|
Heliodor is a translucent, pale yellow jewel that
forms in long crystals. According to the dwarves, it is simply
another form of beryl, but it is quite striking to the eye and can
possess a brilliant inner fire. The highest
quality of heliodor is mined in the area surrounding the Lake of
Shadowed Sorrows. Excellent deposits once existed near Old
Ta'Faendryl, but they have become inaccessible due to the danger
surrounding the ruined city. Heliodor can also be located near
Ta'Loenthra and Ta'Vaalor, but it has never been located to the west
of the DragonSpine mountains.
Properly enchanted heliodor can be used both to
augment elemental spells related to air and spiritual spells related
to summoning. Its true glory shines in the use of sorcerous spells,
however, where it serves both as a catalyst in demonic arts and as
an instrument of control in necromantic activity. Regrettably,
however, most of these uses result in the destruction of the gem.
Ironically, House Faendryl selected the heliodor
as its royal jewel thousands of years before their discovery of
sorcery and their experimentation with demon summoning. Thirty
thousand years ago, when the first heraldic designs were being
established, a magnificent sculpture carved from a single piece of
heliodor stood in the center of the city of Ta'Faendryl. It depicted
Geniselle Anaya Faendryl, the first Matriarch of Ta'Faendryl,
kneeling before her son, Yshryth Silvius Faendryl, as he accepted
the crown of Ta'Faendryl from her hands. It had been magically
enchanted to control the weather around the city of Ta'Faendryl,
ensuring that storms were scheduled and never threatened the city.
Because of this marvelous feat of Faendryl magic, the Faendryl chose
the heliodor as their royal jewel. (Oddly, the heliodor is depicted
as orange in elven crests, although the gem is actually yellow --
this is to distinguish it from the yellow topaz of House Ardenai.)
As well as granting the right to bear a heliodor stone in a crest,
the royal representatives of House Faendryl presented intricately
enchanted heliodors to those who pleased them most, often leaving
the exact workings of the artifact as a pleasant surprise to the
recipient rather than revealing it at the time.
Since the downfall of House Faendryl, many
Faendryl shun the use of heliodor jewelry, as heliodor stones cannot
be found in New Ta'Faendryl, and the Faendryl consider it shameful
to import heliodor from the elves. Still, most families retain an
artifact or two from before the Faendryl left Rhoska-Tor, and many
of these artifacts are becoming cherished heirlooms as they pass
from father to son.
Because the spirit Amasalen was once a mortal
Faendryl man, his followers often wear amulets made of heliodor. To
show their devotion, these followers engage in frenzied bloodletting
rites that involve pouring the blood of sacrificial victims over the
amulets as they invoke Amasalen's favor.
Heliodor is the yellow variety of
beryl, the "mother of
gemstones". Heliodor does not include golden colors which are
given the apt name of golden beryl.
Other gemstone color varieties that belong
to beryl include emerald,
Morganite, and
aquamarine.
Other colors of beryl are simply referred to by their color, such as
in golden beryl and red beryl. |
