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The Alchemist’s Guild

The Vendel League, Book I

Introduction

Organisation and Goals

Founded in 1639, the Alchemist’s Guild of the Vendel

League remains as controversial today as it did when it was

grudgingly accepted by the Chairs of the League. It was in

fact only through intense politicking and the personal

charisma of its founder, the enigmatic Teodorus von Hafen,

that it even came into being. An eclectic scholar and writer,

von Hafen is known to have published at least thirty-five

treatises on subjects ranging from the alchemical properties

of mercury to the effectiveness of ancient Avalon druidic

healing salves. The exact circumstances of his death have

also been a subject of some debate, while most accept that

he died in a freak accident during

an experiment, some have

attributed the explosion to a

jealous rival scholar.

The Guild is a very loose affiliation of scholars and does not

pretend to be as comprehensive in its membership as other

Vendel organisations. While many scholars with an interest

in alchemy have seen the advantages of joining the group,

there exist small enclaves of experimenters throughout

Théah who have never heard of the Guild or have little

interest in joining. In total the full membership of the Guild

numbers a little over two dozen scholars, mostly located in

Vendel itself.

When Theodorus founded the Alchemists’ Guild, the stated

aims was furthering studies of

esoteric knowledge he and his

associates were conducting, and

perhaps also to give more

credence to a craft that was

starting to lose its place to the

new sciences of the College. A

number of long-time associates

gathered together in Kirk, and

used their wealth to establish

several well-equipped laboratories in the city, even to the

extent of importing high-quality glass apparatus from

Vodacce, much to the annoyance of certain merchants.

Since that time, however, membership has fluctuated and

very few younger scholars have entered the Guild. The

usual practice of apprenticeship is starting to break down,

with experienced scholars now having to employ paid

assistants instead of relying on the work of junior members.

In the past, an initiate could spend up to ten years working

in one of the Guild facilities before seeking funding to

establish his own laboratory and start his own research. A

few new members still join each year, but some mutter that

they are more looking for the quick Guilder than actually

dedicated to the art of alchemy.

The study of alchemy has

fascinated Théan scholars for

centuries, ever since the craft was

brought back from the Crescent

Empire during the early Crusades.

The modern rational practice of chemistry, promoted

strongly by the Invisible College among others, developed

out of this knowledge. The name itself derives from the

Crescent word al-Kemia and supposedly relates to a now

extinct civilisation in which scholars first experimented with

the nature of substances. Some have even speculated that

this may be a currently unknown Syrneth civilisation from

the deep deserts. While the Crescent scholars themselves

wrote extensive texts on all areas of natural philosophy and

human anatomy, it was the minority area of transmutation

of materials that so inspired western adepts and became

synonymous with the term alchemy. The pinnacle of this

was the ability to change a base metal into gold, which is

regarded as the purest of all metals. Although many have

made fortunes on such claims, no one has to date reliably

demonstrated a means to do this and more than a few have

paid for false claims with their lives.

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Theory of Alchemy

Locations

Théan alchemy is based on an ancient philosophy of

four prime elements - Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

These were originally suggested by the Numan scholar

Basilides and later expanded on by Crescent

alchemists. A substance was said to contain certain

amounts of each prime element. For instance, a piece

of wood was mainly Earth as it had weight, but

if you burned it you could see the Fire it

contained. Smoke was the Air escaping

and you could also see Water had formed

on the surface. The four prime elements

were then further associated with four prime

states - Hot, Cold, Dry and Wet. The eight in total

reflected the classical number of Numan deities and the

spheres that were said to hold the planets in place.

Unbeknownst to Théan scientists until fairly recently, this

theory of the elements had been developed centuries before

in Cathay and was the foundation of that culture’s faith and

science. Specific substances were associated with each of

the eight, for instance sulphur is the prime example of Hot

as it was associated with volcanic activity and the

alchemist’s favourite element, mercury, is quite obviously

the signature metal for the elemental Water. Early

alchemists believed that each substance was defined by its

specific properties, so by combining materials to give those

properties you could create that substance. Thus, gold could

be defined as being soft enough to bend, yellow in colour

and would sink in water. If you combined the right

combination of other substances with some of these

properties you could make gold.

