Gemstones and their Values in Dungeons and Dragons.
By Amhairghen Faithliaig.
If you're anything like me, your life often gets so busy that you don't have the time to create interesting new treasures for your players to find, and as a result you fall back on the standard, pre-created charts and tables in the core rulebooks simply to prevent yourself from going insane.
I used to do this, but eventually I just grew bored with the limited nature of these lists, and with the constant repetition that their overuse inspires. The fact that I'm a hobbyist gemcutter and jeweler didn't help...I'm too used to the interesting and bizarre to be satisfied by "another blue sapphire." So finally, I sat down and scanned the Web, gathering information on fantasy gems for use in my campaign, and then threw in a few of my own ideas. I modified names of real-world gems, created interesting planar gems of my own, and took whatever I found I personally liked from whatever Web-published lists were out there.
The result is the list below, which contains an alphabetical list of gem descriptions, a table of their prices and planes of availability, and complete details on price ranges and average prices for each stone. The descriptions also deal with the hardness and hit points per inch of each gem, and also which races tend to favour their use most of all.
Needless to say, this stuff can be adventuring gold if properly used in a campaign, and provides innumerable possibilities for adventuring hooks and nasty DM tricks. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I and my players have.
THE GEMS.
Agate, Banded: Banded agates are among the most common of ornamental stones, and they are often found carved into the central stones for signet rings, with very large specimens even being used for small statuary and furniture or art inlays. It is a fiercely hard stone with a seemingly limitless colour range, with the opaque to translucent coloured bands typically alternating with transparent or translucent clear or white bands. It has no crystalline structure, singe it is actually a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. Hardness 18, 25 hp/inch.
Agate, Eye: As banded agate above, but with the specimen having such a colour and cut as to produce a darkly-coloured central iris surrounded by a pale-coloured sclera, similar to the eyes of many mammalian creatures. It is a favourite for the creation of hag eyes and similar divinatory devices. Hardness 18, 25 hp/inch.
Agate, Fire: Lacking the banding of other agates, these stones are generally of a dull-brown hue, but with thin layers of iridescent goethite sandwiched inside them, revealing the stones internal reniform structure. They are especially prized by halflings, who often drill the tops of them and wear them as inexpensive pendants. Hardness 18, 25 hp/inch.
Agate, Frost: Similar to other agates, frost agate has a hazy, milky-grey to white background of reasonable translucency that has been intruded upon by white, clumpy dendrite formations. Like moss agate, it lacks banding. It typically finds use in thin slices for the crafting of circular amulets, and is often delicately engraved. Hardness 18, 25 hp/inch.
Agate, Moss: As banded and eye agate above, but instead varying in base colour from transparent colourless to semi-opaque white with mossy inclusions or dendrites (tree-like growths) spread through itself. It lacks any banding whatsoever. Hardness 18, 25 hp/inch.
Agni Mani: The ornamental version of the tektite, these stones are technically transparent, but of such a deep hue that they are mostly light-impenetrable. They occur as streak- or lens-shaped fragments in regions that have suffered meteoric impacts, and have a glassy luster about them. Hardness 8, 15 hp/inch.
Alestone: Found as transparent rhomboid crystals in many mines, these stones are appreciated for their delicate, ale-like brown to yellowish-brown coloration. They are a favourite of the svirfneblin or deep gnomes, but are enjoyed as cheap gems by most races, despite being relatively soft. Hardness 10, 20 hp/inch.
Alexandrite: An unusual stone, this jewel is possessed of a remarkable dichroism: it appears dark green in daylight and the effects of light-based spells, but raspberry-red when viewed in the light of a fire, such as that thrown by a candle, torch, campfire or fire-based spell. Hardness 14, 25 hp/inch.
Amaratha: Also known as shieldstones, these jewels are a pleasing pale-green in colour, with an adamant luster and a great deal of sparkle. They occur as tabular crystals in volcanic seams, and find their greatest market amongst the githzerai, who seem quite fond of their subtle tones. Hardness 16, 35 hp/inch.
