EVERGEN

The sub-sentient organeral evergen (also known as origen rock or black stone) is the common name for a group of antimodulous materials with a transpacial connection to the anax.

A solid, smooth surface and opaque black hue give evergen a superficial resemblance to obsidian, hence nicknames such as cosmidian and mind glass. The common name, evergen, however, derives from the city-state of Evernia where its multitudinous properties were first studied and the stone was originally hunted and mined before more copious deposits were discovered in other regions of Oros.

Evergen is the primary structural material in the cosmoponic towers found across the lattice and although the substance is not limited to these locations it is often identified in its highest concentrations proximal to these towers. Evergen is thus found contained in floating stones (a vital component in early flight craft and eventually interplanetary travel), the “webber” sentinels of some regions and in the limbs of sytons.

Given its innumerable properties, evergen has a number of practical uses. The earliest known usage of evergen is in the weapons of the warrior sages. Evergen will often crystalise into long, needle-like fibres that, after careful extraction, can be fashioned into the hidden inner blade of a truthseeker’s quarterstaff. Even unsharpened, the blade is painful to the touch and displays a metallic rigidity, strength and lightness that make it ideal for sword construction.

Evergen has been observed to alter its state, size, density and even gravitational influence. The causes of these changes have yet to be identified. Although the substance may vary its properties of its own volition, warrior sages, through years of training, can appear to align their will with that of the stone much as a rider trains a horse or a hunter trains a hound. Once mastered, sages can then make use of evergen’s most complex and unusual of properties, ‘phasing’.

Under certain conditions, black stone can alter the space within the material itself. When this occurs, the substance takes on an ethereal quality, seemingly disappearing, passing through any object it is in contact with and then reforming in a solid state on the other side. A master sage in full control of their weapon can make use of this quality in sword combat. Thus, when highly skilled opponents duel, their swords can appear to briefly flick in and out of existence. A solid blade, swung towards its enemy, may dematerialise, pass through the sword braced to stop it, through cloth, skin and flesh only to reform once deep within the opponent's heart. For this reason, the sages’ quarterstaff contains two blades, since dual-sword combat is essential; every blocking stroke requires another blade behind it, should the enemy’s sword pass through the first.

Ingestion of evergen can prove fatal, however--

ANAX