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Description
True Elements

True Elements, also called Pure Elements or by their individual names, are the purest representations of one of the six Elements that form the world. Though the True Elements are all around us, only one versed in Elementalism can actually harvest them. They naturally appear in the form of small pieces called kernels, which can be worked into coins or bars in large quantities. Working True Element requires the aid of Elementalism as well, and their very nature precludes most of the Elements from being made into permanent items on their own.

Fire
True Fire, sometimes called Ignium, is most easily harvested from the embers of a large fire, or from the heat of a forge. As the pure representation of Elemental Fire, handling Ignium requires a number of precautions, not only to protect the one harvesting, but to safely store it once harvested. It will easily burn or melt through containers, and even those that would not melt will conduct far too much heat. Aetherium and Adamant are the only substances known to be able to safely store True Fire.

Earth
True Earth is sometimes referred to as Terranite, and actually comes in two distinct forms: the more common stone-like shape, and a rarer and more valuable metal. They are, however, the same material. Their physical and magical properties are identical, and only the texture and appearances differ. True Earth is the most common of the True Elements, easily harvested from freshly dug earth or mined stone. As it embodies all of the properties of Elemental Earth, it is heavy, solid, and not as difficult to work. However, large items of pure Terranite tend to be impractical, due to the cost and time put into their production, as well as their great weight.

Air
True Air, also termed Aerium, is also incredibly common, but can be remarkably difficult to harvest. It appears in a strong breeze, or in the wake of a lightning bolt, but its appearance is brief and ephemeral. Aerium is invisible to mundane sight, and must be stored in a sealed container. It can be infused into other materials, increasing their conductivity and reducing their weight, and is a key component in the construction of magically-based airships.

Water
Any natural body of water is a potential source of True Water, also called Aquarine, though harvesting often proves easier in flowing streams, rivers and springs. The cleaner the water, the more Aquarine there is to be harvested. It is perhaps the second-easiest True Element to store, as it can be easily kept in a glass or bottle. It is potable and refreshing, and is also sometimes used in the quenching of certain materials. It can also be frozen, but this is of course a temporary state.

Wood
True Wood, or Arborite, must be gathered from living plant life. While it will not continue to grow once harvested, it must be kept hydrated and alive in order to be useful. Much like Terranite, True Wood is fairly easy to craft and manipulate on its own, though it is lighter and less durable. It can be very useful when infused in the construction of armor, shields, polearms, bows, and airships, as it can actually be flawlessly repaired with the introduction of more Arborite.

Akasha
The most esoteric, and possibly most useful but least usable of the pure elements, True Akasha, also known as Vitaeum, is harvested through the willing blood sacrifice of a sentient creature. It can only be gathered while the blood is fresh, and its existence is ephemeral. It must be used or infused within a minute or two of being created, or the Vitaeum becomes worthless blood. Obviously nothing can be made of it on its own, but Vitaeum is essential for certain rites, the binding of magical items, and the creation of certain special materials.

Aetherium
Aetherium is forged through special ritual means, and only an Elementalist well-versed in all six of the Elements can hope to create Aetherium on their own. It is created purely through a combination of equal parts of the six True Elements, which combine to create a brilliant pearlescent material that defies classification, other than the fact that it is solid. It can store a great deal of magical energy, interact with astral entities and spirits, does not conduct heat or electricity, is lightweight but incredibly durable, malleable in the hands of an Elementalist, and immensely valuable for the great amount of effort that must be put into the creation of a small quantity, and the comparatively few in the world who actually possess the skill and knowledge to create it. It is mainly valued for its unique appearance and magical properties, sometimes being used for inlays and jewelry, as there are other materials more fitting for the creation of armor and weaponry with significantly lower cost.

Mithril
This remarkable and famed material, sometimes called Truesilver, is a naturally-occurring alloy, with deposits most commonly appearing along leylines, or in the wake of great magical rituals or disasters. Despite centuries of attempts, to date nobody has been able to replicate the creation of Mithril, as there is some magical ingredient inherent to its creation that simply cannot be recreated in a controlled setting. It generally needs to be refined and shaped into ingots before it can be worked into usable items. Mithril is a silvery white metal with a bit of a natural matte property to it. It is as durable and workable as the best steel, while being roughly half the weight and much more easily enchanted, making it popular for the creation of armor, light weaponry, and accessories. Its use for heavy weapons is highly discouraged, as these typically rely on their weight for power.

