Minerals and Properties

Within Riiga, many elements exist, and many of these elements (not to be confused with magical elements, and therefore often referred to as minerals) have natural magical properties that any learned mage should know of. This list was first compiled by Sage Carson, though people had been using these items for years before he created the list.

They are listed, roughly in order from rarest to most common. Where there are numbers, a higher number means that the keyword has a greater effect on the mineral. For example, a 1 on gold's Air rating means that oxygen has very little effect on gold's chemical structure, whereas a 10 would mean it deteriorates in air. An 'aaa' means the mineral can conduct this keyword extremely well, an 'aa' means the mineral can conduct this keyword very well, and a 'a' means the mineral can conduct this keyword reasonably well, whereas a 'b' means it is bad at conducting it.

Barely > Average > Fairly > Very > Extremely

Arkarum

Malleability	Barely	Moisture	5
Density	Very	Air	0
Acids	0	Electricity	b
Affinity	None	Heat	aaa

Considered the metal of the gods, Arkarum is a heavy (often considered indestructible) and resilient orange-reddish metal. It is so rare that a master mage is blessed to see more than a coin-sized fragment of it. Due to it being in such small amounts, it is very difficult to deduce what exactly it does, though it's undeniable that it has a strong magical link of some kind. It is soluble in water, but it has the ability to reform at the bottom of a container if the water is evaporated. It seems to be attracted to itself in water and therefore can reform its original metallic structure. Such a metal is unique and extraordinary rare and expensive.

Gold

Malleability	Extremely	Moisture	1
Density	Extremely	Air	1
Acids	1	Electricity	aa
Affinity	All	Heat	aa

Gold has a tendency to repel any manipulated magic of the common or rare kinds, but as it is soft and heavy, it does not make ideal armour or weapons. Of course, this is excluding the chains of Nikina. Gold is best combined with a stronger metal to form an alloy, and this can in turn be used as a good repellent against magical attacks. As Odanon prefer elemental magic more than Hireos do, gold is often used when fighting against anything of Garukavar. Warriors like Paladins edge their armour with gold, so that it helps to repel magic, but isn't too heavy.

Silver

Malleability	Extremely	Moisture	1
Density	Very	Air	2
Acids	2	Electricity	aaa
Affinity	Light	Heat	aaa

Silver naturally draws light energy to itself, and, like gold, is effective against anything of Garukavar. It is best used in the form of a weapon, as silver armour is as ridiculous a notion as gold armour; it is too soft and clumsy. Paladins always wield weapons of silver, or at least made of some kind of silver alloy, so that it magically damages a creature as well as physically wounding it. Silver has no abnormal effects against humans are Hireos. The halls of Phedailin Palace have tiles that have a silver coating, so that nothing of Garukavar can walk on it without being damaged.

Platinum

Malleability	Very	Moisture	0
Density	Very	Air	0
Acids	0	Electricity	a
Affinity	None	Heat	aaa

Platinum aids in the third phase of the third step of casting magic, and that is, the projection of the element. Any energy that is channeled through Platinum has its strength increased greatly, depending on the density and quantity of the metal, and the element itself (It conducts heat well, and cold is simply the absence of heat, so cooler elements won't be as enhanced). All great mages carry platinum on them, often on the ends of their staffs, but it requires a strong spirit to use, because there is a chance that the energy will backfire on the caster due to the highly catalytic nature of the mineral.

Zirconium

Malleability	Extremely	Moisture	0
Density	Fairly	Air	1
Acids	2	Electricity	a
Affinity	Light	Heat	a

Zirconium is similar to silver, only it is less susceptible to corrosion, but isn't nearly as good a conductor. But as a magical mineral, it is often a cheaper and much weaker replacement for silver, even though it is still quite precious. Zirconium is not used in weapons, for it is not dense enough, but often makes suitable arrow heads, as it is lighter than silver.

Mercury

Malleability	Liquid	Moisture	0
Density	Barely	Air	0
Acids	0	Electricity	a
Affinity	None	Heat	b

Mercury is poisonous in its normal liquid form, and thus can only be carried in sealed capsules. In addition to this, it is dangerous to handle, difficult to buy and store, and very rare. Despite this, it is still sought after by skilled mages, for anyone with a mercury capsule on them gains a heightened sense of magic use, often referred to as a sixth sense. One is able to feel the flow of magic through their area; where it came from, where it is going, and which of the magical elements it contains. It also increases the changes of the mage linking with an elemental channel.

Lead

Malleability	Very	Moisture	0
Density	Very	Air	2
Acids	0	Electricity	b
Affinity	Dark	Heat	aa

Lead, like mercury, is poisonous, yet quite soft. It tarnishes when exposed to air and is resistant to acids and most forms of corrosion, though it is an ugly and heavy metal. Due to its poison, it is often wielded by creatures of The Enemy, as they are unable to be poisoned. Also, the poison's effectiveness increases tenfold when used against a Hireos, so it is considered the opposite of silver or zirconium. Nothing of Nikina permits the use of lead for any reason. It also has a slight tendency to attract negative energy.