Amber: The fossilized resin of coniferous trees, amber is a flammable gemstone and is soft enough to be carved with simple hand tools; it will even polish when rubbed vigorously against coarse fabric. It is usually moderately expensive, though poor specimens usually end up at the apothecaries for medicinal use. Occasionally specimens are found with creatures trapped inside them; when this happens, their price increases dramatically. Typically the larger the creature trapped inside and the better preserved it is, the more it is worth. Hardness 3, 5 hp/inch.
Amethyst: See Quartz.
Andar: Commonly referred to as alestones, these gems occur as tabular crystals of a translucent green-red to brown-red hue when properly faceted. They are inexpensive and reasonably decorative, and are thus a common form of reasonably-priced decoration. Hardness 8, 15 hp/inch.
Angel’s Skin: See Coral.
Aquamarine: See Beryl.
Archon: Also called fluorspar, fluorite and blue john, this mineral comes in octahedral and cubic crystals, as well as in great chunks of massive material. It is found in all colours, though it seems that blues and purples are the more common hues. When exposed to certain kinds of light, archon glows a deep purple, a property that actually led to its adoption in jewelry by the archon race, and thereby ultimately to its being called archon in the first place. Hardness 8, 15 hp/inch.
Augelite: Clear, colorless and brittle, this stone comes in small dodecahedral crystals that are typically drilled and used for beadwork, as it seems to be too brittle for many other applications, and is generally not highly favoured. Hardness 7, 15 hp/inch.
Azurite: A blue copper ore, this decorative stone is rarely extensively polished, being found mostly as beads on necklaces and occasionally as carved figurines. It is a soft stone that is incapable of taking a high polish, but finds favour among the poorer social classes due to its cheapness. Hardness 4, 10 hp/inch.
Beljuril: Found only in decomposed volcanic clays, these stones occur as fist-sized spherical nodules of a pleasantly deep seawater-green tone, though some rare specimens have a more bluish tint to them. These rare jewels have the unusual property of storing energy from blows, body heat and light exposure, releasing it periodically in a bright flash of light that only adds to their already significant sparkle. For this reason, they are often more highly sought than diamonds, and more than one royal crown throughout history has boasted a set of beljurils as part of its makeup. Hardness 18, 50 hp/inch (immune to heat and light damage).
Beryl: An entire family of gemstones, beryl is given different names and values based on its coloration: emerald for rich greens, green beryl for paler green tones, goshenite for colorless specimens, aquamarine for blue pieces, heliodor for yellow gems, morganite for pink stones and bixbite for the exceedingly rare and fabulously valuable red jewels. While moderately hard, beryl has a tendency to flaw, which is greater in some colours than in others. Emeralds are well known for this quality, which is often used as a means of verifying their identity. The crystals occur as hexagonal, columns with flat terminations. Hardness 15, 20 hp/inch.
Bixbite: See Beryl.
Blended Quartz: Blended quartz is a result of the intrusion of metal of high purity into the body of a quartz crystal during its formation, and as such is consequently very rare. Usually the metal concerned is either copper or iron, and in either case the blended quartz gains the basic properties noted for blended quartz in the Arms and Equipment Guide. Occasionally, however, rarer metals such as gold, silver, platinum, mithral and even adamantine intrude. In such cases, the blended quartz gains the usual listed properties, but is of increased value.
Blended quartz usually cost 2,000 gp per lb. Blended quartz containing a variant metal is treated for pricing purposes as if it were made entirely of the metal that it contains, and as if it weighed four times as much. For these purposes, adamantine is treated as having a base price of 3,000 gp per lb. Thus, a 1 lb crystal of blended quartz containing adamantine would be worth 12,000 gp. Hardness 14, 30 hp/inch.
Bloodstone: Another cryptocrystalline form of quartz, this moderately-priced semi-precious gem is actually green jasper with minute red spots and flecks, which appear similar to the spatter of arterial blood. It makes for very attractive ornamental jewellery, and its hardness makes it perfect for intaglio work. For this reason, it is especially favoured for the crafting of official seals. Hardness 18, 25 hp/inch.
