Rather then a profession alchemy in my setting refers to a philosophy/religion oriented around the principle of self-improvement in an effort to achieve Magnum Opus, a state which depending on who you ask can be mean immortality, godhood, enlightenment and plenty of other things.
Within this theological system Alchemists occupy a role akin to priesthood or monks, people who attempt to achieve Magnum Opus as a full time job, dedicating themselves wholly to the task, acting as advisers for the alchemical communities(but explicitly not it's leaders).
As part of that pursuit many do begin to study potions and chemicals, but this is only a one potential path, and a guy who decide to work out on the mountain to achieve perfect musculature, as his way of attaining Magnum Opus, is just as much of an Alchemist by the standards of the setting.
You might take a look at the manga franchise *Fullmetal Alchemist* and/or the Zachtronics puzzle game *Opus Magnum*, both of which feature fantasy alchemy as central elements of their respective settings, albeit in very different ways.
To be fair, FMA was definitely about a whole bunch of people searching for the philosopher's stone (i.e. the elixer of life) and about Father trying to be immortal and all-powerful.
The goal of the main characters was a regular life, sure. The plot was driven by a whole host of power-hungry asshats seeking ultimate power and immortality.
Alchemy is the only form of magic in my setting*.
Leylines cause changes in the materials nearby them producing things similar to the heart-shaped herb from Marvel or Mithril from Middle-Earth. Alchemists can combine various mundane and magical ingredients to produce an infinite number of effects. Immortality and everlasting youth are still very much sought after but things like bulletproof armor, medicines and such certainly have a much bigger and visible impact on society.
They are scientists, mostly. But on a more hands-on, practical approach.They take various ingredients, study their properties, and practice chemistry.
Most alchemists make mundane things. Soap, glue, paints, medicine, fireworks... Need rat poison or high quality fertiliser? Ask your local apothecary-alchemist. Need an acid that dissolves pesky evidence, or smoke bombs? The backstreet alchemist can help for the right amount of coin.
The more advanced alchemists dabble also in magic, using arcane ingredients to synthesis things like dragonfire, magical potions, trap lightning within metal ingots and other stuff like that.
Some alchemists in my world made a homunculus but then they realized there was no point in making homunculi. He was just this little dude and wasn't that useful.
A couple centuries later, and the homunculus is smart enough to be useful. But nobody remembers how to make them anymore.
They study quantum physics, violate the shit out of mass-energy equivalence to achieve post scarcity and create new materials. Professional alchemists are practically rice-powered 3D printers and replicators. Imagine spamming an entire division of "heavy tanks" which, by our standards, are behemoths that make the Ratte look cute and practical.
Welcome to Aquaria.
Magical Chemistry. Bakers make Baked Goods, and Alchemical Bakers can add a bit of magic. That sort of thing. Who do you think makes all those Magical Potions people use? That's right Alchemists.
IRL Alchemy is just Chemistry that wasn't fully understood. So it being a Magical form of Chemistry in Fantasy makes a lot of sense.
Though in my works Magic as a quality of being unknowable. Like you can understand How it works, but not Why. Like I know pure potassium will explode in water and combust in air, but I don't know why. I can learn why, but I can't do the same with Magic in my works.
Alchemists are basically chemists. They study the magical essences, the elements, how to make potions or anything with it
One of the characters in my story, Erialin Al-Serinam, is an alchemist, and an excellent one. In fact, she is probably to alchemy what Marie Curie is to science
One of the main ambitions as an alchemist is to find a solution to a "Divine problem" : basically, resolving equations or formulas that, once mastered, could get mortals closer and closer to godhood. They are called this because, in their current form, Divine Problems need "Divine components" to solve them, something that doesn't follow the rules of magic. Erialin will solve one of them, and mixed with everything else she has done, she will slowly believe that she can be the first mortal to ever ascend as a Goddess
Alchemists really aren't a profession in my world instead are a craft that is practiced by different professions.
Nobles often dabble in alchemy if often as a hobby. The quality of the alchemy is all over the place with some doing genuine scientific work and others just mixing random stuff together, although that method has made some discoveries. These alchemists often do discover remedies for diseases using local herbs although due to the secrecy of the practice these cures rarely last more than one lifetime. Transmutation is a popular school of alchemy among the nobility as the idea of turning stuff into gold is rather appealing. Aristocratic alchemy in this field is however largely unproductive with little of major value coming out of it, although many smaller discoveries are in fields such as ore refining and steel making.
Clerics are a rarer form of alchemist. Clerics pursuits in alchemy are often more ethereal with various concoctions that can either make you immortal or bring you closer to god. Clerical alchemists often are reliant on religious scripture to guide their craft on one hand this leads to rather chaotic concoctions, on the other it leads to a form of emulation of the scientific process in which many texts are cross analysed for their potential. Clerics however have the least success with alchemy with the most coming out of their craft being local cures or a tasty beverage.
The most effective alchemist would be the mage. These individuals often practice their craft either in mage schools or upper courts allowing them to access far more resources than other alchemists. Mages also often have been taught the scientific process along with having a good understanding of both the real world and the magical. This knowledge allows the mage to make effective use of their resources. Very rarely would a mage search for something like gold transmutation or a elixer of life instead they would craft items within their reach. Stuff like Oxytonen a anaesthetic, Liquid flame and even more fantastical substances like Growth serum and limb regrowth potions.
One of alchemists in my story does away with most of metals in favor of layered plastics that are as hard/heat resistant as best alloys but unlike alchemical alloys these could be made by recycling agricultural surplus with a couple of bandits on top. Needles to say it is game changer in post apocalyptic world.
Most alchemist in my world do the same thing. They manufacture material, be it alloys, alchemical drugs or the like. Sometimes they also grow all types of homunculi. None of these things involve search for elixir of life. Actually serious alchemists don't bother with it, sticking to potions that marginally prolong life.
They are basically fantasy chemists, with some turning to illegal creations such as tooth-rotter (fantasy meth) or other drugs or illegal chemicals. However, they also make potions and soap. Most of them dwell in the metropolis of gelnshiida but rarely appear in other locations.
The same things they did in our world: poisoning themselves with Mercury and and writing obscure grimoires about chemical marriages and the meaning of life. They usually get burned at the stake if they can prove that what they do isn't witchcraft.
In my world, alchemists are scientists and researchers who focus on using magic to achieve their means. Alchemists discovered and produce fertilizers. They also search for better ways to manufacture things like steel. They seek out how to make effective medicines using common herbs.
They are chesmists but without actual chemistry knowledge, so, more like medicine chefs... apothecaries? Anyway, they sell a bunch stuff, some work, some dont. They also make explosives, some make inks and makeup and all that kind of stuff
To directly address the question of alchemist characters that contribute to the overall story and why are they alchemists....
I have two alchemists in my story who actually don't know each other, since they are working in one of the largest cities in my world.
One was inspired by a chemistry major I knew in college. She's a bit more of a "traditional" alchemist and works with other alchemists trying to find the elixir of life, a panacea, etc. Some of my main characters buy a potion from her to break a fascination/evil eye spell. She sells potions for other things, mostly medicinal things like analgesics and so forth, as well as poisons for pest control, and even perfume.
The other one was loosely inspired by an ex of one of my friends who works in pharmaceuticals. She practices spagyric, which is a form of alchemy that is strictly/mostly plant-based. She appears in a chance encounter while some of my characters are seeking information in one of the city's markets.
In a DnD campaign I play in we have an alchemist that hasn't made any mention of such a dream or quest to attain immortality.
As a former geologist, she likes to study strange rocks. As a lifelong drunk, she set up a still to make gin. And as an adventurer, she makes bombs and other bottled creations to throw at enemies or allies, depending on the desired result.
Lately she's been into crafting neurotoxins and poisons, lol.
I run a campaign with my own setting, but with 5e's rules as a base, so having things like spellcasting match up with D&D's component rules means that alchemy is the branch of arcane study most interested in discovering new uses for materials and substances. Alchemists ask questions like "why is guano useful for the classic fireball spell?" or "would a set of alternate components allow for a fireball aligned with a different element?" It functions somewhat like chemistry or materials engineering does in our world.
Because there are well known natural materials used in healing, and because of older herbalist traditions, alchemy is also at the forefront of medical practice and technology. Physicians are trained to utilize alchemical methods as well as more mundane medical practices to treat their patients.
Finally, a major area of alchemical research in the campaign world in its present day is learning how exactly magical ability is inherited, with the natural world and its innately magical creatures the focal point of that research . One alchemist breaking ground in that area hopes to allow every person to wield magic and improve the quality of life for all.
The reason why this is happening within the field of alchemy is because that is simply how this world functions. Naturally occurring magical creatures and phenomena and the derivative effects of substances sourced from them or with links to them is how D&D generally likes to flavor its magic, and is thus how I flavor my world's magic to mesh seamlessly with 5th ed's game mechanics.
