(*Treat any classes that Ammy is teaching as lectures that anyone can step into if they wish. I will run the class with an assumption that students are attending until PC students sign up. In the mean time, by all means use these lectures and class glimpses for any Role Playing inspiration or Role Playing material. Enjoy the class, play well with your sulfur and mercury, and please do not cry in the sodium!)
(**Further notes: Most material referenced for this class are from real Alchemy Texts I have in PDF or Physical form. The book used the most for inspiration on teaching this class is called Real Alchemy, A Primer of Practicle Alchemy by Robert Allen Bartlett, also using a bit of wikipedia fu to refresh myself on some of the laboratory and chemistry information I am rusty on.)
Ammy paced the classroom, white furred tail swishing back and forth in a steady rhythm as she went over her notes repeatedly. A clock, crafted seamlessly from crystal and precious metal wire with transmutation alchemy from her own hands sat on the large teacher's desk ticking away steadily the minutes until 1 pm. The female Lupinossai's golden eyes glanced to the clock and the silver minute hand.
Soon they will be here. Young minds, old minds, inquisitive minds searching for knowledge and hoping to explore the mysteries of alchemy. No reason to be nervous, you've taught at the Lupinossai Learning Center on this subject often and you've practice alchemy constantly for four centuries. They are just students. Just students.
A chime sounded from the clock bringing to mind images and visions of an alchemist working deep in a laboratory as clinks of glass containers and the grinding of mortar and pestle issue forth from the crystal clock. The chime was soon dwarfed by the voices of students filtering into the classroom and finding their favorite spots for the day. Ammy smiled as she watched the students settle noticing the class was indeed very diverse and filled with a mix of races, genders and ages. Allowing them to settle more, Ammy turned, picked up a stick of chalk and with a graceful but arcane script wrote her name on the blackboard. Laying the chalk down she turned, straightened her forest green vest worn over maroon blouse and made sure no chalk dust was on her black jeans just yet.
"Good afternoon class. I am glad you all found the classroom. I am Professor Ammy L. Spiritor, Master Alchemist of Traditional, Transmutational and Philosophical forms of Alchemy. Welcome to Traditional Alchemy. I do hope this is the class you signed up for. If it is not I can help direct you to the proper class or you may sit in for a bit and see what this subject is about. You just might have a little a fun and learn some things." Ammy smiled but showed no teeth.
Seeing no one looking confused about being in the class, Ammy took roll call efficiently and smiled; she had a full class. Laying down the clip board she walked to the front of the teacher's desk then sat on the desktop, folding one white furred hand into a marble stone hand laying them on her lap.
"This week's lectures will touch upon some history, theory and roots of alchemy. We will also see how alchemy paved the way to modern day chemistry. There will be no laboratory work this week, instead I want you all to research you favorite Alchemist or school of Alchemy for discussion at the end of the week. Now, now, I am hearing groaning already among my students. You'll be quite surprised what you will learn by looking up your idols or favorite methodology.
Moving on let us touch upon some of the history of Alchemy " Yes, miss Helwith?" Ammy glanced at a petite female human looking quite prim and proper in her academy uniform.
"Professor, how will you contend with the history of this subject given how ?" she dropped off in her question to look about the room at her fellows classmates. ?" your audience is quite diverse in both race and realms" Or that your methodology from a canine woman's point of view would be relatable?"
Ammy grinned showing a hint of teeth this time catching the quiet meaning behind miss Helwith's questions. Are you really qualified to teach us this class not being something typical in race" Ammy moved from the desk and approached the blackboard more than happy to take up the challenge of those questions.
