Tourmaline

Tourmaline was a long-crystalled mineral that came in many colors and was considered a fancy stone.

Description
Tourmaline could be found in a wide variety of colors, the more common being pale shades of blue, brown, gold, green, pink, red, and silver pearl. White or colorless tourmaline was called waterstar. If multiple colors occurred in the same crystal, it was known as rainbow tourmaline and was priced in the higher precious stone range. Black tourmaline was called ravenar and was considered a gem stone. A typical monochromatic specimen had a base value of 100 gp.

Tourmalines were considered sacred by followers of Deneir&mdash;appropriate for sacrifice, or to be consecrated for use, or recognized as boons or omens when found. The rainbow variety of tourmaline was sacred to followers of Mystra.

These stones were mined in the Ten Towns region in northwest Faerûn near the town of Termalaine.

Powers
All tourmalines could absorb any spell cast upon it and immediately convert it into three lightning bolts that blasted outward in straight lines from the crystal facets in directions chosen by the caster. This act consumed the gem in the process.

Reputation
Tourmaline was a common stone among the drow, a gem worn by drow of average station, albeit they used only those of blue and red color.