Sardiorite
Properties
Material Characteristics
Chunks of Sardiorite are commonly found as large, cloudy, ruby-colored crystal shards and chunks. They glow faintly in an incredibly slow heartbeat, pulsing about once every 30 to 45 seconds with a pale, ruddy light.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Sardiorite is often warm to the touch, but it does not emit enough to support someone in the cold. When held nearby other chunks, near gem dragons, or by gem dragonborn, it pulses much brighter and much more frequently.
Compounds
Ground-up Sardiorite is often used as ingredients in various magical recipes for potions, rare spell components, or in the creation of a lich or dracolich's phylactery. Finely ground Sardiorite are also an ingredient in Gemdust, a highly addictive hallucinogenic drug that enhances the user's arcane abilities.
Origin & Source
Sardiorite is mainly found underground, but some larger veins creep up to the surface and jut out from the otherwise very flat plains territory. Most veins in the Principalities are discovered from these surface veins, though many are left untouched and guarded by small groups of Gem Dragonborn who view them as culturally significant, and began the belief that these ruddy gems are fragments of the shattered god Sardior.
History & Usage
Discovery
The first veins were discovered in the plains by the Gem Dragonborn, who regard them as religiously sacred. The next group to find the shards were the Giants, who set up mining operations to excavate the valuable material for their arcanists, as well as to power their many constructs. Next it was the Halflings, who let the Dragonborn keep their religious sites. It wasn't until the Humans of Nealthys came along and founded the Carlton Mining Company that Sardiorite was once again starting to be excavated, much to the behest of the Dragonborn.
Everyday use
Sardiorite is most often used by the Kingdom of Nealthys to power their many technological marvels, such as airships, trains, firearms, and the Warforged. Other uses include its use in the recently discovered hallucinogenic drug Gemdust, found in most criminal underbellies within Nealthian cities and produced by prominent Nealthian crime lords with access to certain mining operations.
Cultural Significance and Usage
The cultural significance of Sardiorite is that of its connection to the Gem Dragonborn, who believe that the crystals are remnants of the corpse of their progenitor deity Sardior, the Ruby Dragon. Impaled and shattered upon the great bone spear Ul'golach of the god Gruumsh in the Divine War, Sardior was said to have been felled in the modern-day Gianttread Plains and the Principalities of Shentea.
Industrial Use
The industrial use of the Sardiorite is by the Kingdom of Nealthys to power their technological marvels, due to their residual arcane energy. Many Gem Dragonborn are divided on the usage of Sardiorite in Warforged as their souls and power sources specifically. Where some see it as a boon, their divine progenitor reborn in new forms, others view it as a mockery of their religion and of their god.
Distribution
Trade & Market
The Shards are mined by the Carlton Mining Company, a subsidiary of the Nealthian government, and sold to various technology companies that create the airships, trains, firearms and Warforged that define Nealthys's technological revolution throughout the past three centuries.
Gemdust is also sold in the various criminal underbellies and black markets of Nealthys, and sometimes throughout the other neighboring nations of Lanora.
Gemdust is also sold in the various criminal underbellies and black markets of Nealthys, and sometimes throughout the other neighboring nations of Lanora.
Law & Regulation
Sardiorite is only federally regulated by the Kingdom of Nealthys for use in their technology. Its other use, that being the narcotic Gemdust, is completely outlawed within the Kingdom. Creation, distribution, ownership and use of Gemdust are all illegal, and punished by varying fines and prison sentences, depending on the amount.
Type
Mineral
Value
Around 4,000-5,000gp per pound.
Rarity
Only found in the Giantread Plains.
Color
Chunks of Sardiorite are deep red, almost ruby-like in color.
Common State
Sardiorite is found in a solid state.
Related Locations
Related Species
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