Glassworking/Part Three

Glassworking/Part Three is an Official GemStone IV Document, and it is protected from editing.

Artisanal Glasses of Elanthia: Part 3

From the desk of Isienaka, Chief Scholar of Atan Irith

Below are additional excerpts from Isharaj Calikan's dissertation on glasswork to serve as a companion to the other excerpts previously shared, Artisanal Glasses of Elanthia and its continuation. Please enjoy.

From Chapter 6: Culturally or Regionally Significant Techniques and Styles

From "Glassworking and Glassblowing: A Comprehensive Examination of Elanthian Glass Techniques Across the Ages" by Isharaj Calikan, Scholar Apprentice, Order of the Sky and Cloud

Achvlas and Zokivlas

While dwarves are more well-known for mining and artisanal expertise around metals and glaes, there are always those whose craftsmanship extends to other areas. Deep within the mountains, the Gem-Eaters of the Oltregek, in cooperation with the Moss-Weavers of the Ralgrenek, use their unusual skills to create two unique dwarven glasses: achvlas and zokivlas.

Achvlas
Glassworkers of the Taklaftil use alchemically distilled tinctures of specific gems along with infusions of liquefied moss provided by the Zokveregs while their glass is molten to create a glass known as achvlas. Achvlas is a rare type of glass that holds a scent; the scent is dependent upon the gems used, and the specifics are a closely guarded secret.

Achvlas has several uses, including as small metal-framed glass disks placed in trunks or drawers as either a pest-deterrent or a means of enhancing the scent of fabric contained within. The aroma is increased when exposed to gentle heat, so some dwarves will hang a pane of achvlas in front of a fireplace or near a stove. Candles can be placed within achvlas candle vases to activate the glass's scent, though care must be taken if combined with a scented candle, as they can easily clash in unexpected and unwelcome ways.

A small conclave of ale-makers is experimenting with storing beer in specially created achvlas jugs designed to infuse specific scents into the alcohol in unique ways. This practice remains niche, but its practitioners hope it gains popularity over time.

Achvlas takes a dye well, and the Taklaftil are kept busy fulfilling orders and innovating new uses.

Zokivlas
Known in Common as moss-glass, zokivlas is glass that incorporates moss, typically intricately woven into patterns. Done in panes, the threads of moss serve to strengthen the glass a bit and also to reduce glass-related injuries when it does break, as the moss clings to the shards, making them easier to find and softening the sharp edges.

Zokivlas is not limited to panes, however, and moss-glass trinkets are common with the Ralgrenek. The Oltregek gem-eaters provide a tincture that allows zokivlas to have the faint scent of fresh moss growing in a damp cavern, and the Ralgrenek moss-weavers incorporate this in various measures, depending upon either the artist's personal desire or the customer placing the order.

In vases and other trinkets, the moss becomes more artistic and less functional (though it is important to note that even in the panes, the use of moss is aesthetically pleasing), and one will see other cavern flora make their way into the glass -- lichen and tiny mushrooms being most common, all expertly worked together. Special treatments render the glass undyeable, as the clarity of the glass is important in showcasing the art woven within.

On The Gem-Eaters and Moss-Weavers of the Dwarven Clans
Gem-Eaters: An unusual condition occurs from time to time in the Oltregek clan, wherein a dwarf has a compulsion to eat the very gems the clan is so famous for mining. These dwarves, known as taklaftil, are able to ascertain unique uses for the various gems by tasting them. Eating solid gemstone, however, is hard on the teeth, and over the centuries, the taklaftil have refined their processes in order to meet the needs of their compulsion.

According to them, each gem has a unique use when ingested by a gem-eater, and this use varies somewhat depending on whether the gem is crushed to dust before eating, rendered into a tincture via alchemy for drinking, shattered into smaller pieces for chewing, or if one works on chewing down the entire gem without these methods. For a truly gifted taklaftil, even merely licking or sucking upon a gem can release some of its unique powers, but it is greatly limited.

As an example, a taklaftil who eats a clear citrine experiences improved vision that allows them to see better in the dark, with the range being a small boost to seeing in the pitch black as if it were daylight, and if combined with a green citrine, the gem-eaters claim they can see through rock to find gemstone deposits. Other combinations assist in finding veins of mithril, and so on.

