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In its natural state, peridot is a transparent green
stone that often has a yellowish tint. It can be faceted to sparkle
prettily. However, it is susceptible to a color change under certain
magical influences, which may result in a blue or pink stone.
Peridot is most often found near active volcanoes,
such as those of Teras Isle. However, peridot sometimes falls from
the sky in meteors, just like veil iron -- sometimes in the same
meteor!
Volcanic peridot is magically aligned with the
elements of fire and earth, while meteoric peridot is magically
aligned with the elements of fire and air. As a result, magically
trained jewelers are able to tell the difference between the two
physically-similar stones. When volcanic peridot is exposed to
elemental energies of air, or when meteoric peridot is exposed to
elemental energies of earth, then the peridot will turn a pale blue
color. Exposing either type of peridot to spiritual energies will
give it a peculiar pink hue. For centuries, these pink stones were
considered tainted, useless, and decidedly peculiar-looking, but
recent research on the Demonwall has shown that they may have
certain properties that assist in resisting sorcerous assault. As a
result, their value has risen in the last decade to match that of
the other types of peridot.
For many thousands of years, there have been no
active volcanoes in elven lands, and, before new trade routes opened
across the DragonSpine in 5102, meteoric peridot was more common on
the east side of Elanthia than volcanic peridot. This may explain
why the elves sometimes refer to peridot as "evening emerald" -- a
falling star in the evening might mean that another piece of peridot
was falling to the ground. Others say that it is because of the
peculiar way that light falls through peridot. If an emerald and a
peridot are placed side by side, and a shade is slowly drawn over a
lantern, the peridot will appear brightly hued and sparkle in the
remaining light much longer than the emerald's fire and hue will
endure.
Dwarves are not generally a superstitious people,
but they treat peridot with great respect. For centuries, beloved
tradition among the Egrentek clan held that carrying a piece of
peridot would protect against mine disasters, and no Egrentek dwarf
would go into the mines without a piece of peridot any more than he
would go into the mines without his pickaxe -- and, indeed, other
clans of dwarves mused that the Egrentek seemed particularly blessed
in safety beneath the earth. Among the Egrentek, a peridot stone was
a traditional gift from a parent to a child upon the occasion of the
child's first mining trip. When Baron Hochstib destroyed part of a
mine of Talador, however, hundreds of miner dwarves were trapped and
killed in the collapse, and the supposed charm of the peridot stone
was dismissed in the Dwarven grief. Today, a dwarf who carries or
wears a peridot stone normally does so because the stones are
talismans to remember the dead dwarves of Talador. These dwarves are
often suspicious of human intentions and hostile toward non-dwarves.
Peridot is the gem form of the mineral olivine and is sometimes
called Chrysolite.
Typically found in volcanic rock, this varying green gemstone has
occasionally been found in meteorites, and enjoys the unique
distinction of being the only precious gem know to exist in outer
space.
Peridot was called "Gem of the Sun"
by the ancients. They believed that it had the power to dissolve
enchantments and to drive evil spirits away. When used as
protection against the wiles of evil spirits, peridot was pierced
and then strung on the hair of a donkey, and attached to the left
arm.
Many beautiful examples of peridot were brought back from the
Mediterranean area during the Crusades and used to decorate European
cathedrals, where they remain.
Peridot were favored by pirates,
considered powerful amulets against all evil, and when set in gold,
were said to protect the wearer from the terrors of the night.
They had medicinal uses, too. If fashioned into a chalice from
which medicines were drunk, they intensified the effects of the
drug. In powder, peridot was used as a remedy for asthma. When
held under the tongue, it was believed to lessen the thirst in
fever. Peridot, alternating with sardonyx, is the birthstone for
August. It is the anniversary gemstone for the 16th year of
marriage. Note: Wexna found a real
peridot on the trail to Solhaven. |
