Planeglass
Known to appear in planar rifts to the faewilds due to the high magic concentration. A recently discovered deposit in the Fiwolds in the Tinderlands is expected to greatly raise the number of mages and the amount of wealth for the new nation.
Planeglass is known by experts to have small dimensions inside of it; this was originally noticed during a large study into why the core of the planeglass varied in colour.
It is created by the abundance and concentration of mana collected within the rocks around the faewilds and the core often takes on the colour of the surrounding landscape.
It is easy to break with any normal pickaxe and using a magical pickaxe has a higher chance of shattering the crystal. To break it is to destroy a small universe, and in turn the possibility of killing trillions of lives. This means many who understand that the core of the glass is a universe, often refuse to use items which have been made with parts of Planeglass.
Skilled practitioners in planar shifting equipped with special tools, are capable of entering these developing planes, and in some cases shape their development or the formation of resources within the new world.
All it took me was to stumble on a cave for shelter to find such a beautiful fist sized gem, I broke the rock around it hoping to leave it undamaged. Once I brought it to town a merchant called me over and bought it immediately from me for 3 gold which according to another merchant was worth 5 gold. I didn't mind too much as it helped me find a home to live in and let me feed my family.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Planeglass is a transparent crystal with a coloured swirling inner core which changes colour depending on the crystals age and can be further influenced by the quality and quantity of each element being balanced inside. As the crystal grows the core grows to fill it and breaking off a grain of sand and the core becomes visibly damaged, taking anything larger destroys the core inside entirely.
Breaking the crystal to kill the core will permeate the crystal with the colour of the core, similar in appearance to the Flawless Marble from elementals.
The crystal when broken from a rock can weigh differently depending on the colour the core was.
Upon testing, each crystal of Planeglass behaves slightly different for reasons unknown but we are able to generally group them. What we do know is the effects are almost predictable based upon its colour. There also seems to be a correlation between the location they were found and the colour they exhibit. Earth(Green) will sink in water similar to a normal rock, it has also been rumoured burying it near crops helps grow better produce. Through further experimentation using green dust as plant fertiliser it provides an almost visible boost to crop growth. One downside is that rarely a plant might gain magical properties, or in one case can become semi-sentient. Talking with other staff members there have only been 3 cases through the 2000 small plants we tested on, which gained sentience and started eating their companion plants. This lead to our research facility deciding to handle the crystals with more care. After we finished experimenting, we made sure to eliminate all of the plants using corrosive fire potions. Interestingly to note are also produced from red Planeglass dust which shows how much we rely on these crystals. Water(Blue) this crystal can vary if it sinks or floats, most of the time it sits in the middle like a fish. We had no original testing ideas for this crystal, but many said watching the crystals almost 'swim around' in our storage pond was relaxing. We tried introducing some small fish to the testing zone only to come back a day later to have reports of the fish going berserk. One of the watchers we left nearby; commented how after only an hour the fish became frenzied and started fighting to the death. This continued till the few survivors tried to smash the crystals to consume small shards from it. We believe that the glass has a further enhancing effect on living creatures beyond what plants can manage. Fire(Red) interestingly this crystal will float, but the water around it seems to boil, holding it feels only slightly warm to my touch. We threw one in the fish pond to see what happened when affected organisms were near their reverse element and as expected the fish avoided the red gem like it would kill them. Again we lacked ideas for testing so we left it in the regrowing crop field as a final test while we moved onto the final most common crystal Air(Yellow) this crystal is normally kept in a box due to its willingness to run around by flying a few finger widths above the ground. It acts very like the water crystal but instead tried to do it in the air. Any attempts to submerge it in water and it will gather a shield-like pocket of air protecting it from the water. The most interesting application was the ability to use the crystal held to your face to be able to breathe briefly underwater. Upon my visit back to the crop field to collect the Red Planeglass, I returned to what can only be described as a desert. It turns out that the crystals have a direct impact on their surroundings, this lead to another round of research into their effects, none too exciting. The only notable effect was that the presence of a Blue Planeglass increased the amount of water in the ground, eventually turning the desert into a small marshland. Due to this new application we have received new funding to look further into this phenomena. Interestingly, we received new shipments of Planeglass, including a few of colours we haven't seen before
Physical & Chemical Properties
Planeglass acts similar to glass, it is transparent excluding the swirling core.
Blue and Yellow are colder to the touch, Green feels no different to a normal rock, but Red always feels slightly warmer than the rest.
It is known to effect nearby terrain in accordance to its type, with earth helping things grow, or fire causing the location to slowly become a desert no matter the climate.
Compounds
Using dust made from planeglass it is possible to create catalysts for planar travel. It is also known to be an advanced catalyst for magic and can even be a substitute for some components or ingredients in spells.
The dust is most often used in medium and high level potions as an ingredient or an enhancer as it can replace some parts of potions or boost others.
Small shards of Planeglass can be embedded into jewellery or tools to enhance their properties, or to be used in weapons to allow them to utilise the elements as damage. When put in armour or trinkets it can be used to enhance the wearers abilities.
Geology & Geography
This material can spread in nearly any climate and area, it is limited only by the requirement for high magic concentration being nearby. This can mean it is very hard to find near cities and well travelled paths but easy to find hidden deep underground or hidden in unexplored wilderness.
It is known that the material can enhance specific energies around it, this normally causes the places it is found in to be more extreme than usual.
Origin & Source
This material is found in abundance in areas of high magic concentration such as the faelands.
It can be found naturally in the normal world, but is a lot less common unless in the very middle of harsh environments.
