Alchemy is a philosophical concept and study based around the purification of materials and bringing them closer to spiritual essence. It is most prominently featured in Rusty Lake: Roots, driving much of the story.
William and Aldous Vanderboom were alchemists in their lifetime, to the point of being referred to as "The Alchemist Brothers". Among their successes was the creation of the Elixir of Life and Death, a substance that brings whoever drinks it either eternal life or sudden death. Upon creating it, they both drank it. William died and became a Corrupted Soul, but Aldous ascended to a higher state of being, as Mr. Crow.
James Vanderboom, their heir, also created the Elixir using their instructions. He feeds some to his dog, who becomes immortal. However, when James drinks it himself, he dies as a result.
James' son, Albert Vanderboom, is also a successful alchemist, managing to create himself a daughter using his own semen and Ida's egg.
Rusty Lake: Roots[]
In the very final chapter of the game, after all secrets have discovered, the player finds William and Aldous before the first stage of the game, as they attempt to create the Elixir of Life. The Elixir is found by the combination of various reagents, with four being given at the start; Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
Note: Reagents 1 and 2 can be placed in any order, but the item added first will be lost
| Reagent 1 | Reagent 2 | Creation |
|---|---|---|
| Air | Water | Cloud |
| Air | Earth | Dust |
| Fire | Earth | Lava |
| Water | Earth | Clay |
| Cloud | Earth | Plant |
| Dust | Fire | Gunpowder |
| Plant | Water | Algae |
| Algae | Earth
Air |
Small Eggs |
| Algae | Water | Shell |
| Algae | Small Eggs | Fish |
| Small Eggs | Water | Shrimp |
| Shell | Sand/
Metal/ Stone |
Chalk |
| Plant | Air | Tree |
| Clay | Fire | Pot |
| Pot | Plant | Vase |
| Lava | Air | Stone |
| Stone | Air | Sand |
| Sand | Fire | Glass |
| Glass | Water | Glass with Water |
| Stone | Fire | Metal |
| Metal | Fire | Electricity |
| Metal | Stone | Blade |
| Blade | Tree | Wood |
| Blade | Wood | Knife |
| Knife | Tree | Wood |
| Wood | Fire | Camp Fire |
| Camp Fire | Air | Coal |
| Coal | Fire | Diamond |
| Chalk | Small Eggs/
Dust |
Egg |
| Egg | Glass | Elixir |
| Electricity | Glass | Lamp |
| Egg | Lamp | Crow |
| Plant | Lamp | Fruit |
| Fruit | Fire | Sugar |
| Sugar | Fire | Caramel |
| Electricity | Metal | Wire |
| Gunpowder | Wire | Dynamite |
| Dynamite | Fire | Dust |
| Electricity | Blade | Blender |
| Fruit | Blender | Fruit Juice |
| Plant | Sand | Grain |
| Grain | Glass with water | Vodka |
| Fruit Juice | Vodka | Cocktail* |
| Fish | Diamond | White Cube* |
| Crow | White Cube | Black Cube* |
The first Elixir to be created will be added as an inventory item and not a movable object. Any future Elixirs will be noncollectable, though they can be stored in the cabinet like any other reagent.
None of the items beyond the Elixir have any use in the stage beyond creating other reagents or end product items that cannot be used further. If the game is played via Steam, items marked with a * will unlock an achievement.
Cube Escape: The Cave[]
While in The Cave, Mr. Crow, who is back in his human form of Aldous, collects a sample of dog faeces from the family dog, after feeding it a human arm. Using a microscope, he extracts a trace amount of the Elixir fed to the dog many years previously, mixing it with water to create a new Elixir, which he shares with Mr. Owl.
Gallery[]
