Elvarn (El-varn)

Properties

Material Characteristics

Elvarn is a dull, grey rock. Appearing as little more than natural, earthen debris, few would recognise the value of what they possessed were they just to stumble upon it in the mountains. Occuring only as small fragments, most formations of this metal are no larger than a fist, and never has it been discovered in any form of vein or underground seam. Instead, like little more than cast-off fragments, it is found scattered throughout the Elfar'Vir, a treasure spread without any rhyme or reason.

Physical & Chemical Properties

The properties of elvarn are numerous and peculiar. For one, it appears to neither conduct nor hold any form of heat or flame. This appears to be due to its inherent nature, that of one half-way between worlds. Cold iron, as it is colloquially called, appears to exist just as much within The Shade as it does within reality, its physical form therefore unresponsive to more natural effects. In reverse does this also mean it interacts curiously with those inhabitents and phenomena found within The Grey, and from this is its staggering value found.
Cryptics and creatures of The Shade are a difficult kin, for through their magic can they manipulate the world around them, and yet by their nature are they impervious to retribution from reality. Elvarn crosses that boundary without pause, cutting ephemeral flesh as easily as steel bites the bone. Likewise does armour forged from this material protect from unearthly assault, and tools crafted from it are capable of interacting and interfering with phenomena usually impossible to understand without Cryptic bargain or quixotic arcana.
In short, this material allows access to a world utterly alien and seperate from the mortal realm; guarding, understanding and even threatening that which before had been sovereign.

Compounds

Due to its 'unreal' nature, it is nearly impossible to combine cold iron with any other metal. That has not stopped some from trying, and legend has it that some have succeeded, producing a sickened material, a bane to Cryptic and ethereal being. Of course, those spirits are quiet about the truth of such matters, but some have positied that this invention is one well known to the world, and that elvarn is a core requirement of glint, that alloyed abomination of clock-steel famously produced by the dwarves.

Geology & Geography

Elvarn is found almost exclusively within the mountains of the Elfar'Vir. This vast range separates the elven tribe of the Tennen-Cairn from Naggaryn, and it is said to be a haunted place, littered with the souls of fell Cryptics and bitter spirits. It is theorised that its proximity to Seelian'Diol, one of the great Cairn Woods on Amilyn, is the reason for the metals existence, The Shade leaking through the forests and twisting the ores found rich within the veins of the mountain.

Origin & Source

Cold iron exists entirely alone, and is never found rusted or bound within veins beneath the ground. Instead, it just lies there, on the floor, seemingly without origin or natural event. Some have claimed to have witnessed elvarn erupting from the earth, stating that as the magic from The Cairn Wood seeps into the mountains, the metal changes and forcibly seperates, impossible as it is to be combined with anything else. These claims are unsubstantiated however, and most believe that the untapped riches of the Elfar'Vir possess a bounty in surface iron from the formation of Amilyn, and that it is this stray material that is altered by the Cryptic winds.

Life & Expiration

Though the metal itself will never rust, and such objects that have made it outside of Seelian'Diol seem in good repair after a thousand years, elvarn does not deny entropy. As time passes, the metal grows more etheral, less effective at operating within reality and increasingly unstable. Blades made of cold iron begin to flicker, their edges mutable and fluid as armour begins to melt and reform in moments. Though not harmful to its mortal wielders, Cryptics tell dark tales of the sickness such aged tools bring to their kind, a spiritual rust that spreads on contact and twists what arcana it touches.

History & Usage

History

Elvarn has held a nearly mythological status in the southlands for centuries. Many legendary weapons have been forged of this material, the tales of great heroes in battle with the Cryptic spirits of the dark the lifeblood of the Chronicle tradition. Its scarcity and connection to the elven tribes lent it an arcane mystique, a belief in its power that soon settled within the mortal kingdoms as a sign of dominion and strength. Wars were fought over the smallest fragments, and whole houses rose from the ashes behind a single blade.
Over time, this authority began to supplant its more material purposes. The arcane arts were mastered, bargains were devised and the Cryptic menance began requiring less esoteric solutions. Instead, this metal became linked with kingship, a divine mandate of ancestral rulership passed down through the families. Many contracts and deeds of land incorperated the posession of such a relic, giving control not to the bloodline, but to the owner of the elvarn heirlooms.
In the 4th Turning however, as the northern kingdoms rallied and delved into a renaissance of empirical science, elvarn took on a much more academic, though equally mythical, position. Capable of examing the phenomena of The Shade, huge leaps into the mystic arts were made, and the dangerous inventions of Arcantech began to flourish.