Nickel

Malleability	Barely	Moisture	2
Density	Fairly	Air	0
Acids	1	Electricity	b
Affinity	Light	Heat	aa

Nickel -- a strong and goldish metal -- attracts light energy like silver and zirconium, only it is not considered to be effective enough to gather enough energy to be effective against creatures of Garukavar, and so is a preferred choice for the light mages who only practice healing arts, such as priests. Often, the only piece of jewellery a priest would wear may be a bracelet or anklet made of nickel, and even this in itself can promote good health. It is also used as a form of long-term medicine to fight and help keep away illness.

Beryllium

Malleability	Barely	Moisture	1
Density	Extremely	Air	0
Acids	1	Electricity	b
Affinity	All	Heat	aaa

Beryllium is very strong, light, and brittle metal that has a similar nature to gold, and that is it can repel magical attacks, though it is not nearly as effective. Since it is far lighter and cheaper than gold, it is often used in shields that are carried by the Legionites, for example, as they often battle against The Enemy's creatures.

Sulfur

Malleability	Barely	Moisture	0
Density	Very	Air	1
Acids	3	Electricity	b
Affinity	Fire	Heat	aa

The native form of sulfur is a yellow crystalline form, and is completely insoluble in water. It is associated with fire and therefore attracts fire energy towards itself. It is a favourite of fire mages, and, though it is not practical to be used in the form of a weapon, it makes a good staff-head. If a mage is seen carrying sulfur, he or she is often avoided. It has been known to unexpectedly combust in the hands of an ill-practiced mage.

Zinc

Malleability	Fairly	Moisture	4
Density	Fairly	Air	8
Acids	6	Electricity	aa
Affinity	None	Heat	aa

Zinc is a peculiar mineral, in that it speeds up the channeling process of casting a spell, because it doesn't attract elements so much as it does speed up the movement of present elements. A magical weapon containing zinc and, say, sulfur, would be quite dangerous, because casting time would be almost halved. Zinc is another favourite of experienced mages, even though the master mages tend to shun it, claiming it is a replacement for actual magical skill.

Cobalt

Malleability	Average	Moisture	2
Density	Extremely	Air	0
Acids	1	Electricity	a
Affinity	Water	Heat	aa

Cobalt is similar to sulfur, only it is associated with water and not with fire, and therefore attracts water energy toward itself. It is a favourite of water mages and is especially abundant in Alacas, and it is used in things like door handles in the palaces and larger homes of the city. Often, captains of ships would carry a ring containing cobalt in hopes that it brought them safer journeys.

Tungsten

Malleability	None	Moisture	0
Density	Extremely	Air	0
Acids	1	Electricity	aa
Affinity	Earth	Heat	aaa

Tungsten is a grayish-white, very strong metal and it attracts earth energy, therefore favored by mages of Tekrikri. It is considered the strongest metal, as it has an extremely high melting point and is only weakened by the strongest acids. Due to its very high density and strength, it is often used in arrow heads designed to penetrate armour-like surfaces, though its weight and cost makes it unreasonable to be used in excessive amounts in the making of weapons.

Boron

Malleability	Barely	Moisture	2
Density	Very	Air	2
Acids	1	Electricity	a
Affinity	Fire	Heat	aa

Boron is a brownish black mineral that is known for its ability to specifically repel fire magic (but not so much fire itself). It dissipates fire channels in the atmosphere but does little else. Its very specific ability makes it cheap and uncommonly used.

Chromium

Malleability	Average	Moisture	1
Density	Extremely	Air	0
Acids	1	Electricity	a
Affinity	Ice	Heat	aaa

Chromium is a grey, reflective, hard metal that repels ice channels in the air, but it is similar to boron in that it has become cheap and unused, as it has such a specific use and is only suitable for ones preparing to fight ice-wielding mages.

Carbon

Malleability	Differs	Moisture	0
Density	Differs	Air	0
Acids	0	Electricity	b
Affinity	Organic	Heat	b

Carbon is a very popular mineral that comes in many forms from diamonds to charcoal. It attracts life energy (organic magic) and has a similar medical use to nickel. Due to its abundance in nature, it is not commonly carried around by mages as such. If carbon weren't existent in nature, organic magic would be near-impossible to use, despite the fact that life itself would be more or less dead.

Copper

Malleability	Fairly	Moisture	1
Density	Fairly	Air	1
Acids	3	Electricity	aaa
Affinity	None	Heat	aaa

Copper is the cheapest and most common metal that has a magical use. It has a generic use, and that is to aid the mage in the channeling process, helping the mage to concentrate a specific element, due to copper's great energy conductivity. It is commonly used as a part of a magical staff's length.