Homonculi and Aqua Vitae

Homonculi are life forms made by alchemy and quickened with aqua vitae, the Water of Life. Only an alchemist can brew aqua vitae, and only in an aludel: 20 powdered herbs, 30 animal ingredients, diamond, pearl and jade dust, powdered iron, 48 drams of Rare Earths, 48 fluid ounces of water and a dose of alchahest, worked like an essence for two weeks at 25% plus 2% per point of Will, yielding one ounce.

To make a homonculus, the creator describes and sketches its intended form, sculpts a clay replica (two weeks, or one with a sculptor), and seals it in a copper vat with the aqua vitae, an ounce of the creator's own blood and 8 drams of chosen animal ingredients, leaving it in a cool, dark place for two months; a wizard or sorcerer halves the time. The ingredients set its attributes, level and abilities, and the outcome is rolled on the Standard or New Life Forms table, modified for combined creature levels, any demonic or undead parts, and the level of the alchemist and helper. Results run from useless mold or slime through mutants (quivering blobs, extra heads that argue, extra arms, odd powers) to full success, while the highest rolls may yield a genius or a monster that turns on its maker.

Homonculi normally obey their masters, radiate strong magic, ignore magical influence, poisons and potions, gain only half benefit from healing spells and cannot be raised once killed. About 1-4% can breed, and many First Age hybrids such as manticores and chimeras are thought to have been made this way.