Magic Flowstone (World Guide, Geology, Transformation) (Patreon)

When it comes to exotic geology, few topics are more controversial than the nigh-upon-mythical ‘magic flowstone’. Indeed, were it not for the confirmed existence of such seemingly magical transdimensional minerals as Gobzite, magic flowstone would almost certainly have been dismissed long ago as a harebrained geologist’s fantasy. Scientists have long attempted to locate and study the supposed substance, but even in instances where extremely strong evidence suggests its presence, no one has been able to reproduce its apparent effects, or prove that it has any unusual properties at all.

Magic flowstone is said to appear exactly like any other calcite flowstone, flowing down walls and dripping from the ceilings of subterranean cavities and forming both stalactites and stalagmites. A common theme regarding alleged instances of the substance is the presence of a pool of relatively clear water in a mass of flowstone spread out over the cavity floor, amid the many stalagmites. Another common theme is that most alleged instances of magic flowstone have occurred in artificial cavities such as those to be found in old mines.

If the tales are correct, the only way to identify magic flowstone is to actually allow it to encase and bodily transform a subject into more calcite. The subject is required to settle themselves onto a small stalagmite at the edge of the pool, and rest their feet in the clear water. Droplets from the stalactite above will drip onto the subjects body and expand into little irregular blobs of calcite. This is generally a tad yellowish in coloration, though the color can vary depending on the mineralization of the surrounding rock.

More flowstone will grow up from within the pool to snare the subject’s legs and trap them as they are slowly encased by the droplets coming from above. At the same time, the subjects body begins to transform into ‘living’ calcite. Whatever body parts are largely covered slowly stiffen and transform into calcite after about twenty long minutes. At no point does this calcification harm the subject, and they continue to move and act as normal, given their state of petrification, even if that includes such vital areas as the chest or head. Only when the subject has been fully transformed into calcite will all signs of normal ‘life’ cease.

If a subject can draw forth the magic flowstone, but escape before being trapped by the pool, they can typically move about the surface of the flowstone mass on the cavern floor for a brief few moments before that begins to grow over their feet and trap them. As a result, those transformed into calcite by the flowstone can be found in almost any sort of position or pose, so long as they are physically connected to the mass that transformed them. Escape once the process has begun is said to be nearly impossible.

Hundreds of locations containing apparent petrified victims of magic flowstone are known. Despite this, none of the locations exhibit the properties noted above. It is suspected that instances of magic flowstone only have the power to petrify for a certain time after it is first triggered, after which they become completely inert masses of normal flowstone.

Magic flowstone statues can be found in a number of natural history museums across the Fey’li Empire and no doubt beyond. A concerted effort to produce more has been launched by the Interstellar University Naked Spelunking Society and its constituent university clubs. Every candidate pool discovered is checked for potential biological and chemical hazards before being tested. Tests are conducted by a group of four or more naked spelunkers, depending on the size of the pool and available stalagmites of the appropriate proportions for in-situ abdominal insertion.

Parties interested in potentially encountering magic flowstone are recommended to contact their local university Naked Spelunking Club. Most do not require student status to participate as a volunteer spelunker.