Welcome to Gaia! ::

Professora Tryna
Subject: Cooking
Alignment: Sanguine
Orientation: Academic
Position: Gatekeeper


(Colours by the delightful SkieBorne!!)

Tryna is spunky, competative and passionate about most things. She doesn't come off as obnoxious or twinky because she hides her pep behind carefully layered sarcasm. Tryna perhaps understands where the younger Empyreans are coming from. She is usually one of the Professoras that the young Empyreans go to when they're in trouble.

Aside from teaching recipees for savories and sweets, Tryna also teaches how the effects of different substances on the Empyrean body affect emotions, energy levels and Essence control in both good ways and bad.


Righto then! Some of the Profs think we should start ya all off slow and ease you into the subjects of more difficulty. But, no pain and no gain, so roll up your sleeves and prepare to singe your elbows. Ah...the sweet scent of burnt-student flesh.... *chuckles*
So, We're gonna crack right into Alchemy, because Hellions, you're gonna need all the time in the world to practice and get this stuff right before it'll be of any use!
So, what's the difference between Alchemy and Magic casting?
Alchemy refers to both an early protoscience and an early philosophical discipline, both combining elements of chemistry, metallurgy, physics, medicine, astrology, semiotics, mysticism, spiritualism, and art. Alchemy has been practiced in Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Persia, India, and China, in Classical Greece and Rome, in the Islamic Caliphates, and then in Europe up to the 19th century — in a complex network of schools and philosophical systems spanning at least 2500 years.
Western alchemy has always been closely connected with Hermeticism, a philosophical and spiritual system that traces its roots to Hermes Trismegistus, a syncretic Egyptian-Greek deity and legendary alchemist. These two disciplines influenced the birth of Rosicrucianism, an important esoteric movement of the seventeenth century. In the course of the early modern period, as mainstream alchemy evolved into modern chemistry, its mystic and Hermetic aspects became the focus of a modern spiritual alchemy, where material manipulations are viewed as mere symbols of spiritual transformations.
Today, the discipline is of interest mainly to historians of science and philosophy, and for its mystic, esoteric, and artistic aspects. Nevertheless, alchemy was one of the main precursors of modern sciences, and we owe to the ancient alchemists the discovery of many substances and processes that are the mainstay of modern chemical and metallurgical industries.

First off, there are some important terms you're gonna need to know.

Cancer is the name of the process of dissolution, i.e., a process by which a substance is dissolved in a liquid like an acid. In advanced potions you will here this term used.
Leo denoted the absorption or assimilation of one substance by another. In advanced potions you will hear this term used.
Libra is the act of weighing out ingredients. And remember! If you're even a miligram off, the entire thing could fizzle. In advanced potions you will hear this Term used.
Aqua vitae is the name of one of the most common potions attempted, also known as the Water of Life, or the Elixir of Life, which grants a long life bordering in immortality. It does not have one single recipé, and as such it is not listed in the class lists. If one takes the career of Alchemist, they may study this potion, and determine a way to make it themselves. It cannot be sold, but may be shared with a maximum of 1 comrade or lover. It is said that this potion takes a great deal of Essence to create, and can only be attempted once a year.
Panacea is another of the common potions, which - if made properly - can heal any sickness and any wound. It does not have one single recipé, and as such it is not listed in the class lists. If one takes the career of Alchemist, they may study this potion, and determine a way to make it themselves. It cannot be sold, but may be shared with a maximum of 4 comrades or lovers. It is said that this potion takes a great deal of Essence to create, and can only be attempted once a year.
Philosopher's Stone is proably the most widely known creation of the alchemical arts, and is a substance that can transmute metals. It does not have one single recipé, and as such it is not listed in the class lists. If one takes the career of Alchemist, they may study this potion, and determine a way to make it themselves. It cannot be sold, but may be used by the creator or given to one person. It can only be made once.
Alembic is a vessel made of glass or copper that is used to distil substances into a truer or more pure form. It requires heat to change the form from solid to liquid, and then to gas, whereby the bubbles will rise up the neck of the vessel and will curl down through the curled and heated pig-tail-like spout to deposite its reduced form into an empty vessel below.
Crucible is another alchemical tool for the burning down and combining substances. Instead of distilling a substance, the crucible keeps a high heat and the elements tossed inside it melt and conjoin into one. It is through the Crucible that Alchemical alloys are made.

