ICE materials
The metals and woods of GemStone III mostly had I.C.E. Age analogs in Rolemaster, M.E.R.P., or Shadow World specifically. However, these sometimes had differences in detail with the modern lore, such as whether it was an alloy or other historical contexts. The Rolemaster "Bonus" has the same meaning as our modern materials enchant bonus, and "Resistance" to destruction is analogous to ST/DU.
Metals
The word "metals" is used loosely. This includes special minerals, crystals, and volcanic glasses, but leaves out generic real-world materials such as obsidian.
Arinyark
Modern: Ahnver
Arinyark is a luminous bluish-green mineral that absorbs raw Essence radiation. There is no modern lore for this material, though "ahnver" does exist in the game.
| Rolemaster Statistics | |
| Bonus: | -5 |
| Resistance: | +30 |
| Cost Multiplier: | 1000x |
| Value: | 200 gold/ounce |
| Game | Details |
| Rolemaster: | Arinyark stores essence radiation like a battery which can then be tapped to renew power points (mana). When coating a full suit of armor with arinyark, it provides +30 to Essence realm resistance rolls (warding) or applies -30 to elemental attacks such as bolts. (Source: Alchemy Companion (1992); Chapter 2.2.7: Enchanted Materials, page 15) |
| Shadow World: | Same as Rolemaster. Arinyark is an ingredient of the alloy Xenium. (Source: Shadow World Master Atlas, 2nd Edition (1992); Chapter 1.3: Special Elements, page 17) |
| I.C.E. Age: | Arinyark strips are used as a lighting method in the Crypt of The Graveyard, likely symbolic of The Unlife because it devours the Essence. The deeper part of the necropolis is lit instead with luminescent fungus. The modern term "ahnver" was one of the words not included in the SHIFT verb. |
Black Alloy
Modern: Black alloy
It is an alloy of iron, titanium, and "meteoric metals." It ranges from steel grey to black in color, and does not require special forging equipment. For this reason the "meteoric metal" component presumably does not refer to star iron. While it is not all that uncommon in Rolemaster, it is extremely rare in modern GemStone IV. It was included along with white alloy on a late 1990s table before the modern metals lore was written, along with the lower carbon low and high steel, but its properties were left undefined. In the modern game it is most notably used for ShadowDeath weapons and vambraces.
| Rolemaster Statistics | |
| Bonus: | +20 |
| Resistance: | +10 |
| Cost Multiplier: | 500x |
| Value: | 100 gold/ounce |
| Game | Details |
| Rolemaster: | As described above. (Source: Alchemy Companion (1992); Chapter 2.2.7: Enchanted Materials, page 15) In the Treasure Companion (1996) it asserts that "black alloys" are "very hard" and incredibly difficult to forge because of their very high carbon content, and that they contain either nickel or molbydenum, but with large fractions of tungsten and vanadium. (Treasure Companion Chapter 3.4.2: Carbon Steel; pages 26, 38) |
| Shadow World: | It is called "Krelin" after its creator, the Iylari smith Krelij who fashioned the dragonhelms with the Dragonlord Oran Jatar, the brother of Tethior who invented white alloy. It is a non-magical alloy of iron, carbon, and other materials. Dull grey. +50 BF ("breakage factor"). (Source: Shadow World Master Atlas, 3rd Edition (2001); Chapter 5.4: Special Weapon Alloys, page 57) |
| I.C.E. Age: | The I.C.E. Age of GemStone III ended prior to the publication of Treasure Companion and the Third Edition of the Shadow World Master Atlas. |
External Links
- Rolemaster Alchemy Companion (see Chapter 2.2.7: Enchanted Materials, page 15)
- Rolemaster Creatures & Treasures II (see page 67)
- Shadow World Materials
- Treasures of Middle Earth (see page 129, least relevant)