Shardisite
Shardisite is the mineral remains of the ancient meteor that struck the Earth sometime in the 18th century anno dominae. During ancient times, massive excavation sites could be found around the rim of the Sea of Ghosts. Today these sites have been harvested and stripped to the point where even an ounce of shardisite has tremendous value.
Contents
Uses
Shardisite is a highly coveted material component in enchanting and has also been used to power some of the greatest spells ever cast. When in contact with a non-magical item, spells and other magical effects can be imbued into the item, expending the shardisite. The severity of the effect and the degree of accuracy of the desired effect depend greatly on several conditions, such as the magical skill of the user, the amount and purity of the shardisite, as well as astronomical factors (daytime vs nighttime, full moon vs new moon etc.).
History
When the first survivors of the meteor strike first emerged unto the world, it was discovered that many things were no longer as they were before. New species roamed the land. New races populated the countryside. At first there were thousands of new mutated humanoids. Those races that were genetically viable eventually were able to establish stable populations around the world and it was discovered that it was the magic from the shardisite that caused these mutations.
After a few centuries it was discovered that shardisite's magical properties could be harnessed and thus began The Magical Renaissance. The world began to be shaped by those who could wield the most power through the use of Shardisite. The coast of The Sea of Ghosts being the richest source of the mineral became an industrial powerhouse. Industry carried on the backs of slaves drive a great techno-magical revolution.
When the shardisite harvests started to decline, those nations who were most heavily invested in its mining collapsed. Newer smaller nations took their place and began fighting over the scraps of those ancient powers. Centuries have passed since the last shardisite excavation site shut down.
Today, raw shardisite is more rare than platinum and countries have gone to war over paltry amounts of the mineral.
Rumors
It is rumored that there are nations of the Earth that have tremendous stockpiles of the mineral stored in deep underground vaults, but such rumors have never been proven or substantiated. It is also rumored that at the bottom of the Sea of Ghosts there remains large fragments of the original meteor still intact. Many adventurers have ventured into the sea to seek this untold wealth, but none have ever returned.
Identification
The mineral has a clear and crystalline structure but gives off a faint green light giving it a greenish appearance. When in close proximity to living tissue for extended periods it will eventually "burn" mutations into the tissue. These mutations are wildly unpredictable and can even be fatal.
