Materials

From HollowWiki
The following materials are admin-approved materials and should be safe to use in RPs. Admins do still reserve the right to plug any exploited loopholes, of course.

The following is a list of materials found in Hollow, woods, metals, etc., and the properties and potential uses.

Please note as Hollow is a fantasy realm, some of the items may include archaic names and uses and fantastic properties associated with real-world materials.

Official Metals

Adamantite

  • Type: Metal
  • Uses: Crafting Armor & Weapons
  • Prevalent Culture: Drow

Adamantite is the hardest known metal within Hollow, found only deep within the Underdark. The metal shares many properties with Mithril, as it is very light and durable; however, it is far less brilliant and has a dull grey appearance even when polished. It is the primary metal used in the secret Drow alloy employed in nearly every piece of armor and weaponry used by the Drow. The alloy emanates a bizarre metamagical energy very similar to that of Chaos magic, known as Faerzress, which is also present in natural ore throughout the Underdark. Highly trained smiths forge Adamantite into this unique alloy, making it nearly indestructible by physical means and capable of slicing through most other metals. Nevertheless, the armor or weapon is rendered nonmagical by even brief exposure to the sun. The metal must also spend considerable time within the Underdark to receive exposure to the natural radiation there, even if it is never exposed to the Sun upon the surface; for this reason, the metal is of limited use to surface dwellers. After exposure to the sun, the metal will immediately lose its magical properties and begin to physically decay after 1-3 weeks, depending on the severity of the exposure. After the onset of this decay, the weapon or armor will be useless in its current state, becoming brittle and readily damaged. Only a complete melting down and reforging by a Drow mastersmith can restore the alloy's magical properties. If the metal is not returned to the Underdark for reworking before the decay is complete, it will be consumed by the aggressive decay and become worthless.


Black Ice

  • Type: Metal/Enchanted Ice
  • Uses: Crafting Armor
  • Prevalent Culture: Frost Giant

The pride and joy of Frostmaw's master smiths, Black Ice is only found in the depths of the region known as Frostmaw. This material is a unique combination of an unnamed black metal — found solely in the extreme colds of the Xalious range — and super-hard blocks of ice mined from the heart of ancient glaciers and magically enchanted to remain permanently in their frozen state. From there, it is shaped into armor pieces and lined with cloth to protect the wearer from frostbite. When forged, it appears much like a solid sheet of black ice, with an unnaturally durable — while still able to be shattered with enough force, metallic-feeling surface that gives off a strong cold aura. So long as they are not shattered completely, items crafted from Black Ice will slowly repair any damage they take, drawing water from the air around and freezing it back into shape. It has been used for generations by the Frost Giant people in their armor and occasionally jewelry and other decorative pieces. Black Ice does not usually make effective weapons, tending to shatter too easily under the stresses. The secrets to the hybridization are closely guarded, and although Frostmaw willingly trades the finished material, they give up no information on how to create it.

Also, note that unless the bearer is wearing other clothing, the armor's outside is not typically covered. Therefore, other people touching the armor with bare flesh may find themselves frozen to it or with frostburns.


Blue Iron

  • Type: Metal
  • Uses: Crafting Armor
  • Prevalent Culture: Frost Giant

An iron unique to the northern climates and often found deep in the caves of these lands. Unlike most irons, this one carries a strong blue tint to it and is slightly reflective, but the most significant difference between Blue Iron and its close kin is its lack of brittleness in extreme cold. Frost Giants have put this peculiar trait to frequent use, often crafting armor, weapons, furniture, and even parts of permanent buildings out of the cold-resistant metal. This material does not respond well when exposed to the fire. With its surface heating rapidly and color warping, it becomes far less durable. How the smiths of Frostmaw forge this metal without damaging it is a trade secret. Rumor says that a reverse forging, involving snow rather than traditional fire, is the method used.


Celestial Bronze

  • Type: Metal
  • Uses: Crafting Armor & Weapons
  • Prevalent Culture: The Devout

Celestial Bronze is an extremely rare metal, so rare that it doesn’t even occur naturally in the landscape of Lithrydel. It falls from the heavens as a meteorite, and that’s where it gets its name. When properly refined, the metal glows with radiant light, and it is ready to be forged for someone in particular by a cleric of Loda, so far the only sect blessed with the divine insight to know how to draw out its power. The equipment made from it, is a tangible blessing to the one it’s made for. It may change to reflect that person’s relationship to the gods, and change again as that relationship does. It’s impossible to define its abilities because they will vary greatly from person to person, from god to god. People other than the intended who try to wield them wouldn’t be able to take advantage of their abilities, just as they couldn’t intercept a blessing given by the gods as an answer to their devoted ones prayers. The equipment would be mundane to them at best. At worst, it may even spite them, painfully, if the thief perceives the true wielder’s god as an enemy.


