Forgotten Realms Wiki
Register
Forgotten Realms Wiki
(add more stones from Larloch, corrections)
Tag: sourceedit
(expand with Netheril lore: History, etc)
Tag: sourceedit
Line 39: Line 39:
 
| alignment =
 
| alignment =
 
}}
 
}}
'''''Ioun stones''''', originally called '''''Congenio's pebbles''''',<ref name="Neth">{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic}}</ref> were magical stones that granted enhancements or powers to a creature.<ref name="Bazaar">{{Cite dragon/174/Bazaar of the Bizarre: Ioun stones}}</ref><ref name="DMG35-p260"/>
+
'''''Ioun stones''''', originally called '''''Congenio's pebbles''''' and later '''''Ioun's stones''''', were magical stones that floated around a bearer's head and granted a range of enhancements or powers to a creature.<ref name="Bazaar">{{Cite dragon/174/Bazaar of the Bizarre: Ioun stones}}</ref><ref name="DMG35-p260"/><ref name="tWoN">{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic/The Winds of Netheril|6, 107}}</ref><ref name="EncArc">{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic/Encyclopedia Arcana|5-6}}</ref>
   
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
Line 133: Line 133:
   
 
==History==
 
==History==
  +
[[Congenio Ioun]], an early [[Netherese arcanist|arcanist]] of the Nether Age of [[Netheril]], created the first ioun stones<ref name="tWoN"/><ref name="TGHotR-28">{{Cite book/The Grand History of the Realms|28}}</ref> in the year [[-3462 DR|397 NY (−3462 DR)]]. This was a previously unheard-of achievement: he was aged only 33 and this was the first magical item he had created, marking him as one of the greatest arcanists of his age.<ref name="tWoN"/> He initially called them ''Congenio's pebbles''. Congenio worked under the (mistaken) assumption that only small or slender items—pebbles, small stones, pieces of cloth, [[dagger]]s, and the like—could be enchanted to bear [[magic]], and so he worked exclusively with small, semi-polished stones. He also adopted the self-imposed limitation of enchanting all stones of the same shape with the same spell, making them more consistent for buyers and eliminating confusion.<ref name="EncArc"/>
[[Congenio Ioun]], an [[Netherese arcanist|arcanist]] of [[Netheril]], created the first ioun stones.<ref name="Neth" /><ref name="TGHotR-28">{{Cite book/The Grand History of the Realms|28}}</ref>
 
  +
  +
''Congenio's pebbles'' soon became enormously popular with his fellow arcanists.<ref name="tWoN"/> Over the next 54 years, the ''anhedral'', ''echinid'', ''hexagonoid'', ''spindle'', ''pebble'', ''star'', and ''round'' stones were developed and introduced.<ref name="EncArc"/>
  +
  +
In [[-3408 DR|451 NY (−3408 DR)]], at the suggestion of a close friend, Congenio renamed his pebbles to the much more catchy ''Ioun's stones''.<ref name="tWoN"/><ref name="EncArc"/> Under this name, the ''cephaloid'', ''cube'', ''cylinder'', ''decipton'', ''dendroid'', ''dodecahedron'', ''ellipsoid'', ''enneid'', ''euhedral'', ''hectoid'', ''helicid'', ''heptid'', ''monoclinoid'', ''nephroid'', ''ovoid'', ''octahedron'', ''orthorhomboid'', ''peg'', ''pentahedron'', ''prism'', ''pyramid'', ''rectangle'', ''septahedron'', ''sexahedron'', ''tile'', and ''tredyhedron'' stones were created and became widespread in Netheril.<ref name="EncArc"/>
  +
  +
Congenio himself created over thirty of these, including the ''prism'' that allowed one to see in the dark and another that granted its holder a temporarily raised level of experience and might.<ref name="tWoN"/><ref name="EncArc"/><ref group="note">Apart from the ''prism'', it is unknown which ''pebbles'' and ''stones'' were created by Congenio and which by fellow arcanists, but it is clear that the majority were made by Congenio. It is also clear that Congenio created some stones that are not listed.</ref> He was never seen without them orbiting his head. He lived an incredibly long life, almost a thousand years, and some wondered if one of his stones was responsible for his longevity. Congenio finally passed away in [[-2450 DR|1319 NY (−2540 DR)]], but for his creations his name lived on for millennia.<ref name="tWoN"/>
  +
  +
After his death, a number of other arcanists continued his work. These researchers made breakthroughs in Congenio's original design, by simply ignoring his consistent design and placing their own spells in whatever gem they had, no matter its shape. The stones became generally known as simply ''ioun stones'' around [[-2494 DR|1365 NY (c. −2494 DR)]]. From this time on, the ''triclinid'', ''tubule'', ''decahedron'', ''heptahedron'', ''lozenge'', ''rhomboid'', ''rod'', ''sphere'', ''stelloid'', and ''tetrapton'' stones were invented.<ref name="EncArc"/>
   
 
==Notable collections==
 
==Notable collections==
 
[[File:Larloch - Carl Critchlow.jpg|thumb|right|The arch-lich Larloch, with some of his many ''ioun stones'' circling his head.]]
 
[[File:Larloch - Carl Critchlow.jpg|thumb|right|The arch-lich Larloch, with some of his many ''ioun stones'' circling his head.]]
  +
In the time of Netheril, ''Congenio's pebbles'' and ''Ioun's stones'' were in great demand among arcanists.<ref name="tWoN"/>
[[Larloch]], the Shadow King, arch-[[lich]] of [[Warlock's Crypt]], possessed over two dozen ''ioun stones'', which orbited his skull at all times, giving him a wide variety of powers, protections, and enhancements. Some were much more powerful than their regular versions.<ref name="NWoN-p4">{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic/The Winds of Netheril|4}}</ref><ref name="LoD-p161-162">{{Cite book/Lords of Darkness|161–162}}</ref>
 
  +
 
[[Larloch]], the Shadow King, the arch-[[lich]] of [[Warlock's Crypt]] and a long-surviving arcanist of Netheril, possessed over two dozen ''ioun stones'', which orbited his skull at all times, giving him a wide variety of powers, protections, and enhancements. Some were much more powerful than their regular versions, and he had multiples of some.<ref name="NWoN-p4">{{Cite book/Netheril: Empire of Magic/The Winds of Netheril|4}}</ref><ref name="LoD-p161-162">{{Cite book/Lords of Darkness|161-162}}</ref>
   
 
The ''[[Wyvern Crown of Cormyr]]'' was inlaid with ten ''ioun stones'' on the tips of its spikes. None of the stones could be removed from the ''Crown'' without destroying them, not without a ''[[wish]]'' spell on each stone.<ref name="VGtATM-p121">{{Cite book/Volo's Guide to All Things Magical|121-122}}</ref>
 
The ''[[Wyvern Crown of Cormyr]]'' was inlaid with ten ''ioun stones'' on the tips of its spikes. None of the stones could be removed from the ''Crown'' without destroying them, not without a ''[[wish]]'' spell on each stone.<ref name="VGtATM-p121">{{Cite book/Volo's Guide to All Things Magical|121-122}}</ref>
Line 143: Line 153:
 
A ring of a dozen ''ioun stones'' was occasionally sighted hovering above the [[River Vesper]] in [[the Vast]] from the 1350s [[DR]] on. The stones avoided efforts to grab them, and by [[1370 DR]], no one with a net, the ability to fly, or a magical means of catching one was lucky enough to spot the ring. A tale told in riverside taverns claimed that anyone who could grab one of the ''ioun stones'' could keep it, but was also compelled by a ''[[geas]]'' to perform some dangerous task, with a different task for each stone.<ref name="tCoRBp154">{{Cite book/The City of Ravens Bluff|154}}</ref>
 
A ring of a dozen ''ioun stones'' was occasionally sighted hovering above the [[River Vesper]] in [[the Vast]] from the 1350s [[DR]] on. The stones avoided efforts to grab them, and by [[1370 DR]], no one with a net, the ability to fly, or a magical means of catching one was lucky enough to spot the ring. A tale told in riverside taverns claimed that anyone who could grab one of the ''ioun stones'' could keep it, but was also compelled by a ''[[geas]]'' to perform some dangerous task, with a different task for each stone.<ref name="tCoRBp154">{{Cite book/The City of Ravens Bluff|154}}</ref>
   
==References==
+
==Appendix==
  +
===Notes===
  +
<references group=note/>
  +
  +
===References===
 
{{refs}}
 
{{refs}}
 
[[Category:Magic items]]
 
[[Category:Magic items]]

Revision as of 14:23, 15 May 2016

Ioun stones, originally called Congenio's pebbles and later Ioun's stones, were magical stones that floated around a bearer's head and granted a range of enhancements or powers to a creature.[2][1][3][4]

