|
Opal comes in many varieties, all of which are
renowned for their remarkable play of iridescent color. White opal
presents myriad pastel rainbows to the viewer's eye, while black
opal creates dark, rich shades. Fire opal is reddish-gold, and
dragonfire opal is a striated form of fire opal. Frost opal is
primarily blue and white. Moonglae opal is forest green marked with
silvery crescents, and the characteristic iridescent colors of the
opal are concealed in each of its silver markings.
Various types of opal can be found across the
continent of Elanith. Black and white opal are mined along the
western edge of the Turamzzyrian Empire, particularly in Krinklehorn
and Kragsfell. Fire opal and dragonfire opal are both volcanic in
origin, and significant quantities of both have been uncovered on
Teras Isle as well as in the Southron Wastes. Frost opal can be
found in natural outcroppings north of Icemule Trace. Moonglae opal
can be found in the elven territories to the east of Elanith,
particularly near Ta'Nalfein.
Opal, even fire opal, is strongly aligned with the
element of water. Particularly sensitive wizards and skillful
alchemists claim that proper opal actually contains a great deal of
water in its substance -- perhaps even as much as a tenth of its
body! Others dismiss this claim as obvious folly.
In addition to its elemental alignment, opal has
power to enhance spells of a religious nature. Opal is a truly
remarkable stone, and, as such, it is unsurprising that it is seen
as sacred to multiple deities by their followers. On the
Turamzzyrian coast, particularly in Allace and Torre, white opal is
said to be Niima's chosen jewel because tiny, pale rainbows akin to
the rainbows of a white opal can be seen in the flashing spray of a
breaking wave crest.
Black opal is favored both by followers of Lumnis
and followers of Fash'lo'nae. Followers of Lumnis say that the
vibrant, intense hues of black opal resemble the brilliant feathers
of a parrot, and they point out the elven legend claiming that
Lumnis brought color to the roses of the world. If roses, why not
opals? Followers of Fash'lo'nae, in turn, say that white opal, with
its weaker, less entrancing colors, should be bestowed upon Lumnis,
because Lumnis seeks to obscure truths that will do more harm than
good, and that black opal truly belongs to Fash'lo'nae because
Fash'lo'nae seeks knowledge for its own sake.
In the human duchy of Aldora, where the
traditional art of stone-tending is practiced, healers will often
use fire opal to treat skin diseases and white opal to treat
blindness. They warn against wearing opal jewelry or gazing
over-long into opals because they say that opals can diffuse the
mind and invite madness. Their opinions have not yet affected
Imperial fashion, as opals complimented by seed pearls are very much
in vogue in Tamzyrr as of late.
The silent, reclusive Wsalamir giantmen attach
significance to frost opal, though they do not tie it to any of the
Arkati. They believe that a piece of frost opal forms whenever a
wendigo is born. If they are forced to travel, shamans of the
Wsalamir often carry pieces of frost opal about with them in order
to instill themselves with the strength of their icy homeland. For a
Wsalamir to say that a non-Wsalamir has "frost opal eyes" is one of
the highest compliments possible -- it means that the Wsalamir
accepts the other person with the same trust given to a clan mate
despite the person's differences of birth.
Opal is related to its more commonly found but highly crystalline
cousins quartz and
agate, and is formed from amorphous
"balls" or lumps" of silica rather that from ordered, naturally
faceted crystals.
The most striking quality of opal is its ability
to refract and reflect specific wavelengths of light. In fact, the
term "opalescence" was coined to describe this phenomenon.
The name opal comes from the Latin "opalus", which in turn is coming
from the Greek "opalios", itself coming from the Sanskrit "upala"
meaning precious stone.
Opal is classified in three primary types according to its body
color supporting the play of colors. These types are black, white,
and transparent. Transparent opal can have body colors such as
colorless, yellow, brown, red, or orange. The later is better
known under the name of fire opal.
The
ancients believed that the storm god, jealous of the beauty of the
rainbow god, broke the rainbow and that pieces of the rainbow
falling to the earth became a part of the opal.
The ancient Greeks believed
opal could give to the wearer the power of foresight. The Romans
revered opal as the symbol of hope and purity, and believed it could
protect from disease. Eastern people regarded it as the symbol of
truth. The Ancient Arabs believed that opals fell from heaven in
flashes of lightning, and that's how they received their fiery
color.
In the Middle Ages, young, fair-haired girls wore opals in their
hair to protect its lovely blond color. It was also said to have a
beneficial effect on eyesight. It was thought to banish evil
spirits and favor children, the theater, amusements, friendships and
feelings.The Native Americans and the
Australian Aborigines have used opal to invoke visions and it is
known as a "stone of happy dreams and changes".
Opals are very powerful in ritual magic. Since a quality
opal contains every color of every other birthstone, it can be used
or charged with all the energies and powers of the other stones
combined and can be used in place of any birthstone for spells,
rituals or other magical needs. Opals have been linked to
invisibility and astral projection. and have been used to recall
past lives (each color supposedly represents a past life).
Opal, alternating with
tourmaline, is the birthstone for October. It
is the anniversary gemstone for the 14th and 18th years of marriage. |