Early experiments developed a higher level of sophistication

as techniques to purify and extract new substances were

developed. The distill became the crucial piece of

equipment for any respected scholar, by which he could

achieve the very essence of a substance through carefully

controlled applications of temperature and water. By

varying the amount of Hot, Cold, Dry and Wet in this way

the alchemist transmuted the substance with the ultimate

goal always being the creation of the universal solvent that

could dissolve all other materials or the creation of gold

from other base metals.

The Guild has small laboratories throughout Kirk and

in a few other Théan cities, most notably Charouse

and Luthon. Each is usually the personal property of a

single Guild member, although a few belong to small

confederations of alchemists who have combined

research and resources. The headquarters of the

Guild is a small set of rooms above the

‘Shining Guilder’, a fairly up-scale and

well-respected tavern in central Kirk. The

facilities are maintained by a small staff but

are rarely used by the senior members,

excepting the occasional conference. Most

recently, the main room has been used for a number of

meetings with members of the Usury Guild to secure

additional financial support. The Guild pays a small

peppercorn rent in gold nuggets to the owner of the tavern,

per a very favourable agreement signed by Theodorus

himself when the group was first established. Some

members have suggested renting out the rooms to other

small Guilds due to their favourable location near the major

League offices. However, the senior members are unwilling

to risk upsetting the current owner and jeopardise the

standing agreements.

Patrons

While most rational scientists dismiss the alchemists as

outdated crackpots, the allure of gold and immortality

means that the Guild has enjoyed a history of strong

patronage from rich nobles seeking to enhance their status

and fortune. Some have been rendered destitute in the

process, but the fact that the answer may come from the

very next experiment keeps a steady stream of, some would

say, gullible financiers. Many of these nobles were

Montaigne gentry who regarded themselves as scientists and

philosophers, but were sadly amateurs in the extreme. The

revolution in that nation has seen this previously almost

limitless source of funding dry up with astonishing speed.

The Guild has yet to reveal to the League that instead of

being one of the wealthier of the minor Guilds, it is now

heavily in debt to a number of lenders including some of the

Usury Guild’s senior members.

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Important Members

Guild still functions to this day. However, in recent years

the strain has begun to show and his public appearances

have decreased. Those who have met with him comment in

hushed tones that his behaviour seems to be getting even

more erratic. Usually a calm and rational man one minute,

he has begun to explode into a tirade of politics and

opinions that most never thought they would hear.

Jans Ulkopf ~ Guild Master

The current head of the Alchemist’s Guild is a very

eccentric Vendel born and raised in Kirk. The ageing

scholar was once apprentice to Theodorus von Hafen and

has continued much of that research, although he has yet to

outstrip his mentor in sheer volume of writings. While a

dogged researcher, Ulkopf has also impressed many with his

organisational skills which is one of the reasons that the

The truth behind Jans’ increasingly bizarre behaviour lies in

his primary research. He has continued to experiment with

mercury compounds, which Theodorus believed held the

secret to the universal solvent which would in turn unlock

the full potential of transmutation. A lifetime of exposure to

such chemicals has had a profound effect on the old scholar,

who in modern terms would be termed as suffering from

multiple personality disorder. A number of close friends are

becoming aware of the problem, but they are uncertain what

to make of the mood swings, sudden changes in attitude, and

Jans Ulkopf , Hero ( 7th Sea™ )

Brawn 2, Finesse 2, Wits 4, Resolve 3, Panache 2

Advantages : Alchemist, Connections: Numerous, Emergent Person-

ality, Membership : Alchemist Guild, Patron (Numerous), Published,

University, Language: Castillian (R/W), Montaigne (R/W), Vendel

(R/W), Theah (R/W)

Background : Debt

Reputation : 30

Courtier : Dancing 2, Etiquette 3 Fashion 2, Oratory 4, Diplomacy

3, Gossip 3, Mooch 3, Politics 3, Scheming 3, Sincerity 3

Doctor : Diagnosis 3, First Aid 3, Examiner 1, Surgery 1, Quack 2

Knife : Attack (Knife) 3, Parry (Knife) 2, Throw (Knife) 2

Merchant : Accounting 2, Alchemist 4, Haggling 2

Performer : Acting 1, Cold Read 3, Dancing 2, Oratory 4, Singing 1

Professor : Law 2, Mooch 3, Natural Philosophy 4, Oratory 4, Poli-

tics 3, Research 4, Tinker 3, Writing 4

Scholar : History 1, Mathematics 3, Philosophy 1, Research 4, Law

2, Natural Philosophy 4

Jans Ulkopf , Villain ( 7th Sea™ )