"Excellent observations miss Helwith. Most arcane and scientific arts are easily taught when master and apprentice are of the same realm. Race is negligible unless they are part of a larger political squabble, but this is Traditional Alchemy and not Politics 101 or Ethical Treaties of Races 203. Those classes are two rooms down the hall. All races are equally capable of implementing and learning alchemy. As to the root of the problem with the history of alchemy " "
She began to chalk out a simple diagram and labeled it on the blackboard behind the desk. " " I have found that any race can understand the importance of alchemy by highlighting the core evolutionary steps of alchemy first, then relate direct historical events key to each realms developments that are familiar to the students from that realm. We are all situated in Rhydin, a crossroad of many realms and realities, home of all and definitely the last place to find the status quo. Now then to the evolutionary steps of alchemy's, the key phases are: Understanding of the Primary Elements (Earth, Air, Wind, Fire & Aether or Mana), Fundamentals of Refining materials (i.e. Forging, Smelting, Rendering, etc..), Accidental/Pre-Meditated Mixture to a Higher Quality Element, Repeated Mixtures & Refining of Elements, Elevation from Rudimentary Knowledge of Primary Elements to Higher Plains of Science.
With the key phases identified, most alchemical history tends to begin in realms as a simple means of discovering how to render and refine the elements around the basic alchemist into a higher state, or finer quality. Some simple examples that many can easily identify with is water purification, brewing teas, making of wines, beers and ales or finding better ways to keep your most valued foods preserved during the harsh seasons of drought, winter, blight, etc"
From this point in history, artisans and craftsmen tend to arise and more techniques are improvised, discovered and improved allowing the alchemist to observe, gather and test a larger array of elements, reagents and catalysts. Once the vast array of ingredients have been found and experimented with, questions about other qualities and properties of the realm around the alchemist emerge and higher science comes into play. Alchemy then is often reborn into chemistry or discarded. Sometimes in realms alchemy runs side by side with modern science." Ammy taps each phase of the Evolution of Alchemy in a realm with her chalk.
There was a rustle of notebooks with pens/pencils scratching upon paper taking down the flood of potential testable material. Miss Helwith watched Ammy lecture and jotted down just a few things. Ammy could tell this young lady was used to something either higher of a higher caliber, or simply unimpressed yet with any of the information presented by a "canine woman". Ammy moved to the next black board and began to write and lecture at the same time.
"Throughout a variety of cultures and history books among the realms, alchemy has often been lumped in with black magic, the dark arts or "that thing crazy people do". One realm, however prizes alchemy above all sciences though this high regard has lead that realm, Crysalis, to a near realm wide rebellion by many religious leaders and holy men. Some of the causes behind these negative reactions to alchemy are not unfounded. Many realms have seen alchemists try to make gold from lead or other such unsuitable material. Yet, more have gone insane in search of the Philosophers Stone, Red Water or Elixir of Life.
On the other side of this coin is the more realistic and less insane and fantasy filled madness. Illicit and potent drugs, poisons refined to lethality for any reason or purpose, potions and elixirs that can do wonders that can rival most mages or grant magical spells without training. Perhaps the two most disliked notions of alchemist across all realms are: Frequent Explosions of Catastrophic Size, Secrecy.
Granted the ratio of explosions to alchemists over the centuries have dwindled drastically with education, safer laboratories and simply warning citizens about that things may go boom. If you don't believe me, research a bit into the Great Gnome Explosion of Mt. What's It Name in Krynn 34 years pre-War of the Lance, or the Great Rift of Alasmar in the Gosmal realm where many Drow, Dwarves and Vikings died, and finally an event on Earth known as Woodstock. Technically, Woodstock was not a catastrophic explosion of a violent, physical nature, but more of an explosion of culture and experimentation due to an alchemist's frivolous distribution of some enhanced reagents for pipe smoking.
As for secrecy, it's a quality that tends to come with the territory for most alchemists. Alchemy is after all an art of trying to discover new mysteries and wonders that may exist if we just push harder with our reagents. Due to this pursuit and the mentioned explosive nature of some alchemy experiments or the dangerous characteristics of the reagents, alchemists wrote in code and symbols. These symbols and code are what lead most people to believe alchemy to be black magic or dark arts as many symbols are closely related to arcane runes. In reality, alchemy runes are universally recognized by all alchemists and most modern chemists regardless of race or realm."
