Star-Metal
Star-metal is one of the rarest metals in Jade. As it's name suggests, Star-metal is the metal ore found in fallen stars and meteors. Every chunk of metal is unique to the "star" it fell from, most of it is even group together as a "family" unit. For instance, the weapons used to defeat Queen Nite in the Era of Darkness were all made from the metal found in the Astrite Star are know to be "The Astrite Family" weapons. Furthering their uniqueness, Star-metals are not naturally occurring on Jade; and they are highly conductive for magic. Masterwork smiths and jewellers of old had discovered a way to super-heat their forges with locally sourced "Fire Salts" that could process and melt the ore. When combined with silver and steel, the resulting ingots could be made into powerful weapons, armor, or other artifacts. It was considered an equivalent of a Druid's Elderwood. Both Star-metal and Elderwood products fall under a category of items called "Spellforged Items" as it takes an equal amount of finesse with magic or a magical tool to construct them. The created products were nearly indestructible and were said to carry a "glimmer" of the maker's soul as well as the wielder's.
Each item was instilled with a growing "inner spirit" that allowed the weapon to grow more powerful in accordance with the user. These items saw powers grow in tiers, 3 tiers more precise. The first tier was always a simple effect that could be used after the user attuned with it (NOTE: Attunement with a Spellforged/Star-metal item does not count to standard attunement rules. Every Adventurer gets a singular "Spellforged" slot in addition to their own regular slots. At 10th level, Artificers get a second slot.). The second tier is an effect that is somewhat catered to the user, usually equal to power as the first tier. During the items growth to Tier 3 (an extremely rare level up that very few get to witness), the user gets to upgrade the effects of either tier 1 or 2. Then the User gets an ultimate ability that combines the items original purpose with an ability fitting for the user.
As time passed in the world of Jade, the number of people that had the ability to use Star-metal diminished. And when most makers were lost (Numbers of smiths with the skills dropped below 10), the metal became nothing more than a hunk of heavy rock, worthless to any other craftsman. Only to a select few wealthy geology aficionados could the rocks be valuable as nothing more than a piece in their collections.
Some (but not restricted to) historically significant star-metal families included: Astrite (Weapons of Light against Dark, Voidstar), Solari (Solaris Blade, Galivae Rapier, Witchbane, Blade of the Heavens), Regarnite (Tolin's Spear, Shield of Helmhold, Mace of Tyr), Dragonite (Dragonslayer, Lolith's Dark Armor).
Each item was instilled with a growing "inner spirit" that allowed the weapon to grow more powerful in accordance with the user. These items saw powers grow in tiers, 3 tiers more precise. The first tier was always a simple effect that could be used after the user attuned with it (NOTE: Attunement with a Spellforged/Star-metal item does not count to standard attunement rules. Every Adventurer gets a singular "Spellforged" slot in addition to their own regular slots. At 10th level, Artificers get a second slot.). The second tier is an effect that is somewhat catered to the user, usually equal to power as the first tier. During the items growth to Tier 3 (an extremely rare level up that very few get to witness), the user gets to upgrade the effects of either tier 1 or 2. Then the User gets an ultimate ability that combines the items original purpose with an ability fitting for the user.
As time passed in the world of Jade, the number of people that had the ability to use Star-metal diminished. And when most makers were lost (Numbers of smiths with the skills dropped below 10), the metal became nothing more than a hunk of heavy rock, worthless to any other craftsman. Only to a select few wealthy geology aficionados could the rocks be valuable as nothing more than a piece in their collections.
Some (but not restricted to) historically significant star-metal families included: Astrite (Weapons of Light against Dark, Voidstar), Solari (Solaris Blade, Galivae Rapier, Witchbane, Blade of the Heavens), Regarnite (Tolin's Spear, Shield of Helmhold, Mace of Tyr), Dragonite (Dragonslayer, Lolith's Dark Armor).
Properties
Material Characteristics
When found in it's fallen form, The metal appears as "if a ball of iron had melted as it fell from the heavens; round on one side, pulled and stretched everywhere else." It's color and form given the ore the appearance of "like a naturally occurring Damascus." Traces of silver and iron are usually mixed in with the surrounding the rock. Each star appears to be a more unique variant of colors, similar to other metals found on Jade. To those who are sensitive to magic, the rocks even seem to glow.
Physical & Chemical Properties
The Star-metal rocks' properties are unique to the star they fell from. In the past, some have had the texture and properties of steel, bronze, copper, adamentine, mithril, or other common metals. However, Star-metal is very strong and hard; its very resistant to heat, and thus magic and special forging techniques have to be employed to manipulate it. Star-metal is very easy to imbue with magic and can be used to fit any magical need. Its very composition makes it very sought after for anyone seeking to make a set of ultimate armor, or an ultimate weapon, or even a simple magical artifact.
