Gem magic

Gem magic, also called gem-magic or gemstone magic, was an application of magic involving the use of gemstones. There were two broad types of gem magic: the first type involved attuning gemstones to store or affix spells for subsequent use, and the second type involved tapping into the natural magical properties of different types of gemstones.

Gem Attunement
This form of gem magic was meant to affix a spell to a gemstone for later use. The gem could only be activated&mdash;and the spell released&mdash;based on some trigger specified by the creator at the time of the gem’s attunement. The trigger could be that the gem was touched, that a certain amount of time had passed since its attunement, or that a certain manner of creature was present or came near the gem. An attuned gem could detect and trigger based on a creature’s type, alignment, race, or appearance, but generally could not detect the relative skillsets or strength of a creature. Regardless of the prespecified trigger, the crafter of the attuned gem could freely handle the stone or even cause the spell to release prematurely if so desired.

These gems could also be attached to other items, in which case their triggering could cause the stored spell to affect or empower that item. When affixed to doors or other large objects, the gems could serve as traps. When affixed to weapons or other pieces of equipment, the gems could provide instant enhancements to the item or protections to its wielder. A common application was to create a gem ward which provided emergency protective spells in response to a nearby enemy. Common wards were empowered with protection from evil, feather fall, protection from arrows, or stoneskin.

A practitioner of this kind of gem magic generally had to be trained in both gemcutting and arcane spellcasting. To attune a gem, the creator had to spend at least an hour casting the spell with all necessary material components. More powerful spells required bigger and more valuable gems, with the weakest spells needing a stone with a value of at least 50 gold pieces while the most powerful spells could require a gem valued at 450 gold pieces. Alternatively, wizards with the proper ability to modify their spells could produce a similar effect simply by casting the spell into a malacon gemstone, while clerics could store healing spells in topaz gemstones to be released upon contact with an injury.

As a general rule, gems could only be attuned with arcane spells, although some deities were known to grant their mystic wanderers the power to attune gems with divine magic as well.

History
This form of gem magic was practiced in ancient Netheril, where so-called "gem masters" created attuned gems and would sometimes embed them as traps in tombs and the like.

By the 14 century DR, the secrets of the creation of attuned gems had been lost. When such gems were recovered from ancient treasure vaults, they would often release their stored spells unexpectedly before crumbling to dust in treasure hunters’ hands. Although the practice of attuning gems had been forgotten, a somewhat similar practice of using gems to create focal stones endured as part of the practice of enchanting an item. Practitioners used the focal stone spell to affix enchantments and spells into gemstones to be subsequently transferred into a magic item using the dweomerflow spell. However, these focal stones could also release their spells if crushed or otherwise destroyed.

In the mid-to-late 14 century DR, the practice of attuning gems and creating gem wards had been rediscovered, and some gods were known to grant the power of gem attunement to their more free-spirited followers.

As of the late 15 century DR, the deep gnomes practiced a similar form of magic in which they created spell gems that could store a single spell and then release that spell at the command of the gem's wielder. These items were known to be used by the Stoneheart Enclave of Blingdenstone, and the means behind their creation was a closely guarded secret.

Natural Gem Magic
Many gems&mdash;whether precious, semi-precious, or otherwise&mdash;were known to have potent magical abilities, either on their own or when used properly in the casting of spells or creation of magic items, potions, etc. The innate magical properties of gemstones were sometimes unclear, and with only a few exceptions, it was not possible to access a gem's natural magic without the proper knowledge. Other times, gems could be worn by an individual to gain certain magical benefits, although this often required the gem to maintain contact with the wearer's skin. Furthermore, harnessing natural gem magic was known to be imprecise, and would often yield "flawed" results&mdash;in much the same ways that gemstones themselves could be flawed.

History
The ancient Netherese used chrysoberyl to make audio recordings of everything from warnings to instructions to motivational speeches. They also made use of azurite charms to protect themselves from burns in their kitchens (a practice that was also held by folk from Halruaa, Myth Drannor, and Calimshan).

Many folk across Faerûn were known to make use of innate gem magic. Folk from as far and wide as Waterdeep, Sembia, and Chessenta would wear tremair stones sown into their clothes, offering them protection from curses. In south Faerûn, coral was used for its healing properties. Calishite and Sembian furniture was sometimes inlaid with boakhar to take advantage of its ability to shoot bursts of fire. In Telflamm and Turmish, rituals were performed with aquamarine to duplicate other gemstones. In Rashemen, the wychlaran used Laeral's tears to bolster the toughness of their berserkers, while their enemies, the Red Wizards of Thay, experimented with thuparlial to try to empower their fire-based spells. In Impiltur in the mid-to-late 14 century DR, Pelathyon Hawkryn came to be known for wielding "moonstone magic" in which he substituted moonstone for most of his material components.

