[✓] (Finished!) Alchemy Lore

[Ithric 70]

Finished

I'd like to start with saying that I, by no means, wish to impose my ideas on others and these are merely suggestions put it into a fancy, RP-styled format. It's a book written by a traveling alchemist, yes, but that doesn't mean I've made that in-game with bookworm or I'm trying to cram the ideas down anyone's throat. I just wanted to present it in a more creative way than just posting it bluntly. At any rate. I should probably get into what I'm actually suggesting, rather than stating how I'm suggesting it. ;)

Now what I'm proposing here is lore for the alchemical side of life. The side that doesn't seem to be all that used, or completely fleshed out in Lord of the Craft. I say this because on the wiki there's not much on it in all honesty, and there are no extravagant or fantasy-oriented plants and herbs listed on there either, making alchemy a little harder due to how most people associate it with the mixing of herbs and the such. Furthermore, there isn't exactly a neat-o listing of ingredients that could be used in alchemy either. So, put simply, what I am proposing here is that Me, Alikdoril, and Geo take this into our own hands. Whether others wish to add is up to them, but I strongly believe that we can really set up some good alchemy lore. And hey, if you really hate it, just leave some constructive criticism, and remember; this is only an idea and not set it stone.

Alright, to finish off my rambling I'd like to say that I'll be posting the chapters one by one to gauge people's reactions and adjust it accordingly. So without further hold-ups, allow me to present to you our idea for the Alchemy Lore. The Tales of a Traveling Alchemist (Oh and yes, this'll most likely be a wall-o-text, but I'll try to make it easy to read)

Current Authors: Inquisitor Ithric, Geo(The Perfectionist), and Alikdoril

The Tales of a Traveling Alchemist

Table of Contents:

Foreword(finished)

Chapter 1: The Fundamentals of Alchemy(finished)

Chapter 2: Asulonian Botany(finished)

Chapter 3: Example Recipes(finished)

Chapter 4: Homunculus and Chimeras(finished)

Chapter 5: Local Myths and Legends(finished)

Foreword:

I have heard many a man ask why one, such as myself, would take such interest and dedication in the art of alchemy when there are ready-made spells that could do just the same, if not better, a job than an apothecary’s potion. My response to this statement is rather simple, whereas one must have a certain gift for spell-slinging, rune-craft, and spirit-speaking, one mustn’t need these frivolous commodities to use a balm to mend a wound, shroud themselves in a nigh-invisible cloak with the swig from a bitter bottle, or set someone ablaze with bottled flame. Alchemy is not merely reproducing a wizard’s spell, but it is shaping the spell in a way for the common man’s use. While magic still has its place in our world, Alchemy allows those without the gift to reap the same benefits as any mage might.

Chapter 1: The Fundamentals of Alchemy

The Principle and Law of Equivalent Exchange:

As I was providing my services to a rather quaint hamlet, which also provided me information of the local flora and more of the same legends I always here of, I was approached by a man of common repute, and he produced a sarcastic, yet thought provoking, question. This question was, and I will attempt to reproduce the dialect as best as my phonetic ability will allow, “ ‘ow come, Mister, ‘hat ye’ can make all ‘dis ‘onderful stuff outta nothin’?” Now as shameful as his speech may be, the question remains the same. How is it, that alchemists are capable or reshaping the spells of sorcerers for the common folk out of, seemingly, nothing?

The answer to this question is simple to state, but fairly difficult to grasp, and this is the Principle of Equivalent Exchange. Much like the money one gives to the merchant for the apple or slab of meat, one cannot have something for nothing. As the saying goes, “there is no such thing as a free brunch,” there is no such thing as a free potion. This fundamental rule applies to old alchemy, through the use of symbols and rituals, far more than what I call “Modern” alchemy. Although I will not get into ancient alchemy, I will state why this rule applies to Modern Alchemy. To craft a potion, for example a bottle of alchemist’s fire, one requires the materials. Much like a spell casted by a wizard, one cannot make something out of nothing. Know that to make a potion, and the possibilities are truly endless, one must take plants, objects, and other representations of what they wish to make. For example, alchemist’s fire could be best produced with an oil base, a mixture of Drake’s Tail, blaze powder, and a dash of coal dust. Why would one need these items?

The oil base provides the basic mixture of what we will make, and of course the better quality of the oil the better quality of the Alchemist’s Fire, but of course we will get further into this in a later chapter. The Drake’s Tail, a crimson, thorned plant that grows most often in deserts, is often warm to the touch and often associated with rage and flame. This provides an superb symbol for the element of fire. The Blaze Powder, another powerful symbol of fire, mixes well with the crushed Drake’s Tail to produce something truly strong. The coal dust, an optional portion, is another symbol of flame, albeit both weaker than blaze powder or Drake’s Tail for both a Blaze and Drake’s fire burns far greater than coal.

Now then, although you have these symbols of flame, rage, and warfare, one mustn’t simply toss objects into the metaphorical cauldron. Precision is necessary, as always. One must measure their mixture carefully, or they will give too much. And giving too much will tip the scales of Equivalent Exchange, causing unpredictable results. Why is this you might ask? When balance is achieved through Equivalent Exchanged, a mixture of the elements for the bottled spell of your desire, than all is well. But when you disrupt this balance and push on the world, taking and forcing in too much of one or more element then the world will push back. Of course a word of caution is required, for one may think taking less is the best option when balance is not a certainty. This is a common misconception for not providing enough of one element will result in the same conclusion, imbalance and chaos. This can be easily associated with cooking, too much of one ingredient will spoil the recipe, not enough of an ingredient will produce similar results. Of course it could also produce blander results, and in that case a potion may not be spoiled but it will simply be weak. This is preferable to exploding, of course.

Preparation and You:

Novice Alchemists often question me, what advice would you provide the budding alchemist, what sip of wisdom could you provide one who desires to tap your fountain of knowledge? The answer to this is rather simple, preparation is key to any potion. What is meant by this is that to mix a potion that you have not mixed before, or do not mix often, you must have all the facts and supplies before you begin. This is best provided in a short list of required procedures if one wishes to keep their eyebrows, fingers, and life.

1. Have all the Facts

2. Know the Recipe

3. Clean and check all your instruments are in working order

4. Ensure you have plenty of whatever ingredients you are using

5. Keep and Calm Dispostion

I believe the only topic that requires explanation is “Have all the Facts” and by this I mean that one should not mix a potion they know nothing about. Even having the recipe is not enough to craft a potion safely, but knowledge of its origins, ingredients, and uses are crucial. Although budding alchemists often overlook this step, it may save your life one day.

The Elements: Fire, Earth, Water, Air

Skeptics often approach me with a wholly ignorant conundrum, and that is “how can you trace every spell and element back to these four basic elements.” But what they do not realize is that an understanding of what is meant by these four elements is required before that question can be answered and in fact, if that understanding is acquired then this question will never be asked.

These four basic, rudimentary elements, Fire, Earth, Water, and Air, are what every potion, oil, elixir, and concept, in Alchemy of course, is based upon. An ignorant outlook on this statement is that what is meant is the physical, literal meaning behind these elements but one must look into the symbolism, they must look deeper than the surface. I shall go into each of these elements in detail, so that you, and budding alchemist or simply a well-read individual, may understand how Air may both aid someone’s speed, as well as their perception of their surroundings.

Fire:

We will begin with one of the most rudimentary and used element, Fire. Fire can represent many a feeling, action, and state and because of this, it is often one of the most useful elements of the Alchemist’s arsenal. Fire can represent rage, anger, hatred, as well as bravery, courage, and gusto. Through this a brew can be crafted to make someone unquestionably and savagely furious, but it could also craft a brew to strengthen one’s will, and allow them to do what other men would shrink away in fear at. These feelings, these emotions can be invoked by the element of Fire within a potion, but feelings are not the only thing that fire can produce, actions are another.

Actions are often the most recognized aspect of fire, and by this I mean the action of burning, consuming, and destroying. Alchemist’s Fire, a handy inferno in a bottle, is an example of this aspect of Fire, for within it is the action of destruction. This action can be further expanded upon with burning oil placed upon a weapon, but if one were to use this example they would also have to include the element of pain, another feeling that fire an invoke. State is aspect that Fire can take one within an alchemist’s potion and this is often represented as Chaos.

It is true that Chaos is often something alchemist’s fear, for it is something athat often ruins a potion, but it is yet another aspect of Fire that must be recognized. Chaos, being the state that it is, may seem like it has little place in a potion but brilliant minds and powerful reason can bring it to use just the same as the first farmer realized a stone and a stick, two completely different objects, could help them till their fields by putting them together. As this is not a book on the philosophy of alchemy, or solely on the element of fire, I will not go into depth on how Chaos can be used. The teacher must leave something for the student to ponder.

Earth:

With the conclusion of Fire, the other elements will not have as long as description for most of the fundamentals of the elements are covered in how they can represent different things, I will simply go over what they may represent, starting with Earth.

