Archstone

"Those small colorful buggers are a pain in the arse to find; but oh when you do, the satisfaction is immeasurable." - Awarf miner

Archstones is a peculiar material. Glowing softly in a vast variety of colors, these stones are some of the most rare materials in Kapira.

Geology

The existence of archstone is a debated matter among scholars. The leading theory assume it appeared as a consequence of the magical fabric mending itself and in certain areas, and that rocks and stone in certain magical hotspots got infused with arcane energies during the mending. This theory was strengthened by the discovery of tools capable of measuring strong arcane energy in the environment, and finding abundant energy at and around archstone mines. Most of the stones are small pebbles but the largest samples acquired are the size of boulders. Faint streams of light, colored in a mix of colors dictated by the elemental energies infused in the stone are visible on the surface.

Production attempts

It seems that only solid material capable of withstanding the infusion process is capable of forming into archstones, and a fundamental change to the material has to happen for them to transform. Attempts has been made by many scholars to simulate the process. None however, were able to produce archstones, showing either that the arcane ability of the races is still lacking, or that a more fundamental process which is unclear need to happen for archstones to be made. Based on the theory of archstone formation, it has been theorized that other strong materials might be able to withstand the mending process, and become arch-materials. This however is only a theory, as no arch-material other than stone has been recorded observed.

Uses in crafting

The archstone is an extremely valuable material for craftsmen and artisans alike. Granting arcane abilities to the products, archstone allows ordinary craftsman to create magic items. The skill required to use them, however, is very high. The archstones are super hard but brittle, making them hard to process. The arcane energy is not uniformly distributed within the stones either, so the skill to take them apart, form them, and use them optimally is a difficult.