From: Alchemists Alembic
Lore: Potion-Born Anomalies within The Alchemist’s Alembic are the result of the alchemist’s failed alchemical experiments. These experiments, intended to create powerful and controlled entities, instead birthed unpredictable and unstable anomalies. These anomalies take various forms, ranging from amorphous blobs of unstable substances to floating orbs of volatile energy or misshapen creatures with distorted features. They wander the dungeon, embodying the chaotic nature of the alchemist’s failed attempts, and pose both threats and opportunities for those brave enough to face them.
Level One Stats:
- Health Points (HP): 15-20
- Attack Damage: 4-7
- Defense: 1-3
- Speed: 8-12
- Initiative: +1
Skills:
- Unstable Aura: Potion-Born Anomalies emit an unstable aura that distorts the surrounding magic and reality. This aura can disrupt spells, weaken nearby foes, or even temporarily alter the environment in unpredictable ways.
- Morphing Form: Anomalies can alter their form, allowing them to squeeze through tight spaces, regenerate wounds, or change their composition to gain temporary resistance to certain types of damage.
- Elemental Instability: Some anomalies exhibit an affinity for specific elemental forces, allowing them to unleash bursts of elemental energy or temporarily adopt elemental resistances.
Strategy: Potion-Born Anomalies rely on their unpredictable nature to confound their adversaries. They exhibit sporadic movement patterns, morphing abilities, and elemental instabilities to confuse and overwhelm opponents. Their strategy involves exploiting their volatile nature and unique abilities to create chaos, making it difficult for foes to anticipate their next move.
Attacks:
- Unstable Blast: The anomaly releases a burst of unstable energy or substance towards its target, causing damage and potentially inflicting status effects such as poison, confusion, or temporary stat reductions.
- Morphing Assault: The anomaly reshapes its form rapidly, launching tendrils, spikes, or projectiles in unpredictable patterns towards its adversaries. This attack can hit multiple targets but is difficult to anticipate and dodge.
- Elemental Surge: Anomalies with elemental instabilities can release a concentrated surge of elemental energy, such as fiery eruptions, swirling vortexes of air, or shockwaves of earth, causing damage and elemental effects based on their elemental affinity.
Vulnerabilities:
- Unstable Composition: Potion-Born Anomalies are inherently unstable and vulnerable to disruptions in their composition. Attacks that target their internal stability or exploit their chaotic nature can cause increased damage.
- Elemental Manipulation: While some anomalies exhibit elemental affinities, they can also be susceptible to attacks or effects related to their opposing elements. Utilizing elemental magic or tools that counter their elemental nature can provide an advantage.
Tags: Chaotic Anomalies, Unpredictable Forms, Elemental Instabilities, Disruptive Auras, Shifting Strategies
Encountering Potion-Born Anomalies within The Alchemist’s Alembic presents a challenge to level one adventurers. Their erratic movements, shapeshifting abilities, and volatile attacks make predicting their actions difficult. Adapting strategies on the fly, exploiting their vulnerabilities, and employing elemental countermeasures will be crucial to successfully navigating encounters with these enigmatic anomalies. While dangerous, they also present opportunities for resourceful adventurers to harness their chaotic energy or obtain rare alchemical components with potential for great power.
Potion-Born Anomalies are encountered throughout The Alchemist’s Alembic, appearing in various chambers and corridors. The environment in which they are fought reflects their unpredictable and chaotic nature. Here are examples of where and how they can be encountered:
- Chamber of Unstable Substances: This chamber is filled with vats, tubes, and containers of unstable alchemical substances. Oozing blobs of Potion-Born Anomalies roam the area, leaving trails of corrosive liquids or releasing toxic fumes as they move. The battle takes place amidst the hazardous environment, with adventurers needing to avoid or manipulate the volatile substances to gain an advantage.
- Corridors of Fluctuating Energies: Within these winding corridors, floating orbs of Potion-Born Anomalies emit pulsating waves of volatile energy. The orbs rapidly change in size, color, or composition, making it difficult to predict their movements. The battle involves navigating the shifting energies and finding openings to attack while avoiding potentially devastating energy surges.
