Mithral

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Greyhawk Item
Mithral
Mithral.png
General information
Type:Metal

Mithral, also spelled mithril[1][2] and known as truemetal among the dwarves, is a precious metal produced from ore found in the underoerth as well as mountain ranges in certain areas of the Flanaess.

Description

Mithral ore is a silver-and-black mineral in its natural form, and becoems a shining silvery-blue when it is forged.[3]

Mithral is produced through a process similar to steel-smelting.[4]

Properties

In some editions, whenever a magical spell or spell-like ability strikes an item forged from mithral the results are unpredictable. Seemingly, half the time this occurred, the individual in possession of the mithral item became partially and temporarily protected from magic's harmful effects.[3]

Uses

Items cast from mithral weigh only half as much as similar items forged from steel.[4] Since pieces of armor made from this valuable metal are exceptionally light, they allow the wearer to make better use of their natural agility and are less restrictive on spellcasting.[5]

Rumors and legends

Among some bardic circles it is said that mithral combined with steel can create adamantine,[3] but according to dwarves this claim is laughable.[4]It is believed by some that dwarves simply do not wish to perform this difficult feat of metallurgy for anyone outside their culture, unless they possess an exceptionally good reason.[3]

Appendix

Notes

References

Citations

  1. Dungeon Masters Guide (1979), p.164.
  2. Manual of the Planes (1987), p.43.
  3. a b c d Volo's Guide to All Things Magical, p.57.
  4. a b c Magic of Faerûn (2001), p.180.
  5. Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5, p.284.

Bibliography


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