Rune Crystals

Rune Crystals

Have many names, Dragon shards, Dragon glass, Magic Embers, Soul stones, Behumant's tears. They are the physical manifestation of the magic lay line in a solid form. They were created after the dragon wars and the magic weave was torn open and magic bleed out. The god of magic stem the flow of magic and in doing so magic was greatly reduced with in the material plane. The lay line manifested and crystalised giving a physical substance to magical essence in a hard crystal form.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Rune Crystals come in long and narrow crystal shards that have anywhere between 4 to 8 sides. Anywhere from an inch to a two inches thick. They can be four inches to three feet long. They have the same properties in hardness and strength as diamond

Physical & Chemical Properties

Since they are physical solid masistations of essence of magic they create a magical energy if used in the correct way. In a powdered form and mixed with Sulfur and Nitrate it can create a powerful explosive.

Geology & Geography

typically in grows in large veins within the earth. However it can be found on the surfaces around the world. However powerful area of magic near node or gathering of magic tend to have it manifest and grow naturally.

Life & Expiration

In it crystal form it harmless, however when applied to a two a magical rune plate it can hold it power for hundreds of years. However the exact lifespan of enriched rune crystal is unknown. The first Enriched rune stone still power a clock that is 1000 years old. if given time to regenerate. Full expenditure of it magical energies does decrease it the magic life of Rune Crystal. However mixed with other alchemical compounds can cause all the magical energy to dispate all at once in an explosve release

History & Usage

History

At first the stones were created most people did not know what they where. They were pretty crystals that could be shaped and set in jewelry. Since it was fairly common they were not worth as much as other precious stones and still used today as stones in jewelry.

Everyday use

Kobolds Powder

The first use was in a Kobold powder or K powder from when mage and scholars try to figure out this new material, during early experiments a kobolds aid swept some of the gem dust into a waste barrel with leftover sulfur, nitrate and sat next to barrel to have a smoke and tossed his match into waste barrel. A loud explosion rocked the lab and the kobolds was found missing an arm, deaf and about 20 feet away from the lab. He survived and help the scholar to create kobolds powder that used in firearms.

Enriched Rune Crystals

When applied to a magical rune plate the Rune Crystals become Enriched unlock the magical energy that created them. In a time when flow magical energy was weak these crystals help bridge the gap. They would give limited or even long term magical power to items. The crystals would act like batteries for mechanical devices from self powered wagons, to power armor, and elemental power to weapons.

Cultural Significance and Usage

The Crystals have some ritualistic uses. Clear ones are prized by the follower of Bahamut as they believe it is his blood after his death during the dragon wars. Why they do have magical properties when applied with a rune plate they have no connect to divine essence. However they are used to created ceremonial jewelry and are awarded to Paladins and clarics of the Platinum dragon to there clerics.
Druids have a tendency to used them in there druidic rituals.
Psions has always been drawn to crystals and gems and the Rune Gems are no exception. There metal energies can minulupated the Rune Crystals which allows them to make power stones and Psi Crystals out of them.
Kobolds have a strong connection to them, and it believed those of dragon blood lines due too. However Kobolds have Rune Crystal Sense and they can find and identify fairly quickly, even behind ten feet of stone and lead line boxes. Which make them fantastic miners for the Crystals. The largest Mining Operation of rune Crystals is DK Mining founded by partner's A Dwarf name Maddox Rex and a Kobold name Sher Ashflare.

Industrial Use

Early used was for K power to make explosives but as explosive technology advance firearms became the next major uses for it.
One Enriched Rune Crystals was found it was first used to power lamps, small devices like clocks and even fireless heaters and stoves. When a crystal was used up a new one could be inserted and could continue to power said devices. Since they crystals were so abundant it became a cheap alternative to other source and magical power. However the most common used was to create heat and when applied to water it would create steam. Soon steam power carts and after military development it was applied to armor and weapons. However crystals steam powered rune engines require large amount of crystal to run so these devices are very expensive and are not common outside of royalty and well funded military. However standard powered weapons are pretty common place and are often cheaper then magical version.

Refinement

Rune plates are basic plates with light magical enchantments to them depending on the rune, When applied to a Rune Crystal the plates can pull the inert magical essence out of the crystal and power the magical rune to take effect. A rune Plate is a simple item that has the desired rune carved or etched into it. A permanent cantrip of transfer is cast on to the plate. When the plate touches the crystal it pull power from the crystal to the magical rune and case the magic rune to take effect.
A well crafted sword with a basic enchantment is equipped with a rune plate for fire and handle trigger. When the trigger is press the rune plate is press to the rune crystal causing the sword blade to take on magical fire. This created a cheaper version of the fire enchantment on a sword.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Trade is pretty common place it can be found in gem stories and most alchemy and magic shops

Rune Crystals Effects

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• When used in a magical weapon it has 4 daily charges. The the rune is activated it last for 1d6+1 round. If all 4 charges are spent there is a chance that Crystal becomes spent.

• If an crystal has empty charge a D100 roll is made and if the results are 90-100 the Crystal is spent and become brittle like glass.

• A typical crystal will recharge 1D4 charges per day

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Crystal can be switch out but that take a full action to do so and generates attacks of opportunity if done in melee.

Type

Metamaterial

Odor

When powered or exploded it gives off a ozone smell .

Color

range from all colors of the rainbow but also come clear and black.