Void Stone
Void Stone is a compound that is strikingly like stone. What sets it apart is it's origin and how it interacts with the Material Plane. Born from the Void, a dimension of absolute nothingness, it is this in solid form.
When it enters the Material Plane it interacts with everything around it sucking in the life force of organisms around it, physically & spiritually. By doing so it destroys these creatures when not 'full' so to speak, all the while feasting on magic and dreams.
Some entities have interacted with this stone, using it's property to draw power to themselves and creating domains that are anathema to others not touched by the Void.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Void stone is comprised of stone that is essentially a solidified aspect of the Void itself. Initially appearing quite light in weight it hardens with time and specks of lighter material is apparent. The latter disappears over time and the stone gets darker over time, as well as heavier.
Sometimes when magic, dreams or the souls of the dead pass through it, the stone reaches a point where it shatters and breaks down into a fine sand. In even rarer cases it turns to a black dust.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Heat & light is absorbed by it casting neither back or storing it. It can be polished but still absorbs light instead of reflecting it. Some say that when touched too long by a heat source, it gets colder & colder until the heat source is absorbed altogether & extinguished completely.
It seems to absorb the life force of living organisms too over time, with these withering away physically, mentally and spiritually. Eventually nothing is left and even the colour of living tissue disappears over time. The dreams & nightmares of living creatures are affected changing until they cannot dream at all, and these that dream intensely notice that their dreams suffer the same effect over time.
Another property is that it seems to interact with magic too. It absorbs a portion of the magic altering its structure faster than normal. If anything it is noticed that the more magical energy that is used either by continual casting or by powerful spells causes it to change quicker. It also shatters and turns to a black sand or dust with the most powerful of magics are used.
It seems to reflect magic back and improve spell casting, at least in spells to summon or banish entities (especially Fiends) from other worlds &dimensions, and resurrection & necromantic spells are more potent.
Some powerful entities in their own right seems to have made use of such stone in the past and those that can be described as deities seem to be able to manipulate it to a degree. If anything the entities of the Star Gods & their minions make use of Void Stone, as do the monstrous Leviathan and it's followers.
It appears these entities seem to have developed a symbiotic relationship with them.
Geology & Geography
Usually found in regions of deep space and planets in the Material Plane where other powerful mystical materials have interacted violently in the distant past. This can range from meteorites & asteroids made of Amber from the World Tree collided with a planet's surface, or similar has occurred.
Origin & Source
Void stone is the condensed essence of the Void. When elements of Higher Planes, such as the Amber of the World Tree, enters the Material Plane and reacts violently with extreme conditions (such as with a black hole or star) and/or elements in the latter, it creates a literal tear in the void of space. This action results in a rift into the Void.
Since the Material Plane needs something to be present, even background radiation, the Void rift solidifies into a solid mass of stone. This can be in the crust of a planet, to it drifting through deep space. This seals the rift and the natural order is restored. Sometimes this results in the destruction of the material and region that created the initial rift. Sometimes it leaves it warped and even more dangerous.
Life & Expiration
It appears that the Void stone remains for eternity unless it is forced into turning to the black sand or dust. When used in magic then there is the chance it returns to the Void where it is fully reabsorbed completely.
History & Usage
History
From the creation of the Material Plane there has been Void Stone. Random chance led to the first deposits with the reaction of the forces that led to creation. There the Void Stone either drifted through the universe or settled into planets and other celestial bodies. Some had made it's way to Earth, including crashing into the regions that became the Mediterranean, north west Atlantic and the Mariana Trench.
There it lay until the Star Gods and Dragons arrived. The Star Gods noticed the stone and done everything to hoard it, building cities such as R'Leyh and the city of Dagon & Mother Hydra. From there they infiltrated the dreams & nightmares of other younger species, feeding the stone with these dreams, and giving it a portion of magical rituals practised by these young species to feed it.
They dreamed themselves and fed the stone, linking & stabilising it to boost their own power and reach. They grew and called more of their kind to Earth using it as a beacon and starting even more cults.
All along another creature took up residence in the Mediterranean. Leviathan, the Dragon Serpent of Hell found a cavern created by a Void Stone asteroid hitting just north of modern Alexandria. There it found the perfect material to draw in victims that dreamed of magic, power and desire. Using the stone to teach others the ability to shape flesh and spirit, it soaked in a sea of souls that were drained by the Void Stone, giving over a token amount of itself each time until it's own body took on elements of the same stone becoming the shape it is today.