Earth is a truly powerful element for it may represent metals, strength, the notion of being stalwart, solidity, firmness, flora, animals, and countless other, quite obvious, subjects. Earth is often used for potions that increase one’s endurance, or strength, and it is a must in potions that toughen one’s skin. In fact, a strong series of representations of Earth are required to perfect a barksin, or stoneskin potion. Protecting oneself is not the only use for the element of Earth, for it is also used in antidote potions, disease-curing potions, and, of course, fertilizers. Antidotes use this element for it can represent animals, and among those elements are snakes and spiders, often associated with poison. Of course a symbol of Water is also required for a proper antidote, but this will be addressed later on. Many of the uses of the element of Earth are quite obvious, but a always, if one wishes to master the field of Alchemy they must learn creativity is their greatest friend, and using elements in odd and interesting ways can be useful, and quite detrimental, in numerous ways. A final note on the element of Earth is how it is associated with the fable of Transmutation. Now, as a scholarly and skeptic individual, I have doubts upon transmutation, its existence, and possibility. This will be described more in depth, but know that the element of Earth is the greatly represented by metals, for metals are merely ores in their purest forms.

Water:

Water is the element that seems to get the most amount of use due to how it is a base for many a potion and it is true, for if someone wants a liquid spell they want to use the Element of Water. Often known as the “base” element, it truly lives up to its name for observations, and personal experience, lead all to believe it is necessary for life. This base element, is often associated with flowing, liquids, balance, peace, calm, order, life, and rebirth. One requires water for any potion that one plans on drinking, and any oil that one plans on applying for to have a liquid, one must use the Element of Water. Now that and understanding on how Water is a base, we must go into how it is used beyond simply supporting the other elements.

Water’s uses are varied, for it can be used both in antidote as well as poisons, showing that it is quite the versatile element. One may also use it to create a potion of calmness, or perhaps a potion of healing due to its association with life. But one can also use this beautiful element in the creation of an oil to coat a weapon, or to coat and strengthen armor. This is not the same as enchanting armor or weaponry, mind you, for doing that is often permanent and requires magic. Through oils, one may reap similar benefits of enchantment but instead it is only temporary and anyone with basic sense can apply them. The purest base, and often representation of water, is Aqua Vitae or “Water of Life,” which is best made by distilling wine or other liquors.

Air:

Our final element, the element of Air, is not the least by any stretch of imagination but is often the hardest one to put into representation and use in a potion. Now this element is often associated with agility, quickness, travel, feet, perception, and even flight, it can be quite difficult to embody the element of Air into a physical item due to our basic fault of lacking understanding of what we cannot see. But with reason and the opening of one’s eyes, the ways in which to represent Air are quite obvious in our everyday world.

Items that can be used to represent air, and subsequently put through your tools to produce a potion, are rather easy to find during your average day but of course, as with all the elements, purer ingredients are often quite rarer. One representation that you may have already thought of is a mere feather, which is often the most common representation of Air. This, of course, is not the purest representation of the element but it will often due for your more basic potions centered around this element. Another, more outlandish representation, are rabbits’ feet. Rabbits are often seen as quick and agile critters, and as Air takes on the aspect of agility and quickness, it becomes quite obvious how the feet of a rabbit and Air intermingle. With that said, it becomes rather easy to find out representations of Air through simply looking and observing the world around you. But do not fret if you are still hard-pressed to find these symbols, the next chapter will explain herbs that will best aid you in the process of finding symbols for all the elements.

Now that the four elements have been explained more in depth, hopefully you understand why exactly one can produce endless possibilities with only four elements. These elements are simply names and symbols for much greater bits and pieces of the natural world.

Chapter 2: Botany of Asulon

Although the list of symbols for our dear Four Elements is quite endless, it is far easier to use flora to act as representatives for the potions you wish to make. Bits and pieces of great creatures can also be used, but flora is often your safest and most efficient bet when concerning the basic to advanced potion-crafting. When picking out the herb for your particular concoction, keep in mind the herb’s qualities and aspects. Where is it found? What does it feel like? What does it look like? What is required for it to grow properly? How would you harvest it? Is it poisonous? These, and other questions, are what an alchemist should be asking himself when picking the proper flora for his mixture. I will give a short guide on the plants found in Asulon, and what their qualities are, along with what the locals of that area use these herbs for.

((*Authors Note: Strong DOES NOT mean it is a powerful ingredient. These are extracted from rare and powerful creatures, and sometimes, herbs but none of the herbs listed here are of the powerful category. This is because powerful ingredients will make the strongest potions, and I’d like to actually add to the loot table of big baddies in events. Such as perhaps a drake is attacking a city, if they manage to slay it then the local alchemist could use its heart as a POWERFUL symbol of fire and therefore make extremely strong fire-centric potions.*))

The Flora of the Forests:

Alabaster Leaf: Moderate Earth Symbol

Certainly one of the stranger and more prominent plants in Asulon, the Alabaster Leaf is often found most often is drier regions of forests, often around fallen trees. From observation and testing, I have reasoned that this plant is quite poisonous, often fairly small, and difficult to harvest for the untrained hand. Its alabaster hue is often extracted by crushing the leaves and used as a dye and paint for the locals. Its extract can also be used as a mild poison, causing nausea and dizziness in those afflicted. The best way to extract the leaves of this plant is to take the entire plant by the roots and cut the leaves off as needed to avoid losing the valuable extract within it. This can be used for antidotes, oils, and in particular, a rather potent potion that causes a great deal of fatigue.

Serpent’s Stalk: Moderate Water Symbol

Another easily identifiable forest plant that grows near small bodies of water, such as ponds, and often within the water of the pond itself. Serpent’s Stalk can be identified by long, deeply emerald hued stalks, hence the name, with strips and ridges of a lighter green and brown along its length. This reed-like plant is easy enough to collect, just cut it as low as possible, and simple to use. Although the name may suggest a poisonous nature, this is not true for the most part. From my observations, and that of a few locals I have spoken to, the Serpent’s Stalk seems to only be poisonous to specific insects that come into contact with it. I am unsure why but it seems to be safe enough for human, and animal consumption. Through careful testing I’ve concluded that this could act as a powerful ingredient to potions based around the Water element and therefore could be used in antidotes, potions of calmness, oils, balms, and healing potions. In fact, a local remedy involves the crushing of the upper stalk of this plant, mixing it with water, and pouring it on burns to help soothe the pain. If this is the case, then it will certainly be useful for potions for the purpose of putting out fires, or numbing pain.

The Crimson Vase: Strong Fire Symbol

The Crimson Vase is a flower I was told about by a few villagers from a hamlet deep within the forests of the South. They spoke of a deep red, crimson even, with large, sweeping petals shaped like an elegant vase. As I set out to find this flower, I found it quite difficult but upon finding it I took notice of how it grew under a tree, almost clinging to it, but it also seemed to be perfectly placed within a beam of light that peered through the leaves. An interesting combination indeed, for I believe that this flower grows under smaller, younger trees since it appears to prefer to be close to the base of a tree, and in mildly direct sunlight. This combination fascinates me for it is quite hard to achieve this with the larger, more leafy trees. More research is required on where this plant is found, but picking the petals one by one seems to work quite well in extracting the real power from this flower. One must be careful not to tear or damage the petal, for I have learned first hand this will be detrimental to the potion. With that said, the Crimson Vase also seems warm to the touch, almost lovingly so. Keeping this mind, it would be almost vital in a powerful love potion, and a strong ingredient in potion involving the element of Fire, such as Alchemist’s Fire or a rage-inducing potion. This could also be an interesting addition to an envy potion, but more experimentation will be needed to confirm that. It is certain that the Crimson Vase is certainly a powerful addition for any emotion affecting potion in the domain of fire.

((Added by Alikdoril)) FlameTongue Root: Moderate Symbol of Fire

This plant with bright, rust colored roots can mostly be found in heavily forested areas. The physical properties of this plant make it fairly hot to the touch. It also causes the coagulation of blood when applied to an open wound. The plant itself prefers to grow on hilltops or in fields where it is likely to get lots of sunlight and water. It also tends to sprout up in areas where there has been a recent forest fires. The plant is most commonly known for its almost rose like appearance. With sharp brambles that leave behind hot spores that cause excessive pain. It is best to harvest while wearing a glove. As touching the plant with one’s bare hands can result in the powdery spores getting on them. Causing heightened sensitivity and pain.

Tippen’s Root: Moderate Earth Symbol

Tippen’s Root, named after the botanist that discovered the small, yet bitter, herb is quite common in denser forests and around hills. Within dense forests, it can be found dug in deep around fallen trees and on hillsides. It can be identified by the fascinating purple flowers that tend to grow around it, along with its distinct appearance with numerous dark, yellow spots covering the wrinkled, ruddy herb. The uses of this herb are actually quite fascinating, for an old remedy uses it in a rather foul-smelling balm that stops bleeding nigh-instantly of some of the deepest cuts. I even observed a local lumberjack stop the bleeding of a rather deep wolf-bite with the use of this balm, although death from blood loss appears far more favorable than inhaling the stench of this remedy. With that said it can be used for this balm of course, but in the hands of an alchemist, it can be used in representation of earth and it’s nigh-necessary in a strong healing potion. Strength and endurance also appear to be traits of this plant and therefore they would imbue a potion with these traits as well, for it grows like a weed and is terribly hard to get rid of.