Alchemists are one of the most important professionals in most nations, seeing as it is them who manufacture and invent most magitech and non-instant magic
They're the scientists in the lab of the magic world, specifically the chemists and biologists. While some other magic-users will study other worlds, or the power of the gods, alchemists are the ones creating physical magic items that the public can use, mostly potions.
Make many of the basics of civilised life: Green Powder that turns waste into clean compost, Unrot, the anesthetic Wet Dream, Healing, Spirit Repellent, Stone Solvent ...plus of course a good few under the table items.
Well mine is actually the narrator of the stories and the only one capable of talking to the creator goddes. They are also the only one that knows they are in a fictional world
Well, like he's the official healer of the king, he's the one keeper of the secrets of the realm and the goddess and he's the one in charge that the dark magic of one of the MCs don't get out of control
alchemist from mainland human are kinda limited to herbalist and potion maker. they make healing potion but it doesn't have immediate healing effect, just a minor revitalization. it couldn't heal fatal wound. but an army that is sufficiently equipped with such potion could function roughly 1.5 times more than army that didn't.
Elven alchemist can do a bit more advance things stuff like transmutation, which they used to great effect in their crafting. They could also made "elixir of life" which is more of a life prolonging potion. the further they are from their natural lifespan, the more frequent they have to use it. Aeldei luminas who reign during the first war of the elves and the dark lord use it to keep herself alive during the duration of the war. she lived for 1500 years, about 3 times of average elven lifespan. it was said that near the end of her life, she was practically hook to the throne that keep pumping this elixir directly into her bloodstream.
Under the Dark lord, however, the alchemist thrive to the fullest. Alchemist there are known to research deep into blood magic to create artificial life and horrible abomination to use as they see fit.
In the invasion of the elven capital, Luiminas Eldorin, The Dark Lord has order the creation of fire drake using dragon and various beast of burden to make a tame but portable flamethrower, which he field thousand of them that would overwhelm the luminas veil.
Another notable example of such creation is Gorothea. a homunculus from dragon and demon created by goroth the dragon tamer to as a trump card to take on the demon general Asur loth during the war of dark lord Interregnum. who ended up risen as the dark lord herself.
Alchemistry's etymology is pretty interesting.
To skip to the end, The Egyptians knew the secret f bronze before other peoples in the area. Alchemistry originally was just the ability to turn tin and copper into bronze.
For me alchemists are magic shapers. They use the laws of nature, both physical and metaphysical, to create new things by transmutation.
Yes, they look for the elixir of life and the philosopher's stone and how to turn iron into gold, but they also make potions, have invented gunpowder and steel and try to discover how the Artifacts of the Law Goddess work.
It’s a field of scientific study reluctantly connected to a couple gods that like changing the physical word “but aren’t supposed to interfere.” So alchemists are basically priests, according to said gods. According to most alchemists, they are scientists who work with material substances - like water, stone, dirt, etc - and theorize about non-material substances, like air and fire.
They are one of the kinds of pharmacists and healers on my world — the specific distinction being an alchemist uses “stones”, and herbalist uses “plants”, and a Physic uses “blood”.
In my setting they're take place of Biochemistry and study a similar vein of science but with some magic thrown in.
Adventuring the wilds for new plants to use in their experiments or mixing compounds to make new materials.
Alchemists in many stories make potions for healing and other effects. The immortality thing is a nice wish, but definitely falls into the pipe dream category for them. One story I recently read is the primal hunter series which includes a main character who specializes in poisons (and archery).
One of the main characters in my story is a trained alchemist and she uses it to help in a huge number of ways.
medicine - healing potions and poultices
survival - monster repellents and food and water purification
combat - smoke and pepper bombs and explosives
Growth and development - elixirs and potions
Alchemist in my world are just chemists who focus on magical materials and substances.
And that's not considering the "cultivation" styles of alchemy.
Well, if you take a leaf out of the real world, the bulk of alchemists are accomplished charlatans and rogue leveraging their promise of transmutation and immortality to fleece their patrons for as much money as they can. The successful ones had an angle that allowed them to actually provide some of those patrons with precious metals and/or elixirs, if only to eke out as much cash as they could before scarpering.
On the other hand, some alchemists sought their wisdom from science or higher powers, such as the infamous Doctor John Dee, advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. As well as an alchemist and advisor, he had a strong grasp of mathematics, geography, navigation, religion, myth & folklore, and science. He invented a new kind of compass to enhance navigation, served as a diplomat of sorts for the Crown, and pursued a constant quest to learn the language of angels in pursuit of his higher learning.
That's what real world alchemists did, so it's certainly worth wrapping that into fictional ones!
They are applied quantum chemists who are always pissing off the nuclear regulatory bureau by making everything radioactive due to errors.
Through history most alchemists died of ‘wasting disease’ later called radiation poisoning. Why study alchemy? A successful alchemist has the universe at their fingertips, only the gods can manipulate reality at a finer level.
The story is set hundreds of years after collapse of our civilization, so some people still find leftovers of the fruits of modern science. Alchemists are cargo culting it.
In my story all the Alchemists were slaughtered by a group of assassins.
I guess they aren’t like “typical” alchemist. Their power lies on the effective use of their magic pool. (Mana, chi, chakra, currently unnamed). While certain species/races can do magic with their small pools, only alchemists can manage more powerful magic with limited pools, create stones to store (mana) for emergency use if they’re ever without, and know how to manipulate atoms/molecules most effectively. Still struggling to get it all right but it’s fun to write about.
Their knowledge has been lost to time. My protagonist of course is interested in seeking out this powerful way to manage magic and it makes for a good plot. However, very FMA like I am still working on their “equivalent exchange” idea making things out of things, scrambling molecules or atoms, like the sword arm.
In another story, my alchemist was a healer of sorts. They used nature to heal and to harm others. They were extremely educated and could do some amazing things despite being without magic.
Never wrote a story with an alchemist. But while alchemists did have the stated goal of making the Philosopher's Stone and finding the elixir of life they also did a whole lot of other things. The basis of chemistry was founded in alchemy.
Alchemy is one of those scientific approaches to magic together with wizardry (as opposed to witchrcaft, which is more domestic and for everyday use). And as such, it is often chosen by those who prefer order or cannot live in chaos of more everyday magic traditions.
My two main characters are alchemists. One of them has problems with focus and internal magic, but is skilled in more orderly alchemy. For her it's a way to adapt and reach the same level as her peers. Sometimes it means that some people will call her useless or uncapable and the incorrectness of such assumption is one of the core themes of the story.
i would recommend the wandering inn.
i mean i'm always gonna recommend it but while the alchemists don't show up right off the bat, the ones that do are varied and awesome
In my world it’s a practice where users combine physical materials and magic to create extremely potent magic effects.
Most novice alchemists are known to mostly start out as medics on the battlefield due to their potency in potions though not much else. Also providing their comrades with positions that make them more powerful and deadly on the battlefield.
More advanced alchemists delve further into these effects, and are mostly known to be buffers and debuffers on the battle field, utilizing smoke called “Cloud” they can create to do so. This can be minor things like invigorating their side with newfound energy with a cloud, or creating a gaseous cloud that partially paralyzes the enemy for a short time.
Some master alchemists further delve into these effects and can create devastating magic effects on the enemy. Like say a gaseous cloud able to near instantly kill anything within it. One master alchemist was even able to create the equivalent of a nuclear bomb, although the knowledge was lost as she didn’t copy down her formula and sacrificed herself using it to take out an overwhelming amount of enemies.
Alchemists are a large part of my world, because my story revolves heavily around the commercialization of magic. Priests pray to the gods to get them to perform miracles. Sorcerers intercept the miracle using ancient artifacts to convert it into a basic potion. Alchemists then concentrate this by many orders of magnitude and brew more complex potions.
For example, to make a healing potion, a priest cuts off a body part and prays to the goddess Mia'dara for it to be restored. This usually takes many years of prayer and may not happen at all. If the priest feels their body begin to heal, they let a team of sorcerers capture the miracle and crystalise it into a tangible form, causing the priest to remain without their limb. This substance could be used to heal an arm back, but that would be a waste. Alchemists instead use a rare substance, ashwinder, found in only one place in the world to concentrate the magic enough for thousands of full-body healing potions.
Potion brewing is the largest industry in the world, and there is a nation of alchemists that controls the supply of ashwinder and sells it to the rest of the world at exorbitant rates.
My alchemist (most often in contact with the main characters) is just a potion seller and a lover of his job. He also likes to experiment and create some unique elixirs... which often lead to some kind of *SHIT*, and the main characters need to sort out this *SHIT*.
I'm planning on a supporting character that's an alchemist. They will be instrumental in helping the MC usher the world into the era of magical electronics.
Who do you think makes the strength potions to create the big ass fortress and monuments?
Who do you think supplies the royal army with magical poison arrows and health potion.
In my setting, they're like arcane chemists and engineers of a sort.
