Lore:Orichalcum

Orichalcum ore

Orichalcum (also called Orichalc) is a grayish-green metal used primarily to make weapons and armor. Orcs are famed for their use of this metal, with some comparing its qualities to the Orcs themselves - green, exceptionally rigid, stronger than steel, and extremely temperamental.

History

The earliest known account of orichalcum can be traced back to the Merethic Era and the creation of the Towers. The now-sunken Orichalc Tower was said to be created from the metal.

Also during the Merethic Era was the legend of Diagna, an avatar of the HoonDing. Diagna was said to have brought orichalc weapons to the Yokudans during their war with the Lefthanded Elves, granting them victory. Thereafter Diagna became known as the Orichalc God of the Sideways Blade. According to one myth, Diagna crashed his fist against the HoonDing Gong and swords fell from the walls of the Orichalc Tower.

Known Orcish smithing practices from as early as the First Era showed a high level of familiarity with orichalc. These smiths were believed to wield tools even larger than those used by Orcs in the Second Era. This continued in the following eras, where orichalcum arms and armor became synonymous with the Orcs.

While orichalcum could be found almost anywhere in the mid-Second Era, miners near Wayrest made the biggest orichalcum strike in recorded history in 2E 561. With King Gardner of Wayrest's approval, Earl Emeric of Cumberland proposed to use the resulting wealth from Cumberland Mine to enhance Wayrest's fleet and improved trade throughout High Rock. Such was prosperity that the king gifted orichalcum pails to the region's prominent farmers.

Usage

Orichalcum is often found in brittle shale, making excavation somewhat easier than other metals. The deposits also tend to be free of gangue, making ore dressing unnecessary. While extraction can be relatively straightforward, orichalcum is notoriously difficult to smelt. A consistent low heat must be maintained to prevent the metal from becoming brittle and cracking. Orcs are said to be the masters of this technique, although any sufficiently skilled smith can learn their methods.

Some smiths have been known to blend iron into the mix to act as a binding, but many Orcish smiths dismissed this method as evidence of laziness or lack of skill. According to the famed smith Gurzbog gra-Gulog, pure orichalcum is far lighter and stronger than its iron-alloyed alternative. This difference in weight is important given the Orcs' reliance on massive plate armor.

Singersteel is a rare alloy composed of nine parts steel and one part orichalcum. Its origins are unclear, but some scholars speculate the Lefthanded Elves obtained orichalcum during their war with the Yokudans and used it to form an alloy to create their own arms and armor.

Orichalcum weapons retain their sharpness far longer than most weapons made with conventional metals, and they are remarkably resistant to rust and chipping. Some Orcish smiths remark that its unique color is also noteworthy, making arms and armor less gaudy as High Elven glass and not as drab as iron or steel.

Arms and armor are not the only uses for the green metal - uses range from household items, tools, statuary and even alchemical research. In ancient times, Yokudans statuary was known to feature a metallic element made of orichalcum. Hearkening back to Diagna's intervention in the war with the Lefthanded Elves, Yokudans were also known to create Orichalc statuettes depicting Diagna holding a severed head.

Gallery

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  Orichalcum ore (Skyrim)

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  Orichalcum ingot (Skyrim)

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  Orichalcum ingots (Blades)

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  Orichalcum ingot (Castles)

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  Orcish armor (Morrowind)

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  Orcish armor (Oblivion)

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  Oricish armor (Skyrim)

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  Oricish plate armor (Skyrim)

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  Oricish scaled armor (Skyrim)

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  Orcish weapons (Morrowind)

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  Orcish crossbow

Notes

• Orichalcum is a real-life metal, similar to brass, composed primarily of copper and zinc, and documented in ancient Greece and Rome.

See Also

• For game-specific information, see the Skyrim, Elder Scrolls Online, and Blades articles.

Books

• Notes on Orichalcum — A short essay on the properties of Orichalcum

References

Note: The following references are considered to be unofficial sources. They are included to round off this article and may not be authoritative or conclusive.