This lore dive is a helpful resource for understanding the Fae & Alchemy series! This lore guide includes spoilers, so please read AFTER you’ve finished Quicksilver.

Includes info from ALL of Quicksilver, so this guide is spoiler in nature.

This guide does NOT include information from Brimstone.

If you would like to listen to this lore dive, check out the Rusarius’ Library section here.

Or if you’d prefer to hear our complete beat-by-beat coverage, please check out our Fae and Alchemy playlist.

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What is Alchemy?

Alchemy is a forgotten, long-dead, old magic.

Thousands of years ago, alchemists used their magical gifts to alter the state of compounds and transform them into precious metals. There is no record of which compounds were used, or what was done to them, but the alchemists were successful.

They found a way to transform elements into vast amounts of gold and silver, which was reportedly used to fill the royal coffers. At some point, the quicksilver was discovered along with the other realms, as the pathways that connect them, and all manner of chaos ensued.

For the most part, alchemists worked in secrecy – not documenting or writing down their processes or how their magic worked.

Before the quicksilver was closed, there were thousands of alchemists in Zilvaran, but Madra executed every last one she could round up around the time she stilled the quicksilver pools. We learn from the god Zareth that Saeris isn’t the only alchemist in the universe, and that there are millions like her out there, including more in Zilvaran:

“Even in your realm, even in the city you once called your home, there are hundreds of elemental magic wielders who can command the quicksilver.“

As far as the Yvelian fae have been concerned for a thousand years, the alchemists are extinct. They have no idea what it’s like to have an alchemist on their side of the war, meaning they don’t fully understand how it can change the tide of the war.

Types of Alchemists

There are 3 branches or types of alchemists:

Those who want to discover the path to immortality
Those who want to create and invent by transmuting various metals and ores
Those who want to cure illness and disease

We don’t know much about the two alchemy branches regarding immortality and cures, BUT we do know some about the transmutation alchemists.

These alchemists lived very short lives because they often went mad and killed themselves.
They forge quicksilver into weaponry for Fae warriors and are the only people who can manipulate the quicksilver.
The strongest of these alchemists are able to shatter metal that has quicksilver in it (Saeris is the first ever recorded to do this).
They are also able to melt metal with quicksilver in it.

As for how they’re able to do this it’s actually pretty easy, the Alchemist just needs to ask! While the asking part is easy it’s not a guarantee that the Quicksilver will just do what the Alchemist wants it to do. We see that the Quicksilver will sometimes ask for things in exchange.

Historical records show that most Alchemists can only command objects if the item in question is at least five percent quicksilver. And even then, it is typical that they can only transmute the quicksilver from its solid to its liquid state so that it could be forged. These Alchemists are able to create relics, Alchimeran objects like God swords and conduits that can channel vast quantities of magic with this ability

NOTE: It’s not crystal clear if ALL Alchemists can awaken quicksilver pools or if it’s only the ones who can transmute metals and ores. We are leaning toward only this one type of Alchemist.

Elemental Magic

Aside from the different branches of alchemy, Alchemists are able to work with a specific element or elements. From our understanding the more elements an Alchemist can manipulate the stronger they are.

While we haven’t seen manipulation of all of these elements on the page we do know, thanks to Kingfisher and Malcolm, a few of the different categories/elements an Alchemist could manipulate.

Light
Dark
Silver

Steel
Earth
Air

Fire
Water
Salt

Brimstone
Quicksilver

NOTE: this is NOT a comprehensive list and, coincidentally, are all of the elements that Saeris can manipulate (according to her runes).

Quicksilver pools

This section touches on how Alchemists use the quicksilver pools, though it is not a comprehensive guide on quicksilver or quicksilver pools.

Using a quicksilver pool is actually one of the few things about alchemy that is common knowledge. All an alchemist has to do is fix their intentions on the place they want to go and step into the pool of liquified metal. This applies to new places they want to explore as well.

For example, they want to discover a place rich in iron. All an alchemist would need to do is think about iron ore and let the quicksilver pull them to a place that has an abundance of iron. But while it is a simple system, it is also flawed. It is well known that there’s a chance when exploring a new place that an alchemist will never come back because they cannot guarantee what will be on the other side of a quicksilver pool.

Alchimeran objects (like god swords) created by alchemists can also lock quicksilver pools and if one pool is locked all of them are locked. This works because the quicksilver is connected by some kind of energy and when a sword like Solace is inserted into the quicksilver, it severs the energy in a way that paralyzes it. Until the alchimeran object is removed, every entrance to the pathway becomes frozen; leaving anyone who went through a quicksilver pool trapped on the other side with no way to return home.

The information regarding this knowledge is/was a closely guarded secret by the Fae for generations.