Mithril

Jameth drew the sword from its hilt, his eyes wide in shock at what he had found. The steel was a cold blue-green in hue, with an iridescent sheen. It was lighter than any sword he had ever wielded, and as its blade left the hilt, it rippled with a mind-bending pattern that branched in patterns of five. Just as the human realized he had lost track of time, a hot breath and a rank odor drifted across his nostrils, followed by a low growl. Suddenly, Jameth found himself lifted off the floor.
"NASTY SNEAKY HUMAN!" Bellowed a bugbear's signature drawl. "I NO LET YOU TAKE TREASURE!"
Barely even thinking, Jameth swung wildly behind him, and the bellow turned to a gurgling scream as he plummeted to the floor. Landing expertly, he caught a glimpse of his mangled opponent... The bugbear's iron armor was sliced straight through with a precise and razor sharp cut, its hand and forearm had been cut clean off and were still grasping his cloak. Jameth lashed out and cut again and again, slicing through the beast's legs below the knees and felling the giant beast as casually as severing a garden weed.
As he slid into the shadows, the rogue planned his escape carefully, knowing well that the Mithril blade he had found was the key that would unlock a lifetime of wealth.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Mithril ore bears Magicite's characteristic five sided crystal shape, and is an iridescent gray. When smelted, Mithril becomes an incredibly lightweight and impossibly strong metal that can bear an infinitesimal edge that never dulls. Smelted Mithril ranges between metallic ice blue and a metallic jade green, and also can have varying shades of metallic gray up to an almost perfectly reflective chrome. Mithril also has an iridescent sheen with a characteristic fivefold fractal pattern that many have called "entrancingly beautiful". This pattern is a consequence of tiny cracks in the aether created by the magical energies in the ore being released during forging. Light is warped and refracted as it moves through and around these aether disturbances creating this entrancing and beautiful effect.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Mithril is a metal that is much like Magicite, with the characteristic fivefold crystalline structure of Magicite present in its ore. Unlike other magicite, though, Mithril can be altered chemically which means that it can be alloyed with any other metal. Even a tiny amount of mithril being alloyed with a metal makes it resist tarnishing completely. Mithril can change state and is only malleable at high temperatures. The pure metallic form of Mithril is more durable than steel and far harder when it cools. Mithril Ore has magical energy trapped in it like Magicite does, but the magic inside Mithril cannot be released until the metal is forged. It is believed this energy release is what gives Mithril its unique properties and as a result it is often called Galney's Gift.

History & Usage

Cultural Significance and Usage

Mithril is a symbol of wealth, specifically Magical wealth. As such, the Empire greatly covets Mithril and Mithril weapons most of all. The Yeomanry is charged with delivering all Mithril ore, bars, and forged items to the Magocracy for study, cataloguing, and distribution. The Magocracy distributes Mithril items to Imperial and Verdonese agents, officers, and people of distinction. Otherwise it is forbidden to own Mithril or Mithril items.
Elves' land is rich in Mithril and they use it to great extent and advantage. Some even think that the Elves know how to create Mithril, but it is unknown by what mechanism this would occur.
Dwarves dislike Mithril, calling it a coward's metal, because they say it takes no skill to smelt, forge, or use, unlike Steel which requires special technology to make well and great skill to forge.
Other cultures hold Mithril in a high regard for its strength and rarity.

Refinement

The refinement of Mithril is a simple process of heating the Ore and melting off the Mithril contents. Mithril separates easily from its other contents, comes out very pure, and leaves negligible remnants for re-processing. However because of Mithril's value, even the slag from Mithril refining is incredibly valuable and more involved processes exist that use Mithril's magical properties to extract the trace Mithril left over in smelting byproducts. Many adventurers are happy to leave a dungeon or ruin with a sack full of nothing but Mithril Slag.

Manufacturing & Products

Mithril can be used to forge nearly anything, but its magical nature and extreme rarity often means its use is limited to military and magical applications. Elves, with the incredible amounts of Mithril available to them, tend to alloy small amounts of Mithril with nearly every metal they forge meaning that their Steel, Bronze, and Brass are all stronger than that of the other races and do not tarnish.

Byproducts & Sideproducts

Mithril Slag is a greenish black material with a consistency similar to glass. It can be reused to extract trace amounts of Mithril. The more green in color the slag is, the more Mithril is available inside it.

Distribution

Law & Regulation

Mithril is highly regulated in the Empire. Mithril objects, ore, and slag can only be bought or distributed legally by the Magocracy.

Type

Metal

Value

Mithril ore can fetch thousands per pound. Mithril weapons are worth ten thousand each easily. Masterworked Mithril weapons are priceless.

Odor

Faint ozone smell

Color

Metallic, from Ice Blue to Seafoam Green to Chrome, with iridescent sheen.

Boiling / Condensation Point

???

Melting / Freezing Point

1500 C