History Main / Mithril

The name "mithril"[[note]]For the curious, ''mithril'' in Sindarin (Elvish) means "grey glitter", the ''-ril'' part being the same as in ''Silmaril''.[[/note]] or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[Literature/TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' (it also appeared in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'', although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''VideoGame/EverQuest'', ''VideoGame/RuneScape'', ''VideoGame/{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''VideoGame/DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'', ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produced a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

The name "mithril"[[note]]For the curious, ''mithril'' in Sindarin (Elvish) means "grey glitter", the ''-ril'' part being the same as in ''Silmaril''.[[/note]] or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[Literature/TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' (it also appeared in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'', although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''VideoGame/EverQuest'', ''VideoGame/RuneScape'', ''Franchise/{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''VideoGame/DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'', ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produced a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

Mithril is a fictional metal from Creator/JRRTolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. It is silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The author first wrote of it in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and it was {{Retcon}}ned in the second, revised edition of ''Literature/TheHobbit'' in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo was described as being made of "silvered steel". This metal was the reason for the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm's wealth and power. Greed for this metal eventually led to the downfall of the dwarves when they [[DugTooDeep found a vein of mithril that led to]] a [[SealedEvilInACan sleeping Balrog.]]

The name "mithril"[[note]]For the curious, ''mithril'' in Sindarin (Elvish) means "grey glitter", the ''-ril'' part being the same as in ''Silmaril''.[[/note]] or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[Literature/TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' (it also appeared in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'', although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''VideoGame/EverQuest'', ''VideoGame/RuneScape'', ''Franchise/{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''VideoGame/DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'', ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produced a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

As to if Mithril was ever based on a real metal, Tolkien never said. Guesses for this metal have been aluminum, titanium, naturally occuring titanium-molybdenum alloy and platinum (and yttrium silver [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermetallics if you want to get technical]]). Titanium comes closest in lightness, hardness, toughness and resistance to tarnishing, yet it is not found whole in nature, it has to be extracted from minerals via a complex process which could not be discovered and put in practice by a non-industrial civilization. Unless they had magic....

Compare with ThunderboltIron, {{Orichalcum}}, {{Unobtainium}}, SilverHasMysticPowers. Contrast with ColdIron

As to if Mithril was ever based on a real metal, Tolkien never said. Guesses for this metal have been aluminum, titanium, naturally occuring titanium-molybdenum alloy and platinum (and yttrium silver [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermetallics if you want to get technical]]). Titanium comes closest in lightness, hardness, toughness and resistance to tarnishing, yet it is not found whole in nature, it has to be extracted from minerals via a complex process which could not be discovered and put in practice by a non-industrial civilization.

The name "mithril"[[hottip:*:For the curious, ''mithril'' in Sindarin (Elvish) means "grey glitter", the ''-ril'' part being the same as in ''Silmaril''.]] or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[Literature/TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' (it also appeared in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'', although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''VideoGame/EverQuest'', ''VideoGame/RuneScape'', ''Franchise/{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''VideoGame/DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'', ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produced a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

As to if Mithril was ever based on a real metal, Tolkien never said. Guesses for this metal have been aluminum, titanium, naturally occuring titanium-molybdenum alloy and platinum (and yttrium silver [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermetallics if you want to get technical]]).

Not to be confused with HeavyMithril, or the [[FullMetalPanic fictional mercenary organization of the same name]].

The name "mithril"[[hottip:*:For the curious, ''mithril'' in Sindarin (Elvish) means "grey glitter", the ''-ril'' part being the same as in ''Silmaril''.]] or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[Literature/TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' (it also appeared in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'', although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''VideoGame/EverQuest'', ''VideoGame/RuneScape'', ''Franchise/{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''VideoGame/DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'', ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

Mithril is a fictional metal from Creator/JRRTolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. It is silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The author first wrote of it in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', and it was {{Retcon}}ned in the second, revised edition of ''TheHobbit'' in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo was described as being made of "silvered steel". This metal was the reason for the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm's wealth and power. Greed for this metal eventually led to the downfall of the dwarves when they [[DugTooDeep found a vein of mithril that led to]] a [[SealedEvilInACan sleeping Balrog.]]