The common perception of alchemists is that they were pseudo-scientists, crackpots and charlatans, who attempted to turn lead into gold, believed that the universe was composed of the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, and spent most of their time concocting miraculous remedies, poisons, and magic potions.

Although some alchemists were indeed crackpots and charlatans, most were well-meaning and intelligent scholars; among their number can be counted such distinguished scientists as Sir Isaac Newton. These people in many ways served as innovators, and attempted to explore and investigate the nature of chemical substances and processes. They had to rely on experimentation, traditional know-how, rules of thumb — and speculative thought in their attempts to uncover the mysteries of the physical universe.

At the same time, it was clear to the alchemists that "something" was generally being conserved in chemical processes, even in the most dramatic changes of physical state and appearance; i.e. that substances contained some "principles" that could be hidden under many outer forms, and revealed by proper manipulation. Throughout the history of the discipline, alchemists struggled to understand the nature of these principles, and find some order and sense in the results of their chemical experiments — which were often undermined by impure or poorly characterized reagents, the lack of quantitative measurements, and confusing and inconsistent nomenclature.

The best known goals of the alchemists were the transmutation of common metals into gold or silver, and the creation of a "panacea", a remedy that supposedly would cure all diseases and prolong life indefinitely. Starting with the Middle Ages, European alchemists invested much effort on the search for the "philosopher's stone", a mythical substance that was believed to be an essential ingredient for either or both of those goals. Alchemists enjoyed prestige and support through the centuries, though not for their pursuit of those goals, nor the mystic and philosophical speculation that dominates their literature. Rather it was for their mundane contributions to the "chemical" industries of the day — the invention of gunpowder, ore testing and refining, metalworking, production of ink, dyes, paints, and cosmetics, leather tanning, ceramics and glass manufacture, preparation of extracts and liquors, and so on (It seems that the preparation of aqua vitae, the "water of life", was a fairly popular "experiment" among European alchemists).

On the other hand, alchemists never had the inclination to separate the physical (chemical) aspects of their craft from the metaphysical interpretations. Indeed, from antiquity until well into the Modern Age, a physics devoid of metaphysical insight would have been as unsatisfying as a metaphysics devoid of physical manifestation. For one thing, the lack of common words for chemical concepts and processes, as well as the need for secrecy, led alchemists to borrow the terms and symbols of biblical and pagan mythology, astrology, kabbalah, and other mystic and esoteric fields; so that even the plainest chemical recipe ended up reading like an abstruse magic incantation. Moreover, alchemists sought in those fields the theoretical frameworks into which they could fit their growing collection of disjointed experimental facts.

Starting with the middle ages, some alchemists increasingly came to view these metaphysical aspects as the true foundation of alchemy; and chemical substances, physical states, and material processes as mere metaphors for spiritual entities, states and transformations. Thus, both the transmutation of common metals into gold and the universal panacea symbolized evolution from an imperfect, diseased, corruptible and ephemeral state towards a perfect, healthy, incorruptible and everlasting state; and the philosopher's stone then represented some mystic key that would make this evolution possible. Applied to the alchemist himself, the twin goal symbolized his evolution from ignorance to enlightenment, and the stone represented some hidden spiritual truth or power that would lead to that goal. In texts that are written according to this view, the cryptic alchemical symbols, diagrams, and textual imagery of late alchemical works typically contain multiple layers of meanings, allegories, and references to other equally cryptic works; and must be laboriously "decoded" in order to discover their true meaning.

Some humanistic scholars now see these spiritual and metaphysical allegories as the truest and most valuable aspect of alchemy, and even claim that the development of chemistry out of alchemy was a "corruption" of the original Hermetic tradition. This is the view espoused by contemporary practitioners of spiritual alchemy. Most scientists, on the other hand, tend to take quite the opposite view: to them, the path from the material side of alchemy to modern chemistry was the "straight road" in the evolution of the discipline, while the metaphysically oriented brand of alchemy was a "wrong turn" that led to nowhere. In either view, however, the naïve interpretations of some practitioners or the fraudulent hopes fostered by others should not diminish the contribution of the more sincere alchemists.

