Hearthstone

Appearance: 

Hearthstones make themselves the focal point of whatever part of a house they are first installed in. The appearance of the stone itself is simple; they are rough crystalline masses since a Hearthstone starts its existence as a Beast/Monster core. The smallest hearthstones are the size of marbles, while the most common size is equivalent to an orange. Stones larger than this seldom end up being used as Hearthstones

Origin:

The anecdotal origin of hearthstone usage is generally a story about a commoner with a bit of luck who decided to decorate his fireplace with a beast core, because it was neat looking, and then the innate magic of the stone drew it into the house where it integrated into the structure and found its second life. This is purely nonsense because beast cores are not active objects, and they can be left in large piles, so long as they are not subjected to sudden violence or essence bursts, nothing will happen to them.

History:

The actual origin of the hearthstone is lost to antiquity, much like attempting to claim who invented the wheel, or figured out how to cook things, there are just stories. Heartstone creation is simple, and it requires four components, with two obviously being a beast core and a house. To bind the two items together requires a magic circle to be integrated into the house as a receptacle for the stone, and then a magic ritual where the core is purified and then connected to the house. This is not something done casually since the value of a core is high, and this being the DungeonVerse, a house is not. 

The Imperial version of the Hearthstone Ritual is considered the standard version of the spell and requires any level of beast core, and a stone component of the house to mount the stone. It cannot be done with a wood, plaster, mud, or brick house.

The Elfin version of the ritual is the opposite of the Imperial version and can only be used on a wooden structure, and has the highest effectiveness when used on a living tree. This is how many of the long-lived elves have living cities in trees, centuries of using this spell. 

Deets:

A house with a hearthstone becomes a living structure and the core will start regulating the flow of essence. This is beneficial as it makes the house a cleaner place to live, and people resting inside will gain better resting bonuses. The ambient essence will increase slightly, though low level beast cores will not make this a measurable or usable amount of essence. mid-range and high level cores can measurably increase essence. This will not approach dungeon levels, but it will make hedge and hearth magics easier, especially if the same spell set is used regularly. 

Routine Benefits:

Essence Equilibrium, +10% healing rate, +10% essence recovery

This is a stackable bonus, with larger cores being able to offer improvements in rest and recovery rates, but cannot exceed 25% increase. These homes feel safe and solid, and are ports in a storm for people. 

House Self-Repair, variable level

Houses are constantly trying to fall apart, but a home with a hearthstone is constantly repairing itself. For the most part this is only recovering basic wear and tear, but higher level hearthstones can actively repair damage like that incurred by bad weather. The highest tier homes can burn, and eventually 'grow back', but these are generally rare, most people wouldn't spend a large beast core on a common home.

Growth

This is a directed action and requires the master of the home to be magically capable and attuned to the hearthstone. This will give them an awareness of the stone and its abilities and it can be directed to grow, improve, and otherwise increase the level of the home. There are limitations on this, essence is gathered slowly, and the growth of a structure can be triggered allowing near instantaneous improvement. This does require a skilled hand because when poorly done, this can damage the structure, disrupt the flow of essence, and in the case of disastrously bad efforts, shatter the hearthstone.

Stored Spells

Stored spells are spells that are programmed into the core by an attuned and skilled user and typically involve cleaning spells, mending and repair spells concentrated in specific locations, the ability of the hearthstone to summon unseen servants to carry out minor tasks, to wards and protective spells.

Known Hearthstones

The Home of Celena Honagin

This hearthstone was taken from the corpse of a salamander and is a glowing topaz colored stone. It has worked itself into the mantle of the home fireplace where the stones around it have taken on the appearance of a stone sunset. The hearthstone is the setting sun, and the stones around it have become different varieties of non-precious semi-translucent stones. The light of the core turns the mantle of the fireplace into a constant display of a sunset. The stone can be used to conjure flames in the fireplace without need for kindling or starter, but it does require something to be burned. Honagin came from a long line of stonecutters and masons, and she branched into geomancy, and planted to hearthstone when she was a teen. Now in her 80s, her home is a demonstration of old imperial style stonecraft. The hearthstone also keeps the home comfortably warm despite being close to the feet of the great mountains of Tir Artach.

Melgaris Hall, seat of Ragaevar Melgaris

Melagris Hall started as a humble peasant's cottage with a simple stone hearth. Visadar Melgaris built the home, and his eldest son Taegor set the hearthstone. This stone was liberated from a dungeon battle with a gorgon (the stone bull AD&D 2nd ed, not the medusa gorgon). The Melgaris family hailed from a long line of heroes and adventurers and the hall was built with a long plan in mind. Visadar pushed for the mundane growth of the hall, laying foundations, and lifting walls and simple roofing materials. Taegor, who would grow into a respected mage, used the mundane efforts of his father with the magical potential of the potent hearthstone to smooth things together. Growing the hall with essence would have been difficult and expensive, but turning rough hewn walls and plain rafters into shaped walls and clean jointed beams was much easier. Taegor's daughters, Baessa and Vhaenna, would oversee the growth of the hall from a large if spartan home into something approaching a fortified baby. Vhaenna's youngest son Ragaevar has since inherited the hall and has done it glory. He has no skill with magic, being a consummate dungeon-delver and leader. He has packed the hall with treasures, fed the hearthstone lesser cores to empower it, and has gone the extra step of specifically marrying three wives for the sole purpose of growing the hall. A dwarven stone-mistress, a halfling cozy-crafter, and a woman of elfin heritage to carry on the bloodline. It is expected that within Ragaevar's lifetime, Melgaris Hall will grow into a castle.