Blue Quartz: See Quartz.
Bluestone: Also known as sodalite, this blue-and-white stone is a common ring for the crafting of seals and ornamental rings. It is also commonly used for the manufacture of vases, as its striking colors tend to go very well with most furnishings. Hardness 13, 25 hp/inch.
Boakhar: Used mostly in ornamental highlights due to their extraordinary softness, these tabular orange-red crystals are often found worked into fine furnishings, and occasionally worked into basic ornamentation on drinking vessels and like containers. Poorer specimens are often ground to produce pigments for artwork and dyeing, while the finest specimens typically adorn ceremonial objects and vessels, particularly those of fire religions. Hardness 6, 10 hp/inch.
Bondran: Seemingly odd choices for a gemstone, these brown-green transparent tabular crystals are adored for their marvelous ability to hold and illuminate carved intaglio designs. While most transparent stones are very poor at doing this sort of thing, the strange colour range of these stones coupled with their high brilliance causes them to show detail with great clarity, even when viewed from up to 20’ away. Dwarves often use them for important pieces such as official seals (on the rare occasions when they can get them), and will typically offer a very good price for them. Hardness 16, 50 hp/inch.
Brandeen: Occurring only as small cubic crystals, these transparent gems typically have a reddish-brown to honey-yellow coloration, and are much used by gnomes both for jewelry and ornamentation. Occasionally, gnomes even craft dice from them; such objets d’art possess a considerably improved value amongst gnomes, and are prized by gamblers due to the impossibility of tampering with the weight of a transparent die. They are surprisingly hard for a semi-precious stone, and occasionally end up as faceted stones in more valuable jewelry as a result. Hardness 17, 35 hp/inch.
Bronzite: A semi-precious stone, bronzite is a pleasing mottled bronze stone of moderate hardness and a poor finish. It is mostly used in furniture inlays, as its coloration and texture offset stained woods very well, but is occasionally also a feature of inexpensive dwarven and troglodyte jewelry. Hardness 12, 25 hp/inch.
Canian Ice Opal: Prized across the planes and traded almost exclusively by the baatezu, these curious amorphous gems form in the endless ice drifts of Cania on Baator. They appear as completely colourless pieces of clear crystal in red light (such as that produced by a torch or campfire), but in daylight explode with a beautiful radiance of refracted colours like that seen in true opals. The means of their formation is unknown, but because of their beauty they are widely traded, despite the fact that they are always chill to the touch. Hardness 16, 20 hp/inch.
Carnelian: Essentially a kind of flame-coloured agate, carnelian may or may not possess a degree of banding, with any bands being either whitish or light brown. It is mostly used in the construction of signet rings and seals, due to its robust hardness and durability. Hardness 18, 40 hp/inch.
Chalcedony: Only very rarely banded, and even then only very faintly, chalcedony is a translucent form of cryptocrystalline quartz that comes in a very wide range of pastel and subdued tones. It is often used in ornamentation and works of art, seeing infrequent use in relatively inexpensive jewelry. It is typically found in reniform clumps. Hardness 18, 40 hp/inch.
Chrysoberyl: A relative of beryl, these crystals are renowned for coming in clusters of six, with each six-sided columnar crystal radiating outward from a common central point. Clear jewels are the more common form, and such stones range in hue from yellowy-green to golden honey-brown in colour. Chrysoberyl also comes in a chatoyant form, however; these chatoyant stones share the same colour range as the clearer stones, but have a beautiful silver cat’s-eye line of light radiating across their centres. Hardness 13, 25 hp/inch.
Chrysoprase: Another cryptocrystalline form of quartz, this gem has been coloured through long-term exposure to nickel salts in the soil. It is more highly prized than most of the other cryptocrystalline quartz minerals, a fact that is probably due to the generally high quality of its coloration and the fact that it always shows itself up against any clothing worn. As a cryptocrystalline mineral, it has no crystal form of its own. Hardness 18, 40 hp.
Citrine: See Quartz.
