Mutagenic Alchemy

Mutagenic Alchemy is a specialized form of Alchemy used to mutate existing creatures or create new mutated creatures or beings. Witchers for example were created via Mutagenic Alchemy. While most Schools lost their ability to perform Mutagenic Alchemy at one point or another. Sometime in the 14th century the formula was reacquired by select Witcher schools.

## Mutation Experimentation

Using Mutagenic Alchemy mages can improve people, creatures and monsters. This is usually done by adding body parts from one creature and putting it on another creature. The Experimentation has process can be achieved one of two ways: Combining monsters and adding traits.

This was the process used to create the Chimera monster species, as well as the Caerbannog beast species.

## Witcher Mutagenic Alchemy

The first step was the Decoction of the Grasses which broke down quite painfully the human body to be reformed into a Witcher's mutated body. The whole process usually lasts at least a full week, while the initial process of breaking down the body only took a night and a day. Needing to be stabilized with magic or as originally used with herbs and mutagenic mushrooms. Teas were served at the beginning of the Trial to prepare the body.

* Decoction of the Grasses formula
	+ Mother's Tears- A mutagenic elixir made from the poisonous plant Mandrake and an albino Bruxa tongue would brew the substance known as Mother's Tears, it was thought by later generations to have an analgesic property to help the subject deal with the shock of the level of pain that the trials would bring.
	+ Wildrye Juice- A mutagenic elixir made from the alchemical plant Ribleaf and an intact Manticore poison gland would be distilled to brew the substance known as Wildrye Juice, it was thought by later generations to be the substance responsible for the cellular breakdown of the subject for rebuilding.
	+ Speargrass Sap- A mutagenic elixir made from the alchemical plant Bryonia and a dose of Forktail spinal fluid would brew the substance known as Speargrass Sap, it was thought by later generations to be the substance responsible for the rebuilding of cells into the Witcher mutated physiology.

The Decoction was injected directly into the immobilized subjects veins which helped to spread it through the bloodstream and organs. After the subject (hopefully) stabilized from the Decoction they were then introduced to the School's Witcher mutagen, the albumen of gray scolopendromorphs and other specialized substances that differed from school to school constituted this mutagen.

## Witcher School Mutagenic Alchemy Status

* School of the Wolf
	+ Lost in 1230-1240s when the last mage capable of it at the school died or vanished.
	+ Somewhat regained in 1272, but never fully reinstated as the School was abandoned following (acting) Grandmaster Vesemir's death.
* School of the Cat
	+ TBD
* School of the Griffin
	+ It survived because all that knowledge was in the basement of Kaer Seren during the avalanche. Subsequently used for the reconstruction of the school, other allied schools and the creation of some of the Western Continent Witcher Schools as a base.
* School of the Bear
	+ TBD
* School of the Viper
	+ TBD
* School of the Manticore
	+ TBD

* School of the Fox
	+ TBD

## Trivia

* Mutagenic Alchemy was used to create the Chimera.
* Rissburg Castle is a hotbed of 'not always legal and not always moral' things. Mutagenic Alchemy is probably one of them.