The Journal Of An Alchemist.

[Skyhmane/TLuke222 0]

((I’m mostly basing this off of my character's story, and some of the alchemy lore. Gonna write a backstory for finding the journal eventually. A word of warning: wall of text. Currently taking sugestions))

Pre-face

The complete journal of Nef’Seth Skyhmane.

Reader, what you now hold contains my life’s work. I have traveled widely, exploring all parts of the known world, to compile and refine my research. The contents of this journal will catalog the progress of the findings and results of my experiments, as well as explain them.

Table of Contents

1 Construction

Day 1

The goal of my research is to create a Homunculus. A Homunculus is a form of artificial life, usually created through alchemy. This is considered one of the most difficult forms of alchemy but this will not stop me. Because of how difficult they are to create, most successful homunculi are unstable, their minds fragmented. I have no solution for this currently but I hope that through meticulous research I may perfect the process. Today, I will begin overseeing the construction of my lab. I’ve chosen a remote location of the unexplored Wilds to isolate myself should anything go amuck. The labor is quite costly this far from civilization, but I think it is worth the cost. I’ve struck up a friendship with the contractor, she’s an intelligent dark elf. She says the area is beautiful. Most of labor force stays in a temporary camp not far from the construction site. I’m most interested by some of their hunting skill, the ability to fend for one’s self may come handy during the long winters this area tends to suffer.

Day 2

The excavation of the basement/Lab is now complete, I’m thinking of using “glowstone” a naturally glowing phosphorescent crystal to light the underground section of the laboratory. Celia’ante, the contractor, has offered to teach me archery; in exchange I will teach her alchemy. I plan to leave the build site for several day so that I can retrieve books and materials from my house near Normandor.

Day 3

Celia stayed behind to continue the construction. I’m half way to Normandor, passing through several small settlements of humans.

Day 4

Arriving in Normandor, I pack up my supplies planning to leave the next day.

Day 5

I was able to take a horse to the outer settlements, this has considerably shortened the return journey’s length. I look forward to my arrival at the construction site.

Day 6

I’m amazed at the progress of this work-force. The dwarves have finished the supports for the basement. The goblins and Quickly work quickly, mining quarried stone and bringing it to the construction site. The humans and elves work to fell timber for the supports. However, none of this would have been possible without Celia to organize and unite them. I’m tired from the journey here and back, but I still found time this afternoon to learn from and tutor Celia.

Day 7

The dwarves have begun to mortar the cobble stone of the basement’s walls. I’ve spent the day in camp writing research notes. It seems there are very few documented sightings of Homunculi, most of the writing about them is just speculation. One book however, Tale of a Wandering Alchemist has some useful information. I think that once one understands the principles of alchemy that with the right ingredients you can transmute anything. Training goes well with Celia she is beging to grasp the rather simple basics of alchemy, I on the other hand seem to be having quite some trouble with archer. My finger are sore, making my writing sloppy, and my arms are tired from the weight of the bow. Archery seems more difficult than alchemy!

Day 8

It will take some time for the mortar to set. The dwarves tell me we are fortunate to have such warm weather, it can often take mortar (though they seldom use it) weeks to set in their caves but it seems we will be able to continue construction in only a couple of days. Perhaps my mind is the cold dwarven caves, and Celia’s is filled with sunshine and small puffy white clouds. Her natural grasp of alchemy, combined with deep knowledge of nature makes her the most promising student I have ever had. I, on the other hand, am still nearly incompetent when it comes to archery.

Days 9-11

My current research notes are fished. I itch to begin experiments. Callous’ have begun to form on my fingers, and my archery still is slowly increasing. Celia continues to learn, now surpassing me in some areas. I’ve decided to start simple with my experiments. I’ll work up through the forms of life, from seed, to plant, to fruit, to tree, but before I begin I will have to describe my plans to Celia. I haven’t yet told any of plans to the camp, but they will eventually find out once I begin my experiments. The lab’s mortar is nearly set.

