Galena

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Galena
Noimg.png
Materials
Official Name Galena
Common Nicknames Starlight Dust, Potter’s Dust
Origin Sendrass, Hadaria
Uses Artistic, Cosmetic
Rarity Common
Accessibility Upper and Middle Class

Galena is found along the coastline of Sendrass and on many of the beaches that dot the nearby continent of Hadaria. The substance has been sought after for centuries, first by the Elves of the Elven Empire and later, the Ailor and Songaskians. It is an incredibly soft metal with a Silver-like shine that is used in beauty products and pottery, but also works as a lemony-fresh insect repellent when applied directly on the wrists and neck. Since the fall of the Essa Empire, Regalia holds a monopoly on the substance, but the Masaya of Farah’deen has discovered their own independent sources to feed their mutual craving. Given how vast Sendrass is, even if supplies were to ever run out in Hadaria, the material is likely to remain used in Aloria for centuries to come.

History

Galena is an ancient substance sought after by many peoples. The first were the Elves of the Elven Empire when they reached Hadaria. Enslaving the populace and taking control of many of the islands, they discovered Galena in pockets along the coastline and once its beauty applications became known, eagerly sought it out. The Slizzar themselves rarely used the substance as it clung to their scales in a discomforting way when in their Natural or Semi-Shifted state. Combined with the unique traits of the Slizzar and Galena, some in the Elven Empire called Hadaria the ultimate key to unlocking eternal beauty. Sadly, this did not come to pass as the Slizzar race manipulated the Empire into ultimately abandoning the region before the Cataclysm. After that catastrophic event, Galena was even more readily available to others. As the Essa Empire formed on Hadar in the decades after the Cataclysm, Galena was one of their most traded goods.

Most of this product went to Farah’deen, where the Ashanti and Hassal Songaskians used it like the Elves had, as cosmetics for their eyes and face. Eventually, Ailor regions like Ithania also came to prize the material. In 190 AC, Ithanian artists discovered that Galena also worked in making beautiful pottery glazes which only served to increase demand. The Essa Empire no long held a monopoly on the trade as nearby Ailor nations began to mine and ship their Galena across Aloria as well. With the collapse of the Essa Empire and the devastation brought by the Chrysant War to Hadar, Hadarian states as a whole have stepped up their role in Galena mining and also have stepped in to help Regalian assets in the tropical archipelago with their own similar mining endeavors. In late 301 AC, Songaskian vessels discovered the coastline of Sendrass also possessed Galena and so for the last several years, small mining operations have broken out along Sendrass’ coast in secret solely for the benefit of the Songaskian state. Considering the obsession of so many to make themselves look beautiful, protect themselves from insects, and to make their pottery look lovely as well, Galena is likely to remain relevant to Aloria.

Characteristics

Appearance

Galena is a Silver-like soft metal that is constantly in a powder state. It appears on beaches where it is usually combined with the sand, but in certain large deposits replaces the sand entirely. In this state, it twinkles lightly and often has a pale silvery coloration. Once it has been separated from the sand or collected together, the material has a darker Silver-coloration to it, but individual granules still twinkle.

General Uses

Galena has three major uses. The first is as a pottery glaze, the end product similar to Lead-glazed earthenware methods. The only difference is some minor temperature differences and that Galena-glazed pottery is known to sparkle “for a lifetime” as most artists say, lasting longer overall than Lead-glazed earthenwares. The second use is in cosmetics, specifically eyeliners, and blushes where the glittering quality of the substance makes it a popular inclusion in several formulas. The latter is often used by the Songaskian upper class, but some Ailor regions like Ithania have begun to use it as well. The third use is also on the person but is most commonly used by the Nelfin and Ailor of Daen. When applied to the wrists or neck, Galena produces a lemony scent that drives away insects.

Abilities

Galena has the unique ability to smell like lemons but only when applied to the wrists or neck.

Trivia

  • Small groups of young women in Ithania are becoming known as “Starlit Herons” by young men, as they dress in dark clothing and wear Galena, causing them to appear like the twinkling night sky and as beautiful as Herons.
  • Galena production is chiefly handled by Walforth, a nation of Old Gods and Oldt Fayth worshippers who have escaped Regalian conversion in Hadaria.

Accreditation
Writers HydraLana
Processors Eronoc, ScaledSupremacy
Last Editor HydraLana on 12/31/2017.

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