Alchemy Threads
How Preparations Should Be Written (Standard Format)¶
Every Preparation should answer the same questions, in roughly this order: - Name - Method - Intent (what problem it solves) - Application (ingested, injected, applied, inhaled, etc.) - Onset (immediate, delayed, gradual) - Primary Effect - Duration - Lifecycle Sensitivity (how Fresh vs Degraded changes it) - Common Side Effects - Dependency / Aberration Notes - GM Notes (what can go wrong) If a Preparation can't be described cleanly in that format, it's probably drifting toward spellcasting.
Preparations (Threads)¶
These are foundational, not exhaustive. Think of them as the "examples everyone understands," like Cure Light Wounds or Invisibility in other systems.
Adrenal Surge Draught¶
Method: Stimulation
Intent: Push the body into extreme output for a short time.
Application: Ingested (liquid or gel)
Onset: Seconds
Primary Effect: For the duration, the subject:
- ignores penalties from fatigue and pain
- gains a noticeable increase in physical output (speed, force, reaction)
Duration: One combat or a few minutes
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: strong effect, predictable crash
- Stable: reliable
- Degraded: violent overstimulation, tremors, loss of control
Common Side Effects:
- severe exhaustion afterward
- shaking hands
- disorientation
Dependency / Aberration: Repeated use leads to reliance on artificial adrenaline regulation.
GM Notes: This does not make the subject stronger forever. It borrows capability and demands repayment.
Breath of the Deep¶
Method: Adaptation
Intent: Alter respiration and circulation to function in hostile environments.
Application: Ingested (thin, bitter draught)
Onset: 15–30 minutes
Primary Effect: The subject adapts to one condition chosen at preparation:
- thin air
- smoke
- underwater breathing (limited)
- choking fumes
This does not grant immunity. It allows survival where it would otherwise fail.
Duration: Several hours
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: smooth adaptation
- Stable: effective but tiring
- Degraded: labored breathing, panic responses
Common Side Effects:
- chest tightness
- dizziness
- altered voice or breathing patterns
Dependency / Aberration: Long-term use can permanently alter breathing mechanics or oxygen needs.
GM Notes: The body remembers how it learned to breathe.
Chameleon Veil¶
Method: Mimicry
Intent: Temporarily mimic adaptive coloration and visual blending.
Application: Applied salve or ingested draught
Onset: 5–10 minutes
Primary Effect: For the duration:
- skin tone subtly shifts to match surroundings
- outlines soften and movement becomes harder to track
- observers find it easier to overlook the subject
This is not invisibility. It alters perception through biological adaptation.
Duration: One scene
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: smooth, responsive blending
- Stable: muted but effective
- Degraded: patchy discoloration, delayed response
Common Side Effects:
- skin discoloration after effect ends
- sensitivity to light
- mild disorientation
Dependency / Aberration: Repeated use risks permanent pigmentation changes or identity distress.
GM Notes: Chameleon Veil makes hiding feel natural—and being seen unsettling.
Chimeric Gland Extract¶
Method: Mimicry
Intent: Temporarily express a biological trait from another organism.
Application: Injection or ingestion
Onset: Minutes
Primary Effect: Grants a single borrowed trait, such as:
- adhesive secretion
- venom analog
- enhanced scent
- hardened skin patches
Duration: One scene to one hour
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: controlled expression
- Stable: limited or muted
- Degraded: partial integration, mutation risk
Common Side Effects:
- rejection response
- localized mutation
- lingering physical marks
Dependency / Aberration: Very high. Mimicry is never "clean."
GM Notes: This is where Alchemy starts to scare people.
Disruption Serum¶
Method: Disruption
Intent: Interfere with coordination and focus.
Application: Ingested, injected, or aerosolized
Onset: Seconds to a minute
Primary Effect:
- impaired coordination
- slowed reactions
- difficulty maintaining actions
In combat, this often translates to Conditions or action misuse, not damage.
Duration: One scene
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: precise effect
- Stable: messy interference
- Degraded: cascading neurological effects
Common Side Effects:
- vertigo
- nausea
- sensory mismatch
Dependency / Aberration: High risk of lasting neurological disruption.
GM Notes: This is control through dysfunction, not harm.
Focus Ignition Compound¶
Method: Stimulation
Intent: Hyper-focus the nervous system for precision and clarity.
Application: Ingested or inhaled vapor
Onset: 30–60 seconds
Primary Effect: For the duration:
- heightened focus and reaction
- reduced distraction
- improved fine motor control under stress
Emotion and empathy are muted during effect.
Duration: One scene
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: razor clarity
- Stable: clean focus
- Degraded: tunnel vision, fixation, obsessive behavior
Common Side Effects:
- headaches
- emotional flattening
- irritability afterward
Dependency / Aberration: Repeated use risks long-term attention issues and emotional blunting.
GM Notes: This is excellent for tense, delicate work and terrible for social situations.
