Quintus Gems

Artifacts of immense power, the Quintus Gems are god-touched gems that contain immense elemental power. While each individual gem is powerful, their true strength comes only when all 8 are combined: opening a portal that can lead anywhere, regardless of magical protections that would normally protect a place from such actions. The ability to send an army directly to the throne room of their enemies makes the gems highly coveted by those who know of their power, but to date, no one has ever succeeded in collecting them all.
Table of Contents

History

Origins

Many years ago, eight magical gems were given to the dwarven people by the god Dumathoin. These perfect jewels were to be examples of flawless craftsmanship, to inspire his worshippers towards greater things. But the temptation of gems touched by a god attracted evil hearts, and they were stolen by the wizard Quintus Karesh. Quintus gave the gems to dragons as gifts for their favor, learning ancient secrets in exchange for the stones that would become the crown jewels of their treasure hordes. But once he had the knowledge he needed, Quintus imprisoned the dragons in other realms, implanting the gems within their bodies. Immobilized in their prisons, the dragons bodies soaked up elemental energy over the years, transforming the gems into conduits of great power.
Quintus eventually returned to slay the imprisoned, helpless dragons, reclaiming the gems one by one. But while the gems had gained great power, Quintus’ actions had not escaped Dumathoin's attention. The wizard’s power had grown great but was no match for a god. Dumathoin gave each gem a sliver of his own will, ensuring they could only be wielded by those worthy of their power. Quintus could sense the great magic within the gems, but he could do no more than dip his toes into that well of power. He became obsessed, and obsession turned to madness as he spent the rest of his days trying to unlock their secrets.
After Quintus died, his estate was dissolved and the gems were sold and scattered by people unaware of their power. Over time, the gems drew themselves to owners they would consider worthy and bestowed those individuals with great power. The gems were sometimes passed down from master to student and sometimes lost to history, resurfacing when they sensed they were needed. And so time marched on, with heroes rising as needed to use the gems against evil and protect them from those who would attempt to misuse their power.

A Crisis Averted, A Gem Lost

300 years ago, the archdevil Moloch came to Nexus to claim the gems for himself. Planning to participate in a coup that would overthrow Asmodeus for rulership of the Nine Hells, Moloch saw the gems as an opportunity to tip the scales against his master. One by one, he targeted the gem-holders and stole each jewel. From most, he simply took their gems, but the wielders of the Fire and Earth Gems made the ultimate sacrifice in their attempts to stop him. Their surviving comrades followed Moloch, determined to avenge their fallen brethren even without their gems.
Moloch collected seven gems, with only the Purple Gem remaining. But rather than surrender to Moloch, the purple gemholder destroyed the last gem, sacrificing himself to stop Moloch's schemes. The resulting explosion weakened Moloch and knocked the other gems from his grasp. The surviving gemholders reclaimed their gems and together they were able to slay the weakened Moloch and send his soul back to the Nine Hells to face Asmodeus' punishment.
Legend tells that a great power nearly awakened on that day. And that if all eight gems had been brought together, Moloch may very well have succeeded in his plot. This did not escape the attention of various higher powers throughout the realms, but with only seven gems remaining most gave no heed. But now those powers have started to stir, searching for the gems that once again number eight, each with their own goal for that legendary power. Time will tell whether all the gems will finally be united and whether such an event will bring about a miracle or disaster.

List of Gems

Red - Gem of Fire

The Red Gem was wielded by a Goliath Fighter in the battle against Moloch, who overcharged the gem and sacrificed himself in a massive explosion in a failed bid to destroy the disgraced archdevil. The gem eventually found its way to a volcanic city of fire giants. It was used by their arena champion, Slater the Dreadnaught, who was killed in battle against the Barrel Boys and Dunames during a tournament. Dunames, as the only one still standing when the fight ended, requested the gem as her boon. She used it to empower her magic and later to open a portal to the Nine Hells, which began the Battle of Lakeview. Once she was defeated, Archduchess Glasya appeared and claimed the gem her servant had collected before sealing the portal and bidding the mortals adieu.

Blue - Gem of Water

The Blue Gem belonged to an adventurer who used it to imprison a noble marid inside a decanter of endless water and stayed hidden in his castle after his death. When local monsters moved it, the gem was claimed by a mercenary named Nimitz Grayson. When her sister Honor became a rich merchant lord, Nimitz began acting as her negotiator and occasional muscle. She was eventually captured by a morkoth, who used the Blue Gem to power a superweapon on his flying island and began firing on coastal cities. After the morkoth's defeat, Yandhi claimed the gem (though he lied to the Graysons that it was lost at sea) and used it until Dunames' defeat. After that, he gave it to Nihileth per their agreement, who used it to escape his lake prison as the pair searched the multiverse for Yandhi's bastard father.

