Green Alchemy Solution

Green Alchemy Solution
Rare Reagent (65gp)
Rank: 4
Green Alchemy Solution is a thick, sluggish liquid the color of swamp moss, noted for its earthy scent and sticky texture. It clings to dead organic material and begins breaking it down almost immediately. Within seconds, wood softens, leather splits, and foodstuffs collapse into mush. As decomposition accelerates, fine mold filaments sprout across the surface, first as a white frost, then deepening into green and spreading outward in fuzzy, sickly webs. Curiously, Green Alchemy Solution has absolutely no effect on living creatures and plant life.
Special Actions
Throw Flask
Standard Action [REC 6]
Effect: You throw the flask at an undead opponent. Make an attack:
Range: 30ft
Target: One corporeal undead creature within range.
Ranged Attack: Ranged vs. Reflex
Hit: The flask smashes into the target, coating it with solution. The target takes 15 ongoing Caustic damage every 10 segments [SE, ST 4d10 vs CON].
Apply to Item
Standard Action [REC 5]
Target: One item made from organic material, such as wood, cloth, leather, or rope.
Effect: You pour the solution over the target item. Make an attack:
Range: Reach
Melee Attack: Melee vs. Touch
Hit: The item takes ongoing Riven, gaining 1 Level of Riven (ignoring hardness) every 10 segments [SE, ST 3d10 vs DEX].
Special: If the item is unattended or in your possession, the attack automatically hits.
Creation
Begin with a base of White Alchemy Solution, stirring in powdered Rotcap fungus until the mixture thickens to the consistency of syrup. Gently heat the solution until bubbles rise without bursting, then infuse fermented lichen paste and the Essence of Death, allowing the mixture to settle until streaks of darker green ripple through it. Crush a live bog beetle directly into the mixture and stir counterclockwise while whispering the names of five plants known to rot quickly in humid conditions. The solution should turn dull green and emit a faint smell of mulch. Add the magic essence and quickly seal in a copper-capped flask etched with a spiraling pattern and leave to rest for three days in a dark, damp place.
Ingredients: White Alchemy Solution (1 Flask, 5gp), Rotcap Powder (Uncommon, 2gp), Fermented Lichen Paste (Uncommon, 6 sp), a vial of Essence of Death (Rare, 15gp), 2 drops of Magic Essence (Rare, 40gp), and 1 live Bog Beetle (Uncommon).
Crafting: Alchemy DC 20
"If it's alive, it'll die. If it's dead, it'll stink. Either way, it won't be your problem anymore."
——Istral Vot, Swampwalking Assassin

Description

Green Alchemy Solution is most often used to rapidly degrade unwanted dead organic materials—whether for sabotage, concealment, waste disposal, or combating corporeal undead. Its thick, moss-colored consistency clings to surfaces and initiates an unnatural rot that spreads outward in a bloom of fuzzy green mold. While harmless to living creatures and plants, its corrosive effects on non-living matter make it dangerous to store improperly, and many an apprentice has lost a satchel—or a lunch—to a poorly sealed vial.

It is especially effective against rope, wood, leather, and undead flesh, rendering tools brittle, food inedible, and rotting corpses unstable within seconds. Mold left behind by the solution is mostly inert, but carries a sour, earthy odor that tends to linger long after the rot fades. Though simple in appearance, the potion's active agents interact poorly with many reagents, and accidental contamination can cause runaway decay or airborne spore clouds.

Lore

Green Alchemy Solution is believed to have first emerged among bogwalkers and grave-scavengers, who needed a way to dissolve corpses without drawing predators—or the attention of local priests. Though its recipe varies slightly by region, its core function remains the same: accelerate rot and render the dead unrecognizable. Its utility in dissolving rope and sabotaging gear made it a favorite of back-alley saboteurs, but it was the discovery of its effects on undead flesh that secured its place in formal alchemical practice.

When poured onto animated corpses, the solution causes rapid tissue collapse, weakening joints, bloating necrotic flesh, and shredding ligaments with invasive mold. While stronger undead may resist its effects, weaker creatures—particularly zombies and skeletal remains—often succumb entirely, their bodies collapsing into mush or crumbling under the strain.

Due to its narrow but reliable function, Green Alchemy Solution is a staple in wilderness kits for those who expect to face the walking dead. Gravekeepers in certain regions even receive government-issued flasks, though they are advised to wear gloves and keep the vial sealed with wax until needed. Mold exposure in enclosed spaces has been known to cause sneezing fits, coughing, or unexpected moral debates.