Brilliant Discoveries in Light Magic!

Wizard Quarterly

We zoom into Candlekeep, where a new edition of Wizard Quarterly is being distributed. On the cover, we see the title "Brilliant Discoveries in Light Magic!" We then open the page to that article.

"Dear readers it is with great news that my research into Netherese texts has revealed lost paths into the realms of light magic. My most recent find with team uncovered ancient texts from Maunatur that turned out to be training manuals for the city's Department of Light Smithing. The purpose of these manuals were to train recent graduates to work with high level light magic in keeping the city illuminated at night, as well as to aid in the performance of 'light shows' and in some cases civil defense.

Apparently, a key component of light smithing was the use of specially treated light cyrstals, hand grown crystals that were used as arcane fuelt sources of focuses to channel the powe rof the sun! These crystals are first forged in perfect darkness from a mixture of sulphates, mercury, and gem scarab dust. It is important to keep the mixture in total darkness, as sunlight ironically halts the reaction at the first stage. Once a crystal is formed, it is carved into the desired shape, scoured with black pudding and ectoplasm, then exposed to the sun. It is important which sun you show it to, however most crystals were exposed to our own sun for simplicities sake.This results in 'yellow' cystals that have the unique property of refueling themselves in sunlight. The cyrstals stored enough energy to power themselves for decades after exposure Other crystals however could be exposed to suns on other planes resulting in red, white or blue crystals. Red cystals absorbed energy from our too fast and were mostly used as grenades or fireworks. White, and especially blue however, could be far more powerful and be used in grander magics but could only accpet sunlight from their respective suns, mearaning the would need to be sent for rehargin after use. These stones would also degrade over time, exploding.

Which is why none are found in modern day, save the the yellow stones, which are perfectly stable. This stability made them ideal for the creation of sunblades, but this begs the question of how strong a blue sunblade could be? Or indeed what spells you could cast with a blue sun crystal?

Now moving on to the spells often used by Netherese lightsmights, they had a version of daylight..."

This article trails on for a while longer.

"...The benefits to civilization could be immense! The only factor in the tricky production cycle of light cystals is that without the aid of lost chronomancy, a single light crystal takes 2,000 years to form. Hopefully my next dive will produce an answer to solve this problem. -- Doctor Lex Icon"