Day 12

I explained Homunculi to Celia. At first she seemed very attentive, but towards the end of my explanation her eyes began to look distant, thoughtful. She left my tent in silence, neither of us spoke for the rest of that day. I began my first experiment, transmuting an acorn. I simply combined my ingredients. The easiest way to transmute is to diagram the transmutation. First one draws a circle, representing the basic principle of alchemy: equivalent exchange. Then one places their reagents in the circle. They precisely diagram the flow of energy between symbols so that together, they form the desired product. Usually a catalyst is required to begin the transmutation. Time can be a good catalyst for the frugal alchemist, but it is often unpredictable so I prefer to diagram a pressure trigger into my transmutation circle. Then I simply place my palm on the pressure trigger to begin the reaction.The surplus energy provided by the catalyst is then turned into light as the reaction takes place. The acorn transmuted perfectly. I’m planting it on the edge of clearing, I won’t know the if the experiment was truly a success until harvest time when the sapling hopefully sprouts. The dwarves confirmed that the mortar was set, and we began construction on the foundation of the small house.

Day 13

Celia and I are speaking again. She came to my tent during breakfast and we talked. She apologized for her previous behavior and wanted to know if she could help me with my experiments. I said yes, and described to her my transmutation of the acorn. We’ll continued teaching each other today. We’ve set the wooden supports for the house, and everything is on schedule. I’m compiling possible reagents for the transmutation of a wheat stalk, the math and research will still take awhile but Celia’s knowledge of nature has been invaluable cutting the preparation time at least in half.

Day 14

A squabble erupted between the Urks and elves today. An Urk was moving some of the prep’d lumber into the foundation today when it slipped out of his hands, luckily no one was hurt, but he nearly squashed one of the elves. The other elves rushed in to help, nimble as they are. After helping their friend up they gave the Urk a rough time. The other Urks plodded over to see what the commotion was about. Only Celia’s timely intervention and several gruff dwarves managed to avert the situation. It truly is a wonder to watch her work. Work also goes well on wheat transmutation, we’ve done a successful wheat grain, now we just have to do the plant.

Day 15

With the floor now put it, the dwarves have now begun to fashion tables and benches out of stone for my lab. I continue work on transmutation. I work on drawing the transmutation circle and doing the math while Celia finds possible reagents. I find myself drawn to her, I never thought it possible but I may be in love. I am unsure of how to express my feeling to her.

Day 16

It worked! We successfully transmuted a stalk of wheat. It is perfect. I’ve left it beside the acorn. The dense trees of this area shelter it from the wind. Construction has now moved on to the walls. Celia and I are both overjoyed. Looking into her eyes after our success, I finally had the courage to express my feeling for her with words: “I love you.” She smiled and we kissed. For today, my life is complete.

Day 17

We’ve begun work on the transmutation of an apple. Although this may not seem more difficult than a wheat stalk, it is more complex. Finding the reagents for the apple have been simple for Celia, but the math must be perfect. I have my work cut out for me.

Days 18-22

Time seems to have blown by, the days passed with intense research and light romance. Construction has nearly finished on the roof of the house, and the dwarves now craft windows and furnishings. Celia and I can barely stand to be apart, making our together a labor of love. It has taken me five days to perfect the formula for red apples. Now that I am finished I plan to take tonight off with Celia.

Day 23

The apple transmuted without hitch. It looks perfect, I conducted extensive testing on a sample of the apple to make sure it was safe for elven consumption (I am a wood elf). After judging it safe to eat. Celia and I shared the apple. It tasted like an apple to me, Celia seems to agree. We will begin work on the my final plant experiment: transmuting and entire oak sapling.

26 Something Missing

Day 26

Work has finished on the house, I plan to continue to live here with Celia until my research is complete, I’ve not forgotten what originally pulled me to this place. The workers have left. Despite our total success so far, Celia and I both agree that it is still safer to conduct our experiments here. She and I have at least a week more of research to do.

Days 27-33

Celia’s taken to spending her spare time transmuting other plants while I continue to work on the math. Some of her creations bloom, others wither, but she continues to amaze me. I’m on the verge of finishing the diagram for the oak sapling.

Days 34-36

I finished my diagram and together Celia and I successfully transmuted an oak sapling near the house.

Day 37

After so many days spent on calculations and precise diagraming, I plan to spend a week away from the house on a hunting trip with Celia.

Day 44

I wish I could spend my life on the hunt, it truly is a thrill. Alas I must return to my books. Today we began on the research for amphibian transmutation.

