Brass
Brass, (ARV liha) is a metal with deep cultural and historical ties to the Pāll-tanír. Also known as Al Udyadi Ídhun, "The Sages'' Metal" in Arventiri, the importance and sacredness of brass in the Pāll-tanír stretches back thousands of years to before even the Mulrakhan empire. Its importance reaches across divides, even those between the races native to the region. It features heavily in myths, folklore, and superstition from all across the continent, being portrayed as anything from a mundane but precious commodity to a sacred gift from the gods with special metaphysical properties.
Regardless of the veracity of the claims made about the powers and properties of brass, one thing cannot be disputed: it is an important cornerstone of Pāll-taníri Culture.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Brass produced in the Pāll-tanír has a coppery golden color due to the relatively higher proportion of copper than zinc in the composition of the alloy. In its raw form, it is most often seen as small ingots, rods, and spools of wire. It is also often sold in the form of thin sheets or even as metal leaf for the purposes of brass gilding.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Brass is prized in the Pāll-tanír for more than its cultural value. As a metal, it is more malleable than the common alternatives of bronze and iron which are more expensive and are also used for weapons and armor, reducing the supply available for civilian usage. Furthermore, brass possesses acoustic qualities that makes it ideal for use in musical instruments and the ease with which it can be cast means that products made from brass can be created with significantly less expenditure of time and effort.
According to Pāll-taníri myths and folklore, brass has a number of metaphysical properties. Foremost among these supposed properties is brass' supposed connection with lightning and storms. Many households in the Pāll-tanír have some sort of brass object that is meant to protect them against the Arventir, powerful magically-charged sandstorms that occasionally sweep through the region.
Another property that is often associated with brass is an ability to repel evil spirits and evil intents. This belief is particularly prominent in the southeast of the Pāll-tanír, especially near the Shār where workers in the lumber industry wear charms made from the metal to protect them from spirits that are alleged to emerge from the jungle to feast on the flesh of men.
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