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Dwarven miners say that agates are nothing but
interesting forms of chalcedony, usually accompanied by grunting and
grousing over the imprecision of the Common language. (The Dwarven
language is noteworthy for having a different, specific word for
every kind of mineral and gem known to the dwarves, unlike elven,
Common, and the other commonly spoken languages of Elanthia.)
Some noteworthy varieties found upon the continent of
Elanthia are described below.
Banded agate:
This term describes any agate marked with narrow bands of color that
vary between opaque and semi translucent.
Blue lace agate:
This is a kind of banded agate marked with white, violet, and pale
blue stripes, often shimmering in a fashion similar to moonstone.
Chameleon agate:
To be precise, this agate is not properly found upon the continent
of Elanthia, for it can be found only on Teras Isle. The stone
displays translucent bands of red, yellow, and green, each with a
clearly demarcated border. Like the lizard for which it is named, it
shifts from light to dark to match its surroundings.
Cloud agate:
Compared to the elegant translucency of its cousins, cloud agate is
almost opaque. Layers of grey, white, and pale blue course through
its substance beneath its waxy luster.
Fire agate:
Fire agate is said to resemble burning embers. Although it is
layered, the stone does not properly form bands, producing an
opalescent play of color instead. Its primary color is
reddish-brown, but iridescent hints of orange, scarlet, green, and
yellow can be seen within it.
Moss agate:
Despite being solid stone, moss agate looks like nothing so much as
stringy bits of moss imprisoned in a pebble of ice -- thin tendrils
of dark green and pale brown thread through a perfectly transparent
exterior.
Mottled agate:
Mottled agate does not properly have bands. Instead, leaf green,
honey brown, and creamy white form webbing patterns through its
translucent interior in a fashion that is similar to moss agate.
Some people nickname it "forest agate" instead.
Tiger-eye agate:
Tiger-eye agate is a beautiful, shimmering stone that displays bands
of fiery gold upon a background of dark brown when it catches the
light.
Although one type or another may be more prevalent
in a given region, agate can be mined all over the continent of
Elanthia. Two sources of agate are worthy of particular mention. One
is the marvelous agate beach of Lake Ghelutha, found in the
territory of the Brughan Halflings in northeastern Elanthia, where
the ground is entirely covered with water-tumbled agates. Few of the
agates are of high enough quality to earn a jeweler's interest, but
the sight is remarkable. The other exceptional source of agate is
the Naesakain River, which flows down from the DragonSpine Mountains
in the farthest northwest part of the lands settled by the Nalfein.
Pieces of banded agate may be scooped from its depths by anyone with
the desire, and agate stones routinely wash ashore at the river's
termination, where the Naesakain River plunges over the Aethalain
Falls to create the Lake of Mirrors.
In addition, every type of agate found upon the
continent of Elanthia can be found upon the Erithian continent, with
the sole exception of chameleon agate. Rumor has it that the Erithi
even possess varieties of agate that are unknown to the races of
Elanthia, but the Erithi are quite close-mouthed about the resources
of their homeland. Considering that their lands have long been
raided by rogues and scavengers of many races, their preference for
mystery is not entirely surprising, but it is disappointing to those
who wish to chronicle such matters.
Agate is aligned with spiritual magic, enhancing
spells of spirit summoning, religion, and blessing equally. Some
suspect that the Erithi have found a way for it to enhance mental
magics as well, but, if so, it is not widely known.
Servants of Gosaena prize moss agate as a symbol
of the goddess of death, considering the transition between living
moss and deathless stone to be similar to the soul's transition from
mortal existence in Elanthia to immortal existence in the unknown
lands beyond the Ebon Gates. In circumstances where wearing the
goddess's sickle symbol would be inappropriate (celebrations of
birth and life) many Gosaenan clerics will don a talisman of moss
agate instead. It is also said that those in Gosaena's highest favor
can divine the hour of someone's death by meditating on moss agate.
The Erithi value agate very highly, particularly
the Surath Dai. Though the record of Erithi history stretches back
only fifteen hundred years, Erithian scholars are convinced that the
traditions related to agate are far older. The word for "soul" (raiyatha)
and the word for "agate" (raiyartha) are quite similar in the Erithi
language, making linguists certain that they derive from the same
source. A traditional prayer among the Erithi, also suspected to be
older than their arrival in Atan Irith, addresses Lumnis as "Mother
of Agates" and asks the goddess to aid the Erithian people in
showing mercy to one another.
Poets among the Erithi use agate as a symbol for
the soul on a routine basis, and every variety of agate carries its
own special symbolism as well. Part of a traditional Erithian
wedding ceremony requires the bride and groom to drink from a bowl
carved of agate, and the specific agate of the bowl is chosen with
careful attention to the traditional symbolism.
The name agate comes to us through Latin from a Greek
word for the river Achates, in Sicily, where the material was first
found in significant quantities. Petrified wood is fossilized
wood that has had its organic matter replaced by agate.
Agate is one of the first materials known to man.
According to legends, it made the wearer agreeable and persuasive.
Agate was also said to cure insomnia and give its owner pleasant
dreams.
The Sumerians seem to have been the first to use
agate for seals, signet rings, beads and other articles of jewelry.
A famous collection of two to four thousand agate bowls that was
accumulated by Mithradates, king of Pontus, shows the enthusiasm
with which agate was regarded in the Antiquity.
Agate bowls were also popular in the Byzantine Empire
and collecting them became common among European royalty during the
Renaissance. Today many museums in Europe have
spectacular examples on display.
The Persians, the Arabs and other Oriental peoples
principally used agate for finger rings. Upon these, are
usually found a carved verse from the Koran, the owner's name, or
some magical or symbolic figure to protect the owner from a wide
variety of calamities.
Agate is the anniversary gemstone for the 12th year
of marriage. Moss Agate is the anniversary gemstone for the
14th year of marriage. |