The name "mithril" or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[Literature/TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' (it also appeared in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'', although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''VideoGame/EverQuest'', ''VideoGame/RuneScape'', ''Franchise/{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''VideoGame/DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'', ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

The name "mithril" or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[Literature/TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' (it also appeared in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'', although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''EverQuest'', ''VideoGame/RuneScape'', ''Franchise/{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''VideoGame/DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'', ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

Mithril is a fictional metal from Creator/JRRTolkien's Middle-earth fantasy writings. It is silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The author first wrote of it in ''TheLordOfTheRings'', and it was {{Retcon}}ned in the second, revised edition of ''TheHobbit'' in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo was described as being made of "silvered steel". This metal was the reason for the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm's wealth and power. Greed for this metal eventually led to the downfall of the dwarves when they [[DugTooDeep found a vein of mithril that led to]] a [[SealedEvilInACan sleeping Balrog.]]

Compare with ThunderboltIron, {{Orichalcum}}, {{Unobtainium}}, SilverHasMysticPowers.

The name "mithril" or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[Literature/TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' (it also appeared in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'', although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''EverQuest'', ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}'', ''Franchise/{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''VideoGame/DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'', ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

The name "mithril" or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[Literature/TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' (it also appeared in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall'', although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''EverQuest'', ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}'', ''Franchise/{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'', ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'', ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'', ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' and ''VideoGame/NetHack''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

[[quoteright:236:[[TheLordOfTheRings http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Mithril-vest_7324.jpg]]]]

-->-- '''Gandalf''', ''{{The Lord of the Rings}}'', Book II, Chapter 4 "A Journey in the Dark".

Mithril is a fictional metal from [[Creator/JRRTolkien J.R.R. Tolkien's]] Middle-earth fantasy writings. It is silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The author first wrote of it in ''TheLordOfTheRings'', and it was {{Retcon}}ned in the second, revised edition of ''TheHobbit'' in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo was described as being made of "silvered steel". This metal was the reason for the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm's wealth and power. Greed for this metal eventually led to the downfall of the dwarves when they [[DugTooDeep found a vein of mithril that led to]] a [[SealedEvilInACan sleeping Balrog.]]

The name "mithril" or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as: ''TheElderScrollsIV: Oblivion'' (it also appeared TES II: Daggerfall, although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''EverQuest'', ''{{Runescape}}'', ''{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''DungeonsAndDragons Online'', ''{{Diablo}}'', ''{{Terraria}}'', ''WorldOfWarcraft'', ''FinalFantasy'', ''KingdomHearts'' and ''{{NetHack}}''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

Mithril is a fictional metal from [[JRRTolkien J.R.R. Tolkien's]] Middle-earth fantasy writings. It is silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The author first wrote of it in ''TheLordOfTheRings'', and it was {{Retcon}}ned in the second, revised edition of ''TheHobbit'' in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo was described as being made of "silvered steel". This metal was the reason for the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm's wealth and power. Greed for this metal eventually led to the downfall of the dwarves when they [[DugTooDeep found a vein of mithril that led to]] a [[SealedEvilInACan sleeping Balrog.]]

Compare with ThunderboltIron and {{Orichalcum}}. For the Science Fiction version of this metal see, {{Unobtainium}}

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<<|AppliedPhlebotinum|>>

The name "mithril" or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as: ''TheElderScrollsIV: Oblivion'' (it also appeared TES II: Daggerfall, although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''EverQuest'', ''{{Runescape}}'', ''{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''DungeonsAndDragons Online'', ''{{Diablo}}'', ''WorldOfWarcraft'', ''FinalFantasy'', ''KingdomHearts'' and ''{{NetHack}}''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

