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|image = noimg.png  
|image = noimg.png  
|officialname = Jade
|officialname = Jade
|nicknames = Dex-jyte, Green [[Topaz]]
|nicknames = Dex Stone, Green [[Topaz]]
|origin = [[Dexai]]
|origin = Unknown
|uses = Decorative, Religious, Monetary
|uses = Decorative, Utility
|rarity = Rare
|rarity = Rare
|accessibility = Upper Class, [[Sihai]]
|accessibility = Upper Class, [[Sihai]]
|}}
|}}
Jade is a green gemstone with both a rough and glossy texture that retains only a mild shine when sanded down, carved, and treated. It can only be mined in [[Dexai]], making it a valuable component to jewelry. Each [[Sihai Dynasty]] uses a unique decorative insignia made at least partly out of the gemstone. Jade is also used as a decorative item in homes, along the [[Loong Dragon]] temples architecture, and jewelry. Some currencies of the Sihai also uses Jade as a decorative centerpiece to small bolt-shaped coins. It’s common in present-day to see many Jade artifacts or art that glorifies the Loong Dragons and their actions that benefitted the Sihai.
Jade is an often-green gemstone with both a rough and glossy texture that retains only a mild shine when sanded down, carved, and treated. While rarely found in wider [[Aloria]], its greatest deposits are instead unearthed in distant [[Jadeheart]], making it a valuable component of jewelry to [[Ailor]] and other groups, while to the [[Sihai]] it is common and vital to their very survival. Jade is also used to create decorative items in homes for the Sihai, with ornate and beautiful carvings of [[Dragon]]s often etched into the material’s surface.  


==History==
==History==
Jade has been an exclusive resource to the Sihai and Dexai lands for centuries. The mines leading to the resource are believed to have been manifested by the Loong Dragons themselves, guiding the Sihai’s common dynasty before anything to the resource. Since then, and with the upbringing of many other Dynasties for the Sihai, the gem has been used in art, architecture, jewelry, and currency. Jades mythology orients around the Loong Dragons, believed that the gem was aesthetically pleasing to the deities. The gem can be seen in the present day used by each upbringing Dynasty. With the formation of the [[War Dynasty]], the gem was artistically molded by skilled metallurgist in the shape of a pendant with the insignia of two cross bladed eastern blades. Other culturally specific pendants exist including the shape of a small Sihai calendar used by the [[Greater Dynasty]] during its initial creation. The other Dynasties focus on less specific shapes, simply molding pendants into the shapes of their occupations or religious symbols of the Loong Dragons themselves.
Jade was well known to the [[Elves]] for millennia, but was extremely rare in their voyages across the world during the dominance of the [[Allorn Empire]]. However, one land that was abundant in Jade was Jadeheart (giving the area its designation on Ailor charts) which the Allorn eagerly sought out over the millennia of their thriving civilization. But unlike the Jade deposits found elsewhere, Jade had an innate connection with the local people, and the Sihai largely barred its sale to outsiders. Yet, the Allorn had their ways, and a slow stream of Sihai-mined Jade would filter into the Allorn Empire. However, in Jadeheart, Jade became beyond powerful a short time before the [[Cataclysm]]. The Jade Wall rose in opposition to the [[Akula]], [[Void]] monsters that surfaced from the deep, but who were repelled. Huge pieces of Jade emerged from the waters as well, forming crystalline plates over the waves or lodging themselves deep into the ocean, while the island of Dexai itself was half-frozen in the material, locked as the only spot where the Wall did not exist. In the following decades, the Sihai came to use Jade ever increasingly, and such was its abundance and new importance as a symbol of their people’s strength and fortitude. Sihai engineering in particular perfected ornate and beautiful uses for Jade into [[Technology Branches|Jadetech]], an entire school that now works to defend the Jade Wall and protect the Sihai of the world. Today, Jade remains treasured by the Sihai. While Jade in wider Aloria is rare, though not as sought after. It also often has more diverse colorations, leaving it to fall into the hands of the wealthy though many still quest after the splendor of Jadetech.
 
