Ink

Any fool can make ink. Find a landsquid or take the sap of a blacktree, mix it with water and flour, and you have your ink. But such crude stuff is not fit for the works of masters, and is not permanent in any way. To make Ink, you must know true art - how to refine the venom of the Redarr, boil it to just the right degree, alter and finish the Preservewrit to render it unstainable and permanent, decant it and let it rest - this is the task of an Inkmaker, and a mighty worthy one it is too. For without Inkmakers, there is no Ink. And without Ink, there are no truly powerful spellwrits.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Ink is typically stored in glass vials, which are often conical or bell-like in shape. It is a deep black liquid, often seeming to be moving while in fact being stationary. The highest-quality Ink is often hidden from sunlight in opaque cases made of fine woods with glass on their inside.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Ink is treated with Preservewrits so as to be impervious to weather and rain. When applied to a brush or quill it sticks well and does not drip like more common writing pigments tend to. The texture of ink when touched is that of a slightly waxy liquid. Ink is non-flammable and does not absorb heat well.

Compounds

Ink is created with venom from the poison-sac of the Redarr, a creature that is farmed for this property in Ink-production facilities. This is mixed with a thickening agent derived from maize flour and tree bark.

Origin & Source

Bark from almost any tree will do for the creation of Ink, although blacktree bark is preferred for higher quality batches. Venom from the Redarr is essential and no replacement has yet been found.

Life & Expiration

Ink, when made correctly, lasts a very long time - in some cases up to 70 years. After this point, however, the Preservewrit keeping it weatherproof and giving it its viscosity wears off and the Ink begins to separate into its component parts, leaving a residue of thickener on the top of the flask and the actual black venom itself sinking to the bottom and becoming more watery.

History & Usage

History

Ink appears to have been first created in the pre-century, and since then has spread throughout Mythia with the craft of spellwriting. The method of its creation has been refined over the centuries, as makers realised that by keeping it in the dark it could be refined faster and learned better the craft of determining when the mixture had been boiled sufficiently.

Everyday use

Ink is sometimes used by novice spellwriters who often have more money than talent, seeking to lend their often inferior works a sense of prestige through the use of the special pigment.

Cultural Significance and Usage

Ink is typically only used to scribe the works of great spellwriters, and upon the completion of such a manuscript there is typically great celebration. The original script is often stored in a museum or treasure room, or by the author in their own accommodation, and upon their death is occasionally buried with them to honour their works.
Ink is, however, eschewed by most religious establishments, with the notable exception of the Church of Mythie, who use it in their rituals as body paint.

Refinement

The raw materials of Ink must be mixed together in a large pot and boiled over a fire for several days. Depending on the quality of the venom and thickening agent it takes different amounts of time for the Ink mixture to reach the correct state, and an attentive watch must be kept over the pot often for days at a time. Once the Ink has been boiled to the correct degree, the pot is set aside to cool to room temperature. The Inkmaker then alters a spellwrit to match the exact concentrations and state of the Ink before completing it, giving the Ink its permanency. Finally, the Ink must be decanted into flasks and these flasks left to rest for 3 days in a cool room and in the dark, often underground. During this time the Ink may not be disturbed or come into contact with any warm object.

Hazards

Prolonged exposure to the smell of Ink can cause irritation to the eyes and nose and in some people can bring on coughing and sneezing fits. Additionally, when extracting the venom from the Redarr extreme care must be taken in order to ensure that the venom does not touch exposed skin - if such a thing happens the affected individual experiences an incredibly painful burning sensation in the area that was touched and can cause the skin to be eaten away. If ingested, the venom is unfailingly fatal.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Ink is a luxury product and priced as such.  Typically it is bought from the Inkmaker themselves, for a price in the region of 70 to 100 gold per 100-gram bottle.  When bought at markets Ink typically undergoes a substantial markup, selling at up to 200 gold per 100-gram bottle.

Storage

Ink is typically stored in glass flasks or, when light is desired to be kept out of it, in special glass-lined wooden boxes.  It is recommended that Ink is kept out of the sun and other sources of heat, and so it is often kept in basements or store cupboards.

Type

Composite

Value

85 gold

Rarity

Uncommon

Odor

Ink has a strong, slightly acrid smell - the most that can really be said about it is that it smells Inky, which is not all that helpful.

Color

Deep black

Common State

Liquid