Green - Gem of Wind

The Green Gem formerly belong to the dragonborn Lotus, leader of the team who defeated Moloch, and the gem was buried with her. The tomb was protected by a series of magic puzzles overseen by a guardian naga. Dunames, posing as a celestial, located the temple and secured the gem before turning on the naga. When the Barrel Boys intervened, they were able to knock the Green Gem from her hand as she attempted to escape. Yandhi used this gem for the remainder of his adventures, empowering his bow and cloak with its magic and still making use of it to this day.

Black - Gem of Earth

The Black Gem has a long history of being in the hands of dwarven heroes. Buried in the tomb of a previous wielder, Dumathoin moved the tomb to a place the Barrel Boys would find it and the gem to put them on their first steps against Dunames and Cedra. Myster E used this gem to empower his sword and shield, even learning to strengthen his eldritch blast spell with the gem's magic after a time. This gem remained with Myster E and proved to be the edge he needed to finally break free from from Thraxxia's control. Sadly, Thraxxia later returned when revived for Lady Kemlar's plans and claimed the Black Gem after witnessing Myster E's execution.

Yellow - Gem of Thunder & Lightning

The Yellow Gem was once used by the high priest of a desert people, who used its thunderous power to create a magic weapon, Grabthar's Hammer, that could summon the purple worm his tribe worshipped. His people died out and the gem was recovered from their abandoned temple by a blue dragon. The Barrel Boys recovered the hammer at the temple before tracking the gem to the dragon's lair. After a little flattery to distract the dragon, the Barrel Boys summoned the purple worm and stole the gem while it fought the dragon. Gaining the gem (and killing the dragon) got the attention of Stronmaus, the Storm Lord, who made Marshall a storm cleric after Marshall's falling out with Waukeen. Marshall used the gem and hammer for the remainder of his adventures, eventually gathering an army of giants in the name of Stronmaus to march into Avernus and slay Tiamat, the Queen of Evil Dragons herself.

Pink - Gem of Nature

The Pink Gem has only had one wielder, the archdruid wood elf Altmera. Her magic has allowed her to live for thousands of years and with the gem, she is one of the world's most powerful druids. When the Quintus Gems became active again, she first appeared to destroy a prison taken over by Dunames and free the goddess Lurue from captivity. She later used the Pink Gem to temporarily transform the Barrel Boys into young dragons to battle the ancient red dragon Yoltoorshul (save for Marshall, who was transformed into a storm giant by Stronmaus) and destroy a great many orcs during the Battle of Alfur Forest. The Pink Gem remains in her care.

Purple - Gem of Necromancy

The Purple Gem's previous wielder was a drow samurai. After battling Moloch and losing, he chose to destroy his gem rather than surrender it. The blast scattered the gem shards across the north of Jezero. All but one shard was recovered by Rhith to make a periapt when he became an alhoon. The remaining shard was recovered by Cedra and given to the orc lord Goresteel, who used it to lead an army of orcs both living and undead. Rhith's restored gem later caused much chaos in the country of Lothal, used to fuel the machinations of the Morlocks, before Rhith revived himself as an illithilich and began using the gem as a phylactery.

White - Gem of ???

The White Gem was previously held by a paladin and advisor to the king of Jezero. After passing away, his will bequeathed it to a young woman whom he had taken in as a young orphan and raised like a daughter after the gem seemingly chose her as its next wielder. But it was in fact her child who would next wield the White Gem. That is, until the embryo split and the gem with it. The White Gem divided itself into the Gold and Silver Gems, bringing the total number of Quintus Gems back to 8 and putting the ultimate power of a complete set back on the table.

Gold - Gem of Radiance

The Gold Gem, created from half of the White Gem's power, belonged to the twin Carver. At only 8 years old during the Battle of Lakeview, Carver, his sister Bethany, and their gems were nearly captured by Kishin before being rescued by the Barrel Boys. He held onto the gem after the battle, being moved into hiding at a new, unknown location by the deva Telentes.

Silver - Gem of Magic

The Silver Gem, the other half of the White Gem's power, is held by the twin Bethany. Despite being only 8 years old, she used the Silver Gem, training from Telentes, and a fair bit of luck to destroy several devils before being overwhelmed during the Battle of Lakeview. After being rescued alongside her brother by the Barrel Boys, Bethany was put into hiding along with her brother to protect her and her gem until she was old enough to defend herself more thoroughly.

Item type

Unique Artifact

Creator

Quintus Karesh