Firewater

The Substance of Wild Magic Gone Awry

Deep in the heart of the Northern Wastes, in spite of the bitter cold winds, lie occasional oasis's of flowing water, rivers and pools of life in the bitter hostile cold. These pools and rivers are referred to as "Gifts of the Waterley" for their presence makes no sense in a land where the winds and cold create sheets of ice hundreds of feet thick over the land.
If one were to brave the predators of the Wastes, the dangerous Izotz Lehoiak and terrifying Izotz-harrak they would believe these streams of flowing water to be common. The guides from amongst the Izotza People, follow these paths.
But even the waters have dangers, and the one that follows the streams of life is the very danger you probably came for - firewater.
Firewater exists only where the waterley and fireley cross or run together. The fireley gives warmth to the ice, and the flowing water is formed - but this is ony liquid water. Firewater is more. A dangerous powerful substance, it creates a special air above it that will explode if it comes too close to fire. Firewater is easy to identify as it has a glistening swirling rainbow colored appearance, and will rise to the surface of the water where can be collected and stored in jars. Firewater will freeze, but it takes no hurt from doing so.
Firewater is incredibly expensive and fairly rare. It has the unique property of allowing metals to take on magical properties, something that metal will not do without this substance. It has many uses in forging, silversmithing and metalworking where it is used to create alloys, and in smithing processes to temper, refine and harden magical items. It is a primary component is the creation of cold silver.
The native Izotza People humorously believe that firewater is the liquid farts of Sauren which he uses to plague his bride Urari. The only human community left on the Northern Continent Sigurd's Craw collects and sells firewater to visiting merchants as a major income stream.