Ohx Electrum (Ox Ee-lec-tr-um)
Ohx electrum is a magically-imbued alloy of gold and silver created exclusively in the forges of the city of Arnun-Ohx. The process to allow this electrum to carry an arcane charge is a carefully guarded secret requiring a demonstration to the principles of the city's respect for crafting, as well as a solemn vow to only create the alloy in the forges of the city itself. Additionally, only gold and silver can be combined to make Ohx electrum; other combinations yield regular electrum that cannot be made to carry an arcane charge in the same way.
Ohx electrum has the ability to have a specific spell, goal, or intent (sometimes as vague as "this metal stays strong" or "this building is warm") and release it, either at one time as a spell charge or as a constant through continued reinforcement of the intent in a prayer-like methodology.
Much of Arnun-Ohx is made of this charged electrum, with the belief of the Ohxians that if the electrum is disrespected, if the intent is not upheld, the magic will flee the material or turn against the owner in a cursed interpretation.
This belief is not simply superstition either; smiths hoping to learn the craft are taught to respect the electrum by creating a construct and deliberately failing it, thus having it backfire on them to imprint the lesson on their mind. More than one potential smith has written the concept off as silly nonsense, only to have their arcane fireball drone or other destructive spell (for these particular kinds almost always seek the knowledge for making reckless weaponry) explode violently on them, killing them instantly. To the Ohxians, this is just and divine; they did not deserve the craft.
The smiths of Arnun-Ohx who can create and shape Ohx electrum (as well as outsiders trusted enough to learn) are referred to as Metalmages.
History & Usage
Reusability & Recycling
Ohx electrum is not typically reusable; the intent imbued in the metal (whether it is a spell or a simple wish) does not easily vacate, and often the metal is warped beyond repair if the intent is destroyed/removed. This leads to a large part of the Arcane Heap being made up of Ohx Electrum scrap.
Distribution
Storage
Ohx electrum does not generally need to be stored, as it tends to be created only as needed. A weapon is commissioned, a building plan is approved, a blueprint for a new toy is drafted and then the alloy is smelted and shaped so the intent for the metal can be imbued from the beginning.
If the original purpose does not happen, the alloy is melted back down and stored in continuously-heated vats, although this is generally avoided if at all possible. Ohx electrum is not made casually; people who commit to commissioning some know this and respect it, or they don't get the opportunity to buy more later.
Law & Regulation
The sale of Ohx electrum requires documentation, including who purchased the item, where they are from, what the item was, and how much they paid for it.
There are technically laws forbidding the creation of Ohx electrum by untrained metalmages or outside of the city limits, but these are mostly ceremonial; the smiths of Arnun-Ohx have no jurisdiction in other locations and Ohx electrum simply cannot be forged by those untrained or in workshops outside of the Smith City. Attempts to do so generally fail in dramatic, dangerous explosions (or at least, loss of all materials expended and usually the forge too).
Type
Metal
Value
Extremely valuable
Rarity
Rare, scarce, closely guarded
Color
Shimmering metal, a mixture of greens, silvers, and oranges not unlike copper and patina
Related Locations