Kavanite

This increadibly useful material has been considered sacred by many cultures due to its apparent ability to ward off evil magic

Kavanite is a very rare mineral that most commonly found in veins in deep mountain mines. However, it has also been found in river beds such as that of the Hir river, where it has gathered after being washed out of the bedrock at the source springs of the rivers.

Historical use

Kavanite is an incredibly useful material. Historically it has been used to create protective amulets. Amulets made from pure kavanite can absorb spells and magical effect and glow brightly as they do so. If too much magic is out into it however the kavanite will crumble and become inert. Some cultures have also used it to infuse the walls of certain buildings, such as temples. This caused the walls to glow faintly during religious ceremonies due to the presence of divine magic and was therefore seen as very luckbringing and holy.
In some more advanced uses developed primarily by the Dwarven Empire it has been added to the production of steel to produce an alloy that lightly glows in the presence of magic and has protective abilities against magic. It was therefore common to use this in the production of shields. The alloy is however more brittle than ordinary steel which means that the production of weapons from it was very challenging.
There have been many attempts to strengthen the mineral however the process seems extremely difficult due to the porous nature of the kavanite mineral. There are legends that speak of dwarves making pacts with dragons to use the heat of their magical flame to bring create kavanite alloys strong enough to forge weapons from but the no such weapons are known today.

Uses today

In the northern lands the knowledge and use of Kavanite is stricly controlled by The Academy which means that it is generally not very known. What research is being done with the material is a strongly protected secret and little is known.
In the dwarven Empire the mineral is most commonly used in the production of the traditional armors of the elite troops known as the Hammers of Moradin.