Description

They were small, crystalline stones, coming in a wide range of colors and shapes that determined their powers.[1]

Powers

Ioun stones hovered permanently in the air.[1]

When one acquired a stone and wished to receive its benefits, they had to first hold it for a brief time and then release it. Thereafter, when functioning, the ioun stone floated in a circular pattern around the bearer's head, at a distance of 1–3 ft (30–91 cm). They could only bestow their benefit on an owner when within this range. Two stones of the same type would repel each other.[2][1] Another person could try to catch or net the stone to steal it, or break it. The bearer could freely grab and pocket a stone, such as when going to sleep, to keep it safe, but they could no longer receive its benefits.[1]

The stones granted various benefits based on their color, as listed below. When drained of power, a stone became a dull grey, but it still possessed the characteristic floating power.[2]

Type Benefit Cost (gp)
Clear spindle May go without food or water[1] 4000
Dusty-rose prism Insight to defense[1] 5000
Deep-red sphere Enhanced agility & dexterity[1] 8000
Incandescent-blue sphere Enhanced wisdom[1] 8000
Pale-blue rhomboid Enhanced strength[1] 8000
Pink rhomboid Enhanced constitution[1] 8000
Pink-and-green sphere Enhanced charisma[1] 8000
Scarlet-and-blue sphere Enhanced intellect[1] 8000
Dark-blue rhomboid Greater alertness[1] 10,000
Vibrant-purple prism Stores spells as a ring of spell storing[1] 36,000
Iridescent spindle May go without air[1] 18,000
Pale-lavender ellipsoid Absorbs low-level spells as a rod of absorption when readied[1] 20,000
Pearly-white spindle May regenerate wounds as a ring of regeneration (for living beings)[1] 20,000
Pale-green prism Greater talent in attack, skill, resistance, and physical and mental feats[1] 30,000
Orange prism Increasing level of spellcasting[1] 30,000
Lavender-and-green ellipsoid Absorbs all but the highest-level spells as a rod of absorption when readied[1] 40,000
Blood-red ellipsoid Vampiric regeneration[5]
Blood red Enhanced dexterity and attack speed[6]
Deep-purple sphere Protection against poison, as a periapt of proof against poison[5]
Trollblood Increased martial prowess against trolls, and slight health regeneration[6]
Bright silver cylinder Ability to turn ethereal as with a cloak of etherealness[7]
Cerulean blue rhomboid Continuous freedom of movement, as the ring[7]
Dark-green ellipsoid Greater fortune in defense[7]
Dark-orange dodecahedron Resistance to spells[7]
Dark-purple triangle Double the number of 3rd-level spells, as a ring of wizardry III[7]
Dark-purple pyramid Double the number of 4th-level spells, as a ring of wizardry IV[7]
Dark-red cube The ability to read minds, as a medallion of thoughts[7]
Dull-orange rhomboid Absorb magic missiles, as a brooch of shielding[7]
Mottled-gray sphere Counters selected spells, as a ring of counterspells[7]
Pale-white sphere Recalls an already-cast spell, as a pearl of power[7]
Pearlized brown ellipsoid A brief haste effect, as boots of speed[7]
Pearly black spindle May regenerate wounds as a ring of regeneration (for undead beings)[7]
Rich green star A slight boost in fortune in survival, skills, and other acts, as a stone of good luck[7]
Shining black spiral May teleport thrice a day, as a helm of teleportation[7]

As with other items that could store magical energy, the pale lavender ellipsoid, lavender-and-green ellipsoid, and vibrant-purple prism could store spellfire. In turn, they could also be drained by a spellfire wielder.[8]

Creation

Ioun stones could only be created by a veteran spellcaster well versed in the crafting of wondrous magical items.[1]

Only certain types of gemstone could be transformed into an ioun stone through application of the appropriate and generally secret spells. These gems were known collectively as "the nine secrets", though there were at least ten. These were amethyst,[9] chrysoberyl, chrysoprase,[10] greenstone, hematite (though this was rarely known to even powerful wizards), iol (also known as iolite or cordierite, and the most effective of the gems),[11] Laeral's tears (most little known and rarest of the gems),[12] obsidian (the most well known), onyx,[13] and sardonyx.[14]