Dark Steel

  • Type: Metal
  • Uses: Crafting Armor & Weapons
  • Prevalent Culture: Fermin

Though the many regions of Hollow may be rather enchanted, sagely, and perhaps even worthy of being kept in a locket, the sewers of the cities do not follow this rule at all. Over the years, the Fermin's home has become a repository for the general waste and refuse of the rest of the region, minor scavenging notwithstanding. It's no surprise that even the iron found in the sewers has become tainted with, among other things, an even darker tint. When fashioned into steel, this metal becomes easily shapable at lower-than-average temperatures, allowing it to be readily formed into sharp edges. The malleability due to the metal's questionable contents makes it ideal for shaping the pointed tips of arrows, spears, and other implements. However, due to this formability, the material is a poor choice for cutting edges as it becomes misshapen relatively quickly.


Ghroundium

  • Type: Metal
  • Uses: Crafting Armor & Weapons
  • Prevalent Culture: Ogres, Goblins

Although technically one of the strongest known metals in Hollow, this material's extreme weight and density makes it impractical to wear as regular armor. It is often made into a fine wire by ogres, one of the only races strong enough to work with it in its natural form, and it is then woven into cloth by nimble fingers of goblins. Once treated, the Ghroundium cloth emits a protective aura that makes it very practical protection.


Mithril

(Sometimes spelled Mythril).

  • Type: Metal
  • Uses: Crafting Armor & Weapons
  • Prevalent Culture: Dwarves, Elves

Mithril is a rare metal outside the mountains of Xalious, although there are several larger deposits deep within the Underdark. Mithril is notoriously difficult to mine because it is supernaturally hard. Still, the benefits of Mithril, once it has been crafted into armor or weapon, are enough to offset these difficulties. Mithril is first of all light, meaning that almost any race can wear or wield it. Mithril takes millennia to become tarnished, so it almost always appears beautiful and shiny; for this reason, it has sometimes been used for crafting wedding bands as its silvery appearance, and the untarnished surface becomes symbolic of the union. The final advantage of Mithril is apparent when this wondrous metal is used in weapon smiting; barring any unusual (usually magical) circumstances, a Mithril blade will never lose its sharp edge, meaning that such a weapon would always be battle-ready. The primary races using Mithril are the Elves (of all varieties) due to its lightweight nature and the Dwarves, who have the metal in abundance and appreciate both its beauty and utility.


Official Woods

Elysian Rose

  • Type: Wood
  • Uses: Armor, weapons, tools
  • Prevalent Culture: Enchantment

Petals and Thorns

In the realms of the fae, there exists a unique material they call Elysian Rose. This enigmatic substance is grown on vines and has the extraordinary ability to take on two distinct forms depending on which court handles it. Petal, when handled by the Seelie fae, and Thorn, when embraced by the Unseelie fae. Both come from the same source, a special plant they cultivate and enchant through a special and secret process.

The process for both is usually done by human gardeners or botanists or florists who have been enchanted or enthralled by the fae into servitude. That isn’t to say the fae can’t do it, they simply don’t want to. The workers must spend long hours guiding the growth of Elysian Rose vines into the desired shape and then use magic to harden them to use as weapons or armor or tools. This is the general process for both Elysian Petal and Elysian Thorn. The technique is far different.

Petal is nurtured lovingly with lots of sunlight and affection, and sung to each day. Leaves grow wide and long like birds feathers, and flowers bloom and appear delicate and elegant and full of life. When the vines reach the desired shape, magic is done to them that causes them to harden over with a luminous gold-green glow. It is often characterized by a filigree type appearance, appearing light as a whisper and delicate as a butterfly’s wings. It enhances enchantments and healing and natural magics, while being beautiful, and sturdy, and light.

Thorn on the other hand, is grown in dark places, fed only toxic materials, and forced to grow by its gardeners. They jerk and twist the brittle vines, causing spines to emerge where they were nearly broken into shape. The flowers never bloom, and thorns erupt along the vine in an attempt to protect against their brutal handlers. When the process is complete, the vine is magically hardened and takes on a twisted appearance with jagged edges, tangled needles, and macabre patterns of toxic blue or violet. They enhance magical abilities too, but always ones associated with corruption, poison, and melancholy.

