Imuricum
A particularly volatile element, Imuricum is found in Adamantite covered by Red Mui'aan Fungus. Only the greatest of alchemists dare attempt extracting Raw Imuricum; only the most foolish metallurgists mix it with inferior materials, and only the bravest blacksmiths will create weapons from this rare and dangerous metal.
The adamantine ore is most often found in deeply subterrainean caverns, where few fauna are able to grow. However, some forms of moss and fungi have been known to prosper, even in the darkness and cold. One such fungus, known as 'Red Mui'aan', occasionally grows on exposed adamantine. The fungus creates a slow chemical reaction with the metal, eventually causing it to crystallise and form a new, rare element known as Imuricum.
The truth of The Red Mui'aan fungus's survival, is that it is actually a carnivorous plant. Tiny spores release a miniscule acidic gas just around the general vicinity of the plant, and smaller animals - such as centipedes and the like - have a thinner skin, so prolonged exposure to this acidic air causes a slight erosion of their exterior, allowing the blood within their bodies to bleed through their skin. (Basically a diffusion effect, wherein the liquid within the bodies move from a higher density. to a lower density.) The composition of the fungus is such that it is highly absorbent, and it uses the blood from insects and small rodents to prosper. The acid of this plant, while not physically dangerous to humans and larger animals, does pass as a faint hallucenagen, and prolonged exposure to this chemical has been known to cause violence, strangely towards the creature that has had most blood absorbed by the fungus. Heat had been thought to destroy the hallucenagenic properties of the fungus, and as a result, use of the fungus and the Imuricum created by it was thought safe after heat had been applied.
This element was originally only used as part of a highly explosive, rough powder made to fire Westerman Hand Cannons. As better technology came around, however, more efficient ways were created to process the material, and it was discovered that the element could be added to a blacksmiths furnace as a particularly effective flux. Some of the greater (if more twisted) minds in the lands pondered a process to imbue the weapon to cause the wielder to have greater fervor in battle when faced against their enemies, and thoughts, of course, fell back to the hallucenagenic gasses produced by the chemical... What if this could be used somehow?
The first practical experimentation of their theories was performed by 'Durand Farcry', a well known and revered knight, who's finesse in battle was almost as legendary as his hatred for dragonkind. The processes and results of this experiment is another story, but it succeeded.
Magical Properties:
-Prolonged exposure to any item crafted with Imuricum as an alloy, or Imuricum at all, will cause faint mind alterations, creating a bloodlust within people. The bloodlust is for whichever blood has been most drenched into the Imuricum.
-Items crafted by Imuricum are extremely hardy, and no matter how old, will always have a bluish reflective tinge to it which suggests it is brand new.
Suggestions on how to use this Item
-It is the kings thirty-fifth birthday, and amongst the many gifts given, was a finely crafted sword, a faint blue tint to it. Several weeks later, the king goes missing. Reports from villiagers state that they saw the king heading into the forest nearby, sword brandished in hand, and muttering something about the giant swamp-lizards which live in the deep recesses of that forest. The royal council seeks adventurers to brave the forest, and return with the king. Of course, enemies of the country will also have heard of the disappearance and will be looking for an easy assassination.
-Amongst the various spoils in a dungeon is an intriguing piece of gauntlets, beautiful in design and offering good protection for the forearms. After half a day, the adventurer that picks it up begins making suggestions on which way they need to go to get out of the dungeon. Strange, though, because the way he pointed out is not the way that the others thought would be safer - They heard growls of dire wolves that way earlier - but the first person refuses to go any other way...
And so on, and so forth.
The base of this item was created by Silas the Destroyer.
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? Responses (15)
I took the liberty of making a background/description of the Mui'aan fungus, as I thought I should try to make a bit of an explanation for the bloodlust created by the metal. Feel free to make suggestions/alterations/inclusions. I hope this is how you envisioned your metal, Silas.
It is better than both items made of it together. I like the description, and the pseudo science around it, Looks like it could have some uses...
4/5
This is what I had in mind. Thank you for putting in words what I could not.
Hehe :) Im glad I got it right, then.
Here is another thought on what could happen With Imuricum crafted items, plus an addition to this item:
Dormant items - These items are crafted using Imuricum for the superior quality the element gives, but they are are not drenched in any blood.
And example of what could happen because of this?
An Imuricum breastplate could be worn for months, but then during one particularly bloody battle, the blood of a goblin is splattered all over it. Some days/weeks later (the heat was the catalyst of the blood soaking into forged Imuricum items), the owner of the breastplate may feel the urge to hunt goblins again...
Usually I would frown on this sort of thing, but this is really good!
A thought on 'pure' Imuricum. Make Adamantine Imuricum alloy. In my world, Adamantite can be sharpened to an unbelievably sharp edge, yet it is very brittle. An Adamantine Imuricum alloy would prove to be just as sharp, but exponentially more durable.
Make bracelets, armbands or chokers: Drench them in the blood of your enemies, then put them on your favorite shock troops (including captured enemies). Spread stories of the magical boost to ferocity, and soak them in blood for a long, long time - then your enemies will wear them as trophies if they kill your shock troops...
Ha! First, thanks for the compliments :) And to answer your thoughts - The element only absorbs the blood of the first creature that touches it. So someone with the 'Blade of the mad', for example ( http://www.strolen.com/items/viewitem.php?item_id=286&offset=10&order=updated&dir=Desc&index=1 )
could kill any type of creature he wishes, but still only want to attack humans.
Thats correct - the fungus properties can remain dormant for centuries, until some blood has been spilled on it. When that happens, the fungus is 'filled', and no other blood can effect it.
Until it has blood absorbed in it, it is just like any other weapon crafted, albeit slightly more durable.
And theres nothing wrong with questions - The easiest way to get answers, in my opinion ;)
No, it gives NO skills at all, just an increasing desire to kill a certain type of creature. But I see no reason why items made out of this cannot have additional enchantments.
Very interesting and different way to add and include a new cursed item into any group. It won't show up, or act as being cursed which is good. I like it a lot.
Bumpanomics.
One thing I'd point out is that if Red Mui'aan is a fungus, it is NOT a carnivorous plant, it is a fungus. All fungus are carnivorous, or at least heterotrophic, unlike plants, which create their own food, so it is a double fallacy to call Red Mui'aan a 'carnivorous plant'.
Wow, I can't believe just how far the conversation's gone on without me! Oh! By the way, the is Silas the Destroyer, back from a VERY long hiatus. Well, hopefully back... My last computer bit the dust hard and its been THIS LONG since I got the thing back up and running! Well, I hope to be seeing a lot more of you all!
I like it. A weapon crafted with this would make people want to use it.
Not bad !