Other gems were wrongly believed to have properties that they did not, such as amber, rogue stone, soapstone, and Tiger eye agate. Some gems from Kara-Tur were believed to be quite magically potent&mdash;namely Shou Lung amethysts, emeralds, and topazes&mdash;however Faerûnian scholars were unable to ascertain their true properties.

A form of this gem magic was practiced in ancient Mulhorand, where the god-kings were the first to create mighty gemstone golems which leveraged the natural magics of rubies, emeralds, and diamonds to imbue the constructs with potent abilities. However, the secrets of their creation were lost as the god-kings dwindled, and were only rediscovered in the 1360s DR by Zulkir Aznar Thrul of the Red Wizards. He used this knowledge to build an army of golems and launch an attack on Rashemen, however his understanding of gem magic was incomplete, and as a result, his golems were unpredictable and often required a dozen wizards to control them. His army had ultimately broken away from his control by.

Gemstone Properties
Known gemstones magic affinities included:
 * Agni mani could provide protection from explosions
 * Alestone could repel solid projectiles
 * Alexandrite was affiliated with good luck
 * Algae could provide some protection from polymorph and similar shape-changing spells
 * Amaratha could provide protection from lightning bolt and other injurious forms of electricity
 * Amber was affiliated with electricity, and was often mistakenly believed to provide protection from disease
 * Amethyst was affiliated with magic mouth and other communication magics
 * Andar was affiliated with treasure hunting
 * Aquamarine could be used in Orgonil's ritual to duplicate other gemstones
 * Archon could detect creatures hidden by invisibility and similar spells
 * Augelite had no affinity, but was so magically inert that it could weaken the effects of spells
 * Aventurine could dispel most illusion and transformation magic
 * Azurite could provide limited protection from fire
 * Beljuril was affiliated with the absorption and release of energy
 * Black opal was associated with causing powerful explosions
 * Black sapphire could provide protection from chronomantic spells and effects
 * Bloodstone was affiliated with invisibility, divination, storms, and healing
 * Bluestone could be used to neutralize poisons
 * Blue quartz was affiliated with scrying and similar far-seeing spells
 * Boakhar reacted with magical force to create bursts of fire
 * Brandeen could be used to relieve deafness
 * Carnelian was affiliated with luck and protection from evil
 * Chalcedony was affiliated with necromancy and protection against undead
 * Chrysoberyl was affiliated with protection against magic jar and similar forms of possession, healing, and scrying
 * Chrysocolla was affiliated with necromancy and neutralizing alcohol
 * Chrysoprase was affiliated with invisibility
 * Citrine was associated with the magic jar spell
 * Clelophane was able to record illusory "echoes" of events when exposed to magic
 * Coral was affiliated with healing
 * Corstal was affiliated with light
 * Crown of silver was affiliated with the preservation of metal and protection from evil
 * Datchas was affiliated with the spider climb spell
 * Diamond was affiliated with perfection, protection, and the sun
 * Dioptase was affiliated with healing
 * Disthene was affiliated with fire
 * Emerald was affiliated with detecting lies as well as with gates and other forms of teleportation
 * Epidote was affiliated with the control of or protection from undead
 * Euclase was known to erupt violently with fire when exposed to magic
 * Fire agate was affiliated with protection from fire
 * Fire opal was affiliated with control of fire
 * Flamedance could provide protection from fire
 * Fluorspar could detect magically invisible creatures
 * Frost agate was affiliated with sleep
 * Garnet could make weapons more damaging
 * Gold sheen was affiliated with invisibility and color
 * Goldline could be used to enchant bladed weapons
 * Greenstone was affiliated with mind blank and similar mental protection spells
 * Hambergyle was affiliated with light
 * Heliodor was affiliated with divine sun magic
 * Hematite was affiliated with healing
 * Horn coral was affiliated with water walking
 * Hornbill ivory was affiliated with flight
 * Hyaline could be used to detect magic
 * Hydrophane was affiliated with water and could empower the color spray spell
 * Hypersthene could offer protection from the wyvern watch spell
 * Iol was the most suitable stone for the creation of Ioun stones
 * Iris agate could repel and reflect spell effects
 * Irtios could provide protection from both mundane and magical mildew, rot, and mold
 * Jacinth was affiliated with protection from fire
 * Jade was affiliated with music as well as phantasm spells and other illusions
 * Jargoon could be used to magnify the power of a magic missile spell
 * Jasmal was affiliated with item enchantment
 * Jasper was affiliated with neutralizing poison
 * Jet was associated with the magic jar spell
 * Kings' tears was affiliated with wisdom and the legend lore spell
 * Kornerupine was affiliated with sound and could store sounds
 * Laeral's tears was affiliated with protection and healing
 * Lapis lazuli was affiliated with healing and potions of heroism
 * Lumachella was affiliated with water breathing and similar spells
 * Luriyl was able to detect scrying magic
 * Luspeel was associated with weapon enchanting
