Alchemist
Value: 8
Secrets • Ravens • Books • Flame
Meanings: Complexity, transformation, knowledge
The Alchemist seeks transformation, usually in the sense of advancement or enlightenment. She hopes to better herself though understanding. As adept of the Secrets family, the Alchemist is of course complicated. Her knowledge is deep and vast. Magical processes surround her. Chemicals and substances and the flame that catalyzes them all dance upon her fingertips. But her true raw materials are her own essence and her own soul.
Makers often see this card as a good omen.
Divination: The Alchemist’s complexity suggests that there’s far more to a situation than previously understood. Just as often, however, she indicates drastic and sudden change—a new opportunity, a new person involved, or a new facet to a problem. Should one turn the Alchemist and Dangerous Elixir consecutively, this is called the Ultimate Transformation, and it suggests total and complete upheaval of the situation and possibly someone involved in it.
Game Narrative: A situation transforms, usually by becoming more complex—new NPCs get involved, new facts arise, new challenges or barriers present themselves.
Joy: The PC gains knowledge, or insight into a complex problem. An NPC ally has information or understanding that can be of great use.
Despair: The PC fails at a vital task because they didn’t understand it and its real complexities.
The fumes of the Alchemist’s work offer her both bane and boon.