Mineral Quasielemental Overview

Bordering the Positive Energy Plane, Mineral is deadlier still than the plane of elemental Earth that adjoins it, and only the toughest adventurers survive there. It draws expeditions all the same, since it is a natural source of ioun stones and other prized crystals. Its distinctive natives include the glomus, the shard, the spined shard, the chamrol, the energy pod and the trilling crysmal. Each poses its own hazards, and travelers will run into them often, more so if they have helped themselves to the plane's crystals uninvited.

A summoned elemental guide in this plane is nearly always a shard (85%), sometimes a trilling crysmal (10%), and rarely a spined shard (5%). Expect to bargain with it, offering rare minerals or fine gems as gifts. Further meetings along the way come from a random encounter chart. Planning a trip means preparing for three realms in turn: the Ethereal plane, the elemental plane of Earth and the quasi-planes themselves, each with its own encounters and rules for spells and magic items.

These beings seldom leave Mineral unless a wizard summons them or their quasi-elemental ruler, Quarzheon, sends them on some errand. Their parent realm, elemental Earth, is the only other place they can enter freely. Frequency and treasure are listed in two forms, the second (in parentheses) applying inside Mineral itself.

All share the usual powers and immunities of inner-planes creatures. On their own plane they also ignore every spell that works on solid matter, such as disintegrate, stone to flesh, move earth or transmute rock to mud, and each can use passwall whenever it likes; together these are termed their elemental abilities.

Like most quasi-elemental natives, their social lives are largely a mystery, and how they reproduce is unknown. Many owe service to Quarzheon, but they rarely obey anyone else unless forced.

They live on positive energy, which their home has in endless supply, so they have no real impact on their surroundings. As elemental beings they defend that environment, turning on anyone they think is harming it.