- Chamber of Distorted Reflections: A chamber with reflective surfaces that distort and twist reality. Misshapen creatures with distorted features, resulting from Potion-Born Anomalies, dwell within. The battle takes place amidst disorienting reflections and illusions, where adventurers must distinguish between reality and illusion to engage their adversaries effectively.
When defeated, the remains of Potion-Born Anomalies can be used in several ways within the dungeon:
- Alchemical Catalysts: The unstable remains can serve as catalysts in alchemical experiments or rituals. By combining the remains with specific ingredients, adventurers can unlock new concoctions, create volatile explosives, or even temporarily enhance their own alchemical abilities.
- Unpredictable Reagents: Extracting the residual substances or energies from the remains allows adventurers to harness their unpredictable properties. These reagents can be utilized in alchemical recipes or experiments, introducing unexpected effects, or adding chaotic elements to potions or magical artifacts.
- Chaotic Artifacts: Crafting the remains into chaotic artifacts allows adventurers to wield the power of the anomalies. These artifacts possess unique abilities or effects tied to the unpredictable nature of the Potion-Born Anomalies, providing the wielder with unconventional advantages, or introducing chaotic elements into their actions.
- Distortion Gems: By harnessing the chaotic essence within the remains, adventurers can fashion distortion gems. These gems can be used to temporarily warp reality, create illusions, or disrupt magical effects within the dungeon, granting adventurers additional strategic options.
Utilizing the remains of Potion-Born Anomalies requires a deep understanding of alchemical principles and an acceptance of the inherent chaotic nature. Carefully manipulating their volatile substances or energies can provide adventurers with powerful tools, unexpected effects, or access to hidden areas within The Alchemist’s Alembic, making them crucial resources for those exploring the depths of the alchemist’s chaotic domain.

Sensory Perceptions of Potion-Born Anomalies
- Sight:
- Perception: The Potion-Born Anomalies are visually striking and unsettling.
- Description: These anomalies take various forms, such as amorphous blobs of unstable substances, floating orbs of volatile energy, and misshapen creatures with distorted features. They emit an eerie glow, often changing colors unpredictably. Their surfaces might ripple or pulse, reflecting their unstable nature.
- Positives: Their appearance provides clear visual cues to their unpredictable and chaotic nature, helping adventurers stay alert.
- Negatives: The anomalies’ ever-changing forms can be disorienting and unnerving, making it difficult to focus.
- Sound:
- Perception: The anomalies produce a range of unsettling sounds.
- Description: Amorphous blobs make squelching and gurgling noises as they move. Floating orbs emit a low hum or crackle with energy, sometimes accompanied by high-pitched whines. Misshapen creatures may moan or emit guttural growls. The environment around them may also echo with the sounds of bubbling liquids and hissing gases.
- Positives: The distinct sounds can help identify their presence and movements, even when not in direct view.
- Negatives: The cacophony of noises can be distracting and may mask other important sounds in the environment.
- Smell:
- Perception: A strong, acrid odor accompanies the anomalies.
- Description: The smell is a mix of chemical fumes, burning substances, and decay. The odor can vary depending on the anomaly’s composition, with some smelling of sulfur, ammonia, or ozone.
- Positives: The strong smell can serve as an early warning of their presence.
- Negatives: The overpowering odor can be nauseating and may impair concentration or physical performance.
- Taste:
- Perception: While taste is not directly engaged, the anomalies’ presence can affect this sense indirectly.
- Description: The air around the anomalies may carry a bitter or metallic taste, reminiscent of chemicals or burnt substances.
- Positives: The unusual taste can provide additional sensory information about their proximity.
- Negatives: The unpleasant taste can cause discomfort and distraction.
- Touch:
- Perception: Physical contact with the anomalies reveals their unstable and often dangerous nature.
- Description: Amorphous blobs feel slimy and cold, with a texture that changes unpredictably. Floating orbs might deliver shocks or burns, and misshapen creatures have rough, uneven surfaces. Touching them can cause sensations of heat, cold, or tingling from residual energy.
- Positives: The tactile sensations can provide information about their composition and potential vulnerabilities.
- Negatives: Direct contact is dangerous due to the risk of burns, shocks, or corrosive damage.
- Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
- Magical Aura:
- Perception: Those attuned to magic can sense a chaotic and powerful aura emanating from the anomalies.
- Description: The aura is a swirling mix of elemental energies and alchemical forces, constantly shifting and fluctuating. It feels unstable and unpredictable, reflecting their nature.
- Positives: The magical aura provides insight into their abilities and elemental affinities.
- Negatives: The overwhelming energy can interfere with spellcasting or other magical abilities, causing unpredictability.
- Intuitive Awareness:
- Perception: A sense of the anomalies’ instability and unpredictability can be felt intuitively.
- Description: This awareness manifests as a feeling of unease or apprehension, as if something is constantly shifting or on the verge of exploding.
- Positives: Understanding their unstable nature can inform strategic planning and approach.
- Negatives: The sense of instability can be mentally exhausting and may cause hesitation or fear.
- Empathic Connection:
- Perception: Some may sense the remnants of the alchemist’s failed experiments within the anomalies.
- Description: Echoes of the alchemist’s intentions and the chaotic results of his experiments can be felt, evoking a mixture of curiosity and caution.
- Positives: This connection can inspire a greater appreciation of alchemical experimentation and its potential.
- Negatives: The empathic connection can be emotionally overwhelming and may cause distraction or reluctance to engage the anomalies.
- Magical Aura:
Encountering Potion-Born Anomalies engages all the senses and extra-sensory perceptions, providing a comprehensive and often overwhelming experience. The sensory details offer crucial information while simultaneously testing the resolve and focus of those who face them.
Tale of the Alchemist’s Failures
Long ago, in the age when alchemists sought the secrets of life and power, there was one whose name is lost to time. In his quest for greatness, this alchemist conducted many experiments within his labyrinthine workshop, known as The Alchemist’s Alembic. His desire was to create powerful and obedient entities, beings of pure alchemical perfection.
But alas, not all endeavors meet their intended ends. From his failed experiments arose the Potion-Born Anomalies, creatures of chaos and unpredictability. These anomalies, born from failed potions and unstable mixtures, took on forms that defied nature and reason. Some were amorphous blobs, ever-changing and oozing strange liquids. Others became floating orbs of volatile energy, sparking and crackling with untamed power. There were also those who became misshapen creatures, with twisted limbs and distorted features.
These anomalies roamed the alchemist’s domain, embodying the chaos of his failed attempts. They moved through the chambers and corridors, their presence a testament to the unpredictable nature of alchemy. The Chamber of Unstable Substances was home to oozing blobs that left trails of corrosive liquid in their wake. The Corridors of Fluctuating Energies housed floating orbs that changed size and color unpredictably, emitting waves of volatile energy. The Chamber of Distorted Reflections was inhabited by misshapen creatures that lurked among the disorienting reflections and illusions.
One day, a group of adventurers ventured into The Alchemist’s Alembic, seeking the fabled knowledge and treasures within. They soon encountered the Potion-Born Anomalies, facing their chaotic attacks and unpredictable movements. The anomalies unleashed unstable blasts, morphing assaults, and elemental surges, confounding and overwhelming the intruders.
The adventurers, though challenged, adapted their strategies. They learned to exploit the anomalies’ vulnerabilities, targeting their unstable compositions and countering their elemental affinities. Through careful planning and quick thinking, they managed to overcome the anomalies, collecting the remnants of their chaotic energy and using them to their advantage.
These remains, though dangerous, held great potential. The adventurers crafted alchemical catalysts, unpredictable reagents, chaotic artifacts, and distortion gems from the remains, harnessing the anomalies’ chaotic essence for their own purposes. With these tools, they unlocked hidden areas, enhanced their abilities, and gained a deeper understanding of the alchemical arts.
Moral of the story: Even in failure, there is value to be found. The unpredictable and chaotic can yield great power and insight if one has the wisdom and courage to face it.
Suggested conversions to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)
Potion-Born Anomaly
- Characteristics:
- STR: 30
- CON: 30
- SIZ: 20
- DEX: 50
- INT: 10
- POW: 20
- Hit Points: 5
- Move: 6
- Damage Bonus: None
- Attacks:
- Unstable Blast: 40%, damage 1D6 + special (poison, confusion, or stat reduction)
- Armor: 1 point of natural armor
- Sanity Loss: 0/1D4
- Special Abilities:
- Unstable Aura: Distorts surrounding magic and reality; disrupts spells and weakens nearby foes (POW vs. POW roll).
