Publisher: Agelast Chronicle

Apotheca Pharmakon
A grounded system for herbalism and alchemy

Apotheca Pharmakon expands herbalism and alchemy into structured, table-ready systems designed for adventuring play. Crafting is treated as fieldwork and experimentation rather than guaranteed production, emphasizing limited resources, imperfect conditions, and meaningful risk.

This supplement introduces no new classes, subclasses, or character options. Instead, it deepens the use of existing tool proficiencies—herbalism kits and alchemist’s supplies—into two distinct but complementary disciplines.

INSIDE THIS BOOK

Two Parallel Systems

• Herbalism: Field-based remedies, poultices, salves, and survival preparations

• Alchemy: Controlled reactions, refinement processes, instability, and experimental outcomes

Reagent-Centered Design

• Reagents categorized by Flora, Fauna, Fungi, and Mineral

• Clear rarity tiers from Common to Legendary

• Biome guidance that supports GM adjudication without restricting creativity

Structured Risk & Consequence

• Volatility states and reaction events

• Outcomes that can enhance, distort, or destabilize creations

• Systems designed to create story, not just items

Concise, Table-Ready Content

• Alphabetized recipe lists

• Clear rarity banding

• Minimal lookup friction during play

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

Apotheca Pharmakon assumes:

• Limited time and imperfect conditions

• Practical constraints over industrial crafting

• Use during active play rather than downtime optimization

• A grounded, almost scholarly approach to fantasy materials

These rules are intended to complement the core game, not replace it.

COMPATIBILITY

This supplement is designed for use with fantasy roleplaying rules and expands the use of existing tool proficiencies. It is setting-agnostic and can be adapted to any campaign world.

WHO THIS IS FOR

• Groups that want crafting to feel earned and uncertain

• GMs who enjoy adjudication supported by structure

• Players who value preparation, experimentation, and consequence

• Tables that prefer grounded fantasy over magical automation

WHO THIS IS NOT FOR

• Automated or guaranteed crafting pipelines

• Large-scale industrial item production

• High-magic item economies

Apotheca Pharmakon is a practical guide for tables that want herbalism and alchemy to feel like part of the world—not a button you press between encounters.