Pyrite

Pyrestone, a curious rock sometimes found in dormant volcanoes, is highly flammable. While it has various uses in heating applications, it can also be refined and added to an alloy of iron, called Pyrite. A weapon forged of Pyrite can be set aflame, adding fire damage to its attacks. This would tend to oxidize the iron content very quickly, so magic binding salts are used to limit the damage to the iron; this has the added effect of preventing the pyrite from being consumed by the burning, if burning is done sparingly.

With pyrite armor, it is not desirable to be set on fire, so such armor is made from depleted pyrite, which has been fully burned, and is highly resistant to fire damage. As pyrite burns, it becomes more and more gold in color, ultimately achieving a hue and sheen resembling brass. Alloys retain this coloring, and thus pyrite armor is sometimes confused for "gold" armor, which would be absurd.

• Rank: 2
• Effect on weapons: Weapon can be set aflame by any normal source of ignition, such as a flint-and-steel. Thereafter, it is immolated in fire, and causes 20% of base weapon damage as bonus fire damage on each strike. The weapon may be extinguished by dousing the flames; an iron scabbard suits this purpose well. You may burn the the blade for up to 5 minutes per day with no ill effect; each minute beyond that causes 1% fatigue to the weapon, requiring repair.
• Effect on armor: Armor grants 50% fire resistance.
• Effect on shields: Shield grants 50% fire resistance. Stacks multiplicitavely with Pyrite armor (for a total of 75% resist).
• Market Value:
  • Light weapon: 3 gp
  • Medium weapon: 5 gp
  • Heavy weapon: 7 gp
  • Mail armor: 7 gp
  • Plate armor: 10 gp
  • Buckler: 2 gp
  • Light shield: 3 gp
  • Heavy shield: 4 gp
  • Tower shield: 6 gp