Sarnnist Crystals
Properties
Material Characteristics
Clear crystal with violet inclusions. In the presence of arcane energy, the crystals glow white and the inclusions pulse with violet light.
Physical & Chemical Properties
The crystals are extremely hard, equivalent to quartz. Their crystalline structure is comparatively weak, so the crystals are relatively easy to fracture or crack. The crystals are not terribly chemically reactive, but they can be damaged with strong acids. The crystals are natural channels for arcane energy, storing ambient energy and allowing it to be redirected. It takes larger crystals to store and channel larger amounts of energy.
Compounds
Powdered sarnnist crystal is used in the tattoos that the Ilkani use as magical foci in lieu of more traditional implements. Experimentation with sarnnist is a key element of Ilkani arcane research, and it is used across the board to augment and stabilize more permanent arcane workings and efforts.
Geology & Geography
Sarnnist crystal is found only in one place, there is a massive vein of it that runs through the heart of the Imperial Palace, with similar veins deep in the Kumiobe Plateau.
Life & Expiration
Sarnnist crystals can explode if overloaded, meaning too much power is channeled through them too quickly. Otherwise, the crystals do not deteriorate if handled properly. Harvesting sarnnist is a highly technical and complicated process, especially when it comes to retrieving large pieces of crystal that are suitable for use in the Empire's skyships.
History & Usage
Everyday use
In the presence of ambient arcane fields, sarnnist crystal can be used to maintain magical effects without the direct focused intervention of a caster. Sarnnist can additionally be used to layer magical effects together to create more powerful and complex workings than normally be completed or maintained by a single caster. What would normally take ritual work with multiple casters, can be done by a single caster over time layering enchantments using sarnnist crystals.
Cultural Significance and Usage
Sarnnist crystals are key to Ilkani might. As such the harvesting and possession of sarnnist is closely controlled by the Empire. All sarnnist crystals over a certain size are directly owned by the Emperor, and controlled by Imperial sorcerors (rather than house-affiliated ones). All Ilkani skyships have at least one and more commonly a small team of Imperial Arcanists whose sole concern and responsibility is the maintenance and control of the sarnnist crystal at the ship's heart. In the event that a ship was in danger of being taken, the Arcanists would destroy the crystal, which would have the secondary effect of causing the ship to fall from the sky like a stone.
Type
Metaphysical