GEMOPEDIA

Welcome to the GEMOPEDIA, an in-depth description of everything we know about the Crystal Age gems currently!

## ANATOMY

Gems/Jewels are the main species present in Crystal Age.

Gems are anthropomorphic, intelligent mineral beings with composition similar to that of a geode; with a sedimentary, skin-like exterior and a crystal interior. The same sedimentary mineral formation can also be found in their eyes and teeth, though in this case they are almost always white.

### Birth

As explained by Chrysocolla in Ch. 8, The Funerary,  the gems form inside big crystal clusters inside of a cave that they call "Cave Of Eden". When their bodies are fully, perfectly formed, they are carved out from said cluster by the doctor, and the mineral around them is removed and stored away for miscellaneous use.

### The Skin

Being minerals they are also prone to breaking and shattering depending on their hardness. The very purpose of their sedimentary skin is to prevent this from happening too frequently, especially when they come in contact with each other. Gems are very socially dependent beings and are most comfortable and happy when in a community, as well as having the natural instinct of nurturing and overprotecting the young, so this adaptation allows them to come into contact with each other relatively safely.

Though it is efficient it is not entirely indestructible. In fact, the skin is very rarely much harder than the gems themselves, so although it's sedimentary composition helps, it can be broken when in contact with a material that is overwhelmingly harder, or when struck or squeezed by significant force.

This unique asset makes it so gems skin can have a variety of colors, some of them being plain while others have patterns, usually mirroring their core gemstone- such as freckles, stripes, spots, etc.

### The core

The core of the gems is what dictates their name, as well as the rest of their composition. The core is safely secured under the skin, and only appears outside of it in the form of hair (as well as eyebrows and lashes) and the pupils. The core's composition and nature affects many things in a gem's mental capacity- such as memory, empathy, intelligence, level of energy, etc. Gems who are porous and opaque have a higher memory capacity, but have less energy, while gems who are crystalline have an easier time absorbing sunlight, and have much more energy as a result, and so on.

The hardness of the gem also directly affects the gems' height, with the shortest possible being 130cm/4'2 feet, at hardness 1.0, and the maximum being 220cm/7.2ft at hardness 10.0.

The only exception to this is Obsidian- who is composed only of a crystal exterior that can be heated up to molten glass and cooled down to obsidian glass as he pleases. This makes him much more fragile to hits and breaking, however, putting him at a lower toughness than even some below fives. He can change his own appearance as he pleases, which makes his height malleable.

### Needs

According to Sapphire in Chapter 2, gems only need light and occasionally water to remain alive, and their lifespans stretch for tens of thousands of years. They are equal to human in the way they speak, look and act.

They need sunlight for energy, as for water...it's possible that their bodies absorb and store water from various sources- rain, spring cleaning, or even diving into water of their own accord- for later use, mostly highly emotional responses such as crying or even sweating for body heat relief. Gems who don't have water in their bodies- such as Lapis Lazuli- crack instead of crying.

Despite being minerals, the gems are capable of feeling a variety of different sensations- pain, discomfort, cold, heat, taste, etc, as seen multiple times throughout the series. It is currently unknown why they are capable of this.

## Social Structure

Gems are incredibly social little creatures, and are most happy and comfortable when they are in a group.

Though in their early years of development gems were generally free to do as they pleased despite being a group, over time they developed social structures and hierarchies as a way to organize their tasks and time, as such becoming a society.

### Hierarchy

Gem hierarchy is linked to their hardness as minerals- their only Diamond being at the top, giving the orders and making the rules for the others to abide by.

Corundums also have relatively high roles, though they are tough and fit for combat, the two corundums currently present -Padparadscha and Sapphire- serve high rank management and office jobs, spending most of their time inside with organization and welfare.

Gems who's hardness are between 6 and 8 are expected to pick up the job of being a soldier- with the exceptions to this being gems who have wounds that prevent or get in the way of their functions, or elders with welfare jobs such as Peridot, Hessonite and Andalusite.