History

Congenio Ioun, an early arcanist of the Nether Age of Netheril, created the first ioun stones[3][15] in the year 397 NY (−3462 DR). This was a previously unheard-of achievement: he was aged only 33 and this was the first magical item he had created, marking him as one of the greatest arcanists of his age.[3] He initially called them Congenio's pebbles. Congenio worked under the (mistaken) assumption that only small or slender items—pebbles, small stones, pieces of cloth, daggers, and the like—could be enchanted to bear magic, and so he worked exclusively with small, semi-polished stones. He also adopted the self-imposed limitation of enchanting all stones of the same shape with the same spell, making them more consistent for buyers and eliminating confusion.[4]

Congenio's pebbles soon became enormously popular with his fellow arcanists.[3] Over the next 54 years, the anhedral, echinid, hexagonoid, spindle, pebble, star, and round stones were developed and introduced.[4]

In 451 NY (−3408 DR), at the suggestion of a close friend, Congenio renamed his pebbles to the much more catchy Ioun's stones.[3][4] Under this name, the cephaloid, cube, cylinder, decipton, dendroid, dodecahedron, ellipsoid, enneid, euhedral, hectoid, helicid, heptid, monoclinoid, nephroid, ovoid, octahedron, orthorhomboid, peg, pentahedron, prism, pyramid, rectangle, septahedron, sexahedron, tile, and tredyhedron stones were created and became widespread in Netheril.[4]

Congenio himself created over thirty of these, including the prism that allowed one to see in the dark and another that granted its holder a temporarily raised level of experience and might.[3][4][note 1] He was never seen without them orbiting his head. He lived an incredibly long life, almost a thousand years, and some wondered if one of his stones was responsible for his longevity. Congenio finally passed away in 1319 NY (−2540 DR), but for his creations his name lived on for millennia.[3]

After his death, a number of other arcanists continued his work. These researchers made breakthroughs in Congenio's original design, by simply ignoring his consistent design and placing their own spells in whatever gem they had, no matter its shape. The stones became generally known as simply ioun stones around 1365 NY (c. −2494 DR). From this time on, the triclinid, tubule, decahedron, heptahedron, lozenge, rhomboid, rod, sphere, stelloid, and tetrapton stones were invented.[4]

Notable collections

Larloch - Carl Critchlow

The arch-lich Larloch, with some of his many ioun stones circling his head.

In the time of Netheril, Congenio's pebbles and Ioun's stones were in great demand among arcanists.[3]

Larloch, the Shadow King, the arch-lich of Warlock's Crypt and a long-surviving arcanist of Netheril, possessed over two dozen ioun stones, which orbited his skull at all times, giving him a wide variety of powers, protections, and enhancements. Some were much more powerful than their regular versions, and he had multiples of some.[16][7]

The Wyvern Crown of Cormyr was inlaid with ten ioun stones on the tips of its spikes. None of the stones could be removed from the Crown without destroying them, not without a wish spell on each stone.[5]

A ring of a dozen ioun stones was occasionally sighted hovering above the River Vesper in the Vast from the 1350s DR on. The stones avoided efforts to grab them, and by 1370 DR, no one with a net, the ability to fly, or a magical means of catching one was lucky enough to spot the ring. A tale told in riverside taverns claimed that anyone who could grab one of the ioun stones could keep it, but was also compelled by a geas to perform some dangerous task, with a different task for each stone.[17]

Appendix

Notes

  1. Apart from the prism, it is unknown which pebbles and stones were created by Congenio and which by fellow arcanists, but it is clear that the majority were made by Congenio. It is also clear that Congenio created some stones that are not listed.

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 Template:Cite book/Dungeon Master's Guide 3.5 edition
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Matthew P. Hargenrader (October 1991). “Bazaar of the Bizarre: Ioun stones: Where do you go if you want some more?”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #174 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 90–94.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), pp. 6, 107. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “Encyclopedia Arcana”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), pp. 5–6. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), pp. 121–122. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Beamdog (March 2016). Designed by Philip Daigle, et al. Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear. Beamdog.
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 Jason Carl, Sean K. Reynolds (October 2001). Lords of Darkness. Edited by Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 161–162. ISBN 07-8691-989-2.
  8. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 88. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  9. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 36. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  10. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 38. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  11. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), pp. 41–42. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  12. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 43. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  13. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 46. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  14. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  15. Brian R. James, Ed Greenwood (September 2007). The Grand History of the Realms. Edited by Kim Mohan, Penny Williams. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7869-4731-7.
  16. slade, Jim Butler (October 1996). “The Winds of Netheril”. In Jim Butler ed. Netheril: Empire of Magic (TSR, Inc.), p. 4. ISBN 0-7869-0437-2.
  17. Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 154. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.