Blackflint
Deep within the Mountains of the Elder Ones lies the world’s only known source of Blackflint, a rare mineral. Nestled between the trade city of Karja Tal to the North and the River Tilth to the South, these mountains are a place rarely visited. Here, shrouded by powerful concealment magics and guarded by fierce sentinels, lies the Veiled Hollow, the one and only known Blackflint mine.
The location of the Veiled Hollow is a closely held secret, fiercely protected by its keepers, who are said to be sworn to silence under penalty of not only their personal death, but the eradication of their entire families. While many have sought the mine's location, lured by tales of wealth, power, and the mineral’s unique properties, none have returned.
The Nature of Blackflint
Blackflint is unlike any other substance found in Nehwon. The mineral, when unearthed, appears as a jet-black stone with a faint translucence, almost as if it is less a solid object and more a piece of living shadow. Under the light of Sonne, it gleams darkly, but it is under moonlight—particularly that of The Dark Lady—that it reveals its true nature. Faint, flickering shadows shift and dance within its surface, as though it holds a piece of the void itself. This eerie beauty is matched by its strength. Blackflint is as hard as diamond, impervious to all but the most potent magical forces. Its heat resistance and durability make it invaluable to artificers, but its most unique property is its resonance with shadow. When enchanted, Blackflint amplifies shadow-based magics to unprecedented levels while disrupting light-based spells. Many believe the stone is alive in some way, whispering its secrets only to those who dare to listen.The Veiled Hollow
The Veiled Hollow lies within a labyrinthine cavern system in the heart of the Mountains of the Elder Ones. Enchanted wards of ancient origin protect the mine, masking its entrance from even the most skilled trackers and spellcasters. Those few who have approached the area speak of strange sensations: whispers carried on the wind, shadows that seem to stretch unnaturally, and a suffocating sense of being watched. The mine itself is said to be more than a place of labor. Legends claim that the caverns resonate with the very essence of Blackflint, creating an atmosphere thick with shadow energy. Miners who work within the Hollow—an order bound by oath and shrouded in secrecy—are believed to undergo rigorous mental and magical conditioning to resist the corruptive influence of prolonged exposure to the stone. The keepers of the mine, known only as the Veilwardens, maintain strict control, ensuring that only the smallest quantities of Blackflint ever leave the Hollow, lest its power fall into the wrong hands.Uses and Dangers
The uses of Blackflint are as alluring as they are perilous. Blacksmiths and artificers who have worked with even the smallest shards of the mineral describe it as transformative. Weapons forged from Blackflint are said to be unbreakable, capable of slicing through magical barriers as though they were mist. Such weapons often leave wounds that resist healing, as if the very shadow of the blade lingers within the flesh. Illusionists and shadow mages prize Blackflint for its ability to enhance their craft. A single shard embedded in a staff or amulet can amplify illusion spells to such a degree that they border on reality. Yet, this power comes with a cost. Prolonged use of Blackflint-imbued artifacts is said to affect the wielder, drawing them closer to the shadows and sometimes leading to madness or worse—a condition whispered as the Shadowbind, where the user becomes inseparable from the darkness. As such, it is a popular material used by Black Wizards. Blackflint’s potential for destruction is perhaps its greatest danger. When exposed to concentrated light magic, the mineral becomes unstable, shattering with violent force and releasing chaotic shadow energy. This phenomenon, known as a Shadowburst, warps the very fabric of reality in its vicinity, creating distortions that have driven entire villages to ruin.Cultural Perspectives
The significance of Blackflint varies widely among the peoples of Nehwon. To the citizens of Karja Tal, tales of the Veiled Hollow are dismissed as myths, though their merchants secretly covet the mineral, willing to pay exorbitant sums for even the smallest fragments. In Lankhmar, the stone is whispered about in the dark corners of taverns, a treasure sought by assassins, thieves, and wizards alike. Its use is forbidden in public circles, but its allure thrives in the city’s black market. The elves of Mÿthanos view Blackflint with suspicion and reverence, referring to it as “the Stone of Silent Night.” Their sages claim it is a relic of the Otherworld, a fragment of shadow left behind when the planes of existence briefly touched. The elves warn against its use, believing it to disrupt the natural balance of light and dark. The dwarves of Duhn Glorr, however, will not touch Blackflint. They call it “Stone of the Betrayer,” claiming that it poisons the earth around it. Dwarven legends speak of mining expeditions in the Elder Ones that unearthed Blackflint, only to bring death and ruin upon those who sought to profit from its power. In the Mountains of the Elder Ones, the keepers of the Veiled Hollow, the Veilwardens, revere Blackflint as both a gift and a curse. They believe it is a material born from the shadows of the Elder Ones themselves, the primordial forces that once shaped Nehwon.The Lure of the Veiled Hollow
