Alchemy III ~ (1/5) Open! (Desires of an Alchemist)

[Essy ze Ninja]

Professor of Alchemy
..............Ravenclaw

"The cycle of life only goes one direction,

not even alchemy can change that."

╔══════════════╗
Location: Alchemy Classroom
╚══════════════╝

Angel stood, one diligent hand etching in the details of today’s lesson up the chalkboard while he waited for his students to appear. While he worked, mystical objects hung in the balance, a watering can moved about to water each of the foliage lined against the walls under the high arched windows that, one by one, began to pry apart to allow the sunshine to come spilling through.

Quote:

The medieval alchemists pursued three objectives:
• The transmutation of base metals into gold
• The immortality of the soul and spirit
• The creation of artificial life

Juan Angel Amorocho

 

[Essy ze Ninja]

Professor of Alchemy
..............Ravenclaw

"The cycle of life only goes one direction,

not even alchemy can change that."

╔══════════════╗
Location: Alchemy Classroom
╚══════════════╝

~Next Day~

Juan was casually lounging across the leather arm chair situated behind his desk, a wand carefully swayed in the air to tend to the foliage lined against the walls of the classroom. His alchemical book was left open to the page of today’s lesson with the page number sprawled across the chalk board while he waited to ensure if this class was, indeed, empty or not.

Juan Angel Amorocho

 

[Essy ze Ninja]

Professor of Alchemy
..............Ravenclaw

"The cycle of life only goes one direction,

not even alchemy can change that."

╔══════════════╗
Location: Alchemy III Class
Thoughts: '...'
╚══════════════╝

After a short break, Angel entered his classroom with a whimsical hop to his step and an apple in his hand. With the wave of his wand, the directions for the days lesson appeared on the blackboard located at the front of the classroom.

Quote:

Name of the spell: Expono
Pronunciation of the spell: EX-poe-nu
Meaning behind the name: Expono is Latin for exposed
Effects of the spell: This spell transfigures the effected wizard to form into a version of their true selves, which is only applicable upon certain wizards depending upon if that wizard has cast themselves behind a mask. Works well with emotional and spiritual means.
Wand movements: Gently tap the tip of the wand against the wizard’s temple, and then guide the wand towards the heart while reciting the incantation.
Is there a distance requirement?: Must be in immediate distance
Are the effects lasting?: Only for several minutes

Juan Angel Amorocho

   

[Essy ze Ninja]

Professor of Alchemy
..............Ravenclaw

"The cycle of life only goes one direction,

not even alchemy can change that."

╔══════════════╗
Location: Alchemy III Class
Thoughts: '...'
╚══════════════╝

Entering the classroom with long, swift strides, a callous and purposeful flick of his wand had led the description of a potion appear on his chalkboard while he waited for any students to gather at his class.

Quote:

: Patronus Potion- Mix ingredients, stir with wand. The result, a viscous of your patronus will appear above your cauldron. Shaman wizards used patronus to contact one another in dire emergencies. It was through this that the muggle Shamans believed in ‘spirit guides’ because they witnessed a wizards patronus.

Juan Angel Amorocho

 

[Essy ze Ninja]

Professor of Alchemy
..............Ravenclaw

"The cycle of life only goes one direction,

not even alchemy can change that."

╔══════════════╗
Location: Alchemy Fifth Year Classroom
╚══════════════╝

Striding diligently across the rows of desks and chairs, Angel reached the front of his class and turned to meet his students. ”Welcome back, hope your summer was well. Welcome to Alchemy III, I am Professor Juan Angel Amorocho, call me Professor Angel, or just professor is fine. Today, we’re going to learn about the desires of an alchemist during the boom of the renaissance. Now, during the renaissance era is when the height of a prolonged lifestyle sparked birth, along with the desire to be rich and famous. So, of course, there had always been a search for a stone which could convert ordinary metals to gold, immortality for the spirit and soul, and the creation of artificial life.

“Now, unbeknownst to many alchemists, the true reasons behind the study of alchemy was not only for science, but for spiritual ambition as well. Alchemists believe that there is a quintessence, where the Above can be created in the Below, thus, heaven on earth in spirit and mind. So, with that in mind, there was only a very small percentage of alchemists true to the ideal of discovering the truth of alchemy, which is why in ancient texts, it can be impossible to discern which ingredients is being used because of the basic, generic terms used for each items.

