Moissanite
Moissanite is an extremely rare crystallized form of Silicon Carbide, found in only one place in the entire world. It is one of the hardest minerals, second only to Diamond. Similar to Diamonds, Moissanite can store mana for indefinite periods of time. Moissanite also has properties similar to Quartz in that it can magically store memories. Memories stored in Moissanite are said to be crystal clear and perfectly preserved. Another use for Moissanite is in the creation of super tough armor, immune to all but the most powerfully vicious attacks. The Knights of the Scionic Order of the Abyss are known to wear Void Plate armor into battle and are said to be unstoppable.
Scionic Order of the Abyss Task #74
One of the last and most important tasks for a knight in training is the procurement of Moissanite. A fist sized chunk is required in order to fashion a full set of Void Plate Armor. This is also one of the most difficult tasks as it requires journeying into the Mountains of Cil and finding the Loralkas Impact Crater. Be Vigilant as you venture within. The Followers of the Black Dragon are often seen in the area. Do not trust them!
- Sir Arthur, Master Sergeant at Arms
Rarity
When it is said this mineral is rare, it is unbelievably rare. It has only ever been found in the Loralkas Impact Crater, scattered around the area in chunks ranging from fist sized to as small as grains of sand. These chunks appear in the crater in the largest quantities, though rarely, pieces can be found all over the Mountains of Cil.
The Impact Creater is named for Loralkas, a colossal black dragon that lived during the Silver Age and was a terror of the Olimyans of the Mountains of Cil. The Silver Race sent an army into the mountains to help out their fellow humans to put an end to the dragon menace. The Battle was said to have lasted for seventy seven hours. The Dragon flew up into the heavens where a Flying Fortress was waiting for it.
The Dragon was killed and sent crashing back to Vreathe, where it slammed into the Earth at such an impossibly fast speed, it shattered four mountains and burned all the trees for a hundred miles around. This impact is said to have created the moissanite crystals that are found in the area and nowhere else on Vreathe. Many Scholars throughout the ages claimed that other sources exist, one just simply needs to find other impact craters of other fallen dragons. As of the Iron Age, dozens of Dragon craters have been searched, but more moissanite has never been found.
It's been five days and I can't stand the quiet of these mountains! I haven't even heard a wolf howl! It's been night after cold, lonely night up here. Two days ago, I spotted my goal as I hiked across what was marked as 'The Ordon's Pass'. The Crater is utterly massive as described, just existing out here in the middle of seemingly endless snow-capped mountains, creating a black scar in the otherwise pristine landscape.
- Isaac, Knight in training
Memory Storage
Elemental silicon in its natural form is able to store magically charged memories, though usually these memories are nothing more than images at best. Crystallized Silicon Oxide, or Quartz, is the most commonly used crystal for storing memories. Memories stored with these crystals are much more complex, and are a window into the mind of owner of the memory. Sights, sounds, and more are all stored depending on the quality of the quartz crystal.
Silicon Carbide Crystals, or Moissanite, go a step further and allow the user to access memories as if they are stepping back in time. Rather than experiencing a simple memory, they are experiencing a snapshot of everything around the source of the memory. Large Moissanite crystals can store days, even weeks of a person's memory, as well as the memory of everything around that person.
Artificial beings
Silver Age texts write of golems, artificially animated constructs, powered by dozens of individual moissanite crystals, creating artifical beings with programmed memories. These beings are able to think and feel and have emotions. This work is far beyond the understanding of the current Iron Age, and no new golem with a mind has been created in thousands of years. There are several notable Golems from the Silver Age still living to this day across the world in isolated locations. All of them would rather be left alone.
by mariusz jbie
As Armor
Moissanite crystals are not used as armor. There aren't any pieces large enough to make useable armor out of. Rather, an artificial form called Carborundum is created and used. By using a fist sized piece of Moissanite crystal as a catalyst, Three different mages work fire, sand(silicon dioxide), and Carbon around the crystal, growing large sheets of Carborundum that are then slowly shaped over existing steel plates of armor. This armor is often called Carbide Armor, but is also known as Void Armor due to its black appearance..
Void armor is extremely strong and durable. Without additional enchantments, the armor can withstand any musket of the Iron Age, any arrow, and even hand cannon rounds, as well as any sword, axe, hammer, or spear strike. Most magic is readily absorbed into the armor, which the user can then use against the caster. With enchantments, void armor has been tested to withstand a 24 pound cannonball, multiple lightning strikes, being crushed by large boulders, a collapsing castle, being kicked by Altus the trapped God of Giants, and more.
Throughout the Iron Age, this armor was considered to be the ultimate set that someone could buy. The issue is that nearly all sets are made and owned by the Scionic Order of the Abyss, a Knightly Order based in the nation of Galeska. This order of Knights serves the church, protecting those that follow the teachings of Saint Nora. The only sets of armor that this order doesn't own are those that were lost, or stolen. The Order will also confiscate the armor of disgraced knights, refashion the armor for a new person, and then gift these sets to kings and queens across Vreathe. Very rarely does the Order make a new set of armor for someone who isn't a member.
I was previously named Arden Vernador, and I was to be Cassel's Scion of Earth. Was to be...Thanks to the training I went through, I have mastery over Earth Magic that few other humans on Vreathe would ever know.
One spell I learned made crystallized elements glow and even allows me to see through other types of earth. The Dwarves of the Iruakint use it to pick out gems from the rock around them. Using this made it easy to pick out the dark Moissanite Crystals out of the blackened earth around me. I was able to gather several fist sized chunks.
I was about to leave the area when I heard some voices in the distance. They were coming from deeper in the crater. I was going to ignore it at first, but then I heard a name and a voice that sounded familiar. Master Sergeant warned me that there were followers of Loralkas in the area, but, I decided to have a closer look...
- Isaac, Knight in training
Nice article. I really like the myth about the source of the crater and crystals too. The memories aspect makes me wonder - could you find trace memories from the actual time of the Dragon's death? Is something from the dragon imbued throughout anything the crystals are used for? Might mean some awkward realisations ahead for them knights. :-)
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I had an idea that the crystals were actually the Dragon's scales. Similar to the crystals in my Olimian Wastes article, these still had memories and old magic left inside each piece. That section did not turn out that great though so I cut it out of the article. As for it affecting the knights in some way, that a gave me a few future ideas. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment!