Cold Iron

Cold Iron is an extremely rare metal which has anti-magical properties.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Cold iron resembles iron superficially; it is silver in color and shimmers with an opalescent sheen. If the material is shaped in certain ways, it makes a whooshing sound. It is naturally cold to the touch.

Geology & Geography

Cold iron can be mined from rare and ancient deposits in the earth or from the sites of meteorite crashes. The largest source of cold iron is the Astra Crater in the mining town of Hillock, Sylvanmere.

History & Usage

History

Historically, cold iron was used in Sylvanmere and the Dusk Wild to repel and fight Fey. When the metal was more abundant, it was used in everything from bells adorning the necks of cattle to horseshoes protecting the threshold of Everton houses. Every member of the city guard was issued swords made from cold iron.
Eventually, the natural cold iron deposits ran dry and much of the metal was smuggled from the city or sold off during Everton's decade of famine. Today, the metal is scarce, scattered in the homes of nobles and in the hands of vagabonds.

Everyday use

The historical use of cold iron was to ward off fey and defeat magical creatures; however, it also has a hindering effect on arcane magic. Cold iron emits a frequency that runs opposite of arcane magic. This effect is similar to a counterspell.

Industrial Use

Mirandus uses a cold iron alloy in the manufacturing of their anti-magic prison bracelets.

Refinement

Cold Iron is different from most metals in that extremely high temperatures will have no effect on its composition. The metal requires the use of magic to be molded.

Hazards

Long-term exposure to cold iron has been linked to a loss of arcane magic, though the material is too scarce to be conclusive.

Type

Metal