Brawn 2, Finesse 2, Wits 4, Resolve 3, Panache 2

Advantages : Emergent Personality, Language: Castillian (R/W),

Montaigne (R/W), Vendel (R/W)

Reputation : 0

Ambrogia : Exploit Weakness (Ambrogia) 2, Feint (Fencing) 3,

Pommel Strike (Fencing) 2, Riposte (Fencing) 3

Courtier : Dancing 1, Etiquette 3 Fashion 2, Oratory 4, Diplomacy

2, Gossip 4, Mooch 2, Politics 2, Scheming 4, Sincerity 4 Dirty

Fighting: Attack (Dirty Fighting) 4, Eye-Gouge 4, Throat Strike 4

Doctor : Diagnosis 3, First Aid 2, Examiner 1, Surgery 1, Quack 3

Fencing : Attack (Fencing) 2, Parry (Fencing) 2

Knife : Attack (Knife) 4, Parry (Knife) 4, Throw (Knife)

Performer : Acting1, Dancing1, Oratory 4, Singing 1, Cold Read 4

Jans Ulkopf , Guild Master ( d20™ )

Vendel Alchemist 5/Courtier 3 : CR 8; SZ M (humanoid); HD

5d6+3d6+8; hp 37; Init+1; Spd 30 ft; AC 11; Atks: Knife +3 melee

(1d4), pistol +4 ranged (1d10); SA Craft Elixirs (cure minor

wounds, feather fall, jump, purify food and drink, resistance, virtue,

endure elements, goodberry, bull's strength), Brew Potion (4th level

spells), Wealth, Talent, Style and Grace, Iron Will, Gossip; SV

Fort+6, Ref+3, Will+11; Str 10, Dex 13, Con 13, Int 17, Wis 15,

Cha 13; AL LN; Skills: Alchemy+16, Bluff+6, Craft (potions and

elixirs)+13, Concentration+10, Decipher Script+10, Diplomacy+8,

Gather Information+7, Heal+10, Innuendo+4, Knowledge

(bureaucracy)+11, Knowledge (chemicals)+10, Knowledge (natural

philosophy)+10, Perform (oratory, writing)+3, Profession

(Alchemist)+11, Search+5, Sense Motive+7, Speak Languages

(Castillian, Montaigne, Vendel, Thean), Spot+4; Feats: Member

(Alchemist's Guild) , Emergent Personality, Skill Focus (Alchemy),

Craftsman

Jans Ulkopf, Evil Mastermind ( d20™ )

Vendel Assassin 8 : CR 8; SZ M (humanoid); HD 8d6+8; hp 37;

Init+1; Spd 30 ft; AC 16; Atks: Knife +6/+1 melee (1d4), pistol

+7/+2 ranged (1d10); SA Poison Use, Sneak Attack+4d8, Death

Attack, Inconspicuous, Ambush Attack+2, Conceal the Evidence,

Uncanny Dodge; SV Fort+3, Ref+6, Will+4; Str 10, Dex 13, Con

13, Int 17, Wis 15, Cha 13; AL NE; Skills: Bluff+12, Diplo-

macy+7, Gather Information+10, Heal+8, Hide+9, Listen+7, Move

Silently+9, Open Lock+6, Pick Pocket+6, Search+5, Sense Mo-

tive+8, Speak Languages (Vendel, Castillian, Montaigne, Thean),

Spot+6, Use Rope+3; Feats: Assassin's Hand, Gifted Liar, Unar-

mored Defense Proficiency (Beginner), Improved Sneak Attack

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even tone of voice. The pragmatic researcher they knew

appears to be losing ground to a number of other emerging

identities, one of which is the volatile and opinionated

persona that has caused concern in social gatherings. Jans’

friends would be even more worried if they were

completely aware of how much of a problem this

personality represents, since it is borderline megalomaniac

and trying to use the research carried out by the rational

persona to further its goals. One lab assistant inadvertently

overheard Jans arguing with himself about a new form of

explosive that he is developing. That researcher died a few

days later when a distillation column somehow overheated

and set fire to one of the smaller rooms in which he was

working.

