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Tigerfang crystal (often shorted to just tigerfang)
is an opaque to semi-translucent stone. It forms in
long crystals and breaks readily to create a razor-sharp
edge. Each crystal is either ivory-hued or colorless
at the tip. The base may be orange, silver, or white,
but it is always flecked with pure black.
Location:
Tigerfang crystal can be found stretching out in
dangerous, jagged ridges in the frozen north. The best-known
deposit is not far from Pinefar, but several also exist
in Mhoragian territory. Tigerfang crystal can sometimes
be found in sheltered caves, but it is more commonly
exposed to the sky and obscured by the ice and snow.
Lore:
Magically, tigerfang crystal is attuned to the element
of fire -- a surprise, considering the icy caverns of
its origin -- and it also has certain uses related to
the mental discipline of transformation.
Topaz
Value:
Clear topazes and blue topazes are very common. However,
pink, gold, green, and smoke-hued topazes are uncommon,
and orange imperial topazes are rare.
Appearance:
Topaz is a lustrous gem that is one of the hardest
minerals known to Elanthian races. It forms naturally
in beautiful, elegantly symmetrical crystals of a number
of different hues. It occurs naturally in many colors,
including pink, blue, green, orange, brown, and the
classical gold.
Location:
Topaz mines exist all over Elanthia, but some kinds
can only be located in specific places; for example,
green errisian topaz and orange imperial topaz are found
only on the east side of the DragonSpine.
Lore:
Of any gem, topaz is the most useful channel for
working with elemental earth energies. Clerics report
that it is particularly useful as well in spiritual
magics related to invoking the blessings of various
spirits or to religious lore.
In human lands, topaz is associated with the Arkati
Koar, King of the Gods, to such a great degree that
it is sometimes called "kingsjewel." According
to legend, when sitting in his throne and ruling over
the Arkati, Koar bears a rod called the Scepter of Liabo,
one of Eonak’s greatest creations, and the Scepter
of Liabo is capped with a perfect topaz. Stories of
the Scepter’s origins vary, but the two most common
tales state that it was crafted by Eonak or that it
was a gift from one of the drakes. (The Church of Koar
favors the first version.) Stories of the Scepter’s
powers also vary widely from region to region, but it
is generally agreed that any mortal who gazes upon the
Scepter will be stricken blind, and none of the Arkati
may deny Koar’s direct command while he wields
the Scepter.
When Paltrach, Patriarch of Koar in 4721, finally announced
his support of Lady Lyssandra Anodheles's claim to the
Turamzzyrian throne, he presented her with a magnificent
scepter of white and yellow gold that cradled an egg-sized
golden topaz at its tip. This scepter is known as Koar's
Word, and it represents the trust of the Church of Koar.
Since that day, with rare exception, whenever a new
Emperor or Empress is crowned in the Turamzzyrian Empire,
the Patriarch of Koar has presented Koar's Word to the
new ruler in a formal ceremony. One of the more noteworthy
exceptions came in 4799, when Patriarch Gravinnel Sarnis
refused to grant Koar's Word to Ommindar the Stout and
attempted to declare himself Emperor in Ommindar's place.
At the end of the conflict, Patriarch Gravinnel resigned
from his position in favor of Patriarch Anistarn Folar,
and Patriarch Anistarn presented Koar's Word to Emperor
Ommindar.
It is of some interest that the Ardenai, who actively
dislike Koar, use the gem most associated with Koar
as their heraldic jewel. As well as granting the right
for a topaz to be displayed in a traditional elven crest,
Ardenai monarchs sometimes present oak leaf pendants
carved from solid topaz to those elves who please them
particularly well. The coincidence of topaz has caused
no little confusion in encounters between humans and
Ardenai elves, and, while it tends to make humans more
trusting, uninformed Ardenai are often quite offended
when they realize that they have been mistaken for worshippers
of Koar!
Tourmaline
Value:
Tourmaline is infrequently found.
Appearance:
Tourmaline forms in elegant crystals that are quite
striking to the eye. These crystals may be translucent
or transparent. If colored, tourmaline may be pink,
green, black, or blue.
Location:
Tourmaline is found worldwide.
