Heart of the Flames

The Heart of the Flames is a translucent, crimson heart-shaped gem of indeterminate composition, although it is likely a solidified form of Elemental Fire. It appears to be the equivalent of a 600gp cut ruby, but a skilled gemologist would easily be able to confirm it is not any kind of gemstone known to man. Its beauty is unquestioned, its facets unequaled and its true value inestimable.

It is a sister gemstone to the Heart of the Winds and the Heart of the Depths. When brought together with these other two gemstones in The Elemental Crown, the three Hearts fuse to become the Heart of the World.

The gem is approximately 5cm in diameter and weighs about 250 grams. There seem to be no flaws, and when peered into intently, one can barely discern a movement inside similar to a candle flickering in a dark room.

When possessed by a user, it bestows the following magical abilities and effects:

• Detect Magic, at will (unattuned or attuned)
  
• Continual Flame, 3/day (attuned)
• Flame Blade (1/day on any weapon (attuned), or at will when embedded in hilt of a sword turns it into a Flame Tongue)
• Fire Shield, 1/day (attuned)

In addition, after 1 week of continuous possession, the user will notice occasional tongues of flame will spark from their bodies. These flames will not ignite flammable material. After 1 month of continuous possession, the user will be able to command flames to leave their body, reaching any creature or object up to 30' distant and manipulate that object without harm as if using Telekinesis. Standard Telekinesis rules apply as to weight and size of creature or object manipulated. The ability is lost and the time reset if the user gives the Heart to another person, it is stolen or destroyed, or it is left behind.

Significance

The Heart of the Flames was created by, and is consecrated to, the god The Phoenix . As such, it is as much a part of the Elemental Plane of Fire as it is of the Prime Material Plane.

History

Since its creation, the Heart resided with its two counterparts as components of The Elemental Crown. As a result of The Elemental Sundering, all three Hearts were removed from the crown and secreted away at the command of each god's High Cleric with a champion, who had instructions to hide it until such time as they could be reunited.

Rumored Whearabouts The High Cleric of Phoenism at that time was a half-elf named Vera Tellar. Her champion was an old friend and fellow adventurer, the current leader of Kryla , Lord Joshua L'Bowen. After drinking the Potion of Longevity, Joshua returned home and had the Heart fitted into the hilt of his personal longsword, FlameTongue, where it resided close to his hip for several years. When he was finally deposed as Leader of the Krylan Coalition and went on the run, he was forced to leave Flametongue behind temporarily. Soon after, some of his faithful followers returned his sword to him but Joshua soon realized it made him too recognizable. He hid Flametongue and the Heart of the Flames in the trunk of an ancient live oak in the middle of the Sylpluvan Rain Forest. While its proximity to the Inferness Citadel might seem impractical, its presence was masked with an anti-magic charm that made it undetectable to the The Wondrous Order. It remains sequestered there to this day.

Item type

Religious / Ritualistic

Rarity

Unique

Weight

250 grams

Dimensions

5cm diameter

Base Price

600gp apparent, priceless actual