Alchemy craft
The general term in Dragonrealms for improving the quality of a substance, or changing one substance into another. The most commonly known process makes herbs more potent or changes them into potions, salves, tea, or other forms. Other processes also exist to create non-herbal substances such as poisons or tea.
Herbal Alchemy
There are three basic steps to creating herbal potions.
- Gather ingredients
- Prepare ingredients
- Mix ingredients
Ingredients
Basic herbal alchemy requires three ingredients: an herb, a catalyst, and water. The basic mix is done in a 1:1:1 ratio, or equal parts of each. Adding more catalyst is ok, since the unused portion will be left as a remainder. Potions can be successfully mixed at other ratios of herb to water but at present there is no benefit to doing so.
Preparation
The more Foraging Skill you know, the more potent your herbs will be. Potency is also improved if the herb was foraged carefully or precisely. For the most potent herbs, you need a skilled forager to gather them precisely.
Most experienced alchemists agree that all herbs are made even more potent by drying them. This can be done either by using a Wayerd pyramid or by having a Ranger perform the proper Beseech. So the second step to making a good potion is to dry your herbs, although it is not required. In many cases, the simple dried herb is more potent than the herb will be in potion form, so you can stop right there. The herbs that are improved by making into potion are georin, eghmok, nilos, blocil, and hulnik.[1] Catalysts are also generally improved by drying, although the effect of this is more subtle.
The next step if you are going to continue and make the potion is to crush the herb in a mortar so it is in a mixable form. Undried herbs when crushed will yield a pulp, and dried herbs a powder or paste. You must also crush your catalyst for the same reason.
Next gather some water from a convenient spot, and you're ready to mix.
Mixing
Count out your ingredients carefully into equal-sized pieces, and place them all together in your mixing vessel. There is a 16-part size limit on potions so you won't be able to mix doses larger than that. Your potion will not combine if there are any extra or foreign ingredients in the vessel. Note that a wax label counts as an item inside a container so your mixing vessel won't work if it has a label on it. The only thing inside your vessel should be one piece of the crushed herb, one piece of the crushed catalyst, and one piece of water. Note that piece is different from part; a single piece can have multiple parts.
The size of your completed potion will be the same as the part count of the individual ingredients. If your ingredients have five parts each, your finished potion will have five parts. As noted above, if you start with a larger chunk of catalyst than your water and herb, only the required amount will be used with the rest left over.
Many different containers can be used as a mixing vessel if you don't have a proper mixing bowl. Empty gem pouches and treasure boxes are popular choices. Just make sure to close them before shaking.
Injuries to the hands, arms, eyes, and head can interfere with Alchemy so make sure to heal up if you are having trouble.
Tinctures
Tincture jars are a way to make herbs even more potent, although a single dose won't last as long.
You need one part of herb to four parts of alcohol, which currently is only obtainable by purchase from an alchemy shop. The process take an anlas, and involves shaking the jar once every ten roisaen. Tinctures are intended for external use only, and are poisonous when ingested although that method of use has the most healing power.
Tools
- Wayerd pyramid
- Unlonchai bucket
- Stove
- Mortar and Pestle
- Mixing bowl and stick, or other vessel (pouch, box, etc)
- Vial or Jar to hold water
- Tincture jar