Variable Mercury
Alchemy, Essence
A reddish powder; a single grain set in wax and dropped into a large batch of molten lead or mercury turns it into pure gold almost instantly.
Also called The Philosopher's Stone
From the book
Also known as the Philosopher's Stone, this essence takes the form of a dram (60 grains) of reddish powder. A single grain, pressed into a drop of yellow wax and dropped into 100 lbs. of molten lead or mercury, changes the whole amount into the purest gold almost at once. The alchemist will need a very large crucible to do this.
Like every essence, it is drawn out with a quarter fluid dram of alchahest from 12 drams of its base substance, using an aludel, an athanor and a full laboratory over at least two weeks; success rests on a save vs Will, and a failed attempt must be repeated from the start.
At a glance
- Appearance
- 1 dr. (60 grains) of reddish powder
- Effect
- 1 grain transmutes 100 lbs. of molten lead or mercury into gold
- Requires
- Very large crucible
- Materials
- 12 drs. of the metal/element component, 1/4 fl. dr. alchahest; aludel, athanor, full laboratory
- Time to complete
- Minimum 2 weeks
- Chance of success
- Save vs Will; on failure roll %: 10% or less is a mishap; any failure means repeating the procedure
- Also called
- The Philosopher's Stone
- Method
- Grain embedded in a drop of yellow wax
Book text reads 'molten Lead of Mercury', probably meaning lead or mercury.