Raw Materials: Gemstones The gemstones of Faerûn are many and splendid.even their identification is a vast field stretching beyond the scope of this guide. Here I have set down only what I have learned about gemstones having special uses in magic.for instance, in the crafting of items or in the augmentation of enchantments, not solely as raw material components. I must stress that I have much more to learn about lapidary.26 Stones come in seven rough categories, each one in general more valuable than the next: hardstones, ornamental stones, semiprecious stones, fancy stones, precious stones, gems, and jewels. The last six classes are reserved for gemstones and usually applied to stones of relatively small size. .Hardstone. is a collective term given in the Realms to natural substances valued for their appearance that are found in large quantities and lend themselves readily to carving. Such carvings can take the form of screens and panels, furniture inlays, figurines, bowls and trays, bookends, spheres, scarabs, beads, and rings (among other things). Artwork can also be carved in gemstones (intaglios or engraved gemstones) or the material carved away so that the artwork appears in relief (cameos). Cameos are most frequently carved in shells, although cameos made from banded stones are also popular. Many of the cheaper gemstones found in massive form are also cut for use as precious gemstones if of the highest value.of the most desirable hue and texture or of flawless composition. If not, they are sold by weight for carving. These include jade (jadeite and nephrite), chalcedony, agate, tiger eye, jasper, rhodonite (phenalope), beryl, tourmaline, rock crystal, rose quartz, and serpentine. Softer and/or more brittle materials used for carving include amber, jet, obsidian, moonstone, turquoise, malachite, and opal. These weaker stones are rarely used for carving unless of low value. Agni Mani: This black, irregularly shaped glasslike ornamental stone has fallen from the sky in meteoritic form to crash among the sands of Anauroch and other Faerûnian deserts. It is used in garments and the crafting of magical items because in all blasts (such as the explosions caused by fireballs and beads of force), agni manis vaporize but protect beings wearing or carrying them by negating 1d4 points of damage per agni mani stone. Alabaster: Alabaster is the white, finely textured, but brittle, form of gypsum (plaster). This hardstone is used ornamentally in the interiors of buildings in the Realms and is sometimes carved into containers and vessels of a delicate, decorative, but practical nature, such as vases and perfume and cosmetic jars (though such container are notoriously fragile). While able to be formed into vessels that are impervious to moisture and evaporation in the short run, and so often used as a container for potions, unguents, and ointments, alabaster has no known magical properties of its own. Alestone: Brown to yellowish brown, the hues of old ales, alestone is named for its color. More properly called clinozoisite, this semiprecious stone is found in crystals and cut into faceted gemstones of handsome appearance. It is also known to some adventurers as a .scatterer. because it can deflect solid objects that approach it very quickly (such as fired arrows, slung stones, and other hurled items). This forces any being trying to catch or snatch up an alestone to make a successful Dexterity ability check to perform the desired action and also increases the effective Armor Class of a being wearing or carrying an alestone on the side from which a projectile attack) is coming by 1. Increasing the amount of alestone does not further augment this protection. Alexandrite: A greenish form of chrysoberyl which appears reddish under nonnatural light, including wizard.s light spells, alexandrite is a transparent fancy stone usually cut into facets and mounted as a pendant or in earrings. Alexandrites are favored for focal use in any items of magic that confer good luck, favor, or protection,27 such as luckstones, though many are used for lodestones as well. Algae: Algae is a quartz ornamental stone that is covered with rich, dark brown, wavy patterns. It is sliced and used for inlay in belts, baldrics, or furniture or cabochon cut (polished glassy smooth and curved, without facets), and polished to bring forth the pattern. Algae resists changes in shape or state, and all beings or items wearing or otherwise in contact with any algae make saving throws against polymorph or shape-changing spells, spell- like powers, similar psionic sciences or devotions at a +2 bonus; they must save even if they are willing to be transformed. Amaratha: Also known as shieldstone, amaratha is a soft, greenish white or very pale green, sparkling type of jewel. It is unique to the Realms and is found in the form of small lumps or nodules in deep rock