Lore:
Tourmaline is mildly responsive to various magics,
and these magics are often keyed to the hue of the tourmaline
stone. Green tourmalines are best used in magics related
to blessings, pink tourmalines are good for religious
matters, blue tourmalines are good for summoning spirits,
clear tourmalines are generally useful for spiritual
matters, and black tourmalines are useful in sorcery.
Tourmaline’s greatest power lies in another matter,
however. It is not unknown for tourmaline to shift from
one hue to another in the same crystal -- in fact, it
is fairly common. These multi-hued stones carry a power
all their own that is particularly potent in casting
illusions and glamours. Many hedge-witches of various
races will carry such a stone among their magical paraphernalia.
Blue tourmalines are treasured by the Vaikalimara clan
of giantmen. Many Vaikalimara carry or wear a blue tourmaline
crystal, which is unmarked aside from being engraved
with the name of its owner in Saramar runes. If it is
worn, then claws, fangs, feathers, and other trophies
of the hunt are often strung alongside the crystal,
but some Vaikalimara choose to adorn theirs with carved
wooden beads or even silk ribbons instead. What the
exact purpose of the tourmalines may be, only the Vaikalimara
know -- and no Vaikalimara will betray her clan's secrets.
In River’s Rest, green tourmaline is associated
with the romantic and tragic tale of Tandrik and Estamil
of the Bridges. According to the story, the engagement
ring that the human soldier Tandrik presented to the
elven bridge-builder Estamil was made of silver and
set with a green tourmaline to match her eyes. After
finding true love, the unlikely lovers were destroyed
by a necromancer’s unethical quest for knowledge.
Citizens of River’s Rest leave offerings of green
tourmaline at a beach near Maelstrom Bay in order to
honor the couple’s memory.
Turquoise
Value:
Infrequently found.
Appearance:
Turquoise is an opaque stone with a waxy finish.
In hue, it varies between the color of the sky and a
darker greenish-blue. It may be marked with black lines.
In spiderweb turquoise, these lines are slender and
symmetrically arranged, but the lines (if they exist)
are thicker and display no symmetry in regular turquoise.
Location:
Regular turquoise can be mined all over the world.
Particularly noteworthy deposits exist in Talador, in
the territory of the Sharznekgren dwarves and in the
Sea of Fire. Spiderweb turquoise has only been found
on the east side of the DragonSpine mountains.
Lore:
Magically, turquoise is a fairly receptive stone.
It is associated with water, air, and the blessings
of various spirits. Judging by archaeological digs and
ancient records, turquoise seems to be the oldest decorative
stone known to humanity.
In the barony of Riverwood, turquoise is considered
sovereign in aiding an archer's eye. Citizens of Riverwood
say that a bow set with turquoise will shoot straighter
than any other bow, and, as a result, almost all of
the bows carved in Riverwood are adorned with some sort
of turquoise charm, even though the turquoise must be
imported from Talador. Riverwood bows are magnificent
and highly valued, but most people outside Riverwood
attribute their quality to the fine yew used to craft
them rather than the turquoise charms upon them.
Travelers visiting South Hendor often seek out the
Halls of Solace, a monastery devoted to Lord Voln. Despite
the other wonders, the most remarked-upon feature is
the beauty of the monastery's shrine to the Arkati Lumnis.
Although the rest of the monastery is built from fine
Hendoran marble, the shrine to Lumnis is composed entirely
of turquoise. Local legend says that the monastery was
almost entirely built, with only Lumnis's shrine remaining
of the fourteen Liabo Arkati, when a terrible accident
at the mine threw the entire schedule into disarray.
After consideration, the monks agreed that it was more
important to complete the shrine in a timely fashion
than to wait for the marble, and they decided to create
it of granite instead. When the first granite slabs
were hauled up the hill, however, a marvelous sight
awaited them -- the shrine was already complete, and
composed in every aspect of polished, flawless turquoise.
Because of the association in Hendor between turquoise
and the Tehir, some initially spoke of destroying it
and finishing it in marble, but it was finally accepted
as a miracle and permitted to remain.
Tradition in North Hendor holds that looking at the
reflection of the moon Liabo on a polished surface of
turquoise will protect a person from madness until Liabo
next becomes a new moon. Observing the reflection of
sunlight and clouds upon a surface of turquoise is said
to protect against poison and betrayal.
