Validación de especialistas. Método Delphi

(base value 1,000 gp) 01-08 Black Opal 09-16 Fire Opal 17-24 Jasmal 25-32 Moonbar

33-40 Opal

41-48 Orblen

49-56 Orl

57-64 Ravenar 65-72 Red Tears 73-76 Sapphire

77-79 Shou Lung Amethyst 80-82 Shou Lung Topaz 83-89 Tomb Jade 90-94 Water Opal 95-00 Zendalure

Black Opal: A greenish type of opal with black mottling and gold flecks. Usu-ally found in ancient hot springs, the gem is usually tumbled smooth and cut cabo-chon. The phrase in the North “Black as a black opal” means, effectively, not very black (or evil) at all, and is used to de-scribe good-hearted rogues and similar

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dividuals who would be embarrassed by praise.

Fire Opal: A brilliant orange-red gem, usually solid or with golden or greenish flecks. Usually found near active hot springs and geyser activity in the Realms.

Fire Opals are often enchanted and used in producing a helm of brilliance.

]asmal: A durable, very hard gemstone found in the form of small veins or (very rarely) larger seam deposits in the Thun-der Peaks and the Spine of the World. It is so hard that it can hold a cutting edge and can even be worked into small nonmetal-lic weapons. When polished, jasmals catch sunlight or torchlight and, although themselves remaining transparent and colorless, give off haloes of amber light.

Jasmals are usually cut cabochon, and thus appear as small, glassy globes of or-ange light when worn on cloaks or tunics.

Moonbar: Pearly white, opaque gem-stone crystals found in desert and tropical areas of the Realms. Moonbars are natu-rally large and rectangular (with curved corners) and have a smooth, shiny sur-face, so when found and washed clean, specimens are immediately suitable for use as gems; cutting is only required when fragments are found. The largest known moonbar serves as the lid of an unknown king’s casket in a barrow on the Trollmoors, and is almost 7 feet long, but most are approximately a foot long and 4 inches wide.

Opal: An opaque, smooth gemstone, usually pale blue with green and gold mottlings. Related in type to fire and black opals, but is only slightly more common. Opals are used in a number of magical items and spells, including being enchanted and used as a part of the helm of brilliance.

Orblen: A rare gemstone unique to the Realms, yielding deep golden gems of large size. The hue of the material has earned it the nickname “honeystone,” and it is much favored in the North. The largest known honeystone in existance, a huge hunk of rock 6 inches in diameter, is in the posses-sion of King Azoun IV of Cormyr.

Orl: A gemstone believed unique to the North, where it is found only in “blue caves” such as those at Whaeloon. Orls are found in the softest rock, as sharp-edged, spindle-shaped, symmetrical crys-tals of red (sometimes tawny or orange) hue. Red-hued orls are the most valued, and some orl fanciers prefer to wear the unfaceted, natural crystals rather than faceted cuttings.

Ravenar: A glossy, black variety of tourmaline, also called schorl, is highly valued in the North, less so in other lands, where it is rare and carries little value.

Ravenar is commonly used for inlay work on daggers, buckles, and the like.

Red Tears: Gems unique to the Realms, where legends say they are the tears of lovers for their men slain in battle, stained red by the spilled blood of the fallen. Red tears are teardrop-shaped, glossy crystals of unusually vivid, fiery orange, cherry red, or blood-crimson hue. Most such gems are found in deep mines or gorge-walls, where old rock has been exposed.

They are also called Tempus’ weeping.

Sapphire: A brilliant blue transparent corundum mineral. Sapphires vary from a clear, pale blue to a radiant azure. Sap-phires are reputed to promote magical abilities, and so are used in production and ornamentation of magical blades.

Shou Lung Amethyst: A corundum mineral closer to rubies and saphires than the Western amethyst, Shou Lung Ame-thyst takes its name from its deep purple hue. It is said to come from the uttermost east, the lands of Kara-Tur, where it is used to protect the lives of noblemen.

Shou Lung Topaz: A fiery yellow co-rundum mineral, again only imported to the western Realms by travelers from Shou Lung and the other mysterious na-tions of the East.

Tomb Jade: Rare and highly prized in the Realms, this is jade which has been buried for great lengths of time and has turned red or brown. Buried jade can also be turned green if bronze objects are bur-ied near it; jade of such hue is no more valuable than normal jade.

