Cruix Alchemical Etching

The Cruix Alchemical Etching is a procedure used for etching patterns into the surface of iron. It is mostly used in the minting of Cruix, a currency of the Free Cities but is also common in many other indusries, such as enchantment and artificery.

Utility

Cruix further refined the process and eventually licensed it to Merferd Mints who in return minted the first Cruix, which has since served as the main currency of the Free Cities.
Cruix was also willing to license his formula to every artisan who wanted to use it and it quickly gained popularity with the public. It was used not only by coin minters but also by carpenders, metal-smiths jewelers and other artisans who wanted to add an additinal flare to their work.
Some uses of the method, however, are considered as colesly guarded secrets. After his death in 1054 the Free Commerce Committee quickly changed the fomula used for minting coins, making counterfitting more difficult.

Manufacturing

The process is quite simple, but very prone to error if not done properly. Mixing of Tanukian Wood powder with Sulfur and Alchohol creates an unstable dark yellow solution that resambles boiling paste. The desired pattern is painted into a solvable medium such as wax paper using ink that is rich with iron. The final design is then applied to the surface of the iron object. The solution is then diluted with water before painting over the applied deseign. In some cases, the entire piece is submerged in the solution.
Depending on the desired end result, the paste needs to be removed between a few minutes and 24 hours. Few minutes will etch most soft or impure iron surfaces, but for deeper, more defined engraving, or for more pure objects and surfaces will require longer exposure

Social Impact

While Emil's invention had impact on countless fields practiced around the contient, it also allowed for the adoption of the early Cruix in the Free Cities and the subsequent development of their international trade. The coin was later officially named Cruix by the FCC in his honor.

Current Date: 2^nd of Latsum, 1572

Inventor(s)

Emil Cruix

Access & Availability

Widely known

Complexity

Simple

Discovery

Emil Cruix was looking for a way to remove impurities from small silver shavings. While applying an alchemical solution to the shavings, he accidently sprayed some on wax paper he laid on an iron slab for taking notes. The morning after, he found the wax deformed and his markings where etched into the iron slab due to a slow reaction with the ink.

Related Items

• Cruix