Crouching Feather: Strong Air Symbol

One of the more peculiar subjects I’ve found within the forests of Asulon, is the rare and quite potent “Crouching Feather.” This flowering plant is often found, relatively speaking as it is quite rare, under the larger bushes and shrubs of the botanical world. The flower can be recognized for its three white petals that sweep in a downwards curve to the point in which they touch the ground, appearing as “feathers” to some. As for the reason they call it “crouching” is quite obvious when one takes the time to think about how it is found under larger fauna. Harvesting this plant can often be tricky, for it only blooms at night and one strong wind will often knock the petals, the most potent part of the flower, right off of the stem. Although finding a flower that is intact can often be somewhat difficult, if one does manage to capture one then it can serve as a fairly strong symbol of Air. Taking the fairly unblemished and clear extract from the petals can be a difficult task, due to their frailty but not a wholly impossible one if you are careful. I have found that Crouching Feather extract is best used in potions of Celerity, and, in fact, it makes these potions quite potent.

Foliage of the Swamp:

The Dwarf’s Pumpkin: Fire Symbol

The odious orange-leafed shrub, aptly named “The Dwarf’s Pumpkin”, is one of the most prominent feature of Swamp botany in the fact that it represents it perfectly. It’s quite simple to pick, the smell is atrocious, and the mud and water around the bloody thing may trap your favorite boots in that swamp forever. It is true that I, as an Alchemist and as a person, detest the flora of swamps and picking them but of course it must be said that the herbs here are quite potent, and I would not allow my student to miss both the adventure and potency involved in the plant-life of swamps. The Dwarf’s Pumpkin is named for its use in some dwarven brew, as surely no-one else would have the idea of putting a disgusting swamp shrub into a drink, and for its smaller size, along with its orange color. Although the Dwarf’s Pumpkin is small and stature, and strong in smell, it is also strong as a symbol of fire. It is true that if one were to take one of the leaves from the ginger shrub, that they would certainly find the taste to be over-powering, potent, and bitter, as if a fire were burning within their mouth. Is it truly a good ingredient for Alchemist’s Fire, and anything else relating to the more powerful and destructive side of Fire. With that said, as with most herbs from the swamp, and may cause a rather “swampy” smell to permeate from your work. The Dwarf’s Pumpkin is most often found growing out in the open of swamps, and although it doesn’t have any particular breeding ground it should be said that swamps aren’t necessary overflowing with this herb, it is still quite rare to find but at the same time quite easy to spot from a distance. To harvest this, merely cut the leaves with the brightest of orange hues, for these are the most potent of the lot.

((Added by Alikdoril)) Mandragora: Moderate Symbol of Water

This little plant is roughly shaped like a parsnip and tends to grow in wetlands. The plant is known for producing highly narcotic and hallucinatory spores. The spores are also highly toxic and death due to harvesting the plant while it is still in the spore production phase of its life can be fatal. When the plant reaches full maturity it releases the spores into the air around it. Two weeks after the spores are released is the plant safe for harvesting. The plant is fairly nutritious and provides a high amount of antioxidants, The leaves or “Head” of the Mandragora goes particularly well as a garnish for soups or tea’s. The “Meat” of the plant can be ground up and used for the creation of potions that revitalize the body and mind, as well as support Regeneration of damaged tissue.

Swamp Blossom: Moderate Air Symbol

This purplish-green flower of such a foul-smelling, boot-stealing, and dank place, the Swamp Blossom is the only “pretty” flora you will find in the swamp. The Swamp Blossom, as said before, is easily identifiable by its long, purplish-green petals, short but thick stem, and its affinity for the branches of swamp trees. Questioning the locals, or the insane as I call them for living in a swamp, has lead me to a particularly interesting finding in the fact that these flowers are actually quite the symbol for Air, believe it or not. They secrete a rather strange nectar that has the properties of quicksilver! It is a clear fluid that dances about the hand and responds to touch like no other fluid I have handled beyond quicksilver, leading me to believe the local Alchemist of that area for what better a symbol for air, than something that shifts quickly to the point you cannot close your hand, for it will slide right between your fingers. My belief in this being a symbol for the Air is further reinforced with the fact it grows high up in swamp trees, a strange aspect indeed. Swamp Blossom Nectar could be used in almost any manner of Air-centric potion as long as the goals involve speed.

Saffvil: Moderate Earth Symbol

The stalwart weed of the Swamp, Saffvil is a sickly green grass that can be found hugging the bottoms of swamp trees, the carcasses of fallen trees, and even the sites of dead animals. This herb, is a rather special symbol of the Earth in the fact that it does not necessarily represent life or rebirth, or anything along those lines. Its strongest representation of Earth, is resilience and death, for it can often be seen next to dead things, or acting as a sort of parasite of the much larger fauna of the swamp. The resilience is found by the fact that Saffvil is an awful thing to get rid of, as it spreads quite quickly and quite easily. Eliminating its “host” for sustenance, such as the tree it surrounds, is often the easiest way to ensure it does it not spread. An alchemist once told me this herb was essential in some of the more deadly poisons, and I do believe there were whispers of an aging potion but that is the kind of humbug that I refuse to listen to.

Shrubbery of the Snow:

Elf’s Hair Vine: Strong Air Symbol

The elegant and legendary “Elf’s Hair Vine” is a rare sight indeed within the frozen wastes of Asulon. Its delicate, icy white visage is complimented with the small blossoms that grow along these thin vines, building the picture of an elf’s long hair, with a flower accentuating its beauty. This is truly one of the more stunning pieces of botany within Asulon, and this fragile vine is certainly something to see even if you are not a learned Alchemist, simply for its beauty. The Elf’s Hair Vine is by far one of the more easily destroyed flora of Asulon in the fact that it grows off high cliffs within the frozen tundra, dancing about in the wind. One would think that it would break away easily due to how thin and brittle it seems, but in fact it is quite hardy. It is the blossoms along the vines that are the less than hardy part of this vine. With a strong wind, these blossoms are sent away on a fascinating journey amongst Asulon’s snowy plains, never knowing where they may land. It is the blossoms, not the vine, that possess the nectar and petals for a rather strong symbol of the air. Speed and grace are these blossoms greatest features, and should definitely boost the power of any potion centered on, or around, those two attributes.

((Added by Alikdoril)) Frost Vine: Moderate Water Symbol

This small blue plant grows in cold wintery climates. It likes dark shady areas and is known for growing around trees forming a long blue spiral trail all around them. Frost vine when crushed and mixed with water produce a sticky clear substance. When rubbed into the skin it numbs pain and loosens stiff muscles. The plant itself is rather cold to the touch and prolonged contact causes numbing of limbs, though thorough washing of hands will eventually return the affected area to normal.

Athin: Strong Water Symbol

Athin is a curious little algae that grows beneath not completely frozen lakes, most commonly found within the snowier parts of Asulon. It’s light blue visage is somewhat easy to make out in the correct circumstances, but at the same time it could be quite hard to see due to the fact it prefers growing in lakes clouded by ice and snow. Finding this plant is an absolute certainty if one were to crack a hole in a decent sized layer of ice that leads to a source of fresh water, by with that absolute certainty comes absolute death if one is not accompanied by a friend. It is true that it takes two to harvest Athin due to the fact if you are to crack a hole in the ice, chances are it will be covered once more by the time you find a good, fertile specimen of Athin within the depths of the lake and therefore you will need a college to smash another hole into the frigid depths below for you to make your escape. The proper gear will also be needed so one does not suffer from sickness from the cold, especially frostbite. Overall Athin is somewhat easy to find, but difficult to gather. Although, with great risk often comes great reward and Athin is no exception, for it can be a fairly strong symbol for Water and not just life or balance, but ice. Athin is one of the few herbs you will find that will make an excellent symbol of the colder half of Water for any potion that is centered around frigid temperatures. I also hear it makes a wonderful lotion, but I digress.

Elrow Berries: Moderate Fire Symbol

The thirst-inducing Berries of Elrow, a firebrand amongst the Alchemical field that had a berry named after him in mock celebration, are a peculiarity amongst the frigid wastes due to how it represents a mild symbol of fire. Elrow Berries, or Hellfire Fruit as the locals enjoy calling it, are probably one of the only symbols of Fire you will find within the cold and one may even find the fact that there is a symbol of Fire within cold to be quite strange. They represent Fire due to the fact that when one eats an Elrow Berry, their mouth will begin to burn as if they ate a terrible spicy piece of food. Soon their throat will feel the same way and begin to have an awful soreness come upon it. Shortly after the throat is affected, sweating occurs as the body heats up and aches spread quickly amongst the muscles. This lasts for ten minutes to twenty minutes, and falling unconscious is not uncommon. The Elrow Berry is often used in poisons, as a symbol of Power, a symbol of Rage, and generally a symbol of the more destructive and harmful sides of Fire. This has also been known to be used in a rather potent ale, and therefore you should be wary of taking strange drinks from a strange man within the kingdom of Hanseti.

