Alchemy for Beginners

Part 1

Alchemy was first discovered by the Nehalem that constructed stone-henge, namely Gogmagog in 5000 BC. He and his giants while battling Corineus decided their forces were weak and needed reinforcements, but they lacked the manpower. Instead, Gogmagog used his gargantuan calloused hands to fashion the golden cores of man out of sulphur from volcanic eruptions and women out of mercury found flowing through the rivers.

Gogmagog's smile stretched from ear to ear when viewing his creations, and quickly journeyed to see his brother Prometheus. Upon arriving, Prometheus looked at man and woman and although impressed, said "These creatures lack a certain spark, their golden cores are but embers." and off Prometheus went to find a flame to kindle the golden cores of man.

Prometheus searched for a budding flame but alas, Europe was plunged into darkness as Zeus had stolen man's flame. Prometheus was out of ideas and sat slumped upon a mountain when he saw a glowing cloud from the sky. He shaded his eyes with his hand but the light didn't dim, it instead became brighter and brighter until it was upon him. Sitting atop the cloud was a young man resembling a monkey, his tail wagged and he said "Hello! My name is Sun Wukong, I have travelled to the west to rekindle man's fire, in the east our flames burn bright and we roast meats with umami flavour!"

Sun Wukong outstretched his paw and gave Prometheus the fire he stole from Zeus. Prometheus laughed "ZURAHAHAHAHA" shaking the world. Prometheus reconvened with Gogmagog and gave him the fire taken from Zeus, Gogmagog was delighted and he blew on the embers breathing life into his creations. The immobile golden cores gained form and started to move, one became what we know as a man and the other a woman. Gogmagog bellowed to his creations "What will be your names oh noble young ones?"

The man stood up proudly and said "I am Adam" and the Woman said, "I am Eve". With this Gogmagog's work was done so he sat down and fell asleep.

As night fell, Zeus looked in his cabinets and containers for his fire and upon finding nothing in its place he shouted "PROMETHEUS!". Enraged, Zeus flew down to Midgard on a thundercloud and saw where Prometheus and Gogmagog were asleep. To punish Prometheus he tied him to a rock and forced noble birds such as the eagle and falcon to peck at his liver and internals forevermore. To Gogmagog he did something different, he sat him down in Eritrea, the place where mankind is destined to end and froze him in stone to forever watch.

He placed Adam and Eve in his most powerful prison, Eden, allowing them to suffer in the divine gardens always looking out at the beautiful pastures beyond its gates.

Every year it is said that Sun Wukong climbs Gogmagog's stony body now in Eritrea to the tip of his nose and sheds a single tear, and where it lands a mango tree grows.

Part 2

Adam and Eve remained rotting away in the garden, each day they survived only off meats, dairy, grain, fresh fruit and vegetables. But as time went on, Eve hungered for more, at the centre of the garden was the tree of knowledge forbidden from consumption by the warden of Eden Yahweh. Eve in a moment of weakness took a fruit from the tree and as she picked it it started to glow to an incredible temperature searing her hand and dropping to the floor. The apple tainted with man's hubris and desires was made profane and over the span of a week grew to the size of a great oak. As time passed the tree grew unceasingly until it pierced the clouds and continued growing. Adam had an adventurous heart and decided he would see what was atop the great broad branches of the tree.