The Eye of Ciaran

Background

Opals are one of the most sacred stones in Alven. They are a very rare find and are said to have been created by the gods themselves. Many legendary jewels include a number of opals, and it is not surprising that the famous pendant known as 'The Eye of Ciaran' has a huge blue and green opal as the centerpiece.

Opals are known in Alven as hag stones or adder stones. They are thought to burn from within with the eternal fires of the heavens, oceans, and mountains. It is said that you can see the whole world in each of the stones.

Unlike normal opals which are somewhat delicate and brittle over time, Opals of the Ancestors are indestructible. The Ancestors gave magical protection to the stones and the opals so treated do not 'lose their fire'.
The Amulet of the Bright - another legendary jewel - is also rumored to contain three of the ancient opals.

History

The legendary medallion has always been part of the treasure hoard of Clan Eaglesham, one of the oldest clans of Alven. The clan territories lie across the southern parts of The Farden Mountains and clansmen have been mining these parts of the mountain for centuries.

Opals have not been found in the Farside region for a long time, and some say that this particular stone might have had its origins in The Godlands, a continent north of Alven under the influence of a volcanic range.

It is not very clear how the Eagles came to possess such a jewel, and a few myths surround the birth of the stone.
The most common one and the story which is taught to all the clansmen's children is this one:

The Eye of the Salamander

In times long forgotten, the goddess Morgan wanted to give her beloved warrior, Connend a gift to celebrate the birth of their son, Donn. She wandered into the furthest reaches of her realm to find a stone that would be beautiful enough for her warrior king.

Morgan wandered until she reached The Chasm of Blue Fires deep below the Farside mountains.
The immense cavern was the lair of Ciaran, The Winged Salamander, and the beast was sleeping the Dark Days away in its brilliant opal nest as Morgan chanced upon it.

The giant black salamander caught the scent of the intruder but pretended still to be fast asleep. As the fearless Morgan approached the nest to retrieve one of the brilliant hag stones, Ciaran struck and sank its claws into Morgan.
The goddess retaliated by draining Ciaran's life and poured the essence of the salamander into the opal she had just taken into her hand.

The opal now burned even brighter thus imbued with the salamander's lifeforce. Morgan brought it back down with her to The Underworld and gifted it to her love. It is said that Connend would wear the jewel against his chest in battle for added protection and strength.

Blackwode Talond, Legendary Warrior of Clan Easglesham

The Age of the New had just started, the world was still young, and clansmen had just returned to Alven to rebuild the country after their betrayal of Belen brought cataclysmic events to bear on the land.

In these ancient times, fighting other clans for territories was a recurring occurrence and the only way to maintain the survival of your family and kin. It was then common for the gods and goddesses of Alven to take an interest in the gifted and pious warriors of the clans.

Blackwod Talond was the son of a virtuous Eaglesham's family and had been brought up in the traditions of his clan to become a brave and strong warrior. One day, at dawn, Blackwode and his men were set upon by a far superior force of men from Clan Caldbeare out to raid the outlying villages of Eaglesham.

Blackwode did not retreat but ordered his men to stand and fight to protect the kin. Blackwode himself is said to have slain 20 or more enemies before the Beares retreated into their own lands.

When the battle was over, there, on the lower branches of an oak, stood a black eagle of immense size. The Eaglesham warriors recognized the bird of prey for what it was: an avatar of Connend, the greatest warrior of all time.

In its beak, it held the Eye of the Salamander. Blackwode accepted the gift from the god and fought many more legendary battles to assure the perennity of the Eaglesham clan.

Thornhelm

The priceless opal is said to repose in the vaults of the mountain fortress of Thornhelm, the ancestral keep of Clan Eaglesham. As far as this author is aware, it has not been worn by any clansmen for two centuries. However, as the legend goes, the clan of Eaglesham will endure as long as the Eye of Ciaran is within their grasp.

The Eye of the Goddess

Item type

Jewelry / Valuable