Lore:Culanda Stone

Culanda Stones are luminescent golden crystals used by the Altmer and usually only found on the Summerset Isles. The stones are pieces of cut and enchanted Meteoric Glass, a rare form of Aetherial Fragment. Alongside Malondo Stones, they are an attempt at creating magical crystals similar to the Welkynd Stones and Varla Stones produced by the Ayleids.^[1]

Culanda Stones provide a bright golden light and are therefore mostly used as a light source. They can also trigger magical effects or store magicka, but are always destroyed upon depletion, similar to Ayleid stones. Some scholars insist that the Culanda Stone improves upon Ayleid methods and can be cultivated like the Welkynd Stones once were, although others believe the Altmer simply discovered a more reliable method of recharging the original Ayleid stones.^[1] They are commonly seen on Auridon, in the ruins built by the Ancients.^[2] Culanda Lacquer is used to create armor and clothing for the College of Sapiarchs.^[3]

Although mainly associated with the Altmer, the Ayleids were in fact aware of Culanda Stones are were known to make use of them. The Nenalata clan were known to have bred "Culanda-Born" senches by ritualistically imbuing the cub's blood with Culanda while in the womb. The resulting animals were used as mounts and were noted for their grace. Culanda-enhanced barding was crafted for these mounts, which interacts with the animal in order to produce a dazzling golden glow that emanates in tendrils from the creature's body.^[4]^[5]

The Gandra-Lyes (translated as "Tree-gifts" in Ayleidoon) are unique culanda stones from Valenwood. Some samples were collected by the Mages Guild in Marbruk.^[6]