Orichalcum

Table of Contents

Guild notice—Use of orichalcum

Written by Madame Solène de Nivers and Mistress Alina Lange in the name of the rune guild for the attention of all rune masters in Nélannie.

In light of recent complains regarding the overuse of orichalcum in artefact crafting, the rune guild is issuing this brief to remind yet again all rune masters in the country of the best practices in artefact crafting.
Orichalcum is, of course, the symbol of the Kingdom of Nélannie. We are indeed all aware that thanks to the enormous deposits found in our capital of Esteille, we have long been able to craft unique artefacts that have help us dominate the continent. However, including orichalcum or platinum in our artefact designs should not be automatic but a fully calculated choice. As rune masters, we have a duty to ensure quality above tradition.
Let us review the properties of orichalcum while referring to the crystalline materials brief previously issued by the guild.

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Orichalcum and platinum

What is orichalcum?

A mineral of platinum and copper.
It was long-thought to be naturally occurring but rare, however the current consensus is that it is formed as the result of runaway ritual magic, with the high magic levels released during runaway rituals giving it its unique properties.

Properties of platinum

Platinum is a chemical that is highly magically absorbant thanks to its crystalline structure. It is also very chemically-resistant, relatively malleable and very ductile.
All of this has always made it very popular for the crafting of high-quality magical artefacts worn as jewellery by the nobility.

Properties of orichalcum

Because it is alloyed with metals that has lower absorbant properties, orichalcum is less absorbent than pure platinum, allowing it instead a higher magically conductivity.
Compared to other platinum ores, orichalcum has an even higher conductance, presumably because of its link to runaway rituals.

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Examples of good use

Platinum-copper / platinum-nickel

Like in orichalcum, adding copper or nickel to platinum increases its magical conductance.
These alloys have the perfect conductance to allow magic to circulate throughout an artefact to then be influenced by the runic diagrams placed there, and so they can be used as a primary crafting material.
Orichalcum contains copper, however the crystal lattice of CuPt has alternating layers of Cu and Pt atoms, which weakens the metal. Thus the copper in orichalcum is often exchanged for nickel even if this decreases the special conductance of this ore.

Pure platinum

Pure platinum is so magically absorbant that it has limited uses.
It is usually put in the handle of artefacts so that it absorbs the magic pushed into it by their users or by their triggering mechanism.
Entire artefacts cannot be made out of pure platinum, as that would prevents the magic from properly circulating throughout them and would interfer with their working.

Platinum-iridium

Adding iridium to platinum increases its hardness.
This alloy is used in artefacts that are required to stay unchanged throughout their lifespan, such as elements of precise mechanisms or instruments used to make measures or to craft artefacts.
This alloy is generally avoided in artefacts doubling as jewellery as it is more difficult to work with it.

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Reasons to not use platinum

Limited budget

Orichalcum and platinum are very expensive. You need to keep in mind your budget and how much your sponsor will be able to pay you.

Harmful magic

If they are exposed to harmful magic, platinum and its alloys risk absorbing it and then hurting anyone who comes in contact with them.

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Conclusion: The rune guild hopes to no longer see any of the masters it has certified create impractical, or worse, dangerous designs just because they feel the need to put orichalcum in all of their artefacts. The rune guild also wishes to remind all of the sanctions it can deliver to any rune master found to deliberately flout its rules, ranging from simple fines and remedial courses to being stricken off from the national mastery list.

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