Clelophane: Usually occurring as massive outcroppings of tabular crystal aggregates in a granite matrix, these stones are typically semi-opaque in clarity but possessed of an opalescent sheen of the purest rich green. Unlike most opal, this green fire ripples in a continuous sheet across the whole of the cut stone, and thus it is almost never cut into anything other than a cabochon or sphere. Elves enjoy this stone more than most races, despite its tendency to wear quickly, though it is fairly popular in the jewelry of most of the non-primitive cultures of nearly every race. It can occur as quite large crystals, with crystal diameters of 3” and greater being far from unknown. Hardness 6, 10 hp/inch.
Coral, Angel’s Skin: Found only in shallow tropical waters, this pale pink coral is a favourite amongst most of the underwater races, and is also favoured by many onshore communities as well. It is very hard for an organically-produced substance, with a high luster and a silken gloss when properly polished. It is frequently carved, as it has the ability to both take and hold spectacular detail. Hardness 12, 25 hp/inch.
Coral, Horn: Hard and bony, this coral polishes with a finish much like that of ivory, but comes in a range of very attractive colours. Occasionally pieces are found that are even multi-colored, though this is uncommon. Its hardness and pleasing tones make it a favourite of coastal halflings and gnomes, who find its variability eminently pleasing. Horn coral is the only temperate water coral that is considered useful for jewelry applications. Hardness 12, 25 hp/inch.
Coral, Night: This midnight-black coral is even more highly prized than angel’s skin coral, despite being softer and incapable of taking or holding detail. In fact, this strange coral has a very leathery texture and resilience, and is occasionally also flecked with patches of gold or possessed of a mild iridescent sheen. It is favoured mainly by humans, particularly when gold-flecked, though some communities of elves (including sea elves) find it appealing. Hardness 6, 10 hp/inch.
Corstal: Coming in small cubic crystals, this stone is often flawed and quite brittle, but has an attractive pink hue that ranges from completely colorless up to a soft pale pink. Because of this colouration, it is often used in the making of beads, and corstal beads are often the jewellery of choice for small girls of most races. Hardness 12, 25 hp/inch.
Corundum: See Sapphire and Ruby.
Crown of Silver: A form of chalcedony, this stone is extremely hard, resilient and durable, with a metallic-black colour and finish and a very high gloss. It is most often used in the ornamentation of weapon sheaths, scabbards and bandoliers, though it is sometimes worked into the ornamentation of the weapon itself. Humans and dwarves tend to favour it most. Hardness 18, 40 hp/inch.
Currasq: Phenomenally hard stones, these rainbow-coloured transparent rhomboid jewels are actually a crystalline form of adamantine ore. They are adored for their spectacular hardness as much as for their rainbow-coloured splendour and diamond-like fire, and are prized by practically all races. Hardness 20, 40 hp/inch.
Dallawyn: Tangerine-orange in colour and amorphous in structure, this crystalline orange jewel is typically found only in deposits of volcanic ash, such as those making up the ash fields and cones of dormant or extinct volcanoes. It occurs in reasonable-sized masses, but is usually so deeply flawed that a large piece will generally yield only one or two average-sized jewels when it is cut. Halflings admire it most, especially since many of the areas that they farm are ancient and highly-fertile ash fields, and therefore abundant sources of it. Hardness 14, 25 hp/inch.
Daminine: Like valmarr, this jewel is a beautiful, transparent coppery colour. However, unlike valmarr, its tone actually varies, and it can be found in all shades of copper from bright through to dull, with some specimens even appearing slightly bronzed. It is most prized for high-quality jewelry pieces by the githyanki (who set it in gold and wear it in pendants, necklaces and bracers), but is also valued quite highly amongst the githzerai (though they never seem to wear it, and typically refuse to answer queries about the uses to which it is put). Hardness 14, 30 hp/inch.
Dannath: This unusual pale orange to crimson stone is very similar in appearance to dallawyn, even possessing a virtually identical amorphous structure; however, dannath is found in granitic lava pipes rather than in ash deposits, and is generally much less flawed due to its greater hardness and durability. Again, it is especially prized by halflings. Hardness 17, 35 hp/inch.