Both Petal and Thorn are grown and crafted from the same Elysian Rose vine, but the diverging nature and intentions of their cultivators are manifested in the appearance of Petal and Thorn. Elysian Rose mirrors the truth of the fae themselves, a people of both light and shadow who are forever connected and always separate.


Written by Lanlan for the Merchant's Guild Materials Contest.


Xalious Wood

  • Type: Wood
  • Uses: Crafting Magical Weapons & Misc
  • Prevalent Culture: Mage's Guild, Druids, Priests

Xalious Wood is a magical wood from the Xalious Tree itself, located just south of the Mage Tower in the Southern Xalious Mountains. When wood is merely broken off from the tree, it will shrivel and dry, losing all of its magical properties and becoming of little use to anyone. However, suppose the wood is sampled using a specific magical artifact blessed by the Ascendi Arclandon himself. In that case, it will retain the vast metamagical energies flowing through the same tree which embodies the Patron God of Magic. The properly harvested wood is among the most vital conduits for magical energy that exists in Hollow, having a natural link to the magical plane within its very nature. The wood has a beautifully intricate grain and is very dense with durability even higher than that of other aged hardwoods like oak or mahogany. The sampling with Arclandon's Blessed Boline may only be used for the express purpose of protecting magic within the realm of furthering the advancement of magical practice. Any other use will render the Boline's divine blessing null and void. For this reason, the artifact was entrusted to the Druidess Thea to adjudicate the appropriate use for the Xalious tree's sacred branches to maintain balance within the lands of Hollow. It has been used to protect the magical realm of Enchantment by merging a living scion of the Xalious Tree with the Gateway of Enchantment and to create the Xalious Wood Staves awarded to magi of requisite standing within the Mage's Guild.


Ya-te-veo

  • Type: Wood
  • Uses: Creating Magial Weapons, Advanced potions/herbalism
  • Prevalent Culture: Druids, though rather rare

Ya-te-veo can refer to any of various legendary or cryptid carnivorous trees that are large enough to kill and consume a person or other large animal. Such trees are rare in and of themselves and getting rarer as families of the consumed destroy the offenders. Finding one isn't the most challenging part; however: harvesting sufficient wood for a weapon or piece of armor is an exercise of great patience, wit, and skill.

Official Gemstones

Dreaming Water Opal

Location: Rynvale Island, the Dragon Lands

The Dreaming Water Opal is a gemstone of beauty and mystical properties. Its formation deep beneath Rynvale Island, specifically within the natural fault lines of the Dragon Lands, contributes to its rarity and uniqueness. This opal is formed through a process similar to other natural opals, but the location of its forming offers it a unique twist.

The Dreaming Water Opal's enchantment lies in the water that has interacted with hibernating feral dragons. This water carries within it potent magical energies associated with dreams and oneiromancy. As the water seeps into the surrounding rock and minerals, it imparts these magical properties, infusing the opal with a magical essence.

Description: It is a soft, porous stone and can be identified by its remarkable appearance. Visually, it resembles crystal-clear water. Within this watery clarity, luminous veins of multicolored mana wind and twist like ethereal wisps, creating a mystical display of magical energy. The colors of these mana veins can vary, ranging from vivid blues and greens to delicate pinks and purples, forming intricate patterns throughout the opal's surface.

Uses: In the realm of magic, the Dreaming Water Opal is highly revered for its profound connection to dreams and the realm of the subconscious. It is believed to possess the ability to enhance one's dream experiences, unlocking hidden insights. When used in rituals or spellwork involving dreams or divination, the opal's magical properties amplify and focus the practitioner's intent, allowing for deeper exploration and understanding of the dream realm. Additionally, the Dreaming Water Opal can serve as a powerful tool for oneiromancers as an aid in harnessing the energies of dreams for various purposes. Its presence during dream-related rituals can help facilitate lucid dreaming. By wearing or carrying the opal, individuals may experience heightened dream recall, enabling them to better analyze and interpret their dreams.


Written by Valrae for the Merchant's Guild Materials Contest.


Jesterite

Witnesses say "The air was filled with mirth and joy and magical dust filled the air. The performance was pretty good but after they released the multi-colored dust it was truly magical."

