Ruby was a variety of corundum that was a popular and plentiful jewel and had many magical uses in addition to its appeal as a sparkling gemstone.[7][8] It was cherished by worshipers of many gods, including Callarduran Smoothhands, Erevan Ilesere, Gorm Gulthyn, Haela Brightaxe, and Labelas Enoreth.[9]
Description[]
Rubies came in a variety of colors, from colorless through shades of red to deep crimson. The darker the shade and the fewer the inclusions and impurities, the more valuable was the gem.[7][8] A typical specimen had a base value of 5,000 gp.[2][3][4][5][6] About one in every hundred rubies was a star ruby.[8]
Rubies were believed to represent love and revenge.[10]
Ancient gem magic associated rubies with the healing powers of earth, which was the source of ruby golems' ability to regenerate and their affinity for travelling underground.[11]
Powers[]
A raw ruby.
Superstitions around the Sea of Fallen Stars[7] held that rubies bestowed good luck on their owners,[8][12] but magical uses were much more reliable. Crushed to a powder and used in the enchantment, rubies greatly enhanced personal magic items that increased skill, ability, resistance, or luck.[8] Ruby powder was also used to create the magic ink[7] for scribing divine spells of the elemental and sun spheres, and arcane spells of the abjuration, alteration, or evocation schools.[8] The best time of day to use powdered ruby was "the time of the summer sunset."[8][note 1]
A blood ruby.
Facet cut and polished rubies were required in the crafting of a helm of brilliance[7] and were the gem of choice in decorating items that produced healing magic.[8] With the proper incantations, rubies could ward against natural and magical lightning and earthquakes. Extremely rarely, a ruby might contain a creature that could be released from the stone by delicately shattering it. Such creatures were usually unknown in Faerûn and grew rapidly upon release.[8]
A crushed ruby worth at least 1,000 gp was required to cast the extremely powerful necromatic spell soul shift.[13]
A storm ruby.
Rubies were one of the preferred gems for the psionic circuitry in the inventions of the Creative Creed.[14]
Supposedly, powdered ruby was an ingredient in the vision-granting deep gnomish wine Gogondy.[15]
Reputation[]
Rubies were considered prized gems among the drow. They especially liked the darker ones.[16]
Notable Rubies[]
- Kossuth ruby was a magical gem that held a spark of elemental fire.[17]
- The Wyvern Crown of Cormyr was studded with jewels, including rubies.[18]
Notable Users of Rubies[]
- Members of the knightly order, the Keepers of the Mystic Flame, were awarded for defeating beings that posed a magical threat to all of the Realms.[19]
- Sune, the goddess of love was known to wear rubies in her hair.[10]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Notes[]
Appearances[]
Gallery[]
photo by American-Thai Trading
used by permission
Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
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.
Ruby article at the Baldur's Gate 3 Community Wiki, a community wiki for Baldur's Gate 3.- Flawless Sapphire article at the Neverwinter Wiki, a wiki for the Dungeons and Dragons: Neverwinter MMORPG.
- Rough Ruby article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ Elaine Cunningham (January 1994). Elfsong (1994). (TSR, Inc.), chap. 0, p. 8. ISBN 1-56076-679-4.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 139. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 127. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 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.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 James Wyatt (June 2008). Dungeon Master's Guide 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 124. ISBN 978-0-7869-4880-2.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 134. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 141. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 48. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 BioWare (June 2002). Designed by Brent Knowles, James Ohlen. Neverwinter Nights. Atari.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 301. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Scott Bennie (February 1990). Old Empires. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.), p. 77. ISBN 978-0880388214.
- ↑ Christopher M. Schwartz (January 1999). “The New Illithid Arsenal”. In Bill Slavicsek ed. Dragon #255 (TSR, Inc.), p. 30.
- ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 51. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (July 1991). The Drow of the Underdark. (TSR, Inc), p. 94. ISBN 1-56076-132-6.
- ↑ Interplay (December 1997). Designed by Chris Avellone, Robert Hanz. Descent to Undermountain. Interplay.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (1996). Volo's Guide to All Things Magical. (TSR, Inc), p. 121. ISBN 0-7869-0446-1.
- ↑ Carl Buehler (June 1998). “Keepers of the Mystic Flame”. In Jeff Quick ed. Polyhedron #130 (TSR, Inc.), p. 16.