Lucenium

**Lucenium** is a valuable, but dangerous, mineral that forms beneath the surface of Morgaea. It is extremely volatile, and sometimes even explosive. Physical contact with raw lucenium ore will cause serious injury, and psychological damage, to humans, elves, and orcimar, and any contact with the unrefined substance will kill a mage outright.

Dwarves of the Mining caste are the only people capable of safely mining and processing lucenium into a less dangerous and more useful form. How they achieve this is a tightly guarded secret. In its natural state, lucenium is described as a glowing crystal. When properly refined, lucenium becomes a smooth, glowing, violet liquid.

Generations of proximity to lucenium ore veins have made dwarves naturally resistant, though not completely immune, to its effects. Even their resistance is only skin deep, as direct exposure of raw lucenium to open cuts, inhalation, or contact through the eyes or mouth leaves them vulnerable to side effects. The side effects are usually non-lethal; so long as the amount of lucenium and frequency of invasive exposure is minimal.

## Nature

Lucenium exists both in the mortal world and in the Dreaming, and somehow bridges the gap between them. It even grows in the Raw Dreaming, that is unclaimed by spirits, and where it is always night. Lucenium consumption strengthens a mage's relation to the Dreaming, thereby boosting mana. The Ministry believes lucenium to be the violet waters of the Dreaming, the very substance of creation itself, from which the Watcher fashioned the world.

"Vior" is the dwarven word for lucenium. They are taught that it is a gift from the Stone-Mother.

Some scholars believe that lucenium is alive.

## The Song

Raw lucenium emits a strangely soothing sound that some call the voice of the Watcher. Dwarven miners are able to find lucenium veins by ear as they claim that they hear the Stone-Mother sing.

## Uses

### Enchantment

Processed lucenium is used by dwarves and the Serene to enchant items.

The dwarves of Ondrathum give the greater portion of lucenium that they mine to their own smiths, who use it in the forging of all truly superior dwarven weapons and armor. Dwarven smiths mix lucenium with steel to produce indestructible armor and blades that hold an edge for centuries.

Trace amounts of lucenium can be infused in stones to create glowstones, which are used to light passages. This practice is most common in Maudet.

#### Runes

Dwarven Makers craft lucenium runes that contain the actual thoughts of the ones who made them. These runes comprise the Memories, the archives of Ondrathum.

### Ingestion

When mixed into liquid and ingested, lucenium allows mages to enter the Dreaming when fully aware, unlike all others who reach it only when dreaming. This unique property is essential for the Institute of Magic's Ascension ritual.

Such potions can also be used to aid in the casting of especially taxing spells, for a short time granting a mage far greater power than the mage normally wields.

While mages use lucenium in their arcane spells and rituals, templars ingest the primordial mineral to enhance their abilities to resist and dispel magic. It is also said that the substance gives them boldness and empowerment.

### Rituals

Mages can also be branded with lucenium to become Serene, severing their connection to the Dreaming.

### Engineering

Lucenium Sand is used to create explosives: grenades that are said to match those used by the orcimar.

Dwarves also use lucenium blast charges to open up passages, or seal them. Dwarves used them at one point to open up some of the old tunnels under the City of Adamantium.

## Exposure and Adverse Effects

Even though dwarves have a natural resistance, raw lucenium is dangerous for all but the most experienced of the mining caste to handle. Even for dwarves, exposure to the unprocessed mineral can cause deafness or memory loss. For humans, and elves, direct contact with lucenium ore produces nausea, blistering of the skin, and dementia. Mages cannot even approach unprocessed lucenium. Doing so is invariably fatal. Children born from those exposed to lucenium may also be adversely affected.

In its processed form, lucenium may be handled by anyone, but long term exposure or a single mistake while working with it can lead to serious side effects.

### Addiction

Ingesting lucenium is addictive. Since Templars are given lucenium to develop their talents, this serves as incentive to keep them loyal to the Ministry, which controls the lucenium trade.

#### Long-term use

Prolonged use by Templars becomes addictive, the cravings unbearable. Over time, they grow disoriented, incapable of distinguishing memory from present, or dream from waking. They frequently become paranoid, as their worst memories and nightmares haunt their waking hours. Other known side effects than paranoia include obsession, and dementia.

### Mages

Mages are the most affected by exposure to lucenium, as even close proximity to the substance unrefined is invariably fatal to them. Additionally, they have been known to suffer physical mutation from long-term use.

Anything that increases the capacity of a mage's magic, such as Mana Potions, creates a damaging effect on the body. For mages, this is known as mana imbalance. Some adverse effects of mana imbalance may include conscious dreaming in the Dreaming, such as those experienced during the Ascension, periods of dizziness, and hearing voices. Mages are able to recuperate from the adverse effects, however, unlike templars.