Darragatt: Coming in all shades of grey from light to deep and smoky, is found in amorphous, glassy chunks on the slopes of Gehenna’s volcanoes. Usually, specimens are too translucent and flawed to be of any value, but occasionally pieces of exquisite clarity and attractive colour are recovered. Surprisingly, the native yugoloth of Gehenna only seem interested in the stone as an article of trade, and only rarely use it in any of their own jewelry; mostly, it is dwarves (particularly deep dwarves and derro) who prize it, due to its deep and rich grey tones. Hardness 14, 20 hp/inch.
Datchas: A stone that occurs in a multitude of hues, this gem is found exclusively in pockets within basaltic lava, forming demi-columnar, roughly four-sided crystals with a total of 14 faces each. Specimens are found in a wide range of colours, including white, pink, red, red-brown and orange. But the most prized of all are the fine yellowish-green crystals, which facet to produce very attractive stones. It is reasonably hard and durable, though there are many stones a lot harder. Hardness 12, 25 hp/inch.
Diamond: Coming in virtually every colour known, diamonds are well-known to all races, and are prized for their spectacular hardness as much as for their brilliant fire. Hardness 19, 40 hp/inch.
Disthene: Also called kyanite, this soft gemstone is typically of a deep blue to green colour, and occurs in large clusters of crystals with a blade-like form. It is usually translucent, though good specimens can sometimes approach transparent in clarity. Only the finest blue crystals are faceted, and these are significantly more prized; all other colours are cut into cabochons, and used only in basic trinketry. Hardness 10, 20 hp/inch.
Emerald: See Beryl.
Eraline: Beautiful jewels of a light to rich golden hue, and occasionally found in a curious electrum green-yellow, these stones occur as pentagonal columnar crystals in fine, crumbly granite schists. They are a brittle stone easily injured by more conventional mining techniques, and so must be carefully harvested by gradual scratching away of their surrounding matrix (as heavy pick blows in their vicinity are likely to crack them). Once collected, however, they prove to be very tough stones capable of taking a high polish, and are eminently suited to use in jewelry, despite always possessing at least minor flaws. Hardness 15, 25 hp/inch.
Firrikhar: Formed in the heart of vicious and intense thunderstorms near the boundaries of the Elemental Plane of Air with that of the Elemental Plane of Earth, these rich blue-white to indigo stones occur as small, roughly spherical clusters of blade-like crystals wrapped in ice and dust, with a dense central area of usually flawless, gem-quality material. These crystals always bear a very slight static charge, causing them to tingle almost unnoticeable in the hand and to attract dust and small charged particles when in their proximity. They are prized by many races for their beautiful tones, but are rarely sold outside of the various planar metropolises. Hardness 17, 40 hp/inch.
Flamedance: Soft but of the clearest and most radiant flame-red, these jewels are usually faceted and set in ritual objects or brooches, as a means of displaying their great beauty without putting them in the way of excessive wear and tear. Humans prize them most highly, though gnomes are certainly not averse to them. Hardness 9, 20 hp/inch.
Garnet: Actually a large number of related minerals, garnets thus come in a wide range of colours. They typically form dodecahedral crystals in a granite matrix, but are also found as smooth pebbles in alluvial deposits washed down from their original deposition sites. While reds are the most common and well-known, violets are considered to be the most valuable. Hardness 13, 15 hp/inch.
Goldline: Similar to rutilated quartz, this is a quartz whose needle-like inclusions are actually a golden form of goethite known as cacoxenite. The inclusions in these stones tend to be in tight clusters af almost total density, however, rendering the stone nearly opaque with their profusion. For this reason, goldline is merely considered to be an ornamental stone, rather than a truly valuable gem.
