Soulstone

A Soulstone is a Lycen crystal that was previously emptied of Nexurium and then subsequently filled with a mage's nexus by a Soulweaver.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The unique internal structure of the crystal allows it to be the only known material to be able to receive the mana extracted from a mage and hold it indefinetly. Since this mana is part of the Mage's soul, when the crystal is broken, the mana escapes back into the body of the mage, regardless of the distance it has to travel. If the mage is dead, the mana will simply dissipate.

Manufacturing process

Step 1: Find a Soulweaver

Only a soulweaver can remove the mana nexus of a mage, as they are the only ones who have the ability to see and physicaly interract with the souls of living being, since Necromancers can only see the souls of dead beings.

Step 2: Find an (un)willing mage subject

A soulstone can be created from the mana of both Elemental and Soulbound mage. The extraction of a nexus is very, very painful as so the mage needs to be sedated to prevent them from rapidly Burning Mana. Once the subject has been proprely sedated, the Soulweaver can then begin the proceedure.

Step 3: Extraction

When a Soulweaver uses their ability, they are able to see the mana reserve of a mage. Once it has been spotted, the soulweaver can extract it. To do so, they will do it by hand in a process called Mana extraction.

Step 4: Storage

Once extracted, it needs to be quickly stored inside the lycen Crysal. However, to avoid complications, the crystal must be completly empty of Nexurium. This is because if the mana from a mage is forced to mix with wild nexurium, it will damage and mutate nexus, rendering it incompatible with its Mage. The crystal must also be big enough to accomodate the size of the mana reserve that is extracted. If it is too small, it may create an unstable soulstone, which can explode, just like as if it was still filled with regular Nexurium.

Step 5: Safeguard

Once secured successfuly inside the crystal, the latter will glow again, in a similar way as when itt was full of Nexurium. However, unprotected soulstones are even more reactive than normal lycen crystals, and so it is imperative to keep them away from any external sources of wild nexurium as it could cause the soulstone to react and explode, liberating the Nexus inside and undoing the whole operation. A simple way to keep them stable is to coat the crystal in a thin layer of bronze metal before putting the Nexus inside as it can pass the metal barrier, but the latter stabilizes the output of mana from the crystal, preventing it from destabilising and exploding.

History

Soulstones were developed by alchemists working for the cause of Sokralism during the later years of the Second Age. To them, it was a way to "purify mages" by removing their "corruption", which to them, was their magic abilities, without having the need to kill them as upon the extraction of their nexus, they would become normal humans, albeit not a very happy one. 
It was made largely illegal to own and use by most countries during the first years of the Third age, and this was of course advocated very much by Mages, who saw soulstones as nothing more than a tool that seeked to rob them of a part of themselves.

Item type

Magical

Rarity

Soulstones are incredibly rare. Not many mages would give up their magic abilities wilingly and not many Soulweaver would agree to do the proceedure anyways or even know how to do it proprely.

Dimensions

Variable. Usualy can fit inside the palm of the hand. The smallest soulstones can be fitted onto a necklace.

Raw materials & Components

An empty Lycen crystal, melted bronze alloy and the nexus of a mage.