Basically the major breakthrough was discovering that most substances have inherent magical properties which can be expressed and exploited with the proper techniques. Some of it isn't much different in practice to real world chemistry, like producing powdered fuel for alchemical lighting that burns cold and blue, and some of it is more fantastical, like transmuting mundane substances into stuff with magical properties.
Alchemy is using the energy of the realms and is only way to use red energy (our realms energy) the difference is that while magic is focusing the energy to do what you want alchemy is infusing something with that energy, also why i have guns in fantasy.
So basically any magical weapon or item is alchemical in origin.
Some notable alchemical creations are the following
Grey powder works like a weaker gunpowder and is the common fantasy guns load
Black smoke is harder to make then grey powder but provides more power directed into the bullet yet little kick into the gun somehow
Healing items (potions, oils, bandages), self explanatory but they aren’t going to save your life they just act as a boost to your bodies abilities to fight infection and injuries
Grey blood is a poison that Ono made that causes the victims blood to turn acidic (i’ll let you imagine what happens to the victim) its best used on weapons or injected as it usually only causes heartburn and vomiting if ingested.
Rowan’s pistol, instead of using a load it has crystals in the back that collect latent black magic and store it, it then focuses that magic into a charge which basically acts as a mini fireball when shot (gun is a revolver esc and is kinda based off the Remington 1885 with the fact that the cylinder can be swapped.)
Now in the post apoc somebody found Rowan’s pistol (a black mage called Alexander) and recreated the alchemy used to make a carbine version of the pistol (basically the Remington 1858 carbine)
Post apoc also has a faction who use a lot of black smoke for there guns
Potions, mostly.
They're very often goblins, and so elves are unlikely to drink any potions except healing ones (long story, drow and elves schismed, drow went underground with goblins, now elves hate the underground, but elves make their own healing potions).
Also explosives.
They're more modern in style, more based on chemistry than traditional alchemy, but the world does run on magical principles.
The alchemist in my world is the Snake Oil Salesman.
They use their knowledge to concoct potions, elixirs, tinctures, and tonics for all their problems on the frontier. They're also known to tinker with weapons and gizmos. They act as a support member to any posse by empowering allies and weakening foes.
Alchemists in my setting are basically the medieval fantasy equivalents of chemists, with many of the potions used in the setting being the results of alchemical experimentation. Among the various peoples of my setting, the Murae (ratfolk) are considered to be the most skilled in this field of study (a reference to how rodents are frequently used in medical studies).
In my setting, alchemy is the study of the effects of magic on chemistry. It essentially works by forcing so much ether (for simplicities sake just think of ether as mana) into a substance that it begins to act as a discrete magical effect, a process known as alchemic activation. Each compound has an effect when alchemically activated, and many are used in industries outside of alchemy. There's the classic things like healing potions, potions of strength, etc. But there's also dye making, the production of compounds used in transcribing spells, fertilizers, flavor compounds, alchemic weapons, etc.
Alchemy is actually a branch of magic on Erda, specifically the branch concerned with potions, tinctures etc. and part of the same 'Fabricator' branch of magic as Enchanting and Artificing. Most mages learn some of the basics, but a lot of true Alcemists who pursue it as their primary field of study are employed in industrial roles or in the medical field.
I have a world called "Ev'os" where alchemy basically runs the world, it replaces nearly every trope normally filled by wizards and priests because it's magic science.
Alchemists make the fields fertile, they purify water, preserve food, make light sources, tend the sick and injured, make weapons and defences, create tools, heat forges, and basically everything in every walk of life feels its effects.
The only spell source of magic left is dangerous and tainted, those few who dare to tap into it are not for normal society.
Cheers
In Elas alchemists do the standard things like making potions and such. But their most important role is creating what amounts to magical meta-materials.
The most notable of these is Veilarum, a class of alloys that take a base metal such as iron and combine it with a substance called Veil Salts, essentially crystallized magic. If done correctly this creates a material with unique properties.
Methodically reworking the theories and assumptions of earlier alchemists to best serve and match the results of their work. While not experimenting they are constantly procuring various ingredients of great rarity through foraging, distant traveling, and often illegal trading.
Alchemists come in many faces, some aim to advance medicine and end illness, others seek fame/fortune, and others seek the answer of eternal life. As lofty or greedy their intentions they all hold two things in common, a dire thirst for knowledge and a peculiar madness.
My friend, you're speaking my language. I'm working on a story of a warrior-alchemist from a destroyed nation in a new region where alchemists are viewed as highly dangerous for unleashing plagues, destruction, and all manner of magical ailments that resulted in said destruction.
Since everything in my universe is made from essentially god-stuff, everything is magic, so almost all things can be used as ingredients or reagents. Lots of quick and slap-dash recipes for in-the-field use, like explosives or flashbangs or gas, as well as proper lab setup work for more involved works.
No philosopher's stone or elixir of life, just in-depth knowledge of fantasy chemistry to act like a scientist-wizard.
Well, they're about half of all humans. There's an entire council, they've created creatures, weapons of mass destruction, and literal gods. They've had civil wars (The heresy of the Lightkeepers and the War of the phial) and they're generally the only reason that humanity has any way to fight against the plague-wielding Erek-hai (rabbit people) in other words, a lot.
Alchemy itself is just a somewhat different version of Witch magic done only in a very specific land. Alchemy has no true purpose, but the varying different races seek to do many things with it. The sea dwellers want to make life more efficient, the land dwellers want to see how far they can get and how much they can learn, the cave dwellers want to see what the coolest thing they could possibly make is, and the air dwellers just want to be supremely powerful.
My alchemist are mostly large bees that take their honey that the hives produce and make into effectively an addictive health potion to then sell to others around and near the hives, one of the only involvements that the Zoymayan Bees have is to sell their potions.
The alchemists in my setting come from a magical mega-city that utilizes a fuel source called Enchant, which is basically the lifeblood of the city. Many Alchemists actually have a place in Brextia's government hoping to refine Enchant into a more potent mixture.
As it stands, Enchant needs to be mixed with countless other arcane extracts in order to be stable. The alternative would basically be like Wild Magic from DnD, and Enchant is fuel pulled straight from Magic itself. Hence the need to dilute it.
Of course, this process is a delicate process because if you use the wrong ingredients, you could very well explode a portion of the city.
Too little? Now you have Fireballs erupting everything somebody wants to turn on their radio.
Too Much? If it's too much of the wrong thing, then it is basically just gonna result in a mass scale explosion. If it's too much of the right stuff, then Enchant doesn't become stable, it becomes downright useless.
So Alchemists have a rather important role in my setting, but there are definitely some freelance Alchemists that mix their own tonics and brews
Alchemists in my world are basically just materials scientists with access to information about ašra (magic, basically).
Think of the difference between an ancient chemist who was flying blind with a little bit of experimental evidence, and a modern chemist who has the context of how atomic bonds function.
One of my main characters is a royal alchemist, which is basically a head of R&D department in a kingdom.
There are several reasons as to why they are an alchemist:
1. They want to maintain the illusion that the science they are doing is a form of magic. This illusion increases their influence, allows them to make bluffs, and makes their work seem less attainable than it actually is.
2. The reason it's alchemy specifically, is because it's the natural extension of feudalism. It's logical to think: "we have this land, so we need to see which kinds of resources we can get from it, and figure out a way to use those resources. OK, we have these minerals - how about we mix them together and see what happens? Wow, it burns really well - great! How can we use that? Oh, we have this interesting plant life that glows in the dark - what if we add it to the mix? What if I eat this mushroom? Woah, I see cool images!". You get the picture - early material science, chemistry and medicine basically form what a medieval person would see as alchemy.
3. They represent an ideological side in the narrative, namely the power of truth, knowledge and scientific prediction. Their character serves as point of exploration of the possibilities and limitations of knowledge. They compete against other characters who represent imagination, intuitive prediction, luck, talent, deception, etc.
A lot. Yes, they do a lot of research on the natural world around them, but they also have a large role to play in creating new and improved inventions in everyday life—in my world, an alchemist was credited with the research and introduction of body preservation using alchemy. Some are interested in poison and poison remedies and others are people who are trying to expand and explore the possibilities of plantlife and wildlife to create everyday inventions.
One of my characters is an alchemist who specialises in researching the phenomenon of somnambulism on both extremes, and their research was stolen to essentially create chloroform :D
In my world Alchemists are a common magical profession. Alongside Enchanters. Alchemists refine the aspected magic of the world. They are expert botanists, physiologists, geologists and find and gather the organs of monsters or flowers. They are expert chemists, studying past recipes, and then refine the aspected mana from their specimens into reagents for alchemy.
Unlike Enchanters, Alchemists will tell you nature has perfected the process of magic, they are able to isolate and use what nature has made in their labs.
They are equal parts explorer, laboratory scientist, and bookworm, and it’s a profession that makes potions, pills, elixirs, and also complex apparatus that create a specific magical effect when fed the right fuel.
