[This book is not the original left here, and seems heavily revised from before.]

Good dark, reader. The Underdark is a dangerous place, and many an adventurer owes his life to the timely use of alchemical devices, yet few seem to know the basics of creating such. I was once so uninformed, and would likely have remained so, were it not for my chance discovery of a grubby, goblin-made alchemical text.

It it were scrawled vague instructions for the preparation of choking and stinking weapons. My interest was piqued at the thought of learning to make such items for use as weapons, and I set my mind to experimentation and discussion with scholars.

The main issue I encountered was in finding suitable reagents. Unlike conjurers, who can use magical sand to test items for their properties, we alchemists have no such recourse, only observation and what we can learn from texts. Therefore, I present here the descriptions of some of the more common and useful reagents in the Underdark.

Lamp oil A convenient flammable base for fire-based alchemical products.

Smoking weed Finely ground, this can be used to generate noxious fumes.

Ichor Sticky and foul-smelling, this substace recovered from slimes and the like is useful to create certain weapons.

Spores Certain plant spores are rather volatile, and can be used to create devices that burst or ignite on impact.

Please note that plants are not an inexhaustible supply of reagents. If you find a useful cluster of plants, harvest seeds first, so that should you accidentally remove enough supplies to kill the plant, you may replace it. This is both good alchemist's discipline, and ensures the balance of nature is retained. Druids are often involved as guardians of such plantations, and should be respected.

The best method is to establish your own plantation somewhere you know and can reach easily, to ensure a regular supply.

Example recipe:

The igniferous substance known as "Alchemist's Fire" requires a flammable or explosive agent mixed with lamp oil to create a sticky mixture. Looking at the list above, you should be able to work out a suitable reagent to use.

To use the weapon, either throw it at your target, whereupon it will explode in a violent conflagration, or pour over your weapon, to wreath it in flames for a short duration.

Further tips If a recipe seems too complicated to easily follow, potions or spells meant to sharpen the mind may aid you in successfully creating the desired item.

Always keep an eye out for alchemical texts when adventuring, and read them well. As such items are often weighty, it is useful to make your own notes before selling the text, or better, passing it along to the Library.

Most recipes require only two components, so it is often best to experiment using only two reagents at a time.

Footnote Should you wish to discuss the practicals of alchemy with me, or to aid in contributing to this book, please, leave word for Rosenqvist at the Last Stand Inn. I would also be interested in any tomes you may have found, and will contribute reagents in exchange for time to peruse them.