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The silver necklaces worn by the people of Lyria contain a single gem set at the apex. The colour and shape of this gem are determined by the wearer’s status and occupation. The gem worn changes over time in much the same way as a heraldic crest: a marriage, a promotion, an achievement: all are marked by changes in the gem.
A man with a red gem marries a woman with a blue gem. The result is a purple gem whose hue is determined precisely by the hues of the original gems.
The more edges a gem has the higher the class of the wearer, so whereas the aristocrats can afford to wear richly coloured spherical gems, visitors or immigrants to Lyria are forced to wear black tetrahedral (d4) gems.
Thieves and murderers are given leather necklaces with granite stones in place of silver ones with gems.
There is quite an underground trade to be had for nefarious gem-cutters.
October 9, 2002, 15:43
To take this thought further, thieves and secret cults could have the same, allowing only those that have certain gems to be able to enter their lairs.
Where do the gems come from initially then? At birth are their destinies intertwined with a gem in some elaborate ritual. Do they always have the same gem as their parents or, depending on the fate of the child, the gem may reveal a vague future? Baby born with a certain gem shows that it will be the future ruler perhaps, or this one is destined to be a tailore etc.
Can use it to introduce the fulfilling of a old legendary poem come to life, a royal embarrassment when the king's son is show to become a simple merchant. Could the worst of the destined thieves be destroyed at birth, or is that something that only happens in life to change the gem?
For destiny's that are unwanted, there could be an entire 'religion' that studies the ruby and has good success changing the future for those parents that can afford it for their offspring. So the future can be changed and the gem change with it, but what point in the person's life will it take to make the new reality come to pass. The cult claims to be able to find the point and use it to direct as the owner wishes.
What if this cult's ways are known by evil ones? What if the cult has their own agenda and kidnaps babies born with the gems and turns them to their own devious agenda? What if, what if, what if?
October 11, 2002, 20:24
December 19, 2002, 5:10
December 19, 2002, 15:20
January 4, 2003, 8:16
What is the relation between the gem's magic and the wearer's life force? Whatever, sooner or later someone makes the connection. There will be people reading your fate, healers that feel your problems and can do something through the necklace. Magic can have numerous uses, from detecting still-living soldiers on the battlefield,quickly making diagnosis to easily detecting sneaking people (with necklaces).
Some more serious use: This sounds to be quite a lawful and regulated society. Those rich would pay well for a ritual that would assign a still unborn baby a necklace, its mother carrying it. Not for show, but to know whether it is a son or daughter, or to see if there are any defects. Should the results be not pleasing, it is possible to stop the pregnancy... Whether it is against the law or in sync with it, is your decision.
May 23, 2004, 18:07
You know this could be the birth of an entire campaign setting?
5/5
Simply wonderful. I like the 'no edges' bit most :) go manfred go!
October 20, 2004, 15:04
December 13, 2005, 12:23
December 13, 2005, 15:59
February 2, 2006, 20:41