Their study of their compulsion has led them to become some of the pre-eminent alchemists for gemstone-related needs, including possible medicinal uses. The selling and drinking of gem-derived tinctures for a variety of ailments waxes and wanes in usage with non-taklaftils, but currently this folk medicine is seeing a surge in popularity in various Oltregek communities.

Moss-Weavers & The Ivelerek: Within deep-dwelling Ralgrenek communities, the zokveregs, in addition to being preeminent weavers of moss and the crafters of moss-glass, are highly superstitious and live in small enclaves set apart from their fellow clan members. Many of them believe both they and the taklaftil have been touched by the Ivelerek ('touched by' having various definitions depending on who is defining -- cursed, blessed, controlled, etc.). According to the moss-weavers, the Ivelerek are a lost clan of dwarves that dug too deeply, disturbed something they should not have, and were transformed. They are doomed to stay far below even the deepest of mines and tunnels, and legend has it that the Ivelrek's caverns are magical places filled with glowing mushrooms the size of houses, veins of rare and undiscovered ores thicker than the most rotund dwarf's middle, and varieties of moss the likes of which have never been seen.

The Ivelrek purportedly have clusters of luminescent toadstools growing from their heads, tendrils of moss and fungi naturally entwined within their beards, and patches of lichen scattered across their body. It is said they only rise above their impossibly deep caverns to claim a lost miner and make them one of their own (there are many variations on myths like this amongst the dwarven clans to account for lost miners, but the Ivelrek is strictly a Ralgrenek belief), or to guide a lost dwarf to safety (often in a dream or vision). Colloquially, the Ivelrek are known as the Lost Dwarves or the Moss Brethren.

Some Ralgrenek enclaves celebrate a holiday known as Iveltan, wherein town leaders send a representative as deep as possible to leave food, drink, mining tools, and several pieces of zokivlas as an offering to the Ivelrek. The offering area is chosen carefully for its remoteness and depth, and it is strictly forbidden to be visited except on the offering day.

Driftglass and Riverglass

Amongst the Vanadre Chiras, the Anicola are the preeminent creators of driftglass. Inspired by seaglass (and taking its name from an obsolete term for it), driftglass is created when bits of glass are worn down in river and lake beds. While other cultures may use this methodology occasionally, the best-known source of driftglass comes from the Vanadre Chiras, and more specifically, Van Anicola. Indeed, it is not considered true driftglass unless it comes from the Anicola's special caches on the Isle of Four Winds.

Like its seaglass counterpart, driftglass is not blown. Pre-existing glass items are broken or cut, sometimes into rough figures, and then placed in riverbeds and lakes. These are left for years, if not a decade or more, as patience, time, and perhaps a bit of alchemical assistance are all required for the original glass's transformation into driftglass.

Across the years, the glass is naturally tumbled by the water's movement, wearing itself against water, rock, and shore until it is polished to a high sheen. Driftglass lacks the frosted nature of seaglass, but the Anicola have perfected their driftglass process; the finished product is pulled from the waters bearing a distinctive moire pattern across the surface.

While over the years driftglass has come to be used solely for the river or lake glass crafted by Van Anicola on the Isle of Four Winds, there are non-driftglass alternatives. It is still predominantly the provenance of the Vanadre Chiras, and it is typically called "riverglass" even if its origins are within a lake. Riverglass lacks driftglass's moire pattern, but like both it and seaglass, riverglass has been weathered and tumbled into a recognizably separate entity from regular glass.

Van Anicola Traditions
Van Anicola has several traditions and activities around driftglass, only a few of which are well-known. For example, if an artisan dies with existing caches, the van will ensure it is retrieved only when ready, so the artist's last work is complete. Special care is taken with these, and distribution of the driftglass is a decision left to the artist's stated intentions or to their closest friends and family.

When a child displays an interest in driftglass, they are taken to the Isle of Four Winds to place their first cache and brought back a decade later to retrieve it. If a child is unable to return, a family member or designee will do so for them. In those rare cases when a child has died, however, a family member or designee will retrieve it during the next visit, even if it is unready. It is seen as a representation of the unfinished life. It may be worked into remembrance art, but that is dependent upon the family. Some will scatter it along the road as they travel, others will keep it in a small keepsake chest, and so on.

