heksensteen

Though I walk through the darkened valley, my faith is absolute. The Lord sends his earth, his stones, to protect me; he sends his flames to comfort me.... I shall fear no witchcraft, I shall submit to no evil, for the glory of the flame surrounds me and gives me strength.

— traditional Vulcanic prayer thought to reference heksensteen.

Heksensteen is a unique stone found only in the country of Velevieren. Its origin is unknown, though many myths exist to explain its presence within the earth.
It is multicoloured and very shiny. A single piece of heksensteen can contain all the colours of the rainbow. When cut in certain ways, it can be changed to be only one colour, or a small range of them.
Heksensteen is found in deep veins in the earth, and it can be encouraged to re-grow through certain application of religio-magical rituals. Unfortunately, it was mined to extinction in N. Velevieren before this could be discovered. In S. Velevieren it still exists in abundance and is one of the country's main exports.

Properties

Material Characteristics

A many-faceted crystal, filled with many colours. As the light bounces off it the colours shift and change, creating the illusion of a living, breathing stone.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Heksensteen is smooth and cool to the touch, but it warms quickly under human hands.
Chemical properties of heksensteen are unknown.
The stone is valued for its many magical properties, which include the following:

• a stronger connection to the spirit world and specifically the land spirits of Velevieren -- this is the main use for the Wijslui
• enhancing the user's ability to do divination and prophecy, as well as acting as a scrying device
• blocking and befuddling the natural powers of Magi and Magi-Terrans

In Voco it's believed the stone helps guard one against witches and witchcraft. As Wijslui would be considered witches in Voco, we can see it does nothing of the sort -- but it does mess with Magi powers, disabling their ability to see one's intentions, which leads one to question how this particular belief about the stone came about in the first place.

History & Usage

Everyday use

No common use in Velevieren.
In Voco it is worn as an anti-witch charm, and in some lands far to the east of New Erika it's rumoured to be used as part of their fantastical technology, though there is no proof of this.

Cultural Significance and Usage

Heksensteen is a necessary part of every Wijslui's toolbox. As it is so rare, often Wijslui will pass down their pieces to their successors, giving up the stone in retirement.
It is said that a Wijslui develops a relationship with their stone, listening to its guidance and understanding messages from the spirit world through the power of the stone. The heksensteen is part of every Wijslui ritual as it is always worn on a Wijslui's person.

Refinement

Heksensteen requires very little refinement. It is mined from the earth in great veins, and the raw stone is almost indistinguishable from what is sold in the markets.
Jewellers will refine it by cutting it for necklaces, rings, and bracelets, but anyone else using it only needs the raw stone.

Reusability & Recycling

A solid piece of heksensteen is theoretically infinitely reusable. When used by wijslui its magical properties do not dissipate over the years, in fact growing stronger with each person to have the piece. Even pieces of jewellery sold with the stone are said to retain their properties indefinitely.
Once it has been powdered to make into various things for ingestion, it starts to lose some of its potency. Powdered heksensteen will only retain its power for 23 days, after which it's just useless dust.

Distribution

Trade & Market

S. Velevieren sells heksensteen to their trading partners, and it's through their ports that the stone finds its way across the world.
In Voco, it's an exotic stone sold as jewellery to those who fear witches.
In the Cluster of Fire, it's a necessary compound in certain entheogenic drinks.
In the east, it's said to be used to power contraptions that marry technology and magic -- though how true this is remains anyone's guess.

Law & Regulation

In N. Velevieren the stone is rare and respected. It's used by the wijslui class, with pieces often being handed down through the generations. There is a small black market of the stone, though it doesn't go very far as S. Velevieren has an abundance of it.
In S. Velevieren the stone is utilized for export only, and is otherwise contraband. Anyone caught with the stone will be accused of wiccecraft and punished accordingly.
The rulers of S. Velevieren have gone so far as to guard their heksensteen mines and strictly control who can work there. Miners are monitored for any evidence they might be taking the stone for personal use or to sell on the black market. Women are strictly prohibited to go anywhere near the mines, as it's thought the mere presence of heksensteen will lure an otherwise pious woman into the sin of wiccecraft.

by Me + Wombo!

Other names

witchstone, Magi-bane

Type

Ore/Mineral

Rarity

in N. Velevieren it's exceptionally rare; in S. Velevieren it's a main export

Odor

petrichor

Taste

bitter, though this can be masked by the application of other ingredients

Color

multi-coloured

Common State

Solid

Related Locations

• The Riverlands

Related Species

• Magi-Terran
• Magi

Related Professions

• Wijslui