Alchemical Substances
The most important materials to alchemy are the nine base elements, the Philospher's Stone, and the Prima Materia. All forms of matter on the earth are composed of varying proportions of the nine base elements, the quintessence of which is the purist form of each measurable substance. The greatest quintessence is the Philosopher's Stone, the quintessence of gold, which is the only material to contain a perfect balance of equal proportions of all base elements.
Also important are various powerful alchemagical substances including Novarite, Orichalcum, Starshard, Tektite, and Adamant. These metals and substances demonstrate magical properties and seem to possess inherent magical energy within them. This seems to indicate a possible elemental balance indicative of the properties predicted for Prima Materia. These materials may well be shadowy fragments of the Prima Materia.
Aqua Vitriol
Aqua vitriol is a common alchemical substance used to dissolve other substances or in combination with other alchemicals. It is a key component of whitepowder. To create aqua vitriol, distill green vitriol with sand in a container with a great deal of water. This results in corroded iron, water, and aqua vitriol, which must then be distilled and separated. The exact formula for the creation of aqua vitriol is kept secret by most alchemists. Aqua vitriol is very expensive and can only be bought from an alchemist. An older (but simpler) method is to heat natural sulfates to a very high temperature and dissolve in water mixed with saltpeter and powdered platinum (for a catalyst), which is then collected in a lead-lined chamber. This process is used by untrained alchemists since it is more widely known, but nevertheless remains difficult and costly.Aqua Fortis
Like aqua vitriol, aqua fortis is used to create alchemical compounds. It is a key component of whitepowder. By heating the hoof or horns of oxen, ammonia is created, which is also called spirit of hartshorn. The ammonia is then mixed with aqua phlogista, and boiled for several hours. The gas is collected and condensed using a large dibicos, and the resulting chemical is aqua fortis. More detailed and advanced formulae are protected by the Esoteric Order and are indecipherable to most people. As a result, aqua fortis can only be bought from alchemists.Aqua Regia
This formula creates aqua regia, the most dangerous acid known. Salt water (with a high salt content) is poured carefully into a container of aqua vitriol and aqua fortis solution. This reaction releases noxious fumes that should not be breathed. The resulting mixture should then be distilled and the liquid separated from the salts at the bottom. The process must be repeated several times for best results. The container must be of heavy lead, for aqua regia will quickly eat away glass and most other metals. For a more direct method, if muriatic acid is available, simply mix the muriatic acid with aqua fortis (different alchemist have different ratios of this mixture, and each has his "Perfectus Regus").Whitepowder
Whitepowder changed the face of warfare. Discovered, or rather re-discovered, in an Archidox laboratory in 583 CA (and quite by accident), it has since become the driving force behind all military innovation. The formula for whitepowder is fairly straightforward, but the process requires aqua vitriol and aqua fortis: both of these compounds are expensive and dangerous. The other component is simply cotton or sawdust, ground-up cornhusks, tree bark, or other dense plant matter. The cotton should be boiled for half an hour and dried. If any other plant material is used (like bark, corn husks, etc.), it should be ground to a fine powder and also boiled using a similar process. When mixed as a solution in accordance to secret alchemical procedures, the resulting powdery substance can then be dried and further refined for use in firearms, explosives, or cannons.Cavenic gas
Warning: this gas reacts violently to fire!Cavenic gas is an explosive, lighter-than-air gas extracted by dissolving metal in aqua vitriol, or more recently by passing electrical current through water. It is named for its discoverer, Hemell Caveno, who in 822 found that gas could be extracted by reacting aqua vitriol with metal (it was earlier known to the Maradians, who called it hydreous gas). There are two processes to creating cavenic gas. The first, simplest method, is to dissolve zinc in aqua vitriol and collect the gases that are released. The second is to apply strong electrical current to water and collect those gases, but that process is extremely dangerous and often explosive (it also creates phlogiston, but cavenic gas will always rise to the top half of the container). There are several large cavenic gas refineries located along the coast of the more powerful nations, which are creating it from sea water. Cavenic gas is primarily used in filling balloons and airships.
Nobilic Gas
A much-preferred substitute to cavenic gas in airships is nobilic gas (meaning "Noble Gas"). Nobilic gas is a very rare, lighter-than-air gas with nearly as much lift as cavenic gas, but is non-volatile. It can only be extracted from the gas in deep caves through a complex alchemical process, and is thus considerably more expensive than cavenic gas. However, nobilic gas has been created in extremely small quantities using alchemagical techniques that burn pure, isolated cavenic gas using powerful concentrations of aethergy and highly focused light energy. Even so, the energy needed to create nobilic gas in any sufficient quantity would be unimaginably high.Ammonic Gas
Alchemists can create this lifting gas by combining salt, quartz crystals, ammonia, and some secret components. It is flammable, though not nearly as much as cavenic gas, and only has 80% the lifting capacity of cavenic gas. It costs close to the same as cavenic gas and is a common alternative. Most balloons are a mix of cavenic and ammonic gas.Fire-Crystals
Fire-crystals have been known and used by mages and alchemists for hundreds of years, and to great and spectacular effect. Just throw the crystal at a foe; if the resulting explosion does not kill or wound him, he will certainly be shaken, if not terrified. Mix one part quicksilver and seven parts aqua fortis and stir with glass rod. Heat until the quicksilver dissolves and the solution boils, turning green in color. Add the bubbling green mix into a flask with six parts Spirit of Aether. The mixture should change to a red-brown. After half an hour, the brown fumes should turn white. Add water to the potion, equal to half the contents. At the bottom crystals should form. Filter out the liquid and carefully collect the crystals. Submerge them in water for a day and set them out to dry, but not in direct sunlight. The quicksilver used may be extracted from Cinnabar ore, but dragon's blood, if available, is preferred.Volatilis Ammoniac
Volatilis ammoniac is also called "dragonfire" because of its similarity to the chemicals found in the belly of dragons. To create volitilis ammoniac it is necessary to have aqua fortis and ammonia distilled from sal ammoniac. These highly reactive alchemicals are mixed together in a flask, which must be kept as cold as possible during the reaction (usually in an ice bath). The mixture has a high tendency to explode during this process, so extreme caution must be taken. After it finishes reacting, the solution must be left to evaporate. The remaining powder is volitilis ammoniac, which is non-volatile and can be safely packed into cakes or bulk explosives. Volitilis ammoniac will only explode when ignited by a larger explosive, usually whitepowder or fire crystals. It is most commonly used in aerial bombs or as a stationary explosive. The formula is guarded by the Esoteric Order, but it is known to other Orders as well.Ichor
Ichor is an explosive, volatile form of oil that has been refined from crude oil in large alchemical refineries. The basic formula calls for refined earth oil to be mixed with aqua fortis and several other alchemical reagents, including spirit of aethyr. The mixture is then heated under high pressure. Finally, the ichor is combined with aqua phlogista and compressed into tanks. The result of this refining is a clear green liquid that is highly vaporous--as a liquid it burns extremely hot and as a gas it is highly explosive. Fully refined Ichor has a distinct aqua-green color and is very slippery and oily to the touch. Ichor costs 0.17 to 0.2 guilds per gallon (0.5 guilds per 8.5 pounds). Today it is used in all the modern "ichor engines" typically found in aerodynes and vehicles.