Beside the dark arts of the Green Emperors the reason the
City of Spices has survived
down the centuries is that it has a monopoly of a strange metal called Carbelium.
Everything about this metal is considered a state secret within both Viridistan and
Quitak and few samples have come into the hands of
independent sages. Much of what follows therefore must be taken as unconfirmed rumour.
The metal is of a dull reddish colour and appears to be found only on
Gheulost Island in the whole of known Oerth.
Its importance is that arrowheads made of this metal have armour-piercing qualities that
give a huge military advantage to those that possess them. For this reason Viridistan
vasthosts contain
a greater proportion of archers than other armies.
It is not known why other weapons have not been fashioned from the metal although there
is a suggestion that carrying larger amounts of the metal causes the owner to fall sick.
It has also been suggested that the quivers of Viridistan archers have been magically enhanced
in some way to protect the owners against the harmful effects of the metal.
Unlawful possession of carbelium in Viridistan is considered treasonous and citizens
of Quitak are obliged to hand it in to the goverment if they come into possession of any
amount, however small.