The Not So Verdure Vegetation of the Desert:

Zawabate: Moderate Symbol of Water

The Oasis Blossom of the Desert, Zawabate is as rare a sight to see as a lush and fertile Oasis is in the deserts of Asulon. Zawabate is of the most prominent hues of green and yellow, its petals short and curvy, and its stalk tall and proud. Zawabate’s favored growing location is near the fertile waters of the Oasis it rests within, protected from the harsh realities of the desert in something of a dreamland of verdant life. As such, this plant is known by the local shaman and witchdoctor to possess mirage-inducing properties that are often used in a special tea said to grant “out of body experiences.” Now I do not know these tribal magics, nor do I care to learn them, but what I do know is that the hallucinogenic properties of this flower compliment potions that wish to induce that desired affect quite perfectly. These flowers are a decent symbol of Water, and they are certainly an amazing addition to potions designed to numb pain or heal because of their home in such a lush landscape among a wasteland of aridity. Zawabate should be used in moderation, though, for too much of this blossom’s nectar can cause a potion meant for healing to cause severe and brutal delusions and mental illness and therefore it can double as a fatal ingredient to a mind-altering, or destroying, poison.

Drake’s Tail: Strong Symbol of Fire

The elegant, yet unforgiving legend of the Desert, Drake’s Tail is the veritable pinnacle of the herb-based symbol for the element of Fire. Even though there are more powerful, non-herb symbols in the world for Fire, one must realize that Drake’s Tail, the blackened briar of the Desert, is the finest one that you can gather without having to kill something. Drake’s Tail is the rarest herb within this selection that I have chosen, in the fact that although it is resilient, strong, and quite sharp it only grows in very particular conditions of moisture, dryness, and humidity. Most often you will find it in the shade, not so far away from an Oasis due to how the heat it still there, but the soft moisture of the Oasis can still be caught within the air. Of course there is not a one-hundred percent guarantee that it will be there, and this is only to help facilitate one’s search for it. Spotting Drake’s Tail is mildly easy, due to its dusky color, its thin but long sharp thorns that jut from its dry surface, and its affinity to wrap around a rock. If one wishes to harvest drake’s tail, you’d best try to take the entire briar itself, for both the root and the thorns must be used for its full power. One must be careful though, for the thorns are laden with a fever-inducing poison that keeps all manners of animals away. Drake’s Tail is best used in Fire-centric potions, obviously, and it can take on the representation of any quality of fire, a rare aspect for any ingredient in the alchemist’s domain.

Goblin’s Ivy: Weak-Moderate Earth Symbol

The brownish-green vine of the deserts, Goblin’s Ivy lives up to its name as it grows with short vines and leaves, and takes on a terrible disgusting color. This muddy piece of fauna is actually quite common amongst the Deserts of Asulon in the fact that it seems to enjoy clinging to buildings, ruins, mountains, or anything else that will accept its murky visage. Goblin’s Ivy isn’t necessarily the finest of ingredients within Asulon, but if one only has access to desert ingredients, it can be a suitable symbol for the element of Earth. Within the domain of Earth it often represents resilience, life, and poison. It’s an interesting truth that Goblin’s Ivy can make a scentless, cunning, but mild, poison that induces nausea but what’s more interesting is how it can boost resilience potions, such as a potion of Stoneskin, due to its strange nature of surviving under less than favorable circumstances. Goblin’s Ivy is an ivy within a desert, sitting in the unforgiving, scorching sun all day long, and yet it survives with little moisture. Even when somebody hacks it away, Goblin’s Ivy seems to always come back as if it were some sort of weed, or a stray dog you foolishly decided to feed. Even if it isn’t exactly the jewel of the desert, it is certainly a mystery of nature that this petite plant is just as hardy as any diamond.

((Added by Alikdoril)) Blood Lotus: Moderate Fire Symbol

This small rust colored plant grows in hot climates usually near the entrance to naturally formed caverns. It forms a red rusty trail to along the entrance way. Climbing like a along and falling before it like a red curtain. Cave bloom, is most useful as a dietary supplement. For it provides several key vitamins and nutrients not commonly consumed by a peasant’s daily ration of food. It works best when mixed with a broth as it tends to have a strong irony taste to it. Almost like blood. It can also be fermented to make a strong alcohol with a deep red tinge.

((*Author's Note: These are EXAMPLE herbs. They are not the entirety of the plant life of Asulon, obviously. I am simply giving an example of how herbs would work within this lore, and if this is accepted I would of course try to help out the wiki's severe lacking of herbs.*))

Chapter 3: Potion Recipes

Although I cannot provide a listing of every recipe for every potion in the world of Asulon, I can on the other hand provide you with ten example recipes so that you may understand how to better balance your own recipes. But before we get into the recipes of these potions, we must first discuss potions themselves and what exactly their properties are. The first rule one must realize is that potions are general for internal use, as in drinking. Although there are exceptions to this rule, the potion of mending for example, this is generally the fact. Potions also generally have a base of either distilled water, water in general, or distilled alcohol. Distilled alcohol, which is called “Aqua Vitae”, is commonly referred to as the finest base one can use for a potion. The opposite of potions are Oils, which are generally strictly used for external use. The general base used in oils that coat a weapon or armor is often some sort of lard. The lard, surprisingly enough, takes the ingredients we use and allows them to be distributed quite easily over any surface without the threat of it dripping or running off. With that said, one must be careful to wash their hands after applying any oil to any surface to avoid getting these concoctions in your mouth or your eyes, as it could be quite troublesome. But enough of the bases, I am quite certain you are eager to know these recipes I spoke of earlier. Finally, one must keep in mind that potions come in one of three categories: minor, lesser, and greater. These categories are rather simple to remember, for minor potions are the weakest, lesser are in-between, and greater potions are the finest potions that a man can make, and these are obviously dictated by the quality of one’s bases and the quality of one’s ingredients.

As one last note on ingredients, as an alchemist you are trusted to use your own common sense in what would be best for what potion. In terms of herbs, you would not use an ice-related symbol of water for a mending potion, merely because you are straying too far from what the mending potion requires. It requires symbols of life and healing, not a symbol of frost, and therefore you would not make a mending potion but either a failure, or a different potion entirely. Instead, you would use, perhaps, a herb along the lines of Serpent’s Stalk, a much better symbol of the side of water involving life. With that said, different symbols can equate to different aspects of the element and therefore you must be ever vigilant of what ingredients you are using. Simply throwing symbols together is a good way to experiment, but a poor way to make exactly what you desire. As another example, to make frost oil you would need a symbol of the more frozen side of water, and therefore you would take a herb that only grows in the snowy parts of Asulon. It is a not a difficult rule to follow, my student, but it can be hard to remember, so do pick your ingredients wisely.

Potion of Mending:

These concoctions are often the most sought after when those outside of our field are concerned for they are used to knit together the flesh and repair the bone. Potions of Mending are quite the versatile and useful mixture indeed, for they are capable of being used externally as well as internally. Their use stretches from the simplest of cuts to the largest of wounds, but their power is dictated by the ingredients that you use. If one uses poor ingredients, then the potion will be greatly ineffective against large gashes and far more effective for small bruises or scrapes. And of course, the converse is true in the fact that if you use better ingredients, larger wounds will be able to be stitched together by this potion’s amazing properties. For best results, on a few number of deep wounds, have the victim drink one vial of this potion and then apply other doses of it to bandages before wrapping them around their wounds. This will ensure that the victim’s bleeding stops, and their recovery is ever the faster. For numerous, smaller wounds, the best course of action is to simply take one dose of the potion, bandage what you can, and make sure the victim remains still and rests.

**((Author’s Note: Words in single parentheses are what kind of symbol it requires, following what was said before about ingredients and representation))**

• Recipe:

o Minor:

 Base: Water

 1 Symbol of Water (Life)

 1 Symbol of Earth (Life)

o Lesser

 Base: Distilled Water

 2 Symbols of Water (Life)

 1 Symbol of Earth (Life)

 1 Symbol of Air to quicken the rate of healing (Quickness)

 Ingredients would be of a higher quality than the ones for a Minor potion, but do not need to be as refined as the ones for a Greater

o Greater

 Base: Aqua Vitae

 2 Symbols of Water (Life)

 2 Symbols of Earth (Life)

 1 Symbol of Air (Speed)

 Ingredients must be pure and strong

Potion of Strength:

A potion of strength is another common brew that Alchemy is often best known for, as these potions can turn a weak man, such as a farming peasant, into a strong one, such as a plate-wearing and sword-wielding knight. Although increasing the intensity of one’s muscles through this draught can often be a painful and bitter process, as well as a temporary one, I have seen that it can often turn the tide in a battle when one decided to imbibe this power in a bottle. Unlike the Potion of Mending, this potion is not recommended for external use and I have had cases in which one thought it was an interesting idea to attempt this. The fool who performed this broke out in hives for a week, a fitting punishment for someone who fails to follow an Alchemist’s orders concerning his potions. These potions generally last between one and two hours.

