Pinkerid
"Be careful with the mana, idiot! Do you want to let us all be transformed into monsters? You must handle it carefully. A constant, but slow supply of mana is important for the refinement. This small stone is more valuable than you will ever be for me." An expert magitech engineer towards her pupil.Pinkerid is a dangerous, yet extremely valuable mineral. In refined form, it can be used as a source of energy for Magitech artifacts and machines. However, if handled without care, it can cause heavy mutations.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Pinkerid is a light crystal humming lowly with energy, which is caused by the unstable atoms in its structure. The whole crystal structure traps dangerous chaotic Pink Mist energy. Pinkerid is not only a valuable source of energy, but also a potential weapon of mass destruction. It has the ability to cause magical mutations in any living being that touches it, altering their physical and mental characteristics in unpredictable ways. With enough time, the chaotic energy inside can also affect lifeless objects around it, like the box in which it is transported. This makes it extremely difficult to handle well. Some of these mutations are beneficial, such as enhanced strength, speed, or intelligence, while others are harmful, such as deformities, diseases, or insanity. The effects of Pinkerid exposure vary depending on the dose, duration, and individual susceptibility.
It has a milky opacity that makes it difficult to see through, and it emits a faint glow in the dark.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Origin & Source
Pinkerid is often trapped in simple stones or even dirt, making it hard to detect and extract. The crystals of the mineral can form when the pink mist concentrates in an area, creating a high-pressure environment that forces the atoms to rearrange. Pinkerid is especially likely to form during pink mist thunderstorms when the electric discharges and bolts of lightning can cause the creation of the magical mineral. Pinkerid can also be found in places where leaks of the universe let pink mist flow into an area, a swamp for example. However, Pinkerid is still rare to find, even in areas with pink mist, as it requires specific conditions and luck to occur. Even those that stumble on it, may think it's a simple stone or miss to notice the soft hummings of the crystal. The pure pink crystalline structure can only be seen after refining the mineral.
History & Usage
History
Pinkerid appeared after the War in Heaven destroyed the realm of souls and created the Pink Mist we know today. Wherever the chaotic energies of the force between the universes leak into the material world, Pinkerid may form in rare cases. The Fallen Angel Empire first noticed the mineral, but saw only academic value in it. Their own technology was too advanced to see usefulness in the chaotic and dangerous mineral.
One of the first who used Pinkerid in their own technology was the ancient Humans of the Theocracy of Atlantis. They created their Magitech with Pinkerid as its source of energy. Over the years, the mineral became so important for the empire, that someone who found a new source, could easily be lifted to a noble status and receive lands and slaves. Pinkerid was mined in huge quantities during this time. They developed ways to handle the dangerous mineral relatively safely and transported it through their empire. The peak was reached shortly before the second great Pink Mist Storm. With the destruction of Atlantis 500 BC and the fall of their empire in the following centuries, most of the knowledge about Pinkerid was lost.
Today, each bigger crystal has become very valuable, as they still can be used as a source of energy for the old artifacts that can be found. Most of the knowledge on how to handle dangerous material safely has been lost, which makes it feared by many for its mutating radiation. While some empires of Bardor actively search and trade for the minerals, other empires forbid the usage of it and try to avoid it at any cost due to its instability. The trading guilds of the Free Cities of Lia are the biggest importers of Pinkerid in the known world. Slowly the old Magitech is rediscovered and with it, the need to achieve a constant supply of Pinkerid.
Everyday use
Most of these crystals are refined and used in old Magitech technology as a source of energy. In a refinement form, Pinkerid is a relatively stable crystal that emits a constant energy field that can be used to supply many artifacts and magitech with energy. The energy field can be heard as a soft humming. Besides the use in magitech, the crystals have a second use in some areas: Mutations and Pink Mist Infusings. Being too close for a longer duration can easily cause people and even objects to change under the influence of the energies of Pink Mist. Some use this to create new infused artifacts or to experiment with mutated species in the hope of creating a better life.
Refinement
Refining Pinkerid is not an easy task, as it requires a lot of skill, patience, and caution. Pinkerid has a very high melting point of 2700 degrees Celsius, which means that it cannot be melted by conventional means. Instead, it has to be cleaned of any dirt or impurities that may affect its quality. This is done by using special tools in the form of brushes, which must have fine bristles made of enchanted metal. The brushes gently scrape off the unwanted material from the surface of the Pinkerid, without damaging its structure or releasing dangerous Pinkerid dust into the air.
The next step is to purify the Pinkerid by infusing it with magic. This can be done by placing the Pinkerid in a special Pinkerid chamber, which has a magic source attached to it. Alternatively, any infused being can use their own abilities to slowly let pink mist energy flow into the crystal. It is very important that the flow of magic is constant and stable. The steady stream of magic slowly penetrates the Pinkerid and removes any traces of impurities. This process is often referred to as Pinkerid Enrichment.
The purification process can take anywhere from a few hours to several days, depending on the size and quality of the Pinkerid. The process has to be carefully monitored and controlled, as too much or too little magic can ruin the Pinkerid. Too much magic can cause the Pinkerid to overheat and explode, while too little magic can leave the Pinkerid incomplete and unstable.
The process itself varies from location to location, as well as the final result varies heavily depending on the experience of the magitech engineers.
Hazards
It is radioactive with Pink Mist radiation, which can easily cause heavy mutations and diseases. It is important to know how to handle it well and to not touch it directly for too long. Another hazard is the dust of Pinkerid. If inhaled, it can cause a sudden and heavy mutation, often resulting in a complete change and transformation into some kind of monster. Due to the instability of raw Pinkerid, the refinement process is dangerous as well. Inserting too much energy too quickly may let Pinkerid explore. Such a Pinkerid explosion releases a heavy wave of pink mist energies, infusing everything and everyone in the area, which can again cause magical mutations and even the transformation into a different species or a monster.
Type
Mineral
Value
Very High
Rarity
Rather Rare
Odor
None
Color
Pink
Melting / Freezing Point
2700 Degrees Celsius
Density
Low
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