Voidform
Humans can be so underwhelming.
Vardigas peered through the crenelations of his rampart, crafted in the swooping elven marble of his ancestors. He watched as they flung their petty fire and sophomoric arrows. They bounced off the keep as they always had. And always will. The myrthal that was created millennia ago had kept the indestructibly thin walls, impossibly supported bridges strong and unmarked by time, and magic from harming the people within its boundaries. This minor human incursion would run its course and it could go back to serving its purpose as ancient steward of this magnificent keep.
Stepping back, he walked down the rampart, watching his elves fluidly notch arrows and hit their targets. They had become bored with this siege as well. Humans attacked, they died, they retreated in the endless monotony they called "warfare." Hadn't they better things to do with their short, impotent lives? If they were so eager to meet their gods, they can take comfort in knowing the passage will be swift, guided by the masterful fletchings of an elven arrow.
His head still bowed in deep concentration, the sounds of war died. He turned to see a puff of royal purple ash bloom in the sky just above the heads of his archers not 100 yards away. They were pulled towards the center of this cloud, up and away from the safety of wall. Two crenelations were pulled from their casements and flew into that cloud as well and he watched in horror as the sickening wet crunch-thump of stone meeting flesh was followed by the damning sound of flesh meeting stone as they all fell two stories to the courtyard below.
To his right, another cloud devoured sound and space as more elves were pulled to their deaths. He watched as more blossomed all around, unable to take his eyes away from the depths of that cloud that spoke of something beyond understanding. Some unknowable force was killing his men and as he managed to look over the walls of his pride, he saw that the charging humans would kill him next.
Properties
Material Characteristics
It comes naturally as a powder and glows faintly purple, blue, or green. When inlaid in weapons and armor, it glows brightly in any of those colors, as if warning people of the danger of its wearer.
History & Usage
Everyday use
Voidform, or "squeeze" as it's referred to by the rough and tumble mages who mine the stuff, is a dark grey powder that glows faintly purple. Commonly used in explosives, it draws everything within its range towards the center of the device. This has been used ingeniously by those rich or powerful enough to procure it. Large, spiked balls can be flung into the middle of a battlefield which then draw all nearby enemy soldiers into its cruel barbs. Kobolds and goblins have been known to make traps with it, planting a powerful voidform grenade underground that can be tripped by unwary trespassers. This grenade then forms a large pit for people to fall into, allowing them to escape. Arcane archers have been known to notch their bows with voidform arrows. Aimed above the heads of their victims, they can draw enemies away from the cover they're using and pick them off as they try to scramble back into position.
There have been two documented cases of successful weapon and armor inlay of voidform. Ashbringer and Thobsurn have been lost; most don't relish the thought of adventurers hunting for these legendary items. Tragedies of people attempting to recreate these masterpieces are much more common than rumors of their success.
Cultural Significance and Usage
Voidform has been used in tattoo ink same as Stormsteel. Objects can be drawn to users who undergo this risky procedure. Multiple consecutive constitution saves of 17+ must be made to have a small voidform tattoo.
Industrial Use
The mages who mine this have more mundane uses. They line rails with voidform and Stormsteel to make fast and reliable transportation that relies on neither beast nor wheels. Castles and keeps have been known to use voidform to lift impossibly thick drawbridges into place when approaching armies threaten.
Manufacturing & Products
Grenades, arrows, weapon and armor inlays
Environmental Impact
Large pits have engulfed towns that have fallen pray to insufficient refining techniques.
Type
Ore/Mineral
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