- Morphing Form: Can alter form to squeeze through tight spaces, regenerate 1D3 HP per round, or gain temporary resistance to a type of damage (INT roll to determine effect).
- Elemental Instability: Can unleash bursts of elemental energy, dealing 1D6 damage (fire, cold, or electricity).
Blades in the Dark
Potion-Born Anomaly
- Tier: I
- Quality: 2
- Scale: 0
- Edges:
- Unstable Aura: Disrupts magic and weakens foes; affected enemies take -1D to their actions.
- Harm:
- Unstable Blast: 2-harm (plus potential status effects)
- Morphing Assault: 2-harm, hits multiple targets, unpredictable patterns
- Elemental Surge: 3-harm area (once per score, chosen element)
- Armor: 1
- Special Abilities:
- Elemental Instability: Can switch between fire, cold, and lightning attacks, gaining +1 effect on the chosen element’s attack.
- Morphing Form: Can change shape to avoid attacks or squeeze through tight spaces; regenerates 1 harm per round.
- Stress: 3
- Resistance: 2
Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)
Potion-Born Anomaly
- Small aberration, chaotic neutral
- Armor Class: 12 (natural armor)
- Hit Points: 17 (5d6)
- Speed: 30 ft.
- STR: 8 (-1)
- DEX: 14 (+2)
- CON: 11 (+0)
- INT: 7 (-2)
- WIS: 10 (+0)
- CHA: 6 (-2)
- Skills: Stealth +4, Perception +2
- Damage Resistances: Varies based on current form
- Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
- Languages: Understands Alchemist’s commands but can’t speak
- Challenge: 1/2 (100 XP)
- Actions:
- Unstable Blast: Ranged Attack: +4 to hit, range 30 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d6) damage plus potential status effect (poison, confusion, or stat reduction).
- Morphing Assault: Melee Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) damage, hits multiple targets in unpredictable patterns.
- Elemental Surge (Recharge 5-6): The anomaly releases a burst of elemental energy in a 10-foot radius. Each creature in that area must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) elemental damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.
- Reactions:
- Unstable Aura: When targeted by a spell, the anomaly can force the caster to make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or have the spell disrupted.
- Special Abilities:
- Morphing Form: The anomaly can change shape to avoid attacks, squeeze through tight spaces, or regenerate 1d4 HP per round.
- Elemental Instability: The anomaly can switch its elemental affinity, gaining resistance to one type of damage (fire, cold, or electricity) and vulnerability to the opposing type.
Knave
Potion-Born Anomaly
- HD: 2
- Armor: 2
- Move: 12
- Attributes:
- STR: -1
- DEX: +2
- CON: +0
- INT: -2
- WIS: +0
- CHA: -2
- HP: 12
- Attacks:
- Unstable Blast: +4 to hit, 1d6+2 damage (plus potential status effect)
- Morphing Assault: +4 to hit, 1d6+2 damage (hits multiple targets)
- Elemental Surge: Once per encounter, can release an elemental burst, dealing 2d6 damage in a 10-foot radius (DEX save for half damage).
- Special Abilities:
- Unstable Aura: Disrupts magic and weakens foes; affected enemies take -1 to their next roll.
- Morphing Form: Can change shape to avoid attacks, squeeze through tight spaces, or regenerate 1d4 HP per round.
- Elemental Instability: Can switch its elemental affinity, gaining resistance to one type of damage (fire, cold, or electricity) and vulnerability to the opposing type.
- Positives:
- Highly unpredictable and versatile in combat.
- Unique abilities and elemental affinities provide tactical options.
- Negatives:
- Relatively low health and defense make them vulnerable to strong attacks.
- Susceptible to attacks exploiting their elemental vulnerabilities.
