THE
XAZURAN
MINERAL
("BITTERSTONE") |
Also called the Bitterstone,
Xazuran is a mineral which is found dissolved in some lakes and streams which
flow from mountains, usually those which are fed by hot springs. When it is in
its solid form, it is a deep xazure
coloured crystal. It is used to make dye, and is also highly poisonous.
Description.
Xazuran is invisible when dissolved in a stream or lake - its natural state.
When in its solid form it is a clear, deep
xazure blue
coloured crystal. The mineral is hard but dissolves easily, and when it is
dissolved it gives of a slight odour of bile. It also tastes very bitter - hence
its common name - although it is not reccommended that one test this out
oneself, as it is poisonous.
Territory.
Xazuran is found dissolved in the water of some streams
with thermal origins, for example the Bitter Creek near Holt in the
Manthrian province of
Santharia. Some places at the base of the
Norong'sorno in the province of Truban have
some hot-water springs in which Xazuran can be found,
and the area called Bitterstone in the Heath of Jernais, in the shadow of the
volcanic Mount Hèckra, is so named because of a lake which has particularly high
concentrations of the mineral.
Usage.
Xazuran is most commonly used in dyeing. When dried into crystal form and then
remixed with seawater, it makes a pure, bright
xazure
dye.
The mineral is extracted from its source by taking pans of
water from the stream or lake and letting the water
evaporate. The mineral does not seem to be able to follow the
water, and is left as a bright blue residue in the
bottom of the pan. The crystals thus left are then dissolved in a much smaller
amount of heated water, until no more can be dissolved.
This is the base for the dye, and when combined with one of a variety of
mordants, can be used to colour cloth. With other ingredients and various other
mordants it can be used as part of a range of colours, from greens to purples.
Dangers. When it is
dissolved in a stream or pool, Xazuran merely gives the
water a bitter taste, or in higher concentrations (as found, for example, in
a stagnant pool) it causes a painful burning in the stomach and nausea for a a
few days, depending on the amount of it in the water.
When concentrated however, whether in liquid or solid form, Xazuran is quite
poisonous.
Whether accidental or otherwise, swallowing a concentrated form is hardly ever
fatal, as it is most usually regurgitated quickly after it has been drunk, but
can result in a long sickness. The first part of the illness is a screaming
sickness, characterised by an intense burning, stabbing pain in the stomach,
which causes the unfortunate soul to scream for
Queprur’s mercy. If enough was drunk, the
pain can be in other areas of the body, most usually the various orifices,
including eyes. The screaming sickness is usually gotten over within a month,
but other effects are permanent. These usually always include a smaller stomach,
which leads to the poisoned person always looking emaciated and thin, and can
sometimes include bulging eyeballs, the inability to toilet, and yellowy-orange
coloured skin.
If a person does not swallow the mineral, but handles it without high quality
gloves on, they will notice a burning, itching sensation of the skin, most
usually leading to a painful, puffy itching rash. If rubbed into the eyes, it
can cause blindness.
Sadly these illnesses are quite common, especially among children and
travellers, as the mineral is such a pretty colour. Those who work with Xazuran
are commonly thought to have an enhanced protection against the mineral's
adverse effects, but their "luck" with avoiding these ill effects is actually
due to high quality protective gear coupled with a thorough knowledge of the
dangers of Xazuran and how to avoid them.
History. It is not well-known when or how this mineral was
originally discovered, but it is probable that it was discovered in much the
same way in each place. Streams which contain this mineral are often very bitter
tasting. When water is taken from a stream and is found
to be bitter, it is discarded. If the water
was poured away on to rock, it might form a small pool
and evaporate, leaving the blue Xazuran crystals behind. Also, in summer, pools
containing high levels of Xazuran often have crusts of the mineral clinging to
the rock or soil above the water line,
where some of the water has
evaporated.
Xazuran the mineral was originally called simply "Bitterstone". The name Xazuran
was first applied to it after the advent of the
Archmage Xarl Bluestride, who was
well known to prefer robes coloured with the dye produced from this mineral. The
name comes from the word "azura" which is the ancient
Centouraurian word for bright
blue, plus "Xarl", the first name of
the famous mage.
Information
provided by
Grunok the Exile
|