Discovery

Elvarn was first discovered by the elven kingdoms during the 2nd Turning, who originally offered it as a sacrifice to their Cryptic patrons and draconic family. As time passed however, the elves discovered the art of forging the metal, changing the history of Amilyn forever. Able now to produce weapons capable of battling against the ephemeral, the elves redefined their relationship with the gods, binding themselves closer to the dragons instead, and the material world that they offered.
The Cryptics took ill to this change, responding with violence that was met only with further violence in kind. Though many were still loyal to the spirits, the rifts grew larger each day that passed, and when finally the damage was done, the resulting war splintered the land in rage. Heralded by the elven maltheist, Mourne, this conflict would later come to bear their name, as armed with great weapons of destruction, black and terrible arts bound within the elvarn, they raised the banners high and invaded the very heavens.
This conflict would splinter the elven kingdoms into their respective tribes, and forge the legend and myth of elvarn that would see it regarded as amongst the most valuable materials in existence. Not only was it fit for a king, but what mortal would not aspire to slaying the gods themselves.

Everyday use

Elvarn is most commonly utilised in weapons, for the scarcity of the metal makes armour and larger tools prohibitively expensive, and the nature of the metal makes complexity difficult for all but the greatest masters. In such a form, this metal is frequently referred to as elvarn steel, or cold iron in the histories. For the Tennen-Carin, such weapons are reserved for the elite forces, or notables of their society, a mark of respect if nothing more. In the mortal kingdoms however, such blades bear ancient histories, great and forged legends of strife and war, and mark a bearer out as someone of either incredible wealth, importance, or stupidity. The latter being the case for those who cannot defend their right to such a tool, for many would pay their weight in blood for an artefact of this nature.
In the northern lands, however, where firearms have slowly taken over as the mainstay weapon of war, elvarn is considered too rare for such simple trinkets. Instead, what little ever eeks through The Mountains Glym is reserved for academics and scientists, its material perfect for the study of ethereal phenomena in a land where magic is... tolerated at best.

Cultural Significance and Usage

Elvarn possesses much in the way of cultural significance. Its rarity and properties make it unlike any other, and its therefore of no surprise that its existence is shrouded in myth and tradition. To the Tennen-Cairn, it represents sovereignty, not just of the material world, but of the divine as well. It was because of elvarn that the elves were able to redefine their relationship with the gods, and it is because of elvarn today that though the tribes maintain a wary respect of the spirits, their service can no longer be demanded without payment in kind. When an elf of Seelian'Diol begins their path to becoming a Cryptic, they are often gifted a weapon or tool that best defines them, made of this material. A reminder to them, that though their path be one of power, their roots were ever mortal. What can be made by the hands of elves, can be just as readily destroyed in kind.
The realms of Naggaryn possess a similar yet entirely distinct view. Elvarn is seen as a connection to the divine, a step towards The Shade that brings one closer to the purpose and authority they were destined for. The Great Houses of the south flaunt theirs as trophies announcing their connection to Scarrow Black, and claiming their birthright as rulers of The Silent Throne. It is also regarded as a sign of kinship, the metal of family and blood. Blades and tools of this material are more than just superlative designs, but literal contracts with the elves of the Tennen-Cairn, each one a gift signifying an alliance between a Noble House and a Bloodline of Seelian'Diol. It is not unheard of for the greatest political marriages to be sealed by the exchange of an elvarn blade, though in recent times, as the elves grow further distant and the blades grow few number, this tradition has begun to wane.

