Gem Magic

(Version 1.01 - Last Modified: 02/13/2004)



Introduction

While Stone Masters specialize in manipulating stone and constructing Stone Pyramids, a great deal of their training is dedicated to extracting spells and psionic abilities from gems. Originally, Stone Masters had only a limited ability to extract powers from the gems and the ability to shape the gems in a minor fashion, but continued research and training has dramatically improved the abilities of some Stone Masters, especially those within the Atlantean communities. Although these increased powers are available to any Stone Master that receives training in it, there are very few Stone Masters that know how to extract the true potential from the gems, the Splugorth are only beginning to realize that the Atlanteans have discovered something that they have not with the Stone Masters.

Normally Gem Magic has revolved around extracting one or two magical or psychic powers from specific types of gems, in addition to some limited ability to shape and cut gems to increase their value, but the new area of Gem Magic that the Atlanteans are now studying offers even more options. Not only does is the number of gems that can be used to draw powers larger, but now the larger the gem is, the more useful and powerful the abilities that can be drawn from it. The Stone Master is trained more extensively in gem cutting and can use their innate stone powers to detect and modify gems to near perfect quality, given enough time. Finally, the Stone Master has the ability to embed a gem into their own skin, permanently adding a special ability to the Stone Master, but it causes a permanent loss of energy for as long as the gem remains embedded.


Gem Magic

The following abilities are known to all Stone Masters that receive extra training in Gem Magic:

  1. Locate Gems
  2. Recognize Gem Quality
  3. Gem Shaping
  4. Drawing Magic from Gems
  5. Embed Gems

Gem Powers

The first Stone Masters quickly learned how to not only manipulate rock, but draw powers from gems and other precious stones. While this power was more limited then regular spell casting, it was also faster, and in some cases, required less investment then casting a normal spell. Unfortunately, the early Stone Masters developed a very crude and destructive method of extracting the powers from the gems, which often destroyed the gems in only a few uses. Larger gems could withstand this process longer then smaller gems, but only to a small extent. It was not until a new breed of Stone Masters was developed that this began to change. The method of drawing powers from the gems was still destructive, but not as permanently and larger gems could be activated many more times then before. In addition to this, Stone Masters learned how to draw powers from new gems and more powers from current gems and some alien gems became available to the Atlanteans and they were also added to the growing list of gems that could be used by the Stone Master. As this new breed of Stone Masters becomes more common among true Atlanteans, the trade for such gems is growing at an incredible rate.

When searching for and purchasing gems, there are two important characteristics that must be remembered. The first is the carat of the gem, which represents its weight, and each carat (also spelt karat) is equal to 200 milligrams and is the standard for measuring precious stones and pearls on Rifts Earth prior to the coming of the Rifts. While the carat standard was developed on Earth and is still used across the planet in Human communities, most aliens has never heard of it before. The second most important characteristic of a precious stone is its quality, which can greatly increase its price regardless of its carat value. For example, with diamonds, the quality is measured by its cut and its clarity. Color is also an issue with some gems, such as rare blue diamonds on Earth or less valuable yellow diamonds in a market that might specialize in clear diamonds, but this is a cost modifier that varies from community to community. In most communities on Rifts Earth, gems are rare enough that the color of a gem is rarely considered in its price. The quality of each gems is abstracted to a simple scale that ranges from 0 to 10, with 0 being the value of a gem as it is pulled from the ground, completely uncut, and 10 being an absolutely flawless, perfectly cut gem. Even a small gem with a quality level of 10 is worth a considerable amount of money, even if its quality offers the Stone Master with no magically benefit.

Below is a list of precious stones that the Stone Master can draw power from. Each entry provides the name of the gem, whether the stone is considered worthless, like salt and sulfur, semiprecious, or precious, the natural location on Earth where the gem can be located, the power that can be drawn from the gem, the cost of the gem per carat, and a table for the quality level for that gem. Each entry in the quality level table is a multiplier for the cost of a gem based on its carat value. For example, if a gem has a base cost of 500 credits per carat and the Stone Master had a three carat gem of this type with a quality level of 3 and the multiplier at that level was x3, then the final price of the gem would be 4500 credits (3 carats * 500 per carat * 3 from quality level = 4500).

  1. Agate (Red-Orange)

  2. Alexandrite

  3. Amber

  4. Amethyst

  5. Aquamarine

  6. Diamond

  7. Emerald

  8. Garnet

  9. Quartz (Clear)

  10. Quartz (Rose)

  11. Quartz (Ruby)

  12. Quartz (Smoky)

  13. Ruby (Blue)

  14. Ruby (Deep Red)

  15. Salt Crystals (Off-White Color)

  16. Sapphire (Black)

  17. Sapphire (other colors)

  18. Star Sapphire

  19. Sulfur Crystals (yellow in color)

  20. Topaz (yellow or brown)

  21. Tourmaline (Black)

  22. Zircon (Clear)

  23. Zircon (Red)

  24. Zircon (Yellow, Brown, or Gold)

Embedded Gems

A Stone Master can embed gems into ten points across his body. Each point can only hold one gem at a time, and while some gems are only useful in one or two points, others, such as Diamonds, are useful in nearly all points. Even though each point can only hold a single gem, a gem type can be used in as many points as the Stone Master wants. For example, although only one gem can be placed on the Stone Master’s back, diamond gems could be placed on the Stone Master’s back and forehead. The following locations are available for a Stone Master to place gems: forehead, throat, back, chest, arm (2), palm (2), and leg (2).

A gem placed on the Stone Master's forehead appears on a region near the Stone Master's eyes, for humanoid creatures, that is directly above the eyes. A gem placed on the Stone Master's throat must be located near the mouth of the Stone Master, for humanoid creatures, this gem must be placed on the front of the throat. A gem placed on the Stone Master's back must be placed near a major muscle group, preferably away from internal organs, for a humanoid creature, this area is usually the upper back. A gem placed on the arm of a creature can be placed on a tentacle, but not on a leg, even if that creature has no legs and creatures with multiple arms can embed a gem on each one. A gem placed on the Stone Master's palms can be placed on a tentacle or a tail as well, but only if it can be used for grasping. A gem placed on the Stone Master's legs can also be placed on a tentacle, but only ones used for motion. Under no circumstances can a single limb have more then one gem embedded in it at any one time.

The section below contains the ten different body locations where gems can be placed, and within each body location is listed the different gems that can be placed there. Each gem entry contains the minimum size of the gem, the minimum quality level, the amount of PPE that is permanently lost while the gem remains embedded, any requirements that the gem has for its power to work properly, and a description of the gem’s power once it is embedded into the Stone Master’s body. It is important to note that the requirements are not for a gem to be embedded into the Stone Master, any gem that can be embedded into a body location can be embedded regardless of requirements. A gem will not provide its power to the Stone Master unless its requirements are met, although it will still cost the Stone Master PPE.

  1. Forehead
  2. Throat
  3. Back
  4. Chest
  5. Arm (2)
  6. Palm (2)
  7. Leg (2)