METAL: Lead

Lead is one of the heaviest common metals. It is soft and easily smelted, cast, or worked. It is plentiful and easily extracted from ores. It is special in that it has astonishingly low reactivity. This allows it to absorb sound, light, warmth and most importantly, arcane energies. Once oxidized this surface does not return most light. The black oxidized surface is also resistant to radiant damage. Lead retains less heat than most metals, producing a drop of about 10 degrees below ambient. The term cold steel comes from lead being added to some steel alloys where it lowers the ambient temperature in a number of its alloyed states.

Lead is very poisonous. Exposure to oxidized lead can cause Blackened Heart, a degenerative form of madness that induces violent rages, auditory delusions, light sensitivity and decreases in mental acuity. This results in progressive decreases in Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma. Working it in a smelted state and cooling carries some risk when not ventilated, but the risk worsens when it is solid and oxidizes. Lead oxidizes to a deep black matte finish in a few hours after being fully cooled. This oxidized state is when it has its most interesting properties. However, repeated oiling of the surface can avoid oxidation in the short term. This oiling should be continued until the final installation can cover or seal the oxidized lead for safety. Once oxidized, the lead will continue this process by leeching lead aerially or through contact with water. These leeched amounts carry high risk for Blackened Heart. Consequently, lead is never used for armored protection or kitchen wares where you can breathe the fumes openly.

Lead sheeting uses 4 lbs. of lead per square foot is enough to increase soundproofing, offer insulation, and block any magic or magical effects from piercing it. Holes or cracks smaller than 1/16 of an inch do not weaken its effects. But this sheeting is soft enough to be hammered and malleable around corners and surfaces without concern for sacrificing function. Lead is quite soft so lead sheets need a more secure structure around it. Anyone could easily pound holes in lead sheeting. Another reason it is quite useless as body armor.