Alchemy
Overview
Alchemy as a practice involves the study and manufacture of various mundane and magical substances from a variety of plant, animal or mineral sources.
Kinds of Alchemy
Alchemical preparations can be divided into general categories based on function.
Practical
Practical substances include dyes, lubricants, sealants, or other functional substances used in industry, or crafts. This category can also include culinary herbs and spices.
Medicinal
Medicinal substances are typically cures for specific ailments, or general tonics which aid in the recovery from injury or disease. This category includes many common or widely known herbal preparations.
Toxins
Poisons, or other toxic substances cause harm to individuals which are exposed to them through contact, ingestion or other application. The effects and lethality of toxins cover a wide range of possibilities.
Magical
While all alchemy is viewed as magic to a certain degree, magical preparations are purported to grant effects outside the purview of the other categories.
Recipes
Individual alchemists will have a collection of recipes, either learned from their teachers, and peers, or developed through study and experiments. These are closely guarded trade secrets, and highly unique to the individual practioner. Any two alchemists could use similar ingredients in different portions to produce comparable substances, but the appearance, process of manufacture, potency, and application will vary widely.