Jade, in present-day, is used as a high-class luxury good that brings about a trade surplus to the Dexai lands, exported by the exterior trading posts along the isles outside the Dexai mainlands. [[Ithania]] in particular takes a great interest in the stone, its upper class soughting it out specifically for the jewelry and art made from it. In contrast to the exported resource, the metallurgy skills to carving and shaping Jade is very specific and closed off to the rest of the world. As such, finding a metallurgist who is not of sihai descent with the skills to mold Jade is rare. The market of Jade sculpting has always been perceived to be a risky one, as in some cases the gems are hollow, depleting its value to a great degree once cut into by a sihai metallurgist. A hollow lump of Jade often reveals a contingency to the intended design of sculpting, making the market for Jade sculpting a gamble. It’s not uncommon to see Sihai metallurgists in the past spend their savings on one stone for sculpting, only to find themselves in poverty after discovering the stone is hollow soon after with very little value or potential. In vise versa, Sihai metallurgists have also been noted going rich overnight by the auction of a finalized art sculpture out of Jade.  


==Characteristics==
==Characteristics==
===Appearance===
===Appearance===
Jade is an almost translucent gem with colors ranging from pale mint to a mossy green. In its natural state, it looks like a dirty-green stone surrounded by pale white colors that appears in large veins. Once it is refined, these pale white sections are mostly carved away, leaving behind a waving pattern of lighter and darker greens throughout. It also possesses a rough, oily texture that retains only a mild shine once it is treated.
Jade is an opaque gemstone with colors ranging from pale mint to mossy green, while singular shades out of this spectrum include pale yellows, dull oranges, whites, and blacks. The verdant green tones are exclusively seen in eastern Jade, while Jade found elsewhere is known to have examples of all colors. In its natural state, it exists in large veins edged by pale green to white sections easily visible when first cut through. Once the material has been refined, these pale white sections are largely carved away, leaving behind a waving pattern of lighter and darker shades of the primary color throughout. It also possesses a rough, oily texture that retains only a mild shine once it is treated.
===General Uses===
===General Uses===
Jade has several uses despite being limited to the Sihai and wealthy upper class. They are primarily used decoratively in the architecture of the Loong Dragon temples in the Dexai mainland where there are often entire panels for the walls, tiling the floor or features of the roof itself. The gemstone is used to make art, as carved statuettes of dragons and local wildlife are popular among Sihai artists. The mineral can be used to make jewelry as, like many gemstones, it can be cut and crafted into earrings, necklaces, brooches and other items. It is most commonly paired with [[Silver]]. The final use for Jade is in the currency of Sihai, which is made up of carved Jade tablets and small cog like coins with an interior circle of Jade with similar material carved into it that hold information only meaningful to the Sihai found there. In the rest of Aloria, they are almost useless save to eccentric collectors.
Jade has many uses for many different groups. The most common that Alorians will experience is its use in decoration, crafted into all sorts of jewelry and accessories for those who can gain access to them. Jade jewelry outside of Sihai circles largely finds itself partnered with [[Silver]], and while art made using Jade is rare, some [[Allar]] and Teledden have been known to carve small decorative items or detailed pendant images. For the Sihai, their jewelry pieces often feature raw pieces of the substance, since they might use the material for a range of purposes due to their power over Jade. However, other pieces are known to be carved into a final form in Sihai society, from statues to murals to simple clothing clasps, hair combs, or symbols of public office. They are also used in Sihai construction, often still serving to clad buildings, or to be incorporated into the floors of a magnificent structure. Finally, there is Jade’s use in engineering, the entire sphere of Jadetech as developed by the nation of Dexai, and then spread to other groups of Sihai. Embellished with [[Gold]], and often carved with imagery of nature, this technology is impressive to watch being made, as much as it is to see the final product.
===Abilities===
Jade has no inherent properties; it is capable of a slight shine once cut, but this requires a concerted effort.


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*Some Sihai believe that Jade aids in the Ritual of Cleansing, as it is often performed in the temples. For added “potency”, some secure Jade talismans around the subject before they are purified.
*Some Sihai who travel to Aloria make it a mission to hunt down and reclaim the Jade of their ancient homeland in the possession of outsiders. Such efforts, while difficult, are made easier due to the abilities of the Sihai to call and summon Jade to them.
*Jade among the Allar seen in wider Aloria is rare today, though it was more common back on [[Hadar|Sendrass]] and many believe it is still used to decorate the form of Sendrassian elites.
{{Materials}}
{{Materials}}
{{Accreditation
{{Accreditation
|Writers = HydraLana, JarrettdaCarrot
|Writers = HydraLana
|Processors = HydraLana, AlphaInsomnia
|Processors = FireFan96, MantaRey
}}
}}
[[category:Materials]] [[category:Gemstones]]
[[category:Materials]] [[category:Gemstones]]

