mithril
Mithril is an exceptionally lightweight yet sturdy metal primarily found beneath ancient forests. Mithril is extremely difficult to work, requiring highly specialized knowledge to refine and forge. The vast majority of mithril is controlled by dwarf kingdoms and they are generally the only ones with the knowledge to utilize it.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Mithril ore is a dull, bluish-gray color that is very hard, yet quite light. Refined mithril is a lustrous metallic cyan color, frequently compared to a cloudless midday sky. Mithril is extremely hard and flexible, making it very useful in a variety of applications. It can be hammered into fairly thin sheets which retain their shape and are difficult to break or penetrate. It is also deceptively lightweight, having a density roughly equivalent to that of cork. Mithril is also a natural, powerful insulator. However, mithril is highly reactive with a variety of chemicals, meaning it tarnishes quite easily. This can be mitigated with proper care, but strong acids can damage it severely.
Geology & Geography
Mithril is usually found at medium depths beneath old growth forests. It is quite rare, most often being found as inclusions within veins of other precious metals such as gold, silver, and copper. In veins when it occurs, it is found in a ratio of about 1:1000. It is found here as a native metal in an alloy with metals it is found with.
History & Usage
Everyday use
Mithril is prized for its efficacy in armor and edged weapons. The majority of mithril mined by dwarves goes toward martial ends. Its light weight and hardness make it perfect for armor, reducing the weight while protecting wearers from most edged weapons. Similarly, because it can be hammered so thinly, it makes exceptional sharp weapons which can cut through most other armor with ease. However, its light weight makes it quite unsuited for bludgeoning weapons, as it lacks the weight which makes them dangerous.
Despite its prevalence in weapons and armor, mithril has a wide number of other uses. It makes exceptional barricades; a large amount of mithril can be molded into doors, portals, or portcullises which can stand up to the most determined siege. It also makes excellent insulating clothing as well, keeping wearers comfortable in both extreme cold and intense heat. This makes is useful against electric attacks as well. It is not very soft, however, and can be extremely irritating to wear directly against the skin, meaning mithril clothing is often worn as an outer layer.
Finally, mithril is valued for its vibrant color. Decorative items made from mithril are extremely rare, but are often considered some of the greatest pieces of art created.
Refinement
Unlike most metals, mithril is not refined through smelting. Instead, the ore is bathed in a series of chemicals, slowly separating the metal from the rest of the ore. This process is known as extracting and its exact methods are a closely guarded secret of the few who know it. It requires extreme skill and is fairly slow, producing long, thin threads of mithril called strands. These strands can be used much as other thread for weaving and sewing. Most mithril strands, however, are then melted into malleable thin wafers, which can then be used to create a final product. Creating wafers from the strands is a simple process and can be done without any special knowledge.
Forging mithril is difficult, as its hardness makes it strenuous to work. It also has a very high melting point, meaning it must be worked in high temperatures. Frequently, this means a magma forge, limiting it to dwarven smiths. Regardless, the high heat means a smith can generally only work on it for a short time before needing to take a break; only the most sturdy smiths are able to stand the heat for more than a few minutes at a time. Despite this, exact techniques are not much different from the forging of any other metal.
Type
Metal
Color
Bluish-gray
Boiling / Condensation Point
3560 K
Melting / Freezing Point
2430 K
Density
0.24 g/cm3
Common State
Solid
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