Firestone

Written by Pookas Kreations

Ravin was sent on a quest to find more firestones, to keep the fires going in the village of Erlon. While he was exploring some sea caves along the coast. Near the back of the cave, he found a pool with glowing rocks at the bottom. He dove in to investigate, to see if they were the stones he was looking for. He noticed that they glowed blue in the water, but when they were brought to the surface and into the air, they turned an angry red and caught on fire. He quickly doused them, and again they turned a serene blue.

Since they needed to be in the water, he fashioned a container from his canteen to keep it submerged. Then carried it home to cheers of welcome. A work crew was organized to help him bring enough stones back to the village. When he returned with the others, it was discovered that the cave had numerous firestones. Enough to keep the village supplied for decades to come.

As they traveled farther back in the cave, they discovered a tunnel that led deeper into the headland. Along the way, they ran into a young Mer gathering stones as well. She struck up a conversation, saying that they used them for light. Who were they and where did they come from? She led them back to the village to talk to the elders. The elders decided that they needed to pay for the gathering of more stones than they could personally carry. So, a treaty was forged between the two villages. Every 10 years a few young men just into adolescence could come to gather stones in the pool if they brought a bucketful of still-living fish and dropped them into the pool for each handful of stones collected.

Properties

Material Characteristics

When underwater they glow blue, but if exposed to air they burn an angry red.

Physical & Chemical Properties

When firestones are activated by oxygen, they burn and make it easier to start fires. Water stabilizes them.

Compounds

These fire stones are a combination of coal and phosphorus, calcite, fluorite, barium sulfide, etc. In the air the phosphorus heats up and activates the coal; the other components cause it to glow.

Geology & Geography

This ore can be found in any water area but are usually found in seawater as the chemical composition forms differently in freshwater.

Origin & Source

When coal is submerged in seawater the salt causes a chemical reaction that attracts phosphorus, calcite, fluorite, barium sulfide and other similar chemicals.

Life & Expiration

Unknown while in seawater, but once activated by the oxygen it doesn't last long. Those who use it to start fires, usually break the firestones into small pieces to spread out the usage.

History & Usage

Everyday use

Firestones are commonly used as fire-starting material.

Refinement

It can be used in its natural state, but for it to last longer, it is usually turned into a powder or small fragments.

Hazards

This ore is very flammable is exposed to oxygen.

Distribution

Storage

It must be stored in either an airless environment or in seawater.

Type

Ore/Mineral

Odor

Firestones smell like brimstone or rotten eggs.

Color

Blue in the water, fiery red in open air.

Common State

Solid.

Related Locations

• Oceania

Related Species

• Merfolk

Related Items

• Skystones