Kiepheloi Wax

Kiepheloi wax is a tough, temperature-stable, dull golden hydrocarbon in its raw state. The dullness of its coloration is attributed to impurities and inclusions in the raw wax. Upon being processed and purified, kiepheloi wax takes on a distinctive golden luster. Although easy to distinguish upon closer inspection, kiepheloi wax might be mistaken for gold at first glance. This is especially true of the large blocks of kiepheloi wax produced for industrial use, though less so for the sheets that are produced for household and commercial use, as those are thin enough to be translucent in a way that gold cannot be.   While this is relatively a non-issue for natives of Orochtha, where gold is so abundant as to be essentially valueless, non-natives have been known to steal kiepheloi wax, thinking it is gold, only to be disappointed. Ironically, kiepheloi wax is several times more valuable than gold in Orochtha, which leads to confusion, frustration, and indignation when any would-be thieves are caught and punished to the same extent as they would have been in their home realms, as from their perspective, they are being prosecuted for stealing wax.

Perhaps one of the most distinctive properties of kiepheloi wax is its scent. Subtle enough to be easily overcome by stronger scents, but so unique as to be easily distinguished in the absence of other scents, kiepheloi wax is known to have certain sweet, floral notes with a gentle earthy foundation and a slight hint of metallicity. The subtleness of the wax's scent may be considered detrimental in many cases, but it is one of the primary reasons for its widespread use in Orochtha. For one thing, that kiepheloi wax does not possess much of a scent on its own makes it an effective vehicle for other scents.   Second, the fact that the scent of kiepheloi wax is easily overcome by other scents has played a role in cleanliness and hygiene in Orochtha. In homes, temples, and places of healing, kiepheloi wax candles and incense sticks are burned. If visitors can smell the scent of kiepheloi wax, they know that these places are kept clean and well-maintained as odors from refuse and neglect would easily mask the scent of kiepheloi wax.

Kiepheloi wax is produced by the eponymous kiepheloi (Golden Winged Ones). Resembling bees made of marble with golden filigree wings, kiepheloi eat gold ore and rocks to make honey. Kiepheloi wax is what the creatures use to build their combs and hives and is a byproduct of processing kiepheloi honey.