Distilling (sage ability)

Distilling is an amateur-status sage ability in the studies of Alchemy and Brewing & Distilling, providing knowledge of assembling and operating a simple still, allowing for the extraction of concentrated liquids through evaporation and condensation. The skill enables the character to produce strong spirits from fermented materials, as well as to extract rudimentary alchemical essences from plants, minerals and animal substances.

This includes the ability to separate oils, purify liquids and create basic tinctures, though the results lack refinement. The process is slow, requiring careful heat control and proper collection methods, but a character with this skill can produce functional distillates without reliance on a trained professional.

The character understands how to assemble a still from available materials, but the efficiency of their operation is low, with much of the liquid lost in the process. Extracted alchemical substances lack purity and potency, making them unreliable for complex mixtures or delicate applications. Without proper refinement, distilled essences may carry impurities that dull their effects or introduce unintended side effects. A character at this level has no knowledge of advanced fractioning, aging or the correction of flaws in the process.

With regard to alcohol, the character can successfully produce strong spirits from grains, fruits or other fermentable sources, though the result is coarse and unrefined. The distillation process removes water and increases alcohol content, but flavour, clarity and consistency are not within the character's control. The spirits produced are suitable for personal use or crude trade but are unlikely to match the quality of a trained distiller's work. Without proper oversight, an amateur's spirits may be harsh, volatile or even hazardous if improper ingredients are used.

Distilling Limitations

Distilling provides only the most rudimentary understanding of the process, allowing the character to operate a simple still but without the refinement needed for large-scale or high-quality production. A character with this ability could find minor work in a distilling facility, assisting in basic tasks such as heating, monitoring and collecting distillates, but they would lack the knowledge required to oversee, improve or manage such an operation.

An amateur distiller has no understanding of proper filtration, yield optimisation or the balancing of impurities, making their results inconsistent and often inefficient. They are unable to design or construct a permanent distillation facility, refine their product for higher purity or conduct fractioning to separate different components effectively. When dealing with alchemical distillation, their extracts are unreliable, often weaker than intended, and prone to contamination, making them unsuitable for advanced alchemical applications. Without further study, the character remains a crude practitioner, capable of producing basic spirits and extracts but unable to refine them into something of true quality or consistency.

Tools & Volume Produced

Distillation is conducted in small farmhouses, monastery workshops, village still-houses or secluded forest clearings, using simple pot stills made of copper, clay or iron. Heat is controlled over open fires, and cooling relies on running water or damp cloths, limiting precision. The character lacks the skill to produce spirits or extracts in large volume, refine them to higher purity or consistently replicate results. Without proper knowledge of proportions, timing and filtration, their distillate remains crude, suitable only for basic consumption or rough alchemical use.

An amateur distiller can produce small batches of spirits or alchemical extracts, typically yielding one to three gallons of alcohol or a handful of vials of extract at a time. The process is slow, requiring several days of fermentation and distillation, with much of the liquid lost due to inefficiency. The result is crude and impure, often carrying unwanted residues, making it harsh to drink or unpredictable for alchemical use.

See also,
Brewing (sage ability)
Essential Oils (sage ability)
Purify Water (spell)
Winemaking (sage ability)