Mana Stones
Origins
These mana rich stones were once simple walls and floors. After a cataclysmic backfiring of magic during the earliest days of research the stones surrounding the labs were forever altered by the process. These stones replenish their stores acting like a sponge for mana in their environment. Very few know about the existence of these stones, fewer know where to find them, and even fewer still are brave enough to risk their lives to gather them.
Gathering Stones
The stones are located within the deepest depths of the ancient ruins that dot Costrus. These environments encourage strange mutations in flora and fauna within their walls. Strange plants are often found and new research developments are added to tomes by mages who dare to explore them. However, one must travel further than the middling levels where these strange plants dwell, and into the unstable lower levels below ground, into crumbling cave systems.
Records are spotty around the mana stones, but there have been reports of mages perishing within the ancient ruins. Usually there are no notes as to why these mages have been delving into these dangerous locations, and their deaths serve as a greater warning to other mages and the general public to stay away from the ruin sites.
We don't go near the ruins...strange noises come from those places and no one from the village that's ever gone near them comes back again. No animal or livestock is worth risking your life to bring back to the herds. Stay away from them, that's final.
Versitile Resource
Mana stones are incredibly stable and a predictable source of mana. They are also the only inorganic source that has been found so far by mages. A single stone can be divided into small grains and used to fuel many experiments or sustain small magic works. Among those who know about these mana stones it is suspected that the small Silver Lady statues that dot the land and point to Silverkeep are sustained by this method.
They can be used to create permanant spells or power large works. When used as a permanant power source for a spell it's crutial to have an appropriate sized stone to provide the mana in an even flow that is replenished faster than it's drained. Some stones are better at capturing mana from the air than others and it takes a keen eye to spot the difference. When used in a large spell the stones can crumble if they can't handle the sudden load, and in extreme cases they have exploded. Mages who know about them prize these stones and will pay any price to attain them for research or personal use.
Appearance
by RandoScorpio via MidJourney
Mana stones shimmer with a variety of colours that shift and change as they are angled. They are easily identifiable as larger rocks, but more difficult to spot when broken down into smaller pieces. Those who don't know the properties of the stones have been known to have them cut in a similar fashion to precious gems for jewelery. These uses horrify any mage who knows the true value and purpose of these stones.
by RandoScorpio via MidJourney
Better Than Plants
Mana stones are prized even higher than some of the rarest plants in Costrus. Even the fabiana flores and legendary sundrop lotus pale in comparison to these stones. Some mages who know about these stones are willing to take the risk to retrieve them simply because of the unreliability of plant harvests.
Dear Mage...
...within these ruins is a stone of such great value that I have made you risk your life to keep it from those that might hoard it and hinder research on it...
Refining the Stones
While the raw stones are suitable to work with, processing and analyzing them can yeild much better results. The more a mage knows about the stone they've gathered the less likely they are to blow themselves up. Refining begins with small tests to figure out the capacity and recharge rate of the stone. Once this information is gathered a skilled mage can determine if the stone will work for their spell in the raw state or if further refining is necessary.
Runes to help stabilize, concentrate, or accelerate mana absorption can be carved directly into the stone to make them more suited to the spell a mage may want to cast. A slip up on the carving can result in anything from a ruined stone that leaks all it's mana stores and reverts to being a regular rock, all the way to a catastrophic explosion. A good student with steady hands will usually have little trouble with the refining process and strange explosions are hardly ever seen these days.
Don't tell my father, I'm going back to those ruins. He'll lock me in the cellar if he hears I'm going back again, but that mage paid me three whole gold coins for that shiny rock I found. It's easy money, and we need all the money we can get if we're ever going to leave this place behind...
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