 * Lynx eye was affiliated with healing and necromancy
 * Malachite was affiliated with elemental cold and fire
 * Malacon could store spells for later release, destroying the stone
 * Meerschaum was affiliated with necromancy and scrying
 * Mellochrysos was affiliated with light
 * Moonbar was affiliated with necromancy
 * Moonstone was affiliated with abjuration and evocation magics as well as magical storage
 * Moss agate was affiliated with sleep and had a stabilizing effect on potion mixtures
 * Mykaro was affiliated with wizard eye and similar scrying spells as well as with curing blindness
 * Mynteer was affiliated with telekinesis, levitation, and similar applications of magical force
 * Nelvine was affiliated with illusory disguise
 * Nune was affiliated with the dispelling and negation of magic
 * Obsidian was associated with the blade barrier spell
 * Octel was affiliated with protection from hold person and other paralyzing magic
 * Onyx was affiliated with childbirth and bad luck
 * Oolite was affiliated with purification
 * Opal was a potent magnifier of magical power in enchanted items
 * Ophealine was affiliated with protection from paralysis
 * Orbaline could provide resistance to fire
 * Orblen was affiliated with healing
 * Orl was affiliated with explosions and petrification
 * Orprase could be used to cure drunkenness
 * Pearl was affiliated with general magic as well as neutralizing of acids and poisons
 * Peridot was affiliated with abjuration magic
 * Phenalope could extinguish both mundane and magical fires
 * Pipestone was affiliated with wood
 * Psaedros was associated with the wind walk spell
 * Rainbow obsidian was affiliated with prismatic spells
 * Raindrop and woodtine could be used to identify whether an object had once been enchanted
 * Ravenar could transform any spell into a lightning bolt
 * Red tear was affiliated with healing spells
 * Rhodochrosite was affiliated with curing poisons and diseases
 * Rogue stone increased the likelihood of a spell going wild and was associated with the gemjump spell
 * Rosaline could negate the effects of prismatic spells
 * Ruby was affiliated with healing, earth, and good luck
 * Rusteen was affiliated with wall of force and similar force-related spells
 * Saganite was affiliated with explosive and fiery spells
 * Samarskite provided protection from undead
 * Sanidine was affiliated with water and purification
 * Sapphire was affiliated with weapon enchantments, elemental air, and protection from fear, anger, and madness
 * Sarbossa was affiliated with transformation magic
 * Sardonyx was known to offer mild protection from magic missiles
 * Satin spar was known to negate magic missiles
 * Scapra was affiliated with ward and similar spells
 * Serpentine and serpentine stone were affiliated with protection against cold and fire
 * Shandon was known to make permanent the effects of the ironguard spell
 * Sharpstone was affiliated with the radius of spell effects
 * Sheen was affiliated with invisibility and color
 * Silkstone was affiliated with divine magic, particularly in regards to life draining, restoration, and repelling incorporeal undead
 * Sinhalite was known to dispel any magical darkness near it
 * Skydrop was known to make a bearer immune to petrification magics
 * Smoky quartz was affiliated with necromancy, especially in relation to bones
 * Snowflake obsidian could protect from the effects of a dragon's breath weapon
 * Soapstone was rumored to be affiliated with fire and warmth
 * Sphene could reduce the chances of being struck by both mundane and magical lightning
 * Spinel could be applied to instantly recall the last spell that a wizard had cast
 * Spodumene could be used to open magical locks
 * Star diopside could detect the presence of illusions
 * Star rose quartz has affiliated with abjuration magic and spell turning
 * Star ruby was affiliated with healing and restoration
 * Star sapphire was affiliated with protection, invulnerability, and antimagic
 * Sunstone was affiliated with light and energy
 * Tabasheer was affiliated with healing and augmentation
 * Tchazar was known to disrupt scrying magic
 * Tempskya was affiliated with petrification
 * Thuparlial was affiliated with heat and fire
 * Tiger eye agate was falsely believed to be useful for warding off or controlling undead
 * Tomb jade was affiliated with controlling or turning undead
 * Topaz was affiliated with light and healing
 * Tourmaline and waterstar could transform any spell into a burst of lightning bolts
 * Tremair could provide immunity from curses
 * Turquoise was affiliated with good luck and flight
 * Ulvaen could slow or stop bleeding, close wounds, and even restore organs when applied to an injury
 * Variscite could be used to injure or poison lycanthropes
 * Violine could be used to negate the effects of mummy rot
 * Water opal was affiliated with scrying and healing
 * could transform any spell into a burst of lightning bolts
 * Webstone was affiliated with protection from harmful airborne or gaseous substances
 * Witherite was affiliated with protection from any necromantic or psionic energy that would cause the body to wither
 * Wonderstone could be used to detect spells and magic items
 * Xylopal was associated with the reverse gravity spell
 * Zarbrina was affiliated with illusion magic
 * Zendalure could be used to preserve dead bodies
 * Ziose could be used to release magic missiles
 * Zircon was affiliated with enchantment magic