Azoth

Animus or eitr; paramatma or the sap of amrita; cintamani, toadstone, or yliaster.

In various languages or traditions, all of these words mean the same thing: azoth.

Philosophers describe it as the fundamental concept from which all other ideas are derived, while holy men say it is the material substance of the soul and alchemists claim it is the indivisible quintessence, from which all things—both material and magical—are descended.  Whatever definition one believes is most true, it is irrefutable fact that azoth exists and that it is a substance whose potential has thus-far proven unlimited.

Physically, the material is often described as resembling "frozen quicksilver," having the distinctive sheen of mercury and being both perfectly smooth and highly reflective.  Indeed, the only thing preventing one from thinking the substance a liquid is the crystalline shape in which it precipitates, forming broad, lenticular plates that radiate out from a central nodule in a fashion often compared to a rose or lisianthus, and are generally about the same size as those flowers.  Since the term azoth can mean either the raw crystal or the substance composing the crystal, its appearance in this form has led to a whole, unbroken azoth often being termed "rose azoth" or an "azoth blossom."

At its most basic, azoth is said to represent the transition state between magic and matter, being not quite either but possessing the potential to be nudged in any direction.  This singular property means that azoth can be used in the casting of spells, the making of items, or even as a power source unto itself.  While a craftsman might work azoth as one would either metal or wood, alchemists prefer to crush it into a powder and mix it into their concoctions.  Wizards, meanwhile, often take entire "petals" of azoth and incorporate them into their magic, the substance being converted into arcane or divine power and being consumed like any other spell component.  But perhaps nowhere has the azoth come into its own quite like it has in the hands of the Artificer's Guild, who specialize in the use of azoth as a total replacement for magic, either mimicking the effects of magic or even using it in vast quantities to produce magical effects beyond the means of even the greatest casters.

Powerful and useful, the primary drawback of azoth is its rarity.  While the exact mechanics of its creation are not perfectly understood, modern scholars are confident when they say that it is most likely a precipitate form of magical energy, concentrated to such a degree that it begins to take on a concrete physical existence, slowly accreting into the distinctive rosette crystals.

This occurs sometimes in places of unusual natural power—often places that are considered mysterious or holy—with the crystals condensing at the bottoms of secluded springs, the peaks of auspicious mountains, or even within the trunks of ancient trees.  Sites of historical significance from a magical perspective are also likely candidates for the accretion of azoth, be it an ancient, spell-ravaged battlefield, a circle of standing stones left by a mysterious cult, or the long-abandoned workshop of a powerful arcanist.  But both of these circumstances are rather rare, and those that are already known have either been picked clean or else are places of significance that fall under the direct ownership (and thus protection) of the Corporeal Throne, being declared inviolate.

No, far and away the most common method of securing azoth is by defeating creatures of significant, innate magical power.  Monsters such as chimera, remorhaz, and sea serpents slowly distill magical energy inside their bodies throughout the course of their lives, producing azoth that grow in size and quality over time, while powerful planar beings such as demons or devils are formed around an azoth core whose potency does not change over time.  But of all creatures that produce azoth, none is so prized--or so feared--as the dragon.  Combining the highest degrees of innate magic with lifespans that can measure in millennia, no azoth grown or found can rival the heart of a fully-grown dragon.  Indeed, the largest azoth to date--the Thousand Dreaming Petals, which was given as a gift to the Armant Empress during the height of millennial celebration of the Empire's founding--was taken from the body of the sovereign dragon Thamra Katrapati, who was believed to have been over four thousand years old at the time of her death.