Mithril
From an ancient dialect of Vallenor, meaning grey-glitter, this all but fabled metal is extremely rare in Ransera. Its making, let alone its use in creating weapons, armor, or tools, is a fiercely guarded secret among the Makers of Sol’Valen. Its properties, too, are debated, changing from tale to tale, song to song, poem to poem.
It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass. The worked metal was light, but harder than tempered steel. To liken it to silver or even platinum is as understated as likening a flawless dragonshard to glass.
Stories say mithril weapons were sharp enough to cut Gods, mithril armor making humble squires invincible in battle. Aside from martial claims, it appears in descriptions of legendary works of archmagic. Some even wonder whether it was necessary for the practice of archmagic itself.
The fragment of an ancient saga said it was a gift from Nazam, whose death destroyed most of it. A footnote from a history during those desperate times where newly mortal elves sought to codify the thoughts, memories, and works of those dying immortals posits that it came from a world no longer accessible from Ransera, later works relying upon the reworking of extant mithril.
Even those who have achieved the pinnacle of Semblance cannot reverse engineer its creation. It is thought to be known that it requires alchemy and runeforging, as well as any number of other magical disciplines—perhaps even necromancy. Tavárinoikos in Silfanore has been known to produce some wonders involving mithril, but they are few, far between, and small wonders.
Some claim that mythrilite is an alloy of mithril, or even an element in the creation of mithril. This is denied by elves who would know.
Out of Character Note: For the purposes of play, mithril or anything made of mithril cannot be purchased or acquired without moderation by Hekatos as it will be important for larger Sol’Valen. It will not end up on the Price List, but rather used for storytelling purposes.