It is believed there are several 'training' areas throughout the jungle, and after their special 'first cache,' children may return and use these areas, as will adults who are experimenting with various techniques. These areas are often considered a free-for-all, with some caches being seeded by the van for children and others to practice. The resulting driftglass is typically a bit rougher and more utilitarian, but it can still be traded and sold.

Evashiran Alchemical Glassworking

Evashirans' expertise in alchemy and their penchant for experimentation yield numerous unique advancements in several areas, and glassworking is one such area. The Order of Crystalline Song (Lyx'Sianla) holds the secrets to several techniques, including stekla, perytla, and evissila.

More commonly known as 'echo glass,' stekla holds faint sounds, the whispering echoes of the original sound. It is difficult to create, requiring several disciplines of glassworking, magic, and alchemy working together to capture a sound or voice in a particular moment during its crafting (this also means the artisans and everything else must be perfectly silent in the final magical moments). At its simplest, echo glass will 'echo' a single word or noise, but the top artisans have managed short phrases.

A stekla installation often consists of several pieces of stekla holding different phrases to 'released' in a set order, resulting in glass recitations of poetry or song. When combined with perytla or 'chime glass,' art installations become a melodic orchestration of visual and auditory delights.

Perytla uses several scientific techniques along with alchemical expertise to craft glass that will create its own musical chiming sounds when external stimuli, such as wind, water, or touch are applied. This allows for several landscaping experiences, such as placing perytla sculptures in windy areas or in water displays, to create musical interludes while walking through a garden.

While both stekla and perytla are more frequently seen in larger sculptures used for art installations and displays, there are smaller occurrences of these glasses. A loved one, for example, may commission a pendant or trinket of stekla which will, when triggered, echo a whispered endearment. Small perytla statuettes and baubles may be carried for luck or sentiment as well; holding them up to the wind or gently exhaling on them will activate their inherent sounds.

A bit more prosaic, but still beautiful, is evissila. This is also known as iris glass or glow glass because of its use of meviriel (mana irises) and the resultant glow effect. While evissila may be crafted to allow for the turning on or off the glow, in its most famous state, it begins to glow at sunset and stops at sunrise, all on its own. This phenomenon occurs regardless of geographic location or time of year, and being inside (including deep within caves and the like) has no impact on its ability to know when to glow or not.

The most common use for evissila is to light areas that should always be softly lit, such as hallways and the like. It is also an excellent lighting solution for libraries as it holds none of the danger of flame, and the light itself may be colored differently upon creation to match the best sort of light to the circumstances. Traveling Evashiran may carry smaller pieces with them as reminders of home, but these pieces tend to be luminescent without the fine precision of larger, more permanent pieces.

The Flower Glasses of Ta'Ardenai

Amongst the Ardenai, there exists a glassworking style that is the envy of many an artisan; known as the flower glasses of Ta'Ardenai, these glasses hold floral scents. Similar to the dwarven-made achvlas, these glasses are typically used in containers that store linens and other cloth items as a replacement of, or enhancement to, sachets.

Aelthiel is the primary term for the flower glasses, and there are two sub-categories -- naethiel (or roseglass) and nysthiel (or violetglass). Naethiel is used to describe aelthiel that uses roses. It does not take a dye, and the process of creating it renders the glass a pale pink. It is typically intensely rose-scented, and artisans can imbue it with specific and distinct rose varietals. Nysthiel, always a pale violet hue, describes aelthiel made from violets, and it also can be tailored to the scent of specific sorts of violets, such as wood violets.

Aelthiel that has not been specially crafted into naethiel or nysthiel will take a dye, and all three are incredibly durable. Other common uses of aelthiel are small trinkets and stained glass art, often framed by locally sourced woods, which is hung from windows.

An Aside: The Unusual Obsession with Vegetable Vases
When speaking of Ardenai glasswork, one would be remiss if they did not bring up the unusual and quirky fashion that swept across the Elven Nations a few thousand years ago -- celery vases.