Orikalk
This reddish-gold metal is hard to mistake for anything else. It is an alloy of gold, silver, copper, and mercury that does not occur naturally, as its creation requires specific rituals and the introduction of Vitaeum during the smelting process. The exact mixtures and processes are usually closely guarded secrets of Elementalists, as with any ritual requiring the use of blood, as it can prove incredibly dangerous for those without the proper experience and training. Orikalk is softer than steel, but stronger than bronze, and is malleable and capable of being tempered. While it is naturally a bit heavier than an equivalent amount of steel, Orikalk is a natural conductor of essence and mana, and actively responds to the desires of its wielder. Weapons and armor will become lighter when in use, blades will subtly turn towards their intended target, Orikalk-headed arrows will twist and arc in the air to seek their target's heart, shields will actively interpose themselves, and armor will flex to match the wearer's movements. Additionally, Orikalk is naturally infused with essence, allowing it to interact with spirits as though they were physical, and it can be used to manipulate threads of magic or even carve out the mana of a magus.

Adamant
Adamant is the singular hardest and most durable substance known. It is naturally a near-black metal, though its appearance looks almost like opaque crystal. Like Orikalk, it is an alloy smelted through a unique magical process, though its composition and use are completely different. It's made of iron, silver, copper, and lead, and like Orikalk requires an infusion of Vitaeum during the smelting process. The final result, while still hot and fluid, must actually be formed in a cast. Once it hardens, a process taking about three hours per cubic foot of material, it is set, and its shape cannot be changed. Adamant cannot be melted, reshaped, or reforged, and is nearly indestructible. The material itself is heavier than steel and does not conduct heat or electricity. Blades of Adamant will never dull, points will not break, and armor plates are nearly impenetrable. Heavy armor and larger equipment made of Adamant requires the wielder to have great strength to use effectively.

Arcsteel
Arcsteel is rare for multiple reasons. Arcsteel must be created through a special process from a specific rare variety of high carbon iron ore. The key signs of the ore that differentiate it are very difficult to spot, and most mistake it for low quality iron. Treating it as such results in a very brittle material, and ruins its potential. If identified by the subtle traces of Starsand in the ore, it can be placed in the proper hands. Few and far between are the smiths with the knowledge, experience, and patience required to properly create and work Arcsteel. A simple dagger could take months of work. The end result of properly-worked Arcsteel is a dark grey metal with unique rippling patterns on its surface. Its density is vastly greater than regular steel, resulting in items that are heavier and more durable. Since Arcsteel can be forged, it is not as limited in use as Adamant, and items of Arcsteel can be repaired and altered. However, it still must be worked properly or the unique properties of Arcsteel will be permanently ruined. The metal is unique in that it is easily stained. This means that many Arcsteel items are gorgeously decorated. A weapon of Arcsteel that has not been purposely stained can be colored by the blood of those it cuts, eventually turning a rusty shade of brown. It also has unique and sometimes unpredictable interactions with magic. Permanent enchantments will not take, but temporary enhancements will often find themselves empowered when applied to Arcsteel, and Arcsteel weapons and armor can disrupt offensive magic used against the wielder, and should not be used for magical catalysts.

Lunite
Lunite is a luminescent off-white crystal. The conditions for the growth of Lunite in nature are rare, as it requires a damp, underground environment with a large number of silicon deposits. This area must be exposed to moonlight on a regular basis, but not to sunlight. Lunite tends to form sharp crystal structures when allowed to form naturally, and will glow at night. It is a magically active material, capable of greatly enhancing magical abilities, especially when properly used and shaped. However, shaping Lunite is incredibly difficult, as it tends to shatter if the shape it has grown into is fractured in any way. Thankfully, it is fairly durable as well. Shaping Lunite generally requires that it be grown into the desired shape, which depending on the size and complexity can take weeks. It is not recommended that sets of armor or weapons be made from Lunite, but ritual implements of Lunite are remarkably useful. Small shards of Lunite can also be used to make excellent endless light sources.

