Soul Stones

**Soul Stones** are a geological phenomena, commonly taking the form of crystals or gems all across Tareal. These rock formations are commonly referred to as soul gems. The mining, distribution, and production of soul gems has become highly regulated due to their controversial nature and near limitless potential.

## Controversy

Soul stones are seen as highly controversial and incredibly dangerous, with some religions seeing them as blasphemous.

Soul stones are theorized to work by capturing and storing the "soul" or life energy of a living creature following their death. In the past, this led to many instances of mass murder, ritual suicide, or sacrifice in order to gain power the soul stones may have. Further adding to the controversy, it is theorized by researchers that the energy, once used, is destroyed in a sense. This ultimately has led to the ban and control over the resource over fears of one's soul being forcibly captured, used, then destroyed.

## Types of Soul Stones

Soul stones come in many forms and kinds. Many are found embedded within larger geological formations, and are minuscule in size. In more rare cases, soul gems can be found to be the size of a tenner, but worth more than a hundred times that. Since soul stones vary in kind and formation, the most commonly found are listed below.

### Soul Gems

Soul gems resemble gemstones in many ways, but have a distinct purity of color and integrity. Soul gems lose this property when they take on energy, where they glow with varied luminescent light. When used, the light dims and eventually goes out. Using a soul gem also causes cracks to form, and it will become extremely prone to breakage. Once used, the gem becomes effectively worthless due to the inability to hold a charge.

Soul gems are commonly found in small geodes or embedded within larger rocks. Like all soul stones these are incredibly rare formations, and are highly sought after.

The largest soul gems on record were used by the three towers in Midalnd to stop Mythrix during the Second Coming of Mythrix.

### Soul Crystals

Soul crystals are similar to soul gems and are often mistaken for the latter. Soul crystals exhibit different characteristics to that of soul gems and are entirely different in their composition. Like soul gems, soul crystals will naturally have a pure appearance free from flaws. Once charged the soul crystal will take on a color, but will not glow as a soul gem does. The soul crystal emits a passive form of energy that has been recorded to enhance abilities, and is widely sought after by practitioners of magic.

The energy produced by a soul crystal is relatively small, and it takes an exceptionally large crystal to house energy that could be used to show a considerable advantage in ability enhancement. The range of influence a soul crystal has on those nearby is also very small, and the energy dispersed becomes weaker with distance. Due to this, soul crystals that are used are commonly found worked in to jewelry or used to pierce the body. Some recorded instances have found users desperate enough to have the crystals surgically implanted. No advantage was found between soul crystals worn close or on the skin versus implanted.

Soul crystals are extremely fragile and are prone to breakage. A medium strike with a hard object was found to fragment the crystal, dispelling the energy in a harmless blast. Soul crystals scratched or chipped seem to retain their energy. There is an unknown threshold of breakage to which a soul crystal will release its energy. Broken soul crystals have not been able to successfully hold a charge.

### Living Stones

Living stones are stones that will move on their own accord. They may look like any other stone, though have been found to begin rolling without outside force and may travel long distances. When fragmented, the fragments do not exhibit the same properties. No practical application has been found for living stones, though some scholars have theorized using them as methods of transportation.

### Soul Glass

Soul glass is a theoretical type of soul stone, one that can be forged from the melting of some type of soul stone. So far efforts to forge with soul stones has proven disastrous at worst, disappointing at best. The act of reforging soul stones thus far has shown to either destroy the soul stone, or in the case of soul gems, be an impossible task. The Collegiate of Mages currently holds a 500,000g scholarship to anyone who successfully creates soul glass or is able to forge a soul stone.