Records On Thahnium

[Lago 2572]

The Research Notes of Benjavir Arnstrom, Wandering Scholar, sent to one of the widely published journals of the Ministry of Contemplation, available to most scholary magi, artificers, alchemists, rich people, et cetera

The material Thanhium, thought previously to be incredibly rare, seems to be present in reasonable quantities below the northern mountains. While any significant mining operation will likely meet its end and the hands of the Scourge or any surviving northern natives, it has been possible to acquire small amounts of it from those miners foolish enough to accept gold to go in and lucky enough to get out. The material is very similar in appearance to crystals of lapis lazuli, although thanhium crystals are considerably harder, sharper, and like thanhic ore, are always cold to the touch.

 

Thanhium crystals seem to emit cold, that is to say, they take in heat yet do not heat up. This explains two phenomena. The first is the cold of the north: the seas above it are fairly temperate: like the dwarven lands, the cold of the north is unnatural. I am of the opinion that it is caused by the thanhium veins in the earth cooling and freezing the land. This would also explain the anomalous cold of the far southwest, the location of the abandoned dwarven city of Kal'Azgoth. However, prospecting there has shown no thanhium: the cold there either has a different cause, or there is an enormous, super-concentrated thanhium lode I have not discovered.

The second I think, is how their most remarkable property is formed: the heat stored inside thanhium is stored as mana. This means that, in theory, thanhium could be used as a magical power source! However, the mana does not simply "come out", mages cannot draw the power out, it is simply unhelpful, useless, uncomfortably cold material. This has been the objective of my research, to find a way to use thanhium's power.

My research has identified multiple avenues of research into uses of thanhium. The first is mechanical and alchemical applications, mixing thanhium with other substances in order to coax out its power. Initial tests in this field have identified a hybrid substance that, when heated, causes the thanhium mixed in to release heat, resulting in a flame that lasts for days without burning up its fuel. While not hot enough for smelting, this substance, very similar to Aegisian tales of the otherwordly material "Netherrack," certainly has other uses.

 

I have also experimented with attempting to allow mages to use thanhium's mana to bolster their own, something normally impossible. While I failed to achieve this, the effects of thahium potions on non-mages have proven quite spectacular. Given thanhium's toxicity, this is both a risky and unethical branch of research, but the discoveries could prove remarkable. 

 

Finally, I have also been looking into historical information. It seems both the dwarven and "bohra" (the northern natives) both have used thanhium far back in their histories. While the dwarven uses of it in magical constructs are beyond my ability to research as I have no means of deflecting a battleaxe thrown at my head, archaelogy into the ancient bohra could uncover some remarkable secrets. As boring as it may seem, this may be the way we will find the most powerful uses of this material.

My request to the readers of the journal is simple, which of these avenues of research should I pursue first?


 

[Silent™ 552]

Grand Kaptein Sylen reads through the copy of the journal, making side notes on the edges of the pages

 

"Interesting..."

 

[Very good!]

[Heero 4092]

Very enjoyable read Lago. And just in the nick of time when I have the urge to do something entirely ridiculous involving Thanhic ore!

[]

[Lark 2227]

((is this what my meteorite core is made out of? Because I've been rping it as a dark red metal of the same characteristics...I just call it God's Blood/Larkinium. If not, some lore would be appreciated))

[Silent™ 552]

((is this what my meteorite core is made out of? Because I've been rping it as a dark red metal of the same characteristics...I just call it God's Blood/Larkinium. If not, some lore would be appreciated))

 

[Your Larkinium is no match for my Silenium!]

[Lark 2227]

[Your Larkinium is no match for my Silenium!]

 

((I would be scared but I actually have the item GM approved :P))

[Lago 2572]

((is this what my meteorite core is made out of? Because I've been rping it as a dark red metal of the same characteristics...I just call it God's Blood/Larkinium. If not, some lore would be appreciated))

 

((No. Thanhium's blue, crystalline lyrium shiz.))

[Birdwhisperer 1174]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.