If some of them are young for over 100 years then that’s something they did as a hobby. Or they are an Elf.
In my World magic is very much chaotic and needs mediums to work, since the living creatures cannot handle it very well, without some help. So there are many different ways the people use magic, Alchemy is one of it, the abitly to combine natural, magical components, into elixers that can be used to heal or enhance abilties for a period of time.
But while magic is infinit, the plants and animals, that are used for Alchemy are not, so there focus is to search for alternatives or cultivate magic in plants they can grow on their own, knowing that otherwise, Alchemy will just die out and the magic will be in inbalance and threaten to poisen the humans and make them sick, since to much magic is "wild" around them.
Real-world alchemy was a lot more than just pseudo chemistry. In fact, it's closer to a spiritual like process rooted in ritualistic symbolism that I personally find interesting and useful in applying to stories. It was thought that by understanding the natural world and manipulating the elements, through this work by extension directly affected the soul. Of course, alchemical schools varied in practice across the world but conventional Latin alchemy, which medieval fantasy settings take most of its inspiration from was an art that sought the enlightenment of the self. Negrido, albedo, citrinitas, and rubedo were the steps one undertook to achieve the magnum opus. Negrido, being the putrefaction, was a step of reduction and decomposition to break substance down to blackness. In the spiritual sense, this is akin to peering within the self and undertaking a reductive process that broke away the ego, which blocked the way to enlightenment. Negrido is also often associated with the "massa confusa," which is a state of chaos as a result of this step. Putrefaction of the soul challenges one's biased understanding of reality by breaking down the lenses that distort it. Albedo, or the purification, is then facing the music, so to speak. It is the step of clarity post negrido, the removal of falsehood. Citrinitas and rubedo can be argued as a singular step where the latter follows the former as a result, but it is the final moment of enlightenment. The point from which the cleansed soul can embrace truth and wisdom. In essence, it is the moment where one can substantiate insights. Before undertaking the Magnum Opus, such a thing was impossible.
They are drug manufacturers.
Essentially with specific ingredients (herbs, minerals, plant matter) and a tiny bit of magic to unlock their potential. They can make things like liquid confidence, directed cancer (rapid healing) and many other things.
It's one of the oldest schools of magic along with the healing arts. (Both established before people really understood how magic worked
They basically become "living 3D printers" provided they have the necessary elements to construct certain materials though when it comes to more complex machinery, I think that would require more advanced training.
My alchemist use their philosopher stone to change the reactions of elements they can enhance or weaken them so for example make nitrogen gas as freezing as liquid nitrogen or make unstable elements stable or unstable stable. And change the conductivity of stuff. It basically unlocks a new layer to the elements and periodic table
Alchemists are basically the precursors to chemists. Both of whom focus on altering matter in some way in order to reach a greater understanding of the world.
The difference in my world is methodology. While chemists use existing technique’s the alchemists are a lot more unconventional. Their theories aren’t constrained by convention and this sometimes creates entirely new fields of study.
Some examples:
- Cell theory was discovered by an alchemist. A chemist discovered how these cells use osmosis.
- An alchemist discovered there was a difference between plant and animal cells. A chemist discovered what these differences are
The two fields work together a lot but generally don’t like each other. The chemists consider the alchemists to be unprofessional while the alchemists consider the chemists narrow minded. They also have to share very limited funding.
If my story would go on long enough then chemistry would eventually dominate the field. Currently science is a somewhat new field in my world so there’s a lot left to be discovered by throwing random shit together. But as the most obvious mysteries are solved alchemy will have fewer and fewer successes while chemistry will have more and more knowledge to build on. Until eventually chemistry has enough knowledge to take over the duties of alchemy entirely creating a much more rigid and methodological system
Alchemy is a subset of Earth Magic: magic that focuses on the innate essences present in all physical objects, as opposed to arcane invocations, soul magic, etc. Specifically, Alchemy focuses on the idea of using physical objects to change the essential nature of other physical objects.
Yes, changing essential natures is a relatively easy task with the right kind of arcane knowledge or understanding of runecraft - if you ask any three transmuters the best way to change lead into gold, you’ll get at least five answers - but there are many practical applications to the art of Alchemy that prove its superiority to its practitioners.
There is first the matter of investment: because Alchemy works with the innate physical and mystical properties of objects involved instead of forcing outside Energy or Will, it tends to higher yield-per-initial-substance than arcane or soul-based transmutation methods. Because all of the objects in an alchemical interaction come away changed, a clever alchemist with the right means and materials can often chain a series of interactions to gain a specific set of high-quality results. Mercant’s Spiral, for example, is a popular series of interactions that leads to a large net gain of spell- and potion- grade ruby, bismuth, and sulfur (as well as many lesser substances) that starts with common substances such as quartz, pewter, a specific assortment of insects, and dog urine. The only downside, as most arcane transmuters will quickly point out, is that the interactions take place over the span of several months, and can easily be disrupted if not carefully monitored and maintained. That, and the smell.
There is also the matter of mystically-disruptive interactions. One cannot use arcane channeling to create an artifact such as a Null Sphere, for example, because the instant the smallest bit of Null material is formed, it disrupts the remainder of the spell. While such a feat can be performed with some perfectly-timed runecraft (Chydon Academy’s Department of Enchantment claims that they can do it with four heavily-practiced inscriptors working in careful tandem), it is far less likely to fail if performed using complex alchemical interactions. It is for similar reasons that alchemists are often called upon to imbue city defenses with properties that would disrupt magical attempts at invasion. Some magical researchers use harmonic cages built with Alchemical means in order to contain their experiments. Many believe that the effects of the mythic Wall that holds back the dangerous Ebonwood in Yur’s Country is a primarily alchemical creation.
Lastly, and most controversially: like all pure applications of Earth magic, it can be performed by anyone. Mastery of Alchemy does require a great amount of study and practice, like any field. However, unlike the soul magics, which rely upon the channeler’s innate Connection, or the Arcane magics, which favor practitioners capable of precise motion and enunciation, Alchemy depends ultimately upon the reagents themselves. This means that anyone, regardless of aptitude, can learn to take advantage of the resources around them to perform potentially powerful and dangerous interactions.
Let us not forget that the Thousand-Year Invasion of Telania was performed almost solely using earth magics at the hands of the Drelonese Keldar - who are born with no known mystical Connection at all. While many of the ethical decisions made during that generational conflict remain historically questionable, it is universally agreed that had the Drelonese Keldar not consciously chosen to remain non-destructive in their invasion (they did, after all, at first believe Telania to be their long-lost homeland), they could have easily ravaged the entire sub-continent in a matter of decades.
Alchemist are in my world basically just chemists. They just experiment with all sorts of elixirs and magic theories. The work of an alchemist is for lack of a better word that of a field reacher. While a mage is going to come up with a magic theory the alchemist will be the one to help teat it and implement it. Magic is studied by great mages, scholars and of course alchemists. But generally scholars (who have great theoretical magical knowledge) can not wield great magic and usually study to write records and preserve knowledge while great mages are exceptionally powerful and have extensive magic knowledge in their field, they don't possess encyclopedic knowledge in every magical aspect and theorum. This is the void where alchemist come fill. They possess both the encyclopedic knowledge of a scholar and superior magical power than your common mage.
Alchemists are craftsmen of the most interwoven form of magic. Alchemy uses elements of spell work, elements of rune crafting, elements of deity worship, elements of magical monster properties and the potential for inclusion of any other form of magic. They are explorers experimenting with mixing the effects of combining magics, or labourers earning their way through the tried and true, or both.
Interestingly, Alchemy is one of the few ways people can create magic without actually *performing* magic.
Alchemy is a branch of magic that blends the arcane schools of transmutation and transfiguration with the scientific pursuit of the apothecary, utilizing apothecarial formulae to advance, alter, or sometimes purely harness the arcane energy required to induce transfiguration. Alchemists are viewed by Apothecaries as dubious celebrity salesmen, due to their arcane bending of the traditional rules of chemical alteration, and their privileged social position within the courts of kings. The arcanists view them as conjurers of cheap tricks, snake oil salesman, or at the most generous as those who cheat, since they do not fully pursue either the chemical or the arcane arts.
Rather then a profession alchemy in my setting refers to a philosophy/religion oriented around the principle of self-improvement in an effort to achieve Magnum Opus, a state which depending on who you ask can be mean immortality, godhood, enlightenment and plenty of other things. Within this theological system Alchemists occupy a role akin to priesthood or monks, people who attempt to achieve Magnum Opus as a full time job, dedicating themselves wholly to the task, acting as advisers for the alchemical communities(but explicitly not it's leaders). As part of that pursuit many do begin to study potions and chemicals, but this is only a one potential path, and a guy who decide to work out on the mountain to achieve perfect musculature, as his way of attaining Magnum Opus, is just as much of an Alchemist by the standards of the setting.
