Adamant

Adamant is a form of crystal rumored to be nearly indestructible and found only on the Glass Isles of the eastern seas. Indeed, the Glass Isles themselves are rumored to be formed entirely of adamant, rising from the sea in crystalline spires. Given the stone's indestructible qualities, the only known method for shaping adamant is the wild magic possessed by the Glass Singers of the Adamantean Empire.

*Note: It is a subject of some debate amongst scholars as to whether the adamant stone takes its name from the Adamantean people, or whether the Adamanteans chose to take their name and that of their empire from their most precious resource. The Adamanteans themselves are famously close-lipped on the subject, as they are with nearly anything concerning their renowned treasure. At least when such questions are being posed by foreigners. It is therefore unlikely that this particular scholarly debate will ever be resolved.

History & Usage

Everyday use

Within the Glass Isles, adamant is used as the primary building material for everything from buildings to furniture to serving dishes. Even the boats, from the lowest fishing vessels to the trading fleet of the Glass Empress, are spun from the thinnest crystal. 
Yet while it is the most common of materials to be found in the Glass Isles, outside the Isles it is the rarest material known to man. This rarity, and the fact that no one outside the Adamantean Empire has the ability to work the stone, is the foundation for the extraordinary wealth enjoyed by the Adamantean people. Even the smallest object crafted of adamant is a symbol of wealth and prestige among the nations outside the Adamantean Empire. The fact that the Királian kings were able to commission an entire monument to the gods out of adamant is a testament to the power and wealth they have enjoyed.

Distribution

Trade & Market

Nearly the entirety of the Adamantean economy is built upon the crafting and export of adamant. Everything from dishes to jewelry to statues and works of art are crafted by the most skilled Glass Singers and sent abroad via the Empress's glass trading fleet.

Law & Regulation

While art and domestic objects crafted of adamant are traded freely beyond the borders of the Empire, it is forbidden to export any weapon or vessel larger than the smallest fishing skiff. The security of the Adamantean Empire against foreign invasion rests almost entirely upon the indestructibility of their weapons, ships, and walls. Therefore, any violation of this trade restriction is considered tantamount to treason and is punishable by death.

Type

Ore/Mineral

Color

The most common colors of adamant range from milky opalescent to nearly clear. The very rarest color is black, though this is sometimes considered an aberrant form as it has been known to resist the working of even the strongest Glass Singers.