Shadesteel

A rare metallic alloy created exclusively by the cysgoroesi and used extensively in their equipment and gear and especially the famous shadesteel golems that defend their bases in the Shadows. Extremely rarely seen outside of cysgor enclaves in the Shadows

Properties

Shadesteel is a lustrous, dark metal that appears to have swirling shadows moving through it even at rest in even lighting. Surprisingly light, it flows like liquid and responds to the wielder's intentions. A shadesteel golem, for example, can extrude weapons from its body and otherwise reconfigure itself. At the same time, it is exceptionally strong and resistant to almost every external force. It conducts aether quite well, but does not react well to highly luminous aether (its one weakness).

Creation Process

While the full process for making shadesteel is unknown (outside the Magpie sect's sworn crafters and a few exiles), it is known that it incorporates a combination of steel and silver (normally a bad idea) made stable by binding processed shadow-stuff--the raw, psychoactive, unstable aether of that plane, made stable by unknown magics--into the mixture. As such, shadesteel is a paradox. Instability made stable, change made solid. But still changeable.

Price

N/A. Purchasing shadesteel is effectively impossible, as no significant amounts exist outside of cysgor hands, and cysgor retrieval teams eagerly seek out the small amounts that leak (often from dead cysgor or exiles) and reclaim it by stealth or force. Acquiring a shadesteel artifact is a good way to find yourself visited by some of the grey elves who won't ask nicely.