Matthew Ferryman , Hero ( 7th Sea™ )

Brawn 2, Finesse 3, Wits 5, Resolve 3, Panache 3

Advantages : Alchemist, Brilliant, Connections: Hans Bjork and Fe-

lix du Martise, Membership : Alchemist Guild, Patron: Vincent Ulf-

son, Published, Spark of Genius (Alchemy), University, Language:

Avalon (R/W), Vendel, Theah (R/W)

Reputation : 10

Courtier : Dancing 1, Diplomacy 1, Etiquette 1, Fashion 1, Gossip 1,

Mooch 1, Oratory 2, Sincerity 1

Doctor : Diagnosis 3, First Aid 3, Examiner 3, Quack 2, Surgery 2

Knife : Attack (Knife) 3, Parry (Knife) 2, Throw (Knife) 2

Merchant : Accounting 1, Alchemist 4, Haggling 1

Professor : Law 2, Mooch 1, Natural Philosophy 5, Oratory 2, Re-

search 4, Tinker 4, Writing 3

Scholar : History 1, Law 2, Mathematics 3, Natural Philosophy 5,

Philosophy 1, Research 4,

Matthew Ferryman ~ Golden Boy

One of the most celebrated of the Guild’s researchers is the

flamboyant Avalon scholar who appears to be the closer to

the creation of gold than anyone has achieved thus far.

While working with Jans Ulkopf on his research in solvents

that can alter mercury, Matthew discovered a combination

of mineral acids that could dissolve gold. He called his new

solvent agua regia , or ‘royal water’, due to the high status

that gold holds to the alchemists. While there did not seem

to be any practical use for this new material at the time, his

later research into the power of lightning to change metals

led to an unusual discovery. He found that a metal strip

running up a stone tower near his laboratory would attract

lightning in a storm, which he could then channel into vats

of the liquid formed by application of his agua regia .

Through trial and error he found an arrangement whereby

another metallic object placed in the vat took on a slightly

golden appearance. He hoped that by changing the amounts

of various substances he would be able to completely

change the metal object to appear as gold and present the

Matthew Ferryman , Golden Boy ( d20™ )

Avalon Alchemist 7 : CR 7; SZ M (humanoid); HD 7d6+7; hp 35;

Init +2; Spd 30 ft; AC 12; Atks: Knife +4 melee (1d4+1), pistol +5

ranged (1d10); SA Craft Elixirs (cure minor wounds, enlarge, feather

fall, purify food and drink, resistance, virtue, bull's strength, darkvi-

sion, endure elements, goodberry, obscuring mist, delay poison),

Brew Potion (4th level), Modify Metal; SV Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +7;

Str 12, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 12; AL LG ; Skills:

Alchemy +16, Bluff +4, Craft (potions and elixirs) +14, Concentra-

tion +9, Decipher Script +6, Diplomacy +2, Gather Information +2,

Heal +12, Knowledge (chemicals) +14, Knowledge (natural philoso-

phy) +18, Perform (oratory, writing) +3, Profession (Alchemist) +8,

Speak Languages (Avalon, Vendel, Thean), Spot +3 ; Feats: Member

(Alchemist's Guild), Skill Focus (Alchemy), Spark of Genius

(Knowledge : Natural Philosophy)

result to the rest of the Guild, thereby providing a solution

to their financial worries in one act.

The biggest problem for Matthew so far has been the

unpredictability of storms. Even though the Norvik Isles are

known for their harsh weather, there are often long periods

between thunderstorms and he is worried that other

researchers will work out his methods and beat him to the

prize. Being based in Kirk, a solution that has occurred to

Matthew is to acquire the services of a Laerdom mage who

could summon lightning on demand. A number of such

mages have been responsible for attacks on League shipping

near Kirk in the last few months and Matthew has been

trying to work out the best way to approach the

Vestenmannavnjar raiders to present his idea.

Historical Note

The process that Matthew has accidentally discovered is electroplat-

ing. This was developed in our world by Brugnatelli in 1805, so the

Theans have something of a lead in this field. However, as noted in

the text, the scholars are unaware of the true importance of the dis-

covery and it may be a long time until it has any other applications

beyond this minor miracle. Matthew has also invented the first ligthn-

ing rod as part of these experiments, but if his demonstration proves

to be fraudulent, both important discoveries could be dismissed.

