Alum

Alum was a substance that was widely used in the Realms. It was derived from certain porous rocks.

Alum Deposits in the Realms

 * Mount Hotenow.

Varieties

 * Dark Alum: A less common variety of alum that was purple in color. It possessed none of the alchemical or culinary properties of the standard alum. It was primarily used for the purpose for tanning supple leathers that were popular among nobility. One of the known deposits of dark alum in the Realms was Vellosk.

Usages

 * Alum was used in a variety of tradeskills, including by barbers, dyers, paper and ink makers, and perfumers.
 * Alum was widely used as an ingredient by alchemists. For instance, it could be distilled alongside nitre and oil of vitriol to create the substance aqua fortis.
 * Many leatherworkers were known to soak hides or pelts in a solution of alum to turn them into leather, a process known as tawing. It was even used in turning the hides of some aberrations into leather.
 * Some people in the Realms used alum for the purpose of cooking.
 * Some were known to use alum in the process of smelting ore.
 * Some were known to use alum in medicine, with doctors prescribing it as mouthwash, a cure for dysentery, and a way to stop bleeding.

Magic

 * A lump of alum was needed as a material component for casting the spell antipathy.

Appearances

 * Video Games
 * Neverwinter