Alchemy

Alchemy is the science of mixing components of both magical and mundane flora and fauna to create a product that bestows magical effects upon the user or target object.

Unlike normal magic, which is fueled by the soul of the caster, the magical properties of alchemical products come from the magical traits carried by the ingredients, requiring no soul-magic input or output by the alchemist or user.

## Variations

Since alchemy is an extremely broad field of study, it is rarely studied for its own merits, but rather to supplement other fields. Specifically, the two most common “categories” of alchemical study are Medical Alchemy and Enchantment Alchemy.

### Medical Alchemy

Medical Alchemy refers to the combination of various magical and mundane ingredients to create potions, poultices, salves, and other products that affect the human body, whether to help or harm. As the name implies, it is most often used in the medical professions to prevent, cure, or manage the causes and symptoms of physiological distress, illness, or injury.

Ironically, the study of toxins and poisons also falls under this field. Generally, these elements are studied with the intent of better understanding and treating exposures to such harmful substances. However, by definition, a person who intentionally creates such products is also a practitioner of Medical Alchemy, regardless of intention.

In Duilintinn, this field of Alchemy falls under the jurisdiction of the Lifeworker Institute, in heavy collaboration with the Enchantment Alchemists of the Mages’ Guild.

### Enchantment Alchemy

The primary goal of Enchantment Alchemy is to imbue a target with temporary magical effects in order to supplement or replace the use of the inherent magic within one’s soul through a Magical Focus. While not all products of enchantment alchemy mimic the effects of an “enchantment” in the typical sense of the word, they all technically follow the same principles.

#### Examples of “Enchantment”-like Effects

For example, imagine that a mage wanted to use magic to waterproof a piece of fabric and light a fire using their own magical abilities. Since waterproofing the fabric would imbue the target with a property it previously did not possess, that would be considered an enchantment. On the other hand, lighting a fire is an act of magic (colloquially referred to as a “spell”), not an enchantment. Once the fire has been lit, it will continue to burn through natural means without additional magical input.

The difference between these two scenarios is the source of the eventual magical effect. When lighting a fire, the cause and effect is directly tied to the mage themself. Mage creates fire. By contrast, an enchantment is a more indirect process. Mage creates enchantment on an object, enchantment reacts to the object as needed. The magical result does not come directly from the mage, but rather is stored away until its eventual use by the enchanted object. Of course, this is an extremely simplified description, and does not take into account the effects of distance, time, energy, and magical rebound that are inherent to all magic rooted in a being’s soul.

Now, let us examine the same scenario using Enchantment Alchemy. Unlike the previous scenario, neither waterproofing the fabric nor lighting the fire are directly the result of the user’s own magical input. Alchemical ingredients have inherent magical properties. Magical properties are consumed or soaked into a target, react to the target as needed. In this way, lighting a fire through alchemy is more akin to enchantment magic than casting a spell; hence the term Enchantment Alchemy.

## Reputation

While Medical Alchemy is a widely accepted and respected study among the medical world, the field of Enchantment Alchemy has historically received less respect from other Mages.

Until very recently, Enchantment Alchemy has been dismissed as a sub-par substitution for the constant effort involved in honing one’s inherent magical ability, solely used by those who lack the time, effort, or desire to unlock their magic and hone a magical focus. Others critiqued the results of Enchantment Alchemy as being inefficient in comparison to the magical effects produced by the magic within a person’s soul.

Even so, Enchantment Alchemy has always fallen under the jurisdiction of the Mages’ Guild in Duilintinn  due to its obvious similarities to standard forms of Magic. Technically, the topic belongs to the Enchantments Field of Magical Study within the Mages’ Guild, but few Enchanters would appreciate the comparison. As a result, the study of Enchantment Alchemy is often considered an unofficial Field of Magical Study of its own, and many alchemists feel a stronger bond of affiliation with the Medical Alchemists in the Lifeworker Institute than they do with fellow members of the Mages’ Guild. Like other professions that span multiple guilds, the alchemy specialists of both guilds are often in contact with each other; after all, at the end of the day, they’re both practicing the same art of alchemy, just for different ends.

## “Elixir of Life”

Even among those who study alchemy seriously, the idea of an “elixir of life” or “philosopher’s stone” has long been considered a niche field of study that borders heavily on superstition. An alchemical product that could somehow tap into the user’s own soul, the source of their life, energy, personhood, and magic, and transmute that power into other forms? Most believed these things to be little more than a fairy tale.

## Current Events (Argentum Inanis)

Due to its presumed insignificance, alchemy has been an extremely under-researched field of study within The Watch until the realization in October 1615 that Lord Marvin was not only studying Enchantment Alchemy, but specifically searching for an “elixir of life” or a “philosopher’s stone.”

Based on the notes and sigils he left in an ancient tome, it seems that Lord Marvin has dived deeper into the study than even the most knowledgeable alchemists. While a conclusive interpretation of the text has yet to be found, in all of the translations thus far, a single theme emerges; the transference, transmutation, or inheritance of something akin to life or energy. Most agree that the concept of life and energy refers to the soul, but to be researching a form of alchemy that directly taps into that power? Such things are unheard of.

It was later discovered that Lord Marvin was dabbling in some powerful, unknown form of alchemical magic known as “Argentum Inanis.” While we know very little about this mysterious alchemical process, a magical record discovered on Hallows Eve that year provided a few key insights into the phenomenon. Specifically, the magical effect created by “Argentum Inanis” seems to imbue an object (in this case, a black sphere of unknown material) with the ability to scry through time itself, although the extent of this power is unknown. Moreover, the power emanating from this object is directly connected to the unknown magic involved in both of the strange reappearances of Lord Brody and Lord Schneeplestein the year prior.

It is still unclear what this has to do with the notes regarding an “elixir of life” found in Lord Marvin’s alchemy notes. A prominent theory poses that Lord Marvin somehow discovered a way to use alchemical magic to supplement and enhance his own magical abilities or vice versa, creating a magical effect far more powerful than any one person would be able to create on their own in the form of this “Argentum Inanis.” Others wonder if the search for the “elixir of life” was a separate project altogether.

While more questions than answers remain about these events, one result has already become clear; the study of alchemy has suddenly received a surge of attention and validation that it had never seen before. It is extremely likely that popular perception of the field will grow from a begrudging acknowledgement to a far deeper respect and recognition in the near future.

## Alchemical Ingredients

Also covered in Magical Flora and Fauna under Magical Components

Magical Flora and Fauna often have several magical traits inherent to certain parts of their bodies. When harvested, these traits will persist in the components taken from the plant/animal, and can be used to great effect.

There are three meta-guidelines put in place for determining the magical traits of such components:

1. Only net one positive or negative magical effect per ingredient. For example, a plant with a single positive effect and two negative effects would be a net one negative. Same with vice versa as a net one positive. Or you could just have a plant with a singular positive or negative effect.

Components with multiple effects allow for cool potion combinations as you seek to counteract certain effects you don’t want, while also heightening the desired effects of various ingredients. This simple rule preserves that complexity and variety while curbing any potentially world-breakingly OP effects.

2. Just like the laws of soul-based magic, magical flora and fauna can’t have any mind-controlling effects beyond those of mundane plants/mind-altering drugs. This means that, thank God, creepy stuff like love potions and truth serums are not a thing.

3. Unlike soul-based magic, components from magical flora and fauna lack a unique identity signature to their magical effects, and thus can be mixed… to an extent. Potions that have multiple effects can be very volatile and unpredictable; better to focus on highlighting a single effect and canceling out the others, as described in the first rule above.