Sylphshards

Sylphshards are a class of enchanted, silvery crystal commonly used by Elvaris for a multitude of combat-related purposes. These crystals are used for everything from stationary point defense to support fire in combat and even to act as the primary element in weapons, particularly large-scale weapons used on ships. In particular, these tend to be categorized into two primary subclasses; Praetor Sylphshards, which are semi-autonomous and used for both defense and offense as their own distinct entities, sometimes controlled by elven mages, and Legio Sylphshards, which are generally non-autonomous and fitted into weapons to act as their firing mechanism.

Utility

Sylphshards are used almost exclusively as weapons, either as semi-autonomous ones or within larger weapons as their source of power.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing methods of Sylphshards is a very closely-guarded secret, known only to the mages of the Eccentris Manufactorum. Though some suspect the process is similar to the crystal growing processes used by mages all across Rutania, attempts to replicate the Sylphshards using these processes have all ended in failure.

Inventor(s)

Sylphshards, as it happens, were actually invented not by the elves, but by Primordia, a sylph they captured. She developed Sylphshards as a tool for her own use, and... well, those who founded Elvaris managed to reverse-engineer her work, and repurpose it into weaponry.

Access & Availability

Sylphshards are fairly tightly-controlled, generally only used by the elders to safeguard important locations, and in equipment managed by elders.

Complexity

Though not much is known about the makeup of Sylphshards outside of Elvaris, it is thought that they're manufactured from a complex mineral blend; elements that have been identified include novite, mithril, novium, and even a rare form of artonium known as infinitite. However, many elements of the Sylphshards' construction are a mystery, and the exact enchantments used are equally enigmatic.

Discovery

Not much is known about how Sylphshards were first made, but the Eccentris Manufactorum's 'official' explanation is that they were replicated from a much larger sacred crystal gifted to the elves by the gods. Most outside of Elvaris (and even some inside Elvaris) don't believe this, though.