Blood Amber
... resin collected from the hollows of Giant Timber; a fragrant fossil find!
Amber is a resinous substance that issues from a gash or wound upon a tree. Over time, this sticky, sappy liquid hardens, becoming a node of Amber. This coating protects the tree from exposure to the elements, prevents infestations, and safe-guards the Life of the tree. Pests and insects are commonly found trapped within Amber fossils. While many forms of Amber are defined by their regional characteristics, one of the more interesting examples of Amber comes from those trees infected with Titanothage.
Sturdy and hardy, Amber from these trees has unusual properties comparatively, such as a strong scent, a rich glow, and cut resistance.
Sturdy and hardy, Amber from these trees has unusual properties comparatively, such as a strong scent, a rich glow, and cut resistance.
Aefalagis, Blood Amber
Many Cultures believed all trees bled Amber, thus leading to the term for Giant Timber, Blood Amber.
Origin & Cultivation
Amber harvested from Giant Timber is known as Blood Amber. Unlike normal Amber, this form is determined by a darker orange-red glow. Once it hardens, it's also sturdier than normal Amber. It becomes resistant to cuts, requiring a special tool to scrape and remove if hardened.
Once a Giant Tree has been found, it is designated with a Cultural marking. A siphon or cutting tool is used to carve gashes into the bark. After some time, the tree will begin to create Blood Amber over the wounds. Farming Blood Amber had to be done while it was wet for easier yields.
Local Resources
Giant Timber
Trees that carried the Titanothage were referred to collectively as Giant's Timber. These trees would double or even quadruple the size of normal variants. Yields from these trees also increased, but due to the mutation, plants that carried the Titanothage were infertile. Even though fruits from these trues were larger than standard fruit-bearing plants they lost many of their nutrients, becoming almost inedible.
However, what these trees lacked in reproductive and nutritional value, they made up for in the production of raw materials. The plant compounds normally used in those processes were infused into the Blood Amber. This is why Blood Amber has unusual amounts of terpenes compared to normal Amber. This results in a rich, sublime fragrance, used in many potions, oils, and aromatics.
Amber Deposits
Another way to locate Blood Amber is in the ancient deposits of decayed and rotted timber. When an avalanche or flood buried these forests, the pressure and tectonic forces create rich deposits of Amber. It isn't uncommon to find several examples of Blood Amber in one of these deposits. Buried and petrified forests are the best places to search.
History & Significance
Blood Amber is unlike normal forms of Amber. The hardness and durability of this material makes it especially useful as cutting instruments. Tools and weapons were crafted using Blood Amber. Serrated edges were created using a dedicated piece of Blood Amber whetstone to create the ridges in these implements.
Much like normal Amber, Blood Amber found applications in jewelry, talismans, and other cosmetic items. Eating utensils carved of Blood Amber were said to enrich the taste of bitter foods with sweetness. Furthermore, Blood Amber was easy to enchant, leaving behind many treasures to recover from the Ice Age.
Myths & Cultural Relevance
WIP-TBD
Properties & Products
WIP-TBD
List of Products
Pots of Amber
Fossil evidence of frozen pots have been found scattered across the World. Inside, there were normally items, treasures, and ancient personal possessions. Pot shape and volume was Cultural dependent, but many favored a simple bowl shape with a lid, where healing herbs and salves contained within. Vessels were also found with residue of spell components and ingredients. Bottles, jars and other containers were crafted from this material.Sacred Reliquaries, Amber Relics
In many Cultural traditions of the ancient past, Amber and Blood Amber were used to contain relics of primitive people of significance. These relics were often treated as Diviner's Tool. Others may've kept personal possessions safe or hidden by containing the object in Blood Amber and burying it in snow. Some Beasts were adept at detecting the aromatic scent of Blood Amber.Blood Amber Spear Tips & Ammo
The sharp, rigid structure of broken Blood Amber creates an incredibly fine edge for slashing or stabbing weapons. Variations of the tip occur between each Culture, but these tips evolved in later Ages, into bolts and arrows.
Sling ammunition was often found in horns and discarded pouches. Hard, solid objects with a stone or hollow core, these bullets shatter upon impact. Creating ammo only required a taproot Giant Timber and a hard, lead stone.
Material Component
Application
- Fashion and Apparel
- Jewelry and Cosmetics
- Aromatics & Incense
- Crafting Tools or Weapons.
Availability
Rarity
Common
Common
Base Price
TBD Casho
Identification
Enchanter's ID
#48: Blood Amber
#48: Blood Amber
- Aromatic, Fragrant
- Durable Material.
- Forms over Objects
- Sharpened Edges
- Enhances Charm & Compulsion
- Preserves Interior
- Aromatic, Fragrant
- Durable Material.
- Forms over Objects
- Sharpened Edges
- Enhances Charm & Compulsion
- Preserves Interior
Material Base Cost
TBD Casho
TBD Casho
How to Identify:
- Issued from Giant Timber.
- Unusual orange-red glow.
- Hardened spots on/in trees.
- Extraordinary scent.
Industries
- Aromatics, Oils
- Jewelry, Fashion
- Martial Weapons
- Ranged Ammunition
- Spell & Material Component
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