Heatstone
A Heatstone is a portable tool used for the amplification of heat in situations where it is dangerous or untenable to light a fire or create a bonfire. They are most commonly seen in use amongst the nomadic Miryzsyren Tahiirin (Icewaste Tribes) in the frozen northern regions of Eirinn and Duraloth, though they also see popularity amongst explorers and adventurers.
Made of two, portable pieces and powered by candles or Heating Crystals, Heatstones are used to provide warmth in cold temperatures, or act as a cooking aid similar to a standard stove. Heatstones comprise of a heating plate made of slate or marble, generally with a stand or support legs made of a copper-steel alloy. The heating plate is enchanted with a spell that amplifies heat when a heat source is applied. Before the discovery of Heating Crystals, this would have been from a small candle, but most Heatstones are now used with the aforementioned Heating Crystals for safety purposes.
General Construction
Heatstones are generally constructed as redundant items first, with the enchantments added later. The stones are usually constructed first, shaped into circular slabs with smooth, flat tops and slightly rounded bottoms (to maintain stability in the stand). These slabs can vary in size and thickness, depending on whether the craftsman is making a single-pot Heatstone or a multi-pot one. Slate and marble are common construction materials due to their natural heat conductivity, though slate is preferred for its lighter weight.
The legs or stand are then constructed to match the shape of the stone. Copper-steel alloy is most often used due to its resistance to temperature extremes. The most common practice is to keep the stand relatively simple, using straight legs, but some craftsmen set themselves apart by creating the legs in more unusual shapes.
Finally, the enchantments are added to the stone. These enchantments improve the efficiency of the heat conductivity, allowing the stone to reach higher temperatures without cracking or shattering. Some enchantments allow for the control of heat intensity, which increases the Heatstone's value.
The physical parts of the Heatstone are tooled using basic stoneworking and metalworking tools, though the alloy for the stand requires combining by a professional metalsmith. The enchantment upon the stone requires enchantment and inscription tools.
Mechanics & Inner Workings
While the base functions of Heatstones can work without magical involvement, the majority of Heatstones rely on multi-layered enchantments to improve the natural conductivity processes. These enchantments are most often Runic in nature, though some craftsmen prefer to use the slightly more time-consuming Draconic enchantment process for its longer lifespan.
History
It is known that some variant of the Heatstone has been used in the polar regions of A'arde since the Age of Renewal, though little information remains as to their original construction, or the enchantments used upon them.
The current iteration of the Heatstone is a remnant of the Age of Arcana; one of the few tools to have survived into the later Ages after the fall of the Floating Cities. This is presumed to be because of their prevalence in polar regions, where Floating Cities rarely flew, resulting in their survival into the later Ages.
The Age of Chaos was when Heatstones really came into their own. Building fires or lighting candles would attract too much attention from the Fiendish and ghastly forces that roamed the world, so the Heatstones became a very important part of the culture of the roaming bands of Sapients that fought for survival across the Eirinn, Duraloth, and Karadal continents.
As enchantments and inscriptions can degrade over time, many of the Heatstones lost their efficiency or stopped working at all as time went by during the Age of Chaos. Mortal Sapients had little time available during this Age to engage in crafts such as enchantment and inscription, because their delicate and precise nature meant that it took too long to engage with such acts. The constant threat of Fiendish attack during the Age of Chaos meant that most groups were always on the move, but the pushing back of the Fiendish forces allowed for Mortal Sapients to once more spend time on time-consuming pursuits, such as enchantment. This meant that Heatstones could be revived, if they were in good physical condition, or new ones entirely could be made once more.
Significance
Heatstones are considered a staple item amongst nomadic peoples for its safety and utility in locations where fires are untenable or too dangerous to light.
Common (Magic)
- Slate or marble
- Copper-steel alloy
- Candle or Heating Crystal
- Metalworking tools
- Stoneworking tools
- Enchantment Tools
- Inscription Tools
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