Luminite Crystals

These radiant, luminescent crystals are found deep within ancient caves or beneath the ocean floor. When harnessed, they emit a powerful, otherworldly light that can be channelled into energy for various purposes.
Appearance: Luminite Crystals are beautiful, semi-translucent gems with an inner glow that ranges from a soft, ethereal shimmer to a vibrant, radiant luminescence. Depending on the depth of their power, they come in various colours, such as pale blues, purples, or even shimmering whites. Some rare specimens might have intricate patterns that move and shift within the crystal, like tiny stars swirling within.
Origin: These mystical crystals are formed over millennia in deep, secluded caverns hidden away from the world's surface. They are born from the planet's natural energy convergence and the essence of ethereal entities that pass through the material plane.
Harvesting: Harvesting Luminite Crystals is a dangerous task a select group of specialized miners performs. The caves housing these crystals are often fraught with otherworldly dangers, such as luminescent creatures or protective spirits guarding the precious gems. The process of extraction requires utmost care, as any reckless actions could disrupt the delicate balance of energy within the crystal, making it unstable or losing its power.
Properties and Powers:  When harnessed, Luminite Crystals emit a gentle, soothing light that can illuminate large areas without fuel or fire. The intensity of the light can be controlled, ranging from a dim glow to a brilliant radiance, making it versatile for various purposes. They are especially favoured in underground cities or isolated settlements, providing much-needed light without attracting unwanted attention.
Beyond illumination, the crystals can be used as a potent power source. Artificers and enchanters have devised mechanisms to channel the crystal's energy into magical devices, such as floating constructs, protective barriers, or transportation portals. The energy can also be directed into powerful spells, augmenting mages' abilities and lending an ethereal quality to their magic.
Rare and Unique Variants: Some extremely rare and powerful Luminite Crystals possess extraordinary properties:
1. The Astral Shard: A legendary crystal said to have fallen from the heavens during a celestial event. It grants the power of foresight, allowing its wielder to glimpse into possible futures and make informed decisions.
2. The Harmony Heart: A unique Luminite Crystal that can attune itself to the emotions of those nearby. It can amplify positive and calm negative emotions, fostering harmony and tranquillity.
3. The Timebearer Crystal: This enigmatic crystal can temporarily slow down or speed up time around it. This makes it incredibly valuable for both research and tactical applications.
4. The Starforged Core: The most potent Luminite Crystal. Its radiance can rival that of a small sun, and it is rumoured to possess the power to open gateways to other dimensions or even birth new stars.
Luminite Crystals are a large part of the world and its economy. They are renowned for their beauty and magical properties. They are exceedingly rare. The only well-known location one may find Luminite is in the depths of The Everglow Ocean.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Your standard Luminite Crystal is often jagged, its colouration varying widely, however, the more rare Luminite Crystals have different shapes and colours.
Astral Shard: The Astral Shards are smooth, triangular shards of Luminite. Small in size but carrying traces of divination magic
Harmony Heart: The Harmony Heart are smooth, heart-shaped shards. Larger than the shard, It has traces of enchantment magic.
Timebearer: The Timebearer shards are often found as dodecagons. This rare variant is imbued with chronourgy magic
Starforged: A Starforged shard is octagonal, and unlike the rest can only be found as a radiant white gem, its rumours to contain a tremendous amount of power, and gives off a resplendent glow.

Physical & Chemical Properties

When in physical contact with Luminite Crystals, they seem to be warm to the torch. Some of the more rare variants seem to have anti-gravity capabilities, being able to float on their own.

Compounds

Luminite Crystals are often used to create various magical items and enchantments, and dependent on the variant, it may also act as light sources for street lamps, among countless other uses. It is a very versatile element.

Geology & Geography

Luminite Crystals are most commonly found deep beneath the Everglow Ocean, making it a very dangerous material to harvest. It also can rarely be found deep in ancient cave systems.

Origin & Source

Luminite Ore contains these crystals, though they can be rarely found in various other mineral geodes.