Latest revision as of 20:37, 18 December 2023

Jade
Noimg.png
Materials
Official Name Jade
Common Nicknames Dex Stone, Green Topaz
Origin Unknown
Uses Decorative, Utility
Rarity Rare
Accessibility Upper Class, Sihai

Jade is an often-green gemstone with both a rough and glossy texture that retains only a mild shine when sanded down, carved, and treated. While rarely found in wider Aloria, its greatest deposits are instead unearthed in distant Jadeheart, making it a valuable component of jewelry to Ailor and other groups, while to the Sihai it is common and vital to their very survival. Jade is also used to create decorative items in homes for the Sihai, with ornate and beautiful carvings of Dragons often etched into the material’s surface.

History

Jade was well known to the Elves for millennia, but was extremely rare in their voyages across the world during the dominance of the Allorn Empire. However, one land that was abundant in Jade was Jadeheart (giving the area its designation on Ailor charts) which the Allorn eagerly sought out over the millennia of their thriving civilization. But unlike the Jade deposits found elsewhere, Jade had an innate connection with the local people, and the Sihai largely barred its sale to outsiders. Yet, the Allorn had their ways, and a slow stream of Sihai-mined Jade would filter into the Allorn Empire. However, in Jadeheart, Jade became beyond powerful a short time before the Cataclysm. The Jade Wall rose in opposition to the Akula, Void monsters that surfaced from the deep, but who were repelled. Huge pieces of Jade emerged from the waters as well, forming crystalline plates over the waves or lodging themselves deep into the ocean, while the island of Dexai itself was half-frozen in the material, locked as the only spot where the Wall did not exist. In the following decades, the Sihai came to use Jade ever increasingly, and such was its abundance and new importance as a symbol of their people’s strength and fortitude. Sihai engineering in particular perfected ornate and beautiful uses for Jade into Jadetech, an entire school that now works to defend the Jade Wall and protect the Sihai of the world. Today, Jade remains treasured by the Sihai. While Jade in wider Aloria is rare, though not as sought after. It also often has more diverse colorations, leaving it to fall into the hands of the wealthy though many still quest after the splendor of Jadetech.

Characteristics

Appearance

Jade is an opaque gemstone with colors ranging from pale mint to mossy green, while singular shades out of this spectrum include pale yellows, dull oranges, whites, and blacks. The verdant green tones are exclusively seen in eastern Jade, while Jade found elsewhere is known to have examples of all colors. In its natural state, it exists in large veins edged by pale green to white sections easily visible when first cut through. Once the material has been refined, these pale white sections are largely carved away, leaving behind a waving pattern of lighter and darker shades of the primary color throughout. It also possesses a rough, oily texture that retains only a mild shine once it is treated.

General Uses

Jade has many uses for many different groups. The most common that Alorians will experience is its use in decoration, crafted into all sorts of jewelry and accessories for those who can gain access to them. Jade jewelry outside of Sihai circles largely finds itself partnered with Silver, and while art made using Jade is rare, some Allar and Teledden have been known to carve small decorative items or detailed pendant images. For the Sihai, their jewelry pieces often feature raw pieces of the substance, since they might use the material for a range of purposes due to their power over Jade. However, other pieces are known to be carved into a final form in Sihai society, from statues to murals to simple clothing clasps, hair combs, or symbols of public office. They are also used in Sihai construction, often still serving to clad buildings, or to be incorporated into the floors of a magnificent structure. Finally, there is Jade’s use in engineering, the entire sphere of Jadetech as developed by the nation of Dexai, and then spread to other groups of Sihai. Embellished with Gold, and often carved with imagery of nature, this technology is impressive to watch being made, as much as it is to see the final product.

Trivia

  • Some Sihai who travel to Aloria make it a mission to hunt down and reclaim the Jade of their ancient homeland in the possession of outsiders. Such efforts, while difficult, are made easier due to the abilities of the Sihai to call and summon Jade to them.
  • Jade among the Allar seen in wider Aloria is rare today, though it was more common back on Sendrass and many believe it is still used to decorate the form of Sendrassian elites.

Accreditation
Writers HydraLana
Processors FireFan96, MantaRey
Last Editor HydraLana on 12/18/2023.

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