It started in Ta'Ardenai, where wealthier Ardenai began displaying stalks of celery in glass vases, often intricately etched or press-patterned, but always crystal clear to showcase the beautiful greens of the celery. It quickly spread, for reasons inexplicable to most modern aesthetics, and soon, artisans were churning out hundreds of celery vases. No noble entry way or dining room was complete without a vase of ornately displayed celery, especially in the winter, when the obtaining of such fresh vegetation would be a more difficult endeavor.

Other elven houses picked up on this fashion statement, and a few tried to make it their own by showcasing other vegetables. Some enterprising artisans tried to create a demand for carrot vases (slightly smaller and meant to display bundles of carrots with leafy green tops spilling over a flared top), while other attempts were made at finding display options for turnips, eggplants, and, oddly enough, the plain potato. Smaller versions of celery vases known as asparagus urns had a mild success, along with the formerly mentioned carrot versions, but beyond that, nothing held the fashion forward crowd's attention like the celery vase. Its popularity waned after several decades, but the artistry of the celery vases produced during that time remain.

Fractured Glasses: Coveglass and Briarglass

While numerous glassworkers do a style of "fractured" glass, two cultures, Paradis halflings and Seareach humans, have taken the art to new levels. Originally, leaders of Seareach attempted to call this signature glass artistry seaglass, but they were ultimately unsuccessful given the fact the term was already in use and quite popular. Once they realized this was going to be an unsuccessful endeavor, they pivoted to coveglass, as the first artisan to make coveglass successfully hailed from Brisker's Cove.

Interestingly enough, the alternate name of the Paradis version of this glass,sarvith, is "briarglass," and it is also named after a famous cove town -- in this case, Briarmoon Cove, where a gathering of halfling artisans created the unique techniques that go into this popular style of fractured glass.

Fractured glass (also known as crackled glass or ice glass) involves taking a hot glass product, plunging it in icy cold water just enough to create thin fractures, then quickly placing it back in the fire while blowing to ensure the cracks remain. The quench-heat-blow cycle can be repeated multiple times, which impacts the crackling effect. The final result produces a patterning akin to that of a crocodile hide.

Sarvith artisans have perfected the technique of controlling the fracture, enabling them to create actual patterns and designs with these minute breaks rather than settling for the standard crocodilian look. The most renowned modern blower of briarglass controls her fracturing so well that she can guide the glass into detailed landscape scenes across her panes and vases.

Similar to sarvith, coveglass hits new heights in the fractured glass category with its durability (one can drop a coveglass vase, and it rarely breaks) and its patterning. Coveglass artists change their quenching technique slightly, and rather than a crocodile skin pattern, the end result can either be a fish scale look or a spiraled "crashing wave" appearance. This oceanic influence has earned it the nickname of "mermaid glass."

On Wendwillows and Coveglass Wendwillow forest gnomes frequently purchase coveglass, commissioning sturdy glass blades for their story knives (yaruviq). These knives are not used for any sort of combat and are strictly ceremonial. Wendwillows have a tradition of telling stories aided by images drawn in riverbanks, snow, or sand. They use the yaruviq to aid in the carving, and when the tale is done, the flat of the blade erases the fleeting artwork.

Traditional yaruviq are crafted from antler, bone, or wood, and they are typically unadorned except for wavy patterns etched into the blade to mimic the sweeping motions used when clearing the story carvings. Changing the wooden blade for a coveglass one is a newer development but one readily accepted by many Wendwillow storytellers. The wave-like pattern on the glass naturally fits with their carving tradition, and its durability allows for years of use if well-cared for.

Glasses of the Grot'karesh

Being less nomadic than many of their kindred brethren, the Hammer Clan often serves as the initiating impetus for advances in skills such as glassblowing that do not lend themselves well for wandering lifestyles. Working from their fortress city of Kilaniraj on the slopes of Asharikan Mountain, artisans of all types are hard at work innovating as well as keeping old traditions alive and relevant. Giantman may not be as known for glass artistry as they are for their metalworking, especially with zorchar, but there are numerous skilled artisans working magic (sometimes literally) with glass today.

