Diamond

Diamond is an extremely hard gemstone. Nearly all probable diamond locations are deep underground, making them accessible only to dwarves and the other subterranean races, or deep mining human operations.

Diamond is affiliated with perfection, protection, and the sun

A valuable transparent white gemstone worth upwards of 5,000 gp, although small quarter-carat offcuts worth as little as 50 gp are used as spell components. Sometimes tinted blue, bluish-white, golden, pink, or brown. Diamonds are among the most valuable of gemstones, valued at around 200 gp per carat.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Gem quality diamonds are translucent to transparent and came in a variety of colors. The most valuable hues are clear (also described as blue-white), canary yellow, pink, brown, and deep blue. They are almost exclusively facet cut because, if done correctly, diamonds refracted ordinary light into beautiful flashes of color (known as "fire" in lapidary). Diamonds were frequently worn for adornment in all cultures.

Very few substances are harder than diamond and all are just as rare and scarce, or more so. Diamonds can be used to engrave almost anything and are prized for making fine cutting and piercing tools for artisans.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Diamonds have an affinity for divination magic, and in the crafting of spells or items that improve vision or locating objects. Diamonds are the first choice for gems of seeing and are required components for a helm of brilliance. This stone is also useful in making or destroying poisons. Depending on the process and magics involved, diamond dust can be used to create a deadly poison or be used to create items (added to an immersion) or spell scrolls (used in the ink) that neutralized poison. More broadly, diamond dust is a viable substitute in the making of magical inks when more appropriate substances are not available. In all cases, according to High-Mage theory, magical workings involving diamond work best when done at highsun.

History & Usage

History

Diamond is said to work in magic that makes the bearer invulnerable to undead. Diamond or diamond dust is a vital material component of many spells, including chromatic orb, greater restoration, glyph of warding, clone, gate, imprisonment, nondetection, raise dead, revivify, resurrection, sequester, stoneskin, symbol, and true resurrection.

Cultural Significance and Usage

A diamond jewel, placed directly against the skin of the head or neck, afforded the wearer some protection against spells of the enchantment/charm school and psionic influence or attack. Dreamless sleep could be achieved by wearing cut diamonds on at least two sides of the head.

Diamonds are considered prized gems among the drow, albeit they consider only blue ones and even among them only those of rich hues such.

Ancient Edelian gem magic associated diamonds with perfection, which was the source of diamond golems' obsessive personalities and innate sunbeam and true strike spells.

With the current diplomatic ties strengthening between the nations to the north and south of the Guni'Yasami Sea, stories telling of gem magic that can enchant small diamond slivers to be used as portable lightning bolt spell. Once the command word was uttered, (primarily Tabaxi society magic), the enchanted diamond shard turns into a bolt of lightning. The activation produces a blinding flash of light, to which the owner of the gem is immune. The lightning can be hurled at the enemies like a javelin.

Manufacturing & Products

Many magic items are made of or inlaid with diamond, including the cartographer's amulet, crystal of adamant armor, armband of maximized healing, earth elemental gem, staff of frost, chaos diamond, helm of brilliance, staff of walls, headband of epic intellect, shard of the sun, crown of stars, and the Moaning Diamond.

Type

Stone

Value

10 gp - 5000 gp

Rarity

Precious