Pyrithium

Properties

Material Characteristics

Pyrithium is a black volcanic glass with flecks of light blue throughout.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Pyrithium is very light, and also very smooth. The stone is incredibly strong and durable despite it being classified as a lightweight volcanic glass.

Compounds

Pyrithium is used mainly as a special type of "metal" for crafting weapons. Mostly used as a sharp cutting stone attached to a blunt object, but also in some countries they use it a material for finely crafted sword blades.

Geology & Geography

While it is found most frequently in southern Artesia, pyrithium can also be found in countries along the northern coast of Selenica. Because it's a volcanic material, it will be found close to a volcano, active or dormant. However, not all volcanoes produce pyrithium, only about 3 volcanoes in the world have been found to have pyrithium deposits nearby, therefore making this material very rare.

History & Usage

History

Pyrithium has been used for thousands of years. Ancient nomadic tribes used it for tools, weapons and for decorative jewelry. However, because of its rarity, it wasn't very common to see pyrithium being used. Only certain tribes were even aware of it. It became more popular in Northern Selenica in countries like Nula, Farhun, Ylldalia, and Faradell when master craftsmen discovered new techniques to shape it and use it for other uses than crudely made tools. It proved to be a great material for larger weapons due to it being so lightweight. Eventually Artesian weaponsmiths perfected the technique of sword making with pyrithium. However, due to its rarity and difficulty in crafting, pyrithium weapons were made available only to the wealthy and royalty. Today the material is very expensive to use.

Discovery

Pyrithium was first discovered by tribes in Faradell in very ancient times, shortly after people came to Selenica from Foxwood.

Everyday use

Pyrithium is most commonly used in expensive jewelry. Its second d most common use is in sword/knife blades

Manufacturing & Products

Fine jewelry, weaponry, decorative building materials.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Pyrithium can be found in exotic markets in the northern countries of Selenica as well as the south and it Artesia. It is extremely rare to find any kind of weaponry for sale made with pyrithium due to it being quite expensive. However it's considered a luxury to own pyrithium jewelry. There are some merchants that carry it across the oceans to other countries, but it's rare to find. Most jewelry will be be sold and marketed in the before mentioned places.

Type

Glass

Value

$900 per carat

Rarity

Very rare

Odor

Pyrithium has a smell similar to ash and burning oak.

Color

Blavk with flecks of light blue.

Density

Despite being lightweight, pyrithium is very dense.