Jesterite is the crystalline form of the energy Laughter gives off. It can be found in places where folks gather to celebrate great moments. The happiness, the mirth, the joy grows into hexagonal spires. This material was first found by traveling troupes through the land of Hollow, hence the name Jesterite. They discovered some caves where they used to stay at had the crystals forming inside in many different colors. Can be found in Black, White, Orange, Violet, Green, Red and Blue. Rumors from some traveling bands say that there is a large geode that has grown over the ages deep under the Temple of Music. "With all that drama and humor being played on stage that helped charge the audiences over time it makes sense something like that would be found there"

Jesterite is used to enhance costumes for both dramatic displays and greatly enhances comedic performances. It call also be ground into a fine colorful dust that induces laughter if used correctly. Some Troupes have also been said to have used it on armor to give them a little oomph in battle, fracting light to aid with illusions, or depending if it was used in the making of said armor can help that armor be lighter and easier to move in, laughter being light hearted and all. This can also be applied to weapons for non-lethal damage, passing through armor only to cause a tickling sensation if target can be tickled. This effect can cause uncontrollable laughing, or paralysis.


Written by Pyde for the Merchant's Guild Materials Contest.

Official Materials - Other

Spiritglass

Region: Vhys

Material Type: Glass

Description: Each piece of normal glass (whether stained or regular) is expertly crafted within Vhys’ glass foundry. When someone orders something made of spiritglass, however, it also requires the assistance of a gifted necromancer to help bind the spirit to the glass. But these are not unwilling spirits. The necromancer does their research some time in advance, taking stock of those spirits nearby that wish to dedicate their unlife to something more than an accidental haunting or eventually moving on to Vakmatharas’s void. It’s these few that are chosen from via a simple seance, and the single soul infused into the glass as it’s melted down. As the trinket is being formed, the spirit feels no pain, and is often able to hold conversations with the glassblowers and the necromancer, as its new home is crafted. Despite all of this work, should the spirit choose to move on into Vakmatharas’ embrace, it is allowed to do so, leaving the spiritglass empty, and the buyer of the spiritglass is counseled on this before the purchase is even made.

Uses: Most of the time, spiritglass is used to make mirrors. This allows the spirit to keep their spectral form. They become a sort of companion to the mirror’s owner, where the owner may go to the mirror for advice, or even just for a simple chat. Others have their spiritglass molded into small vessels to house things like a loved one’s ashes or precious jewels, so that the spirit might protect it.

Value: Money-wise, the value is not very high, as glass itself is rather cheap to make and depending on the region, spirits may be a silver piece a dozen. But sentimentally-wise, depending on the spirit within it and what the glass was used to make, its value rises per person. Because of this sentimentality, Vhys’ glass foundry charges quite a bit for each piece of spiritglass.


Written by Khitti for the Merchant's Guild Materials Contest.

Inert Materials

While the material may still exist within the game, the special properties if the following materials are no longer active. The descriptions have merely been kept for the sake of historical reference.

Elerium

  • Type: Precious Stone/Metal
  • Uses: Magic restoration, canceling mass, and other unknown uses.
  • Prevalent Culture: Avians, Mages

Elerium was much more common in Hollow before the war between the Saurian and Avian empires. In its natural form, Elerium is a blue crystal lattice that constantly twinkles with or without a light source giving it a strange ethereal appearance. Elerium in its raw lattice form was discovered in large pockets deep below Xalious and on Rynvale Island. Several of the younger magical races found that ingesting small amounts of crushed Elerium powder restored their mana and began to mine it. However, a more effective use was discovered by the Avians. They found a secret process involving magical invocation. Creating a metallic composite using Elerium created a field of energy that could cancel mass in a local area allowing large objects to levitate. This process was eventually refined to create their floating cities. Elerium would have been completely forgotten in recent times until a raid on the Xalious Mage Tower unearthed a tablet formed from partially refined Elerium lattice. The Lich Queen Ryeanna and her associate Princess Maere used the tablet to uncover a small pocket of Elerium deep under the town of Larket. The tablet was then used to create a new Elerium ore that gave the airships of Vhys flight capability. After the restoration of Armantium, an Avian Elerium mine was discovered within the city. The tablet of Elerium was then gifted back to the mages of Xalious via Archmage Rheven.

Player-Suggested Materials

This space is for players to suggest materials and properties. There is no guarantee that the materials are valid within Hollow or that they may get erased from existence if they become abusively exploited in RP.