Zorsikan and Zarrkat: Zorsikan is a Grot'karesh glass specialty that involves the intricate working of molten zorchar into the glass. These threads of zorchar form patterns, symbols, or Saramar runes within the glass, and the final product will sometimes send lightning-like sparks within the glass. These sparks are contained by the glass and pose no danger to those in their vicinity unless the glass has been improperly blown.

Together with magical and alchemy experts, a specialized type of zorsikan is often made as well. Known as zarrkat, the interior threads of zorchar are shaped into Saramar runes governing magical actions, and the final zarrkat product may be used for the purposes the runes indicate. Common uses are for perimeter traps that fire when undead cross an invisible barrier between two like-activated zarrkat totems. However, individual talismans imbued with defensive and offensive magic is also frequently requested.

A zorsikan workshop is a dangerous place, as working zorchar into the glass is a delicate and complex process. Accidents happen frequently, and artisans take numerous precautions. Completed products are set into a protected room and monitored for two weeks. Unstable zorsikan will explode within hours typically, so holding them for several days ensures their safety prior to distribution.

Ishkaj: Also known as 'seeker glass,' ishkaj is made with ash and sand brought from afar by the Ishan (or Wandering Ones). The artisan etches protective runes into the glass from the interior, so the runes cannot be worn down with handling. This allegedly gives extra protections from undead and demonic forces, but its efficacy is mostly in the belief and comfort it provides. Ishan often wear ishkaj talismans, and they may gift ishkaj trinkets to friends and family to serve as a remembrance of their time together. There is a brisk trade of seeker glass as well, and wandering giantman may bring extra ishkaj jewelry and baubles with them to barter along the way.

Zehet'jad: A Dhe'narsi Poison Glass

Zehet'jad (literally 'poison glass') refers to a family of glasses worked with additives from nature's most poisonous, venomous, and toxic creatures. The additives range from the painful but non-lethal venom of several snakes and lizards to the quickest killing toxins found in the natural world (such as from certain jellyfish and cone snails) and everything in between. The most used version comes from the poison dart frogs found in the nearby jungles.

The glass itself is always tinged a vivid green hue, but other colors may be worked in as accents. It lends itself best to small items and trinkets (jewelry and the like, nothing too large). In the hands of an expert artisan, the poisons added to the glass are rendered inert. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell if the z'heta (as it is colloquially known) has been crafted appropriately other than by touching it.

The glassmakers themselves do not touch their z'heta with bare hands; indeed, it is a tradition strictly adhered to that no one but the intended owner of the art object do so. It then becomes a matter of both trust and bravery. Typically, miscrafted z'heta will show its errors within minutes of first touch, but it can take up to several days if the mistakes were slight, and the poison diluted. Experts say that the true test of a z'heta's proper craftsmanship is if the owner can wear it against their skin for sixty-six days straight and suffer no adverse effects.

Naturally, the wearing of z'heta is seen by many to be a badge of courage, but for others, it is a testament to folly, partaking of danger when none is necessary. In addition, there are whispers and rumors surrounding z'heta, claiming that the poisons within may be activated by methods known only to the artisan and the recipient, and that it can thus be used as a tool for subtle assassinations long after a piece of the poison glass has been deemed safe. The Dhe'nar remain silent on that hypothesis.

Regardless, properly inert z'heta is a lovely addition to Elanthia's panoply of cultural glassworking.

OOC Notes

• Created by GM Xynwen, 2026
• Many thanks to all the race GMs who have supported my endeavor!
  • Thanks also to Darcena's player for the inspiration around zorsikan
• Restrictions:
  • Requires specially scripted fodder:
    • Achvlas
    • Aelthiel
    • Evissila (see also "Requires fodder" section)
    • Nysthiel
    • Naethiel
    • Perytla
    • Stekla
    • Zarrkat
  • Requires fodder:
    • Driftglass
    • Evissila
      • NOTE: Small trinkets only (aka the 'travel' version), anything larger requires specially scripted fodder
    • Sarvith
    • Zokivlas (cannot be dyed)
    • Zorsikan
• Does not require fodder: Coveglass, fractured glass, ishkaj, riverglass