Star Lotus

A Star Lotus is a rare flower that naturally grows in dark, damp conditions deep in the caves of the Tel-Raiq Desert. This flower takes over two hundred years to bear fruit, and only the longevity and care of a dwarf can allow it to live out its life and reach its beautiful potential.
The fruit which gives the plant its name is only produced once in its lifetime- a glittering gem harder than diamond. Known to many of the region's Dwarven population as the fabled Green Diamond, this gem is used commonly in Southern Dwarven culture as a symbol of love, family, and longevity. As such, a beautiful necklace is made for a dwarf's spouse, and remains a family heirloom for generations.
To prepare the Star Lotus' fruit to be in a piece of jewelry is no small task, however; it takes two master craftsmen to bring out its true beauty. First, a botanist familiar with the care one of these flowers requires to keep the gem healthy- second, at the end of the long period between germination and bearing its fruit, a master stonecutter must spend years forming the stone.
As this fruit is harder than diamond, it cannot be cut by a simple jeweler. There is an ancient Dwarven tradition of stonework, known as the honoured practice of Stoneform. Practitioners of this art use their hands, calloused over years of practice, to slowly rub a gem or a stone into a desired shape over many years. As mentioned, this takes a long time- but at the end of this long process, the small gem is placed by a jeweler into a necklace, and delivered to the client.
One known story involving the Star Lotus is that of Pavil, a retired champion of an arena who, in the year 375, left his home of Arnt Batin in search of a replacement necklace for his wife, Fiorel.