The Adventures of Brandar Odaron
Book 1: The Hidden Continent
Appendix C Maneldor’s Gems
The Seven Northron Emissaries were given magic necklaces by Maneldor the Wizard. Each necklace involved the same kind of fine silver chain with no hasp, each with a different precious gem. The necklaces are indestructible and their magic cannot be negated, though their powers deplete with prolonged use. And the magic cannot normally be detected when the gem is not active. Also, each gem holds the power of a sister when it is within 600 yards of that sister, regardless of intervening materials. Different words are spoken to activate or deactivate a given power, but only while the necklace is being worn, though all nearby wearers can also activate that power.
The Emissaries named the necklaces “The Wizard’s Gifts”, and the gems they called “The Wizard’s Gems”, though they were also called the “Gemstones of the Northron Emissaries”.
Brandar wears the Pearl of Giant-Strength, which imparts the strength of a fifty-foot-tall Giant; making him stronger than all Esaerehn Giants who are not that tall. Alak wears the Diamond of Clear Sight, which gives far-sightedness, and the ability to see through smoke, fog, night, water, and in caves, caverns, and dungeons. Daram wears the Red Ruby of Fire-Breath, which gives blasts of fire from the mouth, igniting all wood, melting metals, and heating stone. Erek wears the Emerald of Healing, rapidly healing any wound to the wearer, or to any non-wearer upon which a wearer lays his hand and speaks the proper secret word. Khalen wears the Amethyst of Swiftness, giving vastly superior dexterity, athleticism, and prolonged endurance, the reflexes of a mongoose, and enhanced speed at running. Rosth wears the Opal of Light, which allows for the shooting of sunbeams from the eyes, destroying all materials, and killing all monsters who cannot abide sunlight. Tomas wears the Blue Jade of Lightning, by which bolts of lightning can be sent from an outstretched fingertip, destroying all non-magical materials.
Starting with their braving of the enemy's ranks during the Third Invasion, in which mission the gemstones played a vital role, the Emissaries wore these necklaces for all the rest of their days, and passed them down as some of the most precious heirlooms of each of their Royal Houses.