Alchemical Ingredients
“The inherent nature of alchemy is Change; this underlies the transformative processes inherent to the study, where simple minerals and oils gain properties not merely when combined, but when combined properly that none had individually. It is from this nature of Change that we get legends of gold being made out of base metals; far more fascinating is the reality; how this mineral and that acid come together to form a mixture that burns hotter than all but dragon’s fire.”
- From the introduction of Ars Alchemica (1760 A.T.)
Alchemists can use a variety of oils, minerals, and metal dusts to create alchemical mixtures that provide a number of potent effects.
(OOG CAUTION NOTE: Although this list contains substances that may exist in the real world, the properties assigned by the game of Fantasy Alive do not directly mirror real world properties possessed by these materials or their derivatives. Many of the listed ingredients are toxic or radioactive, and it is not advised that you partake in any of these materials or mixtures thereof without independent guidance.)
Identifying ingredients found in the course of one’s adventures requires the skill Alchemist 1. Alchemical ingredients may be found in the course of your adventures, but are most frequently acquired by use of the Craftsman: Ingredient Extractor skill (or purchased from reputable extractors). In addition to listed mixtures for each ingredient, alchemists of a great skill can derive potions, potable mixtures that can hold magical effects, using alchemical ingredients.
Alum is a sulphurous salt sometimes extracted from alunite crystals, which are often found in volcanic regions. Alchemists prize it for its reactive properties and its ability to cause mixtures to quickly dry, but it has been used (sometimes in error) to clarify water and to staunch bleeding by physicians. Although one of the safer materials to have around an alchemical workshop, handling alum should be done with care. Alum appears in Illumination, Fire Oil, True Metal, Blade Oil, Harden Flesh, Hovering Gas, and Dragon’s Breath mixtures.
Antimoni is a highly brittle and crystalline metal that may well be mistaken for silver to the untrained eye. Although pretty, antimoni in its raw form is toxic, and alchemists would be well-advised to burn or refine it only in areas with a good breeze, and possibly to seek a remove poison spell after doing so. Sometimes called kohl, antimoni is used primarily in a powdered form in alchemy, and evokes the properties of muting or suppressing. Antimoni appears in Thermal Gel, True Metal, Blade Oil, Grease, Lasting Ice, Mysterious Goo, Neutralizing Paste, Magical Absorbent, and Thunderstone mixtures.
Aqua Regis is a potent acid and fuming liquid, which gives off visible gas when exposed to air. For this reason, it is frequently kept in sealed containers, as doing otherwise leads to rapid loss of the liquid. Prized by alchemists, the ability of of Aqua Regia to cut through various metals makes it useful for etching by metalworkers; it derives its name from being one of the few known acids to dissolve gold and platinum. Neither the fumes nor the raw liquid are safe, and aqua regis (when it is transported at all) is frequently transported in a container, the outside of which is rubbed with Neutralizing Paste. Aqua Regis appears in Arcane Ink, Magical Litmus, Thermal Gel, Blade Oil, Harden Flesh, Mysterious Goo, Neutralizing Paste, Flameless Fire, and Dragon’s Breath.
Brimstone is a rarefied sulphur, abundant in many places, and concentrated in a few; most notably areas with active or past active volcanoes. Areas that with a great deal of salt also tend to have deposits of brimstone, and it is most often identified in nature by a strong smell reminiscent of decayed eggs. Despite this odour, it is used by many different trades, notably tanners and physicians, as well as having useful alchemical properties. Brimstone appears in Metal Polish, Fire Oil, Sticky Foot, Gas Cloud, Lasting Ice, Flameless Fire, Magical Absorbant, Arcane Death, and Dragon Breath.
Chamomile is, for the alchemist, more specifically chamomile oil, cold pressed from the flowers of the plant. Although some might think it more appropriate to the herbalist’s art, chamomile oil has been used as an emulsifier by alchemists on Ariel for centuries, although they often have to compete with those brewers, dyers, cooks, and self-appointed ‘herbal experts’ whose training is a good deal less formal than an actual herbalist for the difficult-to-grow crop. A little goes a long way though, and while the oil is hard to come by, most contemporary recipes that use it function better than the ones that they replaced. Chamomile appears in Spark, Arcane Ink, Acid, Gas Cloud, Grease, Lasting Ice, Flash Powder, and Mana Water.
Gum, known in some places as Rosin or Nithri’s Pitch, is a naturally forming substance obtained from pine trees and other plants, mostly conifers. It mostly consists of resin acids, and takes the form of a semi-transparent amber-like substance at room temperature. It melts at about the same temperature that water boils, and is used as a thickening and binding agent in a number of alchemical mixtures. Although simple to acquire, purifying gum to the point where it can safely be used in alchemical mixtures takes time and effort, and so even a small amount commands a considerable price. Gum appears in True Metal, Mysterious Goo, Neutralizing Paste, Flameless Fire, Hovering Gas, Arcane Death, and Spectacular Reflection.
Manganes is a silvery metal derived mostly through breaking down agates and some types of quartz. In its purified state it resembles iron, is hard and very brittle, difficult to melt, but quick to rust. Commonly found in nature, the rust that comes from manganes is often found in paints for its rich brown lustre. Large blocks of manganes have been known to act as a natural lodestone, although what causes this effect is unknown, and small portions of manganes such as the average alchemist might have to hand do not seem to have this effect – although Manganes does bond quickly with Mithril Dust. Manganes appears in Illumination, Fire Oil, Magical Litmus, Thermal Gel, Acid, Flash Power, Hovering Gas, Magical Absorbent, and Spectacular Reflection.
