Elemental Gemstones

Some gemstones of Nocturn are congruent with those found in our world, but hold much more magical potential as a result of their elemental composition.

Formation & Composition

Some specific categories of gemstone in Nocturn are concentrated and crystallized nodes of elemental energy, given shape by the involvement of geothermal forces. Thanks to the main method of their formation, many jewels contain slight amounts of Earth magic, which are often left vestigial in non-earthen crystals thanks to the overwhelming amounts of other energies within the gem.

Usage

Because of their very strong magical properties, gemstones are often used in the creation of spell foci, or as energy amplifiers for large-scale spells. Rarely, extremely powerful, near-godlike elementalists are able to shatter these jewels, releasing large amounts of compressed arcane energy into the surrounding area, enough to rival some smaller wells of magic across the world. Such an unstable release of magic is capable of warping reality in several ways, and could cause considerable damage to the world's integrity. However, feats such as these are nearly impossible thanks to the sheer amount of willpower and skill it takes to break through the mass of magic that is a gemstone.
While they are nearly impossible to break, extremely skilled artificers are able to diffuse and distort the crystalline energies of elemental gemstones, using that energy to infuse other materials such as steel. The resultant "crystalline alloy" is generally very unstable, reacting violently or unpredictably when a spellcaster tries to use it as a magical conduit. However, as with many limits in this world, an elementalist with enough strength can harness the infused material, allowing for the usage of extremely powerful magical artifacts.