Deep Crystals

Although leylines are an everpresent source of magic in the surface world of Galactus, they are entirely absent in the Deep. As one crosses into the Threshold , the leylines become tangled and confused, and eventually simply end or are cut off just before the bottom edge of the Threshold. Instead, Deepfolk use a material known as Deep crystals to power their magic.

Deep crystals grow naturally in the Deep, just as other crystals grow. Unlike normal crystals, however, Deep crystals appear to be made of a purified form of magic. It is unclear how this happens, or how the magic reaches into the Deep without leylines, but the crystals have worked this way for as long as anyone in the Deep knows.

Variations

Deep crystals come in a variety of colors, and each color seems to have a greater affinity for a particular domain of magic. They have been named for the domain that they have the highest affinity with:

• Life crystals come in shades from a medium grey to a pure white.
• Death crystals are generally a very dark grey or greenish-grey.
• Storm crystals are shades of blue-grey and shot through with streaks of yellow or white.
• Water crystals come in all shades of blue, from the bright turqouise of a tropical sea to the inky blue-black of the deepest ocean.
• Stone crystals are usually varied brown hues, and can sometimes have grey or black streaks.
• Moon crystals are silvery white and glow faintly in the dark.
• Sun crystals are yellow and orange and glow like the sun.
• Knowledge crystals are shades of purple.
• War crystals are mottled red and grey.
• Star crystals are a nearly-transparent pink and glow softly.
• Dark crystals are a pitch black that seems to suck the light into it.

A common misconception by surface folk is that etherium is also a type of Deep crystal. This is untrue, as etherium forms in veins that are integrated with the rocks around it, and it only boosts magic, rather than act as a source for it. One cannot use etherium in the Deep to cast a spell without also having a Deep crystal in one's possession.

Use

Deep crystals have been mined and used by Deepfolk for millennia, probably since the beginning of Galactus itself. They are harvested from tunnels and caverns and can either be kept in their raw form or refined in a hub. To use raw crystals, one need only hold it in one's hand while performing a spell. All types of crystals will work with any spell, but the effects are stronger with spells that match the domain for which a particular crystal has an affinity.

Refined Deep crystals are processed by specialized artificers who can extract and purify the magic itself. The refined crystals can either be in liquid form, which can be poured, sprinkled, or even swallowed to use the magic, or in solid form, when the liquid is allowed to crystallize. Refined Deep crystals form curious swirling triangular crystals, similar to bismuth. Refined crystals keep their color but lose affinity, instead becoming a slightly more powerful all-purpose magic. It is general knowledge that for specific spells and magic domains, one should use raw crystals, but for more varied use one should use refined crystals. The boost from using a matched-affinity crystal is higher than that of the boost provided by using refined crystal.

Deep crystals do not have an infinite supply of magic; they eventually run out of it and must be replaced. As the crystal is drained, it loses color, until it is finally clear and shatters into dust.

Value

Varies depending on size and quality; Raw fist-sized crystal is about 5 Deep gold, while refining that crystal doubles its price.

Rarity

Fairly uncommon, but previous nodes regrow and can be harvested multiple times.

Odor

Odorless

Taste

Refined crystals have a sour, metallic taste. Raw crystals taste bitter and can have adverse effects.

Color

Varies depending on source crystals' affinity