The Eyes of Eskendrell

The Eyes are a large set of gems that were once on a statue within a temple. It was believed to be a temple of Eskendrell, goddess of the adventure. The gems would capture anyone who found the sacred temple. Over time, the eyes saw the temple as a prison to themselves. They released some of their captures in a bargain to take the eyes from the temple and see the world. The eyes have gone in many directions around the world. Supposedly, they take in new champions. Groups can be found traveling together, each a capture of the eye they carry. Each of them may vanish and reappear, quite chaotically. While within the gem they do not age, often returning to the world with only seconds of time passed since they were last free.  The rhyme or reason of the timings is a mystery of the Eyes and of Eskendrell herself.  The eyes crave adventure like their mistress. And their champions are how they will see this adventurous world. Groups that have lost their eye, find a way back to it, through their own effort or by coincidence or happenstance. Champions have tried to use the stone to act recklessly, assuming the stone will snatch them back to keep their roster. They have been disappointed. The movements in and out of the gem do not avoid or alter consequences.
It is said that the gems finally release individuals when they have accomplished some great adventure. Scholars have supposed that the eyes choose those who have a potential or a connection to a great adventure. When that potential for adventure is met, the eyes release them. Several notable and accomplished heroes have claimed that they were chosen by the Eyes of Eskendrell. Over two dozen eyes have been recorded, though over time it is uncertain if they are truly different, or the same gem set in a new form.
The eyes are sometimes a large gemstone of great worth. But often they are smaller. Smaller ones have been set into items, like a piece of jewelry or a decorative box.  

DM NOTE: This item can provide a mechanism for a party where members attend play erratically. Each disappearance is simply the gem removing one champion for a time. Each champion within the gem has their own story up until they were captured. The timelines of those stories could even be scattered over parts of history.  Guest players can drop in within significant planning or organizing roleplay to introduce the character into the situation.