Despite the dangers, stories of the Veiled Hollow and its treasures continue to draw adventurers and treasure hunters to the Mountains of the Elder Ones. Most who seek it never return, swallowed by the shadows or lost in the treacherous terrain. Those who do survive speak only in whispers of what they saw—caverns that seemed alive, shadows that moved of their own accord, and the overwhelming weight of the darkness that seemed to press on their very souls. To many in Nehwon, Blackflint is more than a material—it is a legend, a symbol of the fine line between power and peril, light and shadow. In the wrong hands, it could bring devastation to the world. In the right hands, it might shape the future of Nehwon itself.History & Usage
History
The Origin of the Name
When Zhen Karynth and her expedition first encountered the mineral embedded in the alabaster cave, its dark, jagged appearance resembled the sharp-edged flints commonly used to spark fires. The initial samples were brittle at the edges, splintering like traditional flint when chipped, and the darkness of the stone immediately inspired the descriptive moniker "Blackflint." For Zhen and her companions, the name was practical and immediate. In the heat of discovery, it captured the essence of what they observed: a black, stone-like material with flint-like qualities. It was only later, when they began experimenting with the substance, that its extraordinary magical properties—and its connection to shadow energy—became apparent. Despite its eventual recognition as a material of immense arcane significance, the name Blackflint endured for several reasons. Its simplicity played a key role; the straightforwardness of the name made it easy for anyone to adopt, ensuring its wide use even among common folk. Travelers, merchants, and storytellers could easily share tales of the mysterious mineral in taverns and marketplaces, helping the name spread far and wide. Zhen Karynth herself referred to it as Blackflint in her journals, and these writings became the foundation for all subsequent research into the mineral. Scholars and artisans alike, out of respect for her pioneering discovery, continued to use the term, preserving it as part of her enduring legacy.Discovery
Zhen Karynth is the first to credited with the unearthing of Blackflint, one of the rarest materials in M'Brell. Zhen, a mage from the city of Horborixen, was unlike her peers. While many mages spent their days cloistered in libraries or immersed in magical research within the confines of their towers, Zhen believed the secrets of ultimate power lay beyond the walls of civilization, hidden in the uncharted wilds of Nehwon.
Driven by this conviction, she became both scholar and explorer, traversing the unknown in search of artifacts, forgotten places, and materials that might amplify her magic. Her most famous journey—one that would forever change the understanding of Nehwon’s mystical and material world—was her fateful expedition into the Mountains of the Elder Ones.
The cavern’s size was staggering, its ceiling disappearing into darkness far above, and its floor stretching outward into an expanse that seemed to defy the limitations of the natural world. It was within this alabaster cave, nestled in crevices of the gleaming walls, that they discovered Blackflint. At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than shards of black crystal, embedded in the alabaster like veins of onyx. But as Zhen examined the substance more closely, she realized its extraordinary properties. The Blackflint seemed to drink in the light of their torches, creating a void-like effect that made the shards appear to pulse with shadow. When touched, the stone was unnaturally cold, and faint, shifting shapes flickered within its depths, as though it held captive fragments of shadow. The party extracted small samples of Blackflint and quickly realized its potential. When held close to Zhen’s magical staff, the material seemed to resonate faintly, amplifying the power of her spells. Yet, there was something deeply unsettling about the stone. Shadows within the cave seemed to grow longer and darker, and the torchlight began to flicker erratically. Some of the party reported hearing faint whispers, their source unknown. A feeling of unease spread among them, and Zhen made the fateful decision to leave the cavern with their findings, her instincts warning her not to linger.
