Biomechanical Material

Biomechanical material is usually found in the Cavern of the Crucified., and a few surrounding caves. It comes from a source deep within the Underdark. The structures it creates is usually of a silicate carbon material, with a skin & muscular system based round a similar material. The material itself is black in colour with silvery brown tinges to it. The material is very strong and durable. It seems to have a high tolerance to extremes in temperature & pressure. It seems to naturally take in metals as part of it's make up. It appears smooth, and at times with a light layer of some type of gooey material.
One strange aspect is the rumour that can be linked in with other organisms and becomes one with them. This same rumour speaks of a cavern deep within the Underdark that contains the remains of a Dwarven stronghold & Black Elf city that are linked together by biomechanical material, with the inhabitants able to link through some type of 'port' to the material in their surroundings by using tail-like protrusions in seats & alcoves that have a stinger-like ending. Some who have this ability seem to be able to cause the material to grow and spread. How true this is, is relatively unknown, and likely a complete fabrication. Dwarven strongholds & Black Elf cities come and go as any settlement can, and since this is meant to have happened in the Lower Underdark it's likely an embellishment of failed strongholds & cities there.
Some rare sources concerning this material claim it came from an ancient time on a comet that struck the Earth millennia, or even millions, of years ago, and is buried deep down in a once volcanic region. Other rare sources it was a deity that foresaw the future and thought to experiment with life to improve upon it, possibly combining elements of the organic & inorganic together to 'improve' upon organisms and have them with natural armour, weapons & tools built in..... then the organisms escaped.
One rare source said to be hidden in the Vatican purportedly states that the material was originally created by a primordial entity. It's children supposedly spread across the stars, using some type of technology relying on manipulating organic material. The material came from a great distance away, and the entity is still out there with it's children looking for any place where this material may be. This same source claims that it was Samael that this material belongs to, and his children, the demons & devils that he fathered with Lilith are intrinsically tied to it. Also, the same source also claims that Leviathan is linked to it, after helping to produce the first biomechanical material to help control & bring order to the flesh of mortals. In the latter half, it is hinted that certain legendary puzzle boxes are made from it, and that a rare few occultists have vanished after coming into with one of these boxes (also the boxes are meant to have metal filigree on them, usually brass, and with occult symbols on them).

Properties

Material Characteristics

The material is highly resistant to damage, and sometimes have slight pockets of a yellowish-green liquid spread throughout. This same liquid is sometimes found to flow through it like blood in a circulatory system, and is highly acidic easting through most materials. The material does seem to be easily damaged to a degree by fire & extreme heat, blistering like burnt skin if subjected to enough of it. Any pockets of liquid explodes violently when subjected to fire / extreme heat sources. It seems to prefer tropical conditions though. Given time it seems to form into organic-like shapes, even showing elements like limbs, eyes, chests and more specific organs. If metal in high quantity exist in the region it seems to make inorganic shapes too, such as mesh-like materials, pipes, tubes, and grills.

Physical & Chemical Properties

The properties of the material is strange. Left to it's own devices it will latch on to living material drawing nutrients from any living organism assimilating it in the process. If coaxed, it seems to create a symbiotic relationship in the host body. At the same time, if left alone it can breakdown minerals in soil & rock, and sends out tendrils into water sources. It grows into structures with a bonelike core, and a hardened exoskeleton. Again this can be coaxed to grow specific shapes if directed by someone who knows how to do it (which does not seem to be anyone on Earth). The strong dense material of it gives great protection in many situations but is twice as heavy as full plate.

Compounds

Silicates seem to make up a part of it, and carbon nanotubules too. Metals such as iron seems to make up elements of it too. An extremely rare few scholars who have examined elements of it, describe it as a semi-organic material, that seems to be made up of strange animal tissue, giving off layers of silicates & carbonised layers, and growing if conditions allow it.

Origin & Source

Whatever the origin it is not terrestrial, and believed to have come to Earth in the distant past. Recently, adventurers in the Central Massif have returned with information it was introduced as part of an amber sarcophagus, that also trapped the being who created it initially.