Deposits still show up once in a while buried deep with time or crashing down from the heavens. In a rare instance a magical or fiendish occurrence will tear a hole leading to the formation of Void Stone. These places eventually become cursed desolate regions avoided by all but the most crazed individuals.
Discovery
As ,mentioned, the Star Gods discovered it first followed by Dragons. Avoided by the latter due to it's effects on the living, the Star Gods suffer from none of these effects due to their strange biology & make-up.
Used by the latter to make their cities and lairs these entities, along with a rare few other deities, they use it to quickly store magic, bend reality, and dreams, and capture the essence of all other life. The stone seems to amplify their own abilities along with leaving them relatively unscathed.
Everyday use
Void Stone is used in magic, at least in the form of the black sand. When seeped in magic it disintegrates into this form and acts as a general material component. Unfortunately it also saps the mind & body of weaker individuals and only the most experienced & powerful can use it for any extended period without this happening.
Sometimes used by Star God cults and Star Spawn, along with elements of the Order of the Gash, they build settlements and altars with them boosting their power and contact with the Star Gods and the Far Realms. Why it operates this way is not quite known considering the Void itself of primarily devoid of all but the most powerful Void-touched, powerful individual deities that rarely survive long outside this dimension.
Saying this, it is likely that manipulation of magics and spiritual energies from other higher dimensions likely warp it. This could potentially lead to it being imbued with energies of these planes allowing it interact with them too.
Cultural Significance and Usage
The majority of cultures has no knowledge of this stone. The tribes of eastern Persia and the Indian subcontinent has some knowledge of it, mainly through the belief of Hinduism & some variants of Buddhism, and the worship of Kali. This is due to Kali has been mentioned in a few ancient Sanskrit texts as being born of the Void, and the destruction of the Ego sending it to the Void, allowing the worshipper to remove spiritual aspects they want rid off.
Ancient myths in some of these regions mentions that the stone is used for her idols and temples allowing the tantric practitioners to physically remove those parts of themselves holding them back from progressing on their spiritual journey.
Most who discover it are terrified when they realise the dangers of Void Stone. Finding it in many dangerous temples to ancient cults to other gods more alien than anything else they have ever encountered. Finding some almost always involving the local flora and fauna being leeched of all life causing terror of what might await the discoverer.
Manufacturing & Products
Settlements , statues and even stone jewellery have been observed.
Byproducts & Sideproducts
Black Sand and Black Dust.
Hazards
The Void Stone sucks the lifeforce of living creatures nearby causing even the colours or sounds of the victim to disappear into the Void over time. This can kill most living organisms in no time usually in days at the most. Only a rare few, about 1% of living organisms, can survive any length of time. The difference is organisms that don't truly belong in the Material Plane. Most Fiends, and Star Spawn / Gods, Celestials, and deities can survive almost indefinitely in its presence.
These other creatures, especially the highest ranking creatures (usually deity level) can assign a portion of their own power to it and manipulate it. Any other creature that tries runs the risk of being obliterated quicker.
Magic, souls and dreams seem to also respond to it, being sucked into it. Given sufficient time, usually a few days to weeks, can cause it to explode causing any other organism nearby to be blasted in a ball of Black Sand. This can lead to the victim being torn apart as in a sandstorm. Discharge of a magical or spiritual nature can tear through it causing further injury.
Coldness is another. The longer it is charged up the colder it gets and can drop to near Absolute Zero if left to gather more energy without it being dissipated or used. This causes horrendous cold burns and hypothermia at an accelerated rate.
Environmental Impact
The environment it is found is generally shows a lack of life in and around it. Only organisms that have the necessary spark of divinity in it can survive without any hardship. Life starts to die off getting fast & faster until all life within 10 miles from the source withers and dies leaving nothing but dust behind. No new life can grow unless the Void Stone is removed, destroyed or brought to heel by a powerful enough external force.
Distribution
Trade & Market
There is little in the way of trade or market for this except in some hidden cults to different deities, assassins or saboteurs.
Storage
Void Stone is usually kept far away from living organisms when stored. It is only really used by so few creatures or societies next to no-one has tried to find a way to store it especially large amounts of it.
Law & Regulation
Those authorities that are aware of it, heavily regulate it, and generally kept far far away from built up regions or regions used for timber, farming, fishing and the like. Those that even have an ounce or less can suffer sever punishment unless it is tied to specific religious practises, and even these are closely monitored when accepted. The latter is only really found when the worship of Kali is found, anywhere else is generally avoided at all costs.
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