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Firestones are translucent crimson and black stones
that glow faintly and display an illusion of movement, each
appearing as if it contained cooled spots of magma floating atop a
flow of fresh lava. The exterior is solid, however, and they do not
emit heat. When firestones are cut and reduced in size, they retain
their distinctive appearance until they are reduced in size to be no
more than shimmering red gem dust.
Firestones are found in active volcanoes that have attracted fire
elemental activity. It is assumed that the fire elementals create
them in some fashion, but the details are not known.
Firestones are inert in the presence of flame -- even
the greatest heat of the forge will not cause them to melt or
deform. Unsurprisingly, firestones are aligned with the element of
fire in magical workings. Both elven and human diviners say that
firestone is only good for foreseeing disaster and catastrophe, and
most shun its use.
The Vylem gnomes treasure an artifact that they
call Beh'Amant's Eye. The heart of the artifact is a firestone the
size of an apple, which does indeed resemble a great eye due to the
way that the black spots line up within its depths at reliable
intervals as they move through the stone. Beh'Amant's Eye is mounted
atop a black mithril stand forged in the shape of a coiled drake. It
is known to be a sentient object and to grant its bonded owner the
ability to summon and control fire elementals. Each time its current
owner dies, a brief but bloody struggle ensues between the young
Vylem queens for control of the Eye, and the winner earns the right
to attempt to bond with the stone -- not a risk-free task in and of
itself, for those who fail to bond with the stone are incinerated by
its power. In the rare event that they discuss Beh'Amant's Eye, the
Vylem always claim that the Eye was a gift from Eorgina, but
Aledotter records state that the Aledotters traded Beh'Amant's Eye
to the Vylem after borrowing it off the body of a dwarf who
encountered an unfortunate accident. |
