Quote Originally Posted by Chris24601
"A crystal. The words are read by holding a light source behind it and it projects the markings onto a wall or similar. It'd last basically forever regardless of environment."
....I like this. Any examples of this in D&D already? Other mediums?
Yes,
Dragonshards in Eberron.
Among
Eberron's most important resources are the three varieties of
Dragonshards, the fallen
Shards of Siberys, the crystals that are found in the soil of
Eberron, and those drawn from the depths of
Khyber. Each type of
Dragonshard has an affinity for certain magical functions, and each is used to make a different sort of magic item. All
Dragonshards appear as translucent rock or crystal with swirling veins of color suspended within them. The shape of these veins suggest the swirls of
Dragonmarks, though no one has ever found a shard that exactly mirrored a
Dragonmark. The color moves and pulses within the translucent crystal, making
Dragonshards look almost alive, and lending their color to the overall appearance of the crystal.
Siberys ShardsSiberys Shards fell from the
Ring of Siberys, and as a result are usually found in
Xen'drik and other equatorial regions. (No prospector has yet dared to explore what must be vast shard fields in
Argonnessen). Their crystalline depths contain pulsating golden veins. The most rare of the
Dragonshard varieties,
Siberys Shards are the most closely connected to
Dragonmarks. Scions of the Dragon-Marked Houses attune them to their own Marks and fashion them into focus items to enhance their spell-like abilities.
Siberys Heirs use unnatuned shards to power their own powerful abilities. The
Inspired of Sarlona covet
Siberys Shards, because they can be used to enhance psionic ability.
Siberys Shards are sometimes called
sunstones or
starmotes.
They are used to power Focus devices which enhances the effective casting level of the
Dragonmarked using his natural spell-like abilities. A
Dragonshard Reservior is a ring that can store the magical energy of a
Dragonmark (Think of this as a Ring of Spell-storing, but for the Dragonmarked, a race of magically enhanced humans). They are used to power greater items such as
Altars of Resurrection, Astral Beacons, Bags of Bounty, Collars of the Wild Bond, Diadems of Passage and Diadems of Sensory Ehancements, House Wards, Inquisitors' Goggles, Prospectors Rods, and much more...
Eberron ShardsProspectors find
Eberron Shards buried in soil, never deep in rock. They typically appear in clusters, encased within geodes. They are found in
Khorvaire and
Aerenal exclusively, and may be tied to the development of
Dragonmarks. Inside the pinkish crystal of each
Eberron Shard are writhing swirls of deep red, which are why these shards are commonly known as bloodstones. Like other
Dragonshards, Eberron Shards display a remarkable affinity for magic, but this affinity is very broad compared to the specific uses of
Siberys and
Khyber Shards. A Spellcaster can attune an
Eberron Shard to a specific spell, enhancing the effects of the spell when cast using the Shard as a focus. Wizard's can encode their spells (and magic writings) in
Eberron Shards instead of inscribing them on paper. The following Magic Items are normally made using Eberron Shards;
Spell Storing Weapons, Rings of Spell Turning, counterspell and wizardry rings and staffs, rods of absorbtion, metamagic rods, and intelligent magic items frequently include
Eberron Shards. Some Greater Power Items include
Auroen's Spellshard, a Shard that holds up to five hundred pages worth of spells, and wizards can imprint new spells on this shard without having to pay the usual spell material component costs.
An Eternal Wand, Everbright Lanterns, And Scrying Shards. Eberron Shards can also be used to create
Power Stones, the psionic equivalent of scrolls.
Khyber ShardsKhyber Shards grow on the walls of volcanic caverns deep underground and are usually located near pools of magma, or sulfur vents. They are particularly common in areas tied to
Fiendish or
Elemental activity, such as the
Demon Wastes, though can be found anywhere in
Eberron. They are smoky crystals colored with veins of midnight blue to oily black. Their affinity is for the magic of binding, in creating elemental powered items, and are used to enhance summoning spells, in binding diagrams, trap the soul spells, and similar summoning magics. They are sometimes called
nightshards or
demonstones. When a character binds an elemental to a suit of armor, the armor gains one of the following properties
Burning, Stonemeld, Underwater Action or Whirlwind. These Shards are also used to power the
Elemental Vessels, Airships, Elemental powered Galleons, and Lightning Rail Coaches. They are also used in the creation of
Warforged components such as
Arm Blades, Arm Bows, Battle Fists, and can be used to enhance
energy resistances, and
stealth abilities..
One of the big draws for me with
Eberron, is the High or Intense Magic prevalent everywhere within this campaign setting, the
Dragonshards are a large part of that!
Other Crystals or Stones
PalantirThe original crystal balls, used primarily for scrying, but they can also be used to cast ranged spells like
Clairvoyance and
Clauraudience and reach far beyond the normal range for these, and also used with other similar
Divination spells.
Intelligent Crystal WeaponsMy
Enchanted Swords of Crystalmyr for example. handcrafted Crystal weapons, carefully carved by expert gemcutters and stonecutters, imbued and strengthened with both magic and intelligence, and set with other stones and gems, these artifacts that can be used by anyone with martial weapons training and have been enchanted with a large number of spells and spell-like abilities.
Magic Spirit CrystalsCrystals or stones imbued with supernatural or extradimensional properties, with specific binds or bonds to other intelligent beings.
Ioun StonesUsed by wizards, shapeshifters, and psychics alike, these inherently magical stones defy the laws of gravity and can be used to cast, store, and enhance magic, as well as being used for psionic activity, or to enhance natural psychic or psionic talents.
FloatstoneStone that is lighter than air, but as strong as traditional stone. Used to create enchanted flying ships, and in creating aerial castles, or strongholds suspended high above the earth.