The Ancient Art of Alchemy - A Reflection by Acolyte Agran

[Tonyux]

Attempting to Access Server 'Acolyte Archives'...

Accessing...

Accessing...

Conducting Security Check...

Security Clearance Granted...

Access Granted...

Displaying File…

---

---

This essay was composed as a personal reflection onto this original subject, with a copy granted by Lord Sarias as part of the task.

The Ancient Art of Alchemy

A Reflection by Acolyte Agran

The recovered excerpt, attributed to an unknown Sith Lord from the era of 1,600 BTC, offers a valuable perspective into the structure and dangers of Sith Alchemy. Though much of the tome is lost what survives is hardly trivial or of little value. On the contrary, its value lies not only in what it outright teaches, but mostly in what it reveals: Sith Alchemy is not merely knowledge but risk, intent, and transformation.

The passage begins with mentions of Sithspawn, creatures such as Tuk’ata and War Hydra, engineered weapons of war. These are not aberrations but deliberate transformations, the result of alchemy used with purpose, the purpose to twist what is natural into what is necessary. But it is not all about the Sithspawn, however.

The author showcased a distinct reverence for Sorzus Syn, presenting them as the pinnacle of the alchemic tradition, having come to the Sith people after Alchemy had already been created, and yet found ways to improve and perfect it through her mastery over the Force, a testament that limits can always be broken and surpassed with the right aptitude.

Past this preamble there's a distinct division made, between nonliving and living alchemy, wisely made with methodical clarity. Nonliving alchemy appears to be more approachable given their own Apprentices' success in picking it up to start with, and it involves utilizing inorganic matter for the crafting of talismans, weapons, and artifacts. The reasoning behind the greater ease of non-living alchemy as opposed to living alchemy resides in a Theory soon expressed by the Author, the Theory of Natural Resistance.

A term unfamiliar to me, yet intuitive, which recalls me of the Force Resistance that most Force Sensitive like us Sith carry within themselves.This theory affirms that living cells resist and fight back the transformation imparted onto them, unlike inorganic matter, thus making living alchemy challenging.

An example is promptly made of a tool crafted through non-living Sith Alchemy, the Aximand Amulet. A tool that, contrary to what one would expect from a Sith, is not aimed to strike, wound or kill- but to protect. The Author had discovered that certain poisons radiated different auras, and by aligning this Amulet to those auras he was able to discern when certain foods, drinks and the like were poisoned as the crafted piece promptly resonated and vibrated whenever brought near to them. Utility with almost no cost.

The contrary of what living-alchemy appears to be. What seems to attract the most aspirants that flock to the Author for their knowledge, despite the fact that it is destructive and out of reach if not for the most experienced Sith.

It can thus be used to shape the living matter, just like the engineered creatures mentioned at the beginning, creatures modified to serve the sole purpose of bringing death, altered beyond recognition and potentially painfully so.

Yet, taking from Sith Andnoa's words, philosophy and wisdom, if the Dark Side is a poison nobody would wish to cure themselves of, this branch of Alchemy is a direct injection of it- tenfold, fast acting, shifting the user as much as the subject in a new high, and height, of power, and here the Author's warning: "Living alchemy will not serve you, it will destroy you."

As such, in the end it once more all comes to the core of all that is Sith. 
Power, unchecked and wielded without proper preparation and purposes is destructive. 
One can achieve it, and grasp it for a mere moment before finding annihilation.
One can seek it, and die on the path of reaching it.
But to long for it is our nature, and to eventually hold it within ourselves is our destiny. 
It is only a matter of being strong enough to survive it.

---

File Read Finished...
Shutting Down File...
Returning to Main Menu...
Main Menu Access Granted...