Greenstone: A grey-green, glassy stone found in small (¾”) spherical pieces in volcanic ash deposits, it has often been debated as to whether or not this stone is simply another variant of obsidian. While it shares most of the properties of obsidian, however, the main consensus is that it is a separate material, since it possesses a different cleavage and never occurs in seams or large chunks. While this particular debate rages on, its uses in jewelry have long been agreed upon by practically everybody: nice for ornamental use, but not spectacular enough to hold any significant value. It seems that goblins make the most use of it, though goblin greenstone jewelry is probably unlikely to find proper appreciation in the civilized countries. Hardness 14, 30 hp/inch.
Hambergyle: Found mostly as small, facettable colorless crystals of a pentagonal columnar form, this stone produces reasonably sparkly stones that see common use in costume jewelry. They are of only moderate hardness, however, and so not very highly valued. Hardness 12, 20 hp/inch.
Hematite: The most common form of iron ore, this decorative stone sometimes produces pieces of a quality and consistency suitable for jewelry use. These stones are only infrequently used in jewelry, however, due to their tendency to leave russet stains on clothing. Hardness 6, 10 hp/inch.
Hydrophane: Prized solely by underwater creatures, this unusual stone appears to be an amorphous blob of totally transparent and colorless material when on land. Once it is immersed in water, however, it immediately acquires an appearance similar to water opal, flickering with multi-hued opalescent fire. Due to its limited market, it is quite inexpensive. Hardness 12, hp 20/inch.
Iolite: An odd jewel, this stone possesses a planar trichroism; depending on the angle at which it is held, it will appear to be either dull grey, deep purple or sapphire-blue. It is common in inexpensive jewelry, and appears in the artistry of most races. Hardness 11, 25 hp/inch.
Irtios: A pale yellow to colorless stone that occurs mostly as icosahedral crystals in volcanic ash deposits, this stone lacks much of the sparkle and luster of many of the other yellow gems, appearing somewhat glassy and often possessing minor flaws and inclusions. It finds use mostly in the jewelry of fire giants and salamanders. Hardness 10, 20 hp/inch.
Jacinth: See Zircon.
Jade: Actually two separate minerals, jade comes in a wide range of colours and patterns. The first type of jade, nephrite, comes in all shades of green from pale and chalky greenish-white through to dark forest green and even to black. It is frequently veined with white, with some high grade pieces instead having black flecks scattered through them instead. Nephrite has hardness 12 and 30 hp/inch. Jadeite, on the other hand, comes in all manner of colours, from green and white to blue, violet, apricot and even brown. Jadeite has hardness 15 and 40 hp/inch. Both are amorphous and acrystalline, and range in clarity from opaque to very translucent.
Jadeite is sometimes found in close association with a highly mineralized soil rich in iron; when this happens, the jade appears a russet-apricot in hue, and it is known as tomb jade. Tomb jade is by far the most valuable form of jade, and gets its name from frequently being found in old tombs underneath corroded iron or steel items.
Jargoon: See Zircon.
Jasmal: Transparent and colorless, these stones would probably lack much of their value were it not for their natural luminescence. Jasmals always radiate a soft, amber light from themselves, and this quality is found highly attractive by most species capable of sight. They are very hard stones, wearing very well and having a high sparkle when faceted. They are only found as raw deposits in the Clockwork Nirvana of Mechanus, and are mined almost exclusively by formians, who use them as a means of acquiring supplies that they are incapable of finding or manufacturing for themselves. Hardness 17, 35 hp/inch.
Jasper: Another of the cryptocrystalline quartz minerals, jasper is relatively bland as gemstones go. It comes in a wide range of generally muted colours, and forms the basis of much cheap jewelry. It does not possess a crystal form. Hardness 18, 40 hp/inch.
Jet: Like amber, this jewel has organic origins, though in the case of jet it is not resins that led to its creation, but whole plant life in general. Jet is actually pieces of super-hard, dense anthracite coal with a grain suitable for carving and polishing. Often used by many cultures in mourning jewelry because of its matte black finish, it finds other uses in ornamentation of artworks and household items (especially knife hilts). Due to its organic nature, it does not have a crystalline form. Hardness 5, 10 hp/inch.
