Alchemy

Alchemy is a process in the worlds of Lord of the Craft of which characters may create almost magical phenomena without the use of magic. It focus on the principle of Equivalent Exchange; in which something of value can be exchanged for something else of an equal value. Potions are a form of Alchemy that any and all alchemists can create, yet with a greater understanding of the process of the art they can be made more powerful, versatile, or volatile. Alchemy is also a profession in the Nexus Professions plugin, which uses brewing stands to create potions of various kinds from plants and other organic materials.

Equivalent Exchange

The principle of Equivalent Exchange is a fundamental part of Alchemy. In it's core, it is the fact that something of some value can be exchanged for something of the same value. To do so, ingredients are chosen based on the value they have, which is based on rarity, use and characteristics. Normally plants and animals are used far more than resources, as living things can represent certain characteristics better than un-living things. Choosing these characteristics and combining them to create what the alchemist wants is the desired effect. Of course, certain characteristics can not combine; an example being iron, which deforms and tears in the presence of force; and diamond, which will shatter in similar circumstances. The two characteristics don't fit well together as what deforms and tears does not shatter. Such would be left to the blacksmiths to create a mixture to have better characteristics. Additionally, Alchemy, no matter how potent, cannot create new materials. This means that various ingredients, commonly known as “Reagents”, must be mixed to form a solution which will have the features of the things added. The trick in alchemy is balancing out all additions to the potion or creation with something else while still adding to or removing the properties wanted.

The Symbols

Ingredients used in alchemy can always fit into at least one of the four Symbols. They display the representations they hold, and can be considered Weak, Moderate and Strong depending on the value they hold. There are also those considered Powerful Symbols, which are acquired mostly from mythical beings.

Fire

Fire Symbols have two parts. The most noticeable part being that of the representation of real fire. Heat, destruction, consumption and burning all define what fire truly is, but then there is another side of Fire, the one associated with emotions. Rage, anger, hatred, as well as bravery, courage, gusto and even passion and love can all be represented by a symbol of fire.

Water

The Symbol of Water is important to use in most liquid creations of potions by Alchemists. Normally called the base symbol, the reagents which fit into Water are often associated, like the rivers and oceans themselves, with liquidity, balance, calm, order, life and rebirth, as water can be seen as a fundamental part of all aspects of life.

Earth

Like the stones, the dirt, the metals, and the mountains which reside everywhere in the abundance of land that is Lord of the Craft, the symbol of the Earth is one that represents great strength and endurance. Resilience, stolidity, solidity, and firmness all are great representations of this symbol, but there is a second part of it, one to do with nature. In addition to being a brilliant symbol to represent the hardier, unliving things of this world, Earth also represents the flora and fauna, as well as life and regrowth.

Air

The Symbol hardest to imagine as it represents what can’t be seen, Air is often associated with agility, quickness, travel, versatility, perception, and even flight. Even as one can see the birds that glide overhead or feel the wind as it pulls at your robes, Air still has substance in this world even though sometimes it may be difficult to discern its properties or effects. Air symbols often prefer the loftier places in the realms; high above the ground where they’re hardest to collect, and alchemists have been known to search for years on end to find the most powerful of them, as even if they’re common, most simply just don’t know where to look.

Creations of Alchemy

Many alchemists descend into the higher levels of alchemy and try to reach the maximum capabilities of the art. Takwin, the creation of new life through alchemy, is a very wanted goal to many alchemists, although regarded as impossible by most. Of those that advance into this area of alchemy, never truly can create new life, but can change life. There are two major creations that an alchemist can do, homunculi, creatures of chaotic alchemy, and chimeras, the combination of living beings. Each of those are extremely hard to create. Aside from those two major types, other variables have been created, sometimes even with combining alchemy with magics, normally dark magic. A few of those creations include Vithquar, Salamandra and the Cakeman.

Another significant creation of alchemy is the rare Golden Apple, capable of removing memories from elves.