Arcanum is the magical mineral native to Ardis Vala, used as magical fuel, forging material and a unit of value. Mages also call it protoculture; 90 % of the population’s debt is owed in Arcanum rather than gold.
| Type | Substance (mineral) |
| Also called | Protoculture |
| Spanish entry | Arcanum |
Description
Orange-ish and mineral-like, it grows in geodes in faceted form. It is measured in pounds (a personal load of about 1.5 lb fits in a vial), can be burned, and glows. In quantity and at close range, those sensitive to sorcery or already changed by it feel an “elongation”, almost merging with their surroundings.
Origin
Raw reservoirs lie scattered across the territory. The great wealth first appeared at Ardenbul, where some say the first watchers descended to Arris; “something rained on this place”. This set off the Arcanum fever, likened to a gold rush.
Production and forms
From geodes and raw reservoirs it goes to the vaults (reached by a corridor; very dangerous, one can be trapped) and then to the forges, where it is burned and processed. Forms:
- Raw — never handed over without negotiation.
- Crystals — being installed in the Citadel during its repair and modernization.
- Active arcanum gems — can host a nested intelligence.
- Arcanum chalks — for writing formulas and spells.
- Arcanum Jelly — a distillate giving temporary magical power.
Records give 70 % delivered, 10 % visible, 20 % available.
Uses
It magnifies magical properties, empowers objects, restores lost spells to sorcerers and allows weapons to be forged.
- The Arcanum forge, an old tradition of Thoth’s priest-mages, is now used by the Priscians and the theosophists. It speeds the making of magic items and upgrades weapons; an Arcanum sword exists, and a vorpal sword requires “at least a major form of Arcanum”.
- It powers ancient artifacts and sustains ritual circles whose participants hear at a distance.
- The Eighth College’s institute, the Arcanum Studies, employs technomancers such as Nero Mundul.
- The Master received, unrequested, the gem with the intelligence nested in his head.
- The modules are a related raw material that is explicitly not Arcanum.
Economic role
Prices can be set “in Arcanum value”; the people of Zed accept it as payment for resurrection. An unconfirmed 22,000 gold coins is recorded for a sword upgrade. It is the declared goal of the Seekers and the Eighth College. It is present even in the Forum of Set.
Dangers
- Burning it is risky.
- It is addictive: the visiting mage Pelagion is addicted and going mad.
- Breaking an established Arcanum connection (the “alentadura”) loses all the power it sustained, as happened to the Demilich.
Open questions
- Whether Arcanum, arcanio and Arcanium name the same thing.
- What the alentadura is, and what the percentages are measured against.
- Who guards the vaults, how the mineral is extracted, and who owns the reservoirs.
- Whether a “geodesy” mentioned with protoculture is the geode, and how Arcanum appears in roots and plants.
- The course and cure of Pelagion’s affliction.
- Whether Arcanum and protoculture are one material or a variety and its category.