Identify Earths (sage ability)

Identify Earths is an amateur-status sage ability in the study of Alchemy, permitting recognition of naturally occurring, non-living solid substances, allowing identification through physical properties such as hardness, lustre, colour, streak, cleavage, fracture and density. Additional tests may include reactions to acid, magnetism, taste or smell. Familiar earths and their associated metals can be identified through fieldwork, often within minutes, or in some cases, a few hours. These minerals do not require special efforts to identify.

When prospecting the ability is invaluable, as it can be seen from a cursory examination whether a given material is present, and thus worth extracting. This potentially allows a character to examine abandoned mines to see if there are yet minerals that were overlooked, potentially bringing a source of wealth. Obviously, the skill can be of use to others, also, who may desire to hire the character to give an opinion about various diggings.

Since the system gives real weight to the value of raw materials, the ability is a strategic advantage, anchoring the character as a valuable asset in any expedition or trade-focused campaign.

Rare Earths

Common minerals can be identified on sight. However, certain rare earths — particularly those containing elements such as mithril, adamantium, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, Europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium — require laboratory analysis. These elements have not yet been isolated in the game world's time period, but the minerals containing them are known and used in alchemical processes. Identifying such a substance requires one week of laboratory work and the destruction of one ounce of the material.

Mithril and adamantium are discussed elsewhere. Scandium is found in unusual reddish or pinkish minerals; it can be employed to strengthen iron when smelted in precise conditions, for magical blade forging or bell-casting. Yttrium is a dark, soot-like residue from certain rare stones; it's used as a flux in smelting magical armour, as it stabilises certain other volatile compounds. Lanthanum is extracted from pale, oddly heavy stones; used to draw out hidden essences, so that the life force of various creatures can be transferred into a magic item. This permits, among other like processes, additional bonuses for weapons, such as the essence of a lizard's heart being transferred to a metal vessel.

Cerium occurs as a powder that glows faintly when heated; it's ability to awaken dead materials makes it intrinsic to the making of resurrection or life-stealing manufactures. Praseodymium appears as greenish crystals that shift in hue when ground or exposed to flame; it is used in the creation of healing potions and detection magic. Neodymium is a violet-coloured mineral that deepens with age or exposure to air; in addition to its use in dyes, it is important in the creation of magical ink and amulets that repel spirits. Promethium is a mineral that burns without blackening; it is used in the creation of curses and things that provide resistance to fire. Samarium is a dust that dulls other metals; it's favoured in leadsmithing and in the handling of mercury, and is used to make the substance quicksilver.

Europium is a mineral that glows faintly blue in moonlight; it provides effects related to the creation of invisibility and the distortion of light. Gadolinium is often found in association with iron; it is used to improve the magnetic qualities of lodestone and in the creation of items that produce fire. Terbium is a powder that appears to glow when put underwater — it's also used in the enchantment of ink, glass that can "carry light" and various water-based magical devices. Dysprosium is dense and cold to the touch; its used in alchemy that suppresses or insall strong emotions, such as love potions or things related to charm. Holmium is a crimson-dusted mineral, used as a reagent to alter magical resonance, binding spells into stone or metal.

Erbium possesses soft pink hues and is rarely seen; when ground into a powder, it's used to make very high quality cosmetics, but it's also used in the forging of "singing" weapons and others musically resonant items. Thulium is found in pale bluish ores; it's magical uses range from the control of weather and other elemental conditions, either to stir them up or calm them. Ytterbium occurs as brittle, silvery flecks that crumble easily; it has a curious influence on time, being extraordinarily tricky to employ. Lutetium is the heaviest of the known strange earths. Powdered and used sparingly to add "weight" to potions or the binding of enchantments to metal.

The ability gives no knowledge regarding the employment of these benefits, but it does help in locating the substances for those dearly interested in obtaining even small portions of such earths.

See also,
Earth & Sky (sage field)
Science (sage field)