• Recipe:

o Minor

 Base: Water

 1 Symbol of Earth (Fortitude, Power, Resilience)

 This will only provide one with a small jolt of strength, and is not suitable if you wish to turn any tables, but is if you need to do a particularly large amount of heavy lifting

o Lesser

 Base: Distilled Water

 2 Symbols of Earth (Fortitude, Power, Resilience)

 1 Symbol of Fire (Power)

 Caution: Sore throat is a possible side-effect

o Greater

 Base: Aqua Vitae

 3 Symbols of Earth (Fortitude, Power, Resilience)

 1 Symbol of Fire (Power)

 Quite suitable for turning tables, also quite bitter and will cause mild soreness in the muscles after wearing off

Potion of Stone-Skin:

A wholly bitter concoction that tends to swell the tongue and burn the throat due to its awful taste, it is in fact one of the most useful potions that an alchemy has at their disposal. These potions, as the name suggest, causes one skin to become has hard as the stone itself as one takes on the aspect of the element of Earth. It allows one’s entire body to become a stalwart shield, and can be quite the effect tool if one has a resistance to the pain it brings. It is a sad truth that even though this potion can makes one’s very flesh fend off blades, it is a wholly strange and painful experience to drink one of these earthy cocktails. Do be warned, that once it wears off nausea and vomiting may occur and this is especially important, for it will only last up to ten minutes to avoid any permanent damage to the body from the hardening of the skin. This potion comes in only one flavor, and cannot be made in a minor, lesser or greater fashion for the quality of its ingredients must be the finest or else the skin will not harden, and the imbiber’s stomach will feel as though it was just filled with the foulest of dwarven ale.

• Recipe

o Base: Aqua Vitae

o Four Symbols of Earth (Fortitude)

o Two Symbols of Water (Life)

o Three Symbols of Fire (Power)

o One Symbol of Air (Speed)

o All of these ingredients must be of high quality

Potion of Celerity:

Although this potion goes by numerous names, such as the potion of agility or the potion of speed, it is all, in fact, the same concept of boosting ones natural speed and reflexes. Although only last a maximum of one hour, I have seen that these are commonly used by hunters to follow their prey for easier and soldiers to fight better. Although there are, of course, uses for these potions beyond bloodshed, they usually involve either thievery of simple parlor trickery. The Potion of Celerity is certainly one to keep handy if you need to make a hasty retreat, or perhaps for courier jobs as well. With that said, I’d implore most to think beyond the confines of “if I drink this, I’ll swing my sword faster”, and perhaps realize there is a use for alchemy beyond improving your ability to decapitate someone.

• Recipe

o Minor

 Base: Water

 One Symbol of Air (Speed)

o Lesser

 Base: Distilled Water

 Two Symbols of Air (Speed)

o Greater

 Base: Aqua Vitae

 Three Symbols of Air (Speed)

 One Symbol of Fire (Power)

Potion of Acuity:

On the subject of air-centric potions, such as the potion of celerity, I bring you the Potion of Acuity, an astounding boost to every single one of your senses crammed into a tiny bottle. Although, at times, I have seen this used in recreational purposes, for the pure amusement of having every single one of your senses doubled in effectiveness, it is best used when hunting, from my observations. Because this not only increases one sense, hearing or sight, but instead all of one’s five senses, it is immensely useful for tracking. With that said, it could also be used to aid in scouting, or just generally sensing when danger is near. I cannot count the amount of times I that simply drinking one of these potions has saved my life, for with the increased senses I was capable of spotting danger and death, before I was already enveloped in their ebon shroud. Although with its usefulness also comes detriments, for afterwards it cripples one sense for a short period of time, often blurring vision, causing a ringing in the ears, and the numbness of the fingers. This is merely temporary and wears off within a few minutes, but it still worth mentioning as it can be a nasty surprise for some. These potions last from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the quality of the potion. Also, no matter the quality, the Potion of Acuity will double one’s senses, the quality only dictates how long it will last.

Recipe

•Minor

o Base: Water

o Two Symbol of Air (Perception)

o Lasts one hour

• Lesser

o Base: Distilled Water

o Three Symbols of Air (Perception)

o Lasts two hours

• Greater

o Base: Aqua Vitae

o Four Symbols of Air (Perception)

o Lasts three hours

Oil of Frost, Frost Oil, Frostbite Oil:

The oils of alchemy, as stated before, are the external portion of an alchemist’s arsenal and are often used to increase the effectiveness of weaponry and armor. The first oil I will teach you about is the Oil of Frost, or as some call it “Frostbite Oil”, which is an oil that, if not handled properly, can give a severe case of frostbite if left on the open skin for an extended period of time. Although you would need pretty large quantity of that oil, I am not going to speak of how you should not spill boiling water on your arm but instead of how you should use this boiling water to better your life. Oil of Frost, like most oils, is a decently viscous concoction that must be mixed with a lard of some sort so that it may be spread upon a surface, such as armor or a weapon. Upon a weapon, such as a blade, one’s attacks would be greatly aided in the fact that if you are to cut a man with a blade covered in Frost Oil, the wounded area would become greatly chilled to the point where it may change in color, towards a more blue-ish black hue. Similar to a poison, this can be of the utmost usefulness in combat due to the fact it will slow and demoralize your opponent, and as many a warrior knows, if their opponent is both slow and loses his will to fight, then this becomes nothing more than mere slaughter. Oil of Frost placed on armor will, contrary to what the luddites of society may assume, does not make it cold. In fact, it will provide an interesting resistance to the cold, and perhaps even some magics that revolve around it. Of course, before any alchemist sells or uses an oil he must test it, for this particular type of oil tends to make metal brittle if it mixed incorrectly and imperfections are present. Therefore, the perfect text is finding an iron breastplate, spreading the oil upon it, taking a blacksmiths hammer, and then slamming said hammer into the breastplate. If it shatters, then you have mixed incorrectly but if it withstands the blow, then your mixture is more or less, pure. As a final note, oils tend to not have specific categories as whatever you use will be diluted as it is spread. Simply put, use more powerful ingredients if you desire the general effect of the oil to work amongst a larger surface.

Recipe: Symbols must be of moderate quality or above, minor ingredients will be too deeply diluted by spreading them and will lose their power.

o Base: Lard

o Three Symbols of Water(Cold, Ice, etc.)

o Two Symbols of Air (Speed)

o One Symbol of Earth (Fortitude, a symbol of enduring)

Oil of Flame, Flame Oil:

My personal favorite oil, as it sells disgustingly well, is the Oil of Flame. This bottle of lard, infused with a swirling inferno, is often the oil that most Alchemists start out with, as it tends to be the easiest since balancing the oil is often not a problem. Balancing Flame Oil, and ensuring what you spread it upon does not explode, isn’t necessarily a delicate process as you want volatile ingredients to enhance its power. Of course some caution is advised, as always, I will provide you the secret in which Flame Oil is tamed, and that secret is merely a symbol of Water. Now a budding alchemist may find this insane, as mixing Water into an oil centered around flame seems to be a recipe for disaster, but in fact adding the symbol of Water tames the volatile ingredients of the flame oil and ensures that it keeps its potency, while not destroying the object it is placed upon in the process. Flame Oil’s affect, when placed on a weapon, is that it scorches the body, burns rather flammable objects, and allows the weapon to pierce armor just a tad easier. Now the side-effects of using the oil on a weapon are merely that the weapon may degrade faster, and of course while applying the oil make sure not to get any on the skin for it will cause severe burns if left there. On armor, Flame Oil as a similar effect as Frost Oil, boosting the armors ability to resist the heat, and magics centered around it. To test if your flame oil is of the perfect balance is a simple task, for if you did not mix your ingredients correctly then your concoction would’ve exploded long before you bottled it, or in rare cases, melted through your laboratory’s table.