Water Opal: Colorless, clear opal with a play of color. It is rare and valuable in the Realms, where it is used in scrying de-vices as an ornament. Transparent opals without such a play of color are known as hyalite, and are considered inferior (those variations of this gem which are worth less).

Zendalure: A gemstone presently un-known outside the Realms, where it is found as large (2 to 6 inches in diameter), egg-shaped crystals in solidified lava flows. These mottled blue-white crystals are polished to a glassy finish and most of-ten seen as inlays and tiny cabochons in rings, earrings, and pendants.

Jewels

(base value 5,000 gp) 01-06 Amaratha

83-85 Shou Lung Emerald 85-93 Star Ruby

94-00 Star Sapphire

Amaratha: also known as shieldstone, this is a soft, greenish white or very pale green sparkling gemstone. It is thought to be unique to the Realms, and is found there in the form of small lumps or nod-ules in deep rock strata. Too soft to wear well in exposed settings (such as in rings, at the top of a staff, or at the peak of an ornamented helm), it serves magnifi-cently as a gem set in large body jewelry or other protected positions. Shieldstone attracts and absorbs electricity in a 10-foot radius, and can be used to protect those who wear it or accompany the wearer. A 1-inch-diameter sphere of shieldstone (the most common variety) will absorb up to 6 points of electrical damage, so that a large number of shield-stones worn as a necklace could absorb a natural or magical lightning bolt, electric eel shock, or the like. In absorption, the shieldstone is consumed, vaporizing at the rate of a 1-inch-diameter volume per 6 points of damage absorbed. If an attack exceeds the capacity of a shieldstone or group of shieldstones, all will vaporize and the excess points of damage will be suffered by creatures or objects in the vi-cinity.

Beljuril: Presently unknown outside the Realms; found there as smooth-surfaced, fist-sized stones, asymmetrical but roughly spherical. Beljurils are dura-ble and very hard; cutting one typically wears out several sets of metal tools, so they are usually worn in pectorals or shoulder-plates which are fashioned with claw settings. Normally a deep, pleasant, seawater green, beljurils periodically blaze with a sparkling, winking, flashing light. This discharge is pleasantly eye-catching in a candlelit great hall or a lan-tern lit dancing grove, but in a dark chamber or murky night, it is dazzling. At random, beljurils absorb some heat, light,

and vibratory energy from their sur-roundings (up to 30 feet distant) without negating that energy and periodically—

usually about once per hour, but rates vary from stone to stone, regardless of size or age and for no known reason—

discharge this stored energy in a “flash.”

The discharge is silent and cold; the sparks given off are few and do not carry a strong electrical jolt. Beljurils are some-times used in experiments by mages, al-chemists, and artisans, but have not yet proven useful as a power source. Beljurils are often used for warning lamps or night beacons by the wealthy. Beljurils occur in old rock, usually in blue claystone. No beljurils significantly larger or smaller than fist-sized have yet been found.

Black Sapphire: A rare variety of sap-phire. The black sapphire is a deep, rich black with yellow or white highlights.

Black sapphires come mostly from the South, in particular the Great Rift, and are much valued by dwarves.

Diamond: A hard, clear gem which can be clear blue-white, rich blue, yellow, or pink. The hardest of the gemstones, and among the most valuable, diamonds are found in scattered locations throughout the northern mountains. Many of these locations are far underground, making them only accessible by dwarves and un-derground races which trade with the sur-face world for other goods. Diamonds are occasionally powdered and used in magi-cal writings, and are used in items such as the helm of brilliance.

Emerald: A brilliant green beryl, the emerald cleaves along straight box-like lines, and is often displayed with rectan-gular cutting in the finished gem. Emer-alds are often connected with health, and so are used in producing and ornamenting devices which magically aid health.

Jacinth: Also called hyacinth, this fiery orange gem is a relative of the sapphire and other corundrum gems. It is found only in the Realms (in other prime mate-rial planes, an inferior type of garnet or essonite takes the name). Jacinths seem to radiate with their own flickering light, which gives them the additional name fla-megems. Jacinths are used to produce and ornament devices which protect against fire (such as rings of fire resistance).

Kings’ Tears: Sometimes called frozen tears or lich weepings, these are known only in the Realms, and are rare there.

