomach** - Used as a component in *Acid Arrow*.
* **Amber** - fossilised tree resin. Used as a component in *Chain Lightning*.
* **Bat fur** - used as a component in *Darkness*.
* **Bat guano** - used as a component in *Fireball*.
* **Bone dust** - used as a component in *Animate Dead*.
* **Carrot** - used as a component in *Darkvision*.
* **Caterpillar cocoon** - A symbol of transformation. Used as a component in *Polymorph*.
* **Catnip** -
* **Coal** - used as a component in *Darkness*.
* **Cinnamon** -
* **Feather** - used as a component in *Feather fall* and *Fly*.
* **Firefly** - used as a component in *Fire Shield*.
* **Goldling dust** - used as a component in *Invisibility*, *See Invisibility*, and general healing.
* **Gorgon saliva** - used for stone to flesh.
* **Grasshopper's hind leg** - used as a component in *Jump*.
* **Hemlock** - looks like a wild carrot. Primary ingredient of Philosopher's Poison.
* **Ivory** - can be tiefling ivory.
* **Lightningstruck Bark**: Witch Bolt,
* **Licorice root**: Haste.
* Mandrake root - Create Homunculus
* **Mistletoe** - Shillelagh. Goodberry.
* **Molasses** - Slow.
* **Moonseed plant deeds** - Moonbeam.
* **Pearl, white** - Identify, Fortune's Favor.
* **Pearl, black** - Circle of Death.
* **Rhubarb leaf** - In powered form, used for Acid Arrow.
* **Shamrock leaf** - Shillelagh.
* **Sumac leaf** - Flame blade.
* **Sunstone** - Sunburst.
* **Wolfsbane** -
* **Wytchwood** - a twig from a Wytchwood tree. Very common, food for glowworms. Used to create *Dancing Lights* and similar effects that produce coloured lights.
* **Yew leaf** - used as a component in *Detect Poison or Disease*.

### Minerals

* **Chalk** – a rock used to channel arcane sigils, often used to alchemy.
* **Diamond** - a Flavian gemstone, used in resurrection. Diamonds used to be incredibly common, since Flaviarte would gift them from the heavens. Now, she keeps the diamonds to herself for Pyrus.
* **Fool's gold** – a mineral, also known as "pyrite". Usually formed in the Elemental Plane of Fire by mistake. Can form oil of vitriol on contact with water and air.
* **Phlogistonic silver** – an explosive silver, created by dissolving silver in Thermium.
* **Phlogistonic gold** – an gold-based explosive which detonates easily. Created by dissolving gold in Thermium.
* **Mascarite** – unstable earth mineral. In the presence of elemental energies, it turns into an associated vitriol.
* **Powder of Malgaroth** – a black powder, formed by precipitation when a solution of butter of hex and dream of salt is poured into water. Intense emetic properties.
* **Purple of Pendragon** – formed by precipitating a mixture of gold, dragonsoul, and blood.
* **Regulus Universalus** - universal regulator. Neutralises any chemical.
* **Colcothari** – formed by burning green vitriol in air, creates a distinct red smoke. Used in signal flares.

### Oils and spirits

Very reactive. Opposite of salts. Associated with non-earth elements.

* **Oil of vitriol** – a colorless, odorless, and viscous liquid. It is a very strong acid that dehydrates reactive materials with its affinity for water. Can be transmuted via heating green vitriol and blue vitriol. It is miscible with water.
* **Spirit of hartshorn** – ammonia, formed by the decomposition of sal-ammoniac by unslaked lime.
* **Spirit of salt** – the liquid form of hydrochloric acid formed by mixing common salt with oil of vitriol.
* **Marine acid air** – gaseous form of hydrochloric acid.
* **Spirit of nitre** − nitric acid.

### Salts

Stable, unreactive, earthly.

* **Sal alembroth** – salt composed of chlorides of ammonium and mercury.
* **Sal ammoniac** – ammonium chloride.
* **Common salt** – a mineral; formed by evaporating seawater (impure form). Use for preservation, as well as magical rituals. It is the highest exalatation of matter.
* **Salt of hartshorn/Sal volatile** – a leavening agent and smelling salt formed by distilling bones and horns.

### Vitriols

* **Blue vitriol** – bright blue salt crystals made from copper. Severe irritant. Corrosive on ingestion.
* **Green vitriol** – bright green mineral crystals made from iron. Irritant. Toxic in large doses. Sometimes used to make ink.
* **Red vitriol** - toxic red cobalt salt crystal.
* **Sweet vitriol** – diethyl ether. A powerful general anaesthetic. Extremely flammable. Can be made by mixing oil of vitriol with spirit of wine and heating it.
* **White vitriol** – zinc sulfate, formed by lixiviating roasted zinc blende.

### Waters

Liquids only associated with the water element.

* ***Aqua fortis*** – a colourless or pale yellow corrosive poisonous liquid acid. Can dissolve Lesser Metals.
* ***Aqua pura*** - water.
* ***Aqua ragia*** – formed by the distillation of pine tree resin.
* ***Aqua regia*** – a mixture of aqua fortis and spirit of salt. It is a very strong acid that can dissolve the Seven Metals, specifically gold.
* ***Aqua sanctus*** - holy water.
* ***Aqua tofana*** – arsenic water, extremely poisonous. Sometimes known as "Widow's Poison" in Tolovita. Clear, slow-acting, and has no smell nor taste. Despite this, it can be used to cure certain diseases.
* ***Aqua vitae*** – ethanol, formed by distilling wine.

### Others

Misc.

* **Alkahest** – universal solvent.
* **Azoth** – initially this referred to a supposed universal solvent. Of course, what can you store a universal solvent in?
* **Brimstone** – otherwise known as sulphur or sulfur. Brimstone is an element from the Nine Hells, and is associated strongly with fire.