In the
fictional world of
Glorantha,
metals come from the bones of
dead gods. Different pantheons of gods left different kinds of
Rune Metals:
Iron is made by Dwarves (sapient beings of stone). Dwarves consider all Iron their own, and will try to capture iron whenever they can. Iron is
toxic to
elves and
trolls.
There are also
copper and
tin, which can be
alloyed to make
bronze. Bronze can be mined ready-alloyed as well; it is also thought to come from Storm gods.
Rune Metals (not bronze, tin, or copper) enhance magical effects related to the element associated with the pantheon whose bones they are:
darkness and
cold for lead,
fire and
light for gold. Quicksilver armor does not impede movement in
water.
Some
RuneQuest GM's allow
steel into their campaigns, usually from adventures in worlds other than Glorantha (
Middle Earth, in my case). Steel enhances lightning magic.