Harkenstone
Harken's Stone or, more commonly, Harkenstone is a volcanic mineral produced under very specific circumstances of heat, pressure and cooling that has been referred to as "Frozen Fire" by the Dwarves and "Dean'diel" (Iron Bane) by Elves in the previous millennia.
Properties
Material Characteristics
The mineral, itself, is dark, glassy and fractures in a way similar to obsidian. Its color tends toward a deep purple (as opposed to the smoky blackness of obsidian) and for all intents and purposes is an inert glass-like substance of little to no importance.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Harkenstone activates when it comes in contact with raw iron ore which results in an explosive release of energy in the form of heat, static and gas as the iron ore robs the Harkenstone of electrons which destabilizes the structure of the glass in the same way that a single crack in tempered glass destroys the entire structure catastrophically.
This reaction emits from the point of contact; allowing the reaction to be channeled or "steered" to harness the energy for creating steam and energizing protective equipment and tools.
Harkenstone has also been fashioned into weapons in the past but the volitility of the reaction makes personal use practically as dangerous as being the target of aggression. As such, the reaction is primarily used as a tool although research is rumored to continue.
This reaction emits from the point of contact; allowing the reaction to be channeled or "steered" to harness the energy for creating steam and energizing protective equipment and tools.
Harkenstone has also been fashioned into weapons in the past but the volitility of the reaction makes personal use practically as dangerous as being the target of aggression. As such, the reaction is primarily used as a tool although research is rumored to continue.
Geology & Geography
Currently, the material is found at a depth of not less than 30 yards in a geologic area where shale meets granite and has large seams of coal and was once actively volcanic.
Originally discovered and mined by Alexander Harken (after several accidents with steel-wielding miners) in the Southern end of the continent, the stone has, since, been discovered in deposits throughout the land including an exceptionally large deposit beneath the town of Dranesh.
Engineers can invent and craft devices utilizing Harkenstone in a variety of ways.
The energy released in a Harkenstone explosion can be precisely calibrated and channeled by a skillful Engineer in combination with the construction material(s) used to construct the casing and mechanisms of the device.
The smaller the device, the finer the controls needed to regulate the reaction, the harder a task it is for the Engineer to complete.
Originally discovered and mined by Alexander Harken (after several accidents with steel-wielding miners) in the Southern end of the continent, the stone has, since, been discovered in deposits throughout the land including an exceptionally large deposit beneath the town of Dranesh.
Crafting With Harkenstone
Engineers can invent and craft devices utilizing Harkenstone in a variety of ways.
Explosive
Harnessing the explosive properties of Harkenstone when forcefully combined with raw iron ore, an Engineer can create catastrophically explosive effects.The energy released in a Harkenstone explosion can be precisely calibrated and channeled by a skillful Engineer in combination with the construction material(s) used to construct the casing and mechanisms of the device.
The smaller the device, the finer the controls needed to regulate the reaction, the harder a task it is for the Engineer to complete.
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