Since its earliest times, alchemy has been closely connected to astrology — which, in the Islamic world and Europe, generally meant the traditional Babylonian-Greek school of astrology. Alchemical systems often postulated that each of the seven planets known to the ancients "ruled" or was associated with a certain metal. See the separate article on astrology and alchemy for further details. In Hermeticism it is linked with both astrology and theurgy. "Everything that happens once will never happen again. But anything that happens twice will surely happen a third time." A quote from The Alchemist.

Up to the 18th century, alchemy was actually considered serious science in Europe; for instance, Isaac Newton devoted considerably more of his time and writing to the study of alchemy than he did to either optics or physics, for which he is famous, (see Isaac Newton's occult studies). Other eminent alchemists of the Western world are Roger Bacon, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Tycho Brahe, Thomas Browne, and Parmigianino. The decline of alchemy began in the 18th century with the birth of modern chemistry, which provided a more precise and reliable framework for matter transmutations and medicine, within a new grand design of the universe based on rational materialism.

In the first half of the nineteenth century, one established chemist, Baron Carl Reichenbach, researched on concepts similar to the old alchemy, such as the Odic force, but his research did not enter the mainstream of scientific discussion.

Matter transmutation, the old goal of alchemy, enjoyed a moment in the sun in the 20th century when physicists were able to convert lead atoms into gold atoms via a nuclear reaction. However, the new gold atoms, being unstable isotopes, lasted for under five seconds before they broke apart. More recently, reports of table-top element transmutation - by means of electrolysis or sonic cavitation - were the pivot of the cold fusion controversy of 1989. None of those claims have yet been reliably duplicated.

Alchemical symbolism has been occasionally used in the 20th century by psychologists and philosophers. Carl Jung reexamined alchemical symbolism and theory and began to show the inner meaning of alchemical work as a spiritual path. Alchemical philosophy, symbols and methods have enjoyed something of a renaissance in post-modern contexts, such as the New Age movement. Even some physicists have played with alchemical ideas in books such as The Tao of Physics and The Dancing Wu Li Masters.

The history of alchemy has become a vigorous academic field. As the obscure hermetic language of the alchemists is gradually being "deciphered", historians are becoming more aware of the intellectual connections between that discipline and other facets of Western cultural history, such as the sociology and psychology of the intellectual communities, kabbalism, spiritualism, Rosicrucianism, and other mystic movements, cryptography, witchcraft, and the evolution of science and philosophy.


Now that you know a little about alchemy, here's some recipees you can make. Now, remember, just because you have the knowledge to make them, some are simply too difficult to attempt until higher levels of Transcendance, and some of the ingredients are bared to lower levels, or impossibly hard to get a hold of, making them veeeery expensive.
The Recipees are organized by Star Ratings from 1 to 5 stars. The number of stars equals the number of key plant ingredients you'll need to acquire from Quenda or another Botanist in order to prepare them. The other ingredients you can aquire from nearly any Apothecary store.

Difficulties
* - 30%
** - 35%
*** - 40%
**** - 50%
***** - 60%

1. Sunspots * Literally, Sunshine in a bottle! Uncorking Sunspots releases bright flashing lights that can be used to confuse or blind an enemy or illuminate a dark area!
Sundew is the plant required for Sunspots.

2. Stardust * Stardust is like Tinkerbell's pixie dust. It enables you to hover, jump, and fly higher than your normal restriction by double the height!
Windflower is the flower required for Stardust.

3. Fire Drops * This liquid ignites when it hits oxygen and starts a flame that will catch on whatever it has been dropped onto...even if that surface is not generally flammable!
St. Ignatius Bean is the plant you will need to make Fire Drops.

4. Rainwater * This mixture when uncorked releases a torrential spring rain, perfect for dousing fires, quenching thirst and cleaning away footprints or blood!
Water Violet is the blossom you will need to make Rainwater.

5. Sacred Ground * This mixture can be sprinkled around a target group, and it acts as a ward, protecting those within the circle from being physically attacked. No malignant force can enter the circle's barrier - so long as it is a complete circle, and no strike and reach outside of it!
Green Coffee will be needed to create Sacred Ground.