The Journey to the Fissure
Zhen’s party was modest, consisting of a handful of loyal companions: a pair of hired laborers skilled in excavation, a hunter for sustenance, and a fellow scholar eager to assist in her ambitious quest. They had ventured deep into the Mountains of the Elder Ones, an imposing range known for its jagged peaks and perpetual mists, to explore rumored caverns said to house unusual energies. After a grueling day of trekking through steep ridges and oppressive heat, the group set up camp in a narrow ravine for the night. It was there that they stumbled upon a peculiar fissure in the rockface, barely wide enough to fit a hand through. At first, the feature seemed unremarkable, but as the party approached, they were struck by a cool, steady breeze emanating from its depths. In the sweltering summer heat, it was a welcome and mysterious surprise. That night, the fissure became the subject of much speculation. Was it the mouth of an unexplored cave? Did it lead to some underground stream or forgotten ruin? The following morning, curiosity compelled them to investigate further. Using chisels and hammers, they worked tirelessly to widen the fissure, their efforts punctuated by the rhythmic clang of metal against stone. By late afternoon, the narrow opening had been expanded just enough for them to squeeze through.The Lava Tube
Beyond the fissure, they discovered a small, room-sized cavern with walls of raw stone and a floor littered with rubble. The most striking feature of the chamber was a lava tube—a perfectly cylindrical passage carved by ancient molten flows—that plunged downward at a sharp 25-degree angle. The tube, just over a meter in diameter, seemed to descend endlessly into the earth’s depths. Unable to resist the lure of exploration, Zhen led her party into the lava tube. Their descent was treacherous, with the smooth walls forcing them to proceed slowly and carefully. The tube twisted and turned as it wound deeper into the mountain, carrying them nearly a quarter of a mile underground. The air grew colder and more oppressive with every step, and the faint echo of dripping water suggested a nearby network of subterranean caverns. At last, the lava tube opened into a sprawling labyrinth of caves. These caverns were vast and interconnected, their ceilings dripping with stalactites that glittered faintly in the light of the party’s torches. For three or four days—or so Zhen later estimated in her journal, as the absence of Sonne left them without a sense of time—they wandered this maze of stone, pushing deeper into the earth. They encountered underground rivers, strange mineral formations, and eerie, whispering winds that seemed to rise from nowhere.The Alabaster Cave
Their perseverance led them to a place unlike anything they had encountered before: a grand cavern enclosed within a massive alabaster deposit. The walls of the cave were smooth and pale, glowing faintly as if imbued with some inner luminescence. Zhen described it in her journal as“a cathedral of stone, shaped not by mortal hands but by some ancient and unknowable force.
The cavern’s size was staggering, its ceiling disappearing into darkness far above, and its floor stretching outward into an expanse that seemed to defy the limitations of the natural world. It was within this alabaster cave, nestled in crevices of the gleaming walls, that they discovered Blackflint. At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than shards of black crystal, embedded in the alabaster like veins of onyx. But as Zhen examined the substance more closely, she realized its extraordinary properties. The Blackflint seemed to drink in the light of their torches, creating a void-like effect that made the shards appear to pulse with shadow. When touched, the stone was unnaturally cold, and faint, shifting shapes flickered within its depths, as though it held captive fragments of shadow. The party extracted small samples of Blackflint and quickly realized its potential. When held close to Zhen’s magical staff, the material seemed to resonate faintly, amplifying the power of her spells. Yet, there was something deeply unsettling about the stone. Shadows within the cave seemed to grow longer and darker, and the torchlight began to flicker erratically. Some of the party reported hearing faint whispers, their source unknown. A feeling of unease spread among them, and Zhen made the fateful decision to leave the cavern with their findings, her instincts warning her not to linger.
The Legacy of Blackflint
The discovery of Blackflint propelled Zhen Karynth into living history. Upon returning to Horborixen, she presented her findings to the city’s scholars, sparking a fervor of interest in the strange mineral. Wizards, artificers, and alchemists all sought to understand its properties, and soon it became known as a material of immense power and peril. However, Zhen’s triumph came at a cost. Over the months following her return, she became increasingly withdrawn, her journal entries growing more erratic. She wrote of shadows that moved on their own, of strange visions, and of a voice that called to her from the alabaster cave. One day, she vanished entirely. Her quarters were found empty, save for her journal and a small shard of Blackflint, which lay cold and lifeless on her desk. The alabaster cave and its veins of Blackflint were never rediscovered. The Mountains of the Elder Ones seemed to have swallowed the Veiled Hollow once again. To this day, the tale of Zhen Karynth’s discovery remains a blend of fact and legend, a story of ambition, courage, and the dangers of delving too deeply into the unknown.88Bf
223.5
Blackflint by Chad Watson via Midjourney
Type
Ore
Color
Jet-black with a faint translucence
Density
12.5 g/cm³
Common State
Solid crystalline state
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