Storm Kesocascay
Minstrel
Alchemy, one of the world's most powerful and mysterious practices. Many call it a religion, a magic, a practice solely focused on eternal life and infinite riches. Sometimes, a powerful science that blurs the line between science, magic, and religion. But can it be used in a fantasy novel? What exactly is Alchemy?
I, an alchemist myself, normally add alchemy into my plots just for its sheer power and mystery. Many can be entranced at the idea of alchemy.
This will be a brief summary of alchemy and the kind of alchemy that can apply to the fantasy world. If you wish to seek more details or have specific questions, feel free to ask.
Alchemy blurs into 3 categories; religious (used in Philosophical Alchemy, or applying alchemy to the real world), Elemental Alchemy (an alchemic practice using magic in the formulas), and Inter-Dimensional Alchemy (alchemy used for plains-walking, or walking between worlds, commonly by meditation). Nicholas Flamel was the world's most influential and most powerful alchemist. The reason being is because he was all three types of alchemist. An alchemist who masters all three alchemic disciplines is called a Shadow Alchemist. There are few throughout history and believed to be extinct now, but most Shadow Alchemists hide their identity. Seriously; do you want your neighbor being a Shadow Alchemist?
Religious Alchemy/Philosophical Alchemy is simply applying the mathematical laws of alchemy to the functions of the real world such as making a product and selling it at a combined price of all of the materials used to make it (Law I of the Alchemic Codex-Equivalent Exchange) or paying a debt (again; Law I) or giving money you do not need to someone who needs it (Law III of the Alchemic Codex-Alchemist be thou for the people, not self). the laws for Religious alchemy mainly come from Elemental Alchemy. It's like sociology in an alchemic or scientific point of view. We perform Religious Alchemy on a daily basis without even thinking abotu it. (think about my above examples)
Elemental Alchemy is the "original" alchemy. it is the version that has lived and lasted the longest and still lives minutely hidden in the margins in modern-day science. Elemental Alchemy gets its name because it is broken down into 9 different elements that effect each other and each element breaks down further to match our periodic table. Certain alchemists master certain elements giving them certain titles. Here is a list of the elements and the titles you take while studying and when you master the element.
Fire-Ember Alchemist (student)-Flame Alchemist (master)
Water-River Alchemist (student)-Moon Alchemist (master)
Earth-Soil Alchemist (student)-Mountain Alchemist (master)
Air-Gust Alchemist (student)- Divine-Wind Alchemist (master)
Vitae (life/living essence)-Living Alchemist (student)- Sewing-Life Alchemist (master)
Dark/Shadow-Dusk Alchemist (student)-Shadow Alchemist (master. must master all other elements)
Lightning/Thunder (goes by both names)-Storm Alchemist (student)-Thunder Alchemist (master)
Ice-Burg Alchemist (student)-Freezing Alchemist/Glacier Alchemist (master)
Steel/Metal (specializes only in metals and stones, not everything about the ground or Earth)-Ore Alchemist (student)-Platinum Alchemist (master)
Some alchemists change their titles once they pass the level of student so these are the basic names that are commonly taken. Flamel called himself the Sun Alchemist, even though he was actually a Shadow Alchemist. (irony?)
Some of these elements have weaknesses and resistances to each other. It's a lot to talk about so I'll tell you this chain when asked to. I will also show how exactly Elemental Alchemy works when asked and show all of the processes and laws.
Finally is Inter-Dimensional Alchemy. It is literally meditating to pass into different realms and dimensions. Alchemists believe that there are thousands of dimensions and each are another world and all humans have the ability to "plains-walk", or meditate to cast your soul into these other dimensions. Inter-Dimensional Alchemists are mainly monks and nomads. Some believe that these types of alchemists originated from Asia, perhaps India or Tibet, maybe China. This is the most complicated and the most difficult of the disciplines and will take more than a forum posting to describe.
And this is the types of alchemists. Remember; in ancient times, alchemists were dime-a-dozen and were always looked up to. Almost all alchemists were blacksmiths or artisans of a similar practice. A lot of fantasy and mystery surround alchemists to this day.
Also, your alchemists do not have to be men leaning over vats of molten materials all of the time, alchemists were also skilled magicians and used their alchemy as an advantage. Think of Avatar; The Last Airbender. Those powers are close to what an alchemic master would have.