Netherite
Netherite is a unique material that can only be harvested from the astral plane. Netherite's physical properties are an odd sort of hybrid between stone and metal. It is malleable and can be worked and forged like a metal, but it will not hold a sharp edge, and if left less than about an inch thick in any dimension, will often fracture far too easily to be useful. Netherite is exceptionally useful when dealing with the dead or undead due to its astral presence. Small pieces of Netherite are often used in implements and trinkets for Necromancers, and weapons made of Netherite (usually large bludgeoning weapons or studded into other pieces of equipment) are exceptionally destructive when used against the undead. A Netherite hammer can turn a skeleton to dust with a tap, turn a zombie into paste in a single swing, and is generally an undead hunter's best friend. The fact that, typically, only Necromancers have the tools necessary to harvest this material has limited its presence in the material plane.

Siderite
Siderite is a naturally forming mineral formed of iron and carbon. While useful as an iron ore, if left raw, some formations of Siderite can be used to create items with unique properties due to the mineral's natural magnetism. Forming Siderite into anything remotely useful as a weapon generally requires an Elementalist, as attempting to forge it normally will result in brittle, worthless, regular iron, without any of the properties that make Siderite unique. It is not typically used to make general-use weaponry, but trick weapons and small, hidden mechanisms often use Siderite in their construction.

Crystalbark
Crystalbark is a brilliant bluish crystalline material that is exceptionally rare in Lustra. It is actually the bark harvested from crystalline trees in lands far to the southeast. There, it is removed in small shards, which are placed into the desired shape. When set in a form and pressure is applied over time, these shards of living crystal will grow together, forming a single contiguous shape. Once the shape has been formed, it takes about a week longer for the crystal to 'set' to the shape, adopting it as a natural form. At this point, if the Crystalbark item is somehow broken, it will grow itself back into its set shape over time from the largest piece. If the pieces are set together, this will happen more quickly as the crystals rejoin. Crystalbark weapons tend to be remarkably light and sharp, as well as exceptionally flashy.

Stonewood
Stonewood trade is one of the greatest economical assets of Ashton. Stonewood trees are hardy, but require specific nutrients in the earth to thrive. Their growth, treatment, and harvesting are all tightly regulated by Ashton's government, as overharvesting could result in the extinction of the tree. Stonewood itself is, as the name might imply, wood that is as hard as stone and resistant to the ravages of flame, while being as light and useful as regular wood. Its use in everything from weapons and shields to warships is limited by supply, as its superiority over other varieties of wood would cause it to rapidly supplant all others in regular use. The methods required to properly shape harvested Stonewood are closely guarded secrets of Ashton's craftsmen.

Starsand Glass
Starsand is a sparkling white crystalline dust that is rarely seen on its own. Small pockets of Starsand will inexplicably appear in the deserts and on the beaches of Endvale, only to vanish the next day. Some do not even realize that what they see is anything special, but Starsand has a very recognizable magical imprint, so magi can more easily identify it. Pure Starsand can be worked much like mundane sand to form glassware, which appears as flawless clear glass with a sparkling glint to it. Starsand Glass is certainly more durable than regular glass, but more importantly it serves to dampen the magical power of things that are stored inside. It is often use to safely preserve samples and alchemical ingredients, keep objects in quarantine, or conceal items of power from prying eyes.

Cold Iron
Cold Iron is a smelted from a naturally-occurring magically active form of iron ore. It's slightly darker in color than regular iron once smelted. It does not react well when formed into alloys, tending to make them exceptionally brittle. Its magical properties also make it difficult to enchant. However, Cold Iron's unique properties make it particularly effective against supernatural entities, particularly spirits and fae. Armor and bars made of Cold Iron will serve to ward them off, and weapons of Cold Iron will deliver vicious, burning wounds to them. If not dealing with these particular foes, use of Cold Iron is not recommended.

Pounamu
Also known as Mana Jade, Pounamu is a mineral that ranges in appearance from a swirly, milky, pale green to a deep, dark turquoise shade. Mana Jade can be carved and worked like any other stone, and is often made into sculptures, jewelry, and ornamentation. The true strength of Pounamu lies in its ability to channel, absorb, and store vast amounts of raw magical energy, making it valuable in the creation of ritual aids for magi. It is most commonly used as an emergency battery of sorts, allowing magi to store spare mana for later use. Breaking a Pounamu item that is being used in such a manner can be exceptionally dangerous, as the raw mana will be released all at once. If enough energy is stored, this can cause quite the explosion...though some magi have been known to make use of this particular property, using Pounamu to create mana bombs.