strata. It is most often found in exposed canyon walls or in the Underdark. When cut and polished, such nodules usually yield a dozen or more 1-inch-diameter smooth spheres (the base-price, most common amaratha stone). Amaratha is too soft and easily chipped or shattered to wear well in exposed settings such as rings, the tops of staves, or the peaks of ornamented helms, but it serves magnificently as a gemstone set in pieces of personal jewelry, ornamental armor, or other lapidary pieces worn in protected locations. Shieldstone attracts and absorbs electricity in a 10-foot radius and can be used to protect those who wear it or accompany the wearer from lightning and electrical discharges. Static charges and the like are continuously absorbed by shieldstones without altering them in any way, but a piece of amaratha automatically neutralizes even the most sudden and powerful of electrical effects (such as an electric eel shock, lightning bolt, or the like). A 1-inch-diameter sphere of shieldstone absorbs up to 6 points of electrical damage; in absorbing the charge, the shieldstone is consumed, vaporizing at the rate of a 1-inch-diameter volume per 6 points of damage absorbed. (A 1-inch-diameter stone disappears, and a 2-inch-diameter stone becomes a 1-inch-diameter stone, etc.) If an electrical discharge exceeds the capacity of a shieldstone or group of shieldstones (such as several set in a necklace) to absorb it, all of the amarathas vaporize and the excess points of damage are suffered by those creatures or objects in the vicinity who would have normally been the targets of the discharge. Amber: A golden or orange-hued, fossilized resin, this fancy stone is soft and brittle and is usually tumbled smooth and cut cabochon. Some amber contains other preserved fossils, such as primitive plants and insects. These variants with identifiable inclusions are valued much more highly in the Realms than clear amber, and command four or five times the prices of .empty. amber. Amber pellets strung on thongs are used as a medium of trade by northern barbarians, but these same pellets are graded and valued among civilized peoples as gemstones, not just currency. Amber is often used as a good luck charm to ward off diseases and plague and as a component of spells and magical items with healing- or diseased-related effects. (There is no evidence that it has any real power to protect against such afflictions.) In magical uses, amber serves as a spell component and spell ink ingredient in most enchantments that involve lightning and electrical discharges, from shocking grasp through chain lightning. Amethyst: Amethysts are the most valuable of the quartz gemstones and are normally facet cut into brilliant shape. Related to agates and other less valuable quartzes, amethysts vary in purple hue from a lilac color to a royal purple, but the rich deep purple stones are most remembered and valued. Such stones are called by some the crown of kings because many Faerûnian rulers in olden times restricted the use of this gemstone to those of royal blood. Amethysts are supposed to ward off drunkenness and convert poisons to harmless substances. These abilities are folk belief, not truth. Because of their attributed capabilities, these fancy stones are usually used as ornaments for mugs and chalices, particularly those used by nobles. Amethyst is one of the .nine secrets..types of gemstones that can be transformed into ioun stones by the proper spells.and also serves as ink ingredient or spell component in magics involving the communication of messages (such as magic mouth spells) and the augmentation of Wisdom. Amethyst represents safety when seen by seers, and romance when seen in the dreams of women. Magic-workers should use it at mornbright.28 Andar: Also known as andalusite, this hard, durable semiprecious stone is found as small, translucent crystals (sometimes as water-worn streambed pebbles) averaging ½ inch in diameter that flash green-red or brown-red when properly faceted. Andars are known to alchemists and adventurers as the easy half of the two alternative ingredients for a potion of treasure finding. They must be powdered and then boiled with a dragon scale of amethyst, gold, or silver; the scale is the difficult half of the two power ingredients, which must then be combined with an oily base using the process and enchantments that give the potion its powers. Angelar.s Skin: Angelar.s skin (also known as aasimon.s skin) is a fine pink coral suitable for use in jewelry. This fancy .stone. Is usually found in shallow tropical seas upon isolated reefs or atolls. It is delicate and easily shattered unless properly treated and mounted. Angelar.s skin is slowly sun-baked on large, flat rocks to drive off water and tiny dead animals present within it that otherwise would give it an offensive odor and reduce its value for adornment.