I hope this helps. Feel free to comment or ask questions.
I, an alchemist myself, normally add alchemy into my plots just for its sheer power and mystery. Many can be entranced at the idea of alchemy.
This will be a brief summary of alchemy and the kind of alchemy that can apply to the fantasy world. If you wish to seek more details or have specific questions, feel free to ask.
Alchemy blurs into 3 categories; religious (used in Philosophical Alchemy, or applying alchemy to the real world), Elemental Alchemy (an alchemic practice using magic in the formulas), and Inter-Dimensional Alchemy (alchemy used for plains-walking, or walking between worlds, commonly by meditation). Nicholas Flamel was the world's most influential and most powerful alchemist. The reason being is because he was all three types of alchemist. An alchemist who masters all three alchemic disciplines is called a Shadow Alchemist. There are few throughout history and believed to be extinct now, but most Shadow Alchemists hide their identity. Seriously; do you want your neighbor being a Shadow Alchemist?
Religious Alchemy/Philosophical Alchemy is simply applying the mathematical laws of alchemy to the functions of the real world such as making a product and selling it at a combined price of all of the materials used to make it (Law I of the Alchemic Codex-Equivalent Exchange) or paying a debt (again; Law I) or giving money you do not need to someone who needs it (Law III of the Alchemic Codex-Alchemist be thou for the people, not self). the laws for Religious alchemy mainly come from Elemental Alchemy. It's like sociology in an alchemic or scientific point of view. We perform Religious Alchemy on a daily basis without even thinking abotu it. (think about my above examples)
Elemental Alchemy is the "original" alchemy. it is the version that has lived and lasted the longest and still lives minutely hidden in the margins in modern-day science. Elemental Alchemy gets its name because it is broken down into 9 different elements that effect each other and each element breaks down further to match our periodic table. Certain alchemists master certain elements giving them certain titles. Here is a list of the elements and the titles you take while studying and when you master the element.
Fire-Ember Alchemist (student)-Flame Alchemist (master)
Water-River Alchemist (student)-Moon Alchemist (master)
Earth-Soil Alchemist (student)-Mountain Alchemist (master)
Air-Gust Alchemist (student)- Divine-Wind Alchemist (master)
Vitae (life/living essence)-Living Alchemist (student)- Sewing-Life Alchemist (master)
Dark/Shadow-Dusk Alchemist (student)-Shadow Alchemist (master. must master all other elements)
Lightning/Thunder (goes by both names)-Storm Alchemist (student)-Thunder Alchemist (master)
Ice-Burg Alchemist (student)-Freezing Alchemist/Glacier Alchemist (master)
Steel/Metal (specializes only in metals and stones, not everything about the ground or Earth)-Ore Alchemist (student)-Platinum Alchemist (master)
Some alchemists change their titles once they pass the level of student so these are the basic names that are commonly taken. Flamel called himself the Sun Alchemist, even though he was actually a Shadow Alchemist. (irony?)
Some of these elements have weaknesses and resistances to each other. It's a lot to talk about so I'll tell you this chain when asked to. I will also show how exactly Elemental Alchemy works when asked and show all of the processes and laws.
Finally is Inter-Dimensional Alchemy. It is literally meditating to pass into different realms and dimensions. Alchemists believe that there are thousands of dimensions and each are another world and all humans have the ability to "plains-walk", or meditate to cast your soul into these other dimensions. Inter-Dimensional Alchemists are mainly monks and nomads. Some believe that these types of alchemists originated from Asia, perhaps India or Tibet, maybe China. This is the most complicated and the most difficult of the disciplines and will take more than a forum posting to describe.
And this is the types of alchemists. Remember; in ancient times, alchemists were dime-a-dozen and were always looked up to. Almost all alchemists were blacksmiths or artisans of a similar practice. A lot of fantasy and mystery surround alchemists to this day.
Also, your alchemists do not have to be men leaning over vats of molten materials all of the time, alchemists were also skilled magicians and used their alchemy as an advantage. Think of Avatar; The Last Airbender. Those powers are close to what an alchemic master would have.
I hope this helps. Feel free to comment or ask questions.