Veracite

Rare Metal | Eradite Wastes | Artifact Creation

Veracite is a rare, radiant crystalline substance that refracts light in shimmering, unpredictable hues. It resonates with ambient Sparkmagic, producing a subtle hum or vibration that grows stronger near arcane currents (like Lodestone energies). Once mined, the crystal must be refined by highly trained specialists, particularly among the Mentats and Technos, before it becomes suitable for advanced use. Only found in the Eradite Wastes, a region full of fractured magic and ruin, shattered like the Lodestone that once stood there. Extracting Veracite is dangerous as radiation storms, Spark anomalies, and territorial warbands make the Eradite Wastes a crucible of conflict and mining ventures dangerous despite their massive profit potential.

Veracite Uses

The most lucrative application of Veracite is for SparkTap production. Every known SparkTap requires a Veracite core to function, requiring a significant amount of Veracite to not only be located and mined but also processed. The Sparkmage’s essence is channeled and transferred through the Veracite, which stores and binds the Spark during artifact creation. Veracite is the single largest limiting reagent in SparkTap production. To date, only enough veracite has been acquired by SparkTap creators to allow the construction of the 5 known SparkTaps.

Veracite is also used in Enchanted Architecture & Defense Lattices. In Armonia and the Emarian Moors, Veracite is used to fortify walls, vaults, and citadels. Glittering “vein networks” laid alongside glyphs subtly amplify defense spells and illusion dissipation fields. Veracite's use in this regard is oddly one of the few magical overlaps respected by both Medicos and Yolena’s necro-sylvans.

New technology applications for Veracite continue to do be found. Veilstones, devices which allow for ongoing long-range communication. Vision, thought fragments, and emotion have all been transmitted via Veilstones and scholars in Orravyn continue to search for ways to enhance military dispatch and Inkbridge House courier routes.

Location and Acquisition

Only being found in the Eradite Wastes, Veracite is one of the most difficult, and rare, substances in Sangrithar. Techno factions were the first to develop advanced Veracite extraction and refinement techniques, leading to the earliest SparkTap devices, but finding locations of Veracite veins became increasingly difficult within the hostile wastelands.

No one knows the Eradite Wastes like the Wurmari and, while their goals are personal and spiritual, the Wurmari have become inadvertent scouts for Veracite-hunters. Their exceptional senses, deep Waste-lore, and ability to navigate unstable terrain have allow them to often be the first to spot signs of fresh Veracite veins. Rather than mine it themselves, the Wurmari often sell the location information to foreign agents or Techno factions, or Barter vein coordinates in exchange for rare goods, spark-fused tools, or access to markets they cannot legally enter. These trades/sales often come with the demand that extraction be performed only after their rituals conclude, seeing the land as wounded and needing appeasement.