Lodestone

A lodestone is a brownish-black mineral which can attract iron and magical energy. While commonly used for compasses, it is also harness for its anti-magical properties. The strength of both is dependent on the size of the rock.

It is the hated stone of spellcasters as it hampers and drains their power while they are in proximity to it. Thus, it is popular among slavers in order to apprehend them, and even among armies that lack their magic users of their own.

Most sorcerers believe it is the attraction of mana to the stone that makes it their bane, but more educated circles, especially the Elves and Amukreen, have a better understanding of it. In truth, lodestone is debris from the great orbital ring which once circled the world. As a remnant of this once great divine artifact, it is an anchor which sustains the natural order of the word, defying the will of mere mortal spellcasters which seek to manipulate it.

Due to the anchoring of the world, it was a hated substance by the Invaders. However, if imbued with the black blood of the Cathar, it becomes warpstone, a highly prized mineral in some magical circles, as mastering its chaotic torrents can enhance one's magical abilities and even work as a countermeasure against lodestone. However, one must be careful not to succumb to the dark whispers warpstone emits.