Life & Expiration

Thanks to its unique nature, raw luminite crystals can maintain their magical capabilities for a decade. However, after five years its powers are drastically decreased. However, when refined Luminite Crystals can retain their magical capabilities indefinitely unless subject to anti-magic

History & Usage

History

When first discovered, Luminite crystals were seen purely as decorative, much like most other valuable gems. However, researchers have studied its properties it has grown significantly more useful, though due to its difficult harvesting, it is still rather scarce

Discovery

According to our records, Luminite crystals were first discovered and used by The Artamize Empire long ago, however, archaeologists and geologists believe that it was discovered long before recorded history. Though there is no solid evidence as of yet.

Everyday use

Due to its scarcity, it has yet to reach common use

Cultural Significance and Usage

According to our Archaeologist Luminite Crystals were culturally significant to the Artamize empire, with evidence to suggest that it was ritually used to recognize Artamizian youths as adults. Though the ritual its self remains unknown to us currently.

Industrial Use

Luminite Crystals undergo an extensive and delicate refinement process. This process requires the combined efforts of skilled Artisans, Gifted Alchemists and Talented Enchanters.

Refinement

While Luminite Crystals can be used in their raw form, it is less efficient and dangerous. As such, it is refined into a safer and more efficient form.
Refinement process:

1. Extraction and Harvesting: The first step is to extract Luminite Crystals from their natural sources carefully. Miners and adventurers must employ specialized tools and protective gear to navigate the treacherous environments and remove the crystals without damaging them.
2. Cleansing and Purification: Once extracted, the raw Luminite Crystals carry impurities and energies from their surroundings. To prepare them for refinement, the crystals undergo a cleansing process using purified water and a specialized ritual that is only taught to a handful of enchanters.
3. Magical Attunement: Luminite Crystals are known to resonate with various energies, including elemental forces and celestial events. Skilled enchanters or mages would attune the crystals to specific types of magical power or basic properties to unlock their full potential.
4. Energy Infusion: Enchanters use arcane rituals and spells to infuse the Luminite Crystals with magical energy, empowering them with the desired properties, such as healing, elemental manipulation, temporal stabilization, et cetera.
5. Ethereal Soak: Alchemists would then submerge the Luminite Crystals in special ethereal fluids or baths, temporarily merging the crystals' essence with the ethereal plane. This process could allow the crystals to interact with and influence ethereal beings or phenomena.
6. Empowerment with Rare Materials: Artisans incorporate rare and exotic materials with mystical properties during refinement to further enhance the crystals. These materials infuse the Luminite Crystals with additional enchantments or unique capabilities.
7. Sealing and Preservation: Once refined, the Luminite Crystals would be carefully sealed in enchanted containers or specially crafted settings to protect their newfound power and prevent any unintended discharge of energy.

Manufacturing & Products

After Refinement, Luminite Crystals are used to craft various useful items such as Memory Crystals, Weather Harmonizers, Street Lamps, just to name a few of the many products Luminite Crystals can be used to make

Byproducts & Sideproducts

When undergoing the refinement process, during the submersion, it creates a fine powder-like substance that has multiple uses, such as Arcane Tattoo Ink, it can replace most spell components amongst many other uses

Hazards

As a side effect of the Luminite Crystal refinement, after submersion Luminite leaves a powder-like substance that can be used as a type of Narcotic known as Surge.

Distribution

Trade & Market

When it comes to the sale of Luminite, it is mainly sold along the Luminous Coast, though it can also rarely be sold by merchants in Quetzal. It is very much considered a more exotic good.
There is also a Black market, namely for Surge which is controlled by the Black Lotus

Storage

In its raw form, Luminite is often carried in Lead containers due to lead's magic suppression and its ability to block out X-ray
In its refined form, it is stored in specialized containers lined and sealed with lead

Law & Regulation

As it currently stands, there are no laws about raw and refined luminite, however there are extremely strict laws for the distribution of Surge. Which is outlawed through out the entirety of the four nations due to its dangerous capabilities.

¹¹²LCr

225.5

Type

Ore/Mineral

Value

850gp-850,000gp

Rarity

Rare

Odor

Luminite Crystals lack any discernable scent

Taste

In the event one decideds to taste a Luminite Crystal, it is a bitter metallic taste

Color

Luminite Crystals vary in colour, ranging from clear and to a deep jet black and everything inbetween.

Boiling / Condensation Point

Luminite Crystals have a boiling point of 4080 degrees Celsius

Melting / Freezing Point

Luminite Crystals have a melting point of 3000 degrees Celsius

Density

4.5 grams

Common State

Luminite Crystals are often found as a Solid