Day 51

We’ve completed a tadpole, Celia watches it intently in it’s small basin-pool. From what I can see the transmutation was successful, but I trust Celia’s eye for nature more than my own.

Day 52

Celia says that the tadpole isn’t alive. I honestly cannot tell what she is talking about, I’ve performed as many diagnostics a I can but nothing seems wrong. Celia seems upset, I think she stayed up all night watching the frog. I hope she’s better tomorrow.

Day 53

I’ve begun reworking the diagram to hopefully find what is wrong. Celia tries to hide her feeling but I can see that something is still bothering her. I’ll give her time, if she needs to think then I will let her.

Day 56

Celia is still sulking, so I’ve decided to ask her what is wrong. I also can’t seem to find a problem with the math, perhaps we’re missing an ingredient?

Day 57

Celia finally told me what was wrong. She described the tadpole as something she had seen long ago. When I inquired further she began a story:

When she was a little girl, back in Aegis, there had been evil mage-necromancers called the Undead. They could summon zombies and such to raid towns and villages. The things that they brought back to “life” weren’t really alive. They moved like puppets at the strings of an evil master.

She said that this tadpole was the same as those puppets, although not evil. It was still controlled by the transmutation circle. I don’t know what to say. Is there still something I am missing? I plan to look into how these necromancers conjured “life”. I think it greatly troubles Celia. I’ve told her to take a break while I go on a research trip.

Day 58

I left for Normandor today; I hope to visit an old friend with a large library and a store of knowledge.

Day 61

I’ve collected several books, and some notes from my friend. I am now returning to Celia.

Day 62

At first Celia seemed overjoyed to see me back. I’d also missed her, but after she saw the topics of my research she became solem. She told me that I shouldn’t continue down this path. I don’t know what to say, this is the first time we’ve ever disagreed. The topic of Necromancy obviously gives her pain and bad memories, but our research has come to a standstill. I told her I would think about it but my mind is already made up; I must continue my research.

Day 63

I told her my decision, and that I will continue this dark research alone if it pains her so. She considered this for several moments and finally nodded. After this she retreated down the ladder to the lab. I will stay above to continue reading by natural light as long a possible.

Day 73

Celia and I are still together, although we now research alone. After ten days, pouring over various texts, an idea has begun to form in my mind. Magic works on similar principles to alchemy, something is never created out of nothing. This is why the tadpole was never “alive”. It was missing a component: the soul. If I wish to create a homunculus, it must be given a soul. I believe I could separately transmute an artificial soul to fill the vessel. Giving it memories and knowledge will be the most difficult part. I am now thankful for our isolation, some might consider this work heretical.

Day 74

Celia has agreed to work with me again, now convinced that our work will not involve vile necromancy.

Day 77

Today is a joyous day! Celia has informed me that she is with child. After all the nights we’ve spent together, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. She won’t let me perform any diagnostics but I suspect she has already. I hope for a daughter, and she hopes for a son, either way one of us is satisfied.

Day 89

I’ve nearly finished fabricating the soul of a frog, we finished the body several days ago, but are waiting to transmute them together.

Day 92

Finally, we’ve succeeded. Celia watches again as we release the from into a nearby pond. I suspect she will track it far into the night, but so far things are going well.

Day 94

After a long two days Celia has returned with a smile on her face. She says that the frog met all of her expectations. I believe we have completed tamphibian transmutation. After our hunting trip, we will return to complete mammalian transmutation.

101 Too good to be True

Day 101

Celia and I have decided to transmute a dog. I have high hopes.

Day 125

This is without a doubt the most difficult thing I have ever done. I estimate we still have several weeks if not a whole month of research to still complete. Celia and I are both starting to feel fatigue on our minds.

Day 172

Although It took longer than expected, we are on the eve of success. Celia completely took over work on the body of the puppy, leaving me to fabricate it’s soul. Celia finished sooner than I several days ago, but I’ve finally finished his soul. Tomorrow, after we are both well rested we will begin transmutation.

Day 173

Lain out on the lawn of our clearing, set in black oil, we’ve completed arranging our circles. We will now begin the reaction.