The Ardenai elves traditionally believe that turquoise
assists in taming animals. Before the Horse War, whenever
an Ardenai horse was first being broken to saddle or
burden, a piece of turquoise was bound to the animal's
halter to prevent it from spooking. The Ardenai also
used turquoise if it became necessary to slay a horse.
Before the death of the horse, the person killing it
would touch the turquoise to its brow, which would supposedly
prevent the horse from experiencing pain or fear as
it died. These customs died away in the Horse War, which
resulted in the death of the Ardenai herds.
The peaceful giantmen of Araime Sun Clan still consider
turquoise to have power over animals, but their beliefs
appear to have developed independently of the lost Ardenai
customs. When traveling in the wilds, many of the Araime
carry a turquoise talisman carved in the shape of a
sun for use if they encounter a hostile predator. If
such a thing occurs, the Araime will display the talisman
to the animal, saying, "We share the same sunlight.
May I pass in peace?" Supposedly, if the Araime
truly wishes peace, the animal will back away and let
the giantman pass unharmed.
Water
sapphire
Value:
Infrequently found.
Appearance:
Despite the fanciful name, dwarven jewelers judge
that water sapphires are not sapphires at all -- and,
indeed, the term "water sapphire" dates from
a confusion between the elven language and Common (see
"corderite" for more information.) These beautiful
gems have a very peculiar trait: when a water sapphire
is viewed from different angles, its color changes.
Typically, a water sapphire is pale blue when viewed
from one side, perfectly clear when viewed from another,
and a soft honey yellow when viewed from the third,
creating a dazzling play of colors like sunlight upon
water. The angle of light also affects the hue.
Location:
N/A
Lore:
Unsurprisingly, water sapphires are aligned with
the elemental and spiritual aspects of water.
Stone-tenders say that water sapphire is particularly
good at restoring the balance of fluids within the body,
and they administer water sapphires to people who have
been dehydrated or who have become sick from grief and
crying.
While their divinatory uses are wide, seers particularly
use water sapphires when trying to determine the physical
location of something or someone.
Among the elves, water sapphires symbolize clear sight,
both physically and intellectually.
Historically, water sapphire aided the elves of Ta'Ashrim
in the days when the Ashrim dominated the eastern sea.
Because the hue of water sapphire changed when light
struck it from different angles, the Ashrim made special
lenses of water sapphire which permitted them to determine
the sun's exact position at any time. Using these lenses,
they were able to navigate far from any coastline without
fear of becoming lost.
Zircon
Value:
Varies with the variety. Brown zircons and clear zircons
are commonly found, but other types are found only infrequently.
Appearance:
In luster and fire alike, properly treated zircons
resemble diamonds so closely that foolish buyers are
often rooked by unkind sellers playing on the similarity.
The dwarves have always known the difference, however,
even if humans and elves are deceived! One noteworthy
type of zircon is the snowflake zircon, which is tinged
deep brown with a hint of emerald green. Instead of
losing value due to internal fracturing, snowflake zircons
gain it, for most snowflake zircons are chaotically
fractured in a fashion that resembles snow falling over
a forest (if seen with a properly fanciful mind.) Needless
to say, snowflake zircons are terribly fragile.
Location:
Save for snowflake zircon, zircons may be found worldwide.
Snowflake zircon can only be located in the northern
reaches of the world.
Lore:
Although the races of Elanith are generally unaware
of its properties, zircon is faintly responsive to all
forms of mental magic. Clear zircons respond best to
spells of divination, brown zircons respond best to
spells of transference, green zircons respond best to
spells of transformation, yellow zircons respond best
to spells of manipulation, and snowflake zircons respond
best to spells of telepathy. Among the Erithi, apprentice
savants, bards, and empaths frequently carry and make
use of these gems when practicing small cantrips. Zircon
is almost always destroyed by such spells, and more
skilled practitioners do not bother with its faint enhancement.
However, the various hues of zircon have developed
interesting reputations in Elanthia because the stone
is cheap enough that it is readily available to common
folk.
Legend has it that if you bury a green zircon in a
garden and invoke Kuon's name, the garden will not fully
fail in even the most terrible of droughts.
Snowflake zircons are said to be a charm against frostbite,
while clear zircons are said to protect against sunstroke.
Yellow zircons are a traveler's boon, and gnomish tradition
holds that any traveler who offers a yellow zircon as
a gift cannot be turned away from food and shelter.
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