Tamarite

Tamarite is a precious stone that can be found on the continent of Tamar in the south-east of Galedon.
It is considered very valuable, and it is highly sought after, but mining is dangerous business. Many dangers lurk in the darkness of the deep mines, and not only the possibility of getting trapped in a mine, but also the Otherworld. The gates to the otherworld are behind the mountains, so tamarite is also known as "deathstone". Life as a neighbour of the Otherworld is a little bit like living on the edge, quite literally as well. The Misty mountains that hide under themselves the riches of tamarite... But whoever spends too much time there, will turn into a half-spirit themselves. Staying too long too close to the Otherworld will slowly drain one's lifepower.
Many people do not choose the life of a miner, but plenty of money can be made that way. Most miners live at the foot of the mountain, and the older they get, the more transparent and distant they become. Usually they don't die in the traditional way, but just kind of fade away.

Properties

Fyysiset piirteet

Tamarite is a precious stone, semi-translucent and shiny. It is green-turqoise in colour, and sometimes has stripes or speckles of a pearly white. It is hard, but sometimes brittle, if not good quality. Good quality tamarite is very hardy and long-lasting and will not break easily.

Maantiede & geologia

Found under the mountains of Tamar, where it forms deep underground.

History & Usage

Historia

Tamarite has long been used in jewellery by the Tree folk of Tamar, who trade it with the people of Tamar. Also the ngaboli people use it in jewellery and trading.

Arkikäyttö

Tamarite is used in jewellery and decorations, but it is expensive and normal people usually cannot afford it.

Jalostus

Tamarite can be used as it is, but as most precious stones, it's value grows when polished and honed. Bad quality tamarite can be ground into powder.

Tuotanto & tuotteet

The best quality tamarite is reserved for the finest jewellery. The lower quality, bitter and fragile tamarite is ground into powder and used as pigment in makeup, paint, glass and so on. Also the dust from honing and polishing the good quality stones is collected and used as pigment.

Jakelu

Kauppa & markkinat

Tamarite is a luxury good with high prices. It is abundant in the mines, but mining it is dangerous.

Väri

vibrant green to turqoise, sometimes with pearl-coloures speckles

Normaali olotila

solid