Aurifex & Altheris - The Perfume of All
About the Metal
by Chatgpt
Aurifex is a rare reddish copper metal threaded with opalescent veins, discovered deep within the enormous fissures around the Arrowhead Peaks, which lie along the border between the Suzdal Territory and the Genligh Kingdom in the western reaches of Rhycullun.
These vast chasms were torn open by a cataclysmic seismic event long ago. Scholars debate its true cause; some blame divine wrath, others suspect a violent leyline rupture, while a few whisper of a colossal creature shifting far beneath the earth. In solid form, Aurifex is entirely inert and odourless. Its allure comes from its deep, warm reddish/copper hue that glimmers with subtle rainbow sheens under torchlight.
Before any magical properties were discovered, miners and artisans prized Aurifex purely for its aesthetic beauty and durability. It was shaped into jewellery, royal regalia, and intricate weapon inlays. Aurifex pieces became symbols of status and craftsmanship, especially among the nobility of the Suzdal Territory and the artisans of the Genligh Kingdom.
The Discovery of its Vapour
Altheris - The Perfume of All
by Chatgpt
Once the unique property of Aurifex vapour was understood, alchemists in the Genligh Kingdom and Suzdal Territory developed methods to capture and stabilise it. They crafted intricate glass spirals and cooling chambers to condense the vapour into enchanted oils and spirits.
The result was Altheris, the legendary “One-For-All” perfume. When worn, Altheris causes the wearer to exude the favourite scent of everyone around them. To each observer, it smells precisely as they most desire - fresh rain, fire-warmed spices, ocean breeze, hot apple pie, parchment and ink, or blooming roses.
Altheris quickly became a potent tool in politics and intrigue. Nobles wear it to charm rival courts. Spies use it to lower defences. Merchants wield it to close lucrative deals. But legends warn that frequent use can erode one’s sense of self, leaving the wearer adrift in a sea of other people’s desires.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Aurifex appears as a lustrous reddish copper metal with fine veins that shimmer in rainbow colours when turned under light. It has a smooth, almost glassy texture and reflects light in vibrant copper and gold hues. To someone who has never seen it before, it would look like molten copper frozen in mid-flow, streaked with tiny rainbows running through it.
Physical & Chemical Properties
- Solid form is entirely inert and odourless.
- It is cool and smooth to the touch.
- Has high durability and resistance to corrosion, making it suitable for fine metalwork.
- Boils at approximately 1,170°C.
- Melts at 720°C, becoming molten and viscous.
- Vapour, if inhaled, leaves a faint metallic tang. Aurifex is a metal and should not be eaten or tasted under any circumstances, as it may cause harm if ingested.
- When superheated, releases a mist that is a coppery vapour that replicates each individual’s favourite scent.
Compounds
- Can be alloyed into Aurifex-Steel, a decorative metal used for ceremonial weapons and jewellery.
- Forms the basis of Altheris Perfume when its vapour is captured and infused into oils or spirits.
- Occasionally ground into fine dust for use in ritual inks or arcane sigils by some mages in the Genligh Kingdom.
Geology & Geography
Aurifex is found only in deep fissures surrounding the Arrowhead Peaks, a mountain range forming the border between the Suzdal Territory and the Genligh Kingdom in western Rhycullun. These fissures were formed during a cataclysmic seismic event whose true cause remains unknown, making Aurifex one of the rarest metals in Eluvemar.
Origin & Source
Aurifex is mined directly from ore veins exposed in the fractured rock walls of the Arrowhead Peaks fissures. The raw ore is often embedded in hard stone and requires careful extraction to avoid cave-ins or magical surges from residual leyline energy.
Life & Expiration
- Aurifex in solid form is highly stable and does not deteriorate over time.
- Once distilled into Altheris perfume, the vapour-infused oils retain potency for several years if stored properly.
- If exposed to open air too long after distillation, the magical scent properties slowly fade over days to weeks.
History & Usage
History
Originally, Aurifex was treasured purely for its unique beauty and durability. It was used in jewellery, ceremonial weapon inlays, royal regalia, and intricate artistry, particularly in the Suzdal Territory and Genligh Kingdom.
Its reputation transformed dramatically after the discovery of its vapour properties, leading to new industries, political intrigue, and high demand among nobles, merchants, and spies across western Rhycullun.