The name "mithril" or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as: ''TheElderScrollsIV: Oblivion'' (it also appeared TES II: Daggerfall, although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''EverQuest'', ''{{Runescape}}'', ''{{Tales|Series}}'' series, ''DarkAgeOfCamelot'', ''DungeonsAndDragons Online'', ''{{Diablo}}'', ''WorldOfWarcraft'', ''FinalFantasy'', and ''{{NetHack}}''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

The name "mithril" or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as: ''TheElderScrolls IV: Oblivion'' (it also appeared TES II: Daggerfall, although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''EverQuest'', ''{{Runescape}}'', ''{{Tales of Symphonia}}'' (and many of the other games in the ''Tales'' series), ''Dark Age of Camelot'', ''DungeonsAndDragons Online'', ''{{Diablo}}'', ''WorldOfWarcraft'', ''FinalFantasy'', and ''{{NetHack}}''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

The name "mithril" or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as: ''TheElderScrolls IV: Oblivion'' (it also appeared TES II: Daggerfall, although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''EverQuest'', ''{{Runescape}}'', ''Dark Age of Camelot'', ''DungeonsAndDragons Online'', ''{{Diablo}}'', ''WorldOfWarcraft'', ''FinalFantasy'', and ''{{NetHack}}''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.

Mithril is a fictional metal from [[JRRTolkien J.R.R. Tolkien's]] Middle-earth fantasy writings. It is silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The author first wrote of it in ''TheLordOfTheRings'', and it was RetCon in the second, revised edition of ''TheHobbit'' in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo was described as being made of "silvered steel". This metal was the reason for the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm's wealth and power. Greed for this metal eventually led to the downfall of the dwarves when they [[DugTooDeep found a vein of mithril that led to]] a [[SealedEvilInACan sleeping Balrog.]]

Mithril is a fictional metal from [[JRRTolkien J.R.R. Tolkien's]] Middle-earth fantasy writings. It is silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The author first wrote of it in ''TheLordOfTheRings'', and it was RetCon in the second, revised edition of ''TheHobbit'' in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo was described as being made of "silvered steel". This metal was the reason for the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm's wealth and power. Greed for this metal eventually led to the downfall of the dwarves when they found a vein of mithril that led to a [[SealedEvilInACan sleeping Balrog.]]

As to if Mithril was ever based on a real metal, Tolkien never said. Guesses for this metal have been aluminum, titanium, naturally occuring titanium-molybdenium alloy and platinum (and yttrium silver [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermetallics if you want to get technical]]).

Mithril is a fictional metal from [[JRRTolkien J.R.R. Tolkien's]] Middle-earth fantasy writings. It is silvery and stronger than steel but much lighter in weight. The author first wrote of it in ''TheLordOfTheRings'', and it was RetCon in the second, revised edition of ''TheHobbit'' in 1966. In the first 1937 edition, the mail shirt given to Bilbo was described as being made of "silvered steel". This metal was the reason for the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm's wealth and power. Greed for this metal eventually lead to the downfall of the dwarves when they found a vein of mithril that led to a [[SealedEvilInACan sleeping Balrog.]]

The name mithril or similarly spelled variations (mithral, mythril, and others) is present in other fictional contexts like role-playing games, since the Tolkien Estate did not trademark the term, unlike "[[TheHobbit Hobbit]]" or "Balrog". One early example is DungeonsAndDragons and its derivatives (e.g. ForgottenRealms). It appears in many computer and video games such as: ''TheElderScrolls IV: Oblivion'' (it Also appeared TES II: Daggerfall, although there it was a ''mid-weight'' material), ''EverQuest'', ''{{Runescape}}'', ''Dark Age of Camelot'', ''DungeonsAndDragons Online'', ''{{Diablo}}'', ''WorldOfWarcraft'', ''FinalFantasy'', and ''{{NetHack}}''. The name is usually used for a special type of metal (often used as armor), or as a denomination of currency, or as a name for a project or device. It's very useful to have an exotic trope metal that is more rare and valuable than mundane metals like steel or gold. Citadel Miniatures even produce a color of (metallic) paint named Mithril Silver.