Mahen's Tears

A colorful form of obsidian found on Gavonar.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Mahen's Tears are a form of volcanic glass that have an iridescent sheen when cut and polished.

Geology & Geography

While obsidian can be found all over Gavonar, Mahen's Tears are most often found just below the outer crust near volcanic vents. Most of the active vents are found near the top of the volcano. With how active Gavonar is, retrieving Tears can be a dangerous task - one must always be alert to a possible small but often deadly eruption.

History & Usage

History

Cegae is the God of Fire - and his personality is a match for Gavonar, the volcano where he practices his drumming. He is boisterous, bright, and hot-tempered - but also passionate in all things he commits himself to. He enjoys being the center of attention and is known for both his drumming and his dancing to express himself and entertain others.
Mahen, the Deity of Artisans, is very different. Ce is like the stars in the sky - silent, stable, and distant. Not cold, but out of reach - with a beauty to cer solitude. Mahen prefers to let cer works take center stage - pottery, weaving, painting, all manner of crafts done in cer workshop before being sent out into the world.
Mahen fell for Cegae when ce saw him dance in Maenscul's court - cer had come to deliver a present the Deity of Kings had commissioned for one of their partners, and ce was mesmerized by the violent but graceful movements of the Fire God's drum dance. The sparks jumping from the rock drum due to Cegae's fervor as he danced around and over the instrument, the fire of his hair trailing in arcs as he leap and spun - all caught Mahen's eye as ce watched him.
But Mahen is not well versed in social graces - divine or mortal. Ce left without speaking to the Fire God, and went back to cer workshop. Ce tried to capture the physical artistry cer had witnessed - in paint and clay, in stone, even in tapestry. Mahen was an artist possessed, like a moth drawn to Cegae's flame. Ce would travel to Gavonar to watch Cegae play and dance, too shy to approach him. Cegae often called out or waved a greeting, but was too focused on his practice to accost the other deity - and Mahen was always gone before he finished.
It was Porscil, the God of Travelers, who discovered Mahen's work - being one of the only deities that found their way to Mahen's remote corner of the Divine Realm. Seeing the distress his partner was under, not knowing what ce was feeling or how else to express it, Porscil offered to take one of the works to Cegae in cer stead and gauge his reaction. Mahen accepted this offer, though it made cer sick with worry that Cegae would be offended.
Porscil selected a painting to take to Cegae, also worried about how the Fire God would react. So he first spoke with Nosu about the matter. Nosu suggested leaving the painting where Cegae would find it and watching his reaction from a distance, and revealing the artist when it was safe should he react poorly - for while Cegae's temper flared hot, it cooled as quickly as it came. Porscil heeded this advice, leaving the painting near the summit of Gavonar.
But Porscil is also the God of Storytelling - and when mortal travelers happened to pass by, he was soon distracted conversing with them. At the base of the volcano, he missed Cegae's entrance and reaction.
Mahen, however, was not aware of Porscil's plan or misstep - and descended to watch as usual when ce heard Cegae begin to play. There was something... different about his playing, ce noticed, which caused cer to hide rather than show cerself as usual.
Cegae, inspired by the masterful painting, played a mellow and haunting beat with a slow and flowing dance to match - for as long as Mahen had longed for Cegae, so too had the Fire God burned for the reclusive Deity of Artisans.
On that fateful day when he danced and played before Maenscul and their court, Cegae had felt the intense but gentle gaze of Mahen. He had danced more fervently in response to that awed gaze - its coolness like a refreshing balm that allowed his molten heart to steam higher. But Mahen had left before he had a chance to approach cer - and cer beauty, always watching from a distance, had felt too distant for him to get close. He played and danced his best with the hope it would draw cer closer - but ce had always, always left.
But now, Mahen had left a gift - for who else could not just capture but elevate Cegae's glory but the Deity of the Arts?
The somber song did what the passionate could not - it drew Mahen closer than ce had ever dared venture before. As Cegae had intended, it resonated with the Star Deity - it called cer closer, eased cer fears of being burned by Cegae's zeal. By the time the Fire God's new song came to a close, Mahen stood close enough to touch him.
But it was Cegae that reached out - seizing Mahen, afraid ce would flee if he did not do so. A fear not unfounded - as Mahen had fully intended to do so.
Cegae - normally loud and forceful - professed his admiration of the painting softly, calling it beautiful. Mahen, who only spoke with cer hands, signed that Cegae was beautiful.
Cegae embraced Mahen with fervor, but fervor as soft as his gentle confession - and Mahen, overwhelmed with the joy of cer feelings being accepted, cried tears of mercury as ce held the Fire God with equal enthusiasm.
It was these joyful tears shed on Gavonar that later became the iridescent obsidian known as Mahen's Tears.

Discovery

Mahen's Tears were discovered by king Foumae, one of Cegae's mortal lovers. According to legend, she was seeking out the Fire God after an unexpected absence and stumbled upon the deities embracing each other. After an introduction - Mahen having come to meet Foumae as metamours - the king pointed out the stones. Mahen gave cer blessing for them to be taken, as ce enjoyed the idea of cer joy being gifted to others.

Cultural Significance and Usage

Mahen's Tears are fashioned into romantic wedding torque necklaces - while many settle for regular obsidian, as a stone born from the joy of requited romantic feelings, it is considered particularly appropriate as a wedding stone. Especially as it matches the traditional romantic wedding color of black for the black blood coursing through demon veins.

Refinement

Mahen's Tears reach full brilliance when properly cut and polished, but is still pretty in its raw form.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Mahen's Tears are only found on Gavonar, and are primarily refined and sold out of the city of Scagesmaes at the volcano's base. It is one of their primary luxury goods, though they also sell plain obsidian for those unable to afford the rarer Tears.

Type

Rock, Igneous

Rarity

Rare

Color

Black with an iridescent sheen

Common State

solid

Related Locations

• Demon Realm

Related Species

• Deity
• Demon