Note/L10N/Origin_of_the_Mages_Guild/6/Books/OMGInstrumentsofAlchemy?
本文 † 
原文 †
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Instruments of Alchemy<br><br>
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By Orix<br>
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(A required expansion of "Fundaments of Alchemy" by Alyandon Mathierry)<br><br>
<IMG src="Book/fancy_font/n_63x62.dds" width=59 height=61>ot many who want to take up alchemy instinctively know their alembic from their calcinator, or how to even begin creating potions. This simple guide could teach even the lowliest Colovian farmer how to turn tomatoes and corn into a potion to restore fatigue, and we have Galerion, founder of the illustrious Mage�s Guild and a former Psijic, to thank for the means by which we may perform this material form of magic.<br><br>
In Tamriel, there are few things that exist without some presence of magical attribute, be it flora, fauna, minerals, even conventional objects made from such resources that retain the original source�s properties, waiting to be tapped. Any layman will notice that simply consuming something that contains magical properties will induce an effect, but this is not alchemy, since it does not properly extract the magical property to its full potential, and thus the effect is rather weak.<br><br>
We begin with the two basic tools any alchemist needs, the mortar and pestle. As their design suggests, the mortar (a bowl) and pestle (a blunt instrument) are used to grind or pound ingredients into basic powder or liquid forms. Depending on the materials, water may be added to make the ingredients into a solution. At least two different ingredients with at least one similar magical property (usually discovered via literature, or trial and error) should be separately formed into solutions, and then carefully mixed to form a potion. The process is a little haphazard as one can mix the solutions either too much or too little. The less pungent a potion smells, the better the solution equilibrium is, thus producing a stronger effect. One will often see alchemists sniffing their potions while mixing them to see how good the quality of the potion will be.<br><br>
So, now the reader knows the very basics, what is the point behind the other alchemical instruments?<br><br>
The retort is used for distillation of the solutions, which is separating the essence of the magical solution from any excess water/liquid that does not add any potency to the said solutions. This is done via heating the liquid in the primary vessel to a temperature that makes either the essence, or excess water/liquid evaporate. The gas hits the neck and condenses into a collection vessel, thus separating the two liquids. Since the solutions are more pure, the following mix of the solutions makes the positive effects of the potion stronger and longer lasting. However, this gives an incomplete separation of liquids in one process of condensation, and this leads to use of the alembic.<br><br>
The term alembic refers to two retorts connected by a tube and a cap at the top. The method of heating the liquid and allowing for condensation is similar to that of the retort, except it allows for a much purer distillation of the already distilled solutions. The enhanced purification of the solutions minimizes the negative effects of any impurities in the solutions, making potions much safer to drink.<br><br>
Last, but by no means least, is the calcinator. This instrument is basically a tall kiln, used to initially heat substances, to induce thermal decomposition. The effect is that from one compound with many impurities, you get two compounds. This applies to separating liquids from minerals, minerals splitting into smaller forms, or solids burning into gases from other solids (such as metal ores). The desired magical compound has fewer impure substances and becomes crystallized/friable, that is, being able to crumble and thus mix into a solution much more easily. Liquids aren�t generally used in calcination. Because of the calcination process, the ingredients have a greater purity before they undergo the process of being ground and made into a solution, the end result usually has an increased potency and duration on all attributed effects.<br><br>
Now the reader understands the function and advantage each of the instruments used in alchemy. The Mage�s Guild is available to teach you more on the subject via literature or apprenticeship, upon membership. But remember, while accidents may happen, no experience is more valuable to an alchemist than their own.
訳文 †
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Instruments of Alchemy<br><br>
<p>
Orix著<br>
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(Alyandon Mathierry著"Fundaments of Alchemy"の発展)<br><br>
錬金術を始めようとする者で、直感でAlembicとCalcinatorの区別の仕方や薬の作り方を知っている者はほとんどいない。この明快な手引きに従えば、Colovianの無学な農民でさえトマトとトウモロコシをFatigue回復薬に調合できるようになるだろう。この物質的な魔術を行えることを、輝かしきMages Guildの創設者であり元PsijicでもあるGalerionに感謝する。<br><br>
Tamrielには魔術的な特性を持たない物はほとんど無い。植物、動物、鉱物、さらにはそのような原料の特性を保っているありふれた物でさえ、その効用を抽出されるのを待っているのである。どんな素人でも、魔術的特性を持つ物を消費しさえすれば何らかの効果があるということに気づくだろう。しかし素材の持つ効力を適切に引き出していないため効果は非常に弱く、それは錬金術ではない。<br><br>
まずは、どの錬金術師も必要とする二つの基礎的な道具であるMortar(乳鉢)とPestle(乳棒)を使って始めようと思う。これは見ての通り、素材をすりつぶして粉状または液状にするために使う。素材によっては水を加えて溶かすこともある。類似の特性(通常文献または試行錯誤を通じて発見する)を一つ以上持つ、最低でも二つの素材を別々に液状にし、それから慎重に混合し薬を作る。素材の割合を変えられるため、この過程は少々偶然による所もある。刺激臭が少ないほど、溶液の均衡が良く取れているため出来上がる薬は高い効果を持つ。錬金術師が混合中に溶液の匂いを嗅ぐのは、薬の質を確かめるためである。<br><br>
さて、これで基礎中の基礎は説明した訳だが、他の錬金器具の用途は何であろうか。<br><br>
Retort(蒸留器)は溶液を蒸留するために使う。溶液の魔術的な要素から余分な水分を取り除くことが出来るが、何らかの効力を加える物ではない。溶液を第一の容器に入れ、素材のエキスか余剰水分のどちらかが蒸発するまで加熱する。すると立ち上った蒸気が容器の首に当たり、貯蔵容器に濃縮され二つの液体に分離される。溶液の純度が高くなるため、出来上がる薬の効力が高まり持続時間も長くなる。しかしこれだけでは分離が不完全なため、Alembicを使う必要がある。<br><br>
Alembic(蒸留器、ランビキ)とは二つのRetortを管で繋いで、その上に蓋を乗せた物である。Retortと似た働きをするが、既に蒸留された溶液をさらに純粋に出来る。溶液の純度を高め、不純物由来の望ましくない効果を最小限にすることで、より安全な薬となる。<br><br>
最後はCalcinator(?焼炉)であるが、これも重要な器具である。この背の高い釜は熱分解を起こすために使い、多くの不純物が残る混合物を二つに分けることが出来る。液体と鉱物を分離させ、鉱物を細かく分解し、例えば金属のような固体から他の固体を気化させ分離させる。魔術的化合物から不純物を取り除き結晶化することで、砕いて溶液に混合しやすくなる。一般的に液体には使用しない。この過程で素材の純度は極めて高くなり、全ての効力と持続時間が増加する。<br><br>
これで錬金器具の用途と利点が理解できただろう。Mages Guildに加入すれば、文献や師事することを通して錬金術をより詳しく学ぶことが出来る。しかし憶えておいてほしい。どれだけ失敗しようとも、己の経験こそが最も価値ある物なのだ。
