Alchemy

Ezren applying rigour to his alchemical studies.

Alchemy is the science of materials: alchemists can use scientific methods, sometimes combined with magic, to produce a vast array of alchemical substances with many practical uses.

Alchemy is not magic. It uses chemicals, minerals, plants, and other substances, collectively referred to as alchemical reagents, to create potent elixirs, alchemical bombs, and other concoctions. Purely alchemical items never have magical auras, and they cannot be dismissed or dispelled.¹

Some alchemists adopt less rigorous methods.

Practice of alchemy

Although many on Golarion will be familiar with the simple products of alchemy, such as tindertwigs or fireworks, readily found in merchant shops, some alchemists have studied many years to perfect their craft and are able to manipulate matter in many strange ways.

Alchemy has had a great influence on Golarion. Elemental weapons like alchemist's fire and alchemical elixirs are widespread and can be used by anyone, and alchemical techniques are often used in other sciences and industries. Alchemy enables creation of stronger materials for armor and weapons, black powder for guns and explosives, and even something as simple as preservatives for volatile substances for safe transportation. Steam engines, while very new to Golarion, also prefer to use alchemically derived heat sources rather than coal furnaces.²

Alchemy can be used by anyone who can find a recipe and alchemical reagents, with no need for specialized training or unique abilities. A single alchemist can greatly improve life for those around him by creating elixirs to cure disease and poison, and restore vitality, or alchemical weapons to help defend the community from outside threats.²

Types of alchemy

As well as traditional alchemy, there are many variant forms specializing in different areas of the subject, such as:


Belkzen war alchemy Daggermark poisons Derro fungus alchemy Dwarven magic ales Homunculi of Lepidstadt	Katapeshi drug crafting Kyonin alchemical archery Oenology Oenopion ooze alchemy Pei Zin herbalism	Spontaneous alchemy Thuvian wish alchemy or Thuvian alchemy Tian alchemy Varisian fireworks Viniculture and Viticulture

Alchemical processes

Alchemists draw upon a number of alchemical processes for creating their items, namely:³


Calcination Ceration Congelation Digestion	Distillation Earth Exposure	Fermentation Filtration Sublimation

Alchemical crafting tools

Alchemists use a number of tools for their studies often purchased in bulk as an alchemist's lab or a smaller portable alchemist's lab. They contain such items as crucibles, filters and retorts.⁴

A kobold alchemist.

A drow alchemist.

Alchemical items

The study of alchemy has produced a plethora of substances that are utilized by alchemists. Alchemical items may be categorized into many types:⁵

Alchemical organizations

Many alchemical organizations exists, including:

The Chymists of Life in Death: an heretical sect of the Church of Pharasma dedicated to creating alchemical undead⁶
The Daggermark Poisoners' Guild
The Order of Alchemists and Potion Makers: All of Katapesh's numerous potion makers, vendors, and alchemists belong to this order⁷
The Sparkforge Collective in Dongun Hold⁸
The Coalition of Medicine of Vidrian represents its nation's secular healers and alchemists who do not work within a faith or temple.⁹

Schools of alchemy

Alvis is home to the Andoran Alchemical Society¹⁰
Ravenfoot Corner in Magnimar, Varisia¹¹
The University of Lepidstadt considers alchemy as one of its major subjects for study¹²
The Citadel of the Alchemist in northern Garund is led by the creator of the sun orchid elixir, Artokus Kirran.¹³

Purveyors of alchemical items

A number of shops and similar establishments sell alchemical wares and a list may be found here.

Noted alchemists

See also: Category:Alchemists

Perhaps the most notable alchemist in the Inner Sea region is Artokus Kirran, the discoverer of the Sun orchid elixir. Today his legacy is protected by the Citadel of the Alchemist.

Kassi Aziril is a Rahadoumi doctor who has made several important breakthroughs in medicine.