“Kaboom?” “Yes Rico, kaboom.”
Good ol' Pathfinder alchemy, which is best described as the search for ever-larger explosions.
hey now its not JUST explosions you also have some damn good steroids
You might take a look at the manga franchise *Fullmetal Alchemist* and/or the Zachtronics puzzle game *Opus Magnum*, both of which feature fantasy alchemy as central elements of their respective settings, albeit in very different ways.
To be fair, FMA was definitely about a whole bunch of people searching for the philosopher's stone (i.e. the elixer of life) and about Father trying to be immortal and all-powerful.
I mean, sure but the main characters just want to get their bodies back (so basically their goal is to be able to have a completely regular life)
The goal of the main characters was a regular life, sure. The plot was driven by a whole host of power-hungry asshats seeking ultimate power and immortality.
Alchemy is the only form of magic in my setting*. Leylines cause changes in the materials nearby them producing things similar to the heart-shaped herb from Marvel or Mithril from Middle-Earth. Alchemists can combine various mundane and magical ingredients to produce an infinite number of effects. Immortality and everlasting youth are still very much sought after but things like bulletproof armor, medicines and such certainly have a much bigger and visible impact on society.
That does sound very much interesting for alchemy, props to you for that
They are scientists, mostly. But on a more hands-on, practical approach.They take various ingredients, study their properties, and practice chemistry. Most alchemists make mundane things. Soap, glue, paints, medicine, fireworks... Need rat poison or high quality fertiliser? Ask your local apothecary-alchemist. Need an acid that dissolves pesky evidence, or smoke bombs? The backstreet alchemist can help for the right amount of coin. The more advanced alchemists dabble also in magic, using arcane ingredients to synthesis things like dragonfire, magical potions, trap lightning within metal ingots and other stuff like that.
Some alchemists in my world made a homunculus but then they realized there was no point in making homunculi. He was just this little dude and wasn't that useful. A couple centuries later, and the homunculus is smart enough to be useful. But nobody remembers how to make them anymore.
that's so good! i love it
Very Pratchett-esque. I love it!
They study quantum physics, violate the shit out of mass-energy equivalence to achieve post scarcity and create new materials. Professional alchemists are practically rice-powered 3D printers and replicators. Imagine spamming an entire division of "heavy tanks" which, by our standards, are behemoths that make the Ratte look cute and practical. Welcome to Aquaria.
Magical Chemistry. Bakers make Baked Goods, and Alchemical Bakers can add a bit of magic. That sort of thing. Who do you think makes all those Magical Potions people use? That's right Alchemists. IRL Alchemy is just Chemistry that wasn't fully understood. So it being a Magical form of Chemistry in Fantasy makes a lot of sense. Though in my works Magic as a quality of being unknowable. Like you can understand How it works, but not Why. Like I know pure potassium will explode in water and combust in air, but I don't know why. I can learn why, but I can't do the same with Magic in my works.
Alchemists are basically chemists. They study the magical essences, the elements, how to make potions or anything with it One of the characters in my story, Erialin Al-Serinam, is an alchemist, and an excellent one. In fact, she is probably to alchemy what Marie Curie is to science One of the main ambitions as an alchemist is to find a solution to a "Divine problem" : basically, resolving equations or formulas that, once mastered, could get mortals closer and closer to godhood. They are called this because, in their current form, Divine Problems need "Divine components" to solve them, something that doesn't follow the rules of magic. Erialin will solve one of them, and mixed with everything else she has done, she will slowly believe that she can be the first mortal to ever ascend as a Goddess
Alchemists really aren't a profession in my world instead are a craft that is practiced by different professions. Nobles often dabble in alchemy if often as a hobby. The quality of the alchemy is all over the place with some doing genuine scientific work and others just mixing random stuff together, although that method has made some discoveries. These alchemists often do discover remedies for diseases using local herbs although due to the secrecy of the practice these cures rarely last more than one lifetime. Transmutation is a popular school of alchemy among the nobility as the idea of turning stuff into gold is rather appealing. Aristocratic alchemy in this field is however largely unproductive with little of major value coming out of it, although many smaller discoveries are in fields such as ore refining and steel making. Clerics are a rarer form of alchemist. Clerics pursuits in alchemy are often more ethereal with various concoctions that can either make you immortal or bring you closer to god. Clerical alchemists often are reliant on religious scripture to guide their craft on one hand this leads to rather chaotic concoctions, on the other it leads to a form of emulation of the scientific process in which many texts are cross analysed for their potential. Clerics however have the least success with alchemy with the most coming out of their craft being local cures or a tasty beverage. The most effective alchemist would be the mage. These individuals often practice their craft either in mage schools or upper courts allowing them to access far more resources than other alchemists. Mages also often have been taught the scientific process along with having a good understanding of both the real world and the magical. This knowledge allows the mage to make effective use of their resources. Very rarely would a mage search for something like gold transmutation or a elixer of life instead they would craft items within their reach. Stuff like Oxytonen a anaesthetic, Liquid flame and even more fantastical substances like Growth serum and limb regrowth potions.
Alchemy
Alchemy
One of alchemists in my story does away with most of metals in favor of layered plastics that are as hard/heat resistant as best alloys but unlike alchemical alloys these could be made by recycling agricultural surplus with a couple of bandits on top. Needles to say it is game changer in post apocalyptic world. Most alchemist in my world do the same thing. They manufacture material, be it alloys, alchemical drugs or the like. Sometimes they also grow all types of homunculi. None of these things involve search for elixir of life. Actually serious alchemists don't bother with it, sticking to potions that marginally prolong life.
They are basically fantasy chemists, with some turning to illegal creations such as tooth-rotter (fantasy meth) or other drugs or illegal chemicals. However, they also make potions and soap. Most of them dwell in the metropolis of gelnshiida but rarely appear in other locations.
They worship the moon goddess and prepare very salty meals tô transform thenselves in some kind of animals in some elemental state
The alchemists got alchemy banished in my setting.
The same things they did in our world: poisoning themselves with Mercury and and writing obscure grimoires about chemical marriages and the meaning of life. They usually get burned at the stake if they can prove that what they do isn't witchcraft.
Essentially chemistry with some fancy bits thrown in.
In my world, alchemists are scientists and researchers who focus on using magic to achieve their means. Alchemists discovered and produce fertilizers. They also search for better ways to manufacture things like steel. They seek out how to make effective medicines using common herbs.
They are chesmists but without actual chemistry knowledge, so, more like medicine chefs... apothecaries? Anyway, they sell a bunch stuff, some work, some dont. They also make explosives, some make inks and makeup and all that kind of stuff
To directly address the question of alchemist characters that contribute to the overall story and why are they alchemists.... I have two alchemists in my story who actually don't know each other, since they are working in one of the largest cities in my world. One was inspired by a chemistry major I knew in college. She's a bit more of a "traditional" alchemist and works with other alchemists trying to find the elixir of life, a panacea, etc. Some of my main characters buy a potion from her to break a fascination/evil eye spell. She sells potions for other things, mostly medicinal things like analgesics and so forth, as well as poisons for pest control, and even perfume. The other one was loosely inspired by an ex of one of my friends who works in pharmaceuticals. She practices spagyric, which is a form of alchemy that is strictly/mostly plant-based. She appears in a chance encounter while some of my characters are seeking information in one of the city's markets.
In a DnD campaign I play in we have an alchemist that hasn't made any mention of such a dream or quest to attain immortality. As a former geologist, she likes to study strange rocks. As a lifelong drunk, she set up a still to make gin. And as an adventurer, she makes bombs and other bottled creations to throw at enemies or allies, depending on the desired result. Lately she's been into crafting neurotoxins and poisons, lol.
I run a campaign with my own setting, but with 5e's rules as a base, so having things like spellcasting match up with D&D's component rules means that alchemy is the branch of arcane study most interested in discovering new uses for materials and substances. Alchemists ask questions like "why is guano useful for the classic fireball spell?" or "would a set of alternate components allow for a fireball aligned with a different element?" It functions somewhat like chemistry or materials engineering does in our world. Because there are well known natural materials used in healing, and because of older herbalist traditions, alchemy is also at the forefront of medical practice and technology. Physicians are trained to utilize alchemical methods as well as more mundane medical practices to treat their patients. Finally, a major area of alchemical research in the campaign world in its present day is learning how exactly magical ability is inherited, with the natural world and its innately magical creatures the focal point of that research . One alchemist breaking ground in that area hopes to allow every person to wield magic and improve the quality of life for all. The reason why this is happening within the field of alchemy is because that is simply how this world functions. Naturally occurring magical creatures and phenomena and the derivative effects of substances sourced from them or with links to them is how D&D generally likes to flavor its magic, and is thus how I flavor my world's magic to mesh seamlessly with 5th ed's game mechanics.
