Advanced Alchemical Substances

With an aludel, an athanor and a fully equipped lab, an alchemist can make three advanced substances, each taking two weeks at 75% plus 1% per level (99% maximum).

Alchahest, the universal solvent, is the most dangerous substance in alchemy and the leading killer of alchemists; a failed attempt carries a 15% chance of mishap. It needs the potion base, powdered mercury, a pinch of every metal and element but one, at least a dozen powdered gems, seven herbs, and a drop of blood each from a mammal, reptile, fish and bird. It eats through a cubic foot of matter per second for d20 x 3 seconds, and only the left-out substance, or an aludel, can hold it. A splash deals 1-100 damage, and a full vial vaporizes any creature short of arch-fiends, guardians and deities.

Orichalc, of diamond dust with copper, silver and gold heated in the athanor, emerges as a one-inch golden ingot that lends magic to metal forged into arms and armor: 1 ingot per +1 for a dagger, 2 for a sword, axe, spear, staff or rod, 3 for a shield, 7 for a suit of armor, or 1 per ten arrows or bolts, to a limit of +3. Vitriol, of water, copper, sulphur and Rare Earths with a drop of alchahest, is a glassy glue that bonds stone to stone or metal on contact, covers 10 square feet per dose, sets in a minute and yields only to alchahest. Failed vitriol or orichalc attempts carry a 5% mishap chance.