Whitestone is a unique type of white rock widely believed to be found only in the Alabaster Sierras.
Properties[]
Fan art of Frida de Rolo experimenting on a piece of whitestone, by Micaerys.[art 2]
Although not inherently magical, this substance is particularly receptive to arcane energies and therefore may be used to create objects that retain more powerful enchantments.[2] Magical items created from whitestone or infused with whitestone dust are created seventy-five percent faster due to its receptiveness to magic.[3]
When melted by a specific acidic compound, whitestone can be refined to a green, glass-like substance called residuum.[4]
History[]
Whitestone was created when the unstable arcane forces unleashed in a cataclysmic battle between the Dawnfather and the Chained Oblivion during the Calamity thrust the mountains of the Alabaster Sierras upward and suffused the stone of the mountains with latent magical energy.[4] The Prime Deities there used weapons crafted by the All-Hammer and, with the blessing of the Changebringer, defeated their foe.[5]
Fainter traces of whitestone can also be found in the rock used to pave Ank'Harel's Sigil District,[6] which is the location of a major Allegiance of Allsight excavation down to Cael Morrow.[7] Cael Morrow was the location of another clash of titanic divine forces, where the Ruiner struck with cataclysmic force and was blocked by Alyxian, who was suffused with the blessings of three gods, including the Changebringer and the deity of arcane magic, the Arch Heart.[8]
The city of Whitestone got its name from this rock, which they quarried from the nearby Alabaster Sierras. The people of the city of Whitestone discovered the latent magical properties of whitestone, and began to export it to the Kingdom of Tal'Dorei, particularly its capital Emon. The rulers of Whitestone, the de Rolo family, would later construct a castle out of the stone,[9] and the same material was used to build a monument to Frida and Darius de Rolo, the founding rulers of the city-state.[1]
During the Chroma Crisis in 811 PD, the promise of access to whitestone helped to secure the cooperation of James Cryon, one of the leaders of the Allegiance of Allsight.[10] Making a more direct use of the rock, the city of Whitestone carved five whitestone obelisks, from which they projected an illusory barrier around the city in order to hide it from spies and scouts of the Chroma Conclave.[11] Twenty-five years later, the obelisks still stood, but hadn't been used since the crisis. However, whitestone rock was still used in the city's defense: the rifles of the city's elite Grey Hunters had whitestone incorporated into the stock and were enchanted against wear with residuum.[12]
Between 812 and 836 PD Keyleth and Percival de Rolo used two of the new windmills of Zephrah to refine whitestone into residuum to construct magic items and arm the skydancers.[13] This arrangement continued into late 842 PD, and it remained largely kept from most in Zephrah.[14]
Trivia[]
- The cobblestones around the Cael Morrow excavation site are not the only use of opalescent material in Ank'Harel. In the Alluvium District, where clay is mined from the surrounding cliffs, is the Opalite Forum, featuring eight pillars of iridescent glass made from the mines' tailings.[15] The Sunfire Forge uses iridescent crystals to collect and liquify sunlight.[16] And the city's Life Dome, which regulates water levels from its underground source, has glass panels with arcane runes that are activated by a shard of iridescent crystal.[17]
- The bricks at the base of the tower walls of Essek Thelyss's estate seem to be gray, but when they catch light, there appears to be a slight iridescent quality to them.[18]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Critical Role: Vox Machina - Stories Untold, Under the Golden Boughs.
- ↑ See "Gunpowder Plot" (1x31), part 2, from 0:07:06 through 0:07:55.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 49.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 75.
- ↑ See "The Endless Atheneum" (1x106) from 1:08:57 through 1:09:55. Ioun's mention of the "Luck Bringer" is clearly meant to refer to the Changebringer, goddess of luck.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 3:04:05.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 91.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 7. See also pp. 121, 134, and 142.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 75. See also p. 77.
- ↑ See "A Traveler's Gamble" (1x66) at 3:22:16.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 51.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 76.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 71.
- ↑ See "The Nameless Ones" (E1x01) at 3:56:45.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 85.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 89.
- ↑ See Call of the Netherdeep, p. 98.
- ↑ See "Stone to Clay" (2x91) at 1:35:38.
Art:
- ↑ Screenshot of whitestone rock from "Scanbo" (LVM1x07). This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
- ↑ Fan art of Frida de Rolo experimenting on a piece of whitestone, by Micaerys. Work contributed to the Critical Role Wiki by the artist.