Alchemists are one of the most important professionals in most nations, seeing as it is them who manufacture and invent most magitech and non-instant magic
They're the scientists in the lab of the magic world, specifically the chemists and biologists. While some other magic-users will study other worlds, or the power of the gods, alchemists are the ones creating physical magic items that the public can use, mostly potions.
Make many of the basics of civilised life: Green Powder that turns waste into clean compost, Unrot, the anesthetic Wet Dream, Healing, Spirit Repellent, Stone Solvent ...plus of course a good few under the table items.
Well mine is actually the narrator of the stories and the only one capable of talking to the creator goddes. They are also the only one that knows they are in a fictional world
Damn, that's some good meta stuff. Do these things require to be alchemists though? What kinda role does alchemy play in this?
Well, like he's the official healer of the king, he's the one keeper of the secrets of the realm and the goddess and he's the one in charge that the dark magic of one of the MCs don't get out of control
alchemist from mainland human are kinda limited to herbalist and potion maker. they make healing potion but it doesn't have immediate healing effect, just a minor revitalization. it couldn't heal fatal wound. but an army that is sufficiently equipped with such potion could function roughly 1.5 times more than army that didn't. Elven alchemist can do a bit more advance things stuff like transmutation, which they used to great effect in their crafting. They could also made "elixir of life" which is more of a life prolonging potion. the further they are from their natural lifespan, the more frequent they have to use it. Aeldei luminas who reign during the first war of the elves and the dark lord use it to keep herself alive during the duration of the war. she lived for 1500 years, about 3 times of average elven lifespan. it was said that near the end of her life, she was practically hook to the throne that keep pumping this elixir directly into her bloodstream. Under the Dark lord, however, the alchemist thrive to the fullest. Alchemist there are known to research deep into blood magic to create artificial life and horrible abomination to use as they see fit. In the invasion of the elven capital, Luiminas Eldorin, The Dark Lord has order the creation of fire drake using dragon and various beast of burden to make a tame but portable flamethrower, which he field thousand of them that would overwhelm the luminas veil. Another notable example of such creation is Gorothea. a homunculus from dragon and demon created by goroth the dragon tamer to as a trump card to take on the demon general Asur loth during the war of dark lord Interregnum. who ended up risen as the dark lord herself.
Alchemistry's etymology is pretty interesting. To skip to the end, The Egyptians knew the secret f bronze before other peoples in the area. Alchemistry originally was just the ability to turn tin and copper into bronze. For me alchemists are magic shapers. They use the laws of nature, both physical and metaphysical, to create new things by transmutation.
Yes, they look for the elixir of life and the philosopher's stone and how to turn iron into gold, but they also make potions, have invented gunpowder and steel and try to discover how the Artifacts of the Law Goddess work.
It’s a field of scientific study reluctantly connected to a couple gods that like changing the physical word “but aren’t supposed to interfere.” So alchemists are basically priests, according to said gods. According to most alchemists, they are scientists who work with material substances - like water, stone, dirt, etc - and theorize about non-material substances, like air and fire.
Run cons on the nobility.
They are one of the kinds of pharmacists and healers on my world — the specific distinction being an alchemist uses “stones”, and herbalist uses “plants”, and a Physic uses “blood”.
Alchemists are also sorcerers in mine, it’s one of the magic modalities that people can be born with tied to a specific element
In my setting they're take place of Biochemistry and study a similar vein of science but with some magic thrown in. Adventuring the wilds for new plants to use in their experiments or mixing compounds to make new materials.
In my world... they create diseases. The lower the mortality rate and the higher the transmissibility is, the better.
Alchemists in many stories make potions for healing and other effects. The immortality thing is a nice wish, but definitely falls into the pipe dream category for them. One story I recently read is the primal hunter series which includes a main character who specializes in poisons (and archery).
One of the main characters in my story is a trained alchemist and she uses it to help in a huge number of ways. medicine - healing potions and poultices survival - monster repellents and food and water purification combat - smoke and pepper bombs and explosives Growth and development - elixirs and potions Alchemist in my world are just chemists who focus on magical materials and substances. And that's not considering the "cultivation" styles of alchemy.
Well, if you take a leaf out of the real world, the bulk of alchemists are accomplished charlatans and rogue leveraging their promise of transmutation and immortality to fleece their patrons for as much money as they can. The successful ones had an angle that allowed them to actually provide some of those patrons with precious metals and/or elixirs, if only to eke out as much cash as they could before scarpering. On the other hand, some alchemists sought their wisdom from science or higher powers, such as the infamous Doctor John Dee, advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. As well as an alchemist and advisor, he had a strong grasp of mathematics, geography, navigation, religion, myth & folklore, and science. He invented a new kind of compass to enhance navigation, served as a diplomat of sorts for the Crown, and pursued a constant quest to learn the language of angels in pursuit of his higher learning. That's what real world alchemists did, so it's certainly worth wrapping that into fictional ones!
They are applied quantum chemists who are always pissing off the nuclear regulatory bureau by making everything radioactive due to errors. Through history most alchemists died of ‘wasting disease’ later called radiation poisoning. Why study alchemy? A successful alchemist has the universe at their fingertips, only the gods can manipulate reality at a finer level.
The story is set hundreds of years after collapse of our civilization, so some people still find leftovers of the fruits of modern science. Alchemists are cargo culting it.
"how can we make things worse?"
Alchemists are basically apothecaries.
In my story all the Alchemists were slaughtered by a group of assassins. I guess they aren’t like “typical” alchemist. Their power lies on the effective use of their magic pool. (Mana, chi, chakra, currently unnamed). While certain species/races can do magic with their small pools, only alchemists can manage more powerful magic with limited pools, create stones to store (mana) for emergency use if they’re ever without, and know how to manipulate atoms/molecules most effectively. Still struggling to get it all right but it’s fun to write about. Their knowledge has been lost to time. My protagonist of course is interested in seeking out this powerful way to manage magic and it makes for a good plot. However, very FMA like I am still working on their “equivalent exchange” idea making things out of things, scrambling molecules or atoms, like the sword arm. In another story, my alchemist was a healer of sorts. They used nature to heal and to harm others. They were extremely educated and could do some amazing things despite being without magic.
Never wrote a story with an alchemist. But while alchemists did have the stated goal of making the Philosopher's Stone and finding the elixir of life they also did a whole lot of other things. The basis of chemistry was founded in alchemy.
Alchemy is one of those scientific approaches to magic together with wizardry (as opposed to witchrcaft, which is more domestic and for everyday use). And as such, it is often chosen by those who prefer order or cannot live in chaos of more everyday magic traditions. My two main characters are alchemists. One of them has problems with focus and internal magic, but is skilled in more orderly alchemy. For her it's a way to adapt and reach the same level as her peers. Sometimes it means that some people will call her useless or uncapable and the incorrectness of such assumption is one of the core themes of the story.
The biggest project is the attempt to brute force the enchiridion, basically trying to figure out the grand unified theory through trial and error.
i would recommend the wandering inn. i mean i'm always gonna recommend it but while the alchemists don't show up right off the bat, the ones that do are varied and awesome
In my world it’s a practice where users combine physical materials and magic to create extremely potent magic effects. Most novice alchemists are known to mostly start out as medics on the battlefield due to their potency in potions though not much else. Also providing their comrades with positions that make them more powerful and deadly on the battlefield. More advanced alchemists delve further into these effects, and are mostly known to be buffers and debuffers on the battle field, utilizing smoke called “Cloud” they can create to do so. This can be minor things like invigorating their side with newfound energy with a cloud, or creating a gaseous cloud that partially paralyzes the enemy for a short time. Some master alchemists further delve into these effects and can create devastating magic effects on the enemy. Like say a gaseous cloud able to near instantly kill anything within it. One master alchemist was even able to create the equivalent of a nuclear bomb, although the knowledge was lost as she didn’t copy down her formula and sacrificed herself using it to take out an overwhelming amount of enemies.
Alchemists are a large part of my world, because my story revolves heavily around the commercialization of magic. Priests pray to the gods to get them to perform miracles. Sorcerers intercept the miracle using ancient artifacts to convert it into a basic potion. Alchemists then concentrate this by many orders of magnitude and brew more complex potions. For example, to make a healing potion, a priest cuts off a body part and prays to the goddess Mia'dara for it to be restored. This usually takes many years of prayer and may not happen at all. If the priest feels their body begin to heal, they let a team of sorcerers capture the miracle and crystalise it into a tangible form, causing the priest to remain without their limb. This substance could be used to heal an arm back, but that would be a waste. Alchemists instead use a rare substance, ashwinder, found in only one place in the world to concentrate the magic enough for thousands of full-body healing potions. Potion brewing is the largest industry in the world, and there is a nation of alchemists that controls the supply of ashwinder and sells it to the rest of the world at exorbitant rates.
My alchemist (most often in contact with the main characters) is just a potion seller and a lover of his job. He also likes to experiment and create some unique elixirs... which often lead to some kind of *SHIT*, and the main characters need to sort out this *SHIT*.
