Viridescenite

WIP - Summer Camp 2023

Viridescenite, colloquially known as glowstone, is a rock found only deep underneath the surface of the Barren, the continent at the southern pole of Etrea. The two polar merfolk societies that live in the waters around the Barren have a monopoly on the material. There is currently a tenuous peace between them following centuries of negotiation and conflict over the the supply.
Viridescentite is a pale green stone, slightly transluscent and about as hard as granite. It is relatively porous, though this does not seem to effect its structural integrity. When exposed to saltwater, it glows with a soft green light. When exposed to air, the surface of the stone rapidly dulls and blackens. It has also been discovered to be quite conductive and useful for amplifying the effects of magic, though it loses this property after prolonged exposure to air.
One of the merfolk societies, the Aestra, make great use of viridescenite. They have four major settlements, with several minor settlements in between, and in the major settlements many of the buildings are built from viridescenite. In the minor settlements, viridescenite lamps line the throughways. They have extensive mines spreading out underneath the Barren, producing tens of tonnes a day.
The other merfolk society, the Ikaspi, are much more conservative in their use of viridescenite. Whilst they have their own mine, most of the viridescenite they mine gets put into stockpiles. The stone that is used is often reserved for aesthetic purposes, such as jewellery, art, and detailing on buildings. It is also used for lamps to light their settlements. They also use it to make tools to amplify their magic, known as focuses. They see viridescenite as sacred.
The Aestra trade viridescenite with outsiders, such as the Kanai, polar merfolk who migrate between the two poles. The Ikaspi, however, believe that the stone should not leave the Barren, and they disapprove of the fact that the Aestra trade it.