Life & Expiration

Left alone it seems to continually grow, though slows down after encountering arid cooler conditions.

History & Usage

History

Unknown outside a hidden few.

Discovery

Only discovered recently by adventurers who discovered the initial site of it in the western Central Massif, a few further small amounts have been found in Austrian mining ventures in the Alps.

Hazards

Potentially explosive if containing any of the yellowish-green liquid.

Environmental Impact

Highly dangerous if introduced to tropical or sub-tropical regions. This would give it a humid, warm environment with access to a huge organic base to grow out off.

Distribution

Trade & Market

There is no known trade or market for it, as little enough is found to be of any use. Scholars are the only ones who seem to value it to see if it can be of any use.

Storage

Most storage is in cold dry conditions preventing it growing.

" 'ere that's strange stuff ain't it? Ne'er seen anyting like it. We was mining in that iron mine due south west of Austria. Y'know the one? First one ye come 'cross when travellin ta the Alps. We had dug down through one layer, got out he iron, then we 'it the second major seam. Ha'way through the seam we hit this ribbed pipe-like thingy. Predy 'ard it were. We hadda bring out the tougher gear. Looked like roots coming off it through the other sidea it somewhere. We started clearing it, 'nd hit the main thingy. Tore a 'ole right down it. Big mistake. Lotta yellish grien stuff squirted out. Hit me mate Ivar right on his face. Melted right through 'im in an instant. When we dug round it, thar seemed to be the remains of tha thingy goin' right doon inta a pit. The whole pit was a mass of these surroundin' a pit lined wit' some type a chitin-like m'terial. Couldn't see ta bottom, didn't wanna to. The thingies seemed to be hanging jus' over the lip of the pit, and the liquid was spewin' out into it. We could just see & no more, sumit covered by the liquid, someting moving under he surface. The smell was acrid like acidic, and a strong smell of iron. We though it were feedin' on the iron ore, dissolvin' it like, and feedin' it down inta here. Those undulations of ta the pipes. Looked as if it were goin' from ta top of 'em down inta here. That's when we decided to leave, bring back a bit if where we had damaged it, and bring back Ivar's body fer burial. When we got back though, a small portion of it had grown back, an' a part snakin' it's way through towards what were the remains of Ivar. Us Dwarves are a hardy bunch, but even then, there were lil left of Ivar. It had melted down well inta his chest& upper arms. At that point it was too much, an' we scarpered."
Runic Oresmasher, Dwarven miner reporting to Jarl Hundi Gunthr, concerning the events of the mining incident on the year of our Lord 23rd October 800 AD.

"This material is like nothing I have ever seen. It seems to pretty much inert, yet if placed near water, handled by my bare hands, or near any metal or organic material it seems to almost come alive & grow. Not that much so without looking closely under a viewing glass, and a bit of patience (about half an hour or so), but its there. Very tough too. Its about he size of a knuckles worth of spongy moss, but far far tougher & harder. It doesn't seem to like fire. Placed it over a candle and it seemed... to twitch violently? While holding it, I could feel something too. Just out of reach, but here. I saw a being, made of strange leather like chitin. Ribs, claws, teeth like a wolf, and a glistening to it, as if covered in a sheen of sweat or some type of liquid. I could feel it for me without speaking, asking to take this material into myself. That I would learn the secrets both it and this creature had. I also felt extreme pain, as if first trapped in a hardened yellowish material, then it falling, followed by burning at an extreme heat. It seemed to be flying then, taking up residence between a cold dark library watched by someone hidden in shadows, and in a wet pit being fed by 'worms'? I don't know exactly. It seemed to have malice towards someone, or some group I just can't figure out. I think I may know the 'someone' but I can't be sure, so familiar yet so distant.'
Part of the report for filing at the next meeting at Wien castle, as written by Jarl Hundi Gunthr.

Type

Biomaterial

Rarity

Legendary