[Worldlore] Shadegrain

[squakhawk 7954]

 

Description

Shadegrain was a gritty, granular black stone only found in geometrically perfect shapes, unable to be broken down or forged in any manner by any magic. The gritty stone had a skin like a very mild sandpaper, almost as if it were crafted of black sand fused incomprehensibly tightly together. Despite this, the material rubbed off and stained any surface it touched with a deep velvety black colour, almost as if painted with a single stroke of fresh black paint. 

 

Shadegrain was highly resistant to most forms of damage as a sedimentary stone, able to withstand crushing impacts from even the largest creatures upon Eos with ease- not even shedding a single grain nor showing any sign of weakness within. However, if subjected to repeated, heavy blunt trauma (such as from a hammer or pickaxe), the stone would shatter all at once. When shattered, the stone simply stained in a perfect shape where it once was, losing all notable effects other than an irremovable black paint. 

 

Despite it's deceiving size, Shadegrain was exceptionally heavy, unaided by any form of strength, muscle, or magic. No method of weight could truly describe or make sense of the stone, and every race struggled to carry it the same- as if physical strength were no determinant in it's handleability. It smelled faintly of very strong concentrated herbs and seawater, the stone itself sounding with a dull, flat thud when struck without vibration. No matter it's age, Shadegrain could not be weathered by any means, decades and centuries of burning, washing, or wind, would have no effect on the stone and leave it entirely unharmed.

 

 

Effects

Shadegrain, Grimstone, Fused Stone, whatever the name granted- seemed to bear a multitude of strange and unconventional effects. For example, when in a mere [8, quiet] metre range of the stone, life would seem to slow and quiet. Almost as if the outside world were muted, nothing but the most uninhibited and natural sounds would roll through. Such as a quiet breeze, a distant rain, a shore miles away, or even just pure silence. One's sounds within the square were not affected by any means, nor was their physical hearing of the outside- the perception of attention would just be focused to something else. Whatever this something else was, it seemed to be incomprehensible, or simply misunderstood, by mortal and immortal beings. As if one were listening for something which was not there, or perhaps was- it was just as if the listener did not know what they were listening for.

 

Another noticeable effect was specifically on spectral undead; spirits, spectres, poltergeists, gravens, and wights most specifically. Within the [20, roleplay] metre range of a unit of stone, spectral undead seemed to be extremely inhibited within physical capability. Limited to half pace movement and strength, spectrals felt as if they were persistently being pulled to the stone. Almost as if their very soul were being tugged, a spectral would constantly be fighting to resist the drift of the stone. If killed within the presence of a stone, a spectral has the potential of having their soul being bound and ripped from the mortal plane, taken for whatever unknown purpose the stone exists for. In most circumstances however, being banished within the presence of Shadegrain prolongs the reformation of a spectral undead, doubling it's time.

 

 

Red Lines

-Shadegrain is ST Signed, and sites where Shadegrain is placed (Itemframe OR chest-with-sign, etc) are ST Signed. 

-Spectrals are not mandated to PK within the presence of Shadegrain and are simply given the option.

-Spectrals killed within the 20 metre presence of Shadegrain are given respawn timers twice as long. Refer to individual lorepieces for more information on respawn timers.

-Spectrals are defined as ghosts, spectres, spirits, poltergeists, gravens, wights, and any undead or event creature with a ghostly or apparition-like appearance.

-Arcane Scions or other lorepieces which involve a directly exposed soul are permitted to act in the same sluggish or inhibited manner, but are unrequired to.

-Shadegrain may not be broken, re-shaped, molded, or fused to other pieces of Shadegrain in any permanent manner; remaining in individual blocks or bricks.

-Shadegrain is too heavy to carry on one's person and fight effectively, leaving it strictly to buildings or ritualistic sites. If upon a person, Shadegrain would quarter one's movement or strength which was otherwise dedicated to lugging around the stone. The spirit of this line is to prevent mobile use of the material. There is no gimmick or way around this.

-Shadegrain did not deafen the sounds within it's range or mute sounds from outside, just altering one's perception to focus on pure unnerving silence.

-Shadegrain would not be clearly discernable by any magic of it's true creation, intent, purpose, or instilled magic/effect until further eventlines play out.

-Shadegrain when broken, would break all at once- destroying the material and leaving a mundane black paint behind.

-The stains/paint created by Shadegrain, intact or not, would not bear the effect of Shadegrain and would not permanently adhere to skin, fur, or any part of a living person, save for their items or belongings. The paint would easily be washed off.

 

 

Harvesting

Shadegrain currently has no known method of harvesting, nor true point of origin. Prolifically found throughout the northern coast of Aevos, Shadegrain was rarely found in singular units; often through old storages left behind of The Goldenvine Colony, as the Shadegrain present there is found fused together and unbreakable. It is unknown how Shadegrain is formed, or it's intent.