Mordaxius' Treatise on Kymia - Chapter One

Through the glorious wisdom of our master, who chose to share his knowledge with me, I am now in a proper position to study the energy known as kymia and its effects on both the living and the dead. The following notes are preliminary and subject to correction; however, they may serve as guidance for those acolytes wishing to approach its secrets with an open mind.

Introduction to kymia

During the earlier days of this wretched prison known as the Vitromotus, the number of convicts grew so high that despair was the only thing we could feel. As food grew scarce and death surrounded us at every corner, many simply gave up and waited for the end.

To our surprise, a time came when those who fell prey to wounds, age, or hunger rose again after a few days as if nothing had happened. They were not undead, nor abominations of any kind. They were alive again, their wounds gone and hunger satisfied. For a while at least.

Back then, we did not understand what was happening. We assumed it was part of our punishment, nothing but a curse laid upon us for our crimes. However, as time went on, a brilliant man became aware of the energy responsible for it. He called it "kymia, the life force," and we called him master.

How can kymia be produced?

This residual energy comes from the powerful emotions of sentient beings. The more we despair, suffer, and hate, the more kymia we produce. This energy is invisible to the naked eye, except to those trained to detect it.

It can be harvested from living creatures, although it is a painful and tedious process. It is much better to absorb the energy released after death, although keeping a prisoner alive lets its sorrow and fear turn it into a consistent and reliable source. However, there is a limit to how much kymia a person can hold; with enough training, it appears that this limit can be increased. Currently, it is unknown exactly how much energy a practitioner can hold.

Apart from its obvious applications in magic, kymia serves as a healing force, instantly restoring wounds and other ailments. It can also nourish the body like food or water would, although this latter process is quite demanding and usually not worth the effort.