Lore:Nirncrux

Bowl of nirncrux powder

Nirncrux, commonly called red brittle, shake stone, and miner's bane,^[1] is a red stone found only in Craglorn. In its raw form, it releases a poisonous gas when cracked which can cause symptoms ranging from nausea, body tremors, and disorientation to convulsions, slurred speech, memory loss and death.^[2] One theory on why Nirncrux is abundant in Craglorn is that the Nedes of the area used arcane rituals to draw it from deep within Nirn's crust. Regardless of the validity of this speculation, the Nedes learnt how to harness its ability to absorb and distribute Aetherial energy.^[3]

Nirncrux is found naturally in a solid form, as veins running through denser rock throughout the upper region of Craglorn, and sometimes as grains and nuggets along river beds and at the base of hills and mountains. In this form, it is brittle and flaky, resists most acids, and does not tarnish when exposed to air or water. However, it is not dense enough or strong enough in this form to create weapons or armor.^[3] While Nirncrux itself lacks the density and strength required for crafting weapons or armor, it still holds value as a smithing component. It was utilized to create powerful Bloodforge weapons.^[4]^[5]^[6] It possesses the necessary hardness and durability for crafting art pieces through carving, however.^[7]

UsesEdit

When crushed into a powder or dust, the Aetherial energy can be released from each grain of dust using an ancient Nedic ritual which can be used in potions and elixirs. The Iron Orcs utilized crushed nirncrux in ink to create power-enhancing runes right into the flesh of trolls and welwa, they also used nirncrux in the armor worn by these creatures, as it boosted the toughness and power of the armor. When the runes and armor were combined, it caused the creatures to become infused with pure nirncrux, resulting in great power.^[8]^[9] They also washed the trolls in nirncrux-infused mud.^[10] The Scaled Court also used this form of nirncrux to create the Mantikora in spawning pools by mixing in nirncrux.^[3]^[11]

The Reachfolk of the Dreadhorn Clan used the Bloodroot Forge, an ancient Nedic forge in the Jerall Mountains, to turn themselves into the Blood-Forged. These beings are comparable to Briarhearts, but their creation involves implanting a nirncrux heartstone instead of a briar heart,^[4] resulting in a being that is an amalgamation of blood, nirncrux, and iron.^[12] They also were known to imbue the Spriggans and animals with nirncrux and blood rituals. Those altered beings were known as Nirnblooded.^[5] Their shamans also painted symbols of power using nirncrux powder and blood.^[13]

Nirncrux heartstones are comparable to the heartstones that have rained from Red Mountain since the cataclysmic events of the Red Year.^[14] Like the creation of a Briarheart, and by extension a Blood-Forged, a substitute is used in the place of a mortal's heart (in this case the heartstone), leading to the resurrection of the subject.^[15]

CultureEdit

Nirncrux is so prized by the miners of Craglorn that it is conveyed in special bowls.^[16]

A Duraki legend from the Middle Merethic Era tells of Shezarr, who took the knowledge of stoneworking from the Dwemer and instructed Zinfara in summoning nirncrux from the mountain roots.^[17]

Some Nords believe Nirncrux to be the blood of Shor.^[6]