Recipe: Again, Symbols of moderate power must be used in oils.

o Base: Lard

o Three Symbols of Fire (Power, Destruction, etc.)

o Two Symbols of Earth (Endurance)

o One Symbol of Water (Calmness, Balance)

Oil of Fortitude, Armor for your Armor:

The last oil I will speak of, for as always I do like giving my students something to ponder instead of feeding them all the information they will ever need, is the Oil of Fortitude, or as the common fellows like to say “Armor for Your Armor.” This wondrous oil, that is quite easy to mix, is sought after by blacksmiths and soldiers alike for its ability to increase the resilience of armor and weaponry, helping to ensure that the stray blade or pike does not pierce through a man’s second, iron skin and reach his softer, less resilient one. This oil also aids one’s weapons, making sure that they do not break mid-combat, an embarrassing possibility in any fight. Although I will not go into extreme depth with this oil, as its uses are more than obvious, I will bring up one more point on oils in general. One’s armor or weapon may only have one oil on it at any given time, for these oils are not mixed to give the desired outcome that one is trying to get by putting more than one at a time. For example, frost oil is meant to induce cold while flame oil induces heat, one is not mixed to also do the job of the other and therefore putting both of them together will cause severe imbalance. This “severe imbalance” is often seen in the form of crippling rust upon metal, fraying on leather, and in far more rarer cases, actual melting of the object in question. Therefore, remember to only apply one oil at a time and if you want to apply another you will need to clean the old oil off the armor and allow it to sit for an entire day, as an oil’s effectiveness drains over time after the first two hours of application.

Recipe:

o Base: Lard

o Three Symbols of Earth (Endurance, Fortitude, etc.)

o Two Symbols of Fire (Potency, Power)

Alchemist’s Fire:

Now we come to the potion that isn’t quite a potion and, if one wishes to be technical, is more of an oil than a potion, and that is Alchemist’s Fire. Alchemist’s Fire is, to summarize, a bottle of highly volatile flame that when cracked open, spreads a liquid-based fire in a small area. Now I realize that this may require some explanation, how exactly is it an oil? What is a liquid-based fire? and of course, the obvious question, what is the recipe? These questions are, surprisingly, simply to answer for they are quite obvious when one ponders them. This potion is technically an oil for it used externally, and not internally as potions generally are, but the problem with calling this is an oil is that it does not use a lard base, nor do you spread it on your weaponry or armor. Instead it uses, and only uses, Aqua Vitae as a base, which is used for a potion. This is why we call it a potion, and why I will stress this single though that should resonate throughout your mind whenever you are mixing this concoction, DO NOT drink it. Alchemist’s Fire is used as something of an explosive weapon, and therefore you should not imbibe the highly volatile potion, as it will literally melt your insides. The next point, what is a liquid-based fire, is also an equally simple question. Liquid-based fire is a fire that cannot be put out by water, and although it is fire it behaves like a liquid. Adding water can simply make it worse. With that said, do handle any flasks of this destructive blend with extreme care, as dropping the flask will unleash the chaos held within. To address the final question, the recipe is quite simple in the fact that it only has one tier. This tier can only be crafted with moderate and above ingredients, the stronger the ingredients the brighter the fire will roar. But as the saying goes, the flame that burns twice as bright lasts twice as long so this should be taken into account when one is adding ingredients.

Recipe:

o Base: Aqua Vitae

o Four Symbols of Fire (Destruction, Power, Consumption)

o Two Symbols of Water (Fluidity)

o One Symbol of Air (Speed)

o This will create enough for three flasks, flasks must be glass so they break easily on hard surfaces. (DO NOT DRINK)

Wizard’s Wisdom:

It has been a long journey, from the humble Potion of Mending to the ferocious Alchemist’s Fire, but we have finally come to the final potion of my list, the peculiarly purple Wizard’s Wisdom. This potion, of a magnificently royal purple hue, is one of my favorite potions for its ability to increase one’s problem solving, reasoning, and general thinking ability for a period of time. This mental boost, although it requires the hefty sum of a symbol from all the elements, can be of the utmost practicality when one is experimenting. Perhaps, my student, you are stuck attempting to balance the recipe for a potion and you simply can’t figure out what ingredient will help you achieve that goal, fear not for this brain power in a bottle can aid you. Although it will not spontaneously give you ideas, it will help in your ability to see things far more clearly than before, giving you a perspective you may not have had before. Of course this isn’t for everyone, as afterwards it gives you a worse hangover than a night in a Dwarven town, it is for those whose minds require some moments of clarity, so that they may see all the pieces of puzzle clearly and work through their logical processes accordingly. With that said, this potion merely gives one clarity of the mind and this cannot be augmented or diminished with the purity of ingredients, but the length in which the clarity is given can be. With normal ingredients, Wizard’s Wisdom will only last one hour with splitting migraines for four hours afterwards, but as you progress through the potion tiers, the potion lasts longer and the migraines, less as long. With that said, this could also be used to help cope with mental sickness, as it can provide the imbiber with a break from their fractured mind.

Recipe

Minor: 1 hour of clarity, 4 hours of migraines

o Base: Water

o 2 Symbols of Water (Balance, Clarity)

o 1 Symbol of Fire (Power)

o 2 Symbols of Earth (Endurance)

o 1 Symbol of Air (Perception)

Lesser: 2 Hours of Clarity, 3 Hours of Migraines

o Base: Distilled Water

o 3 Symbols of Water (Balance, Clarity)

o 2 Symbols of Fire (Power)

o 3 Symbols of Earth (Endurance)

o 2 Symbols of Air (Perception)

Greater: 3 Hours of Clarity, 1-2 Hours of Migraines

o Base: Aqua Vitae

o 5 Symbols of Water (Balance, Clarity)

o 3 Symbols of Fire (Power)

o 3 Symbols of Earth (Endurance)

o 3 Symbols of Air (Perception)

Chapter 4: Homunculus and Chimeras

Now then, faithful student, a word on the dreaded Homunculus and grotesque Chimeras. If I were to speak to you, and I am sure you have picked this up quite easily, I would speaking in a grave tone about this subject, for it is one filled with torment and grief. The Homunculus, a cunning creature, is what one may refer to as a “man” but in fact, this is further from the truth than one could possibly imagine. It is the creation of the hands of man, hands that wish to pull the puppet strings normally reserved for the gods and craft life. Chimeras are, in fact, an earlier form of this “flesh-crafting” in the fact that they are a combination of two, or more, animals. If this practice has disturbed you, please remove your eyes from these pages and go on to the next chapter, but if you are one with a stout heart and strong constitution, then do persist.

Homunculus:

Bred from the insane practice of creating life, these creatures show little fear and are as twisted as the ways to create them. The facts, or so I am told for it is more of a legend than factual truth, is that the first homunculus was born through a failure to resurrect a person. Although I tend to reject “stories” that circulate around communites in which alchemy is present, since they tend to tell of silly fables such as an elixir of immortality and a “cure-all”, but this particular legend seems to hold quite a bit of truth. These “accidents”, as you may wish to call them, are often twisted in appearance at times and unlike a golem, they are quite alive. Whereas a golem tends to have a master and does not reason like the intelligent races, the homunculus is capable of acting out on its own accord, and is certainly capable of higher thinking. Further evidence to support this as a failure to make life, or “resurrect” a loved one, is that they are very limited in things such as conscience, and empathy. Truly these are apathetic, and sometimes even wicked, creatures that care not for a life and seem to seek purpose in the world. Those who cannot find purpose, make one in often outrageous and violent forms.

It should be noted, to any who desire a homunculus, that their minds are often fractured and broken. They are bi-polar and spontaneous beings that seldom act in a favorable fashion. But fret-not, for if you desire one of these creatures, and you manage to make one, there are ways to combat their insanity. There are numerous serums capable of soothing the mind, and almost any of the stronger will work on these beings. But do be warned, if you plan on fighting a homunculus you had better have a blade handy.

A homunculus, bred of magic and the folly of man, is naturally resistant to numerous forms of magic. Now if you desire to know why this is the fact, you must simply compare its origins with ours. The Orcs are naturally less susceptible to the heat, for they have grown accustomed to the searing sands of their desert. The people of Hanseti are naturally capable of withstanding the cold far better than; let’s say, a wood elf, for they have grown accustomed to their frigid homeland. Therefore, a homunculus, a creature born of magical means is naturally capable of withstanding magic. With that said, they still bleed like anything else there is in Asulon and they do feel pain. Although their erratic behavior could prove to be quite troublesome, as their tactics could shift suddenly, and the pain will most likely have little effect on them, even if they feel it. Finally, as they are naturally resistant to magic some potions may have little to no effect on them.

Crafting a homunculus is a difficult procedure for numerous reasons, the foremost being there’s multiple methods that all have their different dangers, but it is one that is possible with both determination and, perhaps, a touch of madness. If you are an alchemist seeking the fabled Elixir of Life or the Philosopher’s Stone then you, most likely, have already produced several, if not many, homunculus in your research. A homunculus can be produced by attempted to resurrect someone if the proper condition are met, such as powerful materials and a faulty Philosopher’s Stone, or perhaps attempting to create Takwin, artificial life. I cannot go into specific detail into how a homunculus is made exactly, for the methods that do not include the sacrifice of an individual, corpses, and drake hearts are few to none, I can on the other hand provide the last way, that is known and has been seen by me, to craft a homunculus. Although this way is gruesome, and often accidental, I have seen men turned into these monsters by the ingesting of, what they believed to be, the Elixir of Life. This potion, said to grant immortality, has been researched and sought after for centuries and centuries by skilled alchemists and it often ends with either their death, or the gruesome fate of transforming into a deformed homunculus. Truly a horror to watch, and it is a lovely thing that this topic is over with. Although I could do not provide exact information in how to create a homunculus, I do hope this information has aided you.

