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The Science of Alchemy: History and Evolution

  • Member
    September 4, 2013

    So many beautiful things for potions.

    All of them there for the taking, waiting to be plucked and put to use.

    "Grind me! Take my essence and turn me into something new, something wonderful!" 

    they cry out to me.

    Cinda Amatius (The Shivering Apothecary)

    Often overlooked by aspiring mages, Alchemy is a time-honored, rewarding discipline that can change the lives of those who master it (Fundaments of Alchemy). But when did it originate? How did it evolve throughout history? What’s the state of it today? With this article I hope to answer these questions.

    There is no information on who crafted the first potion, but even before the First Era witches were already mixing various herbs and plants creating cures and poisons alike. It was then when in the small farming village of Tyrigel on the banks of the river Caomus Asliel Direnni demonstrated the practicality of Alchemy to the common folk. Not only had he saved his young niece from a vampire by turning her very blood in poison without harming her in the least but had also stopped the constant raids of the Locvar tribe, which lead to the prosperity and growing power of the Clan Direnni. Later Asliel Direnni, because of his excellence as an alchemist, was invited to Artaeum and became a Psijic (De Rerum Dirennis). But on that the connections of the Direnni clan to the Alchemy didn’t end. In 1E 470 they were associated with the legendary Flask of Lillandril - the flask with a marvelous property of being able to absorb magic used against its bearer. According to the Elven Artifacts the founders used the flask to extend the power of the barons of Summerset Isle against the magical powers of the Wood Elves of Valenwood. Eventually, out of fear that Bosmeri assassins may kill them and take the flask, they left Summerset Isle for the City of Daggerfall where they hoped to buy their safety from the Clan Direnni and live in secret under their protection. However their ship was shipwrecked on the coral reef along the southern coast of what is now Stros M'Kai and the flask was lost for ages, until being found by Cyrus the Redguard in 2E 864 who used it to kill powerful Sload necromancer N’Gasta (Events of Redguard).

    The Flask of Lillandril is not the only artifact associated with Alchemy. Another one is the legendary White Phial – a bottle created by Curalmil in the days when Skyrim was just starting its turn to ice. It is made of the magically infused snow that first fell on the Throat of the World and is said to replenish whatever fluid is placed inside of it (Events of TES V Skyrim). Even the most skilled alchemists who are said to be able to craft potions from a single ingredient (Fundaments of Alchemy) can only dream of such a feat.

    Much has happened from that time, and Alchemy also didn’t remain unchanged. The methods of mixing ingredients were refined and became more accessible to the common folk. By 3E 399 potions were still only available to buy from the Mage’s Guild (Events of TES Arena). In 3E 405 Alchemy became more available to the public with the introduction of Potion Makers in most Temples except the School of Julianos and the Temple of Kynareth. However, the service was still only available to the members of the corresponding Temple. Interestingly, in Hammerfell and High Rock at that time Mage’s Guild didn’t offer potion making service (Events of TES II Daggerfall). By the 3E 427 the science of crafting potions became much more refined and widespread (Events of TES III Morrowind). It became known to the general public that the grinding of an ingredient is the most fundamental step in brewing potions (Fundaments of Alchemy). The amateur Alchemy - Wortcraft (grinding the ingredient against the teeth occasionally releasing its simplest essence and resulting in a fleeting effect on the eater) - was unable to produce strong results. That's when the basic tools for grinding ingredients were introduced.

    Mortar and pestle - allowed to quickly and more effectively grind ingredients and soon became the alchemist's most important and essential tools.

     

    More advanced alchemists also use other tools to improve the quality of the crafted potions. These were:

    Alembic - washing the mixture through it helps to distill the potion, reducing any negative effects

     

     

     

    Retort – can be employed to purify the mixture, improving the positive effects of a potion

     

     

     

    Calcinator - can be used to burn away impurities in the mixture, increasing the potency of all the potion's effects. According to the Argonian alchemists the phases of the moon dictate the precise positioning of the device allowing creating one part in forty-seven more purity of the distillate when the Calcinator is properly aligned (Calcinator Treatise).

