Skael, Stonewax mucus

Sea routes beyond the trade lines of Aleman's Way are so famously rough that a healthy history of green captains and their sunken vessels have become cautionary tavern tales throughout the Ynxian archipelago. Not for the waters themselves, but the diverse topwater ecology known to inadvertently strip keels wire thin, skael waxing every few years is a necessary treatment for any worthy ship. True to its namesake, a coating of the dense material protects a ship like a syenite second skin. This product is so well coveted that the mainstay trade harbor of Ynxia has been named after it.

Collecting skael is an arduous but rewarding process. Deep ocean creatures are known to secrete a thick, buoyant mucus approximately every new moon that surfaces after a few hours, often capturing smaller flora or fauna as it expands from depressurization. In this state the mucus spreads like a net until thin, giving a glassy texture to the water's surface that is easily recognizable by passing sailors. Collected in kegs and carried back for trade, the skael then goes through a laborious rendering process wherein brine, debris, and impurities are removed. An ooze-like gelatin is leftover and dried for a minimum of twenty days before being sold back to deckhands as a functional wax.

As one might assume, different creatures produce different kinds and qualities of skael, and it is no surprise that academics and diviners are in high demand for trade ships to try and predict where to find the most valuable sources. Over time this has expanded the topwater economy of Skael Wharf, allowing fishers to bring back specimens like bevelfins, which previously would no doubt capsize smaller vessels. In lieu of mineral resources, most seaworthy legs throughout the bustling wharf use equipment and tools processed from these topwater species.

Color

Blue-green, brackish, semi-translucent

Common State

Liquid (Raw), Solid (Processed)