Floatstone (flowt-stohn)
Floatstone is a material found primarily in the Fortopian Mountains and is known for its incredibly low density. It initially saw very little use in the world but found its place as a major building material for the City of Kumoria. However, in order to be mined in such a way, the city puts many of its citizens, mostly The Ravenites into vastly dangerous working conditions. Because of this, the material fluctuates in price a lot depending on the life cost of the procedure.
Properties
Material Characteristics
The material is opalescent with a slight shimmer. When cut, it becomes sleek, generally maintaining curves due to the methods used for extraction.
Physical & Chemical Properties
It is incredibly light, yet surprisingly durable.
Geology & Geography
Floatstone can only be found at the tops of the Fortopian mountains, where they sit in large clumps.
History & Usage
History
Initially, Floatstone was seen as a fairly useless material, since it maintained little to no advantages over other stones like limestone. However, when The Founding of Kumoria began, it was immediately seen as a valuable resource. Since it is so light, it allowed for the creation of buildings on top of the Cloud Islands of Kumoria .
Discovery
Floatstone has no one official discoverer, similarly to how sandstone or obsidian have no official discoverer. However, Edward M. Talon, an Avian raised by a family of humans in Varken, was the first to learn the methods of quarrying for Floatstone. Due to its odd softness, a pickaxe is not an effective way to mine the material. Instead, he learned to take a specialized blade, nearly 30 feet in length, and have around a dozen men carefully slice downwards with it in order to shave off large pieces of the material.
Everyday use
This is commonly used in Kumoria, since the Cloud Islands that it resides upon cannot handle the density of most materials that are used for construction. Because of this, it is used for just about everything there, from furniture to walls to decor. Outside of Kumoria, it is occasionally used as part of pottery projects, since it can be used to create incredibly light additions into the projects without damaging the contents. Additionally, it is used for the construction of boats frequently, since it is an incredibly light material, it allows ships to carry greater amounts of cargo.
Cultural Significance and Usage
To the Avians, this material is seen almost as a savior. They often carve images of their deity out of the stone and worship them exclusively within temples made of floatstone. Aside from that, it maintains no magical properties and thus is rarely used for ritualistic or other purposes.
Manufacturing & Products
This material, under a skillful hand, can be crafted into just about anything. When heated, it can become malleable enough to bend, allowing it to be used in similar ways to wooden planks or logs. Additionally, it can be sliced and shaved similarly to how wood can. However, it also maintains its shape better than wood does, and acts as a better conductor of heat and magic, allowing for more comfortable living situations in Kumoria.
Byproducts & Sideproducts
This product provides very little byproduct in its mining, except for minerals and gemstones that are usually mined for, such as iron, gold, and topazes. These materials are often removed from the material and smelted or cut, in order to be used and sold.
Hazards
The extraction process of this is incredibly dangerous work, due to the dangerous conditions the mining must take place in. It occurs atop high mountains, where there is little to no space to safely stand or work for the workers. The workers must slice the ground out from underneath them, and then have a second group below catch the falling material. This creates massive quantities of dust in the air, which often damage the lungs of the miners after longer periods of time.
Environmental Impact
The extraction of the material tends to be very poor for the environment around it. The falling material causes damages to not only the ground but also the wildlife in the area, causing them to either evacuate those areas or leave. Additionally, local flora tends to get damaged from the material, and large amounts of erosion happen as well. Overall, when a group mines this land, it leads to disastrous, long-lasting consequences for them.
Distribution
Trade & Market
This item is mostly sold in Kumoria to craftsmen, although is rarely sold to travelling merchants who may take their goods South or East to sell elsewhere.
FLT
Type
Stone
Value
3cp/lb
Rarity
common
Odor
Low scent of Ethanol
Taste
Bitter, Slightly Acrid
Color
White with a Tint of Blue
Boiling / Condensation Point
5072°F (2800°C)
Melting / Freezing Point
2732°F (1500°C)
Density
10.6lbs/ft^3 (170kg/m^3)
Common State
solid
Related Locations
Related Species
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