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Jade was the generally accepted name for a class of stones found in the Realms that included jadeite and nephrite.[6][7]

Description[]

Like many other lower-value gemstones found in massive formations, jadeite and nephrite were often used in bulk for stonecarving, while samples with the most desirable composition would instead be cut into precious gemstones.[8][9] When jade was freshly mined, it was found in shades of light to dark green, and white. As it aged, jade turned a warm brown hue.[6][7] If buried for long periods of time, jade turned a dark red or brown and was known as tomb jade.[10][11] Jade had a waxy appearance when polished and was easily carved. This stone was completely opaque unless carved thin enough for light to filter through, giving it a warm glow.[6][7] A typical specimen had a base value of 100 gp.[1][2][3][4][5] The highest quality jade was known as mei-yu jade, or high jade; lesser quality jade was yu jade.[12]

Powers[]

Jadeite

A polished jadeite.

Powdered jade had an affinity for illusion/phantasm spells and was the ingredient of choice when mixing magic inks to scribe such spell scrolls. It was also necessary in immersions for items intended to create illusions. The best time of day for mixing jade dust into a magical preparation was candleglass time.[7][note 1]

Jade was used as the material component for the hail of stone spell[13][14][15][16] and by Kara-Turan versions of the shape change spell.[17]

Reputation[]

Bards and other musicians in the Realms wore jade for luck as it was said to improve musical talent.[3][7][note 2] The stones were also favored by the gods Baravar Cloakshadow, Erevan Ilesere, and Urogalan.[18]

Jade was a common stone among the drow, a gem worn by drow of average station. It was under common use as an inlay-stone or decoration.[19]

In Kara-Tur, jade was believed to block the passage of all manner of ghosts.[20]

History[]

The craftsmen of Shou Lung were skilled in the working of jade of all kinds, and the finest quality jade on Toril was mined in that land.[12]

The gem dragon sorceress Nyadnar had a house with display cases, stands, and pedestals to showcase her wide collection of gemstones, and many of these displays were themselves made of polished jadeite and nephrite.[21]

By the late 15th century DR, much of the jade found in the Western Heartlands came from the Sea of Fallen Stars.[22]

Appendix[]

See Also[]

Notes[]

  1. According to Elminster, this was between 8:45 pm and 9:15 pm.
  2. This view was based on the fact that jade jewelry, according to Elminster, could be easily enchanted to give a musician "perfect pitch" and improve his or her hearing.

Appearances[]

External Links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 136. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 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.
  4. 4.0 4.1 James Wyatt (June 2008). Dungeon Master's Guide 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 124. ISBN 978-0-7869-4880-2.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 978-0786965622.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 137. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 42. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  8. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 34. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  9. Ed Greenwood (April 1983). “Gems Galore”. In Kim Mohan ed. Dragon #72 (TSR, Inc.), p. 21.
  10. Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 139. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
  11. Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 52. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Mike Pondsmith, Jay Batista, Rick Swan, John Nephew, Deborah Christian (1988). Kara-Tur: The Eastern Realms (Volume I). (TSR, Inc), p. 29. ISBN 0-88038-608-8.
  13. Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 76. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
  14. James Wyatt (October 2001). Oriental Adventures (3rd edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105. ISBN 0-7869-2015-7.
  15. Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 58. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
  16. Matthew Sernett, Jeff Grubb, Mike McArtor (Dec 2005). Spell Compendium. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 108–109. ISBN 0-7869-3702-5.
  17. Gary Gygax, David Cook, and François Marcela-Froideval (1985). Oriental Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 97. ISBN 0-8803-8099-3.
  18. Sean K. Reynolds (2002-05-04). Deity Do's and Don'ts (Zipped PDF). Web Enhancement for Faiths and Pantheons. Wizards of the Coast. pp. 10–15. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
  19. Ed Greenwood (July 1991). The Drow of the Underdark. (TSR, Inc), p. 93. ISBN 1-56076-132-6.
  20. James Wyatt (October 2001). Oriental Adventures (3rd edition). (Wizards of the Coast), p. 165. ISBN 0-7869-2015-7.
  21. Victor Milán (October 1995). War in Tethyr. (TSR, Inc), p. 141. ISBN 0-7869-0184-5.
  22. Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
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