What are the Selenim’s advantages against Orichalc?

As established in the lore, Selenim aren't unduly harmed by orichalc. While their Simulacrum can be cut by orichalc swords, it doesn't destroy their Ka on contact. Indeed, the Unnamed Arcanum’s mission statement is to protect the Nephilim from Orichalc. Let's go into more detail on that, shall we?

Orichalc comes in two forms, latent/raw and awakened (see Secret Societies p38-9). Latent orichalc repels elemental ka like the same poles of a magnet. This by itself disrupts magical workings and sickens magical beings in proximity... except Selenim. Awakened orichalc mutually annihilates elemental ka on contact. Even a nick from an orichalka dagger will inflict grievous spiritual harm... except, again, to Selenim.

What makes Selenim dangerous is that they have magic that orichalc isn't particularly effective against. They can manifest a black metamorphosis to provide armor and weapons of their own, even use their arcane techniques and occult sciences to affect mortal minds—and orichalc amulets offer no protection! Since they aren't repelled by orichalc (though their memories of being Nephilim make them instinctively disgusted by it), they can study orichalc in greater detail and develop countermeasures. Selenim occult sciences can be used to isolate and even destroy orichalc via black sorcery, black alchemy, even summoning black lunar creatures specialized in this purpose.

Most disturbingly, their lack of elemental ka means that Selenim can potentially cultivate Saturnian-Ka within themselves similar to the Fraternitas Saturnii (see Secret Societies p65). A faction of the Unnamed Arcanum known as the Orichalcians (my translation of the French version's Orichalquiens) has spent centuries studying Saturnian magic and attempting to marry it with the other magic fields. Not only can they perform Saturnian magic, but they have developed several unique hybrid Black Lunar/Saturnian effects. However, as with the Fraternitas Saturnii, this does have some deleterious effects on their bodies despite their lack of elemental ka.

I’ll go into more detail on the Orichalcians in a future post…

Hope you enjoyed!

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