Residuum (ri-zij-oo-uh m)

Residuum is the residue of arcane energy that is useful in several magical applications.
It can look different based on how it is manufactured or manipulated, and can offer different benefits based on how it has been affected.
This is a very rare and expensive element. It can be processed from various sources, but one of the most notable is to take an ounce of this (for every level of its rarity) and cast the "Disenchant Magic Item" spell. it will take the magic out of an enchanted item and leave behind more Residuum.
Residuum can also be a material component for the "Enchant Magic item" spell.
Residuum can also also replace material components of most spells, it takes an equal cost amount to be used and it is destroyed in the casting, regardless of the regular material would be or not.
Many have sought ways to discover if a source exists for large amounts and of ways of turning other things into residuum without the initial cost used with disenchanting magic items.
It can be a variety of colors, generally gold, silver, or purple and generally has a slight glow with the texture of mica powder - but less sticky. Many wizards like to use prestidigitation to better manipulate it so as to not lose too much in spillage. 10,000 gp worth being just larger than a gold piece itself. A pound is called out as having a value around 500k gp.
There is a very expensive procedure to create a "refined Residuum" and after the purification and heating it to a dark green glass-like state it can retain some magical energies (requires spell slots to create)… this displays stronger magical properties. A table topped with an enchanting slate made of residuum can greatly speed the production of all magic items; these slates are sold for at least 200,000 gp.
Any attempts to enchant or disenchant a magical item atop such an altar decreases the time required to enchant the item by 50%.
There is another type of Residuum based on the energies of gods, so it is very rare in dierde as they have not been physically present for a long time and even then they were not as frequent visitors as some would believe. This is a whitestone that has very small green flecks. Anyone enchanting a piece of whitestone, or an item infused with whitestone dust (at least 1 oz.), reduces the time required to enchant the item by 75%. Some alchemists have discovered that dissolving whitestone with specific acids can leave behind pure residuum, which can substitute for expensive spell components when such materials are not readily available. If a spell has a component cost that consumes the component, its caster can substitute the required component for an amount of residuum of an equal value. One pound of pure residuum is worth approximately 500 gp in most markets, though difficult to come by and so is generally only found with select trusted connections. This same residuum, if heated into a green glass- like state, can expedite localized enchantment rituals. Enchantment Altars using this residuum glass as a primary construction component are extremely expensive to produce and generally only found at places of higher arcane learning or homesteads of powerful archmages.
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Residuum is generally a black market item, and even there it is rare. Many locations fear too much of it in their locations or economy as it can lead to too much of magic being misused. It can also be turned into a drug, that is highly sought after and so it is a very complicated affair all around.

Type

Metamaterial