Life & Expiration
If mined from the rock it is growing from the core inside dies instantly, permeating the crystal. Breaking off parts of it after this point radiate bursts of magic as it is broken down.
History & Usage
History
Historically used as a resource to collect magic, the material has been encouraged to grow in Haill cities allowing their people to thrive. Its ability to absorb magic can be controlled to enhance or dampen different nearby magics. The Haill selectively grow it to enchant nature and life magic which in turn dampens destructive energies like fire and necromantic magic.
The Haill treat the crystal as well as they might a living animal like a pet. When a new one is found growing, the finder is rewarded and then efforts are made over the first few years of its growth to encourage it to positive energies. They manage this by treating it with the same magic repeatedly. Even though it is quite magic resistant, it can slowly be affected by the environment or spells cast on it.
Due to the large amount of similar crystals around Haill cities, they are known to regenerate quicker and their spells are known to be very strong. Many wars have been fought between the Haill over possessions of new locations containing different colour Planeglass.
Discovery
First discovered by the Haill. Their cities were build around this as it naturally collects magic giving their race a unique advantage in magic. It grows naturally in abundance but if repeatedly destroyed, will eventually stop forming in that location.
Everyday use
The crystal produces light and is always encouraged to grow anywhere within Haill cities as the natural inhabitants of the faewilds. The crystal produces a glowing light the same colour as its core. They are seen dotting the walls and houses of Haill cities and the more that grow on someones house, the more respected that person will be seen as. The walls of the cities are covered in an array of different colours, each providing their own resistances helping secure the city against many magical attacks.
Should one be broken it can be turned into dust to enhance spells or used as small crystals to replace gems in spells or other materials. Many high level items require it as an ingredient.
Cultural Significance and Usage
For the Haill the crystals are a symbol of protection and life. The crystals are their light, their power and protection. With them in abundance within the cities to protect the people. They are a symbol of life, and in many cases a lack of them in and around your house is seen as almost demonic, as you are less blessed by magic and spirits. They often are culturally related to the nature spirits which roam in some areas and the land they grow is seen as hallowed ground.
The Jual only see it as an expendable resource to be spent for magic. They use shards of it for items like jewellery and weapons, and the dust they grind down is used as a supplement or to enhance metals during smithing. They see the crystals as a valuable resource, selling for numerous gold coins for just a hand sized lump. Those in charge may know the truth of the life within the crystals, but many don't care because preserving that life doesn't benefit them.
In both cultures they are seen as highly valuable in many ways and as some type of resource, but the method of use differs greatly.
The Haill treat it with respect, slowly bathing any tool they which to enhance in its light which can take years depending on the objects size. This may take longer but also makes the tool stronger because the materials in the weapon are more pure, the tool after years of being exposed to this magic become very powerful.
The Jual expend it like they do iron, to spend it the moment they find it for more and more tools to advance their society. While this might not be wrong, it can damage the areas the crystal comes from and does nothing to preserve the crystals as a whole.
Industrial Use
The Jual have grindstones to make dust from Planeglass and also have methods of shattering it with hammers, it can be mixed into metals to enhance their magical properties, mixed into food to help a person regain their magic or for a normal person to become drunk on mana.
The shards of Planeglass shattered by hammers into chunks can take the place of many gems in spells, along with other components making Planeglass a well suited material to be used for spells and staff foci.
Refinement
The material has power even before it is harvested, the Haill make use of this to enhance their weapons without destroying the worlds and killing whatever new species are contained inside. This is generally achieved by letting the tool they want to enhance, bathe in the light for numerous years.
The Jual have methods of grinding it down and breaking it into shards to fit into their magical tools and to enhance their spells. This allows a quicker method of enchantment, but cna also make the weapons more impure and fragile. Only a few special metals can stay just as durable when mixed with planedust.
Manufacturing & Products
Many medium and higher level potions can use Planeglass dust as an ingredient.
It is also used to enhance the magical properties of metals and to create magic tools using shards of Planeglass.
Byproducts & Sideproducts
When broken apart, small amounts of energy from inside are radiated out, if the world had the technology to work from this, the crystals could be used in some form of reactors, besides this breaking them apart in a new area will slightly increase the level of magic in that area.
Hazards
The material when broken apart causes a form of slow bleeding radiation for a short period of time, only truly harmful to a person holding it. Once the material has been broken down into the new form it stabilises again after a few minutes.
Environmental Impact
Mining Planeglass, destroys the plane that was growing inside of it, potentially killing trillions of lives. It grows from an abundance of magic in an area meaning the removal of it also removes the magic it was collecting from the area to where you move it to.
Reusability & Recycling
The material once destroyed can never be restored to its original form, there is no powerful enough spell or magic to reverse the destruction.
Distribution
Trade & Market
Traded among higher level merchants and nobles. It is an exotic item used for the creation of magic items and weapons and is always in high demand.
Storage
The item acts like any other gemstone or crystal, it requires no special containment other than being transported carefully enough as to not break or shatter before being delivered.
Law & Regulation
The item is valuable enough that there is a requirement for a trading certificate to be allowed to sell any of the raw material. Buying it from an external source to sell with your certificate is allowed but never mentioned. The fine for harvesting and trading without a certificate can total up to a few gold.
Type
Metamaterial
Value
30 Silver Coins per gram
Rarity
The material is quite rare as it is only in dangerous or protected places.
Taste
Although it can be consumed by people when in dust form, most reports differ with a number calling it sweet, but others tasting it as sour or bitter
Color
Colourless besides the swirling galaxy shown in the middle which changes colour based on age and the energies inside it.
Common State
It is found as a solid crystal-like growth in rocks and other inorganic matter.
Related Species
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