Living Crystal (Ruby)
Nearly everyone has become familiar with the idea of talismans, if not their actual use. A problem long associated with talismans is that they tend to draw attention to themselves when active. Too, not everyone has the knowledge or ability to activate a talisman. Finally, talismans tend to require energy; when the fuel is exhausted, the talisman stops working until recharged.
Living entities, on the other hand, do not require batteries. Given a proper food supply, a living entity can create its own energy. Living entities also have the capability to heal any damage done to them, as well as having the potential to replicate themselves, making them ideal candidates to serve as a self-renewing energy supply.
Living crystals can be thought of as the carbon branch of the coral family. Carbon-based, living crystals feed off magnetic energy and atmospheric carbon compounds: carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide readily sustain living crystals. In their usual form, they resemble carefully cut gemstones which feel strangely slippery and most emanate faint yet pleasing warmth when held in the hand.
These crystals, grown as gifts for the occasion of Imbolc, most closely resemble brilliant rubies glowing with a soft inner light. Each crystal appears to have been cut and facetted to form a teardrop approximately a quarter inch diameter by about half an inch long. A gossamer web of spun gold around the narrow end of the teardrop forms the finding, through which a slender golden chain has been threaded. The teardrop hangs down to center itself against the wearer's breastbone when worn.
Each crystal may store up to 5 health levels (BP). They recover one level of health (BP) at noon (GMT) and another at midnight (GMT). Their relative health of the crystal may be gauged by the color of the stone: an untapped stone glows brilliant red, and the glow fades as life-energy is pulled from the stone. Life-energy may be drained without damaging crystal as long as at least one level of health is left in the crystal. Transferring life-energy (BP) from the crystal may be accomplished by holding the crystal in the mouth, or by touching the crystal to an open wound.
For mages interested in creating living crystal, Matter and Prime form a carbon crystal matrix. When complete, this matrix is indistinguishable from naturally occurring or otherwise synthesized diamond, ruby, emerald, or any of the other carbon based gemstones. Life and Prime superimposes a dynamic quintessential pattern upon the crystal, replacing the static quintessential pattern found in non-living matter. At this point, the living crystal possesses an intellect roughly equal to coral or a fern: it automatically performs those biological functions dictated by environment and necessity.
Two means exist to graft sentience to the living crystals. The first involves binding a spirit to the crystal matrix, much as in creating a fetish, to provide the crystal with a ready-made awareness. Note that spirits bound unwillingly make reluctant servants and may prove to be unreliable at inopportune moments.
The second method of creating sentient crystals involves Mind to create and place a new consciousness within the matrix. The mind so created is essentially a blank template, waiting to have the tenets that will shape the crystal's interaction with the world written on that fresh tablet.
Keep in mind that even living crystal does not have normal human perceptions: if a human-like intellect, drawing on human-normal perceptions gets grafted onto the crystal, those sensory inputs based on sight or touch become undefined. For an unawakened human-like psyche trapped in a crystal matrix, sensory deprivation and boredom may induce insanity or other detrimental effects.
Health levels: 5
Recovery Rate: 2/day
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