Alchemical Failure Bands¶
Alchemy rarely "fails" outright.
Instead, it misbehaves.
When an alchemical preparation does not function as intended, the outcome falls into one of four Failure Bands. These bands reflect biological stress, instability, and adaptation, not magical backlash.
Failure Bands are cumulative, not exclusive.
When Failure Bands Apply¶
Failure Bands may be triggered by:
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using a Degraded preparation
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repeated use without sufficient recovery
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mixing multiple preparations
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rushed or poorly maintained preparations
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environmental incompatibility
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deliberate risk-taking by the user
Not every use requires a roll.
Failure Bands appear when the fiction demands consequence.
Failure Band I: Side Effects¶
Side Effects are the mild, expected costs of alchemical interference.
They do not negate the primary effect.
Characteristics¶
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temporary
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inconvenient
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physiologically plausible
Examples¶
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nausea, dizziness, tremors
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fatigue or headaches
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skin discoloration
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altered appetite or thirst
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sensory distortion
Mechanical Expression¶
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short-lived Conditions
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situational penalties
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temporary action restrictions
Side Effects are common and normal.
They are the price of doing business.
Failure Band II: Dependency¶
Dependency occurs when the body begins to expect the preparation.
The system adapts around the alchemy.
Characteristics¶
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cumulative
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persistent
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behavioral as well as physical
Signs of Dependency¶
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reduced effectiveness without increased dose
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withdrawal symptoms
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emotional reliance
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impaired baseline performance
Mechanical Expression¶
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escalating penalties when not using the preparation
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increased TD for resisting side effects
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required recovery time between uses
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narrative compulsions
Dependency is not a switch.
It is a slope.
Failure Band III: Aberration¶
Aberration is unintended, lasting change.
The system adapts incorrectly or incompletely.
Characteristics¶
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semi-permanent or permanent
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visible or detectable
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often unsettling
Examples¶
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altered physiology
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mutations or scars
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new sensitivities or resistances
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changes in perception or behavior
-
lingering biological instability
Mechanical Expression¶
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permanent Conditions
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altered attributes or thresholds
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new narrative complications
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increased vulnerability to future alchemy
Aberration is where Alchemy becomes story.
Failure Band IV: Catastrophic Reaction (Rare)¶
Catastrophic Reactions are severe systemic failures.
They are uncommon and usually require multiple risk factors.
Characteristics¶
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immediate
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dangerous
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often violent
Examples¶
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organ failure
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seizures or collapse
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toxic shock
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uncontrolled mutation
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cascading physiological shutdown
Mechanical Expression¶
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severe harm
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multiple Conditions at once
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long recovery times
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lasting narrative consequences
Catastrophe is not random.
It is earned.
How Failure Bands Progress¶
Failure Bands tend to escalate in order:
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Side Effects
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Dependency
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Aberration
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Catastrophic Reaction
Skipping bands should be rare and narratively justified.
Using Fresh preparations makes Band I most likely.
Using Degraded preparations makes Band II–III likely.
Repeated abuse opens the door to Band IV.
Player Agency and Risk¶
Alchemy should always offer informed risk.
Before use, players should generally know:
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the preparation's lifecycle state
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known side effects
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potential long-term risks
Choosing to proceed anyway is a valid, meaningful decision.
Verdanni and Failure Bands¶
Verdanni are:
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better at predicting side effects
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better at avoiding degradation
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better at managing dependency
They are not immune.
Verdanni alchemy fails more quietly, not less often.
Why This Works¶
This model:
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replaces Burn cleanly
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supports long-term play
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avoids punishing experimentation
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reinforces preparation over improvisation
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turns mistakes into narrative hooks
Most importantly:
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Alchemy always does something
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the question is what else it does