Volantium
Properties
Material Characteristics
Untreated Volantium appears as a clear, glass-like crystal with surprisingly smooth edges, and an average Volantium crystal harvested from below the ground stands at roughly a foot and a half in length. Most crystals are found in systems of between five and ten, however aren't incredibly common to those not in the know. The crystals are distinct from glass prisms due to the way they appear to capture light within them, rather than reflecting or redirecting it outwards.
After treatment, these crystals dimly glow a blue-ish purple and radiate a surprising heat. When grouped together in machines, the heat can become quite unbearable after extended periods of exposure.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Untreated, Volantium possesses few properties of any real value. They absorb light, as opposed to reflecting or redirecting it, and as such can be used to bring a dim light to areas after a few hours of exposure to the sun. Following hours of the appropriate arcane treatment, the crystals radiate quite a lot of heat, and when grouped together they can cause severe burns. Most importantly, in this state the crystals can be integrated into machinery to encourage anti-gravity effects. The effect is so potent that the mineral is not only used to fuel air-ships across the world, it also keeps the Avian city (known as the Golden Eyrie) resting in the clouds.
Compounds
The main use of Volantium crystals is in power anti-gravity effects, most notably as the method of keeping Gyrraholm's handful of airships aloft. However, they are not able to power this effect alone, and it takes hours of continues magic treatment to give the crystals the desired properties. These magical treatments includes bathing them in arcane forces, namely transmutation energy, as well as incredible heat (to affect the properties of the air around them).
Geology & Geography
Volantium is most common in the underground caverns beneath the shifting sands of Alshams Al'ard, but to call it common at all would be generous. Tales tend to suggest that the mineral can be found across Gyrraholm, so long as you dig deep enough, but few people have found them as of today, and those that have tend to control the market on them, and the flying machines they fuel.
History & Usage
Discovery
For the longest time, the clear crystal deposits beneath Alshams Al'ard were thought to be of little value. They could absorb light, and thus made fine torches in dark places, but a lantern could do just the same (and was much more readily available). It wasn't until a Gnomish Tinkerer named Pedro Jobbnar Volantus happened across the Golden Eyrie during his scholarly travels, and made an effort to study the source of the city's floating state that the crystal's true nature was discovered. Now Volantium is not only named for the mind behind it's most useful implementation, but also fuels a small handful of airships across Gyrraholm.
Everyday use
The crystal known as Volantium isn't really common enough to have an everyday use, beyond keeping the Avian's Golden Eyrie aloft, as well as fueling a small number of airships (many of which belong to the Volantus trading company).
Type
Ore/Mineral
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