Alkahest

Introduction

Alkahest is the magical reagent used by Arcanists and Alchemists for the manufacture of Alkemicals, Contrivances, and Artifacts. On its own, Alkahest is used by Ensorcellers to manifest miracles.

Qualities

Alkahest condenses down via Alchemistry into subsequently more powerful, more dense versions of itself. Materially, Alkahest shares many chemical properties with gold, including softness and density without the tampering of its presentation by a Sunderer. If broken apart or antagonized enough, Alkahest will detonate with a Manifestation of that tier, destroying itself in the process.

Manifestations

Conjured by Ensorcellers of an equivalent tier who also possess the requisite Meditation skill - which in turn protects against mental affects such as Somniite lethargy - Manifestations allow those who possess no personal Arcana of their own to borrow powers, or serve as stand-ins in conflict where one's Arcane stamina is a vital factor. See Ensorcelling.

Manifestations will render that Alkahest inert, useless for even crafting. It will slowly recharge up to the tier before it in a week, fully charging by one month.

Name	Metaphor	Manifestation	Dust	Sliver	Shard	Crystal	Sphere	Globe
Aetherite	Aether	Aetherite of an equivalent tier may temporarily Wick the soul of a Galdr for a season.	Novice	Apprentice	Journeyman	Expert	Master	Ascendant
Saolite	Saol	Saolite allows for a cast of Nymhea Healing at an equivalent tier.	Cuts & Scrapes	Flesh Wounds	Bone Breaks	Organ Damage	Limb Regeneration	Resurrection (1 Use; Consumed)
Miasmite	Miasmata	Miasmata additively solidifies or diminishes Psychoplasm.	.9 or 1.1	0.75 or 1.25	0.5 or 1.5	0.25 or 1.75	0.10 or 2.00	Incorporeal or 2.5x Steel
Somniite	Somnium	Somnium induces lethargy in beings capable of sleep, and idly grants the holder lucid dreaming. It can also be used to banish an equivalent-tiered Dreamwalker from one's dreams. Resisted by equivalent Meditation skill.	Sleeping Aid	Drowsiness	Minor Sedative	Moderate Sedative	Potent Sedative	Immediate Blackout
Fabulite	Fabula	Fabulite strengthens the bones of an object or creature for several minutes.	Resistant	Rock-Hard	Iron	Steel	2x Steel	2.5x Steel
Anathemite	Anathema	Anathemite halves the strength of anything of an equivalent hardness, softening by one fifth the tier above, and slowly dissolves weaker ones.	Wood	Rock	Iron	Steel	2x Steel	2.5x Steel
Luxiumite	Luxium	Luxiumite allows for a cast of Fulgur Pyromancy at an equivalent tier.	Novice	Apprentice	Journeyman	Expert	Master	Ascendant
Geomenite	Geomena	Geomenite allows for a cast of Terra Lithomancy at an equivalent tier.	Novice	Apprentice	Journeyman	Expert	Master	Ascendant
Aerisite	Aeris	Aerisite allows for a cast of Zephyr Aeromancy at an equivalent tier.	Novice	Apprentice	Journeyman	Expert	Master	Ascendant
Imberite	Imber	Imberite allows for a cast of Aqua Hydromancy at an equivalent tier.	Novice	Apprentice	Journeyman	Expert	Master	Ascendant
Ardorite	Ardor	Ardorite allows for a cast of Abation Cryomancy at an equivalent tier.	Novice	Apprentice	Journeyman	Expert	Master	Ascendant
Absentite	Absentia	Absentite confuses equivalent tier Metaphoric divination when activated for up to an hour, rendering false-positives towards the wielder's intention - on themselves, an objects, or another.	Novice	Apprentice	Journeyman	Expert	Master	Ascendant

Dust

1 Gram of Dust

• Novice Manifestations

Sliver

10 Grams of Dust

• Apprentice Manifestations

Shard

100 Grams of Dust

• Journeyman Manifestations

Crystal

1,000 Grams of Dust

• Expert Manifestations

Sphere

10,000 Grams of Dust

• Master Manifestations

Globe

100,000 Grams of Dust

• Ascendant Manifestations

Acquisition

Alkahest is mined in small amounts from locally regulated quarries. Dust may also be sieved, sorted, and separated from surface regulith - common soils and sands found anywhere - or the Alkahest-rich sands obtained from panning and dredging rivers. The Metaphor of the Alkahest retrieved depends on the location it was mined; Luxiumite would be obtained from the site of lightning strikes and the refined rock of volcanoes, and panning rivers or beach sand would yield Imberite Dust. These operations usually yield about 1 gram of Dust per day for every 10 miners, regardless of Mining skill.

More commonly, those with Personal Arcana are Sundered for their Alkahest.

Refinement

Alchemists may grow Alkahest of any Metaphor using a solution made from an equivalent number of Aetherite grams, provided they have some dust of the original. Ten grams of Dust will create a Sliver. A Sliver and ninety grams of Dust will condense down to a Shard. Nine hundred grams and a Shard will amount to a Crystal. To create a Sphere, one would need nine thousand grams of Dust and a Crystal. A Globe, ninety thousand and a Sphere. Dust of a sufficient number of grams is also therefore equivalent to that level of power. Alchemists may also dissolve pieces of Alkahest down into Dust and subsequently purify any Metaphor back into Aetherite.

An Alchemist must have an equivalent level of skill to safely condense Alkahest at that tier. For the full rules and process, see Alchemistry.

Danger

Alkahest in all its forms is benign and stable until worked via a Practice. Without equivalent Meditation, Manifestations may leak out when handled directly, leading to a runaway reaction that sheds minor Manifestations of its associated forces before shattering like a bomb; control of a Manifestation is handled by Ensorcelling.

Articles on Practices