Mukebahari Ginger Crystals

General introduction

Mukebahari ginger crystals stem from the Mukabahari chamber of the Eastern Erana Cave-tinent. (EECT) They are irregularly shaped, quite brittle crystals, similar to obsidian. They are sometimes found by the Madini close to the entrance to the Madini-Mukebahari-chamber of the EECT. The Madini, superstitious as they are, sacrifice goods in the desert which mysteriously vanish. Instead the crystals are found. This is a form of ware-exchange only understood by the other side of the bargain.

The Madini use these rare crystals for highly prized pieces of art or handicraft.

Sources and harvest

While the Madini don't know about the origin of the crystals. Those who harvest them on the other side are aware of the Madinis existence and keep their own a secret. It is a small society of Joun, which call themselves Amaria that lives in the tunnel leading towards the Madini-Mukebahari-chamber. The chamber is known to be very warm and dry and almost no plants grow there. The tunnel to the chamber is a lot more pleasant to live and the Amaria cultivate mushrooms there for food and keep a number of invertebrates as other food sources. They also venture into the adjacent chamber to forage whatever they might find there that might be of use. One of these materials are the Mukebahari ginger crystals, which are randomly formed by some yet unknown mechanism in the sandy ashen soil of the chamber.

Harvesting the crystals requires some precaution as they are quite sharp even without being handled and refined. Thus the Amaria have developped special ash sieves to get the crystals out of the ground.

Properties and use

As said, the crystals are quite brittle. This makes then unsuited for use as tools, as splinters break off too easily. Cuts made with these crystals will however almost always result in an inflammation. This has led to some application in warfare to prolong the time enemy soldiers are incapacitated by injuries inflicted by ginger crystal weapons as compared to regular weapons.

The most common use of these crystals, that are transparent and have the colour of bright red hair, is in art, though. The Amaria trade them away, as they have no use for them, but the Madini love the gentle and light colouration, as orange and red are their favourite colours. The crystals are used for all kinds of art supplies. Often they are ground up and mixed with eggwhite to serve as a paint for wall paintings. Some also make small lanterns out of the shards. Only a few artisans are skilful enough to drill the delicate crystals, so they can be worked into necklaces or charms.

Type

Mineral