Hardskin Tonic¶
Method: Adaptation
Intent: Increase tolerance to physical harm by altering skin and connective tissue response.
Application: Ingested over time (thick tonic)
Onset: 10–30 minutes
Primary Effect: For the duration:
- skin toughens and bruises less easily
- minor impacts and abrasions are reduced or ignored
- pain response to blunt force is dampened
This does not stop serious injury. It shifts the threshold.
Duration: Several hours
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: flexible resilience
- Stable: noticeable toughness
- Degraded: stiffening, reduced mobility
Common Side Effects:
- tight or itchy skin
- reduced tactile sensitivity
- discomfort when bending or twisting
Dependency / Aberration: Repeated use may lead to permanent thickening, scarring, or reduced sensation.
GM Notes: Hardskin makes characters harder to hurt, but also harder to feel.
Inertia Philter¶
Method: Suppression
Intent: Suppress reflexes and urgency, making action feel slow and effortful.
Application: Ingested or injected
Onset: Seconds to a minute
Primary Effect: For the duration:
- reflexive actions are delayed
- initiative and responsiveness are reduced
- emotional urgency is flattened
In combat, this often manifests as delayed or misused actions, not paralysis.
Duration: One scene
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: controlled suppression
- Stable: sluggish but functional
- Degraded: severe disorientation, loss of balance
Common Side Effects:
- vertigo
- frustration or irritability
- lingering heaviness
Dependency / Aberration: Long-term use can blunt motivation and drive.
GM Notes: Inertia doesn't stop action. It makes everything feel like a bad idea.
Mindfog Tincture¶
Method: Disruption
Intent: Interfere with concentration, memory, and decision-making.
Application: Ingested
Onset: 30–60 seconds
Primary Effect: For the duration:
- thoughts become slow or tangled
- maintaining focus is difficult
- complex decisions feel overwhelming
In combat or tense situations, this may cause:
- delayed reactions
- forgotten intentions
- poor tactical choices
Duration: One scene
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: mild cognitive haze
- Stable: pronounced confusion
- Degraded: disorientation, panic, emotional instability
Common Side Effects:
- headaches
- irritability
- fragmented memory
Dependency / Aberration: Repeated use may lead to lasting attention deficits or emotional volatility.
GM Notes: Mindfog doesn't erase thoughts. It buries them under static.
Numbing Salve¶
Method: Suppression Intent: Mask pain and reduce shock without healing injury. Application: Applied directly to skin or wound site Onset: 1–2 minutes Primary Effect: - Pain is significantly reduced - Penalties from injury may be ignored temporarily Duration: One scene Lifecycle Sensitivity: - Fresh: clean, effective - Stable: normal masking - Degraded: pain rebounds sharply when it wears off Common Side Effects: - delayed realization of injury severity - stiffness - loss of fine sensation Dependency / Aberration: Chronic use dulls natural pain response.
GM Notes: This is dangerous because it makes bad decisions easier.
Obscurity Balm¶
Method: Suppression
Intent: Dull pain, panic, and shock to allow continued function.
Application: Applied directly to skin, wound site, or pressure points
Onset: 1–2 minutes
Primary Effect: For the duration:
- pain is significantly reduced
- penalties from shock, fear, or acute injury are muted
- the subject remains functional despite trauma
This does not heal damage or prevent worsening injury.
Duration: One scene
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: clean suppression, clear return of sensation
- Stable: effective masking
- Degraded: delayed pain surge when effect ends
Common Side Effects:
- stiffness
- delayed reaction to injury
- emotional dulling
Dependency / Aberration: Repeated use dulls natural pain responses and risk awareness.
GM Notes: Caligo makes bad decisions easier and consequences harder to notice.
Overdrive Catalyst¶
Method: Stimulation
Intent: Sustain intense effort longer than the body should allow.
Application: Injection or inhalant
Onset: 1–2 minutes
Primary Effect: For the duration:
- fatigue accumulates more slowly
- sustained exertion (running, climbing, fighting) is possible far beyond normal limits
- penalties from long-term strain are delayed, not removed
Duration: Several minutes to one scene
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: extended endurance with clean collapse
- Stable: functional but harsh recovery
- Degraded: muscle spasms, coordination loss mid-use
Common Side Effects:
- muscle damage
- dehydration
- delayed onset pain
Dependency / Aberration: Long-term use causes chronic exhaustion cycles and burnout.
GM Notes: This preparation is about lasting, not hitting harder.
Serpent's Kiss¶
Method: Mimicry
Intent: Mimic venomous secretion for offensive or deterrent use.
Application: Ingested or injected
Onset: Several minutes
Primary Effect: For the duration:
- the subject produces a toxic saliva or glandular secretion
- bites, scratches, or deliberate application can deliver venom-like effects
- potency depends on preparation quality
This is not a spell-like poison. It is a biological function.