C l e a r , t e a r d r o p s h a p e d , s m o o t h -surfaced, and awesomely hard (as yet un-breakable, even by hammer and forge),

these stones are said to be the crystalized tears of long-dead necromancer kings. In each gem can be seen that which the weeping king loved long ago: in some, women; in some, lands now lost and forgotten or greatly changed with time; in some, dreams. The true nature of these stones and the images seen within them is unknown, but sages value these gems above all others.

Rogue Stone: A small, shifting, rain-bow colored, irridescent gemstone. The fluid shades of color appear almost liquid under normal sunlight. Rogue stones are extremely rare and are used for the gem-jump spell. Any rogue stone found will be a singleton gem among the others; no more than one will ever be found in one place at one time.

Ruby: A clear to deep crimson red co-rundum stone. The deeper the red the more valuable the stone, so that more valuable variations are easily identified.

Rubies are supposed to grant good luck, according to superstitions in the Sea of Fallen Stars. In magical research, rubies are often ground to produce magical dust and inks, and also used as ornaments in items such as helms of brilliance.

Shou Lung Emerald: A much harder and more lustrous variation of the west-ern emerald. The Shou Lung emerald is called the bureaucrat’s stone in the fabled lands of Kara-Tur. Legend says that there are three of them, but since there are at least a dozen caches of them scattered throughout the west, this statement is dis-counted as myth. Regardless, the bright green stone is highly valued.

Star Ruby: A variation of the ruby. The star ruby is more translucent, with a white star highlighted at its center. Of every hundred rubies, one is a star.

Star Sapphire: A precious variation’ of the sapphire. The star sapphire is more translucent, with a white star highlighted in its center. Star sapphires are used in pro-ducing and ornamenting devices which of-fer protection against magic. For every thousand sapphires found, one is a star.

Hardstones

Listed prices are per pound (weight).

When determining treasure, the number of these found is actually the number of pounds, not the number of individual stones.

“Hardstone” is a collective term given to natural substances valued for their ap-pearance which are found in large

quanti-01-06 Hornbill Ivory (7 sp) Iris Agate (2 gp)

Ivory (1-5 gp, depending on quality) Serpentine Stone (3 gp) Soapstone (9 sp) Star Metal (10,000 gp) Sulabra (7 sp)

Tempskya (1 gp) Turritella (8 sp) Xylopal (22 sp)

ties and lend themselves readily to carv-ing. Such carvings can take the form of screens and panels, furniture inlays, figu-rines, bowls and trays, bookends, spheres, scarabs, beads, and rings. Art-work can also be carved in gems (inta-glios), or the material carved away so that the artwork appears in relief (cameos).

Cameos are almost exclusively carved in shells.

In the Realms, many of the cheaper gems found in massive form are cut for stones if of the highest value (most desir-able hue and texture, flawless composi-tion), or if not, they are sold by weight for carving. These include jade (jadeite and nephrite), chalcedony, agate, tiger eye, jasper, idocrase, grossular, rhodonite, beryl, tourmaline, rock crystal, rose quartz, and serpentine. Weaker (softer and/or more brittle) materials used for carving include amber, jet, obsidian, moonstone, turquoise, malachite, and opal. (These weaker stones are rarely used unless of low gemstone value.)

Serpentine, for example, ranges from fine faceted gems to the dark green variety used in ornamental screens, furniture in-lays, and in such items as the serpentine owl. This variety is usually known as

“verde antique” and is also called “serpen-tine stone,” and so it appears in the Hard-stone section of this text.

Alabaster: The finely textured but brit-tle white form of gypsum (plaster). It has ornamental uses for structure interiors in the Realms.

Archon: The name by which Blue John (fluorspar) is known in the Realms.

Hornbill Ivory: Not ivory at all, but rather material from the beak of the horn-bill bird.

Iris Agate: A massive variety of agate much used in temples for effect; its vivid colors can be seen only when light shines through it.

Ivory (or dentine): The substance that provides the teeth of all mammals. When-ever the teeth or tusks are large enough, they can be used for carving—thus, it comes from the tusks of the elephant, the teeth of the hippopotamus, and the tusks of the walrus, narwhal, and boar, and the teeth of the cachalot whale. Tiny quanti-ties of fossil ivory (from prehistoric ele-phants, mastodons, and sabre-toothed tigers) can also be found here. Ivory also comes from other creatures such as behe-moths, mambehe-moths, and umber hulks.