Ammy drew out a few alchemy runes and labeled them as all the same element. Each rune had slight little tweaks to it, but they were very easily identical. She labeled each race and realm ranging from Human/Earth to Ice Giants/Ice Wind Dale and even Lupinossai/Sliinkaa. More rustling of paper as notes were taken, but soon the crystal clock was clinking and grinding its chime that class was over; Ammy laid the chalk down on the desk top and smiled at the students.
"Alright class, lecture is over for the day. Remember, select a favorite alchemist of your choice or a favored path of alchemy and research it. Our next lecture is Wednesday at 1pm and we will discuss your research Friday morning. You are all dismissed. May your day be filled with joy and learning." Ammy smiled and clapped her paws.
A flare of an alchemy array appeared in the air and a burst of sparkles and butterflies flitted off into the air as the class began to empty out. All of the students were gone save for miss Helwith. Ammy glanced at the lone student as she put away a few supplies.
"Something troubling you miss Helwith' Questions" If you aren't sure about where your next classes are?"
Miss Helwith just smiled for a moment and looked Ammy squarely in the eyes. "Mrs. Spiritor, I must confess and apologize for something I have done. I am not truly a student of your class but an appointed official tasked with reviewing all potential business owners/educators in the arcane. My questions were a test to see if you would prove unstable emotionally or lack a professional attitude to operate a business facilitating alchemy services much less teaching the delicate subject to a variety of students. So far, Mrs. Spiritor you have passed with flying colors. My resources didn't include how in depth your knowledge of the field was or the various histories of alchemy in multi-realms."
Ammy blinked and was quite surprised and not being alerted to this by the Academy. Miss Helwith saw the look and smiled a little. "Do not blame the Academy Mrs. Spiritor. My agency filed normal student applications, and honestly, I wish to continue your classes as Continuing Education Experience for my employment. Expect to see your business and practice licenses in the mail very soon. Now if you excuse me, professor, I do have an English class to get to.? The young woman grinned, winked and walked out of the classroom.
Ammy sat in the chair behind the desk and rubbed her neck. She was surprised. A large class with a successful lecture and her licenses instated soon so she could open the Alchemists Fire soon. Smiling, she stood, hefted her light travel satchel, stored the crystal clock inside one of the bags many pockets of holding and left the classroom. One lecture down, more to come.
(**Further notes: Most material referenced for this class are from real Alchemy Texts I have in PDF or Physical form. The book used the most for inspiration on teaching this class is called Real Alchemy, A Primer of Practicle Alchemy by Robert Allen Bartlett, also using a bit of wikipedia fu to refresh myself on some of the laboratory and chemistry information I am rusty on.)
Ammy paced the classroom, white furred tail swishing back and forth in a steady rhythm as she went over her notes repeatedly. A clock, crafted seamlessly from crystal and precious metal wire with transmutation alchemy from her own hands sat on the large teacher's desk ticking away steadily the minutes until 1 pm. The female Lupinossai's golden eyes glanced to the clock and the silver minute hand.
Soon they will be here. Young minds, old minds, inquisitive minds searching for knowledge and hoping to explore the mysteries of alchemy. No reason to be nervous, you've taught at the Lupinossai Learning Center on this subject often and you've practice alchemy constantly for four centuries. They are just students. Just students.
A chime sounded from the clock bringing to mind images and visions of an alchemist working deep in a laboratory as clinks of glass containers and the grinding of mortar and pestle issue forth from the crystal clock. The chime was soon dwarfed by the voices of students filtering into the classroom and finding their favorite spots for the day. Ammy smiled as she watched the students settle noticing the class was indeed very diverse and filled with a mix of races, genders and ages. Allowing them to settle more, Ammy turned, picked up a stick of chalk and with a graceful but arcane script wrote her name on the blackboard. Laying the chalk down she turned, straightened her forest green vest worn over maroon blouse and made sure no chalk dust was on her black jeans just yet.
"Good afternoon class. I am glad you all found the classroom. I am Professor Ammy L. Spiritor, Master Alchemist of Traditional, Transmutational and Philosophical forms of Alchemy. Welcome to Traditional Alchemy. I do hope this is the class you signed up for. If it is not I can help direct you to the proper class or you may sit in for a bit and see what this subject is about. You just might have a little a fun and learn some things." Ammy smiled but showed no teeth.
