Sunstone
Sunstones were developed in the early 1970s by the Department of Integrated Services as a power source for the Interstate Portal System.
The Interstate Portal System requires a great deal of power to operate; it is said that it takes twenty mages to power one Portal. Because so many mages were required to run the Interstate Portal System, the Portals were not being used to their potential, and the DIS was beginning to experience worker shortages since the Portals required so many resources. It was well known that all magical power comes from the Sun's m-rays, and that m-rays were stored in the earth, but no one knew a way to store the m-rays directly or release them without the direct action of a mage. Therefore, the Department set about finding a way to store and release the m-rays directly. The results of more than ten years of experiments are the Sunstones.
Sunstones are created through a complex, difficult, and expensive alchemical and magical process. The precise formula and process are carefully guarded by the Department. The Department also maintains that the process is very expensive, but this cannot be corroborated. Luckily, the average size Sunstone (about 20 kilograms) retains its storage capacity for about ten years.
Sunstones are, in essence, a battery. They store solar m-radiation, and like a battery, they release the energy when properly connected. This magical energy could, in theory, be used to power any number of magical devices, spells, and industries, and could possibly be used to generate electrical power. However, the process is so intricate and expensive that the Department can only produce enough Sunstones to maintain the Interstate Portal System.
Other magical industry leaders have attempted to produce their own Sunstones, but with no success.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Sunstone ranges from pale yellow to amber in color and crystalline in structure. Visually, it resembles yellow quartz or citrine. Typical sunstones grow in tetragonal shapes. Sunstones weigh about 20 kilograms each.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Sunstone is the one substance that can store and release the Sun's m-rays without a mage's assistance.
Origin & Source
Sunstones must be created alchemically and magically from other substances. The Department of Integrated Services carefully guards the formula and process.
Life & Expiration
Sunstone deteriorates over time with heavy use. Sunstones in the Interstate Portal System must be replaced every ten years.
Color
Pale yellow to amber
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