Description
True Elements

True Elements, also called Pure Elements or by their individual names, are the purest representations of one of the six Elements that form the world. Though the True Elements are all around us, only one versed in Elementalism can actually harvest them. They naturally appear in the form of small pieces called kernels, which can be worked into coins or bars in large quantities. Working True Element requires the aid of Elementalism as well, and their very nature precludes most of the Elements from being made into permanent items on their own.

Fire
True Fire, sometimes called Ignium, is most easily harvested from the embers of a large fire, or from the heat of a forge. As the pure representation of Elemental Fire, handling Ignium requires a number of precautions, not only to protect the one harvesting, but to safely store it once harvested. It will easily burn or melt through containers, and even those that would not melt will conduct far too much heat. Aetherium and Adamant are the only substances known to be able to safely store True Fire.

Earth
True Earth is sometimes referred to as Terranite, and actually comes in two distinct forms: the more common stone-like shape, and a rarer and more valuable metal. They are, however, the same material. Their physical and magical properties are identical, and only the texture and appearances differ. True Earth is the most common of the True Elements, easily harvested from freshly dug earth or mined stone. As it embodies all of the properties of Elemental Earth, it is heavy, solid, and not as difficult to work. However, large items of pure Terranite tend to be impractical, due to the cost and time put into their production, as well as their great weight.

Air
True Air, also termed Aerium, is also incredibly common, but can be remarkably difficult to harvest. It appears in a strong breeze, or in the wake of a lightning bolt, but its appearance is brief and ephemeral. Aerium is invisible to mundane sight, and must be stored in a sealed container. It can be infused into other materials, increasing their conductivity and reducing their weight, and is a key component in the construction of magically-based airships.

Water
Any natural body of water is a potential source of True Water, also called Aquarine, though harvesting often proves easier in flowing streams, rivers and springs. The cleaner the water, the more Aquarine there is to be harvested. It is perhaps the second-easiest True Element to store, as it can be easily kept in a glass or bottle. It is potable and refreshing, and is also sometimes used in the quenching of certain materials. It can also be frozen, but this is of course a temporary state.

Wood
True Wood, or Arborite, must be gathered from living plant life. While it will not continue to grow once harvested, it must be kept hydrated and alive in order to be useful. Much like Terranite, True Wood is fairly easy to craft and manipulate on its own, though it is lighter and less durable. It can be very useful when infused in the construction of armor, shields, polearms, bows, and airships, as it can actually be flawlessly repaired with the introduction of more Arborite.

Akasha
The most esoteric, and possibly most useful but least usable of the pure elements, True Akasha, also known as Vitaeum, is harvested through the willing blood sacrifice of a sentient creature. It can only be gathered while the blood is fresh, and its existence is ephemeral. It must be used or infused within a minute or two of being created, or the Vitaeum becomes worthless blood. Obviously nothing can be made of it on its own, but Vitaeum is essential for certain rites, the binding of magical items, and the creation of certain special materials.

Aetherium
Aetherium is forged through special ritual means, and only an Elementalist well-versed in all six of the Elements can hope to create Aetherium on their own. It is created purely through a combination of equal parts of the six True Elements, which combine to create a brilliant pearlescent material that defies classification, other than the fact that it is solid. It can store a great deal of magical energy, interact with astral entities and spirits, does not conduct heat or electricity, is lightweight but incredibly durable, malleable in the hands of an Elementalist, and immensely valuable for the great amount of effort that must be put into the creation of a small quantity, and the comparatively few in the world who actually possess the skill and knowledge to create it. It is mainly valued for its unique appearance and magical properties, sometimes being used for inlays and jewelry, as there are other materials more fitting for the creation of armor and weaponry with significantly lower cost.

Mithril
This remarkable and famed material, sometimes called Truesilver, is a naturally-occurring alloy, with deposits most commonly appearing along leylines, or in the wake of great magical rituals or disasters. Despite centuries of attempts, to date nobody has been able to replicate the creation of Mithril, as there is some magical ingredient inherent to its creation that simply cannot be recreated in a controlled setting. It generally needs to be refined and shaped into ingots before it can be worked into usable items. Mithril is a silvery white metal with a bit of a natural matte property to it. It is as durable and workable as the best steel, while being roughly half the weight and much more easily enchanted, making it popular for the creation of armor, light weaponry, and accessories. Its use for heavy weapons is highly discouraged, as these typically rely on their weight for power.

