One of the Concordian Campaign: Commissions
Arcstone is a kind of hardy stone found across the Mortal Sphere. Incredibly dense and with odd arcane properties, arcstone is essential in powerful forging and particularly in the refinement of mithril. While not much is known about the substance, there are a few commonalities:
- Arcstone is found at all layers of the soil, having been located at surface level (often in and around rivers or lakes) and deep below the surface.
- Arcstone is found in large deposits. The smallest reported was the size of a large tavern and the largest are difficult to define the edges of.
- Arcstone deposits are shot through with winding spiral voids, some larger than a human, others smaller than a mouse, but always connected into a web of tunnels within the deposit.
- Arcstone’s appearance can vary but it is never uniform. It normally appears as a grey-white stone with an iridescent sheen of patterns through pink, purple and green.
- While hard, arcstone can be worked with hand tools under skilled eyes, but can crack unpredictably.
- Arcstone generally dampens arcane effects in areas around it, weakening the extremes of power possible, but this effect varies wildly.
- Arcstone is never found in proximity to essencite. The presence of either denoting the absence of the other.
For many miners and prospectors, discovering an Arcstone deposit is the deathknell of any hopes for reward. Arcstone deposits are so large, difficult to sell, and harder to work that they can eliminate whole regions from useful mining. But for those with the power to carve the stone, haul it and put it to use, it is immensely valuable.
For nations, Arcstone has numerous uses. Once properly carved, placed and supported, the stone is durable to the point of indestructibility. Arcstone keystones, foundations and armouring can be found on most powerful castles, keeps and redoubts across the Mortal Sphere for this exact reason.
Similarly, when properly carved and treated, arcstone can regulate arcane power to a semblance of normality. This creates an ideal environment for testing and teaching as the worst spikes of arcane malady can be metered. As such arcstone is one of the key components in any arcane laboratory or school.
Arcstone’s resistance to heat is also legendary. Arcstone forges burn hot and retain heat, but transfer it a very short distance through the stone itself, allowing the crucible to heat metal to a melting point but have the outer surface be handleable without gloves. Currently, Arcstone smelters are the only known method of reducing mithril to a liquid for casting or working en-masse.
Working Arcstone is frustrating, requiring long term planning and dampening of the materials latent arcane nature. Scaffolding, support and wedges made of Thunder Oak appear to reduce the arcane effects to a manageable level while also supporting the immense weight, but complex mathematics and careful application of force to break free pieces are still required. Even prepared stonemasons feat the moment when chisel and hammer hits the surface, knowing that months of calculations, marking, and planning could come to nought if the crack sweeps the wrong way.
Arcstone Quarries in The Concord | |
| Name | Location |
| Lake Ladure Quarry | Weiland |
| Magli's Gift | Mukarrem |
Game Details
Cost: 20 Wains of Thunder Oak - 7 Vaults 15 Locks
Upkeep: 2 Vaults 15 Locks
Construction Requirements: Arcstone Quarries can only be built in regions that contain Arcstone, with a maximum of one Arcstone Quarry per region.
Construction Time: 1 Season
Function: Arcstone Quarries produce Arcstone Wains which are granted to the current Deed holder. On average an Arcstone Quarry produces 15 Wains of Arcstone in the season before each summit. Although this number may slightly fluctuate each season.