Varrite

A singular metal with rare properties, varrite has been central for many of the recent developments in modern technology. Its ability to disrupt and bend magic makes varrite among the most useful materials in Canthia.

Occurrence
Varrite, like several other rare metals, is found primarily in the Nua'dar's Endless Deep. Though their economy is mainly built on the secretive deepsteel smelting process, they enjoy a large profit margin from the export of varrite and varrite alloys as well.

Special Properties
Because of the unique composition of varrite, it creates a null zone in a radius about it depending on the size of the ore, its refinement and shape. This null zone pushes magic - all magic - away from it. This process is not without limits, however--Varrite degrades at a rate proportionate with the amount of magical energy exposed to it.

Because of this, varrite is used to create arcane reactors, the newest and most powerful magical power source in the world. With an even lining of varrite, a contained concentration of magical energy is rotated at a consistent speed to create energy.

Alloys
Varrite itself is a soft, dull metal, much like gold. It must be alloyed to be truly useful. Because of the bizarre chemical composition of varrite, alloying it can change its affects of magic drastically. The Vindicators, for instance, have spent years trying to find the perfect metal to alloy with varrite, in order to make weapons and armor which are strong enough to puncture and repel steel, but that retain the anti-magic qualities of varrite. Thus far, their R&D has been only moderately successful.

Varrite's properties mean it has a singular distaste for certain other materials. Attempting to combine even the smallest shards of varrite with the naturally-occurring, magically-glowing brightiron (itself an alloy in the infamous gleamsteel), for instance, produces explosive results. There are reports that the boobytraps with which the Nua'dar protect their mines often contain devices which, when disturbed or triggered, mix these two for that very effect.

Coalfolk bodies are constructed of an alloy of varrite which allows them both incredible resilience to magic, as well as the ability to handle it for artifexing purposes. It also degrades at an exponentially slower rate than even the most resilient modern varrite alloys. The Vindicators have for years attempted to pry the secret of its creation out of the Coalfolk, but all asked answer the same: that their bodies were built by the lost Dwarves, and that the secret is lost, even to them.