It could not have turned out better, his gray fur is just as Celia imagined it, his playful curiosity just as I arranged it. We are very lucky to have had such stunning success.

Day 174

Celia has decided to name him Maylu Chirr, or just Maylu for short. If the reader is unaccustomed to elven tongue, Maylu Chirr directly translates as “loved wolf”. Maylu came with us on our hunt. His behavior still plays out perfectly.

182 Darkness At the End

Day 182

We’ve returned from another hunting trip. I now have near mastery of mammalian transmutation. I believe it is time to begin work on a human homunculus. This will test our skills beyond breaking. I currently lack the ability to fully understand human souls. Celia is unsure if we should continue. I assure her we will continue to proceed cautiously taking every measure of safety possible.

Day 183

Last night I had a startlingly vivid dream. I was in my alchemy lab, the ladder was to my back, on the floor was a transmutation circle in white. It was unlike any transmutation circle I seen before. In the time I had to examine it, it seemed to function to open something. Before I was able to comprehend if fully, an eye opened in the middle of the circle. It terrified me and intoxicate me at the same time, I felt myself drawn to the eye as a voice that was neither male nor female spoke in my head.

“Foolish alchemist, you know not where you tread. Human souls are my domain alone. I can make things very difficult for you and your love.” It chuckled softly as I was crippled with blinding pain. As the pain receded as it began to speak again,”That is just a small part of the pain I can make you suffer.”

I jerked awake in my bed, Celia moved softly beside me. I haven’t told her about the dream nor do I plan to. I do not believe in gods or a greater power.

Day 223

As time passes, I reminded of the dream. I haven’t had any more vivid dreams, but the memory of the pain continues to bother me.

Day 303

Our research is almost done, but Celia’s baby is due any day now.

hastily scrawled and smeared with blood and tears, you can barely make out the words

Blood, so much blood. Something went wrong with our child’s birth, he and Celia are barely breathing.

Celia is dead. My love is dead. I... I don’t know what happened. In my head I can only see that terrible eye on the floor of my dream. Is this a dream? Will I wake up? I think not. My son is still alive but barely, only our -my work can save him now.

I’ve setup the circle. I don’t know if it will help, but I’ve overlaid the diagram from my dream. My son’s life is now in the hands of the gods.

I saved my son. I completed the transmutation circle, using his soul and a fabricated body. I was sobbing as the eye of my dreams opened. “Please, give me back my son”, I wept.

“Oh, what’s this, do you regret your dabbling now, elf? You could have saved your love and your son if you had just stopped interfering with creation.”

“I’ll give you anything, ANYTHING! Just don’t let my son die, he’s all I have left of her.”

“Hm, you want to make a deal elf? Not so arrogant now. Well, lets see, you’ll try to bring you wife back and continue your research if I don’t stop you here. I will give you your son back slightly changed in exchange for all your alchemical knowledge, and an oath that you will never perform alchemy again. I’m being very generous, this is my deal, take it or leave it.

I nodded my agreement. “I vow to forsake the art of alchemy and surrender all of my alchemical knowledge.” I immediately felt my memory began to ebb away. The eye snapped shut with a crack and white light filled the room for an instant. There lay my son. I crawled to him, checking his pulse and breathing. The body he wore was slightly older than a year, but other than that it was perfect. I am forsaking everything including this journal. I will go somewhere else and start a new life. I fear my son will remind me of Celia every day, but it is a burden I’ll have to bear.

[Supremacy 3361]

((I very much like your story. That being said, perhaps you should contact Inquisitor_Ithric about the lore for more details. You mention 'forging a soul', yet I'm not even sure that is possible. You also detail the creating of tadpoles and dogs despite this quote:

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.

That being said, I'm not at all accustomed to the lore and this may be correct and mean no harm. Indeed, you may have done this already. I simply enquire as to if this use it is verified or not.))

[Skyhmane/TLuke222 0]

((You are correct in saying that the exact creation of Homunculi was not detailed by Ithric, but he did mention them. Unless someone besides my character wants to RP finding the journal, I don't plan to submit this as server lore.

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.

I think that that quote pretty well justifies Iblees putting an abrupt end to Nef's experiments.

As far as non-LoTC alchemy lore goes, this isn't really that far out. I've done my own research.))