The Alchemist

History
The alchemist is a break-away group from the original Mages Guild.

Their start is probably the most common story in history, one man's greed. Their founder was definitely eccentric, quite probably mad, but eventually very rich. Harras DeBruiderain could not decide between a life of learning or adventuring. Initially he chose the latter but concentrated on the magical powers that set the mages apart from almost everyone else. He rose quickly, having an excellent aptitude for magic, and even more. Somehow, he himself would never say how, managed to defeat a large and ancient dragon, BlackHorn by name and claim its hoard as his own. He was rich beyond his wildest dreams which to be honest were pretty wild indeed.

He then retired from the active adventuring life and moved back towards his other interest of inventing. Like many before him he dreamed of turning lead into gold and with his resources he wanted the fame that success would bring. Others joined him and eventually his research plan was running at full speed. He never found out how to turn lead into gold, but he found new ways in which to lay enchantments on object and how to rejuvenate spent magical items. These new found abilities kept his groups coffers filled and they continued to search for the secret of full transmutation.

Sadly they never did find it, the group did not break up though, rather others joined and different groups started communicating and eventually formed into a guild. It is rumoured that they have made other, startling discoveries, but these, if they have, have been kept secret.

Attributes
The Alchemist, like his mage forebears is skilled in magic, though perhaps not quite as good as those who concentrate exclusively with the magical arts. They have though, in leaving pure magic behind recovered a little of the combat skills for which mages are famously poor. They also have gained new abilities. They can enchant items like weapons, making them suitable for use against magical foes which are immune to normal weapons. They can also recharge spent wands, though this is an expensive ability.