The Tabula Smaragdina as plot (alchemy themed adventure)

[Tonguez]

The Tabula Smaragdina (Emerald Tablet)was a cryptic alchemy text attributed to Heremes Trimegester proporting to explain the secrets of the primordial substance.

Below I have attached Isaac Newtons translation and want to build an alchemy themed adventure based on the text. So I am submitting it for the combined genius of ENWorld to develop a plot...

The Tabula Smaragdina
1. Tis true without lying, certain most true.
2. That which is below is like that which is above that which is above is like that which is below to do the miracles of one only thing.

3. And as all things have been arose from one by the mediation of one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.

4. The Sun is its father, the moon its mother,
5. the wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth its nurse.
6. The father of all perfection in the whole world is here.

7. Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.
* Separate thou the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross sweetly with great industry.
8. It ascends from the earth to the heaven again it descends to the earth and receives the force of things superior and inferior.

9. By this means ye shall have the glory of the whole world thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.
10. Its force is above all force. for it vanquishes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid thing.
* So was the world created.
11. From this are and do come admirable adaptations whereof the means (Or process) is here in this.

12. Hence I am called Hermes Trismegist, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.
13. That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished and ended.

 

[Whisper72]

Hmmm.... some random thoughts on the matter....

the tablet is a description of the philosopher's stone. This stone is 'the sun the father, the moon the mother' an asteroid that struck the earth 'converted into earth', maybe a mistranslation that is was 'onto' the earth (i.e. it fell from the skies). The world was also created from debris (so was the world created).

The admirable adaptations are other similar stuffs. Maybe the philospher's stone is adamantium, a pure metal with many alchemical properties. Steelmaking is derived from similar processes as those needed to use the stone, but are merely 'admirable adaptations'

'the operation of the sun': a great lot of heat / energy is needed to operate / mold the philosopher's stone....

 

[Scott DeWar]

non fatasital random thughs Caution, may contain religeous connatations:
I put this in spoilers to keep any from being offended.

Spoiler

2. That which is below is like that which is above that which is above is like that which is below to do the miracles of one only thing.

-*this sounds like the waters seperated fromt he water mentioned in genisis-*

4. The Sun is its father, the moon its mother,
5. the wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth its nurse.

-*the waters of the oceans? the water of birth?-*

8. It ascends from the earth to the heaven again it descends to the earth and receives the force of things superior and inferior.

-*once again a riddle of water-*


10. Its force is above all force. for it vanquishes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid thing.
* So was the world created.

-*hate to beleager a point, but water again?-*

13. That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished and ended.

-* have to agree that this is a lot of heat here.-*

Fantastical thoughts:

It sounds like the mystery of the phlosophers stone to me too. The mystery of quick silver or mercury that is naturally found in a geode.(?) first found when a solar flare shot forth and blasted the earth many agesw ago (the father) then cooled during an eclipse of the sun (the mother).

or alternately a meteor struck the moon andsent a piece of it to the earth and it formed the first philosopher's stone???