Jinnrhash: These slightly translucent white gems are a favourite among natives of Ysgard, who mine them in the more mountainous regions of their home plane. Their milky sheen is similar to that of a moonstone, though the stone is itself far clearer, significantly harder and somewhat more durable than moonstone, and comes in clusters of tabular, blade-like crystals inside geodes in sedimentary deposits. The geodes that contain these jewels are believed to have originally been of volcanic origin, though it is unclear whether the jinnrhash was formed in them during their volcanic stage, or later as the result of intrusion by mineralized water. Hardness 14, 35 hp/inch.
Kahalline: Found only in the Peaceable Kingdoms of Arcadia, these fabulously rare rainbow-coloured jewels are deeply prized by all members of the monastic orders, due to the calming effect they have upon the emotions of their owners, an effect produced by the stone’s natural psionic resonance. Paladins also appreciate this stone, as do most clerics of good alignments, and as such it is relatively common to find a good cleric, paladin or monk of high level who wears a piece of jewelry featuring at least one piece of this stone. It typically comes in elongate, semi-columnar pyramidal crystals with three sides, with any one gem typically containing the full spectrum of the rainbow plus a wide range of metallic hues. Hardness 15, 25 hp/inch.
Kahlvarr: This astounding gem is only ever found on the Positive Energy Plane, and even here it is astoundingly rare. It is found as tetrahedral crystals of the richest crimson, with a slight glow about it in daylight, and is highly favored for this reason as a stone for jewelry. But it has an added advantage; as a result of its formation on the Positive Energy Plane, this stone is infused with positive energy and thus carries a faint natural dweomer of Conjuration. This allows the stone to perform its own internal repairs, meaning that nothing short of completely breaking the stone can ever deal it permanent damage.
Kahlvarr can only heal internal flaws and slight surface injuries, however; it is incapable of reattaching fragments that have been broken off, but can repair any internal flaws developed as a result of physical blows, surface scratches and other forms of partial injury. For this purpose, treat this jewel as having regeneration 1. As a result of this property, it is literally impossible to find or obtain a flawed specimen of this stone, though stones containing inclusions of other minerals are sometimes found. Hardness 13, 20 hp/inch.
Kathrhash: Very uninspiring gems from the Astral Plane, these globular, reniform crystals are mostly cut and used in trinket jewelry due to their moonstone-like shimmer. Their appearance is superficially similar to that of moonstone, but harder and more crystalline, and with a lot less translucency. Githzerai seem to be one of the few races interested in purchasing them, and even they won’t pay much for them. Hardness 11, 20 hp/inch.
King’s Tear: A synthetic stone originally created by the sorcerer-kings of the Netherese Empire, these stones are indestructible by all known means, and it is quite possible that each crystal is an artifact with its own unique method of destruction. They occur as silvery crystals of a perfect tear-shaped facetted cut, and suspended within them is an image unique to each crystal. It is believed that these were images of something held most dear by their creators, but since their method of and purpose for creation is unknown, this may be pure conjecture. Nevertheless, it has been noted more than once that the images trapped within often seem to be remarkably sentimental in nature. When they are found in the earth, they are evidence of the proximity of a former Netherese ruin. Hardness incalculable, hp unknown.
Laeral’s Tear: Named for the member of the Seven Sisters who popularized its use in jewelry, this stone occurs in hexagonal columnar crystals that are frequently of considerable size and completely colourless and transparent. These jewels are somewhat more brittle than many other clear stones, and thus less valuable, but their sheer size allows an artisan to do far more with them than most stones will allow. They are popular in Waterdeep, Laeral’s current home city, and amongst artisans, who use them for accent work in furnishings. Hardness 15, 25 hp/inch.
Lapis Lazuli: A composite gemstone, this ornamental gem is made up of an aggregate blend of calcite, lazulite and pyrite, and occurs as amorphous chunks of deep blue material speckled with the brassy golden flecks of pyrite, and occasionally (in poorer specimens) with white spots of calcite also. It is inexpensive but attractive, and a favourite of the poorer classes in human and dwarven society. Hardness 8, 20 hp/inch.
