Moonshard Quill

Overview

The Moonshard Quill is a crystal tipped pen using moon/lunar crystals used to write magical documents. Qualities of the Lunar Crystalline Shards that once made up parts of the Lunar core allow them to retain traces of magic that it has been exposed to. As such, each incantation, scroll and spell written by such a crystalline pen charges the pen up - increasing it's magical potency. This allows the writing of magic to create a magic itself.

Brief History of Moonshards

With the Moonstruck event, shards of the moon are destined to fall like tears for years onto the planet's surface. Many of these shards of moon crystal now lie at the edge of land and sea. Strangely the shards only appear on the Western Shores of the Continent - and some have been seen caught in trees.
The resulting moon shard bonanza has allowed wizards from all over Atlantis to accumulate sets of Moonshard quills and even Moonshard Crystal Balls.

Empowered Moonshard Quill

As the quill is used to write spells it is empowered, and traces of the energies remain in the crystal. This crystal can be used to in three possible ways.

1. If crushed, the crystal powder can be used in any Rune Magic, or Magical Weapon Enchantment to replace a single physical component - this makes it MUCH cheaper to cast such a spell.

2. The whole quill/pen can be used as a base material for the construction of any wand - as a single starting material component in it's manufacture.

3. The Quill/Pen when shattered can (25% Chance) randomly explode casting a single random spell that it has been used to write (or has been exposed to in the past) (Level 1D4-1) as if cast by a 5th level Wizard).

NOTE: Given that the Crystal has existed in situ for thousands of years it is not known what spells have been cast around it or on it in the past. Therefore the spell released is totally random to take into account the sheer life span of the crystal.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The Lunar Crystals are famous for having formed the towers and spires of the Ithil Elven kingdom that had long stood on and under the Moon's surface. During their long history numerous magical enchantments and spells were practiced by the Elven communities. The crystalline features of the architecture have been found to be natural 'storage batteries' for some magical energies, allowing for re-worked crystal to be used in pens and quills, allowing for inks to be more 'energized' when inscribed.

Significance

The Moonshard Pen and Moonshard Quills hold a strong cultural value for Elven Refugees after the Moonstruck event. They now often patrol the beaches of the Western Coast to ensure that the Moon Shards are not being disturbed or wantonly damaged. Elven Priests have concluded that Poseidon himself has decreed that no Moonshard remain beneath the waves and it is due to this that they are washing ashore rather than staying in the Ocean. Although a character may own a Moonshard Pen or Quill, it is not looked upon well if that character is a non-elf, but it does not unduly affect reaction results unless it is clear that the character is evil or intends to desecrate the crystals in some way.

For Wizards, and Crystalmasters the Moonshards are of great value and research interest - some will pay alot of money for a large quantity or such magically attuned material. 

Moonshard Crafted Dipping Pen/Quill Nib

Moonshards - found on Western Shore Beaches

Item type

Tool

Current Location

City of Cadiz

Manufacturer

Crystalmaster Guild

Owning Organization

Spellmonger Guild

Rarity

Rare- the ability to find a crystal that harmonizes with magical energies makes the item scarcer than the overall amount of shards available. The material is also used in some window panes, lens, glass ampules, and musical instruments - making it a very popular material to work with among many skills.

Weight

10 grams

Dimensions

7.3 x 0.5 x 0.5 inches

Base Price

125gp

Raw materials & Components

when doing this then the crystal can explode - releasing it's energy through a random spell cast in the area.