tenglum

Tenglum is a fictional crystalline mineral that appears in speculative fiction, role-playing games, and related media as a rare energy resource. Because it is used across different settings, there is no single canonical definition of its properties or origin.

In many depictions, tenglum forms deep underground in tectonically active regions, within metamorphic or ultramafic host rocks. The crystals are often translucent with a pale blue to greenish glow and a glassy, prismatic habit.

Properties commonly attributed to tenglum include high energy density and unusual physical effects. Some settings describe it as near-superconductive at moderate temperatures, or as a field-modulating crystal capable of influencing electromagnetism or gravity. It is reputedly resistant to radiation and able to withstand extreme environmental conditions.

Uses center on power storage and generation for spacecraft, reactors, or advanced devices; it may also serve as a catalyst or memory medium in exotic computers. Because of scarcity, tenglum drives trade, exploration, and geopolitical rivalries within its fictional world.

Etymology and cultural role vary by work, but the name is generally presented as originating from a pre-cataclysmic or xenolinguistic source. As a narrative element, tenglum often signals frontier science, scarcity, and the tension between exploration and control.