Rubies
One of the Cardinal Gems
Stones of blues, purples, greens, whites, and reds lay nestled in silk, glittering in a window, waiting for their moment to shine brighter than the others. The smaller stones at the front have been faceted and shaped for simple jewelry, but the ones further back remain mostly uncut, the size of an egg, ready to be made for the most specific purpose. It is the red ones that shine the brightest, channeling an inner fire that will eventually draw in Mages and Adventurers to buy the stone for their own purposes, filling it with magic and wanderlust, adding it to their weapons, armor, or repertoire.
The red stones are the most coveted, the facets shining with an inner fire that may or may not be magical from the moment the stone is removed from the earth. These are the stones that Mages, Warriors, Blacksmiths, and others will pick above the rest, agonizing over shape, size, and cut for far too long, before selecting and preparing the chosen stone for their own purposes. It may only be superstition, but it is said that the red gems that glow with a raging fire are the best, ready to hold strong enchantments to benefit their wielder.
Rubies are not a rare gem to find throughout the world, but they are by far one of the most coveted by Dwarves and others alike. Considered one of the five cardinal gems, rubies are highly sought after as their properties make them perfect to hold several enchantments or high-level spells. While both Iron and Gem Dwarves utilize rubies as central focal points of their crafts, these red gemstones hold significance for various races across the world and are tied to many superstitions as well.
History & Usage
Cut Ruby
Spending time to facet Rubies is necessary, no matter the final product. A variety of cuts and facets are used, from anything such as jewelry to weaponry and even spellcasting focuses.
History
Rubies were some of the earliest gems to be mined and refined, as their coloration and the way they shone in the light made many believe the gems contained an inner fire or even a small Elemental. This thought led to the idea that these gems would be useful for holding spells, driving their value up as more and more people coveted the stones for more than just jewelry. Iron Dwarves were the first to capitalize on the ruby market, although others also attempted to do so. While rubies are some of the hardest gemstones to be found, those not accustomed to the work of mining more often than not broke up large stones or caused other deformities in their mining of the gems that made the stones nearly worthless for the purpose for which many wanted them. As more countries and kingdoms became established throughout the world, it was decided that Dwarves would be left as the sole Miners of gemstones, as their techniques perfected over centuries allowed for enormous gemstones to be mined whole and then brought to market. The largest ruby ever recorded was the size of a Dragon egg, weighing over one hundred pounds, found in the depths of the Spine of Kallex, an extremely dangerous place to mine.Everyday Use
Rubies are commonly used to hold enchantments in weapons, armor, and spellcasting items, as well as for decorative purposes in the same items or buildings and jewelry. Because of the popularity of the gem in various items, one of the most famous crafting guilds, the Rubycrafters Guild, was started for the purposes of working with rubies but eventually expanded to include crafters of any trade. The variety of uses of rubies has allowed for small chips of the gem to be utilized in everyday items, including cast iron, to hold simple enchantments like holding a specific temperature better.
Raw Ruby
Rubies, a variety of Corundum, are often various shades of red. Amongst all races of the world, they are considered one of the cardinal gems and are popular for a variety of uses, not just jewelry.
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