6. Siren's Song* Confused? Baffleghasted? Just plain bleary-eyed and out-of-sorts? No matter what the cause of your muddled brain, Siren's Song can wake you from the fog and put your mind back into prime working order!
Witch Hazel is the plant you will need to compose Siren's Song.

7. Satyr's Celebration * Comrade fallen asleep due to magic of slothly nature? Satyr's Celebration is guaranteed to wake up any sleeping person in hearing distance!
Dwarf Nettle is what you need to make Satyr's Celebration.

8. Pele's Favour ** Pele, an ancient Goddess of the Volcanoes lives on in this salve. Although it was said she had a terrible temper, she herself was immune to the damages of fire, and using this salve will heal any burns incured!
You will need both Larch and Leopard s Bane to make Pele's Favour.

9. Frey's Love ** Frey melted the world and Gerd's heart with one glance. You can heal any frostbite with a rub of Frey's Love!
You will need both Honeysuckle and White Bryony to make Frey's Love.

10. Medea's Salve ** Medea was a powerful sorceress, and helped Jason steal the Golden Fleece! Medea's salve will cure any poison!
You will need both Poison Nut and Poison Ivy to make Medea's Salve.

11. Live Wire ** Live Wire will give you a boost when those limbs don't seem to be moving, yup a paralysis heal like no other!
You will need both Onion and Wild Rose Hip to make Live Wire.

12. Galatea's Kiss ** Galatea was once made of stone, but at Pygmalion's kiss she became living flesh, so if you've been turned to stone, have no fear, Galatea's Kiss is here!!
You will need both Sweet Chestnut and Rock Rose to make Galatea's Kiss.

13. Booster Juice *** Tired, lethargic, beaten, can barely keep your eyes open let alone stand? Take a shot of Booster Juice and you'll get a zip of energy that'll carry you that last leg of the journey!
You will need Beech, Wild Oat and Onion to make Booster Juice.

14. Centaur Blood *** Centaurs were unruly, beastly strong and magestic, and this Centaur's Blood will impart that godly strength on you for a short while!
You will need Gorse, Oak and Crab Apple to make Centaur Blood.

15. Dragon Breath *** Used up all your Essence but need to cast one more spell? Dragon's breath will give you a temporary shot of Essence so that you can cast one more spell, make it a good one!
You will need Red Chestnut, Holly and Scleranthus to make Dragon Breath.

16. Gryphon Cry *** So you're not the smartest kid in the common room, that won't matter a wink when you harken to the Gryphon's Cry! It'll boost your intelligence for a short while, so make good use of your sharpened senses!
You will need Goldenseal, Monk s Hood and Aspen to make Gryphon Cry.

17. Vision Quest *** The Vision Quest sacrament will send you on a journey of the spirit and the soul, and take you to unknown places of the past, present or future. While you'll be sure to see some form of Prophecy, understanding or interpereting it can be another matter. Make sure you record every detail precisely!
You will need Eyebright, Rue and Cerato to make Vision Quest.

18. Angel's Dirge **** The Angels will sing a Dirge for you if you are badly injured. Broken bones, firearms wounds and maulings from Monsters can all be healed by Angel's Dirge, so long as you use it promptly!
You will need Star of Bethlehem, Greater Celandine, Monk s Hood and Agrimony to make Angel's Dirge.

19. Demon's Dance **** When hte Demons Dance they say hellfire will rain from the sky! Though this shower of brimstone is but illusion, the damage of strikes made during the onslaught will do triple damage!
You will need Mandrake, Belladonna, Mezereon and Hornbeam to make Devil's Dance.

20. Feline Grace **** Cats always land on their feet, and so will you when you sip this Feline Grace and feel the speed and agility of the cat take hold of you!
You will need Leopard s Bane, German Chamomile, Comfrey and Wild Rose to make Feline Grace.

21. Canine Howl **** Like the Howl of the Wolf at the Full Moon, the Canine Howl will still a chilling fear that will slow your opponents and make their hands as unsteady as their hearts!
You will need Chicory, Olive, Bittersweet and Heather to make Canine Howl.

22. Aqueous Tide **** The Aqueous Tide like a tidal wave will crash against your opponent, leaving their bodies chilled and weakened to your further attacks!
You will need Water Violet, Blue Cohosh, Vervain and White Bryony to make Aqueous Tide.