Chimera:

Now then, the Chimera, unlike the cunning homunculus, is a much simpler creature forged from the combination of two or more animals. With that said, it should be known that chimeras are often unstable creations, prone to decay and eventual death early on in their creation making their usefulness quite limited. An average chimera may only last a few months, but there have been whispers of some living for years on end, and even of ancient chimeras built by the ancestors with only the most perfect specimens. Of course these are only rumor, and must be taken with several grains of salt. Now you might ask, how exactly does one combine many different forms of life into one and the simply answer is, you do not.

The reason I state that you do not, is simply because the chimera is proof that it is impossible and not meant for this world. The chimera, upon its creation, is a damned creature in which nature spits upon. The fact that it dies within the first few months of its creations, and its overall form is filled with decay and blemish, is proof enough that whatever creatures may make it are not meant to be put together in that fashion, or in any fashion to be exact. It is true that many believe the alchemical process that one must go through to craft these abominations is an unholy one, but I believe it to be a purely scientific one. The hypothesis being that if I were to fuse a wolf, a snake, and perhaps a sheep together, the product would be better than all three, but the fact of the matter is that this hypothesis is incorrect. Fusing these three animals together through the use of heavily earth and water centered potions produced a monster of an animal that has little thought, obeys its master’s simplest commands, and falls apart at the seams within three months of its creation.

Which leads me to the creation of these strange, twisted beings, for the creation is not a matter of balance, but in-fact, imbalance. I say imbalance for the chimera, as far as I know, has never been crafted with the principle of Equivalent Exchange being fully satisfied. Chimeras are often only created with partial satisfaction to this principle, causing them to become twisted and rot rather easily. Now one may ask themselves why exactly we are not capable of taking the animals of our desire, taking strong enough symbols of the elements, and fusing these animals together in perfect synergy and balance. The simple answer is, life was not ours to create and attempting to craft something that was not meant to be simply results in imbalance. This could be compared to introducing wolves to a forest that knows not of this animal. The rabbits, deer, and whatever have you would be thrown into disarray from this new predator. Much like this example, the natural order is thrown into chaos when chimeras are crafted and therefore balance cannot be achieved. This is why some chimeras simply never come to be. But, as I have seen with my own eyes, if one’s ingredients and will are strong enough, a Chimera can be born, no matter how imperfect it is to the eyes of the natural world.

If one wished to craft one of these strange and disgusting monsters, they would require strong symbols of the Earth and Water, for animals fall under the domain of earth and life under the domain of water. Using these symbols, you would have to craft a large quantity of this potion with a base as equally strong as these symbols so that their power is not diluted from not being able to reach their full potential in a weaker base. One would need pour this potion into a body of water big enough to submerge the two or more animals you wish to fuse and let sit for an hour so that everything may settle and balance. After allowing the potion to sit, simply dip the animals you wish to fuse into the body of water and after a rather gorgeous lightshow you will either fill the body of water with gore, or produce a monster. Either way, you may have either shamed your colleges or produced a breakthrough, depending on your outlook.

Chapter 5: Local Myths and Legends

We have arrived on the more questionable side of alchemy, the side that I deem as “legend” and “myth” for the fact that alchemists throughout the ages have gone through numerous trials and tribulations for these “myths” with either little success, or death as their final outcome. It is a truly cynical stance that I take on the possibility of anyone ever finding the perfect balance, the perfect formula to craft these four stoic legends of Alchemy, for I do believe it is impossible and will continue to be, impossible. Although the past is often shrouded in whisper and rumor, and the possibility that perhaps one of the ancestors may have come across the perfect formula, it is obvious that it has been lost to the ages, or perhaps even safe-guarded. I say this because throughout my years within this field, this difficult and tedious field, I have never seen one of my colleges ever pursue Panacea, The Philosopher’s Stone, The Elixir of Life, or Takwin and come out of it with proof of its existence, or highly substantial progress regarding these four legends. It is true that striving to achieve these impossible goals have led to incredible breakthroughs, I do warn that any alchemist that wishes to chase after these fairytales to make sure he has his affairs in order, for the most common outcome in this troubled road, is death.

Panacea:

Panacea is, at times, a synonymous word for “cure” but in an alchemist’s world, this word is held as sacred, and whispered by mad-men whose desire to help others has clouded their judgment. Panacea is the versatile “cure-all” of alchemy, a potion said to be so powerful, so pure, so balanced, that it is capable of curing all diseases, ailments, wounds, and poisons, no matter how terminal the illness or grave the injury. It is, truly, akin to the touch of the Gods on an unfortunate soul, something so pure that it washes out the impurities of the imbiber. Although I find the idea of a mere drink capable of curing all disease and injury to be the golden achievement of alchemy, I must also, and I urge you to as well, take in the facts. The facts are, to craft Panacea one would need the purest and most powerful symbol of Water that one is capable of finding in the universe. Although one may believe that this isn’t a troublesome task, and in fact, sounds quite simple, it is sadly not. Finding a symbol pure enough to give Panacea the power to requires to cure all and any disease is a troublesome one indeed, for although an alchemist can craft potions with the ability to cure certain disease, the stronger one will always remain quite difficult. This difficulty is found in the fact that the disease is simply more powerful than the potion, and this is most often found in terminal disease in which death is near absolute. At this time one would need a symbol to overcome death itself, and this is simply a mystery of alchemy that one cannot solve. Of course wounds are a different problem entirely and although many a potion can deal with a wound, at times a wound is far too deep and the victim has lost far too much blood. At this point, Panacea would rejuvenate the body and close the wound. This is far more practical that curing a terminal disease, but still quite difficult as a fairly powerful symbol of water must be used to close a mortal wound and then refill the body with blood. Problem upon problem persists with the creation of Panacea, and although many an alchemist has thought he has created it, it has always proven false when tested against those whom the Reaper is knocking at their door.

The Philosopher’s Stone:

One cannot say enough about this mythical Stone, but I will attempt to put into words what this legend means for alchemists, and hopefully you, my faithful student. The Philosopher’s Stone is no mere “achievement” such as the cure-all and immorality, but it is the pinnacle the Alchemist’s work, it is the goal that has been strived for since the beginning of Alchemy. The Philosopher’s Stone is a fabled object, whether it is a stone or not, that is a combination of the most powerful symbols of the Elements and it is capable of wondrous miracles that would otherwise be quite difficult or nigh-impossible for the average alchemist. Above all of its distinct properties, such as being capable circumventing the Principle of Equivalent Exchange without upsetting the balance of the universe, it is sought after for the practice of Transmutation. Although it is true that one can transmute without The Philosopher’s Stone, it is a well-known fact that this process has been lost among the ages and, as far as my knowledge extends, nobody currently knows how to perform this process without the Philosopher’s Stone and its unique ability to bypass Equivalent Exchange. Now with that said, perhaps you are wondering why exactly you’ve never seen a Philosopher’s Stone, for its quite obvious every alchemist would desire to craft one and this is quite right. Every alchemist does desire a Philosopher’s Stone for it is the perfect symbol of balance, the perfect symbol of harmony between the Elements, and many an alchemist has strived to unlock the secret of crafting one. Sadly, every one of those attempts has failed in one way or another which leads me to believe that perfect balance is simply an impossibility. But, if you do seek the Philosopher’s Stone, there is little hope I can give in the form of how I have witnessed imperfect ones. It is true, that those dedicated to the research of this object have been capable of melding strong symbols of the elements together to produce an impure, imperfect philosopher’s stone with little ability beyond a proof of concept.

The reasons that these Philosopher’s Stones are impure are due to the impurity in the ingredients, for one may be the finest chef in Asulon but they can do little with poor ingredients. The same can be said for alchemy, for if your ingredients are poor your potions will reflect this, and following that logic the Philosopher’s Stone would be imperfect and “not quite there” as I’ve heard many a time. It is an undeniable truth that finding perfect, pure symbols of the Elements to reach the perfect harmony that is acquired by the creation of the Philosopher’s Stone is an almost impossible goal and this is found evident in how many alchemists believe they have that perfect combination, that perfect symbol and then find their Philosopher’s Stone fractured in power. These fractured Philosopher’s Stones can do minor transmutations, for major ones reflect the impurity of the stone itself, and barely circumvent the principle of Equivalent Exchange. Still, as a word of hope for the scholars that wish to pursue this pinnacle of our field, I have discovered that as the years pass, these fractured stone are becoming purer and purer as time progresses and perhaps one day, it may be possible that someone may find that perfect balance. Until then, I am forced to regard the Philosopher’s Stone as a mere legend, and simply something to strive for rather than actual, realistic goal.