Seeing no one looking confused about being in the class, Ammy took roll call efficiently and smiled; she had a full class. Laying down the clip board she walked to the front of the teacher's desk then sat on the desktop, folding one white furred hand into a marble stone hand laying them on her lap.
"This week's lectures will touch upon some history, theory and roots of alchemy. We will also see how alchemy paved the way to modern day chemistry. There will be no laboratory work this week, instead I want you all to research you favorite Alchemist or school of Alchemy for discussion at the end of the week. Now, now, I am hearing groaning already among my students. You'll be quite surprised what you will learn by looking up your idols or favorite methodology.
Moving on let us touch upon some of the history of Alchemy " Yes, miss Helwith?" Ammy glanced at a petite female human looking quite prim and proper in her academy uniform.
"Professor, how will you contend with the history of this subject given how ?" she dropped off in her question to look about the room at her fellows classmates. ?" your audience is quite diverse in both race and realms" Or that your methodology from a canine woman's point of view would be relatable?"
Ammy grinned showing a hint of teeth this time catching the quiet meaning behind miss Helwith's questions. Are you really qualified to teach us this class not being something typical in race" Ammy moved from the desk and approached the blackboard more than happy to take up the challenge of those questions.
"Excellent observations miss Helwith. Most arcane and scientific arts are easily taught when master and apprentice are of the same realm. Race is negligible unless they are part of a larger political squabble, but this is Traditional Alchemy and not Politics 101 or Ethical Treaties of Races 203. Those classes are two rooms down the hall. All races are equally capable of implementing and learning alchemy. As to the root of the problem with the history of alchemy " "
She began to chalk out a simple diagram and labeled it on the blackboard behind the desk. " " I have found that any race can understand the importance of alchemy by highlighting the core evolutionary steps of alchemy first, then relate direct historical events key to each realms developments that are familiar to the students from that realm. We are all situated in Rhydin, a crossroad of many realms and realities, home of all and definitely the last place to find the status quo. Now then to the evolutionary steps of alchemy's, the key phases are: Understanding of the Primary Elements (Earth, Air, Wind, Fire & Aether or Mana), Fundamentals of Refining materials (i.e. Forging, Smelting, Rendering, etc..), Accidental/Pre-Meditated Mixture to a Higher Quality Element, Repeated Mixtures & Refining of Elements, Elevation from Rudimentary Knowledge of Primary Elements to Higher Plains of Science.
With the key phases identified, most alchemical history tends to begin in realms as a simple means of discovering how to render and refine the elements around the basic alchemist into a higher state, or finer quality. Some simple examples that many can easily identify with is water purification, brewing teas, making of wines, beers and ales or finding better ways to keep your most valued foods preserved during the harsh seasons of drought, winter, blight, etc"
From this point in history, artisans and craftsmen tend to arise and more techniques are improvised, discovered and improved allowing the alchemist to observe, gather and test a larger array of elements, reagents and catalysts. Once the vast array of ingredients have been found and experimented with, questions about other qualities and properties of the realm around the alchemist emerge and higher science comes into play. Alchemy then is often reborn into chemistry or discarded. Sometimes in realms alchemy runs side by side with modern science." Ammy taps each phase of the Evolution of Alchemy in a realm with her chalk.
There was a rustle of notebooks with pens/pencils scratching upon paper taking down the flood of potential testable material. Miss Helwith watched Ammy lecture and jotted down just a few things. Ammy could tell this young lady was used to something either higher of a higher caliber, or simply unimpressed yet with any of the information presented by a "canine woman". Ammy moved to the next black board and began to write and lecture at the same time.
"Throughout a variety of cultures and history books among the realms, alchemy has often been lumped in with black magic, the dark arts or "that thing crazy people do". One realm, however prizes alchemy above all sciences though this high regard has lead that realm, Crysalis, to a near realm wide rebellion by many religious leaders and holy men. Some of the causes behind these negative reactions to alchemy are not unfounded. Many realms have seen alchemists try to make gold from lead or other such unsuitable material. Yet, more have gone insane in search of the Philosophers Stone, Red Water or Elixir of Life.
