Iron

Properties

Physical & Chemical Properties

Iron and it's alloys consistently refuse to take to magical manipulation, even going so far as to insulate a product from the crafter's intention. This feature is the reason that steel is used for training tools, when an apprentice is still learning the practical elements of their craft, and for prison labour, where the crafter's intention may, even by accident, leach into the final product.

History & Usage

History

A major factor in the outbreak of The Mage War  , iron and the willingness to use it in warfare is indirectly responsible for the deaths of millions of soldiers and and innumerable civilians.

Cultural Significance and Usage

Iron was the first material created during the formation of the world. It is the most abundant material on Ærð, and forms the inner core of the planet. As a formative element, iron represents solidified reality and so cannot be affected by magic - not even the magic of a god. Iron dismisses illusions and breaks spells. Tappping a bespelled item with iron, or a blacksmith's tool will break an enchantment. This property means that iron is classed as a protective metal, along with silver and mercury.
Where silver acts against malevolent spirits, and mercury against the dead, iron affects the dream that underpins magic, creating a physical impediment to spirits, magic, and even deities. This property means that iron has been used as an extremely potent counter-magic since antiquity, although, in practice, its use was restricted to those who could afford to maintain a blacksmith throughout their working life and beyond (see: Hazards).
Until recently, most people would have rearely seen iron in everyday use, except pehaps as a rail around the grave or chain around the body of the reviled dead, to prevent them rising as an aptrgangr. It has been used to create magical containment rooms or cells and in magical research, where it is used to prevent contamination by external magical sources, or the escape of potent and potentially harmful magic.
The presence of iron in temples and places of worship is universally banned, and bringing iron to a place frequented by spirits is considered a hostile act. "To send the irons"/"to send iron" is a Cenian term for declaring war.

Industrial Use

Due to its relative ease of manufacture and physical properties, iron is a valuable part of recent industrial development, now surpassing the use of various copper alloys. However, all stages of the process must be carefully controlled, at the risk of poisoning the land spirits.

Hazards

Effect on mortals

The historic restriction on ironworking has primarily been the effect on the smith: blacksmiths and other ironworkers are incapable of using, or being affected by, magic. Apprentice blacksmiths lose the ability quickly (in the order of a few weeks into their apprenticeship), but may regain it if they abandon the trade and make restitution. There is no documented evidence of a fully initiated smith being able to interact with magic, even after retirement, and restitutions offered by master smiths are refused.
Those working in close proximity to iron but not involved in its manufacture have reported inconsistent results when attempting to use magic, but the effect is rarely significant enough to affect daily life, nor does it last beyond the period with which the individual is associated with the offending material.

Effect on immortals and their descendants

Due to its effect on dream, iron is considered a contact-toxin to spirits. More potent spirits find that even proximity to iron affects them, with the distance and intensity of effect directly correlating to the potency of the spirit.
This effect is present, in a smaller degree, in magen, who experience an alleregic reaction on contact with the metal, with varying degrees of severity - from burning, as if the metal is red hot, at the most extreme to mild irritation and reddening of the skin, as in a sunburn - depending on the kingmage's engagement with arcane practices. The resulting injuries do not respond to arcane medical intervention.

Distribution

Law & Regulation

Production, use and disposal of iron is heavily regulated, and a register of buildings using iron in their construction is maintained by most governments. It is frequently prohibited from use in hospitals, educational, and governmental facilities, but commonly found in penal facilities.
In places of mixed occupancy or locations where iron is likely to come into contact with magic, it is required to be securely sealed in such a way that it cannot enter inhabited areas, as even iron particulate or rusty water can have disaterous consequences on delicate magical working, and deleterious effects on the health of kingsmagi and @magi.

Fe

55.845

Type

Metal

Value

High

Rarity

Common

Color

Silver-grey (pure red-brown (oxide)

Boiling / Condensation Point

3134 K ​(2862 °C, ​5182 °F)

Melting / Freezing Point

1811 K ​(1538 °C, ​2800 °F)

Density

7.874 g/cm³

Common State

Solid

Related Species

• Magen