Refinement

Originally, elvarn was utilised in its raw and discovered form. The title of cold iron comes from this time, when the ancient blades, axes and tools of the elven kingdoms were crude pieces of elvarn bound by rope and twine to the handle. Late into the 2nd Turning however, the elves discovered a method of forging the metal, a process now remebered only by the Tennen-Cairn. At points of conflux within the Cairn Woods, The Shade and reality meet in kind, melding together in a riotous display of possibility and potential. Here, the solar winds of Cryptic will can be slowly gathered, the resulting pressure creating an intense and ethereal flame. This emerald light, in small amounts, can be used to heat elvarn, and allow its form to be moulded into whatever it is the smith desires.
This process is dangerous however, for the fires of these winds are terrible in nature, destructive beyond anything to grace The Clock. The barest embers are used in this fashion, and still often do the smith-masters of the Tennen-Cairn succumb to the flame... Few could imagine what havoc would emerge should such embers ever alight with rage.

Hazards

The refinement of elvarn requires the manipulation of the solar winds comprised of Cryptics in their natural habitat. Not only does this carry risk of drawing a spirit of ill-intent, but the resulting product of this confluence is destruction in its rawest form. Wytch-Fire, they call it, the emerald flame of creation itself, and by its nature as a creator, also a destroyer in kind. To handle such energies safely is nearly impossible, and the smith-master's of the Tennen-Cairn stand as amongst the most dangerous professions within the tribe. A single spark touching the skin can devour the body whole, a lash of its graceful flame enough to consign the soul to oblivion, and were enough produced it could begin to fuel itself. A fire that would not end, could not end, until all was burned and remade in its image.
To the Cryptics, this metal cuts like steel through the flesh. As it ages, however, the corruption within the material infects those wounds they leave behind, tearing at the spirit, leaving them hemorrhaging out their very essence until death claims them at last. It is no surprise then, that the bearers of cold iron are greeted with fear, hostility, and a wary respect by the denizens of The Shade.

Reusability & Recycling

Due to its longevity, elvarn rarely changes as it ages. As such, it is entirely possible to reforge an object of such material as needed, though rarely is this done. Not only are the dangers of the process to be considered, but the usage of cold iron often comes with agreements and treaties bound within the metal itself. Were it to be reforged, the pacts within would be undone, taking on either new shape or being destroyed entirely during the process.
As such, the elves would only consider such a thing during the most dire times, or as retribution against one who had sullied their word with the tribe. This is a fate best avoided, for the resulting creation is often marked with a new oath; a promise of violence and vengeance against the betrayer.

Distribution

Trade & Market

There is no market for elvarn, for its rarity precludes any form of maintained supply. Instead, such items are bargained for with the Tennen-Cairn, or acquired by those of once great standing who have found their fortunes turned bleak. Such is the value of the metal, that when an object of its form is put on sale, word spreads throughout the entire continent. Blades have been sold for a king's ransom, tools fashioned from cold iron can procure a horse's weight in gold, and great nobility has been bestowed without question upon those willing to trade just a sliver of this legendary metal.

Storage

So durable is the metal that there are few precautions required for the storage of this metal. Water will not rust it, blood will leave no stain, and no matter the effort exuded by the bearer, it will not break nor shatter. The only measure of note required is to keep it far from Clock-Steel, for through reasons unknown, it appears that such exposure causes the metal to age unnaturally. The warping effect notorious in the most ancient tools becomes dramatic, the instability uncontrollable.
It is theorised that such a container could destroy elvarn, were it possible to forge Clock-Steel, but few have been willing to try, and fewer still have possessed the means to experiment. What the end result would be of such an event is unknown, with many scholars speculating either a dramatic explosion, or a slow fading of what properties the metal possesses. Perhaps the answer will never be known, for what fool would risk such a treasure for mere curiosity?

Type

Metal

Value

Priceless

Rarity

Near Unique

Odor

Grass (Faint)

Taste

Metallic (Faint)

Color

Grey

Boiling / Condensation Point

N/A

Melting / Freezing Point

N/A

Density

4.55 g/cc

Common State

Solid

Related Locations

• Elfar'Vir
• Seelian'Diol

Related Species

• Elf