Fate Core
Potion-Born Anomaly
- Aspects:
- High Concept: Chaotic Alchemical Creation
- Trouble: Unstable and Unpredictable
- Aspect: Elemental Instability
- Aspect: Morphing Form
- Skills:
- Good (+3): Athletics
- Fair (+2): Fight
- Average (+1): Stealth, Will
- Stunts:
- Unstable Blast: Once per scene, release a burst of unstable energy. Roll Fight to attack all enemies in the zone, adding +2 to the roll and dealing 2 shifts of damage plus a potential status effect.
- Morphing Form: Use Athletics to create advantages by morphing to squeeze through tight spaces, regenerate wounds, or gain temporary resistance to damage.
- Elemental Surge: Once per scene, can unleash a burst of elemental energy, dealing 4 shifts of damage in a radius.
- Stress:
- Physical Stress: [ ] [ ]
- Mental Stress: [ ] [ ]
- Consequences:
- Mild (2):
- Moderate (4):
- Severe (6):
Numenera & Cypher System
Potion-Born Anomaly
- Level: 2
- Health: 12
- Damage: 4 (Unstable Blast), 6 (Elemental Surge)
- Armor: 1
- Motive: Random and chaotic behavior
- Combat:
- Unstable Blast: Inflicts 4 damage plus a potential status effect (e.g., confusion, poison).
- Elemental Surge: Once per encounter, releases a burst of elemental energy in an immediate radius, dealing 6 damage.
- Special Abilities:
- Unstable Aura: Distorts magic and reality; disrupts spells and weakens nearby foes (difficulty 3 Intellect task to resist).
- Morphing Form: Can alter form to squeeze through tight spaces, regenerate 1d6 health per round, or gain temporary resistance to a type of damage (GM’s discretion).
- Elemental Instability: Can switch elemental affinity, gaining resistance to one type of damage (fire, cold, or electricity) and vulnerability to the opposing type.
Pathfinder (2nd Edition)
Potion-Born Anomaly
- Creature 1
- Perception: +4; darkvision
- Languages: Understands commands but cannot speak
- Skills: Stealth +5, Acrobatics +4
- STR: -1, DEX: +3, CON: +1, INT: -2, WIS: +0, CHA: -2
- AC: 13
- HP: 20
- Fort: +4, Ref: +7, Will: +3
- Speed: 25 feet
- Melee:
- Unstable Blast: +5 to hit, 1d6+3 damage plus potential status effect (poison, confusion, or stat reduction)
- Morphing Assault: +5 to hit, 1d6+3 damage, hits multiple targets in unpredictable patterns
- Special Abilities:
- Elemental Surge (Recharge 5-6): Releases a burst of elemental energy in a 10-foot radius, dealing 2d6 damage (DC 14 Reflex save for half damage).
- Unstable Aura: Distorts surrounding magic and reality, disrupting spells and weakening nearby foes (DC 14 Will save).
- Morphing Form: Can alter form to squeeze through tight spaces, regenerate 1d6 HP per round, or gain temporary resistance to damage (GM’s discretion).
- Elemental Instability: Can switch its elemental affinity, gaining resistance to one type of damage (fire, cold, or electricity) and vulnerability to the opposing type.
Savage Worlds
Potion-Born Anomaly
- Attributes:
- Agility: d10
- Smarts: d4
- Spirit: d6
- Strength: d4
- Vigor: d6
- Skills:
- Fighting: d8
- Stealth: d8
- Athletics: d8
- Pace: 6
- Parry: 6
- Toughness: 5 (1)
- Edges:
- Unstable Nature: Gains +2 to resist magical and alchemical effects.
- Special Abilities:
- Unstable Blast: Str+d6 damage plus a potential status effect (poison, confusion, or stat reduction).
- Morphing Assault: Str+d6 damage, hits multiple targets in unpredictable patterns.
- Elemental Surge: Once per encounter, can release an elemental burst in a Small Burst Template, dealing 2d6 damage (Agility roll to avoid, –2 to resist).
- Unstable Aura: Distorts magic and reality; disrupts spells and weakens nearby foes (Spirit roll to resist).
- Morphing Form: Can change shape to avoid attacks, squeeze through tight spaces, or regenerate 1d6 HP per round.
- Elemental Instability: Can switch elemental affinity, gaining resistance to one type of damage (fire, cold, or electricity) and vulnerability to the opposing type.
