On the making of Alchemical Fire.
The base is created from equal parts oleum (the black oil found in tar pits)
and the clear oil drawn from the 'hottest' of red, orange or yellow peppers
(green peppers, regardless of their 'heat' will not suffice). Six drops of blood,
usually from an animal reknowned for it's viciousness (boars are most commonly
used, but blood from bulls and even humans have been used successfully, while
my mentor claimed that nothing worked better than the blood of badgers!) are
added, one at a time, and, if the process is working, the mixture will turn
increasingly reddish in hue (being an unsightly greasy-grey until that point).
Black peppercorns, ground so as to resemble ashes, are mixed seperately with
flakes of weeping black shale and a thumb-sized portion of yellow sulfur, all
finely ground into a mash. The container, generally a spherical glass bottle
specially constructed by a reputable glass-blower familiar with the exacting
specifications of alchemical work, is then prepared by igniting a tindertwig
(or using a small smoldering coal of incense, with a cinnamon or curry scented
one seeming most agreeable) and dropping it within the container and allowing
it to smother itself on it's own smoke, thus denaturing the air of it's vital
essence, a *vital* step before transfering first the oil, then the ground pepper
and shale. The flask must be stoppered immediately, as an infusion of fresh
air will cause the substance to erupt into flames in an instant, and more than
one would-be alchemist has not survived to become a journeyman because of inattention
during this stage of preparation.
Once both mixtures are within the flask, and it is sealed, it must then be
agitated for no less than one hour, to cause all of the components to blend
smoothly. Generally some sort of wheel, with a half-dozen flasks bound to it,
is rotated by an apprentice for this duration, although the process can also
be done by hand, at the risk of severe cramping to the hand of the mixer!
When the mixture has properly blended, the liquid should appear thick, like
gravy, but without clumping, and be a smooth orange-red in color, not unlike
some spiced Vudran dishes. The bottle should also feel slightly warm to the
touch, a subtle clue to the unwary as to the danger bottled within.
The existence of a gelatinous substance called, for know, 'Sahuagin Fire,'
after it's creators, functions underwater (although, obviously, it cannot be
thrown, and has to be directly smashed by hand, or applied via the use of a
5 to 10 ft. pole), but does not seem to operate at full efficacy in open air.
The ingredients that go into such a concoction remain unknown, although the
Sahuagin seen to have used this substance have been reported to harvest quantities
of the stinging coral known as 'Fire Coral' and to capture jellyfish in numbers...