Arcanum (ar-CANE-um)

"Arcanum Crystals might be more than just remnants of primordial power. There's evidence to suggest they are pieces of the Great God Himself. Personally, I find that doubtful. But one can make the argument." Bo Shuuda, Reflections on the Nature of Creation, vol. 1, p. 2

Arcanum Crystals what allow the people of Creation to access the creative power of the Great God. They are the source of all magic and can be used alter the reality around us based purely on the will and imagination of the wielder. Once their power is tapped into and their effect is created they disappear, perhaps rejoining with Creation itself. Great study and training are required to connect oneself to the power within the crystals. Before the The Arcanum Wars this training was individualized and uncontrolled. Since that great devastation, the Arcanum Guild has kept tight control over the gathering and use of Arcanum Crystals. The crystals are seeded throughout the lands, buried within the world itself. In their raw form they resemble diamonds except that they have an internal prismatic shimmer that indicates their power. Once discovered and unearthed, under strict supervision of the Guild, they are typically crafted into shapes and combined with other items by teams of smiths and magicians in order to focus their effect and create predetermined spells. (See entries on Arcanum Bracers and the Wraith Grappler.) Arcanum Crystals are difficult to mine as they are undetectable until very close to the surface. For centuries it was only happenstance that allowed them to be gathered. Then, with the cataclysm that created The Shattered, the most abundant source of unearthed crystals are within that broken continent. As such, the Tormangi have become a crucial factor in their gathering and collection, with many markets and trade routes (both legal and illegal) appearing throughout the islands.