Soul Gem

Soul gems are the result of ancient rituals designed to bind the souls of powerful creatures within enchanted stones. These gems act as prisons, separating a creature’s soul from its body, leaving the soul powerless and unable to influence the world. The trapped soul can neither regenerate its form nor use its abilities while imprisoned, rendering it completely at the mercy of whoever controls the gem.
Once bound, soul gems can be used in a variety of ways. They are valuable tools for enchanting weapons and armor, infusing the life essence of a trapped soul to enhance the item's power. Additionally, soul gems can be used to recharge previously enchanted weapons, providing a source of arcane energy.
While powerful, soul gems can also be dangerous. If the enchantments binding the soul are disabled or broken, the soul could potentially be freed. Certain gems can be divided into smaller shards, dispersing the trapped soul and weakening it further. However, freeing a portion of a soul still leaves it diminished and far less dangerous than its original form. Capturing a soul typically requires a Soul Trap spell or a weapon enchanted with such magic, binding the soul at the moment of the creature's death or overpowering its will to resist while still alive.

History

Notable Soul Gems:

• Crimson Shards of Zalatas: The powerful entity Zalatas was imprisoned within three lesser soul gems, a calculated effort to keep their essence fragmented. By dividing the soul into multiple gems, it was believed that even if one gem were destroyed, Zalatas could never return at full strength. This separation acts as a safeguard, ensuring that the entity remains imprisoned and weakened, unable to reform.
• Shadowchain Soul Gem: The assassin Kasu Ayamani is on a relentless quest to find the legendary blade known as Shadowchain. This ancient weapon holds a dark and storied past, making it highly desirable to both Kasu and her infernal patron. Embedded within the blade is a powerful soul gem, housing a soul of immense significance to her patron. Kasu believes that by retrieving the sword and offering the trapped soul, she can barter for her own freedom, hoping to escape her binding infernal contract.
• Spiritbreaker Soul Gem: The chakram Spiritbreaker was once the personal weapon of the powerful Sa'har Knight, Khaylin Cirdanas. However, his wife, Ardura Tor'lyn, betrayed him and used dark rituals to imprison his soul within a soul gem embedded in the weapon itself.

Item type

Magical