A brief episode this week, returning to Kunz’s “The Curious Lore of Precious Stones”.
Rock crystal
The popular belief in his time as to the origin of rock-crystal is voiced by St. Jerome, when, using the words of Pliny, although not citing his authority, he says that it was formed by the congelation of water in dark caverns of the mountains, where the temperature was intensely cold, so that, “While a stone to the touch, it seems like water to the eye.” This belief was evidently due to the fact that rock-crystal was so often found in mountain clefts and caverns. Symbolically, it signified that those within the portals of the Church should keep themselves free from stain and have a pure faith.
A griffin, imaged on a crystal, produces abundance of milk.
Note that Jerome and Pliny see rock crystal as a sort of ice. There’s an ice cave in Transylvania where the ice remains hard at high temperatures, which is used in the training of monster slayers. The main source of rock crystal in Europe is, rather pleasingly, in the Alps, but it turns up in small amounts in several other places. We may assume that the version of The Art of Magic carved into rock crystal, and used for rubbings, hat is found in the Alps usesl ocal stone, not, as I thought magically created rocks.
The rules give
Crystal: related to water +5
Quartz: invisibility 5
Rock Crystal: healing 3, ice 3, clarity 4, clairvoyance 5.
I’d suggest Ice should be higher.
Ruby
Rubies are found in what’s now Macedonia, in Europe. There are quite a few sources in Asia, which let the stones trickle west. Garnets and spinels are also often identified as rubies in medieval Europe, so you could argue that “What medieval people believed to be true is true” changes the garnets from the real world Ruby Bay in Scotland into actual rubies. Time for some Kunz.
The glowing hue of the ruby suggested the idea that an inextinguishable flame burned in this stone. From this fancy came the assertion that the inner fire could not be hidden, as it would shine through the clothing or through any material that might be wrapped around the stone. If cast into the water the ruby communicated its heat to the liquid, causing it to boil. The dark and the star rubies were called “male” stones, the others, more especially, however, those of lighter hue, being considered as “female” stones. All varieties served to preserve the bodily and mental health of the wearer, for they removed evil thoughts, controlled amorous desires, dissipated pestilential vapors, and reconciled disputes.
The many talismanic virtues of the ruby are noted in the fourteenth century treatise attributed to Sir John Mandeville. Here the fortunate owner of a brilliant ruby is assured that he will live in peace and concord with all men, that neither his land nor his rank will be taken from him, and that he will be preserved from all perils. The stone would also guard his house, his fruit-trees, and his vineyards from injury by tempests. All the good effects were most surely secured if the ruby, set in ring, bracelet, or brooch, were worn on the left side.
The beautiful and terrible figure of a dragon. If this is found on a ruby or any other stone of similar nature and virtue, it has the power to augment the goods of this world and makes the wearer joyous and healthy.
Ruby, in the core rules, has the shape and material bonuses of: courage 2, battle wounds 3, blood, bonus to affect 3, leadership in war 4, fire-related effect 6, Star Ruby has conjure/control occult entities 5.
Games From Folktales 