Lithomantic Crystals

"Few Weaves in the Universe are as heavily tied to their world's natural ecosystem as Oara's is. Wind, rain, land. Their points of magical synergy correspond with their original Children. Personally, I'm not a fan. Having to keep track of that many gemstones plus the added attentions of robbers? Ha! I'd sooner coat myself in lamb's blood and run through a forest of wolves!"
-Timothee Vagrant, wandering bard
Few things are as culturally important in the Citadel Coalition as lithomantic crystals. Forming the bedrock foundations of magic, spellcasting, and portions of Tayvanistic theology, the eight crystals of lithomancy are as integral to the every day life of your average Citarii citizen as the Saints are.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Aside from the coloration listed in the section below, certain variables determine just how much of a charge it may hold and how many spells it is good for casting with. These variables include size, cut quality, and cut style. Though there is not much of an agreed upon standard per each variable, a general consensus has been reached how little and how much one might hold.    Listed from least charge to greatest charge are the variables as follows: Size
  • Small: estimated to be around the size of standard earring insets
  • Medium: of a particularly large ring or amulet inset size
  • Large: near fist size or larger
Cut Quality
  • Raw: just pulled from the earth with all of its surrounding ore and impurities
  • Cut: cleared of said ore and impurities, given some geometric shape
  • Ideal: officially cut and shaped by a professional jeweler, usually one in the employ of the Cryosia Magia or Steeple
Cut Style
  • Trillion: pyramid-esque
  • Asscher: roughly square shape
  • Radiant: rectangular
  • Oval
  • Round: of the generic shape many commonfolk think of when thinking of whole diamonds, typically the cut set into rings worn by the upper class

Physical & Chemical Properties

Each variety of lithomantic crystal pertains to a specific kind of magic that is cast with said crystal. Each gemstone also pertains to a specific color which is visible in whatever light given off by the casting of spells and easily identifies which crystal is being used. Here is a small table of lithomantic crystals, their pertaining schools of magic, and their associated coloration:  
Quartz Transmutation White
Amber Evocation Orange
Lapis Lazuli Conjuration Deep Blue
Topaz Illusion Yellow
Opal Abjuration Pearlescent Pink
Jade Necromancy Green
Amethyst Enchantment Purple
Diamond Divination Turquoise
  An important property of note with lithomancy crystals is that they, in and of themselves, do not generate magical power that mortals can use. They must be infused or charged with the magical energy of the world around them. Regularly strong gusts of wind or freshwater seems to infuse the crystals with energy. People will often seek out locations with strong winds or frequent rain showers to charge their gems. During normal storms, Bysian storms, and even Torrents many folks will leave crystals out in secure containers to be infused during said weather.    Curiously, and perhaps most importantly, gemstones can lose their charge outside of being used for spellcasting. Should a crystal ever make contact with intact earth such as being buried or dropped, they immediately lose all charge. Throwing dirt or sand onto gems does not ground out the charge. An inconsistency with this apparent natural law that cloudcatchers have noticed is that whenever a charged crystal has been dropped onto the ground within the Tower, the gems retain their charge.

Geology & Geography

Gemstones of the specific lithomantic varieties can be mined in numerous places. Some of more well-known regions where gemstone mining occurs in the Citadel Coalition includes the Goaran Mountain mines near the city-state Vanthekkar to the far west and the southern rocky fields of Hxntum. Lithomantic gemstones can be found elsewhere, but the biggest concentrations seem to be in those two specific regions in Citadel.

History & Usage

History

Lithomantic crystals have been around since the first days of the Contrition when mortalkind first stepped foot from the Tower and made their way into Oara. During Resurgences, the Volden wielded Lithomancy with wicked and deadly precision and mortalkind has since learned the ways of using said crystals and managed utilize the weapon of these horrible creatures against them.

Everyday use

The most common use for lithomantic crystals outside of standard lithomancy is through the use of faberge technology. Faberge technology first emerged after the 2nd Resurgence several millennia past. It blended the magical properties and use of lithomantic crystals with relics and other materials found in the Tower and fastened by the technomancers of the Metalla Brigade.

Cultural Significance and Usage

The Citarii hold lithomancy as the sacred power of magic bequeathed onto mortals by Tay and Those Above. Those that exercise its use without devotion to Tay and the Steeple are heretics or pagans. Some believe there isn't as much of a stigma on the unbridled use of lithomancy in the Mekar Ascendancy. Though the Mekarii practice an offshoot of Tayvanism, their customs and cultural view of the magic's use varies quite differently. In other parts of the world, lithomancy is either unused or holds no cultural significance and is instead shirked to the side in favor of a different form of power those of the Conservatory have yet to study in depth.
Type
Ore/Mineral

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