Discovery
The magical property of Aurifex vapour was discovered by a dwarven metalsmith from the Suzdal Territory, who accidentally overheated a crucible of the metal. The released vapour filled the workshop with a scent unique to each person present, leading to further study by alchemists and artificers.
Everyday use
- Used for fine jewellery, royal regalia, and ceremonial blades in solid form.
- Vapour harvested to produce Altheris, the “One-For-All” perfume.
- Occasionally used as decorative inlay on high-value items, even by those unaware of its magical potential.
Cultural Significance and Usage
- Aurifex is a symbol of prestige and power in both the Suzdal Territory and Genligh Kingdom.
- Altheris perfume has become an object of fascination and caution, it is both a luxury and a political weapon.
- Some cults believe the metal holds divine secrets, seeing its shimmering veins as the “fingerprints of gods.”
Industrial Use
- Smelted and refined for high-quality decorative metalwork.
- Vapour extraction processes require complex crucibles, enchanted glassware, and cooling systems.
Refinement
- Raw Aurifex ore is crushed, smelted, and purified into solid ingots.
- To produce a mist, the ingots are heated to past boiling point ~1,170°C, and vapour is then channelled into cooling chambers for condensation and infusion into perfume bases.
Manufacturing & Products
- Solid Aurifex jewellery and luxury items.
- Aurifex-infused inks for arcane writing.
- Altheris perfume, used for high-stakes diplomacy, espionage, and courtly influence.
Byproducts & Sideproducts
- Small quantities of non-magical copper extracted during ore processing.
- Excess vapour can condense into brittle copper crystals, sometimes used as minor arcane components.
Hazards
- Extreme Heat: Refining Aurifex into the mist requires heating the metal to over 1170°C, risking severe burns, forge fires, and structural damage if containment fails.
- Toxic Vapour: Inhalation of the mist in its raw, undiluted state can cause dizziness, disorientation, or temporary memory confusion. Prolonged exposure may fracture a person’s sense of self, leaving them haunted by the emotions and desires of others.
- Magical Surges: The fissures where Aurifex is mined often pulse with residual leyline energy, causing sudden magical surges that can destabilise equipment, collapse tunnels, or spark violent elemental outbursts.
- Psychological Risks: Regular users of Altheris perfume, distilled from Aurifex vapour, may experience loss of personal identity, becoming emotionally dependent on the desires of those around them.
Environmental Impact
- Mining in the fissures around the Arrowhead Peaks risks destabilising delicate fault lines and leyline currents.
- Magical surges occasionally occur during extraction, causing temporary atmospheric disturbances.
Reusability & Recycling
- Solid Aurifex is fully recyclable and can be melted down and recast.
- Altheris perfume loses potency over time but can sometimes be refreshed by re-infusing it with new the mist.
Distribution
Trade & Market
- Sold in high-security markets in Suzdal and Genligh.
- Smuggled by clandestine guilds seeking to control the Altheris trade.
- Aeravalz Empire bans its import entirely due to fears of manipulation.
Storage
- Solid Aurifex stored like other metals, often in vaults due to its value.
- Altheris perfume kept in sealed crystal vials to prevent scent dissipation.
- Storage chambers lined with lead and silver sigils to avoid magical contamination.
Law & Regulation
- Suzdal Territory imposes taxes and licences on Aurifex mining.
- Genligh Kingdom considers Altheris perfume a restricted substance due to its potential for political manipulation.
- Aeravalz Empire forbids possession of Aurifex or Altheris, with harsh penalties for smuggling or ownership.
AuF
Aurifex Mines
Type
Metal
Value
Extremely valuable, especially in the Genligh Kingdom and Suzdal Territory. Prices for even small ingots of Aurifex or vials of Altheris can rival the cost of noble estates.
Rarity
Exceptionally rare.
Odor
Solid metal is odourless. Vapour replicates each person’s favourite scent.
Taste
None in solid form. Vapour, if inhaled, leaves a faint metallic tang. Aurifex is a metal and should not be eaten or tasted under any circumstances, as it can cause harm if ingested.
Color
Solid: Deep reddish copper with shimmering opalescent streaks. Vapour: Swirling copper mist threaded with rainbow glimmers.
Boiling / Condensation Point
Boils at ~1,170°C. Vapours condense rapidly below 400°C.
Melting / Freezing Point
Melts at 720°C, freezes into brittle shards below -55°C.
Density
Approximately 7.5 g/cm³ in solid form
Common State
Solid raw metal
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