I was lost, deep down in some cave in this maddened realm of faeries. I had lost my light, my way and also, most likely my mind somewhere far away on another, equally dark cave. I had gone left and right and up and down and through tunnels, passageways and caverns, but I was still nowhere closer to getting out of here. I had come down here searching for some great treasure that ever denizen of this maddened realm had sworn existed. I now realized that those pesky creatures had lied and were now probably dying of laughter at the thought of me having listened to them. I was very close to giving up and just staying in these accursed caves.
Then, I found something at the end of a stone corridor. Lying hidden between two large rocks was a large chunk of bright purple and blue crystals. They were so bright they lit up the entire room, finally allowing me to see something for the first time in what felt like hours. I picked it up and with its near-blinding light, I finally found my way out of those accursed caves, never to return again.
Properties
It looks like a set of shiny, bright blue crystals with small swirls of purple, usually half-molded in rock that emit light based on how little light there is around them (not bright on the surface, very bright in caves).
It's quite warm to the touch and is very resistant to most damage, particularly acid and fire. When it is being used as magical fuel, the Hallownite flashes rhythmically. If completely depleted, the crystal will turn gray and become extremely brittle.
Found hidden in rocks in mountainous regions and deep caves in the Faery Realm. usually found in darker sections of caves without other sources of light apart from itself.
History & Usage
First discovered by the Elves in the Second Age by explorers who entered the Faery Realm in search of riches. They certainly found what they were looking for.
Hallownite is extremely sought after by mages and the like thanks to its ability to fuel all kinds of magic spells and enchantments. Without it (or a similarly magical item), a mage wouldn't be able to cast any magic, save for weaker cantrips (such as healing) that still follow the
Principle of Equivalent Exchange by using natural materials as fuel.
Seen as a symbol of great wealth, or to identify someone as a powerful mage thanks to the material's connection to magic.
Distribution
Only sold to Magistrates and other such academies and institutions. Rarely, a couple of very wealthy and government-backed merchants are allowed to sell it, but again, only to specific institutions, certainly not people. The sole manufacturers of Hallownite used to be (and still are) government mining operations in the Faery Realm.
Due to it being such a powerful fuel for potentially destructive spells, Hallownite is extremely regulated. In the bygone Imperial Age, it used to be that to even own such a thing, one needed to consult the state and its huge bureaucracy. Only state-sanctioned merchants were allowed to sell it, though only to institutions and certainly not third parties. Nowadays, with the collapse of central authority in most of the north, such regulations have been largely forgotten. Though certain Provinces still strongly enforce the laws, their reach ends beyond city gates. Outside in the countryside, pretty much anyone with enough money can buy Hallownite and use it for whatever they want.
133HA
Color
Phosphorescent blue & purple
Artwork by unknown artist
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