Lorrnaleth: Beautiful champagne to cognac-coloured brown gems, these jewels are highly prized by the guardinals, who use them to great effect in their jewelry and weapons. They occur naturally as icosahedral crystals in a large-grained granite matrix, but are found washed downstream in all the tributaries of the River Oceanus on Elysium. Hardness 15, 25 hp/inch.
Luczarr: An awful, greasy looking amorphous stone found only in the Grey Waste of Hades, this vile gem radiates an aura of corruption and despair, as well as a faint, sickly-green and baleful light from within. Frequently destroyed on sight by good clerics and paladins, it seems to be favoured almost solely by intelligent undead. In most regions it can only be obtained through the black market, and merely enquiring after a piece can get a person in a great deal of trouble with the local clergy. Hardness 17, 35 hp/inch.
Luriyl: Reasonably soft for a gemstone, these jewels tend to wear quite quickly, and so are mostly used for brooches or pendants. They are always faceted, and come in a wide range of hues including vivid yellow, yellow-green, green and rarely even blue or purple, with the latter rare varieties being the most highly prized. They occur naturally as hexagonal columnar crystals, and find their greatest market amongst dwarves. Hardness 10, 20 hp/inch.
Lynx Eye: Related to moonstone, lynx eye is a labradorite with a blue or green flash that has developed a cat’s eye effect. It comes in amorphous conglomerations of thickly tabular to cubic crystals, appearing dirty grey unless viewed in the right light. Hardness 8, 15 hp/inch.
Malachite: A high-grade copper ore, this stone possesses beautiful-vivid bands of layered materials that make good-quality specimens highly sought after as ornamental stones. It is frequently employed for furniture inlays. Usual specimens consist of reniform nodules or banded sections of ore seam. It occasionally forms crystals, though these are invariably of poor quality and are therefore smelted. Hardness 6, 15 hp/inch.
Malacon: See Zircon.
Mellochrysos: See Zircon.
Mephrath: Coming in a beautiful range of blues and greens, these four-sided columnar crystals have pyramidal caps, with all the sparkle of a topaz and the clarity of high-grade glass. They are a favourite of the githzerai, due to the ease with which they can be cut and the fact that they are rarely ever flawed. Hardness 12, 25 hp/inch.
Moonstone: A kind of chatoyant feldspar, this jewel comes in pastel shades of dark grey, apricot, green, blue and white, and always possesses a silky luster and moon-like shimmer. It finds common use in ceremonial jewelry and inexpensive, everyday jewelry of the kind worn by lesser nobles and those of similar social station. It occurs in tabular, rhombic crystals and crystal clusters. Hardness 10, 20 hp/inch.
Mykaro: Coming in flat, tabular crystals, this stone is soft for gem use, but is still often used due to its unusual colour range. It is typically found in granitic lava deposits, and is mostly mined incidentally in the pursuit of other materials, mostly beryls. Nevertheless its odd greenish-blue or strange yellow-reddish-brown coloration make it an interesting novelty that offsets certain other stones and materials very well. Mykaro is only ever found as either a massive opaque clump or as translucent crystals, however; as a result, it is almost always cut cabochon, with only the odd small, very fine crystal ever being faceted. Dwarves prize it for the construction of objets d’art. Hardness 7, 15 hp/inch.
Mynteer: A clear and colorless stone that forms spindle-shaped crystals, mynteer is mostly recovered from alluvial deposits through sieving and panning. The stones are frequently heavily flawed, and as a result it is rare for a crystal to produce anything other than a small stone. Nevertheless, they do have a fine degree of sparkle, and thus are not uncommon accent stones. Halflings tend to be the biggest miners of them, due mostly to their alluvial nature, though most races will employ them from time to time in their jewelry. Hardness 15, 35 hp/inch.
Excellent work. I hope the rest pops up soon.
Good work, after all. Waiting for it to be finished.Costs are going to be much more difficult. It depends on cut, size, quality etc., not just xxxgp per pound, like iron is.
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