Metal and Sugar: Elvish Industry in New Washington

The contribution of Elvish lore and history to the magic world has long been established. The incalculable worth of Elvish artifacts alone is the subject of hundreds of volumes currently residing in the New Washington Federal Library, which are only a fraction of the number of tomes written on Elven Magic throughout the years. A less celebrated facet of Elvish contribution to the modern world is that of Elvish Industry, a point of debate and contention between the Elvish Race and New Washington's scholars for many years. While Elven Magic has its established place in history, the two most famous creations for which Elves claim credit have been brought under a harsher light in this modern age, and they do not stand this scrutiny quite so well as the Elvish Ether birthright.

Mythril is the most infamous contribution of the Elvish people to the world. A lightweight but strong metal that is created through confidential and possibly magical synthesis of raw materials, Mythril was invented in the Middle Ages and revolutionized the military power of the Elvish Nations. Until the invention of High Density Versatile Plastic Compound #236, Mythril was the most useful and versatile metal in the knowledge of the sentient races. It was never widely used by non-Elven races due to the expensive and time-consuming nature of its creation and the secretive nature Elves have always had concerning it. In the modern world, Compound #236 (referred to colloquially as IHDP) surpasses much of Mythril's versatility and is far cheaper and easier to produce, but armor created with HD-Plastic or Dura-Kev (High Density Versatile Plastic #341, the most successful offshoot of #236 technology) will, even now, never approach the comfort and protection that a mail shirt made from Mythril will provide.

The originality of Mythril came under fire in the year 2233, however, in light of discoveries made and published by the famed archaeologist and adventurer, Dr. Madison Cross. The ancient civilization of Mu, previously believed to be wholly mythical in nature, was brought abruptly back into focus by Dr. Cross's unveiling of artifacts that she theorized were Muan in design. She brought together documents and evidence indicating a substance known as Mu Thrall, referred to in some texts as Muthrahl. According to Dr. Cross's theories, Muthrahl was a living metal, a substance given power by the deities of the ancient people of Mu. The texts Dr. Cross uncovered seemed, indeed, to indicate that Muthrahl had many of the properties that Mythril touts but seemed to make the Elvish metal seem weak and pale in comparison. The implications of the research were quite shocking; if Dr. Cross's theories were correct, it would strongly implicate the invention of Mythril as a knock-off of an originally human discovery!

Another important Elvish invention that still graces the modern world is that of Sylvan Sugar. Like Mythril, Sylvan Sugar is created with a deeply secret process that even most Elves do not know; very few are even aware of the plant from which it is drawn. Only dedicated artisans are aware of the techniques to create and spin Sylvan Sugar, which are all performed outside of New Washington. Sylvan Sugar's most widespread use in New Washington is, as one might expect, culinary. Due to its delicate, complex taste, the foods and alcohols made with Sylvan Sugar are prized.

An unusual feature of Sylvan Sugar is the spinning techniques that can be performed upon it. Using techniques held in the deepest secrecy, a properly spun piece of Sylvan Sugar can be honed to a literally monomolecular point. Using spells to strengthen and seal the sugar, a delicate but extremely deadly weapon known as a Sylvan Sugarknife can be created. Some very wealthy or noble High Elves carry this weapon, though few Standard Elves are graced with the honor. A Sylvan Sugarknife will shatter if even a pound of force is applied to the side, but it can glide through bone and HDPlastic with less force than that.

No new innovations have been seen in Elvish circles in some time; even the thinkers of the Canadian Elven Civilizations have had little new to offer in the past century. Some have postulated that the world into which they have been thrust is confusing and difficult to adapt to; many of the first generation of post-Snowfall Elves is still alive by the middle of the Age of Corporations. For whatever reason, most of the Varian invention of the past few centuries has come from other races.


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