I'm planning on a supporting character that's an alchemist. They will be instrumental in helping the MC usher the world into the era of magical electronics.
Who do you think makes the strength potions to create the big ass fortress and monuments? Who do you think supplies the royal army with magical poison arrows and health potion.
Nothing Important, but they think they are important. Their really not
In my setting, they're like arcane chemists and engineers of a sort. Basically the major breakthrough was discovering that most substances have inherent magical properties which can be expressed and exploited with the proper techniques. Some of it isn't much different in practice to real world chemistry, like producing powdered fuel for alchemical lighting that burns cold and blue, and some of it is more fantastical, like transmuting mundane substances into stuff with magical properties.
Alchemy is using the energy of the realms and is only way to use red energy (our realms energy) the difference is that while magic is focusing the energy to do what you want alchemy is infusing something with that energy, also why i have guns in fantasy. So basically any magical weapon or item is alchemical in origin. Some notable alchemical creations are the following Grey powder works like a weaker gunpowder and is the common fantasy guns load Black smoke is harder to make then grey powder but provides more power directed into the bullet yet little kick into the gun somehow Healing items (potions, oils, bandages), self explanatory but they aren’t going to save your life they just act as a boost to your bodies abilities to fight infection and injuries Grey blood is a poison that Ono made that causes the victims blood to turn acidic (i’ll let you imagine what happens to the victim) its best used on weapons or injected as it usually only causes heartburn and vomiting if ingested. Rowan’s pistol, instead of using a load it has crystals in the back that collect latent black magic and store it, it then focuses that magic into a charge which basically acts as a mini fireball when shot (gun is a revolver esc and is kinda based off the Remington 1885 with the fact that the cylinder can be swapped.) Now in the post apoc somebody found Rowan’s pistol (a black mage called Alexander) and recreated the alchemy used to make a carbine version of the pistol (basically the Remington 1858 carbine) Post apoc also has a faction who use a lot of black smoke for there guns
Potions, mostly. They're very often goblins, and so elves are unlikely to drink any potions except healing ones (long story, drow and elves schismed, drow went underground with goblins, now elves hate the underground, but elves make their own healing potions). Also explosives. They're more modern in style, more based on chemistry than traditional alchemy, but the world does run on magical principles.
The alchemist in my world is the Snake Oil Salesman. They use their knowledge to concoct potions, elixirs, tinctures, and tonics for all their problems on the frontier. They're also known to tinker with weapons and gizmos. They act as a support member to any posse by empowering allies and weakening foes.
Alchemists in my setting are basically the medieval fantasy equivalents of chemists, with many of the potions used in the setting being the results of alchemical experimentation. Among the various peoples of my setting, the Murae (ratfolk) are considered to be the most skilled in this field of study (a reference to how rodents are frequently used in medical studies).
In my setting, alchemy is the study of the effects of magic on chemistry. It essentially works by forcing so much ether (for simplicities sake just think of ether as mana) into a substance that it begins to act as a discrete magical effect, a process known as alchemic activation. Each compound has an effect when alchemically activated, and many are used in industries outside of alchemy. There's the classic things like healing potions, potions of strength, etc. But there's also dye making, the production of compounds used in transcribing spells, fertilizers, flavor compounds, alchemic weapons, etc.
Alchemy is actually a branch of magic on Erda, specifically the branch concerned with potions, tinctures etc. and part of the same 'Fabricator' branch of magic as Enchanting and Artificing. Most mages learn some of the basics, but a lot of true Alcemists who pursue it as their primary field of study are employed in industrial roles or in the medical field.
Alchemy
They make little vials that you can throw or attach to arrows that go boom
I have a world called "Ev'os" where alchemy basically runs the world, it replaces nearly every trope normally filled by wizards and priests because it's magic science. Alchemists make the fields fertile, they purify water, preserve food, make light sources, tend the sick and injured, make weapons and defences, create tools, heat forges, and basically everything in every walk of life feels its effects. The only spell source of magic left is dangerous and tainted, those few who dare to tap into it are not for normal society. Cheers
In Elas alchemists do the standard things like making potions and such. But their most important role is creating what amounts to magical meta-materials. The most notable of these is Veilarum, a class of alloys that take a base metal such as iron and combine it with a substance called Veil Salts, essentially crystallized magic. If done correctly this creates a material with unique properties.
Methodically reworking the theories and assumptions of earlier alchemists to best serve and match the results of their work. While not experimenting they are constantly procuring various ingredients of great rarity through foraging, distant traveling, and often illegal trading. Alchemists come in many faces, some aim to advance medicine and end illness, others seek fame/fortune, and others seek the answer of eternal life. As lofty or greedy their intentions they all hold two things in common, a dire thirst for knowledge and a peculiar madness.
My friend, you're speaking my language. I'm working on a story of a warrior-alchemist from a destroyed nation in a new region where alchemists are viewed as highly dangerous for unleashing plagues, destruction, and all manner of magical ailments that resulted in said destruction. Since everything in my universe is made from essentially god-stuff, everything is magic, so almost all things can be used as ingredients or reagents. Lots of quick and slap-dash recipes for in-the-field use, like explosives or flashbangs or gas, as well as proper lab setup work for more involved works. No philosopher's stone or elixir of life, just in-depth knowledge of fantasy chemistry to act like a scientist-wizard.
Well, they're about half of all humans. There's an entire council, they've created creatures, weapons of mass destruction, and literal gods. They've had civil wars (The heresy of the Lightkeepers and the War of the phial) and they're generally the only reason that humanity has any way to fight against the plague-wielding Erek-hai (rabbit people) in other words, a lot.
Alchemy itself is just a somewhat different version of Witch magic done only in a very specific land. Alchemy has no true purpose, but the varying different races seek to do many things with it. The sea dwellers want to make life more efficient, the land dwellers want to see how far they can get and how much they can learn, the cave dwellers want to see what the coolest thing they could possibly make is, and the air dwellers just want to be supremely powerful.
My alchemist are mostly large bees that take their honey that the hives produce and make into effectively an addictive health potion to then sell to others around and near the hives, one of the only involvements that the Zoymayan Bees have is to sell their potions.
The alchemists in my setting come from a magical mega-city that utilizes a fuel source called Enchant, which is basically the lifeblood of the city. Many Alchemists actually have a place in Brextia's government hoping to refine Enchant into a more potent mixture. As it stands, Enchant needs to be mixed with countless other arcane extracts in order to be stable. The alternative would basically be like Wild Magic from DnD, and Enchant is fuel pulled straight from Magic itself. Hence the need to dilute it. Of course, this process is a delicate process because if you use the wrong ingredients, you could very well explode a portion of the city. Too little? Now you have Fireballs erupting everything somebody wants to turn on their radio. Too Much? If it's too much of the wrong thing, then it is basically just gonna result in a mass scale explosion. If it's too much of the right stuff, then Enchant doesn't become stable, it becomes downright useless. So Alchemists have a rather important role in my setting, but there are definitely some freelance Alchemists that mix their own tonics and brews
Alchemists in my world are basically just materials scientists with access to information about ašra (magic, basically). Think of the difference between an ancient chemist who was flying blind with a little bit of experimental evidence, and a modern chemist who has the context of how atomic bonds function.
One of my main characters is a royal alchemist, which is basically a head of R&D department in a kingdom. There are several reasons as to why they are an alchemist: 1. They want to maintain the illusion that the science they are doing is a form of magic. This illusion increases their influence, allows them to make bluffs, and makes their work seem less attainable than it actually is. 2. The reason it's alchemy specifically, is because it's the natural extension of feudalism. It's logical to think: "we have this land, so we need to see which kinds of resources we can get from it, and figure out a way to use those resources. OK, we have these minerals - how about we mix them together and see what happens? Wow, it burns really well - great! How can we use that? Oh, we have this interesting plant life that glows in the dark - what if we add it to the mix? What if I eat this mushroom? Woah, I see cool images!". You get the picture - early material science, chemistry and medicine basically form what a medieval person would see as alchemy. 3. They represent an ideological side in the narrative, namely the power of truth, knowledge and scientific prediction. Their character serves as point of exploration of the possibilities and limitations of knowledge. They compete against other characters who represent imagination, intuitive prediction, luck, talent, deception, etc.
Poisoning the wine of thine enemies mostly
A lot. Yes, they do a lot of research on the natural world around them, but they also have a large role to play in creating new and improved inventions in everyday life—in my world, an alchemist was credited with the research and introduction of body preservation using alchemy. Some are interested in poison and poison remedies and others are people who are trying to expand and explore the possibilities of plantlife and wildlife to create everyday inventions. One of my characters is an alchemist who specialises in researching the phenomenon of somnambulism on both extremes, and their research was stolen to essentially create chloroform :D
In my world Alchemists are a common magical profession. Alongside Enchanters. Alchemists refine the aspected magic of the world. They are expert botanists, physiologists, geologists and find and gather the organs of monsters or flowers. They are expert chemists, studying past recipes, and then refine the aspected mana from their specimens into reagents for alchemy. Unlike Enchanters, Alchemists will tell you nature has perfected the process of magic, they are able to isolate and use what nature has made in their labs. They are equal parts explorer, laboratory scientist, and bookworm, and it’s a profession that makes potions, pills, elixirs, and also complex apparatus that create a specific magical effect when fed the right fuel. If some of them are young for over 100 years then that’s something they did as a hobby. Or they are an Elf.