"Below fives" are gems who's hardness are...well, below five. They are at the absolute bottom of the social structure, and are not allowed outside, as their fragility makes them unfit for combat and fragile to the many dangers of the world outside. Most below-five gems try to cope with their situation and stay in their room practicing and creating art such as music, poetry and painting all day, however there are a few exceptions.

### Nurture

In their first days of life baby gems are instructed and raised by their two mentors- the second and third youngest gems of the group-, they are taught how to talk, read, and the rules and basic manners of their society. With few exceptions babies don't need to be taught how to walk, as they are capable of learning it on their own.

The gems have a built-in instinct to care for and watch over baby gems until they seem mature enough to go off on their own, even if it's not their apprentice.

### Education

It's the job of the gem's mentors to teach them all the basics of their society when they are young. They are first taught how to read, write, and talk, before being taught their rules and basic etiquette- these are the only truly required things to be taught, if the mentors wish to teach about history, science or anything else they are free to, but they don't have to.

If the baby is a below-five, only this is all that they are required to learn, and the mentors will be free of their mentoring responsabilties. If the baby is to become a soldier, however, they will go through soldier training with their mentors by being taught basic fighting skill, going on patrols and generally trying to fit in with the rest of the soldiers. Their training comes to a close when they are given their own custom weapon from the blacksmith.

*These systems have only been put in place after Diamond was made the boss of the gems. How their structures were before then is currently unknown to the viewers.*

## ROLES

As a society the gems are separated into cohesive roles in order to carry out tasks and ensure the efficiency of their system.

##### RESPONSABILITIES:

The boss is the one in charge of the role, task, rule and punishment distribution to all other gems. Everything goes through him first, and his word is final.

### ADVISOR

Currently consisting of: Black Lace Agate

##### RESPONSABILITIES:

The advisor is responsible for passing down information and analysis of the gems' general wellbeing, performance, and concerns to the boss in an understandable and quick way, as well as giving general advice regarding decision making.

### GENERAL

Currently consisting of: Padparadscha, Black Lace Agate(vice-general)

##### RESPONSABILITIES:

Holds the daily meet-ups at the war room and instructs the gem pairs on where to patrol, as well as being the one to hear and write down the daily patrol reports.

##### RESPONSABILITIES:

Care for and fix any broken, sick or uncomfortable gems, as well as find and carve out any new gems that may be born.

##### RESPONSABILITIES:

The blacksmith is in charge of making and providing weapons at the volcanic zone for the rest of the gems to use.

Trivia: Because of Obsidian's unique composition and ability, the gems often also go to him for other amenities, such as glass flasks, buckets, bowls, etc.

### WELFARE

Currently consisting of: Peridot, Hessonite, Smoky Quartz, Andalusite.

The welfare gems are elders who are responsible for taking care of resource management and application.

##### RESPONSABILITIES:

Resource management(all), clothing design, creation and care(Peridot and Hessonite), arranging and distributing files, books and general written down knowledge (Smoky Quartz), repairing and keeping the stability of the Cathedral (Andalusite)

### SOLDIERS

Currently consisting of: Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst, Blue Zircon, Pink Zircon, Tourmaline, Heliodor, Labradorite, Turquoise, Jasper, Spinel, Hematite, Taafeite, Vivianite, Citrine, Tanzanite, Watermelon Tourmaline, Sardonyx, Tiger's Eye.

##### RESPONSABILITIES:

Patrol the full expanse of their territory, destroy and keep away any and all sinners that are found.

##### RESPONSABILITIES:

Explore and patrol outside of their territory, usually with the intent of finding resources and gifts that can be used by the gems, as well as keep an eye our for any missing gems.

##### RESPONSABILITIES:

Helping with whatever minor tasks the other gems might offer.

### BELOW-FIVE

Currently consisting of: Chrysocolla, Howlite, Fluorite, Azurite, Malachite, Larimar, Sphene

### NONE

Currently consisting of: Rainbow Quartz

Gems who, for some reason or another, no longer make part of the Cathedral's gem society.