Alchemy is typically a perplexing art for common folk in a fantasy setting. In any world where the majority of people must toil to survive, the idea of someone’s life work being to stand around boiling liquids and talking about the ‘essense of rare matter’ is quite alien to them. Alchemists in a fantasy world are rarely considered anything other than strange folk with ways that set them apart from the rest of society. Of course, this is not always the case. The first time an invading band of humanoids is turned aside by thunderstones and tanglefoot bags, the alchemist responsible might find himself very popular indeed.