Duration: One scene
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: predictable toxicity
- Stable: effective but inconsistent
- Degraded: self-poisoning risk, erratic potency
Common Side Effects:
- burning sensation in mouth or glands
- nausea
- altered taste and smell
Dependency / Aberration: High risk. Repeated use may permanently alter glands, teeth, or saliva.
GM Notes: Serpent's Kiss blurs the line between tool and body.
Sleep Draught¶
Method: Suppression
Intent: Induce sleep, unconsciousness, or deep lethargy.
Application: Ingested or inhaled vapor
Onset: 30 seconds to several minutes (dose dependent)
Primary Effect: The subject becomes:
- drowsy, then unconscious, or
- profoundly slowed and unresponsive
This is not paralysis. It suppresses alertness and awareness.
Duration: Minutes to hours
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: predictable onset and recovery
- Stable: heavy lethargy
- Degraded: erratic sleep cycles, confusion on waking
Common Side Effects:
- grogginess
- memory gaps
- slowed reactions after waking
Dependency / Aberration: Frequent use disrupts natural sleep and circadian regulation.
GM Notes: Sleep Draught is safer than blunt trauma and far more socially acceptable… until it isn't.
Spider's Gift¶
Method: Mimicry
Intent: Borrow adhesive and climbing traits from arachnids.
Application: Ingested or injected
Onset: 1–2 minutes
Primary Effect: For the duration:
- hands and feet exude a faint adhesive secretion
- the subject can cling to walls, ceilings, and rough surfaces
- grip strength and stability are dramatically improved
This does not grant perfect control; slipping is still possible.
Duration: One scene to one hour
Lifecycle Sensitivity:
- Fresh: clean adhesion, controlled release
- Stable: strong grip, residue left behind
- Degraded: uncontrolled sticking, difficulty releasing
Common Side Effects:
- skin irritation
- difficulty handling delicate objects
- faint web-like residue on skin
Dependency / Aberration: Repeated use may cause permanent gland changes or unwanted secretion.
GM Notes: Spider's Gift is useful until you need to let go.
Tremor Draft¶
Method: Disruption Intent: Interfere with fine motor control and bodily steadiness Application: Ingested or injected Onset: Seconds Primary Effect: For the duration: - hands shake and muscles twitch - fine manipulation becomes difficult - precise actions are unreliable In combat, this often results in: - penalties to attacks requiring precision - dropped items - misused or delayed actions Duration: One scene Lifecycle Sensitivity: - Fresh: localized tremors, predictable effect - Stable: generalized shaking - Degraded: spasms, loss of balance, occasional collapse Common Side Effects: - muscle soreness - jaw clenching - lingering weakness Dependency / Aberration: Repeated use risks chronic tremors or nerve damage.
GM Notes: Tremor Draft doesn't stop action. It makes competence unreliable.
Verdant Balance¶
Method: Adaptation Intent: Increase resistance to toxins, disease, and environmental stressors. Application: Ingested over several doses Onset: Gradual (over an hour or more) Primary Effect: For the duration: - improved resistance to poison and illness - reduced severity of ongoing effects - faster recovery from exposure This does not cure conditions. It reshapes how the body reacts. Duration: One day Lifecycle Sensitivity: - Fresh: strong, stable resistance - Stable: reliable protection - Degraded: uneven resistance, strange reactions Common Side Effects: - changes in appetite - unusual body odors - altered waste or perspiration Dependency / Aberration: Repeated use can permanently shift metabolism or immune response.
GM Notes: This preparation makes survival easier and normal life stranger.
Verdant Resilience Tonic¶
Method: Adaptation Intent: Increase tolerance to an environmental stressor. Application: Ingested Onset: 10–30 minutes Primary Effect: The subject gains increased tolerance to a specific condition: - cold - heat - thin air - toxins (chosen at preparation) Duration: Several hours Lifecycle Sensitivity: - Fresh: best adaptation - Stable: effective - Degraded: partial adaptation with physiological distortion Common Side Effects: - altered metabolism - unusual cravings - skin or eye changes Dependency / Aberration: Repeated use may permanently shift baseline tolerance.
GM Notes: Adaptation does not grant immunity. It buys margin.
Vertigo Smoke¶
Method: Disruption Intent: Disorient spatial awareness and balance. Application: Inhaled vapor or aerosol Onset: Immediate upon exposure Primary Effect: For the duration: - sense of up and down becomes unreliable - movement feels unstable - rapid turns or sudden motion are difficult In combat, this often manifests as: - slowed movement - difficulty repositioning - hesitation or misjudged distances Duration: One scene or until clear air is reached Lifecycle Sensitivity: - Fresh: controlled disorientation - Stable: strong imbalance - Degraded: nausea, vomiting, incapacitation Common Side Effects: - headaches - lingering dizziness - visual distortion Dependency / Aberration: Frequent exposure can cause long-term balance disorders.
GM Notes: Vertigo Smoke is especially dangerous in confined or elevated spaces.
Next Logical Moves¶
From here, the strongest options are: