Magicant

Magicant is an extremely rare variety of quartz that contains magis. However, there are some planets—like Erdos—where magicant grows in abundance and has thus helped shape the science of magic.
On Erdos, magicant is the lifeblood of industry and magic. It is the most important trade good; the fuel that turns the wheels of the world as it were.

Etymology

The word magicant is derived from from the word ‘magic’ (the manipulation and application of magis) and the suffix -ant (denoting an impersonal physical agent as seen in words such as coolant and propellant).

Appearance

Like all kinds of quartz, magicant is a hard, faceted, crystalline mineral. It is luminescent, and features kaleidoscopic, shifting patterns. It is also considered a gemstone though it is not used in jewelry often.

Creation

Throughout the multiverse, all varieties of quartz have the potential to absorb magis and thus naturally transmute to magicant. For instance, there have been reports of amethysts and citrines spontaneously turning to magicant because they were in the area of effect of a powerful spell. These are rare events, however.
On magicant worlds, magis is extremely dense, often leading to manifestations of magis mists. When a magis mist manifests on a large deposit of otherwise mundane varieties of quartz, a cyclical reaction occurs. The quartz becomes magicant, grows in size and causes the creation of more magicant in the vicinity. In turn, the growth of quartz causes an acceleration in the condensation of magis. Thus, in these areas the mist not only doesn’t dissipate, it actually expands slowly just as the mineral expands to cover more ground. This feedback loop however keeps magis toxicity in the area at manageable levels.

Application in Spellcasting

Spell Focus

Magicant acts a spell focus as long as a magician has even a small bit on his person, thus negating the need for non-costly material components. Unlike other types of spell foci, a magician does not need to hold the magicant in his hand during the casting of spells.

Material Components

Magicant can replace costly material components that are consumed during the casting of a spell. The amount of magicant that is consumed is equal in value to the value of the material being replaced. It should be noted, that the magicant used need not be a single piece. Magicians typically carry many shards of magicant.
At first glance, this might not seem like much of an advantage if one looks strictly at the monetary value of magicant and components but in practical application it makes a lot of difference. It is, for instance, much easier to amass magicant that’s worth 1000 gp, than locating a particular gemstone that costs the same.
At the DM’s discretion, magicant can also be consumed to replace the costly components of a spell that are not being consumed during the casting of a spell. The total value of the magicant must be twice the value of the component it replaces. The DM has to determine if the component being replaced is instrumental to the implementation of the spell’s effects. For instance, the identify spell requires a pearl costing 100 gp. It does not appear that this pearl is needed for the practical application of the spell, thus it could be replaced by consuming magicant costing 200 gp.
On the other hand, the scrying spell requires a mirror (or crystal ball) that costs 1000 gp. The mirror is fundamental to the application of the spell, as it will act as the display screen for whatever is being scried upon. In this case, magicant should not be used to replace it. On the other hand, a DM might rule that the magicant transforms into a mirror or something to that effect. So, as we said, DM’s discretion.
For obvious reasons, this practice is employed only if there’s great need and no means readily available to acquire the proper component.

Regaining Spell Slots

Magicant can also be used by a magician to regain used spell slots. This can be done in three ways.

Tactical Recharge

A magician can use an action to regain a single spell slot. This spell slot can be up to 6th level.
For a 1st level spell slot, you must consume 50 gp worth of magicant. For a 2nd level spell slot, you must consume 60 gp worth of magicant. For a 3rd level spell slot, you must consume 80 gp worth of magicant. For a 4th level spell slot, you must consume 100 gp worth of magicant. For a 5th level spell slot, you must consume 160 gp worth of magicant. For a 6th level spell slot, you must consume 260 gp worth of magicant.
You must then make a Constitution saving throw (DC 10 + the level of the spell slot). If you succeed, you get one level of exhaustion. If you fail, you get two levels of exhaustion.

Short Rest

A magician can instead slowly absorb magis from magicant during a short rest to regain a spell slot. The cost is the same as above, but there is no fortitude save involved in this for the first time you do this before you complete a long rest. After this one time, further uses of this ability in subsequent short rests will require a saving throw as above.

Long Rest

The third and final method is the one least used throughout the multiverse. Normally, when a magician completes a long rest, his rested mind and body can absorb the latent magis of the environment to regain all expended spell slots. Unfortunately, this is impossible on magicant worlds like Erdos. Magis is too dense in these worlds for someone to tap into and absorb. As such, it must be taken from magicant.
A well-rested magician can do a much more controlled absorption of magis in this way. The amount of magicant, in gp, that a magician must absorb is:

The total number of spell slots to be regained
x
the level of the highest level spell slot to be regained.

This is the only way magicians have to regain their spell slots in magicant worlds. There is no exhaustion involved in this practice.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Magicant can be bought in any place that deals with magic and mechana.

Lands of Erdos

Magicant

Wondrous Item

Very Rare

An extremely rare variety of quartz that contains raw magic. Like all varieties of quartz, magicant is a hard, faceted, crystalline mineral. It is luminescent and features kaleidoscopic, shifting patterns.
Magicant has a wide array of uses, all of them dealing with spellcasting as well as the creation of magic items. For full detais see the Magicant entry.

by Midjourney and Vass Detsikas

On some planets, magicant grows in abundance and is common instead of very rare.

Cost: Bead: 5 gp
Thumbshard: 10 gp
Shard: 40 gp
Cluster: 100 gp
Grand Shard: 300 gp
Grand Cluster: 500 gp

by Midjourney and Vass Detsikas

 

Type

Ore/Mineral

Value

Depends on the size of the shard. Standard market sizes are the following:
Bead: 5 gp
Thumbshard: 10 gp
Shard: 40 gp
Cluster: 100 gp
Grand Shard: 300 gp
Grand Cluster: 500 gp

Rarity

Common

Color

shifting kaleidoscopic patterns, luminescent

Related Locations

• Erdos

Related Technologies

• Magifactories