Quicksilver

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Quicksilver
The alchemical symbol for quicksilver
(Alchemical item)

Type
Alchemical reagent
Source: Alchemy Manual, pg(s). IFC

Quicksilver, or mercury, is a heavy, silvery metal.1 It is the only metal that is liquid in normal conditions and is, therefore, stored in iron flasks. Quicksilver is known to be very dangerous as it can adversely affect the mind. Cinnabar, a crystalline amalgam, is a common source of quicksilver.2

Alchemical Reagent

Quicksilver is an alchemical reagent in its purified form that is used in alchemical recipes. As an alchemical power component it is associated with boosting the effectiveness of spells that affect the mind. The alchemical symbol for quicksilver is identical to that of the planet closest to the sun: Aballon.23 One dose of quicksilver costs one gold piece.

Plane of Fire

On the Plane of Fire, it often rains liquid mercury.45

References

  1. See Wikipedia here: Mercury (element)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Jason Nelson, et al. Alchemy Manual, inside front cover. Paizo Inc., 2014
  3. Paizo has not drawn out the significance of this, but such linking of alchemy and astronomy was common in real-world alchemy and is clearly not a coincidence. Indeed, this particular example is analogous to the metal mercury having an alchemical symbol identical to the symbol for the planet Mercury in our solar system.
  4. John Compton, et al. Plane of Fire” in Planes of Power, 31. Paizo Inc., 2016
  5. John Compton, et al. Plane of Fire” in Planes of Power, 34. Paizo Inc., 2016