- Classification
- Mu, Nu
The crystal known since ancient times as the Videns Autem Magia, is a rare kind of gemstone similar to clear topaz. The crystal itself has the unique property generating a physical response to the presence of patterned magical or psionic energy passing near to the gem. It is unknown exactly how the crystal does this, though some of its crystal structure and absorption signature when exposed to conventional energy is similar to that of the Solar Crystal, though much weaker.
The crystal, in its raw state, produces only small amounts of conventional electromagnetic radiation when exposed to magical and psionic energy and thus can quite often be mistaken for clear topaz or even quartz. The gem is, however, very rare and is generally heavier for its size then either of the previously mentioned materials since the crystal is considerably more dense. It tends to be cloudy with occlusions which contain phosphorus in varying degrees which can glow when exploded to the EM radiation of the gem.
The gem has a mhos hardness of 9.5 due to its extremely tight crystal structure but can still be cut and shaped. Vident Obscura actively seeks and even mines these gemstones in order to fabricate methods of detecting magical energy. The stones can be placed in jewelry - as they have for centuries - or even be the central detector inside a technological device which reads their energy output relative to a base level in order to function as a sort-of magic geiger counter.
The stone is often called a Viden's Stone or Viden's Crystal for short, though this is not because of the similartities with the name of Vident Obscura but rather because Videns (and Vident) are derivatives of a word that means to find in Latin. Most often, however, colloquially the term "Videns" is spoken and written in texts as if it is the stone of a person named Viden.