Nhermor
Celestial Blood
General
If there is one substance more poorly understood than Ichor, it would without a doubt be Nhermor. Scholars, alchemists, philosophers, and the religiously inclined have debated its origin since time immemorial. Most are of the opinion that it is of a Divine nature, though others wonder if there might exist a third possibility.
Celestial Origin
While Nhermor was present before the Age known as Dark Days of Star Rain, it was seen as more myth than reality due to its incredible rarity. While that Age was ongoing, however, unprecedented quantities of it poured down from enigmatic Star Storms, accompanied by Celestial Bodies that crashed down on the planet from the great dark above. This all gave fuel to the belief that Nhermor was celestial in origin, above both the Divine and the Magical.
Rarity
Ever since the Dark Days of Star Rain, Nhermor is no longer seen as that much of a rarity, and there are those who argue that it is in fact more common than Ichor.
Easy to come by, theoretically
More attentive people have noticed that this is not entirely the case; Nhermor may be easier to come by than Ichor, but the only reason it hasn't become rarer is due to the Star Storms and Celestial meteors that crash down on the planet every now and then.
It may not be as bad as it was during the Dark Days of Star Rain, but the weather patterns of that dark age still ripple across the world every few decades.
Disappear without trace
Some of these people have also noted that, for some strange reason, large quantities of Nhermor dissipates with time, though only at such low rate that it is barely noticeable. If the process was any faster, then Nharmor would return to a mythical quantity in due time, scholars wager.
Ascending?
What Nhermor turns into, no one knows for certain. That does not mean proposals have been given. One such proposal wonders if Nhermor turns into Ichor? However, that is such a touchy subject most go over this idea behind closed doors.
Location
Nhermor can be found both above and below ground level. Though it is much more common underground and does not have any apparent effects on the surrounding biome as negatively as it does when it pools above ground: at the very least, not to the same extent.
Above ground
Nhermor collects in pools of 'liquid silver' that spontaneously turns solid as ice for a few seconds. Lare quantities pull on smaller deposits, as if it was magnetized, to continually grow in size. The area around these pools became sickly, desolated, and loses all color, thus making these 'Nhermor Regions' appear similar to black-and-white photos.
Below ground
Nhermor collects in webs of 'liquid silver' that are protected by a thin crust of 'solid silver' and can grow to become several kilometers in size. The Knots where these 'webs' connect with each other can become quite large, usually the size of massive, overripe pumpkins.
Polluted & Pure
Most professional collectors of Nhermor prefer that which has been stored underground, as they have this idea that what can be found above ground is 'polluted' and not as pure, but no concrete evidence for this exists.
Capabilities
Acidic
Nhermor has acidic properties and reacts violently against metal and biological matter, particularly calcium which can corrode within seconds and turn into foul-smelling vapor. It does not react when coming into contact with black pears or fused quarts though, but the reasons why has not yet been discovered.
Corruptible
Nhermor has been known to corrupt life-forms both through direct contact and by being in its general vicinity; for the latter, there has been a rising suspicion that the weakminded are more susceptible. Consistent symptoms of corruption for a hundred percent of the victims are the complete absence of color, which is replaced with a black-and-white complexion.
Physical symptoms
For humans and fauna, their blood has an eighty percent chance of turning into a nearly pitch-black, tar-like substance. Late-stage corrupted will notice that their blood has a similar shade to liquid silver and they might spontaneously bleed from their eyes; a symptom known as Silver tears. They will shortly thereafter become blind due to this.
Mental symptoms
Insomnia and hearing hallucinations are late-stage mental symptoms, though what exactly is heard is different from specimen to specimen. A common theme, however, is the intangible whispers that give the corrupted strange daydreams.
The Survivors
Humans who do not die from apparent heart failure after being unable to sleep for several days, say that they receive their eyesight back, even though the surrounding colors are muted and watered down. To outsiders, however, they appear to still be blind, with a tint of silver covering their eyes.
These people will continue to experience the hallucinations and the daydreams will become more vivid, as well as their habit of spontaneously crying silver tears for the rest of their lives.
Some scholars, as well as people in certain circles, have gone to call these survivors Corrupted Nhermorians.
Usage
Ritualistic
Several cults throughout the world view Nhermor with great reverence. Most of these are of the opinion that Nhermor is the blood of fallen Celestials that perished in the supposed Divine War during the Dak Days of Star Rain.
They use Nhermor in a ritualistic sense, and a few use it in their initiations; those who want to join them need to drink a small amount of the liquid. If they die, which a majority do, then it is said that their spirits will Awaken on a higher plane of existence to serve Thoe Above. And if they survive, they will become holy in nature and able to see and hear the more divine nature of things.
Type
Metamaterial
Odor
Sweet vanilja.
Taste
Hot as peppar, with a sweet aftertaste.
Common State
Liquid.
Dark Days of Star Rain
The Dark Days of Star Rain refers to the Age before the Awakening of the Prophet Saong Mearach. Silvery, acidic rain from dark blue clouds would pour down on the land, poisoning it. Celestial bodies from the grand dark above would come crashing down during these Star Storms, causing further damage and death. Among the move superstitious, it is said to have been an Age where many of the Gods died for an unknown reason and fell upon the world to be buried underneath the soil.
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