The Elixir of Life:

The Elixir of Life is a curious subject among the practitioners of Alchemy, for it promises to fulfill that age-old, hubris-filled desire for immortality often found among humans of Asulon, and less so among the Elves, Orcs, and Dwarves of our fair land. Although I haven’t spent time among the Mori or Khajyr, I would assume the subject of immortality is also pursued by some, but not many. The reason behind this human-centric pursuit is due to their short life spans, and in fact, I do believe that the legend of the mighty “Elixir of Life” was bred by human alchemists alone. Although I find this subject to be of the utmost silliness, as immortality is only meant for the Gods and those destined for it by them, it is still one that requires the attention of anyone who wishes to study Alchemy. I say this because The Elixir of Life is not merely a fable that people chase, spend their lives researching, and then die before finding, but it is a fable that people chase, and succumb to insanity from.

The Elixir of Life is a wholly strange topic, and I could go as far as saying a wholly evil one, in the fact it has a tendency to drive Alchemist’s mad in search of the formula for this mythical potion. Much like a prospector’s greed for gold increases as he finds more and more of it, an Alchemist’s greed and madness increases as he ventures further and further out into the world in search of the perfect materials, the perfect formula for the veritable “Fountain of Youth.” This drives men mad because it is an idea bred, more often than not, from greed and, as we well know, greed is often troublesome when used as drive to achieve something. Unlike Panacea, in which a desire to help others is often the drive, or the Philosopher’s Stone, in which academics are often the cause, the Elixir of Life is driven by the greed to live forever, and on occasion it has also been sought after for loved ones. The former, as anyone could see, is an evil drive that can only lead to a deeper descent into madness, and the latter is as nearly as bad. Wishing immortality on another, a good intention, is indeed a path of pain and anguish for this loved one will have to watch, and the others that they love, die around them. Peace will never find this soul, for their life will be endless and rest will be impossible unless suicide, disease, an accident, or another’s blade takes them. It is truly a miserable existence that I would not wish on my greatest of enemies. But beyond the ethical and philosophical standpoint of the Elixir of Life, we must also look at it from an Alchemical standpoint and realize why it is purely impossible.

The Elixir of Life promises immortality to that which was never meant to have it. It promises a “super” natural quality to that which is meant to have only natural ones and in this it upsets the balance put together by nature. Any observer, such as the Druids, know the cycle of Death and Rebirth quite well and through drinking this fabled swill, you upset the balance that this cycle ensures within the natural world and you uproot the one certainty that we all must expect in life, Death. This is why, no matter how powerful the elements you use, it is impossible to erase the certainty for it would surely upset balance and an upset balance causes chaos, and chaos causes problems. One of such problem that is caused by the devilish drink is the transforming the imbiber into a dreaded Homunculus. It is a sad truth, and I have witnessed it myself, that the balance is so deeply upset by the Elixir of Life that it unravels your very being, transforming you into a monstrous creature as an obvious punishment for your hubris. Although I would call the degradation of one’s mind and the transforming of their body into an abominable homunculus a fate far worse than any other, there are others fates that can befall a man who attempts to craft the Elixir of Life and drink it. These “other outcomes” often result the violent explosion of one’s body, an incurable illness, immediate death, and I have even heard rumors of one’s body decaying from the inside out. These numerous, and truly macabre, fates are merely ways in which the universe “pushes back” upon us and punishes those with the hubris to believe they are Gods.

Takwin:

It has been an interesting journey amongst the legends and myth of alchemy, and we are now at the final member of these legends, Takwin. Although bred from another overzealous attempt at becoming “gods”, Takwin is the creation of life through purely alchemical methods that has turned into a highly academic pursuit. It actually fascinates me quite greatly in how Takwin has become a common field of research among my colleges, almost to the point in which it surpasses the Philosopher’s Stone. This rather strange and quite dividing hunt for life outside of the natural processes already set in motion is perhaps the most fascinating legend among these four, and the only one that I have truly dabbled in. Although it was a brief time in my life, I once searched the world for what I believed would create life within my laboratory. What that life would be, how it would look, and how it would act was unknown to me but I knew that this attempt had to be made, and would be successful.

My research into Takwin led me across the world in search of the purest ingredients, leaves from elder trees, the hearts of Blazes, blessed, clean waters, and eventually the feathers of fabled kings of the skies. Although I name only a few of the ingredients I used, I must emphasize the purity that I had “thought” they possessed, and now I must emphasize the purity that is required for true Takwin. The purity and balance that I thought I had was not enough, and looking back upon my research it was obvious that truly I was ignorant to believe such impure ingredients such as those would create life. But enough of an old man’s ramblings, the outcome of my research was a homunculus, the product of many an Alchemist’s dabblings in this field. Although I will not go into detail on what I did with this homunculus, I will state that it was safely disposed of after I studied it. Although stating my failure may seem pointless to some of the more spirited, firebrands of the alchemical field, it is actually quite relevant for any that desire experiment with this field. My failure proves that our attempts are indeed powerful ones, they are quite futile ones. It proves that even with pure ingredients, such as the ones I used, one cannot achieve the purity that is required for the creation of true life, which a homunculus is not. No matter how hard we try, we will always end up with that half-finished, imperfect homunculus as our product. But I did state that this was a dividing subject, and instead of continuing to state how our attempts at playing as gods imbalance the world, I will speak of how Takwin has divided the alchemical community.

Takwin, as interesting a subject as it is, has not come into Alchemy without all manners of fanfare and dramatics. Our academic community is, in fact, divided by those who believe Takwin to be the purest expression of Alchemy, and those that believe the Philosopher’s Stone is the purest expression of our field. It is often heavily debated within alchemy shops, and grand university halls alike, that one is lesser than the other and I do believe this debate will persist throughout the ages, for it is indeed a difficult question to ask whether the crafting of life is the best expression of our art, or the combination of the purest of the pure Elements is the best expression. But now you ask, which side is the correct one? The simple answer I will give is that I refuse to say, for I must give you something to ponder in your research.

Credits:

Main Author:

Twistedonslaught (Inquisitor_Ithric)

Helpers:

Alikdoril - Did some cross-checking with his vast knowledge of everything Fantasy, and added in a few plants in the botany section

Geo (The Perfectionist) - Provided amazing feedback during the process

Questions, comments, and constructive criticism is quite welcome.

[ArmedByBlade (POTATO3) 99]

I've got to say, this is really well written and I can't wait to read the rest! As for seeing this in relation to LotC, I think it would be a great idea to have something like this in the game. The lore seems to be very specific and I believe it'd bring up some great new rp in game once it's completely finished.

[ek_knight 21]

Wow I'm impressed. Can't wait to read more!

[Ithric 70]

Thanks a bunch for the support. We'll definitely have some more out soon. Gonna skip the flora and the potion recipes for now and come back to it, since it's gonna be a pretty decent sized list and just go on to homunculus and chimeras and the "legends." Should be some good stuff, but flora will be out before potions for sure and it shouldn't take "too" long. Overall, I'm predicting this'll be complete by next Monday at the absolute latest.

[EmeraldStag 165]

I honestly love this so far, I had been thinking about trying to find something on Alchemy, but now I know that there was none, until this! Keep up the great writing skill, and hopefully this may add more, interesting things to our wonderful server!!!!!!

(If accepted, might even have a new character specifically for alchemy~)

[Ithric 70]

Homunculus and Chimera lore is up. Next up are "legends" and "myths" (ie Elixir of Life, Panacea, Philosopher's Stone, etc). That'll be up Friday night at the latest. After that, everything else will be put out throughout the weekend. Enjoy and thanks for reading. :-D

[EmeraldStag 165]

Seriously, do you have a Lore Master helping you? THIS IS AWESOME!!! It makes me feel like my current character should become one, seriously, great work, I really can't wait for this to be implemented!!!!!

[Ithric 70]

Seriously, do you have a Lore Master helping you? THIS IS AWESOME!!! It makes me feel like my current character should become one, seriously, great work, I really can't wait for this to be implemented!!!!!

Nah. No lore-master XD Thanks for the support, and I do hope it does become implemented.

[EmeraldStag 165]

The new chapter you added, is amazing as always. Keep it up dude, seriously.

[Ithric 70]

Alrighty. Some new stuff up. I put half the potion recipes up there, because we're still working on the herb stuff. The other half should either be up later tonight or sometime tomorrow. As before, everything is scheduled to be done by Monday.

[Ibn Khaldun 7729]

Reading, I am in a happy mood so far ;) Keep Posting, I shall give verdict soon :D

[Lexperiments 18]

I'm so glad I made my character take up minor alchemy a loooong time ago. Now I might actually be able to learn this. xD Really, a great read. Certainly well-thought-out, specific, and insightful.

[Chemist 0]

Ive been potion-making a long time and this lore makes me proud to be a chemist.

[Ithric 70]

Everything is finished!

[EmeraldStag 165]

WOOT, Awesome, Hope it gets Accepted.