23. Equestrian Trance **** If practise makes perfect, and you're a little short on practise, Equestrian Trance might be what you need in a pinch! Guaranteed to double your accuracy for a short while!
You will need Centaury, May-Apple, Scleranthus and Oak to make Equestrian Trance.

24. Tauran Strength **** As the bull charges through fences and defences, Tauran Strength makes the effectivness of blocking against your attacks nearly a moot point for a short while!
You will need Impatiens, Walnut, Pine and Chestnut Bud to make Tauran Strength.

25. Serpentine Wiles **** Defense Magic not up to snuff? Well, wouldn't you like to double the damage your Defensive Magic can soak in a single turn? With Serpentine Wiles you can do just this!
You will need Willow, Elm, Gentian and Vine to make Serpentine Wiles.

26. Caprian Pride **** The pride of the mountain goat allows him to just lower his head and charge, knowing that his head will be find and his opponent's dashed. Likewise, Caprian Pride lowers the effectiveness of your opponent's Defensive Magic against you.
You will need Yellow Dock Root, Mustard, White Chestnut and Hornbeam to make Caprian Pride.

27. Felis Tribe ***** The power of the Felis is often said to be greater than any other beast...so what exactly will Felis Tribe bestow upon you? For three turns it can make you Immune to any form of Magic!
You will need White Cedar, Cherry Plum, Mimulus, Willow and Star of Bethlehem to make Felis Tribe.

28. Rhapsody ***** No matter how little Essence you might have left, Rhapsody can completely replenish your casting Essence, all it takes is one turn of rest!
You will need Clematis, Yellow Jasmin, Holly, Rue and Deadly Nightshade to make Rhapsody.

29. Loki's Heart ***** Loki was a god of fire, mischief and deceit, he was the only Norse God who could shift into any shape he liked. With a swallow of Loki's Heart you too can transform into a random beast for a short time!
You will need Jack-in-the-pulpit, Poke, Crab Apple, Vine and Mezereon to make Loki's Heart.

30. Holy Water ***** Holy Water is able to wake the Undead back to the world of the living where they can be safely killed, laid to rest or healed and ressurrected to life! Also releases some monsters!
You will need Agrimony, St. John s Wort, Wild Rosemary, Monk s Hood and St. Ignatius Bean to make Holy Water.

31. Elixir ***** The Elixir, the elusive Water of Life! While this is a shallow form of Aqua Vitae, it can still return any individual to full heal and full strength with a single daught.
You will need Boneset, Aspen, Rock Rose, Vervain and Eyebright to make Elixir.

32. Phoenix Tears ***** Until Death? Not so! Phoenix Tears can ressurect the freshly fallen to half-health and full-strength should they die in combat!
You will need Shower of Gold, Bittersweet, Mandrake, Goldenseal and Impatiens to make Phoenix Tears.



Advanced Alchemical practices requires the involvement of many other studies, including Botany, Mathematics, Science and Crafting. However, there are a few practices that can be used by many of the different studies to enhance the strength and effectiveness of the potions you'll be making.
These practices are called Styles.
Ceres Style: Ceres style is when you grow all of the required ingredients yourself. It increases the potency of the potions effects, doubled the damage it does.
Pallas Style: Pallas style is when you plan out the timing in the making of the potion, and arrange it with strengthening celestial bodies, augmenting Aspects or shapes or other spells or skills that will help the potion to be made perfectly. The affect of Pallas style is that the potion can target a specific body-part or location into a 1 inch area without the extra expenditure of essence that an Empyrean would normally need to focus.
Juno Style: Juno style is when you purchase all of the ingredients from shops or other crafters or alchemists, in order to make your potions. This makes the potion only half as potent (rounding up). It is certainly easier, especially for beginners or those that don't have the time to invest in full creation.
Vesta Style: Vesta style is when you craft all of the implements that will be used to make the potion yourself. The effect of doing this is that the duration will be twice as long before the effects wear off.
Chiron Style: Chiron style is when you reuse other materials, such as melting down the gold from a mixing bowl to fill the gold quota from a spell or recipee. The benefit of this is that it causes twice the amount of antidote to remedy the effects of the potion. It also means that it can combate other potinos that are of higher strength.