Melanic Base is a darkly hued base similar in strength to lye, but taking the form of a tarry oil or paste. Darker in colour the more it is refined, pure melanic base is almost entirely black, and dangerous to handle with bare skin, as it can cause burns. Melanic base is preferable for most alchemists to lye, because its tarry nature will generally mean that it does get into the air as a powder, making it much less likely that it will be inhaled. Melanic base is traditionally harvested from Blythe’s Throne mushrooms, which naturally produce it; crushing the mushrooms and then filtering them through a thin mesh removes most of the particulate, and from the product, melanic base can be derived. Melanic Base appears in Magical Litmus, Acid, Blade Oil, Harden Flesh, Flameless Fire, Flash Powder, Mana Water, and Dragon Breath.
Mithril Dust is powdered mithril, usually impure, in quantities too small to use for any smithing purposes. While mithril pure enough to smith requires deposits that must be mined, there are trace amounts of mithril found in most arable soil. Soil which has had the mithril dust removed still remains capable of supporting plant life, but appears to have more difficulty growing plants that are rumoured to possess magical properties. Nevertheless, the unusual properties of mithril in regards to magic continue with this ingredient, which is used in the creation of alchemical mixtures that themselves interact with magic. Mithril dust is Magical Absorbant, Mana Water, Arcane Death, and Spectacular Reflection.
Mondrogora shares its name with the Mandrake Root, which it is said to resemble. Indeed, crystal formations of mondrogora do often resemble a squat figure with an oversized head, and such formations primarily occur in the same regions where the common mandrake grows naturally, making for an obvious connection between the two materials. Mondrogora crystal is orange, and cracks when heated, allowing it to be more easily powdered and mixed into alchemical mixtures that benefit by its inclusion. Magically reactive and adhesive when mixed with water, mondrogora crystal is used by some dye makers for its vivid colour, and is said to have been used to dye wizard robes back in the Golden Age of Magic. Mondrogora is found in Spark, Magical Litmus, Sticky Foot, Acid, Mysterious Goo, Neutralizing Paste, Flash Powder, Arcane Death, Spectacular Reflection, and Thunderstone.
Naptha is a highly flammable clear fluid, considerably more viscous than water, with a strong, unpleasant scent. Classically derived from peat, advances in alchemy in the past century or so have revealed that it can be distilled from coal tar, and most of the naptha used in the Lakes Region is so distilled. Although it is sometimes a direct alchemical ingredient, some alchemical recipes that call for naptha instead use its clean, reliable burn to ensure that the ingredients are cooked evenly and at the correct temperature. Naptha is found in Metal Polish, Arcane Ink, Gas Cloud, Grease, Lasting Ice, Flameless Fire, Spectacular Reflection, and Thunderstone.
Orpiment is a highly toxic crystal which breaks down quickly when heated; its name stems from its gold colour, and the refining of opriment is one of the reasons that some think of gold in connection with alchemy. Opriment becomes an arsenic-based poison when it breaks down; this has led to it being used to poison arrowheads (not as effectively as the Toxin herbalism, but certainly unhealthful for someone who has recently been shot with an arrow). It has also been used in tanning to remove hair from hides, and in painting for its bright golden colour. Opriment appears in Spark, Harden Flesh, Mysterious Goo, Neutralizing Paste, Flash Powder, Mana Water, Dragon Breath, Spectacular Reflection, and Thunderstone.
Pitchblend is a metallic ore that forms crystalline structures. Toxic to ingest without alchemical preparation, and dangerous even to handle in large quantities, only a small amount of this metal goes into any alchemical substance, although it is conceivable that there may be other possible stable substances that could be made with alchemy using pitchblend that require too much to be practical. Pitchblend is named for its apparent use to miners; its weight is substantial suggesting useful ores within, but before its discovery as an alchemical ingredient, it was believed that this dark metal was just making worthless ‘pitch’ material blend in with useful ore nuggets. Pitchblend appears in Illumination, Sticky Foot, True Metal, Gas Cloud, Harden Flesh, Flash Powder, Magical Absorbant, Arcane Death, and Thunderstone.
White Cinnabar is a stable form of cinnabar, which itself derives its name from an old word meaning ‘dragon’s blood’. Unlike regular cinnabar, white cinnabar contains very little quicksilver, and while still not healthful to eat or inhale in quantity, it is considerably safer. Nevertheless, the cautious alchemist should wash their hands and regularly have Remove Poison cast upon them when handling any form of cinnabar, as it has been known to have toxic effects over time. White Cinnabar appears in Thermal Gel, Acid, Gas Cloud, Flameless Fire, Hovering Gas, Arcane Death, Dragon Breath, and Thunderstone.
Zinken is a crystalline form of zinc, which in turn is used in the production of brass. However, zinken takes the form of a reactive crystal with a dull silvery finish. Somewhat more rare than zinc, zinken crystals can be made and purified anywhere that any substantial mining operation is underway, but requires a degree of skill and expertise to create in a quantity or purity to be useful for alchemical purposes. Zinken appears in Metal Polish, Arcane Ink, Grease, Lasting Ice, Hovering Gas, Arcane Death, Dragon Breath, and Spectacular Reflection.
Zinkenblend is a further refinement of zinken, turning the crystalline metal into a thick homogenous paste of about the same colour. Zinkenblend would be more expensive to create than zinken owing to this further requirement for refinement, but only a fraction of the amount of zinken is required to make a comparable quantity of zinkenblend. Zinkenblend acts as a stabilizer in materials that would otherwise be less stable, but can create a sudden burst of light and sound when struck correctly. Zinkenblend appears in Fire Oil, Blade Oil, Hovering Gas, Magical Absorbent, and Thunderstone.
Authored by: Andrew Dunlop
Fantasy Alive Lore Team 2026
Copyright © Endless Adventures Ontario