“An alchemist must engage his studies with a pure heart if his desire is to achieve spiritual perfection and immortality. Essentially, you can almost call alchemy a religion, and the quintessence, heaven. But you will only be learning practical alchemy in this class, but there is a genuine scientific merriment to the philosophical aspect of alchemy. Which, I can explain very simply with this quote from an unknown alchemist.”

Quote:

“Would to God . . . all men might become adepts in our Art -- for then gold, the great idol of mankind, would lose its value, and we should prize it only for its scientific teaching.”

”Now, I do believe that concludes our lesson for the day, any questions?”

[[[Do not post until Thursday, 17, when the class begins. I will be out of town until Sunday, so I won’t be able to answer until then.]]]

Juan Angel Amorocho

 

[Professor Tahiri]

┏━━━━ღ━━━━┓
Sato Aiko
Fifth Year Ravenclaw ▹ Prefect
┗━━━━ღ━━━━┛

▷ I may be quiet, but I'm screaming at you in my mind. ◁

Aiko entered her Alchemy class with dancer's grace and moved to her seat near the front of the classroom. She smiled politely to her Professor and said, "Good morning, Professor." She took her seat and began to ready herself for the day's lesson. Drawing open her bag, she removed her textbook, her notebook and her writing implements, placing them on her desk. She listened as the Professor began his lecture, copying down what she felt was important from his lecture. When he dismissed the class, she dutifully got up from her chair, politely bowed to the Professor and bid him adieu.

Out of Character: ...

 

[Pathological Kisser]

Chase took detailed notes as Professor Angel spoke. Alchemy was a fascinating subject to him and he respected his experience and passion at the discipline. He had heard that the man had a somewhat scandalous past, which only made the guy more interesting in his opinion. But he hadn’t heard the full story behind the rumor, so he couldn’t be sure of the truth to it. In any case, Chase was excited for what this year would hold. He knew that his grandparents were hoping that he would get a Ministry position, something political. But Chase was used to disappointing them.

Class concluded and Chase finished up his notes with a small scribble about chapters that he wanted to review in his book and packed up his things in his tattered messenger bag. It was Gideon’s when he was at school here. Chase’s hand smoothed the flap closed, wondering, not for the first time this week, if the man that was the closest thing he had to a father, had truly gone dark. Nodding to his professor, he made his way out of the room and after Sato, letting her dancer’s movements distract him from his dark thoughts.  

[Essy ze Ninja]

Professor of Alchemy
..............Ravenclaw

"The cycle of life only goes one direction,

not even alchemy can change that."

╔══════════════╗
Location: Alchemy Fifth Year Classroom
Thoughts: '...'
╚══════════════╝

Professor Angel of House Ravenclaw stood from his perched position behind his tidy desk once his students had entered the classroom, at once, he bounded around the edge of his desk more than enthusiastic to begin the day. As the students settled themselves within their seats, he casually withdrew his wand and offered a simple flick of the wrist. The motionless chalk nestled beside the board jumped with a sudden shock and began to write.

”Quite possibly the most famous alchemists in history are written on the board. Can anyone give me any examples as to what contributions these historical figures had made to alchemy?”

Quote:

Dzou Yen (fl. 4th century B.C.)
Nicolas Flamel (c. 1327—c. 1992)
Paracelsus (1493—1541)
Albus Dumbledore (1881—1997)

Juan Angel Amorocho

 

[Pathological Kisser]

Chase’s quill raced along the parchment. Deft fingers turned pages as he referenced the sections of his text. His body was hard at work and his mind was far away. As much as Chase had always been self sufficient, he had enjoyed his comraderie with his cousin over these last few years. Hildy had, at first, seemed quiet and boring to him. But the more he got to know her and found out about her dark sarcastic humor and wild spirit, he decided that she was one of the coolest people at Hogwarts. Besides himself of course. Even though they were in different houses, they had always made time for each other. Sometimes she felt like the sister that he never had. In some ways he and she were more alike than she and Matty.

But lately, she had been withdrawn. But not like the last few years. At least now she had Belle. Chase grimaced, he could have used a little attention from Belle as well. He wasn’t sure what had her in such a snit. Perhaps….his lips drew up in a devious smirk, he would have to have a private chat with Belle to see what was wrong with Hildy. Yes, somewhere quiet…secluded.

