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.[6][7] It was cherished by worshipers of many gods, including Callarduran Smoothhands, Erevan Ilesere, Gorm Gulthyn, Haela Brightaxe, and Labelas Enoreth.[8]
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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.[6][7] A typical specimen had a base value of 5,000 gp.[1][2][3][4][5] About one in every hundred rubies was a star ruby.[7]
Powers[]
Superstitions around the Sea of Fallen Stars[6] held that rubies bestowed good luck on their owners,[7][9] 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.[7] Ruby powder was also used to create the magic ink[6] for scribing divine spells of the elemental and sun spheres, and arcane spells of the abjuration, alteration, or evocation schools.[7] The best time of day to use powdered ruby was "the time of the summer sunset."[7][note 1]
Facet cut and polished rubies were required in the crafting of a helm of brilliance[6] and were the gem of choice in decorating items that produced healing magic.[7] 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.[7]
A crushed ruby worth at least 1,000 gp was required to cast the extremely powerful necromatic spell soul shift.[10]
Rubies were one of the preferred gems for the psionic circuitry in the inventions of the Creative Creed.[11]
Supposedly, powdered ruby was an ingredient in the vision-granting deep gnomish wine Gogondy.[12]
Reputation[]
Rubies were considered prized gems among the drow. They especially liked the darker ones.[13]
Notable Rubies[]
- Kossuth ruby was a magical gem that held a spark of elemental fire.[14]
- The Wyvern Crown of Cormyr was studded with jewels, including rubies.[15]
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.[16]
Appendix[]
See Also[]
Notes[]
Gallery[]
photo by American-Thai Trading
used by permission
Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 139. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 5.0 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.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Jeff Grubb and Ed Greenwood (1990). Forgotten Realms Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 141. ISBN 0-8803-8828-5.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 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). Wizards of the Coast. pp. 10–15. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2018-09-08.
- ↑ 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.
