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Everflame
Everflame in its pure form is a clear, oily yellow liquid that gives off a shimmer of heat in the surrounding air and raises blisters on unprotected skin. It is almost never encountered in that form, however, for it bursts into flame readily -- when within ten feet of an open flame, when stored at high temperatures, or even when sunlight shines upon it -- and, once ignited, it is nearly impossible to extinguish. Burning everflame has been completely immersed in water and buried beneath sand, and has kept burning under such conditions for days. Under more favorable circumstances, it can burn for years.
Because everflame burns exceedingly hot, it is favored by smiths working with unusual metals. Few forges have the heat to soften mithral or shape ironsheen; those that do typically have a splash of everflame burning in their bellies. Everflame produces a smokeless flame of unusual brightness, and even a thimbleful takes the better part of a decade to burn out, making it suitable for illumining cathedrals, palaces, and other grand structures with the means to afford such exotic alternatives to candles. Temples to Tzaltos and Celestia are known to make particular use of everflame to light their holy halls.
Finally, because everflame requires so little air to sustain its flames, it is prized among dwarves and other denizens of the enclosed deeps, where breathable air is often scarce and fuel scarcer still. Most dealers in magical goods believe that the dwarves must have their own sources for the substance, since they buy far less than they use.
Everflame is neither cheap nor plentiful. Some claim that everflame is distilled from the blood and tears of fiery demons; others call it "elemental's piss" and say that it's no surprise everflame is so rare, given the difficulties inherent in convincing a fire elemental urinate into a bucket. Whatever its source, it is clearly magical and just as clearly of extraplanar origin; there is no substance in Bierilon that could create the properties of everflame.
The Dead Tower in Vir did a small but brisk trade in everflame until the Hillmen overran that city. Limited quantities are also dealt through V'tavia and the Coeur, although it is unclear whether wizards in those cities made the substance or simply procured it from other sources and resold it.
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