On the other side of this coin is the more realistic and less insane and fantasy filled madness. Illicit and potent drugs, poisons refined to lethality for any reason or purpose, potions and elixirs that can do wonders that can rival most mages or grant magical spells without training. Perhaps the two most disliked notions of alchemist across all realms are: Frequent Explosions of Catastrophic Size, Secrecy.
Granted the ratio of explosions to alchemists over the centuries have dwindled drastically with education, safer laboratories and simply warning citizens about that things may go boom. If you don't believe me, research a bit into the Great Gnome Explosion of Mt. What's It Name in Krynn 34 years pre-War of the Lance, or the Great Rift of Alasmar in the Gosmal realm where many Drow, Dwarves and Vikings died, and finally an event on Earth known as Woodstock. Technically, Woodstock was not a catastrophic explosion of a violent, physical nature, but more of an explosion of culture and experimentation due to an alchemist's frivolous distribution of some enhanced reagents for pipe smoking.
As for secrecy, it's a quality that tends to come with the territory for most alchemists. Alchemy is after all an art of trying to discover new mysteries and wonders that may exist if we just push harder with our reagents. Due to this pursuit and the mentioned explosive nature of some alchemy experiments or the dangerous characteristics of the reagents, alchemists wrote in code and symbols. These symbols and code are what lead most people to believe alchemy to be black magic or dark arts as many symbols are closely related to arcane runes. In reality, alchemy runes are universally recognized by all alchemists and most modern chemists regardless of race or realm."
Ammy drew out a few alchemy runes and labeled them as all the same element. Each rune had slight little tweaks to it, but they were very easily identical. She labeled each race and realm ranging from Human/Earth to Ice Giants/Ice Wind Dale and even Lupinossai/Sliinkaa. More rustling of paper as notes were taken, but soon the crystal clock was clinking and grinding its chime that class was over; Ammy laid the chalk down on the desk top and smiled at the students.
"Alright class, lecture is over for the day. Remember, select a favorite alchemist of your choice or a favored path of alchemy and research it. Our next lecture is Wednesday at 1pm and we will discuss your research Friday morning. You are all dismissed. May your day be filled with joy and learning." Ammy smiled and clapped her paws.
A flare of an alchemy array appeared in the air and a burst of sparkles and butterflies flitted off into the air as the class began to empty out. All of the students were gone save for miss Helwith. Ammy glanced at the lone student as she put away a few supplies.
"Something troubling you miss Helwith' Questions" If you aren't sure about where your next classes are?"
Miss Helwith just smiled for a moment and looked Ammy squarely in the eyes. "Mrs. Spiritor, I must confess and apologize for something I have done. I am not truly a student of your class but an appointed official tasked with reviewing all potential business owners/educators in the arcane. My questions were a test to see if you would prove unstable emotionally or lack a professional attitude to operate a business facilitating alchemy services much less teaching the delicate subject to a variety of students. So far, Mrs. Spiritor you have passed with flying colors. My resources didn't include how in depth your knowledge of the field was or the various histories of alchemy in multi-realms."
Ammy blinked and was quite surprised and not being alerted to this by the Academy. Miss Helwith saw the look and smiled a little. "Do not blame the Academy Mrs. Spiritor. My agency filed normal student applications, and honestly, I wish to continue your classes as Continuing Education Experience for my employment. Expect to see your business and practice licenses in the mail very soon. Now if you excuse me, professor, I do have an English class to get to.? The young woman grinned, winked and walked out of the classroom.
Ammy sat in the chair behind the desk and rubbed her neck. She was surprised. A large class with a successful lecture and her licenses instated soon so she could open the Alchemists Fire soon. Smiling, she stood, hefted her light travel satchel, stored the crystal clock inside one of the bags many pockets of holding and left the classroom. One lecture down, more to come.