Forgotten Realms Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Forgotten Realms Wiki

Emerald was a brilliant green variety of beryl found in the Realms.[4][6][7][8] These gems were notoriously fragile and needed to be protected from impacts and drastic temperature changes.[9]

Description[]

Emerald cleaved easily along orthogonal lines, making rectangular cuts (the "emerald" cut, known as a modified step cut in lapidary parlance) the most common form for this jewel. This included table facet (square) and baguette (long rectangular) cuts.[7][8] Emerald came in many shades, but only the most transparent brilliant green shade merited the highest prices. A typical specimen had a base value of 5,000 gp.[2][3][4] Emeralds with weak or tainted coloring were classified as gem stones with base value of 1,000 gp.[4] Emeralds in the post-Second Sundering years declined in value to where even the most desired shades were given a base value of 1,000 gp.[6]

Powers[]

Emerald-faceted-oval

Faceted emerald, oval cut
Photo by Sterling Passion, used by permission.

Emeralds were associated with health, and so were used in creating and decorating magical devices which improved health and healing,[7] fertility, and growth.[8] Whole cut emeralds served well as the tip of a wand or other devices that had health and growth effects. Crushed and powdered, emerald dust was used in the inks for scrolls and added to magical immersions for items intended for these same purposes. The best time of day to apply emeralds in magical workings was at waterclock.[8][note 1]

Emeralds could be used to detect hidden treachery, hatred, and deceit without the use of magic. The stones would crack or break in the immediate presence of perfidy. Kings were known to wear rings carved out of emerald when attending important meetings, parleys, and critical negotiations.[8]

Raw Emerald

A raw emerald.

Ancient gem magic associated emeralds with gates and other gating powers, which was the source of emerald golems' ability to create shimmering green teleportation circles.[10]

Reputation[]

Emeralds were considered prized gems among the drow.[11]

Notable Emeralds[]

Emerald

A polished emerald.

Notable Users of Emeralds[]

  • Members of the knightly order, the Keepers of the Mystic Flame, were awarded for bringing to justice beings that posed a magical threat to Ravens Bluff.[15]

Appendix[]

Notes[]

  1. According to Elminster, "waterclock" was shortened from the phrase "the turning of the waterclocks", meaning 2 pm in the afternoon. Magic using emeralds was most likely to succeed or exceed expectations if performed in the interval from 1:45 pm to 2:15 pm.

See Also[]

Appearances[]

Gallery[]

External links[]

References[]

  1. Alana Joli Abbott (March 2012). “Talking the Talk”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #409 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 139. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 300. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  5. James Wyatt (June 2008). Dungeon Master's Guide 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 124. ISBN 978-0-7869-4880-2.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 978-0786965622.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 141. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 40. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  9. BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
  10. James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 54. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
  11. Ed Greenwood (July 1991). The Drow of the Underdark. (TSR, Inc), p. 94. ISBN 1-56076-132-6.
  12. Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 129. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  13. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 121. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  14. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 83. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  15. Carl Buehler (June 1998). “Keepers of the Mystic Flame”. In Jeff Quick ed. Polyhedron #130 (TSR, Inc.), p. 16.
  16. Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 59. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
Advertisement