Alchemical Preparation Lifecycles¶
All alchemical preparations move through four lifecycle states. These states describe stability, not potency. Alchemy is strongest when fresh, safest when stable, and most dangerous when degraded.
Lifecycle Overview¶
- Fresh
- Stable
- Degraded
- Inert A preparation naturally advances through these states over time.
1. Fresh¶
A preparation that has been recently completed.
Properties¶
- full intended effect
- minimal side effects
- predictable behavior
Use¶
- ideal for dangerous or delicate applications
- preferred for Adaptation and Mimicry
Duration¶
- usually hours to a day
- exact length depends on ingredients and Method
Fresh preparations are rare in play unless the alchemist is actively working.
2. Stable¶
A preparation that has settled into equilibrium.
Properties¶
- reliable
- slightly muted effect
- normal side-effect profile
Use¶
- default state for most preparations
- expected condition during adventuring
Duration¶
- days to weeks
- Verdanni can often extend this phase
Stable is where alchemy is meant to live.
3. Degraded¶
A preparation that is breaking down.
Properties¶
- effect is weaker or distorted
- side effects are more likely
- unpredictable interactions
Use¶
- emergency use
- desperate situations
- intentional risk-taking
Consequences¶
Using a degraded preparation often triggers: - side effects - increased Dependency risk - partial or warped effects Degraded alchemy is where horror and mutation live.
4. Inert¶
A preparation that has lost coherence.
Properties¶
- no longer functional
- biologically dead or chemically inert
Use¶
- none
Inert preparations cannot be revived.
They must be discarded or repurposed.
Lifecycle Interaction with Methods¶
Each Method interacts differently with lifecycle states.
Stimulation¶
- Fresh: very powerful, high crash risk
- Stable: reliable boost
- Degraded: dangerous overstimulation
Suppression¶
- Fresh: clean effect
- Stable: normal masking
- Degraded: rebound effects
Adaptation¶
- Fresh: best outcome
- Stable: acceptable
- Degraded: mutation risk
Disruption¶
- Fresh: precise interference
- Stable: messy but effective
- Degraded: cascading failures
Mimicry¶
- Fresh: controlled imitation
- Stable: limited expression
- Degraded: partial integration (very bad)
This gives each Method its own flavor of risk without new rules.
Dependency and Lifecycle¶
Dependency risk increases when: - using degraded preparations - repeated use without recovery - mixing multiple preparations - relying on one Method exclusively
Fresh preparations are least likely to cause dependency.
Degraded ones almost guarantee it.
This creates a natural feedback loop: - prepared alchemists are safer - desperate ones spiral