Rayburton Jewels

The Rayburton Jewels were a collection of gems acquired by Belmer Rayburton in the early years after the founding of Cormyr in the. The treasure disappeared, presumed lost or stolen, no later than the.

Description
The jewels were initially stored in two large chests. One contained approximately a thousand sky-blue sapphires and "two or three fistfulls of black sapphires atop as many red tears". The other chest held around a thousand rubies. Belmer's brother Onkyl described the treasure in a letter to his son Telarn. Telarn found the letter only after Onkyl's death.

History
The history of the Rayburton Jewels was pieced together by the well-known explorer and publisher of guide books, Volothamp Geddarm, and he filled in some gaps with informed speculation.

Shortly after the founding of Cormyr, a friend or relative of the Rayburtons (whose name has been lost to history) came to Belmer Rayburton (possibly from Impiltur) seeking shelter and bearing the two chests of jewels. Volo suggests the man was fleeing those from whom the gems were stolen. The unknown ally disappeared for some reason (possibly murdered by Belmer) and the Rayburton patriarch kept the jewels for himself. His brother Onkyl got a glimpse of them but was intimidated by Belmer and only wrote a letter to his son (to be found posthumously) informing Telarn of the hoard and encouraging him to take it from Belmer or claim it as soon as he was able.

Word of Belmer's hidden wealth apparently reached the ears of two warlords of early Cormyr, Relve Turcassan and Orndar Merendil (Volo speculates they were tipped off by Endeir Falconhand, at the time a Rayburton retainer in the service of Belmer). They had first-hand knowledge of the evils that were besetting the young kingdom, so they decided to confront Belmer and demand that he give more financial support to the defense of the realm. The meeting erupted in violence and spread to armsmen under the command of the three leaders. Belmer, Turcassan, and Merendil were all wounded in the fighting. Two Rayburton huntsmen and a few warriors lost their lives before Belmer was forced to cease hostilities by a threat from Onkyl to reveal a "secret Belmer holds dear, and would fain keep so". The bloodshed ended there, but Turcassan and Merendil fended off attacks from mysterious assailants for the rest of their lives. Documents unearthed by Volo made it clear that the families of the two warlords believed the attacks were instigated by Belmer.