Green Stone

A strange and poorly understood material, green stone is known to the world by its presence in shaftbuilder devices. A green crystalline mineral, the stones appear superficially similar to emeralds in appearance. Somewhat translucent and with generally smooth surfaces, the similarities to an emerald end there. Green stone seems to produce a faint glow all on its own, and is virtually indestructible. Most crucially, the stone is known to have been an important focus of the Shaftbuilders' vast magical powers, and to have enabled their greatest works of artifice and engineering.

Though the Shaftbuilders of old understood how to mold raw green stone to their design, and to use the powers of unrefined stone, such feats are beyond the capabilities of modern researchers.

Properties

Physical & Chemical Properties

Green stone breaks some of the most fundamental laws of magic known. The living will has been held to be integral to the successful use of magic, be it providential, göetic, or even arising from elder power. Shaftbuilder artifice, as enabled by green stone, sidesteps this requirement. Green stone holds magical potency inanimate, something impossible by any other means. Thus, shaftbuilder artifacts, designed by dwarves dead for 6000 years continue to function. Though some require a living will to act on them in order to be activated, others function without any impetus.

Origin & Source

In ages past, green stone was found deep within the bowels of the earth. The shaftbuilders dug apart mountains and descended into the deepest pits in order to secure it, for it was the lifeblood of their civilization. In modern times, none know how to dig for it, as the mining tunnels of the shaftbuilders seem to be barren. The only way to find green stone is to happen upon an intact shaftbuilder device, usually imprinted with a particular magical function.

Type

Mineral