Orikalk
This reddish-gold metal is hard to mistake for anything else. It is an alloy of gold, silver, copper, and mercury that does not occur naturally, as its creation requires specific rituals and the introduction of Vitaeum during the smelting process. The exact mixtures and processes are usually closely guarded secrets of Elementalists, as with any ritual requiring the use of blood, as it can prove incredibly dangerous for those without the proper experience and training. Orikalk is softer than steel, but stronger than bronze, and is malleable and capable of being tempered. While it is naturally a bit heavier than an equivalent amount of steel, Orikalk is a natural conductor of essence and mana, and actively responds to the desires of its wielder. Weapons and armor will become lighter when in use, blades will subtly turn towards their intended target, Orikalk-headed arrows will twist and arc in the air to seek their target's heart, shields will actively interpose themselves, and armor will flex to match the wearer's movements. Additionally, Orikalk is naturally infused with essence, allowing it to interact with spirits as though they were physical, and it can be used to manipulate threads of magic or even carve out the mana of a magus.

Adamant
Adamant is the singular hardest and most durable substance known. It is naturally a near-black metal, though its appearance looks almost like opaque crystal. Like Orikalk, it is an alloy smelted through a unique magical process, though its composition and use are completely different. It's made of iron, silver, copper, and lead, and like Orikalk requires an infusion of Vitaeum during the smelting process. The final result, while still hot and fluid, must actually be formed in a cast. Once it hardens, a process taking about three hours per cubic foot of material, it is set, and its shape cannot be changed. Adamant cannot be melted, reshaped, or reforged, and is nearly indestructible. The material itself is heavier than steel and does not conduct heat or electricity. Blades of Adamant will never dull, points will not break, and armor plates are nearly impenetrable. Heavy armor and larger equipment made of Adamant requires the wielder to have great strength to use effectively.

Arcsteel
Arcsteel is rare for multiple reasons. Arcsteel must be created through a special process from a specific rare variety of high carbon iron ore. The key signs of the ore that differentiate it are very difficult to spot, and most mistake it for low quality iron. Treating it as such results in a very brittle material, and ruins its potential. If identified by the subtle traces of Starsand in the ore, it can be placed in the proper hands. Few and far between are the smiths with the knowledge, experience, and patience required to properly create and work Arcsteel. A simple dagger could take months of work. The end result of properly-worked Arcsteel is a dark grey metal with unique rippling patterns on its surface. Its density is vastly greater than regular steel, resulting in items that are heavier and more durable. Since Arcsteel can be forged, it is not as limited in use as Adamant, and items of Arcsteel can be repaired and altered. However, it still must be worked properly or the unique properties of Arcsteel will be permanently ruined. The metal is unique in that it is easily stained. This means that many Arcsteel items are gorgeously decorated. A weapon of Arcsteel that has not been purposely stained can be colored by the blood of those it cuts, eventually turning a rusty shade of brown. It also has unique and sometimes unpredictable interactions with magic. Permanent enchantments will not take, but temporary enhancements will often find themselves empowered when applied to Arcsteel, and Arcsteel weapons and armor can disrupt offensive magic used against the wielder, and should not be used for magical catalysts.

Lunite
Lunite is a luminescent off-white crystal. The conditions for the growth of Lunite in nature are rare, as it requires a damp, underground environment with a large number of silicon deposits. This area must be exposed to moonlight on a regular basis, but not to sunlight. Lunite tends to form sharp crystal structures when allowed to form naturally, and will glow at night. It is a magically active material, capable of greatly enhancing magical abilities, especially when properly used and shaped. However, shaping Lunite is incredibly difficult, as it tends to shatter if the shape it has grown into is fractured in any way. Thankfully, it is fairly durable as well. Shaping Lunite generally requires that it be grown into the desired shape, which depending on the size and complexity can take weeks. It is not recommended that sets of armor or weapons be made from Lunite, but ritual implements of Lunite are remarkably useful. Small shards of Lunite can also be used to make excellent endless light sources.

