The Tharmakyr Text

The following text is the secret of smelting ores and the making of fine metals.

Set down by Tharmakyr, son of Tharlum, son of Thardun, son of Tharmakhul the Smith.

Khol is the black fire stone which is used in the forging of many things, but also in the making of Wahrral.

Lud is a blue and silver Ral which darkens to light gray with neglect. It is suitable for the making of sling bullets and for plumb lines to measure the depth of springs and shafts. It also can be made into stakes which will drive off the Whitewing moth. It has some properties for diffusing the Fairy Majk. Lud is mined as Ontlud and should be subject to great heat. Because it is known for causing the Gray Shakes and the Gray Sleep, it is very dangerous and unsuitable for vessels and eating utensils.

Curr is the red orange Ral which greens with neglect. It is unsuitable for weapons unless mixed with Onthum or Baront. The first weapons were made this way until the discovery of the Wahrral. It is mostly used for coins and may be shined as an inferior mirror.

Oro is the lustrous white Ral which grays with neglect and is worked while cold with a light hammer. It is mined as Ontoro and smelted, or else drawn from Ontlud. It is unsuitable for most weapon applications except against certain foul creatures of the underworld. It is beneficial in a tincture of spring water for preventing infections. It is commonly wrought into mirrors. It is appropriate for vessels and eating utensils, and when kept polished may inhibit spoilage. It is most commonly used for coinage. It can be worked with Curr to add strength, but never above 7 parts per 100. It is worked with Rhoa to make a pink hue. It is susceptible to the Night Acid and absorbs heat readily.

Girn is the bright yellow Ral which does not suffer neglect and was the first of the wrought metals of the Stoneborn. It is unsuitable for weaponry except as ornamentation. Tinctures will reduce swelling in hammer wounds and other injuries such as falling rocks. It is eaten on the Ranes birthday cakes and drunk in his birthday wines. It is used in both jewelry and coins. It can be mixed with Oro to create stronger Rals, but never more than 7 parts per 100.

Mbir is the bright white Ral which was not discovered until the Seventh Age. It is unsuitable for all but the most valuable of coins and jewelry. It too will not suffer neglect.

Nahral is the blood metal made from the Greont. It is strong but turns red orange with neglect. It is heavy and brittle and unsuitable for most modern weapons.

Wahrral is the product of Greont and small amounts of Khol dust. It is greatly prized for the making of many weapons and can be mixed with Ontri, Baront, and Onthum for both armor and shields.

Mithral is the lightest of the combat Rals. It is exceedingly strong, but lightweight. It is difficult to fashion and the Greont must be subject to a windblown forge with the blood glass, salt and khol in proper proportion.

Durgolral is the product of the Usont and can only be smelted in the presence of Majk Fire. To produce the Ral the Usont must be smelted in a fire of Khol and Gnummorjarin.