Gems
What are Elemental Gems? Where do They Come From?
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Most magic is sourced through materials called elemental gems. Elemental gems are crystalized forms of magical energy. The elements that crystalize to make these stones are fire, sun, water, nature, lightning, wind, ice, earth, and moon.
There are no other materials that make up Elemental gems, other than the crystallized energy. These gems are naturally occurring, and derive at points of intense energy. For example, flammestens can be found in large fires. Solstens are produced on clear days by non-absorbant surfaces all day in the hot summer sun. Some gem formations can be enhanced to increase natural production. Some examples would be liting large bond fires to produce flammestens, laying out reflective metal sheets on hot days to produce solstens, or setting up lightning rods for lynstens. Because of these enhancement measures, the most common gems are sun and fire.
Gems, depending on the size, have a set amount of energy. These are measured in the standard of bolts, as one bolt is needed per one fireball or other elemental bolt of energy.
If the energy is entirely used up, the gem vanishes. If the energy is not entirely used up, a gem's power can be replenished through mere exposure to its element. This can occur without the enormous power threshold to create a gem in the first place. For example, flammestens can be replenished by being placed in an ordinary house or campfire. Replenishment through general exposure usually replenishes at a rate of one bolt per fifteen minutes.
Most individuals try to monitor gems energy amount, in order to avoid using it up, as it takes far more energy to create than maintain a gem. Some spells, however, use up the entire gem, whether or not the energy was fully used up. An example would be using a grundsten to regrow a severed appendage. Another example is using a flammesten to replace blood loss. Gems can be ground up into powders or pastes to only use up the amount necessary for the process.
Anyone, whether they naturally have magic or not, can utilize the raw power of a gem. However, spells must be written, and cannot be intuitively cast. The gem must be touching the spell that is using its energy. Spells can be written to take less energy. The more specific and well-written a spell is, the less energy it takes. Energy amounts are also affected by distances. The farther a spell has to travel, the more energy it uses. Silver or copper is used to conduct the magical energy, to decrease the amount of energy expelled through distance. These metals can also be used to connect the spell to the magical gem power source, instead of the gem physically touching the spell.
Types of Gems
Flammesten
FLA-meh-stehn
Flammesten is the name of the magical gem associated with fire magic. Flammestens can be found naturally occurring in large fires or organic materials. They are most commonly found in the total cremation of remains or the complete burning of wooden structures and agricultural waste. Burning animals/human bodies gleans a higher yield of flammesten than burning plants.
Because of the nature of how flammesten is harvested, it is the most common magical gem.
Since flammesten is used in healing magic, it only has a 10% tax. In Altruist-controlled countries, a 4-bolt flammesten costs around three silver (36$), not including the tax.
Flammestens can be replenished by being placed in an ordinary house or campfire (one bolt per 15 minutes).
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Solsten
SOL-stehn
Solsten is the name of the magical gem associated with sun magic. Solstens can be found where an exceptional amount of sunlight shines down on a non-absorbing or reflective surface. They can only be harvested during the summer months.
Because of the nature of how solsten is harvested, it is the second most common magical gem.
Solstens have a 20% tax. In Altruist-controlled countries, a 4-bolt solsten costs around four silver (48$), not including the tax.
Solstens can be replenished by being placed in direct sunlight (one bolt per 15 minutes).
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Vindsten
VIND-stehn
Vindsten is the name of the magical gem associated with wind magic. Vindstens are formed in tiny threads and can be found floating in heavy winds or tornados.
Vindstens have a 20% tax. In Altruist-controlled countries, a 4-bolt vindsten costs around one bronze (60$), not including the tax.
Vindstens can be replenished through wind exposure (one bolt per 15 minutes).
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Vandsten
VAWND-stehn
Vandsten is the name of the magical gem associated with water magic. Vandstens are formed under waterfalls, or in deep parts of lakes, seas, or oceans.
Vandstens have a 20% tax. In Altruist-controlled countries, a 4-bolt vandsten costs around one bronze and two silver (84$), not including the tax.
Vandstens can be replenished by being placed in moving water (one bolt per 15 minutes). They can be replenished more slowly (one bolt per hour) by being placed in still water.
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Natursten
NA-tur-stehn
Natursten is the name of the magical gem associated with nature magic. Naturstens are found in the trunk and roots of old and large trees.
Naturstens have a 20% tax. In Altruist-controlled countries, a 4-bolt natursten costs around four bronze (240$), not including the tax.
Naturstens can be replenished quickly (one bolt per minute) by being placed on plants, though they slightly wilt the touched plants as a result. They can also be replenished much more slowly (one bolt per half hour) by being placed next to plants. Being placed next to them does not wilt or diminish the plant.
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Grundsten
GRUND-stehn
Grundsten is the name of the magical gem associated with earth magic. Grundstens can be found embedded deep in the earth, or in hard rock formations.
Grundstens have a 20% tax. In Altruist-controlled countries, a 4-bolt grundsten costs around four bronze (240$), not including the tax.
Grundstens can be replenished by being covered in dirt (one bolt per 15 minutes). They can be replenished more slowly (one bolt per hour) by simply being placed on the dirt or rock.
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Manesten
MA-neh-stehn
Manesten is the name of the magical gem associated with lunar magic. Manestens are only found when the two full moons hit a reflective surface for an entire night. Therefore, they can only be harvested during the Tvilling. However, the Librarians have an unknown patented way of harvesting them more quickly.
Manestens have a 20% tax. In Altruist-controlled countries, a 4-bolt manesten costs around one gold and one bronze (360$), not including the tax.
Manestens can be replenished by being left out in direct moonlight, whatever phase the moons are in (one bolt per 15 minutes).
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Lynsten
LIN-stehn
Lynsten is the name of the magical gem associated with lightning magic. Lynstens are found in places where lightning strikes and does not burn or mar the surface.
Lynstens have a 20% tax. In Altruist-controlled countries, a 4-bolt manesten costs around one gold and one bronze (360$), not including the tax.
Lynstens can be replenished through static electricity, although this process is slow (one bolt per hour).
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Issten
EES-stehn
Issten is the name of the magical gem associated with ice magic. Isstens are found in large blocks of ice.
Isstens have a 20% tax. In Altruist-controlled countries, a 4-bolt manesten costs around four bronze (240$), not including the tax.
Isstens can be replenished by being placed on something frozen (one bolt per half hour).
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