Religion and alchemy

Some gods and demigods take an interest in alchemy, including:¹⁴

Cixyron is a daemonic harbinger of gunpowder and poisonous metals amongst other things
Haagenti, demon lord of alchemy whose Abyssal realm is Cerebulim, the Hermetic Horizon: an alchemical clockwork realm of laboratories
Jubilex, demon lord of poison
Norgorber, god of poison and who, in his Blackfingers aspect, takes an interest in both alchemy and poison
The Great Old One Orgesh has alchemy within his portfolio
Scarmiglione is the Malebranche of poison
Vorasha is a daemonic harbinger of poison and toxicity
Ydersius is a god of poison

Technology and alchemy

The most obvious incarnation of a technological alchemical product is black powder and its use in firearms.

Alchemical creatures

An alchemical golem.

Certain creatures have been affected by alchemy, including:

References

Paizo published major works regarding alchemy, including Alchemy Manual and Potions & Poisons.

For additional resources, see the Meta page.

↑ Logan Bonner et al. (2019). Pathfinder Core Rulebook, p. 543. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-168-9
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Michael Sayre and Mark Seifter. (2021). Guns & Gears, p. 7–8. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-369-0
↑ Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, and David N. Ross. (2014). Alchemy Manual, p. 4f. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-605-8
↑ Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, and David N. Ross. (2014). Alchemy Manual, p. 5. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-605-8
↑ Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, and David N. Ross. (2014). Alchemy Manual, p. 30f. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-605-8
↑ Rob McCreary. (2010). The Godsmouth Heresy, p. 3. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-280-7
↑ Stephen S. Greer & Amber E. Scott. (2009). Dark Markets: A Guide to Katapesh, p. 48. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-166-4
↑ Michael Sayre and Mark Seifter. (2021). Guns & Gears, p. 193. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-369-0
↑ Laura-Shay Adams et al. (2021). "Vidrian". The Mwangi Expanse, p. 282. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-340-9
↑ Hal Maclean, Colin Moulder-McComb, Jason Nelson, Jonathan Keith, and Hank Woon. (2010). Andoran, Spirit of Liberty, p. 20. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-205-0
↑ Adam Daigle and James Jacobs. (2012). Magnimar, City of Monuments, p. 10. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-446-7
↑ F. Wesley Schneider. (2011). Rule of Fear, p. 32. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-301-9
↑ Tanya DePass, James Jacobs, Lyz Liddell, et al. (2019). "Absalom and Starstone Isle". World Guide, p. 20. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-172-6
↑ Sean K Reynolds et al. (2014). Inner Sea Gods, Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-597-6

[CRB-543-1] Logan Bonner et al. (2019). Pathfinder Core Rulebook, p. 543. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-168-9

[GaG-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Michael Sayre and Mark Seifter. (2021). Guns & Gears, p. 7–8. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-369-0

[3] Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, and David N. Ross. (2014). Alchemy Manual, p. 4f. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-605-8

[4] Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, and David N. Ross. (2014). Alchemy Manual, p. 5. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-605-8

[5] Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie, and David N. Ross. (2014). Alchemy Manual, p. 30f. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-605-8

[6] Rob McCreary. (2010). The Godsmouth Heresy, p. 3. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-280-7

[7] Stephen S. Greer & Amber E. Scott. (2009). Dark Markets: A Guide to Katapesh, p. 48. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-166-4

[8] Michael Sayre and Mark Seifter. (2021). Guns & Gears, p. 193. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-369-0

[9] Laura-Shay Adams et al. (2021). "Vidrian". The Mwangi Expanse, p. 282. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-340-9

[10] Hal Maclean, Colin Moulder-McComb, Jason Nelson, Jonathan Keith, and Hank Woon. (2010). Andoran, Spirit of Liberty, p. 20. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-205-0

[11] Adam Daigle and James Jacobs. (2012). Magnimar, City of Monuments, p. 10. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-446-7

[12] F. Wesley Schneider. (2011). Rule of Fear, p. 32. Paizo Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-60125-301-9

[13] Tanya DePass, James Jacobs, Lyz Liddell, et al. (2019). "Absalom and Starstone Isle". World Guide, p. 20. Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-64078-172-6

[14] Sean K Reynolds et al. (2014). Inner Sea Gods, Paizo Inc. ISBN 978-1-60125-597-6

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