Netherite
Netherite is a unique material that can only be harvested from the astral plane. Netherite's physical properties are an odd sort of hybrid between stone and metal. It is malleable and can be worked and forged like a metal, but it will not hold a sharp edge, and if left less than about an inch thick in any dimension, will often fracture far too easily to be useful. Netherite is exceptionally useful when dealing with the dead or undead due to its astral presence. Small pieces of Netherite are often used in implements and trinkets for Necromancers, and weapons made of Netherite (usually large bludgeoning weapons or studded into other pieces of equipment) are exceptionally destructive when used against the undead. A Netherite hammer can turn a skeleton to dust with a tap, turn a zombie into paste in a single swing, and is generally an undead hunter's best friend. The fact that, typically, only Necromancers have the tools necessary to harvest this material has limited its presence in the material plane.

Siderite
Siderite is a naturally forming mineral formed of iron and carbon. While useful as an iron ore, if left raw, some formations of Siderite can be used to create items with unique properties due to the mineral's natural magnetism. Forming Siderite into anything remotely useful as a weapon generally requires an Elementalist, as attempting to forge it normally will result in brittle, worthless, regular iron, without any of the properties that make Siderite unique. It is not typically used to make general-use weaponry, but trick weapons and small, hidden mechanisms often use Siderite in their construction.

Crystalbark
Crystalbark is a brilliant bluish crystalline material that is exceptionally rare in Lustra. It is actually the bark harvested from crystalline trees in lands far to the southeast. There, it is removed in small shards, which are placed into the desired shape. When set in a form and pressure is applied over time, these shards of living crystal will grow together, forming a single contiguous shape. Once the shape has been formed, it takes about a week longer for the crystal to 'set' to the shape, adopting it as a natural form. At this point, if the Crystalbark item is somehow broken, it will grow itself back into its set shape over time from the largest piece. If the pieces are set together, this will happen more quickly as the crystals rejoin. Crystalbark weapons tend to be remarkably light and sharp, as well as exceptionally flashy.

Stonewood
Stonewood trade is one of the greatest economical assets of Ashton. Stonewood trees are hardy, but require specific nutrients in the earth to thrive. Their growth, treatment, and harvesting are all tightly regulated by Ashton's government, as overharvesting could result in the extinction of the tree. Stonewood itself is, as the name might imply, wood that is as hard as stone and resistant to the ravages of flame, while being as light and useful as regular wood. Its use in everything from weapons and shields to warships is limited by supply, as its superiority over other varieties of wood would cause it to rapidly supplant all others in regular use. The methods required to properly shape harvested Stonewood are closely guarded secrets of Ashton's craftsmen.

Starsand Glass
Starsand is a sparkling white crystalline dust that is rarely seen on its own. Small pockets of Starsand will inexplicably appear in the deserts and on the beaches of Endvale, only to vanish the next day. Some do not even realize that what they see is anything special, but Starsand has a very recognizable magical imprint, so magi can more easily identify it. Pure Starsand can be worked much like mundane sand to form glassware, which appears as flawless clear glass with a sparkling glint to it. Starsand Glass is certainly more durable than regular glass, but more importantly it serves to dampen the magical power of things that are stored inside. It is often use to safely preserve samples and alchemical ingredients, keep objects in quarantine, or conceal items of power from prying eyes.

Cold Iron
Cold Iron is a smelted from a naturally-occurring magically active form of iron ore. It's slightly darker in color than regular iron once smelted. It does not react well when formed into alloys, tending to make them exceptionally brittle. Its magical properties also make it difficult to enchant. However, Cold Iron's unique properties make it particularly effective against supernatural entities, particularly spirits and fae. Armor and bars made of Cold Iron will serve to ward them off, and weapons of Cold Iron will deliver vicious, burning wounds to them. If not dealing with these particular foes, use of Cold Iron is not recommended.

Pounamu
Also known as Mana Jade, Pounamu is a mineral that ranges in appearance from a swirly, milky, pale green to a deep, dark turquoise shade. Mana Jade can be carved and worked like any other stone, and is often made into sculptures, jewelry, and ornamentation. The true strength of Pounamu lies in its ability to channel, absorb, and store vast amounts of raw magical energy, making it valuable in the creation of ritual aids for magi. It is most commonly used as an emergency battery of sorts, allowing magi to store spare mana for later use. Breaking a Pounamu item that is being used in such a manner can be exceptionally dangerous, as the raw mana will be released all at once. If enough energy is stored, this can cause quite the explosion...though some magi have been known to make use of this particular property, using Pounamu to create mana bombs.