Lumite
| Lumite | |
|---|---|
 A cluster of raw, unrefined Lumite. | |
| Type | Magical Mineral |
| Primary States | Dormant, Active |
| Elemental Types | Fire, Water, Wind, Light, etc. |
| Derivatives | Blood Lumite |
| Associated Hazards | Lumite Assimilation Sickness, Volatility, Mutation |
Lumite is a crystalline mineral found throughout the continent of Rodinia. It acts as the primary magical catalyst and power source for the world, serving as the lifeblood of civilization, industry, and warfare. Every living creature born in Rodinia possesses trace amounts of Lumite in their blood, which dictates their innate magical affinity and mana capacity.
Because of its immense value, Lumite is heavily regulated and is often the primary cause of geopolitical conflicts, such as the Albion Empire's invasion of the Kingdom of Ardenia to seize its Lumite.
States of Lumite
Lumite exists in two primary physical and magical states: Dormant and Active.
Dormant Lumite
The vast majority of Lumite available in markets is in a Dormant state.
- Refinement and Tuning: In its dormant form, Lumite can be safely handled by alchemists and artificers and "tuned" or refined into specific elemental states. The most common refined types include Fire Lumite, Water Lumite, Wind Lumite, and Light Lumite.
- Applications: Dormant Lumite is incredibly versatile. It is used to power everyday conveniences, fuel complex spells, to industrialization.
- Volatility: Despite being classified as "dormant," this form of Lumite is still highly volatile. If mishandled, improperly compressed, or structurally compromised, it can result in catastrophic explosions.
Active Lumite
Active Lumite is incredibly rare and highly dangerous. It occurs naturally only under specific situations, such as the extreme intense environmental stress caused by continuous, forced-mining operations in deep underground veins.
Active Lumite is highly unstable and acts less like a mineral and more like an infectious pathogen. It aggressively seeks out living hosts, leading to a variety of horrific mutations and diseases.
Hazards and Corruptions
Lumite Assimilation Sickness
Main Article: Lumite Assimilation Sickness
Colloquially known as the "Miner's Disease," this terminal affliction occurs when humans or beastkin are subjected to prolonged exposure to Active Lumite. The mineral infects the host's body, slowly assimilating their living tissues and replacing flesh and bone with jagged crystalline growths.
While the disease is incredibly painful and ultimately fatal, it forcibly integrates the host's nervous system with raw magical energy, granting the infected individual an unnatural ability to manipulate magical power far beyond their original capacity.
Infected Creatures
Active Lumite does not only target humanoid races. It easily infects the local wildlife, creating what are commonly known as "Infected Creatures." These monsters are hyper-aggressive, physically enlarged, and capable of utilizing chaotic magic. Treste Comte Mordeau notably encounters a swarm of mutated, giant Lumite-infected frogs in the western wetlands during her pursuit of her master, Erwith Plamya. Keeping populations of Infected Creatures in check is a primary source of income for standard adventurers across Rodinia.
Thralls and The Eclipse's Arts
Because infected miners possess bodies heavily integrated with raw magical energy, they are highly susceptible to the Transformative Arts practiced by the Children of the Eclipse.
Led by Overseer Estella Aria and the Cult's High Priests, the Cult utilizes these forbidden arts to forcibly mutate infected miners into mindless, hulking abominations known as Thralls. These creatures serve as the Cult's living siege engines. However, this technique is an imperfect imitation of the ancient alchemical practice of Takwin.
Blood Lumite
Main Article: Blood Lumite
An artificial derivative of Lumite characterized by its malevolent crimson glow. Blood Lumite is created through the horrific process of human sacrifice. By ritually slaughtering miners afflicted with Lumite Assimilation Sickness, dark sorcerers can condense the Active Lumite directly from the victims' blood. This resulting crystal grants the wielder immense power but slowly eats away at their sanity and life force, corrupting them.
True Origins
Click "Expand" to reveal the true nature of Lumite.
Despite the Radiant Church's teachings that Lumite is a divine gift, and the scientific community's belief that it is the natural "lifeblood" of the planet, the truth is far more alien.
During a hallucinogenic trip induced by smoking a potent shamanic herb known as the "Tears of the World Tree," Asep witnesses a vision of Rodinia's primordial past. He discovers that Lumite is extraterrestrial in nature.
Eons ago, massive geometric vessels descended from the stars. These unknown alien entities terraformed the planet, seeding it with familiar Earth-like fauna (cats, wolves, primates) and drilling deep into the crust to plant pulsating crystals. Lumite is essentially a manufactured alien terraforming and energy-storage technology that eventually fused with the planet's biosphere, altering the evolution of all native and seeded lifeforms on Rodinia.
