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Deathstone is an opaque, pure black stone that
reflects very little light. Through some trick of the eye,
deathstone crystals seem to reduce the fire of faceted gems placed
near them. Since deathstone absorbs light in this fashion, it cannot
truly be faceted, and simple cabochons are most popular in jewelry.
The best-known source of deathstone is Teras Isle,
but other mines do exist. All are under Dwarven control, and they
are scattered widely across Elanthia.
The Faendryl have discovered that, if treated
properly, deathstone has certain powers that can aid in the workings
of necromancy or in casting curses. It is said that even those who
are not sorcerers can sometimes use deathstone to ward off the
undead, but it is also said that the undead may gain control over
the living person through the magical channel, and attempting the
feat is an inherently risky and desperate venture. It is an ill-luck
stone, and it has no healing properties.
Deathstone's only purpose in divination is to
foretell catastrophe for the diviner. Given its associations, many
diviners balk at this, saying that deathstone actually invokes
catastrophe rather than foretelling it.
As the name suggests, there are no nice reasons to
give deathstone to someone else. Giving someone a piece of
deathstone jewelry implies that you hope ill or death will come to
the person. Certain groups of assassins use this as a fear tactic,
placing pieces of deathstone in a victim's home before finally
committing the murder.
Some suggest that deathstone is affiliated with
Onar, but, notably, none of those who do so are themselves aligned
with the Patron of Assassins. (Not that Onar's worshippers are
likely to admit their allegiances, but typically their kills are
accompanied with more subtlety and efficiency.) Others, noting the
remarkable arcane differences between deathstone and other variants
of quartz despite their mundane similarities, believe that
deathstone is a creation of Fash'lo'nae.
According to Dwarven legend, deathstone was first
found by a large Dwarven family who exulted with delight over their
remarkable discovery. As they settled into mining the vein, however,
dark thoughts began to creep into the minds of the dwarves, and each
dwarf began to wonder whether his relatives might not cheat him of
his share of the fascinating jewel or poorly handle the raw stone.
Tension built over months until it erupted in a bloody massacre,
and, in the violence of their battle, the roof of the tunnel
collapsed, trapping them all. It is said that another group of
dwarves tunneled into the area months later to find rotting corpses
scattered all over the chamber. The final dwarf had etched the
record of their struggle upon the pure, smooth face of the
deathstone vein. While some modern-day dwarves discount this tale,
common Dwarven superstition still holds that deathstone can be mined
only in order to be sold and that a horrible fate will come to those
dwarves who keep it. |