Dragging his brain aware from near-kidnapping plans, he realized that the professor had put a question to the class. Chase’s eyes flicked up to the names on the board again. Dzou Yen was an early Chinese Alchemist but he didn’t remember much else about him. Flamel and Dumbledore seemed to contemporary and almost too easy to answer. Chase enjoyed showcasing his knowledge of lesser known facts. Time spent in the library had to show off some where.

“Paracelsus was an odd and secretive alchemist. He appears to have given his greatest achievements to the Muggle World. He believed in the importance of using minerals and metals to treat physical ailments, which could have been an early attempt to give Wizarding knowledge to muggles, taking mundane principles of potions and alchemy that Muggles could master for their benefit.” A principle that many wizards would probably be highly offended at. Not Chase. Gideon had been working for the American Hit Wizards from the time Chase was a baby until they moved back to the U.K. and was stationed as an undercover Muggle police detective. Chase went to Muggle school and had Muggle friends. It had been hard for him to leave them behind when they came home, but Gideon wanted him to go to Hogwarts like the rest of the family.

It was a bit of culture shock, hearing so many wizards talking down about Muggles. But Chase never let it bother him. He just looked at him like they were morons and went on his way. Continuing on, he worked his way toward his favorite fact about Paracelus. ”He is best known for discovering Parseltongue but his research in the uses of minerals is consider to set the precedent for alchemists that followed. Though his secretive nature, probably a product of living amongst Muggles in medieval society, has meant that we know very little of the work that he did.”

Smirking, he couldn’t resist adding, ”In some early collections of Chocolate Frog Wizard Trading Cards, he was the very first card. His name was originally Phillip von Hohenheim which he later changed to Philippus Theophrastus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim. He was eventually known as simply Paracelsus, suggesting that he was a bit of a nutter.” Chase felt fortunate that Gid had not given him a million names like some wizard children. In fact, he didn’t even have a middle name. Just Chase. Simple. Perhaps more so than the young man who bore the moniker, but equally as playful.  

[Professor Tahiri]

┏━━━━ღ━━━━┓
Sato Aiko
Fifth Year Ravenclaw ▹ Prefect
┗━━━━ღ━━━━┛

▷ I may be quiet, but I'm screaming at you in my mind. ◁

Alchemy was a fascinating subject to Aiko and she very much enjoyed the topic. Mister Balford was already sitting in his chair and so Aiko took her seat, smiling and giving a polite bow to Professor Angel. She took out her notebook and writing implements for the day's lesson. She listened as Professor Angel asked about several alchemist. Turning her head, she listened to Chase as he described Paracelsus. When he finished, she spoke up. Without looking into her textbook, she said, "Nicolas Flamel contributed, perhaps, the greatest to the field of alchemy. He was the first and only alchemist to ever create a Philosopher's Stone. He also established a great wealth using the Philosopher's Stone by its property to turn metal to gold. The stone also creates the Elixir of Life, extending his age to six hundred and sixty five. His further developments to alchemy greatly influenced the field."

Out of Character: ...

 

[Essy ze Ninja]

Professor of Alchemy
..............Ravenclaw

"The cycle of life only goes one direction,

not even alchemy can change that."

╔══════════════╗
Location: Alchemy Fifth Year Classroom
Thoughts: '...'
╚══════════════╝

As the professor of alchemy entered the classroom, he ushered a simple wave of his wand to create a flutter of his handwriting to appear on the chalkboard at the front of the class. Striding diligently across the rows of desks and chairs, Angel reached the front of his class and turned to meet his students. “Now, unbeknownst to many alchemists, the true reasons behind the study of alchemy was not only for science, but for spiritual ambition as well. Alchemists believe that there is a quintessence, where the Above can be created in the Below, thus, heaven on earth in spirit and mind. So, with that in mind, there was only a very small percentage of alchemists true to the ideal of discovering the truth of alchemy, which is why in ancient texts, it can be impossible to discern which ingredients is being used because of the basic, generic terms used for each items.

“All of this was to dissuade the callous and greedy of heart from discovering the truths behind alchemy, and it’s because of those wizards that we have spells like Expono to help identify what type of man you may be dealing with during experiments and such,

“This spell is quite exhausting and requires a keen sense of mind, but the wand movements and pronunciation are quite simple in comparison. A simple and gentle tap on the temple with your wand, and then guide the tip down towards the heart as you recite the incantation, ex-poe-NU.

