New Special Materials, and examples of nonhuman smithing

Faeglass
Though uncommon in the mundane world, Faeglass is the most common material used in crafting in the Lunar Courts, aside from mundane stone and wood. It is stronger and lighter than stone, can be carved and shaped as the crafter wills, and takes in Essence with ease.

Additionally, it can be tinged any color that can be imagined. Additionally, if properly crafted, a faeglass item will slowly repair damage to itself. The Fae used this property to render their structures inviolate to Essence and time. However, it shares its great weakness with that of the Fae, iron. When faeglass meets iron, it can shatter. The degree to which iron can damage faeglass is related proportionally to the size of the iron implement to the faeglass object. An iron hammer will obliterate a faeglass sword, but merely spider-web a small section of a tower. However, the scarcity of true iron continues to make faeglass the most prevalent material for Shadow Agents to bring into the field.

Scathan
The Mirrorstone of the Fae, also known as scáthán can be carved and joined into a variety of shapes by clever expression and strong hands, its peculiarities limit its use. First, there is the issue of weight; no known expression technique can lighten the mass of scáthán. Its Essence is just too dense to be practically manipulated. It is stronger than faeglass, yet anything larger than a dagger requires significant strength to wield or wear.
Second, it reflects the local 'First World' when invested with Essence, which is both a boon and a bane. This property may give great insight to the other Lunar Courts, indeed most artifacts related to Apportation use scáthán for this reason. Its bane though is its impredicatibilty, it can turn brilliant or flash in reaction to some unseen stimulus, which can be detrimental to anyone in the field.  However, despite these limitations, the advantages of scáthán make it very attractive to those with the strength or techniques to use it.

Whitewood
The Whitewood is a controlled material, rarely seen outside of the Bânwood or the hands of a Imperial Sylvan. Currently the only other ways to obtain it are by receiving an item from the Pride, being gifted by a Sylvan, or through thievery.  Those that possess whitewood items obtained illicitly can face severe repercussions should it be discovered by any Fae.
According to legend the spell-plague which ravaged the deep wood of Bânwood scarred the flesh of the one white grove and gave them a strange resiliency. Able to be shaped like other woods, albeit with the use of Essence-crafted tools, the wood is imbued with many strange properties. It is more resilient than other woods and also has a healthy spring to it. Resin pulled from it can be used to strengthen other materials. The whitewood is also very resistant to Essence crafting, and few possess the ability to craft true artifacts from it. However, of all the materials of Arkos, it is still the newest and most mysterious. Who knows what secrets may be uncovered about it in the near future?


True Iron
Faebane. Blood-Blighter. The Red Poison. These are all names given to the substance that Stonekin (Dwarves) call true iron. Found in some mountain ranges, iron veins thread throughout the world of men. Where one is found, the other exists.  True iron though, as any human craftsman may tell, is not nearly as ubiquitous as is widely thought. Metallic Iron is rare in the earth, limited to deposits by meteor strikes.  The modern world is filled with refined iron. Extracted from mineral iron ore then alloyed to create magnetic alloys far more common than true iron due to their mechanical properties and low costs. [such as Wootz steel, inox 'inoxydable' steel, and cast iron].

The 'iron' that abounds in the mortal world is simply not pure enough to be considered a true danger to the Fae.  Not that any fae will risk themselves to the possibility.  True iron is a rare, strange, reddish ore requiring extreme care by those who handle it. Relatively speaking, true iron weapons and armor of Arkos are ancestral pieces that have been handed down for generations. They are valued above all other weapons despite the fact that iron cannot be Essence-crafted.  The material disrupts the flow of Essence, and this effect is believed to be why it was so effective against the Fae.

More than any fae threat if true iron is held against the skin of caster, it prevents its wearer from effectively using magic. It also increases PC resistance to some Schools of Magic. But to bear True Iron is to be isolated, both mentally and spiritually.

Last, True Iron should not be confused with 'Cold Iron'.    Cold Iron is a refinement process not a product in itself. And the 'steel manufactured is far easier to acquire than is 'True Iron'.