    This method was still used by the 3E 433 during the events of Oblivion Crisis (Events of TES IV Oblivion). By the time of 4E 201 in Skyrim all the devices were incorporated in stationary Alchemy Labs found in many inns, alchemist shops and in the disposal of the court mages (Events of TES V Skyrim). While it did remove the possibility of crafting the potions on the road, the Alchemy Labs ensured that the only thing factoring in the strength of a resulting potion would be the alchemist’s skill.

    It should be noted that although many considered Alchemy a branch of magical studies since ancient times (knowledge of it was even required to apply for the membership in the Mage’s Guild (Mages Guild Charter)), many non-mages didn’t see it that way. That is the reason for Alchemy not only being tolerated but actively studied in some provinces with distrust towards magic, like Skyrim. The rudimentary knowledge of Alchemy was even taught along with literacy via ABCs for Barbarians.

    Of course, like any knowledge, the Alchemy can be used for both good and evil. For example, Mannimarco used the power of Alchemy to become the first undying lich (Mannimarco, King of Worms) and many people were sacrificed to supply Mordrin Hanin with companions in the afterlife using a specially crafted poison (Hanin’s Wake). Some other, but not so prominent applications of Alchemy in history include Amantius Allectus’ experiments on growing a hybrid of a vampire and Drinker plant (Amantius Allectus' Diary) and the events in the court of Prince Hlaalu Helseth documented in A Game at Dinner. However, the exceptional usefulness of Alchemy, its availability to everyone and the ease of learning outweighed the negativity from those events and it became one of the most widespread practices in Tamriel.

    Today many alchemists wander the Tamriel, documenting various ingredients and their properties in books like Special Flora of Tamriel by Hardin the Herbalist, The Shivering Apothecary by Cinda Amatius and Herbalist's Guide to Skyrim by Agneta Falia. Alchemical Symposiums are held where various alchemical discoveries and theories are presented and further research is being funded and encouraged. One such Symposium was held on 4E 02 where Sinderion's remarkable speech on the physical properties of the Nirnroot plants was presented (The Nirnroot Missive). We can say that today the science of Alchemy finally takes its rightful place in the modern society.

     

  • September 4, 2013

    Wonderful addition to the lore group, Vazgen!  Thank you so much for all the work you put into it!  Your article is beautifully presented and clearly written.  

    I admit my ignorance in the involvement of alchemy in Mannimarco's conversion, so great point there!  I think you make an excellent point about Alchemy being the most accessible School of Magic, perhaps.  While magical intuition is useful it is not always necessary in order to pursue it.

    I know you are a huge Alchemy proponent, in fact probably our blog expert on this school of magic.    So thank you for making this addition to our group!

  • Member
    September 4, 2013

    Thanks Kyn! You are right, I'm a huge fan of Alchemy and writing this article was really very fun and interesting for me. I didn't know about the Flask of Lillandril and its uses, as well as never knew about hybrid plant experiments. Digging all these lore jewels was a real pleasure! I also want to thank you for your articles on magic as they were the ones that inspired me to pursue the idea 

  • September 4, 2013

    This is wonderful, Vaz.  Thanks for posting it!

    Though I'm not surprised it was you.  You do love Alchemy. ;)

  • Member
    September 4, 2013

    Haha, thanks Kyrie! 

  • Member
    September 4, 2013

    Thanks Ben! Glad it is helpful to you! 

  • September 25, 2013
    I wish they put a blowdart weapon in the game, if you were sneaking it could allow you to administer a poison on a foe and he would not suspect a thing, it would be an awesome weapon for a build that focosuses on alchemy Really enjoyed reading this, makes me want my above idea
  • Member
    September 25, 2013

    Yes! I also wish they added potion explosives, gas bombs, traps... Ah, well... 

  • September 25, 2013
    Oh, you tempt me, so many options for assasins lost because of the lack of option for administering poisons, damm you bethesda! Put this in your next game!
  • Member
    September 25, 2013

    Yeah, something like this could have been easily added. I think they didn't put all that in the game to prevent everyone going with the Alchemy!