Acroniten

Description

Acroniten is an exotic magical metal primarily found scarcely underneath the mountains of Gothir. Those who mine the dark green metal report feelings of unease and dread when in its presence. To handle the material requires extreme caution, because touching the metal with bare flesh results in the rapid necrotization of that flesh. Touching it for too long can drain the life force out of you, leaving you a withered husk. The metal works by siphoning the Flow in a creature's body, and then absorbing it. It is seen as akin to Esciten, as the two metals function very similarly, with the exception that Acroniten does not grow when it absorbs Flow, and Acroniten only absorbs Flow from living things.

The metal can be used to make a variety of enchanted items. A sword made from Acroniten will necrotize the flesh of those it cuts. However, because it absorbs Flow from living things, that Flow can then be stored in a weapon and repurposed. The most basic enchantment for an Acroniten blade is to repurpose the absorbed Flow to heal the wielder using that life force of the victim. It can also be enchanted to siphon Flow in this way at range, though it is less effective than when done directly. It also siphons Flow not just from living creatures, but plant life, including such animated magical plant creatures like Blights. Plant life is more susceptible to this draining effect than living creatures, as it cannot resist, withering twice as fast as a sentient creature. There are other applications, but these are the most well-known.

Additionally, Acroniten has the odd tendency to attract spirits. It acts almost like a beacon that causes spirits to gather near it. It mesmerizes them, like a moth to the flame. A clever enchanter might enchant the metal to draw in spirits and enthrall them. Some cities have heavy restrictions on the amount of Acroniten that can be imported due to this side-effect. Spirits that draw too close to the metal may end up becoming trapped within it, as if possessing the metal itself.

The Soulbinders of Gothir use this metal to craft Soulstones, which can be used to capture the spirit of a creature as they die, and then beckon them to do the Soulbinder's bidding. The metal is also used by the savage Bakari, whose spirits linger after death and seek out raw Acroniten deposits and possess it, upon which a growth appears on the ore, growing to the shape of the Bakari's former body, after which it hatches, and the Bakari is reborn. This is the same method by which a Lich is able to regenerate; by storing their own soul within a Soulstone and creating an enchantment that allows their soul to control their vessel from afar.

D&D 5E Game Mechanics

Weapons made from Acroniten necrotize the flesh of those cut by it, dealing an additional 2d6 necrotic damage on a hit. It is not generally advised to make armor out of Acroniten, but if you do, there must be an extra layer padding you to prevent damaging yourself. Armor made of Acroniten could potentially be enchanted to deal damage to creatures that attack you, or it can provide resistance against necrotic damage and attacks from spirits. Perhaps armor made of it could siphon the last bit of life out of a creature that dies nearby, healing the wearer. You could create padded gauntlets that allow you to leech health from those that you touch, damaging them and healing you.