Black Sand

Black Sand is a rare & dangerous substance from around the mythic Black Pyramid buried beneath the Mediterranean. It is capable of being used for countless magical spells, and is imbued with some of the darkest & most foul energies in existence.

Properties

Material Characteristics

The Black Sand is finely ground sand made of a mix of obsidian, basalt and some granite. Primarily obsidian it can give off a glint of colours when in strong direct sunlight. Due to how fine it is it can easily be worked into exceptionally small spaces.

Physical & Chemical Properties

As a substance that is bathed in black magic, (and the primordial interdimensional energies emanating from such evil dimensions like the Abyss & the Void), it is saturated enough that a pinch is needed for many spells requiring components. It has been noted, that any spell that involves planar travel, summoning & banishing, and necromancy, are especially potent when this is used. At the same time, a feeling of otherworldly emptiness, and dread is reported by many when they initially use it. This fades when regularly used.
Another property is that if it is inhaled it can cause extreme damage to the airways, and can cause the user to have a mix of hallucinations, astral projection to other dimensions (to more darker realms), and the ability to see hidden creatures. This does not always happen, or a mix of them to greater or lesser degree.
In it's natural form it feels slightly cold and fine to the touch. Most describe it if it is rubbed between the finger & thumb like rubbing exceptionally strong & abrasive sandpaper.

Compounds

It is able to be mixed with most metals and found to be mixed best with both iron & silver. The resulting alloy creates exceedingly powerful magical arms, armour and magical objects. The alloy made with iron is it's most stable, and able to last for centuries if not millennia, and when with silver it seems to be much more unstable. In the latter case, it seems to cause a potential explosion of magical energy unless runes or magical script is placed on the object to stabilize it.

Geology & Geography

The only place the Black Sand is found is in the deep cavern below the Mediterranean north of Alexandria. There, surrounding the deepest parts in the rocky core of the caverns, with the Black Pyramid & remaining structures lies the sands. It seems made of the very material in the rocks & structures found there. The further from the core of the cavern, the sand becomes like a mix of other igneous rocks and not as potent. This, though, is spreading over time as more & more energy spills out of the Void, and sucked in too from other sources.

Origin & Source

The Black Sand is a corruption of local ground down igneous rock and volcanic obsidian that has been here for 3.5 to 4 billion years. When the world was created, a part of the Void & Abyss was drawn into the area. During this time, a link was strengthened between the dimensions, and the a Black Pyramid was created by creatures of pure darkness with a corresponding Black Pyramid in the Void. Other smaller buildings were created too from the obsidian too.
What most don't realise is that during the time the meteorite that contained the Amber & Mistletoe's Blood Clot hit the Earth, a part made out of obsidian also smashed into this region. Some of the evil that was contained in the Amber was broken and helped create the right conditions. The resulting explosion of it hitting created further obsidian and a massive cloud of dust & sand, and a solid portion lies directly below the Black Pyramid now. This helped spread out the sand over a greater distance.

History & Usage

History

The Black Sand is thought of as cursed by those who know of it. Only a few nations or creatures would use it willingly, usually older 'nations' of evil alignment studies the sand, and uses it regularly. A race of 'snake men', evil cults, and certain undead are mentioned to actively use it, and study regularly at the Pyramid in it's uses.
Most peoples are unaware of it now. Little of the ancients who first discovered it are long gone. With this, knowledge of the power that comes from this is known to only a few.

Discovery

The first outside the cavern to discover the Black Sand is unknown. With millennia old empires having rose & fell over the millions upon millions of years since, none can say any more. Only the dragons, the giants, and the Great Old Ones may have any idea as to who first discovered it. One thing is sure, the very idea of trying to find this out from any of these three species is near impossible in of itself.

Everyday use

The only time this is used is in magic and the production of magical objects. Even then, with safer & less daunting materials at hand (even if rarer than the Black Sand) is preferred. It is also highly perilous to get, leading it to be a legendary if not mythic source of magic power.

Refinement

It is used in it's natural state and any refinement tends to damage the potency of it.

Manufacturing & Products

Magical objects of questionable origin is made by a few that knows how to process the Black Sand.

Hazards

Any creature that uses this can suffer from hallucinations, seeing the unseen, and astral projection to darker dimensions are common side effects, especially if regularly used. Emptiness and dread are common effects too. Only those with the 'right' mentality can off-set these effects.

Environmental Impact

Any time the Black Sand is introduced into an environment, there is a risk that if left will attract evil beings to that area. Random dark magic effects take hold too, along with individuals will experience the hazards mentioned before on & off for a time.

"I would never use that material again. Picked up some from a rather odd trader out of the Levant, with a forked tongue. When I used a pinch for my magic, I started getting this odd sensation, as if being watched.
The more I used in my casting, the more I kept 'seeing' shadows everywhere. Humanoid in shape, with a wide brimmed hats & glowing eyes. Totally bizarre. And that wasn't even the worst. I kept finding myself almost out of body at times. Floating in a dark inky nothingness, feeling empty of all emotions and something dark, so dark, just staring back at me with huge black eyes out of nowhere.
After that I stopped using that accursed black sand. Went back to using the standard components I had been taught to use. Nowhere as strong as using the black sand I admit, and harder to cast them too. Better for my own sanity though. The power that came from that sand is something, else, but at what cost?
I still feel something watching to this day, from an empty little needle-like point just to one side out of sight. Every day now feeling like this, every day."
Visir Ali al-Saud, from his journal before he disappeared from his own locked private chambers. A black sandy material in the rough shape of a human figure was found on the rug his journal was lying on.

Type

Mineral