A Treatise on Transmutation IV: Stones of Frost and Destruction
The second known instance of alchemist’s stones being used as totems of war was born more out of necessity and macabre curiosity. The previous alchemist stones were used as spiritual lenses of focus, boons in times of war, and resources to change and empower gems and metals. The alchemy stones used during the Third War in Northrend, however, were used to change dust to diamonds, weak metal to titanium, and change eternal elements to different forms of the other. These three stones and their best speculative purposes are listed below. Indestructible Alchemist's Stone - This stone is indeed indestructible, and cannot be unmade once it is made. It grants a certain vitality to its creator, likely from the latent soul magics that cling to the reagents used in its creation. The recipe itself leaves little doubt that it was created in a Forsaken apothecary’s laboratory, or perhaps even a laboratory within the cursed citadel itself. It is made from a tightly compacted ball of twenty terribly spiky and painful deadnettle fronds, drenched in the horrific-smelling fish oil known as pygymy oil. Once this oil has been poured on the ball twelve times, it is buried in snow wrapped in a bloom of frost lotus. In a few hours, a deeply disgusting yellow-brown stone will be produced if the transmutation is successful. The best use for this object is likely the vitality it grants when carried. It does not smell foul, although it looks like it should.
Mighty Alchemist's Stone - This is, of all things, a Gorloc creation. It grants greater combat prowess, and my personal assumption is this recipe was transposed from some sort of titan relic the Oracles of Sholazar discovered. It is fifteen blooms of the flower Tiger Lily and fifteen fronds of the herb Adder’s Tongue, gently crushed in a small ball and more gently bound within a blossom of frost lotus and sewn shut. The Gorlocs throw this mass in the pool of River’s Heart, where it is transfigured to a “Mighty Alchemist's Stone” and sinks to the bottom of the pool. It is unclear if this is necessary, or simply enjoyable for the jovial creatures. The name they have given the stone is indeed humorous, but it is by no means false. This stone is powerful; best used to transmute eternal elements and Shadowspirit Diamonds - called “big shinies” by the Oracles.
Mercurial Alchemist Stone - This stone increases both quickness and the power of spells. For these reasons, it is thought to be a creation of the Argent Dawn. It requires twenty leaves of Goldclover, bound within a bloom of frost lotus by two motes of eternal life. It must be what is known as “hatched” in transmutation - held in the hands for a period of seven hours until solidified, in this case to a brilliant stone of gold and emerald coloration. It is best used for battle, to transmute motes of life, and to transmute metals from eternal elements found in Northrend. The next notable use of alchemy stones arrived during the cataclysm. Deathwing’s wrath and rending exposed the element known as volatile life. This substance can be transmuted with various amounts of elemental herbs: Aszhara’s Veil, Cinderbloom, and Heartblossom, to create a variety of different stones used for the rather tiresome purpose of transmuting elemental gemstones and various unstable elements revealed in the cataclysm. As the Quicksilver Alchemist Stone and Lifebound Alchemist Stone contain mercury and pieces of Therazane’s elementals, the Volatile Alchemist Stone is an instrument formed by the cult of Twilight, and the Vibrant Alchemist Stone is a sacred recipe guarded by a Darkspear apothecary, I cannot reasonably advise making any of these unless your work explicitly warrants using one. Many of these stones were used rashly and recklessly during the cataclysm, and still leave a bitter taste in the mouth of many an alchemist.
Heavens above, perhaps one day we will all stop pulling things from Azeroth that should be left in her soil and veins.
