From: Delecti@aol.com
Date: Wed 25 Sep 1996 - 05:47:11 EEST
David Cake writes:
<<Recently the subject of Alchemy has popped up on the rules digest, and I
thought it was a subject worth raising here.
What do people think about alchemy in Glorantha? Who uses it, how does it
work (does it bear much resemblance to medieval alchemy?)?>>
I have alchemy in my glorantha. I use the term for the concocting of simple
herbal potions (i.e. basic folk magic in my game) to magic potions. The
really powerful stuff is from Q. Mostali or vary rarely someone of another
race (one NPC had gained the knowledge from an old EWF tome.)
<<Many elves can produce fancy potions, for example, but this is by knowledge
of plant lore and secret plants, not alchemy as such.>>
Although aldrymi have a great variety of "potions", from healing to
<<I think the metamagical basis of many alchemical theories is that the
discorporation, they are not the only one who have figured out ways of making
"potions". Who knows how to do what varies, but is very dependent upon having
the resources nearby to make the knowledge worthwhile. For example, a
wisewoman of a village near the stinking forest might have the know how to
make discorporation "potions" from the bark of ghost trees, as well as simple
healing "potions". Another example is a "potion" from moonrock which will
restore MP's as well in rare cases used rune magic in lunar mages. A powerful
mostali potion would temporarily turn a mostali into his castes metal, but
still mobile (imagine an "iron" mostali charging a bunch of aldrymi).
substance within the 'hermetically' sealed vessel is cut off from the effects
of the normal world, in effect becoming like a small piece of the heroplane,
where simple physical actions then have a magical refining effect. I think
this is a rough Gloranthaisation of the Jung/ Campbell etc. thinking on
alchemy (not that I have read much of it, there are whole books full of Jungs
thoughts on alchemy). >>
Interesting. I tend to refrain from having potions that give you the ability
to cast a spell like the way RQ2 worked (I think), as it is not the way I
think it should work.
Aloha,
Scott
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End of Glorantha Digest V3 #209
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