Eltelt

Eltelt is a fictional metamaterial featured in fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing games. It is described as a translucent, iridescent crystal composite formed by geothermal and arcane processes. The name derives from the ancient Eltari language, meaning light weave. In in-world lore, eltelt is valued for its combination of lightness, strength, and energy conductivity, enabling both structural and magical applications.

Eltelt possesses a high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent translucence, and a lattice structure that facilitates efficient transfer of heat and magical energy. It is unusually resistant to corrosion and fracturing, and certain formulations are said to exhibit self-healing properties when charged with sustained arcanic energy. Commercial eltelt is typically found in geothermally active belts and requires rune-inscribed tools and protective wards to extract. Refinement involves precise heating, controlled quenching, and enchantment infusion to stabilize the crystal lattice.

In practice, eltelt is used to fabricate weightless panels and load-bearing elements in floating cities, luminous edge blades, high-clarity lenses, and protective wards or sigils that store or channel magical power. It is also employed in energy storage cores for arcane devices and, less commonly, in high-end sail materials for airships.

Historically, eltelt appears in the oldest Eltari manuscripts and rose to prominence during the Silver Concord period. Today its scarcity and cost limit widespread use, prompting discussions about sustainability and ethical mining. Variants with different coloration and trace minerals are described in game supplements and fiction, each with slight adjustments to conductivity and hardness.