The trick is to imagine yourself in the darkness, you can't see who your facing, but you know they're there, so use every bit of information you've ever seen or heard from them to help shift their body into the form that best represents their motives, their ambition in life. Now, I’d like you all to pair up, and give it a go. Keep in mind, it doesn’t always work, and oft times, the ethereal representation is a complete and exact copy of the original…”

Quote:

Name of the spell: Expono
Pronunciation of the spell: EX-poe-nu
Meaning behind the name: Expono is Latin for exposed
Effects of the spell: This spell transfigures the effected wizard to form into a version of their true selves, which is only applicable upon certain wizards depending upon if that wizard has cast themselves behind a mask. Works well with emotional and spiritual means.
Wand movements: Gently tap the tip of the wand against the wizard’s temple, and then guide the wand towards the heart while reciting the incantation.
Is there a distance requirement?: Must be in immediate distance
Are the effects lasting?: Only for several minutes
Anything else?: Spell works best upon the sleeping, or the unexpected (often does not work at all.)

Juan Angel Amorocho

 

[Essy ze Ninja]

 

[Essy ze Ninja]

Professor of Alchemy
..............Ravenclaw

"The cycle of life only goes one direction,

not even alchemy can change that."

╔══════════════╗
Location: Alchemy Fifth Year Classroom
╚══════════════╝

Striding diligently across the rows of desks and chairs, Angel reached the front of his class and turned to meet his students. ”Welcome back, hope your summer was well. Welcome to Alchemy III, I am Professor Juan Angel Amorocho, call me Professor Angel, or just professor is fine. Today, we’re going to learn about the desires of an alchemist during the boom of the renaissance. Now, during the renaissance era is when the height of a prolonged lifestyle sparked birth, along with the desire to be rich and famous. So, of course, there had always been a search for a stone which could convert ordinary metals to gold, immortality for the spirit and soul, and the creation of artificial life.

“Now, unbeknownst to many alchemists, the true reasons behind the study of alchemy was not only for science, but for spiritual ambition as well. Alchemists believe that there is a quintessence, where the Above can be created in the Below, thus, heaven on earth in spirit and mind. So, with that in mind, there was only a very small percentage of alchemists true to the ideal of discovering the truth of alchemy, which is why in ancient texts, it can be impossible to discern which ingredients is being used because of the basic, generic terms used for each items.

“An alchemist must engage his studies with a pure heart if his desire is to achieve spiritual perfection and immortality. Essentially, you can almost call alchemy a religion, and the quintessence, heaven. But you will only be learning practical alchemy in this class, but there is a genuine scientific merriment to the philosophical aspect of alchemy. Which, I can explain very simply with this quote from an unknown alchemist.”

Quote:

“Would to God . . . all men might become adepts in our Art -- for then gold, the great idol of mankind, would lose its value, and we should prize it only for its scientific teaching.”

”Now, I do believe that concludes our lesson for the day, any questions?”

Juan Angel Amorocho

 

[Essy ze Ninja]

Slip out the back before they know you were there

and at the worst you'll see nobody cares,

you don't want to be around when it all goes down...

William Dante Nott the Third

Fifth Year, Slytherin Prefect

As Tay meandered into class that day, he was overcast with a surge of relief when he realized that the days lesson entailed strictly note taking, possibly a discussion, but thankfully nothing that involved magic. Yesterday, he had taken his wandless magic class, and later on in the day, he had decided to practice. But a bruised hand was all he gained. An injury like that hadn’t happened to him since his first year at Hogwarts, it was a curious thing to note, in the least. Using his quick quill notes that day, his sickly hand doused in hues of blues and purples and yellows was left to rest easy while his mind toiled away in places far away from the desires of an alchemist.

╔══════════════╗
Location: Alchemy Class
Mood: Callous
╚══════════════╝

..even heroes know when to be scared.

 

[Skuld HJG]

Jessica Sassareth

Slytherin Prefect, Fifth Year

Jess nodded toward Professor Amorocho, when she entered the alchemy classroom -- quickly assuming her seat a scribing notes from the lecture. Jess raised her hand, "What you have described is the 'classical' alchemy that we know from the ancient Greeks and medeval Europe. How closely does alchemy practices in China and Japan resemble the European model?"