Shadowrun (6th Edition)
Potion-Born Anomaly
- Attributes:
- Body: 3
- Agility: 6
- Reaction: 5
- Strength: 2
- Willpower: 3
- Logic: 2
- Intuition: 5
- Charisma: 1
- Edge: 2
- Condition Monitor: 6 (Physical), 6 (Stun)
- Initiative: 10 + 1D6
- Movement: 10 meters per turn
- Skills:
- Unarmed Combat: 6
- Perception: 4
- Stealth: 5
- Attacks:
- Unstable Blast: (Unarmed + 2, DV 5P, AP –2, plus status effect like poison, confusion)
- Morphing Assault: (Unarmed + 2, DV 4P, AP –1, unpredictable patterns, hits multiple targets)
- Elemental Surge: (Area effect, DV 8P, AP –4, elemental effect, once per encounter)
- Armor: 1
- Special Abilities:
- Unstable Aura: Disrupts magic and weakens foes within 10 meters; affected enemies must make a Willpower + Intuition (3) test to resist.
- Morphing Form: Can alter form to avoid attacks, squeeze through tight spaces, or regenerate 1D6 Stun damage per turn.
- Elemental Instability: Gains resistance to one type of elemental damage (fire, cold, electricity) and vulnerability to the opposing type.
Starfinder
Potion-Born Anomaly
- CR: 1
- XP: 400
- Type: Small aberration
- Init: +4
- Senses: Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +8
- Defense:
- EAC: 12
- KAC: 14
- HP: 20
- Fort: +3, Ref: +5, Will: +4
- Offense:
- Speed: 30 ft.
- Melee: Unstable Blast +8 (1d6+2 P, plus status effect)
- Ranged: Elemental Surge (10-ft. radius, DC 12 Reflex, 2d6 elemental damage, once per encounter)
- Space: 5 ft.; Reach: 5 ft.
- Special Abilities:
- Unstable Aura: Distorts magic and weakens foes within 10 ft.; affected enemies must make a DC 12 Will save to resist.
- Morphing Form: Can alter form to avoid attacks, squeeze through tight spaces, or regenerate 1d6 HP per round.
- Elemental Instability: Gains resistance to one type of elemental damage (fire, cold, electricity) and vulnerability to the opposing type.
Traveller (Mongoose, 2nd Edition)
Potion-Born Anomaly
- Traits:
- Strength: 3
- Dexterity: 9
- Endurance: 3
- Intelligence: 5
- Education: 4
- Social: 1
- Skills:
- Melee (Natural Weapons): 1
- Athletics: 2
- Stealth: 1
- Armor: 1 (Natural)
- Attacks:
- Unstable Blast: 1D damage + status effect (poison, confusion)
- Morphing Assault: 1D damage, hits multiple targets
- Elemental Surge: 2D damage (area effect, elemental, once per encounter)
- Special Abilities:
- Unstable Aura: Disrupts magic and weakens foes within 10 meters; affected enemies must make an Endurance check (8+) to resist.
- Morphing Form: Can alter form to avoid attacks, squeeze through tight spaces, or regenerate 1d6 HP per round.
- Elemental Instability: Gains resistance to one type of elemental damage (fire, cold, electricity) and vulnerability to the opposing type.
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)
Potion-Born Anomaly
| M | WS | BS | S | T | I | Agi | Dex | Int | WP | Fel |
| 4 | 35 | 0 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 30 | 25 | 30 | 20 |
- Wounds: 8
- Traits:
- Unstable Blast: (WS) +5; 1D10+2 damage plus status effect (poison, confusion)
- Morphing Assault: (WS) +5; 1D10+2 damage, hits multiple targets
- Elemental Surge: (WS) +5; 2D10 damage (area effect, elemental, once per encounter)
- Skills:
- Melee (Brawling): +10
- Perception: +10
- Stealth: +10
- Talents:
- Unstable Aura: Disrupts magic and weakens foes within 10 yards; affected enemies must make a Cool Test to resist.
- Morphing Form: Can alter form to avoid attacks, squeeze through tight spaces, or regenerate 1d6 Wounds per round.
- Elemental Instability: Gains resistance to one type of elemental damage (fire, cold, electricity) and vulnerability to the opposing type.