Compounds
In order to save star-metal resources, smiths often make an ingot called a "Spellforged Ingot," which is only 40% made of Star-metal; the rest being Silver and Steel. A Star-metal ingot would be too tough to manipulate even for the most skilled craftsman.
Geology & Geography
Star-metal comes from the sky, as rare as a shooting star. It is dug up from the ground at the landing sites for the star.
Origin & Source
The specific origins of the metal are unknown. "From the sky" is the answer to "Where does it come from" that even the greatest scientist will answer with. Theories span from "gifts from gods" to "the explosion of stars in the night" or from "extra-dimensional regions" to "Doomsday warnings." There has been no scientific inquiry yet as to where the rocks fall from.
History & Usage
History
Prior to the Era of Darkness, little is known in "written history." However, one of the first mentions of Star-metal comes from the epic of "Tolin's Spear." A Dwarven Lord by the name of Tolin Regarhold had his keep plagued by an ancient Red Dragon that sought his treasure horde. Tolin was hellbent on defeating the invader, but none of his weapons could defeat the dragon. One day, Tolin was inspired, as "the gods" tore across the sky with a "spear of light." As the falling star had landed nearby, Tolin used the sharpened fragment to make a spear that could penetrate the dragonhide. According to legend, he refined the Dragon's Teeth into a "salt-like" compound, which super-heated his forge. After recovering the rest of the "Regarnite Star," he could manipulate the metal into anything he needed.
Since then, many stories of similar instances that included streaks in the sky, sky-forged weapons and armor, fire-salts from Dragon's Teeth, etc began to pop up all around the world. When history began to be recorded and smith's became more educated, the information known today became the more well-known fact over the fiction of dwarven epics and elvish poetry.
Since then, many stories of similar instances that included streaks in the sky, sky-forged weapons and armor, fire-salts from Dragon's Teeth, etc began to pop up all around the world. When history began to be recorded and smith's became more educated, the information known today became the more well-known fact over the fiction of dwarven epics and elvish poetry.
Discovery
The first user of star-metal had never been recorded, but songs and epics across the world tell of their culture's first encounter with such an artifact.
Everyday use
It commonly used as jewelry or weapons. Most smiths never have enough for armor.
Cultural Significance and Usage
Items and star fragments have served major cultural purposes since they were discovered. For many these were gifts from the heavens, carrying much religious symbolism. While the construction of weapons and crowns were forgotten, these magical items have the power to turn ordinary men into stuff of legends. The wielders often time gather more fame than the item. As the material itself can be used in a plethora of ways, the uses to society equal in that regard.
Industrial Use
As Jade entered the "industrial/steampunk age" near the end of the Twilight Era, most machines used steel and Mana crystals. Due to the rarity of Star-Metal and the difficulty to use it, it was considered inefficient to use in any machines or contraptions.
Refinement
Star-metal is nearly indestructible, capable of withstanding the temperatures of a standard forge. In order to super-heat a forge to "sun-like" temperatures, Master smiths had to pair up with alchemists to create a special "Fire Salt" created from Fire dragon teeth and fire elemental oils. Sprinkling these salts on the metal as it is put in a forge, allow the metal to glow so hot it creates light. The glowing liquid could then be poured into a mold needed for crafting.
Manufacturing & Products
Products of Star-metal vary as much as "metalworks" do. everything from simple jewelry and clothing to advanced weapons and armor.
Hazards
During the refinement process, the Glowing Liquid of melted Star-metal is extremely volatile. If mishandled in anyway, the cooling process is interrupted, or any outside contaminants get into the mix, the entire forge and a large area could erupt into radiant flames. No one has ever survived such an accident.
Environmental Impact
Due to the metal being from out of this world, there is little environmental impact from mining it or refining it.
Reusability & Recycling
Once the item has taken its final shape and someone has attuned with it, it can not be reforged. There are a few instances of a spell forged weapon being broken by a break of virtue and the remnants being recycled.
Distribution
Trade & Market
These items go beyond financial value. Anyone placing a prize on such an artifact, likely is selling a fake artifact. The bonds forged between a user and their item is invaluable. The raw ore itself actually varies in value over time. The market price for the ore has varied over the course of history, usually with the rise and fall of the number of blacksmiths capable of using it and the collectors looking for fragments. The Steampunk Age saw the value of star-metal drop to its lowest price after the world got news of Master Smith Travis Buckingham had committed suicide. He was the last person on Jade to know how to craft such artifacts. The price of Star-metal was cheaper than Mithril and almost the price of silver ingots.
Storage
Star-metal can be stored like any other metal.
Law & Regulation
While there are no laws against carrying Star-metal items, many governments see advantages on trying to keep track who possesses what artifacts in the world.
Type
Metal
Value
N/A
Rarity
Extremely Rare
Odor
None
Taste
"Iron-like"
Color
a mix of silver and polished steel
Common State
Solid
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