(adapted from Magicum, in the Wilderlands DMG p 15)

Of the useful minerals in the Wilderlands, the one called Arcanite (also Magicum among humans, and Hirruth’s stone among dwarves), has a particularly long and accursed history.

This stone is immune to divination magic below that of gods and epic characters, so most prospectors find it by sheer dumb luck. If handled improperly, those prospectors are likely to perish. Arcanite left out in the open will attract manavores, particularly planar pests like the xill (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/xill.htm).

The material resembles a dull mossy-green stone with bluish flecks, a waxy luster and hardness equivalent to granite. It is very difficult to carve, and fractures messily. A vein of the ore in an area grants +1 caster/ manifester level to those with a spell/ power point pool, granting more spell points and raising the DC of their spells accordingly (extra points can be used 1/round). After a month of exposure, those without such powers may develop access to 1d6 0th-level spells or powers (considered “known”), and are sufficient to justify acquiring class levels such as wilder or sorcerer. The extra points and abilities fade the day after leaving the area.

This material is a valuable component for potent magical items that store, manipulate, or resist spells or magic, and for magical gates. Despite its magical nature, it gives off no magical aura, and is notoriously hard to detect through divination magic. It can store mana points (1 point per ounce, +1, up to 8 oz). They store energy like storage crystals, and can store any kind of mana, but lose points if not used in a week. While not charged with mana, the material grants spell/ power resistance (SR/PR 3 per oz, limit 12).

The material is inherently toxic. Anyone possessing more than a pound for more than a day must make a Fortitude save each day (DC 20) or suffer a point each of CON and CHA damage, and a Will save (DC 20) to avoid a point of WIS damage. The afflicted suffer oozing sores, rotting flesh, and madness.