Sunstone (gem)

Sunstone, also known as oligoclase, was a feldspar gem closely related to moonstone.

Description
The most common variety of this ornamental stone was soft and only able to be cut cabochon, but it did occur in a colorless or slightly greenish variety that was facet grade. Cabochons of sunstone were rarely more than three-quarters of an inch (2 cm) in diameter and had glittering red or orange inclusions that were suspended in a nearly colorless matrix, giving the overall stone a warm golden or reddish brown hue. A typical stone had a base value of 10 gp.

Sunstones were considered sacred by followers of Horus-Re, Labelas Enoreth, and Sehanine Moonbow&mdash;appropriate for sacrifice, or to be consecrated for use, or recognized as boons or omens when found.

Powers
Sunstones could be made into talismans, usually in the form of jewelry, that acted on undead just like full sunlight. A sunstone talisman had to be charged by being left in full sun for at least one day (about six hours of continuous exposure). Thereafter, the talisman could be worn and would remain dormant until the wearer was successfully attacked (physically touched) by an undead creature. If the undead attacker was affected by sunlight, it would: Undead not harmed by light (skeletons, mummies, and liches for example) were completely immune to a sunstone talisman. Ghosts were forced into a semi-material state. Vampires took actual damage but cannot be slain by a sunstone talisman alone. Only the detached head and entrails of a penanggalan were susceptible to sunstone talisman effects.
 * recoil in fear or pain for a few minutes
 * be easier to hit as it turned away from the talisman
 * be unable to use abilities such as regeneration, energy drain, chilling touch, etc.

Sunstones could also store light- and energy-related discharge spells of all sorts. They were first carefully prepared by charging the stone using all but the last word of the desired incantation. Some time later the caster or someone else could touch the stone and speak the last word of the spell to release the stored energy, consuming the sunstone in the process. If the spell required a target, the activator had to be concentrating on the target at the time or else a random target was selected.

Sunstones were also used in the casting of the druid spell sunray, and the elven spell sunbolt.

Appearances

 * Video Games
 * Baldur's Gate series &bull; Icewind Dale series