Soulsteel (AOS)

Soulsteel is one of the five magical materials, attuneable by Deathlords and the Abyssal Exalted.

Overview

Small amounts of soulsteel can be mined directly from the Mouth of the Void, but most of it is made by smelting a human soul into black ore from the Labyrinth. Once smelted in this manner, the ghost can seek neither Lethe nor Oblivion; it is trapped in an eternity of torment. The Neverborn are also able to convert ghosts instantly to soulsteel, a risk for those who worship them. The Deathlords are the most prolific producers of soulsteel, holding a near-monopoly on its production, and they frequently outfit their armies in soulsteel weapons and armor, or use it in necrotech creations.

Soulsteel melee weapons, when the wielder is properly attuned to them, are supernaturally accurate and drain Essence from their targets. Soulsteel ranged weapons do additional damage to living targets, and soulsteel armor is similar to orichalcum in its durability.

History

The first soulsteel was forged by Autochthon before the Underworld even existed. Early in prehistory, a race of people called the Ereta'een were favored by Autochthon for their prowess as builders. Eventually, in their hubris, they attempted to build an artifact that would bind the power of the Primordial to their will; in punishment, Autochthon destroyed them utterly, rendering their cities to dust and consuming their very souls. These digested souls formed the first soulsteel in his belly, and he found use for it without sharing the details of its manufacture. To this day, the soulsteel used in Autochthonia bears the alien resonance of the lost Ereta'een.

Because of the resources required for its creation, soulsteel was the least common of the magical materials used in the First Age. Only those convicted of truly heinous crimes could be sentenced to forging into soulsteel, although as demand for the metal increased, these sentences became more common.