Alchemy
The flora of the Sahwat Desert have evolved in an ecology polluted by Residium, and have innate magical properties. A skilled alchemist can synthesize any manner of potions and oils, given the time, knowledge, and a high constitution.
Ingredients
Every potion is made of three ingredients, all of which can be foraged from the desert, or very rarely, purchased from specialty shops. The quantity and rarity of each ingredient depends on the rarity of the potion being brewed, as does the difficulty in producing a successful brew, reflected in the number of skills checks required. The DC for each check is 10 + the total numeric rarity of all ingredients (common == 1, uncommon == 2, rare == 3, weird == 5):
| Potion Rarity | Common | Uncommon | Rare | Weird | Checks | DC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Uncommon | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| Rare | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
| Very Rare | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 20 |
| Legendary | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 23 |
More common ingredients are also less potent and require more portions to be effective: 10 portions for common ingredients, 5 for uncommon, 3 for rare and 1 for weird.
Brewing
To brew a potion, the alchemist must possess:
- The necessary ingredients in sufficient quantities
- Pure water or oil
- Fire
- Alchemical Supplies
- A magical catalyst (Legendary potions only)
The alchemist assembles the necessary ingredients and equipment, and performs the number of Alchmist's Tools checks required for the desired potion. Each check is a D20 roll to which is added the alchemist's Intelligence modifer and their proficiency bonus.
Each check takes four hours of uninterrupted focus.
Alchemy Without Training
If a character is not proficient with Alchemist's Tools, they may still attempt to brew a potion, with the following limitations:
- Only Common potions can be attempted.
- They perform an Intelligence check, not an Alchemist's Tools check (i.e., they do not add their proficiency bonus to the roll).
- Successful checks always yield Dubious Brews (see below).
Example
Potion of Healing (Common)
- Ingredients: Redfoot (Common), Blackfruit Palm (Common), Gulch Thistle (Common)
- Skill Checks required: 1
- Skill DC: 10 + (3 x 1) == 13
Success, Failure, and Dubious Brews
A brew is successful if the alchemist succeeds on more skill checks than they fail. A brew with no failed checks is completed without complication. A brew with no successes fails completely and causes a Wild Magic Explosion. A successful brew with one or more failed checks creates the desired potion but with side effects, which will be unknown until consumed. These potions are referred to as a Dubious Brew.
Abandoning or interrupting a brew in progress is an automatic failure.
Recipes and Experimentation
An alchemist can brew any potion for which they know the recipe. They can also combine random ingredients in an attempt to discover new recipes, but this is dangerous: ingredient combinations that do not yield viable potions will result in a failed brew regardless of skill checks.
However, the alchemist improves their craft with each brew, regardless of success or failure, and will learn one property of every ingredient used in the brew.
Acquiring Training in Alchemy
If you are in possession of an Alchemical training manual, or acquire a tutor proficient in Alchemist's Tools, you may acquire proficiency with Alchemist's Tools. This requires that you study each of the Five Lessons of the Seeker's Path and complete the associated practical exercises.
Study. Each lesson requires 4 hours of uninterrupted concentration to learn, after which you must succeed on a DC 20 Intelligence check.
Exercises. After successfully studying a lesson, you must successfully brew a potion associated with the lesson. After completing the brew, the DM will adjudicate whether the potion you've brewed matches the lesson.