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Dmitri Kuloi Malenkov , Scoundrel ( 7th Sea™ )

Brawn 3, Finesse 2, Wits 3, Resolve 4, Panache 2

Advantages : Able Drinker, Alchemist, Membership : Alchemist

Guild, Patron (Several), Tough, Language: Ussuran (R/W), Vendel

(R/W), Theah (R/W)

Reputation : 20

Doctor : Diagnosis 3, Examiner 1, First Aid 3

Knife : Attack (Knife) 3, Parry (Knife) 3, Throw (Knife) 3

Merchant : Alchemist 3

Professor : Mooch 1, Natural Philosophy 3, Oratory 3, Research 3,

Tinker 2, Writing 2

Scholar : History 1, Mathematics 2, Natural Philosophy 3,

Philosophy 2, Research 3,

him. However, two months ago Dmitri received a shipment

of exotic herbs from the town of Breslau which were

reported to have been smuggled out of Cathay. Having paid

a hefty sum for such a rare treasure, Dmitri halted all other

research to catalogue these latest additions. He does not

remember much after this point. In fact, he remembers

nothing of the two weeks following his initial experiments,

only that his notebook states that he had started to test the

first of the plants. There are a few entries after this point in

Dmitri’s own handwriting, but they do not appear to make

that much sense. Since that time, he has had a few other

occurrences during which cannot remember what he did for

the last few hours. The bouts of amnesia seem to be fading

now, but small clues of what happened during some of these

periods continue to emerge and each raises more questions

than they answer.

Dmitri Kuloi Malenkov , Unorthodox Naturist ( d20™ )

Ussuran Alchemist 4/Fighter 1 : CR 5; SZ M (humanoid); HD

4d6+1d10+20; hp 42; Init+0; Spd 30 ft; AC 10; Atks: Knife +5

melee (1d4+2), pistol +3 ranged (1d10); SA Craft Elixirs (cure minor

wounds, enlarge, jump, purify food and drink, resistance, virtue,

endure elements, bull's strength), Brew Potions; SV Fort+12, Ref+1,

Will+4; Str 14, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 16, Wis 10, Cha 12; AL NG;

Skills: Alchemy+3, Craft (potions and elixirs)+8, Concentration+12,

Heal+8, Knowledge (chemicals)+11, Knowledge (natural

philosophy)+11, Profession (Alchemist)+10, Speak Languages

(Ussuran, Vendel, Thean), Spot+5; Feats: Member (Alchemist's

Guild), Able Drinker, Great Fortitude

Story Hooks

1. The evil personality of Jan Upkopf does not believe that

his research is proceeding as fast as it could, so he has

decided to give himself a little extra incentive. He wants to

hire a small group of mercenaries to threaten himself into

speeding up his work. The players could either be hired

anonymously to put the pressure on the elderly scientist, or

the scholar personality could hire them in order to protect

him from these threats while completely unaware that he is

in fact asking them to protect him from himself.

Dmitri Kuloi Malenkov ~ Unorthodox Naturalist

The elderly experimenter is one of the most prominent

members of the Guild to express public disinterest in the

transmutation field. Instead, the natural philosopher from

the forests of central Ussura is devoted to testing and

cataloguing all known substances. However, his idea of

testing involves eating a small amount of every chemical as

part of a series of experiments. One of his notebooks

contains detailed notes of his impressions of the taste of

substances from throughout Théah, alongside a

comprehensive study of specific densities, their reactivity,

as well as other more traditional observations.

2. The near success of Matthew Ferryman has come to the

attention of League member Peter Vel, otherwise known as

the Living Rune of Velstand. The greed-obsessed Vel has

arranged for a Laerdom mage to assist in the research and as

soon as it is successful a group of mercenaries will attack

and steal the work. The blame will easily be placed on

Vestenmannavnjar raiders, especially with the dead body of

a Laerdom mage as proof. This will only heighten tensions

between the groups, while Vel’s presence continues to

corrupt the League from the inside. ( For more information

on Peter Vel, see the Vendel-Vesten™ sourcebook )

Over the last few years a number of substances he has

sampled have caused serious problems, often requiring

periods of convalescence or in the most extreme cases

urgent medical attention. The local doctors tolerate this only

because they are Vendel and he pays well for them to treat

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