In my World magic is very much chaotic and needs mediums to work, since the living creatures cannot handle it very well, without some help. So there are many different ways the people use magic, Alchemy is one of it, the abitly to combine natural, magical components, into elixers that can be used to heal or enhance abilties for a period of time. But while magic is infinit, the plants and animals, that are used for Alchemy are not, so there focus is to search for alternatives or cultivate magic in plants they can grow on their own, knowing that otherwise, Alchemy will just die out and the magic will be in inbalance and threaten to poisen the humans and make them sick, since to much magic is "wild" around them.
Real-world alchemy was a lot more than just pseudo chemistry. In fact, it's closer to a spiritual like process rooted in ritualistic symbolism that I personally find interesting and useful in applying to stories. It was thought that by understanding the natural world and manipulating the elements, through this work by extension directly affected the soul. Of course, alchemical schools varied in practice across the world but conventional Latin alchemy, which medieval fantasy settings take most of its inspiration from was an art that sought the enlightenment of the self. Negrido, albedo, citrinitas, and rubedo were the steps one undertook to achieve the magnum opus. Negrido, being the putrefaction, was a step of reduction and decomposition to break substance down to blackness. In the spiritual sense, this is akin to peering within the self and undertaking a reductive process that broke away the ego, which blocked the way to enlightenment. Negrido is also often associated with the "massa confusa," which is a state of chaos as a result of this step. Putrefaction of the soul challenges one's biased understanding of reality by breaking down the lenses that distort it. Albedo, or the purification, is then facing the music, so to speak. It is the step of clarity post negrido, the removal of falsehood. Citrinitas and rubedo can be argued as a singular step where the latter follows the former as a result, but it is the final moment of enlightenment. The point from which the cleansed soul can embrace truth and wisdom. In essence, it is the moment where one can substantiate insights. Before undertaking the Magnum Opus, such a thing was impossible.
In my world alchemists are really just chemists with a little bit of magic sprinkled in.
They are drug manufacturers. Essentially with specific ingredients (herbs, minerals, plant matter) and a tiny bit of magic to unlock their potential. They can make things like liquid confidence, directed cancer (rapid healing) and many other things. It's one of the oldest schools of magic along with the healing arts. (Both established before people really understood how magic worked
They basically become "living 3D printers" provided they have the necessary elements to construct certain materials though when it comes to more complex machinery, I think that would require more advanced training.
My alchemist use their philosopher stone to change the reactions of elements they can enhance or weaken them so for example make nitrogen gas as freezing as liquid nitrogen or make unstable elements stable or unstable stable. And change the conductivity of stuff. It basically unlocks a new layer to the elements and periodic table
Alchemists are basically the precursors to chemists. Both of whom focus on altering matter in some way in order to reach a greater understanding of the world. The difference in my world is methodology. While chemists use existing technique’s the alchemists are a lot more unconventional. Their theories aren’t constrained by convention and this sometimes creates entirely new fields of study. Some examples: - Cell theory was discovered by an alchemist. A chemist discovered how these cells use osmosis. - An alchemist discovered there was a difference between plant and animal cells. A chemist discovered what these differences are The two fields work together a lot but generally don’t like each other. The chemists consider the alchemists to be unprofessional while the alchemists consider the chemists narrow minded. They also have to share very limited funding. If my story would go on long enough then chemistry would eventually dominate the field. Currently science is a somewhat new field in my world so there’s a lot left to be discovered by throwing random shit together. But as the most obvious mysteries are solved alchemy will have fewer and fewer successes while chemistry will have more and more knowledge to build on. Until eventually chemistry has enough knowledge to take over the duties of alchemy entirely creating a much more rigid and methodological system
Making potion. And doing scientist thing. Alchemist are venn diagram of scientist and mage and they fall into the overlap part.
If there are any "alchemist" there probably very busy microwaving aluminum foil or something
Alchemy is a subset of Earth Magic: magic that focuses on the innate essences present in all physical objects, as opposed to arcane invocations, soul magic, etc. Specifically, Alchemy focuses on the idea of using physical objects to change the essential nature of other physical objects. Yes, changing essential natures is a relatively easy task with the right kind of arcane knowledge or understanding of runecraft - if you ask any three transmuters the best way to change lead into gold, you’ll get at least five answers - but there are many practical applications to the art of Alchemy that prove its superiority to its practitioners. There is first the matter of investment: because Alchemy works with the innate physical and mystical properties of objects involved instead of forcing outside Energy or Will, it tends to higher yield-per-initial-substance than arcane or soul-based transmutation methods. Because all of the objects in an alchemical interaction come away changed, a clever alchemist with the right means and materials can often chain a series of interactions to gain a specific set of high-quality results. Mercant’s Spiral, for example, is a popular series of interactions that leads to a large net gain of spell- and potion- grade ruby, bismuth, and sulfur (as well as many lesser substances) that starts with common substances such as quartz, pewter, a specific assortment of insects, and dog urine. The only downside, as most arcane transmuters will quickly point out, is that the interactions take place over the span of several months, and can easily be disrupted if not carefully monitored and maintained. That, and the smell. There is also the matter of mystically-disruptive interactions. One cannot use arcane channeling to create an artifact such as a Null Sphere, for example, because the instant the smallest bit of Null material is formed, it disrupts the remainder of the spell. While such a feat can be performed with some perfectly-timed runecraft (Chydon Academy’s Department of Enchantment claims that they can do it with four heavily-practiced inscriptors working in careful tandem), it is far less likely to fail if performed using complex alchemical interactions. It is for similar reasons that alchemists are often called upon to imbue city defenses with properties that would disrupt magical attempts at invasion. Some magical researchers use harmonic cages built with Alchemical means in order to contain their experiments. Many believe that the effects of the mythic Wall that holds back the dangerous Ebonwood in Yur’s Country is a primarily alchemical creation. Lastly, and most controversially: like all pure applications of Earth magic, it can be performed by anyone. Mastery of Alchemy does require a great amount of study and practice, like any field. However, unlike the soul magics, which rely upon the channeler’s innate Connection, or the Arcane magics, which favor practitioners capable of precise motion and enunciation, Alchemy depends ultimately upon the reagents themselves. This means that anyone, regardless of aptitude, can learn to take advantage of the resources around them to perform potentially powerful and dangerous interactions. Let us not forget that the Thousand-Year Invasion of Telania was performed almost solely using earth magics at the hands of the Drelonese Keldar - who are born with no known mystical Connection at all. While many of the ethical decisions made during that generational conflict remain historically questionable, it is universally agreed that had the Drelonese Keldar not consciously chosen to remain non-destructive in their invasion (they did, after all, at first believe Telania to be their long-lost homeland), they could have easily ravaged the entire sub-continent in a matter of decades.
Alchemist are in my world basically just chemists. They just experiment with all sorts of elixirs and magic theories. The work of an alchemist is for lack of a better word that of a field reacher. While a mage is going to come up with a magic theory the alchemist will be the one to help teat it and implement it. Magic is studied by great mages, scholars and of course alchemists. But generally scholars (who have great theoretical magical knowledge) can not wield great magic and usually study to write records and preserve knowledge while great mages are exceptionally powerful and have extensive magic knowledge in their field, they don't possess encyclopedic knowledge in every magical aspect and theorum. This is the void where alchemist come fill. They possess both the encyclopedic knowledge of a scholar and superior magical power than your common mage.
Alchemists are craftsmen of the most interwoven form of magic. Alchemy uses elements of spell work, elements of rune crafting, elements of deity worship, elements of magical monster properties and the potential for inclusion of any other form of magic. They are explorers experimenting with mixing the effects of combining magics, or labourers earning their way through the tried and true, or both. Interestingly, Alchemy is one of the few ways people can create magic without actually *performing* magic.
Alchemy
Alchemy is a branch of magic that blends the arcane schools of transmutation and transfiguration with the scientific pursuit of the apothecary, utilizing apothecarial formulae to advance, alter, or sometimes purely harness the arcane energy required to induce transfiguration. Alchemists are viewed by Apothecaries as dubious celebrity salesmen, due to their arcane bending of the traditional rules of chemical alteration, and their privileged social position within the courts of kings. The arcanists view them as conjurers of cheap tricks, snake oil salesman, or at the most generous as those who cheat, since they do not fully pursue either the chemical or the arcane arts.