Unicorn horns, it should be noted, are not used for ornamental carving, and com-mand prices of thousands of gold pieces from alchemists. The price of ivory de-pends on its hardness and durability, its hue and any mottling of colors, and the shine or surface it can take. Prices depend on current preferences; what is valued highly in a particular place or time can be extremely cheap elsewhere and elsewhen.

Lumachella: Also known as fire ble, this is a rare, dark brown fossil mar-ble variety containing small, iridescent opal-like snails (lumachella means “little snail”).

Luspeel: Another name for magnetite in the Realms; it is used in temples for its properties—i.e., a kneeling worshipper will find his ferrous metal weapons and accoutrements adhering to the floor with a definite (but not overpowering) pull.

Marble: Also called calcite, it is widely used in the Realms for its beautiful colora-tions, its ability to take a polish, and its abundance. It is extremely heavy, but is easily quarried in precise dimensions without fracture or wastage.

Meerschaum: Sometimes known as se-piolite, this is used in the Realms for small carvings and for pipes. White and porous, it is light and can therefore be quarried and transported in large pieces without much equipment.

Pipestone: A soft, easily carved brown to red-hued carving stone. It is also known as catlinite.

Psaedros: Another name for lepidolite.

It is a soft pink to mauve mica rock used in low-priced carving. With time, its col-ors fade.

Serpentine Stone: The name by which verde antique is known in the Realms.

The massive variety of serpentine Soapstone: Too brittle and soft for fine

carving, this is easily worked by unskilled hands and can be quickly brought to a warm, glossy finish.

Star Metal: Another name for meteor-ite, this stone is rare. Smiths in the Realms have mastered the technique of forging it (adding small amounts of alloys of more common metals) to make weapons of great strength and durability; hence the material’s high price. Tiny pieces are sometimes sliced and polished for inlay work.

Sulabra: The name by which argillite (or haida slate) is more commonly known. It is widely used for inexpensive carvings. It is soft and gray, cleaving eas-ily in planes, and is low-priced due to its hue and softness.

Tempskya: a form of quartz which we refer to as petrified wood; the silicified woods vary widely in hue (black or white through red, yellow, tawny, brown and sometimes pink), and, like the original wood, vary in size from twigs to huge logs. Some are difficult to polish because of differences in hardness across a tempskya surface, and most have frac-tures and inclusions of clear quartz, opal, or chalcedony. Tempskya of pretty grain and hue is sometimes cut and polished ca-bochon for personal ornamentation, but usually is cut in flat slabs, polished, and fitted for inlay-work.

Turritella: A type of agate (quartz) con-sisting of many small, silicified shells. The shells are conical and spiral in appear-ance, less than an inch long, and the rock is dark brown in color. It is quarried in slabs and used in inlay work or for facings (as a cheap alternative to marble).

Xylopal: The common name for opal-ized wood or lithoxyle; it is highly propal-ized, and is usually fashioned into bookends, polished for collectors, and so on. In finer qualities it is more often used for table in-lays and personal adornment.

Shells (price per specimen)

Shells are valued for their vivid colora-tion (which often fades in the sunlight).

Shells are rarely used as currency, but rare shells are sold for high prices to collectors (for example, the “Purple Star Cowrie”).

Such shells are considered gems as far as value, but only to collectors. Bear in mind that price and resale value for rare shells vary wildly.

A few notes on the entries of the table:

The price given for conch is paid only for

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Abalone (10 gp red, 25 gp green)

Black Helmet (45 gp) Conch (10 gp) Cowrie, Tiger (10 gp) Cowrie, Pearl (20 gp) Cowrie, Opal (100 gp) Cowrie, Purple Star (4,000 gp)

Flame Helmet (50 gp) Horned Helmet (50 gp) Mother of Pearl (5 sp for 1 lb.) Nacre (1 gp for 1 lb.) Nautilus (5 gp) Red Helmet (20 gp) Sardonyx Helmet (40 gp) Shambos (1-5 gp per shell plate)

Trochus (4 gp) Turbo (2 gp) Unio (1 gp)

large, unblemished specimens useable in cameo work; cowrie prices vary accord-ing to color, pattern, and rarity, from 10 gp for pale “tiger” black and white mens to 4,000 gp for “purple star” speci-mens; and the various helmet shell species

large, unblemished specimens useable in cameo work; cowrie prices vary accord-ing to color, pattern, and rarity, from 10 gp for pale “tiger” black and white mens to 4,000 gp for “purple star” speci-mens; and the various helmet shell species