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A starstone is not actually a single stone. It is an
object composed of many tiny crystals of different hues. The
crystals are always fused together in such a way that the various
colors create swirling patterns. The value of any particular
starstone depends primarily upon the symmetry and order of its
patterns, which depends, in turn, upon the hue of the starstone.
Blue is the most common color, and blue starstones rarely show
noteworthy patterns, but red, green, and white starstones also
exist. The most popular patterns have been given specific names by
jewelers. "Krrska's Eye" is the most valuable pattern, probably in
part because it requires the stone to be quite large. Krrska's Eye
consists of eight symmetrical spirals that spring from a single
point. Other popular patterns recognized by jewelers include wave
crests, whirlwinds, bulls-eyes, grape leaves, rivers, hoof prints,
and feathers. Starstones are strongly
aligned with the mental lore of divination, a property most utilized
by the Winedotter gnomes. The Winedotters have a unique tradition of
mysticism that relies upon starstones and elven star maps for its
efficacy. When divining the future, a Winedotter will cast a set of
consecrated starstones onto the ground and then compare their
pattern with astrological charts. Unlike those who wear starstone
jewelry, the Winedotters do not look for symmetrical patterns in
divination stones -- instead, they look for starstones that display
a distinct directional bias, such as an arrowhead shape or,
preferably, a chevron. Winedotter records indicate that Lyosi
Wyandotte, founder of the bloodline, was particularly fond of this
system of divination, which explains why the Winedotters still go to
such trouble to import starstones through their contacts among the
Aledotters.
When dwarves mine starstones, the gems are all
white. However, many starstones change color when first exposed to
starlight, and even those starstones that do not change color will
often change in pattern. It is impossible to determine in advance
which stones will change color and which will not. At the time of
the first exposure, color will gradually begin to enter a starstone,
and it will continue to change hue until being removed from the
starlight. For the best possible results, a starstone should be
exposed for the first time upon a perfectly clear summer night, and
it should remain exposed from dusk until dawn. This will ensure the
maximum potential time to acquire a pattern. Stones are most likely
to turn blue, followed by green. Red is the rarest color, and prone
to the most valuable patterns, but white stones that change pattern
instead of color may display some of the same patterns that a red
stone displays.
Followers of the Huntress say that starstones owe
their existence to the spirit that they serve. According to these
clerics, even starlight-exposed starstones were white until the
Guardian reincarnated the Huntress in the form of Krrska, a
brilliant eight-pointed star. When night fell, they say, Krrska's
light shone over the world for the first time, and the earth
resonated with the righteous anger of the Huntress. Starstones,
being particularly vulnerable to the influence of the future, were
intrinsically changed by the Huntress's divine power. As evidence to
support this theory, they point to the fact that Krrska's Eye never
appears on starstones that are not exposed beneath a summer sky.
Followers of the Huntress routinely wear starstones to divine their
deity's will, particularly those bearing Krrska's Eye. In mockery of
this custom, Arachne's followers sometimes refer to the eight-spiral
pattern as Arachne's Dinner, particularly when it appears upon red
starstones.Prior to being exposed to starlight, starstones are
completely inert in elemental magics. However, after such exposure,
starstones gain elemental alignments that correspond to their hues.
White starstones enhance spells related to air, blue starstones
enhance spells related to water, red starstones enhance spells
related to fire, and green starstones enhance spells related to
earth. These properties are not over-much known outside the Wizard’s
Guild. As a result, wizards carrying starstone for this reason are
occasionally mistaken for diviners. |
