Sir Isaac would like it to be known that even though
he did have an interest in Alchemy when he was alive, and even though this book
might have been the sort of thing that he would have written had he had actual access
to real Alchemical power, this book was neither written nor endorsed by him,
and that the use of his name was done entirely without permission. He is fairly insistent that this be spelled
out, in fact.
The formulary itself probably doesn't deserve the
above ire; it is simply a collection of alchemical healing formulas of interest
mostly for their ability to use the Songs of Healing under somewhat broader
circumstances than usual. Current
speculation is that Newton is simply annoyed that the book's layout plagiarizes
blatantly from his existing work on prisms, or possibly offended that the
nameless author was actually successful at alchemy, or perhaps both.
There are seven formulas in the Carnatic Formulary,
each with a unique color assigned to it from the spectrum. While the book blathers on about how this is
due to a complex theory that draws heavily on mysticism and Hermetic
correspondences, a thorough analysis of the formulas themselves will reveal
that the writer came up with the theory first and made the formulas fit
with a judicious addition of dye to the recipes. The book is divided into three
parts:
The apprentice section discusses theory, in great,
boring and largely useless detail. A
constant theme is that while the one formula available to apprentices is fairly
simple to learn, understanding the remaining six requires infinite devotion and
attention paid to the aforementioned theory.
This is, of course, a complete lie.
What is needed is the ability to cast Ethereal and Celestial Songs and
the knowledge of the Ethereal and Celestial Song of Healing, but those with
that kind of theoretical knowledge of the cosmos would find it easy to see
through the nonsense of the apprentice section anyway.
Sanguine Relief (Red)
This is functionally equivalent to the 'Healing
Potion' found on page 47 of the Corporeal Player's Guide.
The journeyman section is mercifully free of regular
Sorcerous nonsense, but it spends an altogether superfluous time discussing
dream-related nonsense. Some of the
passages aren't half bad from an aesthetic point of view, though. Two formulas are found in this section:
Dawn's Beast's Bane (Orange)
This requires the knowledge of both the Corporeal
and Ethereal Songs of Healing; the caster must roll versus the lower of the two
Songs and spend one extra Essence to cast.
If successful, the resulting potion will temporarily reduce the level of
one Ethereal Discord/Disadvantage suffered by the imbiber. The level of reduction is equal to the level
of the original Song performed and the duration is for (CD hours).
Saffron's Lethe (Yellow)
This is like Sanguine Relief, except that Mind Hits
are healed instead.
Finally, the Master section is the smallest of all;
the text is literally incomprehensible except for the actual formulas. A perceptive reader will quickly realize
that this is intentional; anyone who can perform these rituals doesn't need to
have their hand held, and everybody else would be daunted by the big words. Four formulas are taught
Elixir of Viridian Resolution (Green)
This requires the knowledge of both the Ethereal and
Celestial Songs of Healing; the caster must roll versus the lower of the two
Songs and spend one extra Essence to cast.
If successful, the resulting potion will temporarily increase the Will of
anyone who imbibes it by 2. Duration is
one hour
Cerulean Surcease (Blue)
This is like Sanguine Relief, except that Soul Hits
are healed instead.
Essence of the King's Evil (Purple)
This requires the knowledge of both the Celestial
and Corporeal Songs of Healing; the caster must roll versus the lower of the
two Songs and spend one extra Essence to cast.
If successful, the resulting potion will heal one natural disease
suffered by the imbiber. This may or
may not be permanent, depending on the disease; for example, this disease can
permanently cure a cold, but not gout, as the former is an external disease and
the latter is a condition brought on by improper diet. It will alleviate the symptoms of
anything that it can't cure, but only for (CD hours).
Alicorn's Delight (Indigo)
This requires the knowledge of all three Songs of Healing; the caster must roll versus the lower of the three Songs and spend two extra Essence to cast. If successful, the resulting potion will neutralize one dose of poison. This will not heal damage already suffered, but will prevent further injury.